Catch noHold's CEO speaking at Conversational Interaction Conference

Greetings!

Wanted to give you guys the heads up that noHold's CEO, Diego Ventura, will be speaking at the Conversational Interaction Conference in San Jose, California. On Monday, January 30th, Diego will be presenting "Connecting Humans and the Internet of Things." In his talk he will be discussing the significant impact Virtual Assistants are having on our lives. He will answer questions such as how Virtual Assistants can be leveraged at every stage of the product life cycle, not just support, and how Virtual Assistants will improve the way humans connect to the Internet of Things. 

After 17 years of being of major contributor in the Virtual Assistant space, Diego is excited to give an insiders perspective on where the market is, and where it is heading. "The CI Conference will discuss how companies and application developers can take advantage of this trend - including resources for creating bots and digital assistants, delivering customer service in natural language, best practices, examples of deployed solutions, and other commercial opportunities generated by the trend."

If you are interested in hearing Diego, and other acknowledged leaders in this space, visit www.conversationalinteraction.com to register and reserve your spot for this 2-Day conference. 
We hope to see you there! Cheers!
#CIcon2017
www.nohold.com

Trends to Look for at Rio's Summer Olympics

There is much anticipation building as we wait for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio summer Olympics to start this Friday, August 5th. Top athletes from all around the world will make their way to Brazil to compete for the ultimate prize, a gold medal. This year, more so than others, technology will play a huge role in a variety of aspects at the games. Here are some of the major tech trends that can be spotted at this years summer Olympics. 

According to multiple articles, wearable technology will be all over Rio, from helping athletes train, to improving the overall experience for the Olympians. Here are a few examples of what kinds of wearable tech you'll see.

• Visa's NFC-enables payment ring- this ring, mostly used by athletes and Visa employees, allows payments to be made with a simple wave of the hand.

Photo Source

• Solos- these augmented reality glasses are being used by the US cycling team to provide data driven training. These glasses are able to collect information such as power, speed and pedal revolutions from bike sensors and in real time, relay that information to the cyclists straight on their glasses. "With the ability for the athlete to reveice real-time feedback via the Solos smart glasses, they can now adjust on the fly," says Ernesto Martinez, a director at Solos.

Photo Source

• WHOOP- Being used by athletes for some time now, WHOOP is unlike traditional wearable devices. It tracks more than your heart rate and steps taken, it goes a step further and reports on "how travel is affecting them, how close they are to a potential injury, and how much training is too much training." (sikids.com)

Photo Source

Another trend you will notice this year is the attention large tech moguls are placing on the games. Google, Comcast, Twitter, Facebook, etc are all finding ways to make all the games (and relevant information) easily accessible to you. "Google announced on Monday that it's tuning up Search, YouTube, Trends, and Google Maps for a better mobile and online experience that helps fans find event information, official broadcaster videos, and user-generated content." (ZDNet) Twitter is also take part in the movement, launching a live Rio Olympics moments button, providing live content, highlights, and lots of new emojis. (digitaltrends)

Lastly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be highly used this year. Some of the products mentioned above and more utilize some form of AI to extract the pertinent data, and turn it into practical information that athletes can use when training. Virtual Assistants are one way to augment the way athletes interact with these different technologies. Connecting Virtual Assistants to these wearable devices makes for a simplified approach to analyzing data collected by these devices. Athletes can easily ask the VA some a question regarding their health, and the VA will use the information from the wearable device to give an appropriate response. See the video below for a short demonstration.

I am looking forward to seeing how these different technologies will impact the games this year. What are some other types of tech you are hearing about in Rio? Is it fair to be using these types of technology, does it give some countries an unfair advantage? What's your opinion? 

www.nohold.com

One Year Later: Revisiting with Diego Ventura, CEO, noHold

Introduction

One year ago this month, Connected World interviewed Diego Ventura, CEO of noHold about virtual agents, the IoT (Internet of Things), and AI (artificial intelligence). In the year since that interview, the pace of developments in these areas, and for noHold as well, has been blistering.

noHold has announced a number of important developments since June of 2014, clear indicators of the company’s vitality and its commitment to innovation.

Some of the key announcements were the continuation of its longstanding relationship with ViewSonic, and the launch of a collaborative project with Cisco to develop the next generation of AI-enabled virtual assistants. This project, code named SARA for “Services Automated Resolution Agent,” is intended to “revolutionize the interaction by integrating with sophisticated back office systems and deeper understanding of complex problem resolution.”

One of the more exciting projects Ventura’s team has launched is “Virtual Volunteer,” a program designed to give charitable organizations a means to supplement a diminishing base of human volunteers, the ones who make the calls to secure contributions from donors.

Connected World’s Tim Lindner, who originally interviewed Ventura, caught up with him recently to see just what noHold has been doing this past year.

For the full interview with Diego Ventura, please follow this link to Connected World Magazine: http://connectedworld.com/one-year-later-revisiting-with-diego-ventura-ceo-nohold/

Self-Service and the Internet of Everything Make a Big Splash at CES 2015

It was a record breaking year for the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). There were tons of innovative and immersive technologies being showcased, including things like driver-less cars, 4K TV's, advances in wearable devices, and virtual realities.

But what do all these things have in common? They all have the potential to be connected with the Internet of Everything (IoE) phenomenon, a continuing hot topic throughout the space. Check out this short clip from CES's YouTube channel, highlighting one of the major trends at this years show, the IoE.

Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Assistants also made an appearance at CES 2015. According to an article from inc.com, Virtual Assistants are one of the top tech trends to watch out for this year (8 Hot Tech Trends Coming to Your Office in 2015). Gartner also predicted in 2012 that "by 2015 [this year], 50 percent of online customer self-service search activities will be via a Virtual Assistant for at least 1,500 large enterprises" (Gartner Says Organizations That Integrate Communities Into Customer Support Can Realize Cost Reductions of Up to 50 Percent). While the exact numbers are not available at this point, it is apparent that since 2012 more and more companies are adopting self-service strategies to support their customers' needs.   

What were some of the tech gadgets that caught your eye this year? Any predictions for CES 2016?  
www.nohold.com

The Most Disruptive Technology Trend in IT History... The Smart Machine Era

Earlier in the month, one of the top analyst firms in the industry posted their predictions of the top 10 strategic technology trends for the coming year. For example, being able to compute everywhere on mobile devices, embracing the Internet of Things, and 3D printing are just a few of the kinds of disruptive technologies we will be further immersed in as 2015 approaches. 

The smart machine era is another trend that is considered to be the most disruptive in IT history thus far. In this era of smart machines, they now have the capability to analyze the environment around them, learn from it, and make educated decisions on their own. Leading analysts agree that prototype self-driving cars, intelligent robots, and Virtual Personal Assistants (VPAs) will continue to develop at a fast pace. 

Similarly, Virtual Customer Assistants (VCA) are evolving rapidly. Using this type of disruptive technology will not only decrease support costs, but also improve the customer experience and increase revenue. According to a distinguished magazine publication, when consumers start a support interaction, they are 4x more likely to leave that interaction unsatisfied and stop shopping with your brand. The presence of a VCA allows users to find the answers to their own questions, on their own time – quickly.    

Companies that want to stay competitive need to start thinking about incorporating these strategic trends into their organization. Is your company already adopting some of these trends? If so, which ones and how? Does your eServices strategy emphasize the importance of self-service?     
www.nohold.com

Didn't Get a Chance to Catch the Peggy Smedley Show? Check It Out on Demand

Yesterday, our CEO had the privilege to be featured on one of the most reputable radio shows for M2M and connected devices, the Peggy Smedley Show. Alongside was Glenn Schleicher, Sr. Director of Customer Service at Cisco. Together, Diego and Glenn, put on a great show, sharing their knowledge and forward-thinking about the Internet of Everything (IoE). 

We just wanted to take the time to say thank you to everyone that was able to tune in to the show. It was a great opportunity to let listeners know what noHold is doing and how important it is, especially as we getting deeper into the IoE. If you did not get a chance to catch the show, but would still like to hear their thought-provoking discussion, please follow the link to archived episodes and click on episode #333. There you will find four segments, Diego joins the conversation in the second segment, 'Interaction with the Internet of Things' and continues into the subsequent segments.    

In today's market, Diego believes the sky is the limit for Artificial Intelligence. It is apparent that A.I. is becoming apart of our daily lives already (i.e. Siri, Watson, GoogleNow, etc.) and it will only get more advanced in the future. Now, with things being connected to the Internet by the second, A.I. can help manage all those 'things.' During the discussion, Peggy mentions that Cisco said, "99% of things in the physical world are still not connected to the Internet, but by 2020, 37 billion intelligent things will be connected to the Internet." With so many connected devices, it is going to be imperative to leverage A.I. to simplify the complexities. 

Glenn joined the discussion and mentioned that there is a new level of challenges that comes with the Internet of Everything -updating software, troubleshooting problems, higher volumes of customers etc.- but by designing self-service (Virtual Agents) that can handle these complex interactions, the Internet of Everything is a very tangible concept for the near future. 

Take a listen to the show and let us know what you think about the Internet of Everything. If you have any questions, you can fill out a contact us form from our website, or tweet us your question by tagging @noHoldAI and using #IoEConvo. We will get back to you as soon as possible. 
www.nohold.com 

REMINDER: noHold's CEO Will be on the Peggy Smedley Show in T-Minus 30 Minutes

About a month ago, Diego Ventura, CEO of noHold, was published in an interview with Connected World Magazine. He had the opportunity to talk with Tim Lindner, a distinguished member of the Editorial Advisory Board at Connected World Magazine about the Internet of Everything and Artificial Intelligence, and how noHold fits in. To read the full interview, please follow this link.   

Today at 10:15 AM PT, Diego will be appearing live on the Peggy Smedley Show, the voice of M2M and connected devices. 

To listen in:  

1. Go to http://www.peggysmedleyshow.com/  

2. Click on the "Listen Live Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. CT" link in the navigation bar at the top of the page.

Nearing the end of the show, there will be a Question and Answer portion for listeners to call in and ask questions or offer comments; the phone number is 866-977-2346 ext. 2. noHold will also be tweeting live throughout the show, so be sure to tweet your comments/questions to noHold by tagging @noHoldAI and using #IoEConvo.

Have questions after the show? You can let us know, by going to the contact us page on our website and filling out an 'email us' form located on the right side of the page. 

We hope you can join us! Enjoy!

http://www.nohold.com/diego-talks-ioe-peggy-smedley-show.html

Diego Ventura, CEO of noHold, with Special Guest Glenn Schleicher, Sr. Director of Customer Service at Cisco, Talk about the Internet of Everything (IoE) on The Peggy Smedley Show

August 11, 2014, Milpitas, California – In recent news, Diego Ventura, the Founder and CEO of noHold, Inc. was published in an interview with Connected World Magazine. Now, Ventura is invited back to be a guest on their live radio show, The Peggy Smedley Show.

Connected World Magazine is a trusted source for all things M2M. They provide insider knowledge about the latest innovations in connectivity, and top technology trends. Tim Lindner, a distinguished member of the editorial advisory board at Connected World Magazine, sat down with Diego to talk about the Internet of Everything phenomenon and how noHold fits into the equation. “What we learned is that what noHold does will at some point in the future touch your lives on a daily basis. It will soon be very transparent to you. All you will see, hear, and touch will be his company’s Virtual Agents.” (Lindner, 2014; Diego Ventura, CEO noHold, Talks IoE and A.I.). To read the full interview, please click here.

As a seasoned veteran on all things M2M and connected devices, The Peggy Smedley Show is a reputable source for industry professionals and technology enthusiast alike. The show features select guests to inform listeners of the different perspectives on the market today, and what they envision for the future. noHold is very excited to announce, tomorrow, August 12th at 12:15 p.m. CT, Diego Ventura will debut live on The Peggy Smedley Show. Glenn Schleicher, Sr. Director of Customer Services at Cisco will also be there sharing his thoughts on the topics at hand. They will sit down and discuss matters such as: Virtual Agents empowering humans to experience the Internet of Everything, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), cognitive computing, and everything in between.

To listen, please go to http://www.peggysmedleyshow.com/, and click on the ‘Listen Live Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT’ link in the navigation bar at the top of the page. Be sure to call in during the Q&A portion of the show to share your questions and comments; the number is 866-977-2346 ext. 2. Also, we will be tweeting live throughout the show. To join the conversation tag @noHoldAI and use #IoEConvo.

“It is nice to see the industry accepting Artificial Intelligence as a strategic differentiator. The show will give us an opportunity to discuss some of the latest developments and what the future has in store.” Diego Ventura, CEO of noHold.

About noHold, Inc.

noHold is a privately held company established in 1999 and is headquartered in Milpitas, CA, USA (Silicon Valley). noHold is the acknowledged leader in Web based Self-service solutions with a mission to deliver real answers to real questions - real fast. Simple to use, easy to implement and as close to human as you can get, noHold turns automated customer support into cognitive customer interaction. noHold customers include Toshiba, Lenovo, Cisco and a host of industry leaders. More information can be found at www.nohold.com.

About The Peggy Smedley Show

As the voice of M2M and connected devices, The Peggy Smedley Show is an entertaining, yet fun, resource for listeners looking to understand the issues and challenges of implementing the newest technologies both in the workplace and at home. Broadcast live each Tuesday from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. CT on wsRadio.com, host Peggy Smedley brings her years of experience, knowledge, analysis, and sense of humor to each show. The Peggy Smedley Show features discussions with top-tech thinkers and newsmakers, offering in-depth analysis, while sharing the hottest connected-device stories and trends. To learn more, or to hear current or past shows, please visit www.peggysmedleyshow.com.

Press Contacts

Sarah Ramoz

Marketing Operations Manager

sramoz@nohold.com

408.946.9200 ext. 305

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Exclusive Interview: Diego Ventura Talks with Connected World Magazine About IoE and AI

The CEO and founder of noHold, Diego Ventura, sat down with Tim Lindner of Connected World Magazine to talk about the Internet of Everything (IoE) and how Virtual Agents are a growing part of this phenomenon. Below is the introduction to the article; to read the full interview, please click here.   

Introduction
"At the close of 2012, Ray Kurzweil, a well-known inventor, futurist, and founder of Singularitarianism, posted a brief article in his online newsletter entitled "How the Internet of Everything Will Change the World."

His primary source was Cisco, which at the time was beginning its transformation into a company primarily focused on supplying the infrastructure that would support the explosive growth it forecasted as the world embraced the IoE (Internet of Everything).

Cisco made the statement that "more than 99% of things in the physical world are still not connected to the Internet." Cisco went on to state that "by 2020, 37 billion intelligent things will be connected to the Internet." 2020 is less than six years away.

As Cisco defines it, "The Internet of Everything builds on the foundation of the IoT (Internet of Things) by adding network intelligence that allows convergence, orchestration, and visibility across previously disparate systems."

Like the iceberg, the things we can see, such as connected-smart devices in people's hands or cars, is just a small part of the whole. The larger part unseen by most is the infrastructure that connects those devices and makes the Internet of Everything work.

It is here, unseen but an important player in the functioning of the infrastructure, "adding network intelligence that allows convergence, orchestration, and visibility across previously disparate systems," that we find Diego Ventura and his company, noHold, Inc. Recently Connected World magazine's Tim Lindner sat down with the very distinguished Ventura to have a very candid conversation about how he plans on charting a course for noHold straight into the future of the Internet of Everything. What we learned is that what noHold does will at some point in the future touch your lives on a daily basis. It will soon be very transparent to you. All you will see, hear, and touch will be his company's Virtual Agents."

To read the full interview, visit: Diego Ventura, CEO, noHold Talks IoE and AI

For more information about noHold, visit: www.nohold.com

Throwback Thursday: Before the Internet of Everything (IoE)

Happy Throwback Thursday! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, with a great start to the new year.

For the first throwback of the year, I thought I would dive into a hot topic of 2014, the Internet of Everything (IoE). More and more devices are connecting to the internet daily. In the past (circa 2003), only 500 million devices were connected. (The Internet of Things: How the Next Evolution of the Internet Is Changing Everything) That sounds like a lot for that time, but when you look at it from a world population stand point, it is less than one device for every person in the world. 

As of 2012, Cisco found that the number of devices connected to the Internet was about 8.7 billion. (How Many Things Are Currently Connected to the “Internet of Things” (IoT)?) Since the launch of Smartphones and tablets, the amount of devices connected to the internet has increased significantly, meaning there is a little over one device connected to the internet per person. This massive increase can be correlated with the launch of Apple's iPhone and other smartphones/tablets. Smartphones are not the only smart machines on the market though, there are smart cars, smart TV’s, smart refrigerators, even smart coffee machines. The goal of the IoE is for all these different devices to be able to work with each other; Bridging the communication gap between man and machine.    

The predictions for the future of the IoE are positive. Leading analyst firms and Fortune 500 companies agree that by 2015 there will be an estimated 15 billion devices connected and by 2020 there will be over 30 billion devices connected to the Internet. What do you think about these numbers? Will the IoE change the way we live for the better?   

Subscribe to noHold's blog to find out how Virtual Agents play a role in the Internet of Everything (IoE)/Internet of Things (IoT).