Consumer Energy Concerns Answered Through Innovation
Published October 25, 2011 for the Digital Energy Solutions Campaign
The mail comes every day and with it - bills. While most bills are broken down into individually recorded expenses, utility bills are infamous for being arbitrary. Through the years, utility bills have arrived and the checks have been written with no understanding nor power to control the cost. While tips and tricks for reducing energy use are all over the web, consumers usually lack the ability to directly track the effects.
This cloaked system leaves 68 percent of Americans concerned with the energy use in their own homes. A recent poll by The University of Texas at Austin found that less than 14 percent of Americans are satisfied with the energy efficiency efforts in the U.S. These citizens will be glad to know that mattes may improve. Recent legislation and innovations could provide the average American with the tools to monitor their energy use and gain greater control over it.
The Electric Consumer Right to Know Act, or the eKnow Act as it’s more commonly known, was introduced by Senators Mark Udall (D-Co) and Scott Brown (R-Ma) earlier this year. The bill would provide electric consumers the right to access certain electric energy information straight from the SmartGrid. With immediate access and feedback, consumers can see the direct cause and effect of their in-home energy use. This allows them to better control and manage the outcome of their home energy bill. Consumers can track how much energy is being used by their heating and cooling systems as well as peak hours to run their appliances against a local benchmark. As we said at a DESC event this summer held in the U.S. Senate it's time to have an app store for energy.
Companies have already begun exploring the potential of the eKnow act, as evidenced by the Verizon Wireless announcement earlier this month of their Smart Home Initiative. The Smart Home technology, going hand-in-hand with the eKnow Act, was developed by Verizon to allow customers to access their home’s information from anywhere. Energy consumption is available in real time, but Verizon takes it a step further. Customers can control their thermostat, appliances, lights, and locks with the groundbreaking initiative. Controlling every minute aspect of energy consumption in a home while breaking down the barrier of location has the potential to utility bills across the board.
Such innovations will place power in the hands of ready and willing consumers. Americans are concerned with the future of their country as well as their individual impact on the environment. The eKnow legislation and the technological breakthroughs and innovations that it envisions have the potential to revolutionize personal energy use.
To read on the original site, click here.
This cloaked system leaves 68 percent of Americans concerned with the energy use in their own homes. A recent poll by The University of Texas at Austin found that less than 14 percent of Americans are satisfied with the energy efficiency efforts in the U.S. These citizens will be glad to know that mattes may improve. Recent legislation and innovations could provide the average American with the tools to monitor their energy use and gain greater control over it.
The Electric Consumer Right to Know Act, or the eKnow Act as it’s more commonly known, was introduced by Senators Mark Udall (D-Co) and Scott Brown (R-Ma) earlier this year. The bill would provide electric consumers the right to access certain electric energy information straight from the SmartGrid. With immediate access and feedback, consumers can see the direct cause and effect of their in-home energy use. This allows them to better control and manage the outcome of their home energy bill. Consumers can track how much energy is being used by their heating and cooling systems as well as peak hours to run their appliances against a local benchmark. As we said at a DESC event this summer held in the U.S. Senate it's time to have an app store for energy.
Companies have already begun exploring the potential of the eKnow act, as evidenced by the Verizon Wireless announcement earlier this month of their Smart Home Initiative. The Smart Home technology, going hand-in-hand with the eKnow Act, was developed by Verizon to allow customers to access their home’s information from anywhere. Energy consumption is available in real time, but Verizon takes it a step further. Customers can control their thermostat, appliances, lights, and locks with the groundbreaking initiative. Controlling every minute aspect of energy consumption in a home while breaking down the barrier of location has the potential to utility bills across the board.
Such innovations will place power in the hands of ready and willing consumers. Americans are concerned with the future of their country as well as their individual impact on the environment. The eKnow legislation and the technological breakthroughs and innovations that it envisions have the potential to revolutionize personal energy use.
To read on the original site, click here.
ITI Statement on Release of U.S. National Action Plan
Published September 20, 2011 on the Information Technology Industry Council Website
Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) President and CEO Dean Garfield today praised the Obama Administration’s U.S. National Action Plan, noting its
potential to further transparency and accountability in government operations. This “National Plan” builds on, but does not replace data.gov, the Open Government Initiative inaugurated by the President’s Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government.
“The National Plan further highlights the administration's commitment to greater transparency and the use of IT to achieve that goal," said Garfield. “Specifically, the plan calls for the doubling of entrepreneurs and innovators harnessing open data in areas such as education and R&D. This creates an opportunity for Americans to greater utilize information in their daily lives, participate in government decision-making, and work to develop new and innovative solutions for creating jobs and growing our economy.”
To read on the original site, click here.
potential to further transparency and accountability in government operations. This “National Plan” builds on, but does not replace data.gov, the Open Government Initiative inaugurated by the President’s Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government.
“The National Plan further highlights the administration's commitment to greater transparency and the use of IT to achieve that goal," said Garfield. “Specifically, the plan calls for the doubling of entrepreneurs and innovators harnessing open data in areas such as education and R&D. This creates an opportunity for Americans to greater utilize information in their daily lives, participate in government decision-making, and work to develop new and innovative solutions for creating jobs and growing our economy.”
To read on the original site, click here.
Student-Produced Commercial for a CLIO award
Published June 30, 2011 for Brigham Young University
It opens on a Japanese game show host, then cuts to a common dairy cow. The clock counts down from three while the cow boldly stares down a hidden obstacle. As the timer lands on one, the camera cuts in close to reveal a larger than life fluorescent pink square cutout. The square begins moving toward the cow and the pair stare each other down as the host becomes more and more animated. At the last possible moment before cow and cutout collide, the host screams and a square hamburger patty tumbles on screen.
This creative take on the popular Japanese game show Human Tetris is an advertisement for Wendy’s. It was shortlisted for the annual CLIO awards and won a gold ADDY along with a regional judge’s choice. And it was produced by a group of BYU students in assistant professor Chris Cutri’s Comms 335 class, TV Commercial Production, making it the first BYU student production shortlisted for a CLIO.
Cutri, who has a master's degree in film directing, felt the need for advertising students to get a very real-life sense of what it takes to make a commercial eight years ago. The next year, alumni of the class were filming Mercedes-Benz commercials in Europe. Despite the copious amounts of talent from previous students, this group was the first to be recognized on such a large scale.
“It was a pretty unique, creative and different way of talking about a square burger,” Cutri said. “Past CLIO winners have always been cutting edge. Just like talking about a square hamburger in such a visual way.”
Cutri teaches his students that an idea either has to be great or it’s not worth doing. It was Cutri’s push to come up with an intriguing concept that led students to the idea for this commercial.
“The class is all about finding the big idea,” advertising student Anthony Abbott said. “We wanted to do something really over the top, but with a good solid foundation.”
After brainstorming and selecting the idea for the Wendy’s commercial, the team of five poured hours upon hours into the execution. Their to do list ranged from finding a cow and a studio, to designing and creating the set, to filming on green screens and adding in the sound and most of the background in post production. Countless hours went in to the 30-second clip.
“I think we learned a lot when we did it,” Abbott said. “It’s refreshing to see that it wasn’t perfect, but people recognized it and were able to get it. It’s really just random and I think that’s what is so good about it.”
The group had only one day to film the commercial, and a limited amount of time for post production. While not everything went smoothly and there were a few headaches along the way, the recognition for all their hard work more than made up for it.
“It just seemed really stressful,” LJ Johansson said. “The cow didn’t really cooperate with us and we weren’t sure we would get the shots we needed. But walking away from that experience, we felt a real sense of accomplishment. It is definitely the strongest piece in my portfolio.”
Film student Jordan Peterson also felt the payoff for all their time and effort, but for a different reason. It was the audience response - not the awards - that gave him the most satisfaction.
“If people watch it, and they think it’s funny, and they smile and they like it – then I’m happy,” Peterson said.
To read on the original site, click here.
This creative take on the popular Japanese game show Human Tetris is an advertisement for Wendy’s. It was shortlisted for the annual CLIO awards and won a gold ADDY along with a regional judge’s choice. And it was produced by a group of BYU students in assistant professor Chris Cutri’s Comms 335 class, TV Commercial Production, making it the first BYU student production shortlisted for a CLIO.
Cutri, who has a master's degree in film directing, felt the need for advertising students to get a very real-life sense of what it takes to make a commercial eight years ago. The next year, alumni of the class were filming Mercedes-Benz commercials in Europe. Despite the copious amounts of talent from previous students, this group was the first to be recognized on such a large scale.
“It was a pretty unique, creative and different way of talking about a square burger,” Cutri said. “Past CLIO winners have always been cutting edge. Just like talking about a square hamburger in such a visual way.”
Cutri teaches his students that an idea either has to be great or it’s not worth doing. It was Cutri’s push to come up with an intriguing concept that led students to the idea for this commercial.
“The class is all about finding the big idea,” advertising student Anthony Abbott said. “We wanted to do something really over the top, but with a good solid foundation.”
After brainstorming and selecting the idea for the Wendy’s commercial, the team of five poured hours upon hours into the execution. Their to do list ranged from finding a cow and a studio, to designing and creating the set, to filming on green screens and adding in the sound and most of the background in post production. Countless hours went in to the 30-second clip.
“I think we learned a lot when we did it,” Abbott said. “It’s refreshing to see that it wasn’t perfect, but people recognized it and were able to get it. It’s really just random and I think that’s what is so good about it.”
The group had only one day to film the commercial, and a limited amount of time for post production. While not everything went smoothly and there were a few headaches along the way, the recognition for all their hard work more than made up for it.
“It just seemed really stressful,” LJ Johansson said. “The cow didn’t really cooperate with us and we weren’t sure we would get the shots we needed. But walking away from that experience, we felt a real sense of accomplishment. It is definitely the strongest piece in my portfolio.”
Film student Jordan Peterson also felt the payoff for all their time and effort, but for a different reason. It was the audience response - not the awards - that gave him the most satisfaction.
“If people watch it, and they think it’s funny, and they smile and they like it – then I’m happy,” Peterson said.
To read on the original site, click here.
Professor Researches Preeclampsia Cure
Published November 30, 2010 for Brigham Young University
There is a disease that only pregnant women can get: preeclampsia. It is responsible for up to 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths every year, according to the official preeclampsia website.
Though relatively easy to diagnose, there are currently no effective treatments for preeclampsia and no known cause. Characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, preeclampsia is closely related to pregnancy-induced hypertension. If the disease progresses, the only solution is to deliver the baby, no matter how far along in the pregnancy this may occur.
Dr. Steven Graves, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been studying this disease’s symptoms and possible causes since 1983. His focus is on a biological product known as a “digitalis-like factor” which has been implicated in several forms of clinical high blood pressure (or hypertension) including preeclampsia. “This is a material that the body produces that is really not completely characterized,” Graves said. “This means that we don’t know all of its’ chemical makeup or exactly how it works.” Graves helped perform a double-blind, placebo controlled, multi-centered clinical trial on 51 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia. Half were administered a placebo, but half were given a compound known as Digibind®. This antibody fragment was predicted to bind to this digitalis-like factor and eliminate its effects.
The study hoped to reduce the need of anti-hypertension medication and to have a beneficial effect on kidney function. It did not meet the first goal, as many women were too far along in the disease and had already received anti-hypertensive medications before enrollment. But the study was able to demonstrate an improvement or preservation of renal function in response to the drug. This is the first clinical trial of a medication in cases of severe preeclampsia that has showed an end organ effect.
The study also hinted at reduced complications for the baby upon delivery, but further work needs to be done in this area to verify this outcome.
“This was a completely unexpected finding,” Graves said. “Yet, even when matched for gestational age at the early delivery of the baby, the infant had fewer problems when their moms received the drug.”
Though Graves has been working on this project since 1983, his work is not nearly over. He and his collaborators will next conduct a study on women with preeclampsia in the earlier stages of pregnancy. He hopes that treatment will prolong pregnancies, resulting in fewer premature deliveries and, therefore, healthier babies. This will also allow him to further explore the possible benefits of the treatment on the baby.
“Because this compound [the digitalis-like factor] is not a protein and present in blood at exceptionally low concentrations, it makes exploring its structure and function much, much more difficult,” Graves said. “All of the clinical trials, human subjects, and human specimens really make this medical research so it differs from what usually goes on in Chemistry and Biochemistry.”
To read on the original site, click here.
Though relatively easy to diagnose, there are currently no effective treatments for preeclampsia and no known cause. Characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, preeclampsia is closely related to pregnancy-induced hypertension. If the disease progresses, the only solution is to deliver the baby, no matter how far along in the pregnancy this may occur.
Dr. Steven Graves, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been studying this disease’s symptoms and possible causes since 1983. His focus is on a biological product known as a “digitalis-like factor” which has been implicated in several forms of clinical high blood pressure (or hypertension) including preeclampsia. “This is a material that the body produces that is really not completely characterized,” Graves said. “This means that we don’t know all of its’ chemical makeup or exactly how it works.” Graves helped perform a double-blind, placebo controlled, multi-centered clinical trial on 51 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia. Half were administered a placebo, but half were given a compound known as Digibind®. This antibody fragment was predicted to bind to this digitalis-like factor and eliminate its effects.
The study hoped to reduce the need of anti-hypertension medication and to have a beneficial effect on kidney function. It did not meet the first goal, as many women were too far along in the disease and had already received anti-hypertensive medications before enrollment. But the study was able to demonstrate an improvement or preservation of renal function in response to the drug. This is the first clinical trial of a medication in cases of severe preeclampsia that has showed an end organ effect.
The study also hinted at reduced complications for the baby upon delivery, but further work needs to be done in this area to verify this outcome.
“This was a completely unexpected finding,” Graves said. “Yet, even when matched for gestational age at the early delivery of the baby, the infant had fewer problems when their moms received the drug.”
Though Graves has been working on this project since 1983, his work is not nearly over. He and his collaborators will next conduct a study on women with preeclampsia in the earlier stages of pregnancy. He hopes that treatment will prolong pregnancies, resulting in fewer premature deliveries and, therefore, healthier babies. This will also allow him to further explore the possible benefits of the treatment on the baby.
“Because this compound [the digitalis-like factor] is not a protein and present in blood at exceptionally low concentrations, it makes exploring its structure and function much, much more difficult,” Graves said. “All of the clinical trials, human subjects, and human specimens really make this medical research so it differs from what usually goes on in Chemistry and Biochemistry.”
To read on the original site, click here.
BYU Ad Lab Redefines Water Week; Donations Come Pouring in
Published April 13, 2010 in the Daily Universe
The Advertising Lab in BYU’s Communications Department used social media to play a key role in making the annual World Water Week fundraiser a success.
The fundraiser, conducted by The United Nations Children’s Fund’s, more commonly known as UNICEF, usually consists of restaurant patrons donating $1 to UNICEF for their usual free glass of drinking water. The campaign, in place since 2007, was revised this year for smaller market areas.
“They wanted to start an initiative that we could all be involved in at a grassroots level,” said Nic Perner, a senior from Boise, Idaho, who was involved in the campaign.
The BYU Ad Lab, utilizing social media, came up with six main ideas to pitch to the head of the campaign in New York in February. Of the six, five were held back for next year. But one was given a trial run as part of the 2010 campaign.
“They told us that our social media ideas were on par or more advanced than the other major professional companies they were working with,” Perner said. “It was really neat that we were valued the same way ... as someone who does Apple advertising.”
The Ad Lab’s idea for the TapDuel site came from the concept that people give more when they see others giving and feel guilty for not participating. Using this basic human reaction as a platform, the Ad Lab capitalized on this guilt to persuade people to participate and give.
The TapDuel site allows a user to challenge a Facebook friend to a duel. The two friends then compete to see who can donate the most to the cause. All the money donated goes to UNICEF’s initiative to give underprivileged children clean water.
“Generally speaking, donations can be a pressing subject and negative feel, but we wanted donating to children to be a good thing,” said Nathan Wigglesworth, a senior majoring in advertising.
The new site proved successful, as UNICEF’S World Water Week campaign has brought in more than $700,000 so far this year, with more money pouring in every day. The TapDuel site had 400- 500 hits a day from countries around the world.
To read on the original site, click here.
The fundraiser, conducted by The United Nations Children’s Fund’s, more commonly known as UNICEF, usually consists of restaurant patrons donating $1 to UNICEF for their usual free glass of drinking water. The campaign, in place since 2007, was revised this year for smaller market areas.
“They wanted to start an initiative that we could all be involved in at a grassroots level,” said Nic Perner, a senior from Boise, Idaho, who was involved in the campaign.
The BYU Ad Lab, utilizing social media, came up with six main ideas to pitch to the head of the campaign in New York in February. Of the six, five were held back for next year. But one was given a trial run as part of the 2010 campaign.
“They told us that our social media ideas were on par or more advanced than the other major professional companies they were working with,” Perner said. “It was really neat that we were valued the same way ... as someone who does Apple advertising.”
The Ad Lab’s idea for the TapDuel site came from the concept that people give more when they see others giving and feel guilty for not participating. Using this basic human reaction as a platform, the Ad Lab capitalized on this guilt to persuade people to participate and give.
The TapDuel site allows a user to challenge a Facebook friend to a duel. The two friends then compete to see who can donate the most to the cause. All the money donated goes to UNICEF’s initiative to give underprivileged children clean water.
“Generally speaking, donations can be a pressing subject and negative feel, but we wanted donating to children to be a good thing,” said Nathan Wigglesworth, a senior majoring in advertising.
The new site proved successful, as UNICEF’S World Water Week campaign has brought in more than $700,000 so far this year, with more money pouring in every day. The TapDuel site had 400- 500 hits a day from countries around the world.
To read on the original site, click here.
The Skinny on Childhood Obesity
Published March 23, 2010 in the Daily Universe
It took Brandon Riggs, a senior from Columbus, Ga., until the summer after his sophomore year in high school to realize that he didn’t have to be the “fat kid.” Riggs was watching an action movie one summer night when he realized the bulky lead actor was far from tiny, but he wasn’t fat either.
“Even with a big bone structure, you don’t have to be a fat person,” Riggs said. “I knew I was never going to be this skinny person, but I could be good-looking. I could be healthier.”
After Riggs’ realization, he spent the next nine months dropping from 325 pounds to about 160 pounds. Cutting back on calories and developing a rigorous exercise routine was all it took to change things for Riggs.
Through elementary and middle school, Riggs was always a big kid, a fact he feels changed his experience.
“Kids can be cruel and they love to put other kids down,” he said. “It’s hard because you’re growing up and wanting to be the people you see on TV, or you’re trying to become something. You’re trying to develop your identity. I became the last kid picked in gym class. I was the fat kid.”
Riggs returned to his senior year of high school and found his identity had changed. He became senior class president and was able to participate in the school musical.
“People treated me different because I looked different,” Riggs said.
Riggs’ newfound acceptance among his peers was just one of the numerous advantages to losing weight. He also found a new vigor for life and felt physically better all the time. He was able to serve a full-time mission with no hang-ups.
“There are just so many benefits to weight loss,” Riggs said. “It’s insane how much of a better life you can have if you can dedicate yourself to do that.”
According to the Center for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than tripled over the past 30 years, a fact that had first lady Michelle Obama raising her eyebrows.
When Obama’s pediatrician recommended that she make healthier changes to benefit her family, she realized she was not the only mom worried about this problem. Her realization fueled the launch of her campaign against childhood obesity, “Let’s Move.”
According to Rickelle Richards, assistant professor of nutrition, dietetics and food science, there are many contributing factors to the epidemic of childhood obesity.
“We’re looking at a shift in the environment,” Richards said. “It’s individual choices, it’s the environment people live in. It depends on if they’re low income, if they have access to food or access to the ability to exercise. It’s a complex issue.”
Richards claims the sedentary behavior that many Americans have chosen as a lifestyle has contributed to the increase in childhood obesity. That, along with people choosing foods that are cheaper but higher in calories, has led to the alarming trend.
These factors contribute to Obama’s four-part campaign against childhood obesity. “Let’s Move” incorporates healthy choices, healthier schools, physical activity and accessible and affordable healthy food.
The campaign aims to achieve these goals by giving parents the support they need, pushing for healthier food served in school cafeterias and vending machines, encouraging and providing opportunities for kids to get physically active and assuring that healthy food options are available across the country.
“Let’s Move” has an ambitious initiative: to solve the obesity problem within a generation. For the first time, American youth are looking at shorter life spans than their parents.
While this may not seem like a pressing issue to some, the impacts of this trend are alarming. Obesity affects many areas of health, leading some people to osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and infertility. Obesity, however, can also have more devastating consequences, putting people at a higher risk for harmful diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and various cancers.
But obesity isn’t the only thing Americans need to worry about, according to Richards. He also cites cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes as causes of health risks.
“It’s not obesity alone that puts someone at risk,” Richards said.
For more information on healthy habits or the “Let’s Move” campaign, visit letsmove.gov.
To read on the original site, click here.
“Even with a big bone structure, you don’t have to be a fat person,” Riggs said. “I knew I was never going to be this skinny person, but I could be good-looking. I could be healthier.”
After Riggs’ realization, he spent the next nine months dropping from 325 pounds to about 160 pounds. Cutting back on calories and developing a rigorous exercise routine was all it took to change things for Riggs.
Through elementary and middle school, Riggs was always a big kid, a fact he feels changed his experience.
“Kids can be cruel and they love to put other kids down,” he said. “It’s hard because you’re growing up and wanting to be the people you see on TV, or you’re trying to become something. You’re trying to develop your identity. I became the last kid picked in gym class. I was the fat kid.”
Riggs returned to his senior year of high school and found his identity had changed. He became senior class president and was able to participate in the school musical.
“People treated me different because I looked different,” Riggs said.
Riggs’ newfound acceptance among his peers was just one of the numerous advantages to losing weight. He also found a new vigor for life and felt physically better all the time. He was able to serve a full-time mission with no hang-ups.
“There are just so many benefits to weight loss,” Riggs said. “It’s insane how much of a better life you can have if you can dedicate yourself to do that.”
According to the Center for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than tripled over the past 30 years, a fact that had first lady Michelle Obama raising her eyebrows.
When Obama’s pediatrician recommended that she make healthier changes to benefit her family, she realized she was not the only mom worried about this problem. Her realization fueled the launch of her campaign against childhood obesity, “Let’s Move.”
According to Rickelle Richards, assistant professor of nutrition, dietetics and food science, there are many contributing factors to the epidemic of childhood obesity.
“We’re looking at a shift in the environment,” Richards said. “It’s individual choices, it’s the environment people live in. It depends on if they’re low income, if they have access to food or access to the ability to exercise. It’s a complex issue.”
Richards claims the sedentary behavior that many Americans have chosen as a lifestyle has contributed to the increase in childhood obesity. That, along with people choosing foods that are cheaper but higher in calories, has led to the alarming trend.
These factors contribute to Obama’s four-part campaign against childhood obesity. “Let’s Move” incorporates healthy choices, healthier schools, physical activity and accessible and affordable healthy food.
The campaign aims to achieve these goals by giving parents the support they need, pushing for healthier food served in school cafeterias and vending machines, encouraging and providing opportunities for kids to get physically active and assuring that healthy food options are available across the country.
“Let’s Move” has an ambitious initiative: to solve the obesity problem within a generation. For the first time, American youth are looking at shorter life spans than their parents.
While this may not seem like a pressing issue to some, the impacts of this trend are alarming. Obesity affects many areas of health, leading some people to osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and infertility. Obesity, however, can also have more devastating consequences, putting people at a higher risk for harmful diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and various cancers.
But obesity isn’t the only thing Americans need to worry about, according to Richards. He also cites cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes as causes of health risks.
“It’s not obesity alone that puts someone at risk,” Richards said.
For more information on healthy habits or the “Let’s Move” campaign, visit letsmove.gov.
To read on the original site, click here.
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