< Previous20 edge_may 2023 interviewedge_may 2023 21 interview Making the world a better place from space Clint Crosier, Director, Aerospace and Satellite Solutions, AWS, discussed how his team harnesses the power of data to reimagine the space industry SPACE TECH By Adelle Geronimo S pace exploration is a captivating field that has always held the potential to expand our understanding of the universe, leading to exciting new discoveries that extend far beyond our own planet. But more than the excitement of reaching for the stars, space exploration is also leading to practical technological innovations that are transforming our daily lives including portable computers, artificial limbs, water filters, invisible braces for teeth and the list goes on. More interestingly, the modern space industry is now utilising business technologies, specifically cloud infrastructure and cloud-based solutions, to reduce data collection costs and speed up the analysis process. In 2020, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched an aerospace and satellite business unit to assist space companies in taking advantage of cloud technology to unlock new discoveries and improve life on Earth. The team is led by retired Air Force Major General Clint Crosier, who possesses extensive experience in space operations and was previously responsible for planning and designing the Space Force branch of the US military. “Space exploration has resulted in remarkable technological advancements that have made a significant impact in fields beyond space-related activities,” said Clint Crosier, Director, Aerospace and Satellite Solutions, AWS. “Many people are unaware that technology developed by space agencies has found practical applications in medical support, production of medicine and X-ray capabilities, and many other areas. Not only does space exploration satisfy human curiosity and spirit, but it also provides practical benefits that can improve life on earth.” Over the years, the space industry has become an increasingly attractive investment opportunity, capturing the attention of major financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch who project that the sector will soar to over $1 trillion by 2040. In recognition of this, AWS set out to assemble a team of experts with deep space industry experience. The team comprises individuals with a wealth of knowledge ranging from spacecraft design, space launch, and satellite operations, to ground system operations. “By combining our space expertise with AWS’s advanced cloud capabilities, we can sit down with space customers worldwide and 22 edge_may 2023 interview help them realise how to advance the industry technologically,” explained Crosier. “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to speak with space companies and agencies every day about how to push the boundaries of technology and space activity. I tell people, I have the best job in the world.” Driving change Closer to home, the UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) leveraged AWS tools to process large volumes of data collected by the Hope Probe. With a mission science data centre completely deployed on AWS, the infrastructure is entirely automated, allowing for quick processing of raw instrument data to generate scientific products in under 20 minutes. This is faster compared to non-cloud-based missions, which can take up to 48 hours. The processed data is immediately accessible to the science team for analysis. “In addition to this, we also partnered with the MBRSC to run a Space Tech Challenge in Dubai, where companies were asked to use satellite data in the AWS cloud to determine the best areas for palm dates based on soil content, water supply, and pest infestation,” said Crosier. He added, “The solutions developed by various companies were presented to the government, and they are now using this capability to support the palm date industry. AWS sees these examples as proof that space data can be utilised in unexpected ways, such as in agriculture, maritime security, climate change, and management. AWS’s Clint Crosier, Director, Aerospace and Satellite Solutions, AWS “Space exploration has resulted in remarkable technological advancements that have made a significant impact in fields beyond space-related activities” goal is to use satellite data to make the world a better place, from space.” In December, the UAE Space Agency and AWS also signed an agreement to collaborate in creating a thriving and competitive space sector in the country. As part of the collaboration, AWS will provide technical tools and resources to commercial and public space companies and young professionals in partnership with the UAE Space Agency and related government space organisations and institutions. Data processing…in space Today, the number of companies and space agencies recognising the value of space data is increasing, and as a result, there is a growing demand for cloud-based solutions that can analyse space data effectively. “At AWS, a team with expertise in space and cloud technology collaborate to identify the unique challenges faced by space companies and offer customised cloud solutions. The expertise provided by AWS helps companies to unlock the full potential of space data and improve the effectiveness edge_may 2023 23 interview of the resources invested,” explained Crosier. Most recently, AWS has successfully carried out a pioneering experiment, operating a machine learning software suite on a satellite in orbit, paving the way for others to gather and analyse data directly on orbiting satellites through its cloud platform. The experiment was conducted on D-Orbit’s ION satellite in collaboration with AWS and Unibap over a 10-month period in low Earth orbit. It utilised AWS machine learning models to analyse satellite images in real time. AWS IoT Greengrass was also used to provide cloud management and analytics services. The Unibap-built payload was fitted with the AWS software prototype and integrated into the satellite. This allowed D-Orbit to process a significant amount of space data on the satellite itself by utilising AWS compute on Earth observation imagery. According to AWS, its services reduced image sizes by up to 42 percent, leading to faster processing speeds and enabling real-time inferences in space. “Decision-makers need to make quick decisions in real-time,” said Crosier. “With the vast amount of data available, space companies frequently report that they are unable to utilise all the information they collect due to the lack of adequate tools. This is the gap that AWS is filling in the space industry.” AWS’s AI system allows customers to examine vast amounts of raw satellite data while in orbit and only transmit the most valuable images for storage and further analysis, significantly reducing costs and enabling faster decision-making. Looking ahead, Crosier noted that AWS has always pledged to provide cloud services wherever customers require them. And, today, customers are requiring cloud services in space. “As AWS strives to offer cloud services wherever our clients demand it, our focus has now shifted to the Earth’s orbit and beyond, with clients venturing to the moon, NASA’s Artemis program, and eventually Mars,” he said. “Therefore, the future of cloud services in space will be determined by the needs and demands of our clients, who are taking us to fascinating and diverse locations throughout the universe.” $1TR Forecasted revenue of space tech globally by 2040 Source: Morgan Stanley24 edge_may 2023 HP Elite Dragonfly G3: A sleek and robust device for modern businesses I n today’s hybrid workplaces, where mobility and flexibility are critical, the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 stands out as the top choice for modern businesses as it offers a sleek design, powerful performance, and robust security featurescontent served to us by personalised algorithms. Sleek and sturdy design The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 boasts a slim and lightweight chassis that’s easy to carry around, weighing just 2.2 pounds. Its lid is made of a magnesium alloy, and its body has rounded “Pillow Corners,” giving it a smooth and premium-looking finish. The laptop comes in two new colour waves, Slate Blue and Natural Silver, with the former being more muted. The backlit keyboard is comfortable to type on, with well-spaced keys that have good travel. The touchpad is smooth and responsive, with support for Windows Precision drivers, allowing for seamless and accurate navigation. Connectivity on the go The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options that cater to the modern workforce’s demands. The laptop comes with Wi-Fi 6E, the latest wireless protocol that supports faster download and upload speeds, better We took the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 for a spin to explore the features that make it a top choice for business owners and professionalsedge_may 2023 25 review range, and improved latency. This feature makes the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 ideal for professionals who need to work remotely and require a stable internet connection. Additionally, the laptop has two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports that support data transfer rates of up to 40Gbps, which is four times faster than USB 3.0. It also has an HDMI 2.0 port, a Nano Security Lock Slot, and a headphone/ microphone combo jack. The Nano Security Lock Slot is perfect for professionals who work in public places and need to keep their laptop secure. Productivity powerhouse The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 has a 13.3-inch Full HD display that’s bright and vibrant, with excellent viewing angles. The laptop’s speakers are excellent, providing clear and loud audio, which is great for conference calls or watching videos. The device is a productivity powerhouse that can help users get more done in less time. The laptop comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core processor, which is fast and efficient, making it ideal for multitasking. Additionally, the laptop has up to 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage, which means you can store all your files and applications on the laptop without worrying about running out of space. Running on Windows 11 Pro, the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 sports applications and features that are optimised to boost productivity for modern professionals. One of the standout features of the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 is the Sure Click feature, which is a web-based security feature that allows you to open links in a virtualised browser. This feature helps protect your laptop from malware and other security threats that may come from web browsing. Sure Click also allows you to open attachments in a virtualised environment, which can help prevent malicious code from infecting your laptop. The laptop also comes with a range of other productivity-focused features, such as the HP QuickDrop, which allows you to transfer files quickly and easily between your laptop and your smartphone. Setting standards for security innovation Equipped with Windows 11 Pro, the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 also sets new benchmarks for security. It comes with a suite of HP Wolf Security for Business features, offering businesses the potential to enhance productivity and protect their employees from a constantly evolving range of cyber threats. The device has a fingerprint reader, which can be used for Windows Hello authentication. It also has a privacy screen, which prevents people from viewing the laptop’s contents from the side. The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 also has HP’s Sure Start Gen6, which is a hardware-based solution that provides self-healing protection against BIOS attacks. It also has HP’s Sure Click, which is a software-based solution that protects against malware and phishing attacks by isolating each tab in its virtual machine. This means that if one tab is infected, the malware can’t spread to other tabs. Conclusion Overall, the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 is an excellent business laptop that provides a great balance of productivity, connectivity, and security features in a slim and lightweight form factor. The laptop’s design is eye-catching, and its build quality is excellent. The laptop’s comprehensive range features ensure that modern professionals can stay connected and productive wherever they are. 26 edge_may 2023 3 ways to turn the UAE’s talent shortage to your advantage L et’s talk talent. In the UAE and across the world, there is a shortage of it, but demand is greater than ever. The oldest of Generation X will retire within the decade, so catering to younger people, and their digital-native proclivities, is critical to ensure brand longevity. With the right moves, there is a way of turning the talent shortage to your advantage. Here are three ideas to consider: 1. Talent-as-a-Service If you have been an IT decision maker over the past couple of decades, then this scenario must ring true. You read about, or hear about, Company X adopting AI and achieving enviable results. But the project costs millions of dollars that you just don’t have and so following in Company X’s footsteps seems out of reach. That is, until you hear about this new way of consuming software through subscription. You learn — to your ecstatic delight — that Software-as-a-Service allows you to pay for what you use in a predictable way. You are hooked and never look back. What if we could do the same thing with talent? Talent-as-a-Service, or more precisely, Expert-as-a- Service, would allow you to shop for specific skills rather than a whole employee. Part of the region’s IT skills gap problem is the fact that if you hire an expensive specialist they will take time to add value because they need to learn about your organisation before they can effectively identify use cases. But if you hire, say, three people to fulfil a single data scientist role, while each would have to learn your company history, culture, and objectives, if any of them were to leave, the role would still be served by two others with domain knowledge. You maintain knowledge momentum that cannot be achieved in the classical recruitment-and-attrition cycle. 2. Automation as standard Since we now routinely use the word “talent” to refer to our workforce, it is high time we faced up to the wasteful usage of those skills. Every day, across the region, opportunities for potential innovation are squandered by having people doing repetitive, tedious things that would be far better done by machines or software. Not only would human professionals be freed up to focus 100 percent of their time on the challenging issues they were hired to address, but the mundane tasks would see significant improvements in delivery speed and accuracy. This practice of automation by default is often one of the first things human-capital specialists advise By Mark Ackerman Area VP MEA, ServiceNow PEOPLE With the right approach, you can transform the skills gap into a winning opportunityedge_may 2023 27 insight when trying to enhance the recruitment lifecycle. Attracting and retaining talent, you may have heard, is now dependent on more than remuneration; it is about employee experience. Automation, introduced thoughtfully, can boost workforce engagement and lead to a rebirth of the brand in the labor market. Supplemented by a robust diversity and inclusion program, automation has the potential to create an extraordinarily innovative corporate environment that attracts the best talent around. 3. Professional development As per a LinkedIn study, three in four UAE workers are considering a job move by the end of this year. And 74 percent said they were confident about asking for new opportunities and promotions. This is a chance for companies that may not have the budget to pay top dollar for employees to attract talent by demonstrating a commitment to offer well- defined career paths to staff. Organisations must prevent the perception of ‘dead man’s shoes’ culture, where everyone waits for their line manager to be promoted to get their turn. Unsurprisingly, the answer lies in technology. Each year, greater proportions of the workforce are digital natives who, remember, love self-service. Tech platforms can be used to empower workers to take control of their own careers. There is one example of technology that provides opportunities for professional development and has the added luxury of adding business value above and beyond talent retention. This is low-code development. Employees can hone their technology skills while businesses accelerate digital transformation. The business also solves the problem of skills gaps by developing line-of- business talent to provide those skills. The self- service nature of LCDPs (low-code development platforms) appeal to millennials and Gen-Z. LCDPs do not just facilitate development; they include governance and performance-monitoring capabilities that allow even those decision makers that are unfamiliar with the technology to receive actionable insight on which employees are suited to which roles within the digital enterprise. Capitalising on change If UAE companies are to make the most of global, macroeconomic challenges, they must look to their people, and reevaluate how they are treated. HR platforms that lubricate the gears of onboarding are important but not enough to lock employees in for the long haul, especially when applying for and transitioning to a new job is becoming easier by the day. Organisations must invest in training for their leaders to ensure they are ready to meet the emotional needs of those under their guidance. Building a sense of trust, more than anything else, can make the difference between being a victim of talent shortage and being a beneficiary of it. “Organisations must prevent the perception of a ‘dead man’s shoes’ culture, where everyone waits for their line manager to be promoted to get their turn. Unsurprisingly, the answer lies in technology”28 edge_may 2023 interview Why today’s CEOs need resilient CIOs T echnology has become an essential element for any business to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced environment. However, with the growing complexity of technological solutions, the responsibility of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has become more crucial than ever. In an exclusive interview, Crawford Del Prete, President of IDC, delves into the evolving role of the CIO and their responsibilities in a rapidly growing digital landscape. How have business perspectives towards IT investments changed over the past few years? Our research suggests that 97 percent of CIOs are thinking about changing their IT strategy. Over the past few years, we saw IT spending ramp up to about 11 percent growth, which is very strong compared to historical trends. It was in the six to seven percent range the year before that. This year, it’ll be about five percent. So it went up, and it’s going back down, but it’s still at that five percent range. This represents the pivot towards the By Arya Devi BUSINESSedge_may 2023 29 interview pandemic and the move towards technologies like personal devices and collaborative software. As companies like Amazon invested in logistics, Google invested in new services, and Apple invested in new media services, I believe we’ll see IT investment level off at five percent, which is still higher than a decade ago when it was in the three percent range. Every company needs to invest in technology to be competitive going forward, and I think that’s a long-term trend we’ll see for many years. How can companies measure the ROI of their IT investment, and how will they demonstrate their value to stakeholders? Companies can measure the amount they’re spending on tech as a per cent of their revenue. The benefit is creating new sources of growth or revenue for the company as a result of technology investments. For example, is the company able to invest in technology and close leads faster, penetrate new customer bases, or create new products/services? These are happening in every industry. Some airlines in the US won’t let customers pay with a credit card on the flight as there is no system in-flight to capture the credit card number and expiration date, and then verify the transaction on the ground. But with new technology, airlines can accept payments in-flight and penetrate new customer bases. If someone asks to demonstrate the benefit of IT investment, a CIO could point to that line of business and say that previously the business had losses of over a million dollars a year, but now those losses have been eliminated, or a new revenue stream is opened. What are the key responsibilities and expectations that a CEO typically has of their CIO? The CEO expects CIO to be responsible for acquiring technology and delivering a level of resilience to the organisation. Resilience here means the ability to maintain the execution of the strategy even as business conditions change. This is a critical point because if the CIO is being pulled in too many directions or not focused on the task, they won’t be resilient through good and bad times. We’re at an interesting time in the evolution of technology where the dollars associated with technology spent outside of the CIO’s office will cross the dollars that the CIO spends in 2023. The CIO is in a tough position because they have less authority to spend that money, but all the responsibility to do it right. When things go wrong, they’re on the hook. Therefore, the CEO is looking for a resilient CIO who takes ownership and responsibility throughout the organisation. The CIO must be able to say no to other departments if a technology investment doesn’t have an ROI or payback that the organisation cannot execute. $233.8 BN The predicted overall ICT spending in META Source: IDC Crawford Del Prete, President, IDCNext >