Virtual Conference to Discuss Ins and Outs of Remote Proctoring

With in-person gatherings discouraged for public health reasons, testing and assessment services have been forced to turn to alternative means for guaranteeing the authenticity of test-takers. Remote proctoring technologies are an increasingly important method for enabling reach and ensuring security. Given the demand for information about remote proctoring, OpenEyes is sponsoring a virtual conference to discuss the challenges and opportunities it presents. 

Remote proctoring services promise an alternative to in-person test taking while protecting the validity of exam results. Strategies used by these programs may include monitoring or blocking the use of other computer programs besides that of the test, video surveillance either by a live proctor or a system that can identify behavior consistent with cheating, or by flagging unusual patterns in the exam results. These services, when properly performed, offer the promise of protecting the value of assessments, and the credentials they lead to.  

Remote proctoring has also come to the forefront in education in the past months as schools and universities across the world have closed and studying under lockdown has become the new normal. According to an Educause poll, 54% of higher education institutions are using remote proctoring services and another 23% are considering using them.  

Despite the advantages that remote proctoring systems can offer, it’s very newness to higher stakes testing leads to ambiguities about best practices and concern over security. There are also concerns associated with privacy. Students especially have expressed fears over data privacy and video surveillance. Change.org is littered with petitions to ban remote proctoring services commonly used at universities across the U.S. The lack of exposure to this test delivery method for so many gives rise to anxiety. Yet, in the face of a pandemic—where the alternative is that assessments and education grind to a halt—the motivation to address these issues is very high.   

The lack of distribution of information about the promises and pitfalls of remote proctoring is what lead the executive producers of the conference—including OpenEyes CTO Trushant Mehta and COO Robert Pedigo—to create the opportunity for learning and discussion in this area. The conference brings together leaders in test development, psychometrics, remote proctoring, test security, and accreditation services, as well as legal experts in privacy and intellectual property law. The impressive list of speakers will explore topics such as the different types of remote proctoring, implementation considerations and best practices, privacy and legal concerns, and the relation between remote proctoring and program accreditation. Through this discussion, OpenEyes is contributing to expanding the expertise of the assessment industry.  

The Virtual Conference will be held from 11:15am-1:00pm EST every day from Monday, June 1st to Friday, June 5th. You can register for the conference here.

What questions would you like to see answered during the Virtual Conference on Remote Proctoring? Leave a reply below!

An Apple (Computer) a Day Keeps the (Virtual) Doctor Away?

Whether uploading food logs into a mobile app or ordering medications online, telehealth capabilities have grown in popularity and demand in recent decades. With ICU beds and other resources stretched thin because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the “hospital at home” model has become an important tool for both patients and providers, especially those in rural or isolated areas.

Often described as the future of healthcare, telehealth refers to both technologies that fall under ‘telemedicine’ and electronic patient-to-provider interactions. Telehealth capabilities have been expanded through smartphone apps, activity trackers, and medical devices that can collect and transmit health information. Proponents of virtual care cite more convenient scheduling, avoidance of stressful waiting rooms, and no travel time. 

The rapidly growing telemedicine market was projected to cross $64 billion by 2025 in the US, and $32 million by 2020 in India. In light of the coronavirus crisis, however, the US figure may now breach $130 billion and, in India, telemedicine apps have seen an increase of over 178% in remote consultations for flu-like symptoms.

This rapid expansion of telehealth has been a positive development in a number of ways, especially for remote communities, and for the long-term monitoring of chronic conditions. Nevertheless, replacing brick-and-mortar healthcare institutions highlights a variety of policy challenges, including privacy concerns, licensure issues, and a lack of broadband connectivity. Demographic factors are another obstacle. Although older generations are considered to be one of the groups who could most benefit from telehealth services, a Pew Research survey found that 27% of US adults over the age of 65 do not use the internet.

In regards to the secure transmission of patient information, many have expressed concerns following a decision by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to modify its enforcement discretion. This temporary policy change will allow providers to use additional communication modes, including FaceTime and Skype, to deliver telehealth services during the COVID-19 crisis. These applications may not be fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and could set a precedent for fewer telehealth security safeguards in a post-pandemic environment.

All things considered, the methods by which people receive medical care are rapidly evolving. To keep up with the ever-changing world, OpenEyes stands ready to assist companies with strategic IT consulting and management services during the transition to virtual communications. Just as a doctor puts the needs of their patients first, OpenEyes prioritizes its clients in a secure, flexible, and professional manner.

The Technology of Contact Tracing

While states are hoping to open up their economies, medical experts have pointed to contact tracing as a method for controlling the spread of COVID-19 when lockdown measures are lifted. This strategy seeks to locate those who have tested positive for the virus and retrace their movements in order to find out who they may have come into contact with. It is a method that has been implemented in the past to fight other diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and has been used in countries like China and South Korea to successfully stop the spread of the Coronavirus. 

So far, two different strategies for gathering this information about COVID-19 patients’ contacts have become the most prominent. The first is an effort by technology companies, specifically Apple and Google, to build a program where users can report if they have been diagnosed with the virus. The program would then notify anyone who has come within six feet of that person, by tracking their cell phones with GPS and Bluetooth technology. The second strategy, employed mostly by state governments, is hiring a large team of contact tracers who will speak with COVID-19 patients and retrace their whereabouts for the past two weeks, and then call and notify anyone who may have been exposed. 

Both of these strategies present their own unique advantages and challenges. Apple and Google’s method would be able to cover a large number of people, but the use of bluetooth may not always be an accurate method to find out when someone is exposed. The problem with the manual strategy is that, as of now, the government has not hired nearly enough contract trasers. A study by Johns Hopkins University estimated that the United States will need at least a bare minimum of 100,000 more workers for the contact tracing effort to be effective. Additionally, due to privacy concerns, these programs will need to rely on people voluntarily supplying information, and it is unclear how many people are willing to do so. 

While these obstacles are matters of concern, countries like South Korea have seen success in using government mandated, digital contact tracing strategies. Like any operation of this size, the contract tracing effort in the United States is going to require a large degree of technological support. OpenEyes understands this, as this is the type of support the company supplies to our clients. 

According to the CDC, “technology partners are key in the modification of existing systems and the development of new user-friendly data interfaces to manage multiple data streams with seamless interoperability.” The same holds true for any large scale project; data collection and management can be vital to accomplishing your organization’s goals. OpenEyes Technologies provides these types of data analytics programs that not only store data, but allow the user to understand it and draw conclusions from it. Data management and analytics are not only important products for a small business or organization, but also for ambitious projects like contact tracing, and could be the key to reopening the economy in a safe, scientific way. 

Image Source: Outsourced Pharma

Six TED Talks to Give You a Break From COVID-19 News

The constant stream of coronavirus-related news is critical to keeping people around the world informed. Nevertheless, this endless flow of statistics can cause one to feel overwhelmed with anxiety as social distancing measures drag on indefinitely.

In mid-March, OpenEyes started a #TEDTuesday campaign to highlight inspirational and insightful TED Talks that are especially pertinent during quarantine. The motivation behind this initiative is our commitment to “ideas worth spreading.” We are a proud sponsor of two TEDx events in the DC-area: TEDxTysons and TEDxFoggyBottom. The latter of which was set to take place on April 18, 2020, but was unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic. 

This week, we’d like to provide you with a brief getaway from the press briefings, expert interviews, and other COVID-19 news. Here are six talks — ranging from growing robots to CIA identity transformations — from the 2019 events organized by the aforementioned TEDx organizations: 

  1. How to Make Education Fun for Everyone Alan Fishel is the inventor, founder, and president of LearningPlunge. 
  1. Screen Time: Is It Really All Bad? Florence Breslin, MS, CCRP shares an update on the research studying the effects of screen time on children. 
  1. Why Robots Must Be Grown, Not Assembled Robert Shepherd is an associate professor at Cornell University’s Organic Robotics Lab (ORL), which uses synthetic adaptation of natural physiology to improve machine function and autonomy. 
  1. The Secret to Great Science? Fail. After her thesis failed, Dr. Maryam Zaringhalam, a molecular biologist, shares her experience with failure and resilience. 
  1. Deception, Illusion, & Espionage: An Unlikely Recipe for Success Jonna Mendez, the former Chief of Disguise for the CIA, discusses the process of creating identity transformations for U.S. covert agents.
  1. Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline Dr. Benjamin Williams explains restorative justice and how the school system can be a tool for empowering young men of color. 

We hope these inspiring and innovative talks provide some much-needed entertainment during quarantine, and possibly encourage you to think outside the box to create meaningful solutions to everyday problems. 

As exemplified in each of the TED Talks we share, a mindset of constantly pushing the boundaries to effect positive change is a core component of OpenEyes’ mission. Whether designing a product or supporting our community, we apply our passion for curiosity to everything we do. 

Do you have a favorite TED Talk you’d like us to share? Let us know by replying to our #TEDTuesday posts on either Twitter or LinkedIn!

Small Businesses in the Quarantine Economy

The spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the lives of people around the world, but it has been particularly devastating for small business owners and workers. According to the National Small Business Association, the number of small business owners who are no longer confident in their business’s financial future has increased by 18% since January. 

The governors of twenty-seven states, representing over two-thirds of the U.S. population, have issued stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the virus. While these social distancing measures are absolutely crucial in keeping people safe and healthy, they have come with the side effect of a historic economic downturn. 

Small businesses have been hit on both sides: a reduction in the number of customers and requirements for employees to work from home. This has forced business owners to adapt and left many workers without jobs. The Washington Post reported that a record-breaking 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment last week. 

On Friday, a $2 trillion stimulus package to combat the negative economic effects of the coronavirus was signed into law. One of the main aspects of the bill are the checks to be sent to individual taxpayers. Hopefully, this measure will take some of the burden off people’s backs, but many won’t receive their checks for another three weeks, and are struggling to make ends meet in the meantime. 

Small businesses are scrambling to financially prepare themselves amid the evolving pandemic, while also maintaining communication with consumers and employees alike. Entrepreneur Magazine recommends that small business owners utilize technology, such as virtual meeting platforms, in order to find new ways to reach out to customers in a time when in-person contact is not always possible. 

OpenEyes has been serving the small business community for 20 years and is ready to supply cutting edge tools to support the technological needs of businesses and organizations. Our experience in organizational management is an invaluable asset in developing a strategy for the coming months. With a focus on making our products and services virtual, efficient, adaptable, and dependable, OpenEyes is committed to helping our clients operate in a difficult situation.  

While it may seem like the world is shutting down due to the coronavirus, this doesn’t have to be the case because of modern technology already available in the market. In fact, technology might be the only safe way for people to stay in contact during this crisis, and for small businesses to survive.

Teleworking Tips & Tricks

With the novel coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, companies are scrambling to provide their employees resources to work remotely. For many, telework has become the new norm in recent weeks and with it, a variety of challenges. 

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, OpenEyes Technologies had already incoporated remote work into its business model. With offices in both the United States and India, OpenEyes has mastered effective communication regardless of time zone. Our company policy grants employees the option to work from home one day each week. Other members of the team telework full-time, but remain connected through a variety of communication modes, including email chains and social media posts. 

For those who are new to the teleworking lifestyle, here are a few tips and tricks: 

  1. Maintain a Work-Life Balance.

With school closures and social distancing measures, stock up on books, movies, and other activities to keep family members occupied while you get some work done. Although you may not have a commute to the office right now, try to minimize disruption to your daily routine. Take time to make yourself lunch and get some fresh air by going for a walk.

  1. Keep Those Connections. 

While social distancing is one of the most effective ways to stem the spread of COVID-19, it is still important to check-in (virtually) on your colleagues, family members, and friends. Sending a message on Slack or giving a coworker a call can go a long way in these unprecedented times. 

  1. Be Mindful. 

Although telework is an option to some, many people are unable to work remotely. From restaurant workers to doctors and nurses, many of your fellow citizens cannot work from the kitchen table. With this in mind, remember to say a simple “thank you” to the grocery store employees and other community members who are facing their own set of unique challenges amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

As the pandemic situation continues to rapidly evolve, OpenEyes and other businesses are taking measures to minimize the spread of the disease. In light of the current public health crisis, all OpenEyes employees are working from home full-time and the company continues to follow federal guidelines. 

For more information regarding COVID-19 and teleworking, check out the following resources: 

What Happened in Iowa?

The Iowa Caucus has historically been one of the most crucial steps in selecting the next president of the United States. Iowa has been the first state to vote for a Democratic nominee since 1972, and yet the 2020 caucus was a disaster. The app used to report the results from each precinct crashed, causing an enormous delay in the release of any results. In the midst of this chaos, multiple candidates claimed victory and the entire mess became international headlines.

The Iowa Democratic Party paid Shadow Inc. over sixy-three thousand dollars, according to NPR, to develop an app to gather the data from each precinct in the state. This is the first time an app like this has been used in the caucus and Shadow reportedly struggled to finish the product in time. The problems with the app became clear early on in the election with local officials describing it as “buggy and problematic” as early as 6pm, according to techcrunch.com. 

Many of the issues with the app appear to come from a lack of testing. The New York Times reports that the app had never actually been tested at the state level before the night of the caucus. University of Iowa computer science professor and former precinct captain Doug Jones said that the app “was never really tested in a manner which came close to approximating the real mess of an election” in an interview with NPR. 

The chaos in Iowa demonstrates the importance of high quality and well-tested products in making complicated processes, like an election, run smoothly. If Shadow had a higher standard for their app, or had tested it to the appropriate degree, the Iowa caucus would have gone on as planned. Instead it became an international embarrassment for not only the app developers, but also their client: the Democratic Party. 

OpenEyes works to serve their clients with high quality custom development of software, mobile apps, design strategies, and much more. All of these products go through an extensive testing and quality control process, ensuring mistakes like the ones in Iowa aren’t possible. Additionally, OpenEyes Technologies is ISO 9001 certified, demonstrating the quality of their products.

The Iowa Democratic Party and Shadow Inc. put their faith in an untested app that was ill-prepared for the job it was meant to do. As a result, the Iowa caucus ended in disaster. The situation presents the danger of relying on untested technology, and the importance of high quality, well-tested products.

Changing the Games: Technology in Tokyo

In fewer than 200 days, millions of people around the world will tune in to witness the gold medal performances, stunning artistry of the Opening Ceremony, and Japanese culture during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

From shoes to robots, the intersection of technology and athletics appears to be a defining discussion for this year’s most anticipated sporting spectacle. 

For instance, World Athletics, the international governing body for running events, recently released new technical limitations on shoes eligible for competition. The measures include a move to defuse certain high-tech shoes, including the Nike prototype worn by Eliud Kipchoge. In 2019, Kipchoge became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours. 

As the Games rapidly approach, athletes must walk the fine line between having the most efficient equipment and venturing into the realm of, as one sport and exercise professor put it, “technological doping.”

On a less controversial note, the Tokyo 2020 Robot Project is an effort to highlight Japanese technological innovation during the Games. Whether retrieving equipment in shotput and javelin events or assisting those watching from accessible seating areas, a strong robot presence is to be expected. 

These robots will also be employed to provide people of all abilities the opportunity “to more freely enjoy the competition.” The initiative will be in effect through the Paralympics Games which will take place in late August. 

To put it in simpler terms: technology is changing the Games in more ways than one.

At OpenEyes, we view technology and integrity as going hand-in-hand. Innovation can affect positive change in the lives of others, like the Tokyo robots, and should constantly be under pressure to make further strides toward accessibility and inclusivity. 

Yet, as with the restrictions on running shoes, automation should be limited in certain cases. For any business, it is critical to put these barriers in place should technology begin to compromise the human aspect necessary for a successful company culture. 

Our company champions a balance between technological innovation and human-to-human collaboration. Although we live in the Digital Age, our business model is centered on communication in an effort to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.

OpenEyes is a proud sponsor of the annual TEDxFoggyBottom event, which will be held on April 18, 2020 at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. This year, we are excited to announce the OpenEyes Innovation Lab, where participants will have the opportunity to pitch a solution to solve a problem in the DMV area. For more information, please click here. 

We look forward to celebrating community-based solutions and supporting the gold medalist to develop and implement their project idea.

A Review of TIME’s “Best Inventions of 2019”

2020 is finally here and, while many people were ready for the conclusion of the year (and maybe even the decade), it is worth noting some of the incredible inventions that came to fruition in 2019. Given that OpenEyes Technologies is a champion of innovation and problem-solving, it only made sense to have our inaugural blog post be centered on the past year’s technological strides. 

TIME Magazine recently published a list of their 100 “Best Inventions of 2019” and separated the new technology into sub-categories, including “Education,” “Health Care,” and even “Parenting.” 

With creativity, originality, and other factors in mind, we have pulled five inventions from the list that especially caught our eye. In particular, we looked for technology that aligned with the values that OpenEyes champions, including sustainability and inclusivity.

While it was difficult to limit our selection to only a few inventions, our short list spans a variety of categories and interests: 

  1. Healthcare: For residents of rural communities, healthcare providers are often few and far between. Now, for under $300, you may be able to avoid a trip to the doctor’s office. Tytohome is aiming to bring healthcare into the home with its special adapters to examine the lungs, skin, throat, and ears. In addition to measuring vitals, the device is also capable of connecting a patient to a doctor through live video-conferences. 
  1. Education: Music may be a universal language, but learning to play an instrument is a different — and sometimes daunting — topic of discussion. The LUMI keyboard, however, is altering the playing field when it comes to helping people overcome their fear of creating music themselves. The keyboard and app pair together to assist aspiring musicians in learning their favorite songs and will hopefully be introduced in schools in 2020.
  1. Sustainability: Guilty of buying pounds of fruits and veggies but never finding the time (or the appetite) to eat them before going bad? You’re not alone. In fact, around 40% of all produce goes to waste. That’s why Apeel Sciences created an artificial peel to triple the shelf life of produce. The company’s treated avocados have been sold in more than 1,000 Kroger locations and they hope to expand to more products, such as bananas and asparagus. 
  1. Inclusivity: As we wave goodbye to the 2010s, we can also bid adieu to traditional gender norms. In September 2019, Mattel launched its Creatable World doll. Each kit is complete with various hair wigs and accessories so that children of all gender and racial identities can create a doll that looks like them. The product is now sold at retailers such as Target and Amazon for under $30. 
  1. Futuristic Vision: If you thought a foldable screen would be impossible prior to 3020, think again. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Foldable can be held as either a laptop or tablet, with a screen spanning its entire surface. A virtual keyboard can be used for typing or, if users prefer a traditional mouse, the device can sit in a dock. While this new technology won’t be on the market until 2020, it is sure to bend the standards of portable electronics. 

These are only five of the hundreds, if not thousands, of practical inventions that have transformed daily activities in 2019. As OpenEyes looks forward to the new year — with 20/20 vision of course — we are excited to witness and take part in developing technology that continues to push the boundaries of innovation. 

Do you have your own innovative idea that could help solve a problem in the greater Washington, DC community? Check out the 2020 OpenEyes Innovation Lab competition, which will be held on April 18, 2020 at the annual TEDxFoggyBottom conference. For more information, please visit: http://theopeneyes.com/TEDxFBInnovationLab2020

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started