Four Real-Life Ways

14 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2017 Smartphones keep people constantly connected, smart cars can drive and park themselves, and smart buildings are designed to use less energy as they keep everyone occupying them comfy and productive. Of course you think you know how technology is revolutionizing everyday life. But do you really understand that tech now touches everything?

Technology’s influence on modern life may be even greater than you realize. Here are four ways technology could transform your life at home and at work:

1. Home life Technology is making homes “smarter” and more connected. You may already have a smart thermostat in your home that adjusts the temperature automatically and learns your patterns and preferences to provide you with maximum comfort for minimum energy expenditure. But wouldn’t you like to be able to control that thermostat - or the lights, alarm and blinds - from your office using your smartphone? Wouldn’t it be great if you could ask your refrigerator whether you need milk so you can pick it up on your way home from work?

The technology to do all those things already exists and is becoming more commonplace. BI Intelligence predicts that by 2020, 193 million smart home devices will be shipped. The devices will range from smart clothes washers and dryers to alarm system components, energy equipment like thermostats, and smart lighting.

2. Safer roadways The leading factors that lead to car crashes have one thing in common - they all involve a human being behind the wheel. Data compiled by the Auto Insurance Center found bad driving behaviors like failure to yield right of way, not staying in the proper lane and reckless or careless driving were leading causes of accidents.

Emerging technology aims to reduce the element of human error. Connected cars use wireless technology for a range of purposes, from navigation to remote monitoring and control and even managing vehicle systems. Expected to enhance the driver’s experience, all new passenger cars sold in 2025 will be connected, according to the 2015 study, “Connected vehicle-Succeeding with a disruptive technology,” from Accenture Strategy.

3. Less time in doctor’s offices Every time you visit a doctor’s office or stay in a hospital, many costs are incurred. Co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles cost you cash, plus you could lose valuable work time. Insurance companies pay Four Real-Life Ways Technology Is Transforming The Present And The Future

for covered services, while visits to the hospital or doctor’s office costs health care providers costly staff hours. Technologies such as remote health monitoring and diagnostics can help trim costs and deliver care.

Remote monitoring uses a variety of devices (monitors) to help patients and doctors keep tabs on important health indicators, such as blood pressure or blood sugar levels. It can help physicians provide health care while incurring fewer costs associated with missed appointments and hospital readmissions, notes the Deloitte University Press. 4. Safer senior years As they grow older, many people find they need help at home in order to remain independent. Assisted living facilities aim to give seniors basic in-home care, such as help with taking medications. Technology is now available to help seniors who remain at home, including fall detection sensors and activity monitors to interactive food logs, and symptom tracking to machines that help automate wound care and physical therapy.

Devices ranging from sensors and environmental controls to vehicles that are connected through the internet are some aspects of the Internet of Things, and it’s a network that continues to grow, which could make tech skills more desirable.

DeVry University, which was founded in 1931 with an emphasis on technology, offers degree programs that focus on information technology and computer sciences. DeVry has put technology at the core of its business, tech and health care programs.—BPT

16 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2017 Screen Time, Cont'd from page 7 is equal,” says Barbara Peacock, managing director of School Zone Inc., a recognized leader in creating innovative multimedia learning tools to prepare children for a lifelong love of education who recently launched AnywhereTeacher.com, a “Digital Educational Playground” for kids 2-8. “Everyone agrees it’s important for children to maintain healthful levels of physical activity, but studies also show educational screen time can be an effective way to supplement children’s learning. As the American Academy of Pediatrics recently noted, ‘the effects of media use are multi-factorial and depend on the type of media, the type of use, the amount and extent of use, and the characteristics of the individual child.” New understanding The AAP and other child health experts have long counseled parents against allowing very young children to have much screen time. However, the AAP recently revised its stance, citing “evidence regarding health media use (that) does not support a one-sizefits-all approach” to media use by children.

Rather than keeping young children off devices entirely, the AAP now advises parents to develop a Family Media Use Plan that takes into account children’s developmental stages, and uses that information to create an appropriate and individual balance for media usage by each child. The AAP encourages parents to establish boundaries for how and when children may use digital devices, ensure they understand the importance of not sharing personal information online, and openly talk with children about media use.

In revising its recommendation, the AAP looked to a growing body of research that shows digital media use can help facilitate learning. Writing in the Hechinger Report, a highly regarded watchdog media outlet that covers inequality and innovation in education, Lisa Guernsey, director of New America’s early education initiative, and Michael H. Levine, founding director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, a nonprofit literacy and digital media research organization, explained the shift in thinking.

“Literacy rates and toddlers’ media use may seem unrelated, but they are inextricably tied,” the co-authors noted. “The important connections between media and reading must be brought to light in schools, households, and in the public’s imagination ... children at very young ages can gain important skills in literacy and language development if the content on the screen is designed for learning and if they have a parent or educator who talks with them about what they are doing and seeing.” Making media work for learning Parental involvement in media use is the key difference between programming that benefits children’s educational development, and valueless screen time, research shows.

The National Head Start Association recently stressed that “family engagement is integral” to successful learning. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education agreed in a joint policy statement issued in May 2015: “Families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates and nurturers,” the statement said, calling family involvement in kids’ education “critical” to their long-term success.

Busy tech-savvy parents recognize how easy technology can make it to access high-quality supplemental learning tools for their children, but finding a trusted source of curated content is not always easy. Speaking to her company’s newly launched site, Peacock comments, “AnywhereTeacher.com features content that has been developed exclusively by School Zone based on decades of research and broad-based experience working with educators, dating back almost 40 years when our founders, James Hoffman, Ed.D and his wife Joan, MA, recognized the need for at-home learning materials.” The subscription-based AnywhereTeacher.com is an easy to navigate site for youngsters that combines the power of video with traditional learning tools such as flash cards, games, interactive worksheets and printable activities. Original episodic programming like Charlie & Company engages children with educational messages in a fun, familiar way.

The service, which starts at just $6.99 per month, allows parents to manage their children’s activities and view their progress, creating an opportunity to talk about learning goals and improvement. The service is compatible with most devices and you can buy a subscription through iTunes, Google Play or PayPal to gain access from any device. There’s no limit on the number of devices families can simultaneously use to access the site. Visit AnywhereTeacher.com to learn more.BPT

Daylight Savings Con'd from page 9 Unwinding with your favorite TV shows or reading the latest news on your smartphone or tablet can seem like a nice way to ease into falling asleep once the kids are in bed, but it can hinder your sleep if you do it within an hour of bedtime. The blue light release from these various technological devices can actually trick your brain into thinking it is daytime and your body will delay its release of melatonin. 3. Step outside. Use that extra daylight to spend some quality time outside with your family. Research suggests a correlation between exercise and a good night’s rest. You can even use a pedometer or step monitor to ensure you’re moving your body enough throughout the day. Challenge your family to be more active and your whole family will be getting more sleep. 4. Create an environment for sleep. A perfect sleep environment should be dark, quiet and cool so you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep. If you have challenges with any of these factors, invest in some blackout curtains, ear plugs or a fan. 5. Get support with a melatonin supplement Various factors can affect the natural production of melatonin in our bodies such as age, diet, time changes and stress. Supplementing with melatonin can help establish normal sleep patterns to give you a more restful, relaxing sleep and in turn, better overall health. Try Natrol Melatonin, a 100 percent drug-free sleep aid that is non-habit forming to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep so you wake up feeling refreshed.

“Keep in mind that everyone’s body is different so use these tips and be patient. Before long, moms and their families will be fully rested and ready to tackle their busy days,” Wright says.—BPT

Rural Leader Forty under 40 Call for Nominations TWENTY SEVENTEEN

Honoring Exemplary Young Leaders in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia

Rural Leader Magazine is searching for 40 exemplary individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their communities. So often leaders in smaller communities are not recognized. Rural Leader 40 under 40 was developed with the purpose to recognize exclusively leaders who live and work in small communities.

Many are dedicated to making things happen in their churches, businesses, organizations, and communities. They are unsung heroes who contribute much to the vitality and sustainability of their communities. Rural Leader 40 under 40 is an effort to demonstrate the value of those contributions.

And so, Rural Leader Magazine needs your help to identify these deserving young leaders in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The call for nominations opens March 1, 2017. The deadline is April 30, 2017 for all applications.

Here’s what we’re looking for: 1. Nominee must be at least 20 and under 40 as of September 1, 2017 AND reside or work in a small rural community with a population of 15,000 or less in AL, FL, or GA. 2. Applications must be completed online or via Email by April 30, 2017. nated by someone else. 4. The selected 40 will be featured in the September 2017 edition of Rural Leader Magazine.

The top four nominees will be featured on the magazine cover. The selected Rural Leader 40 under 40 nominees will be honored with a luncheon. The winner will be announced during the luncheon honors. 5. Selected nominees must attend luncheon honors that will be held Friday, September 1, 2017 at 11:30 AM at Albany Technical College, 1704 South Slappey Boulevard in Georgia. 6. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by Rural Leader Magazine. Selected nominees will be notified via email. All decisions final. 7. To apply, visit RuralLeaderMag.com. Or Send the information below via email by the above deadline to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com 8. Information to include: Nominee’s Name, Age, Employer, Title/Position Mailing Address, (County), State, Zip Code Phone (Include Area Code), and Email Address 8A. Send a quality headshot photo of at least 300 dpi of the nominee under separate cover to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com 9. Answer the following questions about your Nominee: 1. What distinguishes your nominee? 2. Tell us about their contributions and involvement in community. 3. Describe your nominee’s professional achievements and activities. 10 Also include: Nominee/Nominator may also attach resume (3 page limit, please). Name of Nominator if different from nominee; How do you know the nominee? Phone and Email (of the nominator).—