No-Code Automation Software is the Future for Federal Agencies

by  Obspring

Take control of risk management processes with the most advanced, easy-to-use GRC software.

The vast innovation and possibilities are exciting for many, but some dread the burden it will cause on their IT resources. With modernization efforts driving federal agencies to adopt cloud-based technology, leadership is looking to create efficiencies and enable better collaborations that don't break the bank or overwhelm burdened teams.

Here we'll take you through the increase in demand for cloud-based no-code technology, including how this software works and how it helps federal agencies.

 Read full story at NextGov…

Wi-Fi 7 Is Here: What Does That Mean for State and Local Governments?

by  Michael Hickey

State and local agencies have a lot to look forward to as Wi-Fi 7 finds its footing, but Wi-Fi 6E remains the dominant wireless networking option.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has introduced Wi-Fi 7, officially known as 802.11be, as the latest wireless internet standard and is now officially certifying devices that support the new technology. In the future, homes and offices could have Wi-Fi capable of delivering peak rates of over 40 gigabits per second.

"“Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 enhances Wi-Fi performance in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, bringing cutting-edge capabilities to enable innovations that require high throughput, lower latency, and greater reliability across home, enterprise, and industrial environments,” the alliance states. “Key applications supported by Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 include augmented, virtual, and extended reality (AR/VR/XR), immersive 3D training, and ultra-high definition video streaming.”

 Read full story at StateTech…

Zero Trust Experts: Prioritize People, Culture in Your ZT Journey

by  Grace Dille

Zero trust security is a complex and moving target, but cybersecurity experts today explained how focusing on your people and instilling a culture of cybersecurity can help Federal agencies reduce zero trust complexity

At the Visualyze Zero Trust Security Summit hosted by MeriTalk and Gigamon on Feb. 29 in Washington, D.C., panelists shared how they are focusing on the culture piece of zero trust in order to be successful.

"We can talk about the tech stack ... but it's really about the changes that are happening inside the organizations themselves," said Sean Connelly, senior cybersecurity architect at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and program manager of its Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) initiative.

 Read full story at MeriTalk…

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

by  Nelson Aguilar

These hidden iOS features and settings might change the way you use your iPhone.

iOS 17 has been out for nearly half a year, releasing in September 2023, and while that's plenty of time to explore Apple's latest mobile OS update, there's always something new to discover.

If you want to take a closer look at some of the lesser-known features and settings on iOS 17 right now, here's what you need to know.

 Read full story at Cnet…

How Does a Chatbot Remember the Prompts You Gave It?

by  Bijin Jose

What are context windows, and how do they help chatbots 'talk' to you? Is a larger context window always a good thing? We explain.

ChatGPT can engage us in engrossing conversations, coming up with interesting answers to a variety of questions. What you see and interact with is the chat interface, much like WhatsApp or any other messenger, and the one you are conversing with is the AI. In this case, the AI is GPT 3.5 or GPT-4, the large language model (LLM) that powers the chatbot.

But have you ever wondered how the chatbot 'talks' to you? How does it remember the earlier prompts you shared during the conversation? The amount of conversation a chatbot can remember depends on something called context window. While we can read everything we input on the chat interface, it doesn't quite work in the same way for the chatbot. The text it can 'see' or 'read' at a given moment is called its context window.

 Read full story at The Indian Express…

The Highest-Paid IT Skills -- and Why You Need Them on Your Resume

by  Lucas Mearian

Not surprisingly, generative AI skills topped a list of capabilities companies are seeking in new hires.

The top 10 highest paid skills in tech can help workers earn up to 47% more -- and the top skill among them is generative artificial intelligence (genAI), according to a new report from employment website Indeed and other sources.

For example, the top three skills -- genAI, system-on-a-chip (SoC) and deep learning -- each command an annual salary north of $170,000.

This year, the median salary for IT skilled workers is $101,323, according to IT business consultancy Janco Associates.

 Read full story at Computerworld…

2024 PJM Outlook: Tough Choices Loom on Capacity Market, Plant Retirements, Transmission Planning

by  Ethan Howland

Ensuring that enough new generation comes online to replace retiring power plants is a key issue that threads through PJM's expected focus this year, stakeholders and observers said.

The top issues facing the PJM Interconnection this year are capacity market reforms, power plant retirements and the development of a new transmission planning paradigm, according to key stakeholders and industry consultants.

Adding to the complexity of PJM's challenges, the issues are intertwined.

“Everything is connected,” said Steve Lieberman, American Municipal Power vice president of transmission and regulatory affairs. “We might talk about them in silos on different days, but the rules for the capacity construct, the rules for the energy market, the way the interconnection queue works, the way we do the transmission planning ... it's really all together.”

 Read full story at UtilityDive>…

FEMA to Fund Net-Zero Energy Projects - Including Solar Microgrids - in Disaster Areas

by  Kathy Hitchens

In the wake of a disaster, schools, hospitals, fire stations and other community infrastructure entities are now able to use FEMA grant money to rebuild using net-zero technologies such as solar microgrids and heat pumps.

… Solar microgrids, heat pumps, high-performance appliances, and passive heating and cooling systems are among the types of projects that now qualify for grant money from the programs.

 Read full story at Microgrid Knowledge…

U.S. Power Sector Turns to Innovative Technologies for Extreme Weather Prediction

by  Sydney Leimbach

Recent research shows that U.S. utilities and power companies have implemented prediction technologies, smart grid systems, AI, and more for grid resilience.

New research recently published by Wi-SUN Alliance shows that utilities and power companies in the United States have turned to advanced weather prediction technologies, integration of renewables, predictive maintenance analytics, and more in order to address the growing prevalence of extreme weather events.

 Read full story at Environmental+Energy Leader…