Featured this week at HIMSS22, LG Electronics' new Business Innovation Center is the first comprehensive LG technology and education hub to focus on commercial displays and devices designed for medical environments. Visitors to the LG Business Solutions booth (#1473) at the 2022 global health conference can take a virtual tour of the new center, which spotlights advanced diagnostic and clinical review monitors, digital X-ray detectors, smart hospital TVs and more.

The new center, which just opened in Los Angeles, offers medical device purchasers and healthcare providers hands-on experience with market-ready displays and devices designed specifically for healthcare environments, as well as future product concepts. It has 12 distinct zones dedicated to various spaces common throughout hospitals, doctors' offices and other medical settings.

"Our new Business Innovation Center demonstrates LG's commitment to helping healthcare providers deliver enhanced service through the use of digital displays for diagnostics, telemedicine, X-ray detection, conferencing, messaging and back office needs," said Nicolas Min, senior vice president and head of LG Business Solutions USA.

The new Los Angeles Business Innovation Center is LG's third in the United States (the others being in Chicago and Atlanta). They serve as technology hubs and cutting-edge product showcases to connect engineers, contractors, integrators and executives in all facets of LG's industry-leading technology. "Business Innovation Centers are a key part of our commitment to provide customers with a unique way to interact with our solutions before making their purchasing decisions," said Min.

As the only LG Business Innovation Center in the world focused specifically on medical-related technology solutions, the new Los Angeles based facility presents visitors with a full catalog of product showcases specifically designed for use in lobbies, nurse stations, back offices, visitor lounges, consulting rooms, telemedicine centers, operating rooms, diagnostic reading bays, X-ray scan areas, patient rooms, large conference spaces and beyond.

Visitors are welcomed to LG's healthcare-of-the-future experience, by the LG CLOi GuideBot robot, large-format direct-view LED displays and sliding doors built from multiple Transparent OLED displays.

Progressing through the center, guests learn how LG's Thin Client cloud-based workstations can help enhance safety and security while UltraWide™ Ergo monitors provide ample screen real estate for critical tasks and feature adjustable swivel stands for information sharing and group viewing.

Various models from the LG gram laptop line are featured, along with LG ProBeam 4K Laser projectors, UltraFine™ 4K monitors and One:Quick Flex displays, in addition to demonstrations of the powerful capabilities of LG's proprietary webOS™ content and display management platform. Special-purpose products on display include LG's Digital X-ray Detector, Diagnostic Monitors, Clinical Review Monitors, and Surgical Monitors.

When it comes to special features, visitors learn about simple One:Quick Share screen sharing with compatible LG digital signage models, LG Acquisition Workstation Software that processes x-ray images and the touchscreen Arm TV intended for bedside installation and use by patients.

"Our West Coast customers and partners now have the ability to visit our stunning showroom and product center to test and learn how the latest innovations can improve their operations and increase efficiency across a broad range of healthcare needs," Min said.

About LG Business Solutions USA LG Electronics USA's Business Solutions division serves commercial display customers in the U.S. lodging and hospitality, digital signage, systems integration, healthcare, education, government and industrial markets. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill., with its dedicated engineering and customer support team, LG Business Solutions USA delivers business-to-business technology solutions tailored to the particular needs of business environments. Seven-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a $63 billion global force in consumer electronics, home appliances and air solutions. For more information visit LGSolutions.com.

Martal Group today announced it had signed a contract with Ruta N Medellín to fulfill an internationalization initiative to increase exports in the tech sector through March 30, 2022. This strategic partnership with help Medellin-based tech companies expand into the North American market and overcome common challenges Colombian businesses face when developing overseas opportunity funnels.

The Colombian contract marks the third project entrusted to Martal Group by a government entity focused on gaining market share in the United States and Canada for B2B tech companies while maintaining jobs in the origin country.

Founder and CEO of Martal Group, Vito Vishnepolsky stated, "Martal Group has proven to be a great alternative for government entities supporting local tech companies outside the US. We help government incubators and accelerators ramp up their clients' businesses in North America while keeping the jobs local. Martal's sales as a service solution equip companies with a North American sales team without the need to invest in office space abroad or relocation expenses."

The majority of information and communication technology (ICT) services in Colombia are purchased domestically, making it difficult to participate in global value chains (GVCs), according to the OECD. Opening opportunities in GVCs for Colombian tech companies can significantly impact its emerging economy in the form of increased productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

Through this pilot program initiated by Ruta N - a joint venture with the city of Medellin — Martal Group is providing outbound B2B lead generation services at no cost to the Colombian tech companies. During the three-month project, participating tech companies will be paired with an outsourced sales team who will build and execute a personalized go-to-market strategy that will nurture opportunities for potential foreign partnerships.

By the end of the pilot, each Colombian tech company will have a holistic understanding of its outbound sales process, position in the North American market, and optimal conversion opportunities.

About Martal Group: For over a decade, Martal Group has specialized in B2B lead generation for tech companies worldwide. Through a proprietary process and a team of expert sales executives, Martal develops and executes go-to-market strategies for businesses ready to expand or scale in North America.

About Ruta N: As a joint venture between the city of Medellin, the mission of the innovation center is to improve the quality of life for Colombian citizens by strengthening entrepreneurial endeavors in scientific and technological innovation. Ruta N has a variety of projects to encourage global collaboration and provide STi solutions for Medellin businesses.

Can you remember? Thomas Edison's voice was the first-ever recorded human voice. In 1877 Edison's voice was captured on phonograph; he was animatedly reciting the nursery rhyme, "Mary had a little lamb." A few years later, in 1887, Emile Berliner made history when he invented the first machine that could record and play back sound. The device was designed on a flat disc which preceded the modern (20tth century) record. In the next 60 years, men continually improved and standardized the nature of records and record players. Eventually, the 33 and 45 RPM types of records emerged as the best, gradually overtaking other formats in the year following the Second World War. By the 1970s, men had advanced record player technology.

The technology had evolved so much that in the next 50 years, very little could be improved. But over time, other evolved technologies slowly emerged. First, cassette tapes came and went. Then came CDs that ruled the scene for some time and were gradually overtaken by newer technology. When CDs started becoming obsolete, MP3 players quickly became the vogue. But later, MP3 were also replaced by the arrival of phones that could play music. Later, the world welcomed hi-tech cameras and pocket planners as other elements of new technology.

In 2020 something interesting happened. For the first time in over one generation, vinyl records made a surprising comeback, soaring in popularity. So, in that year, the sales of record discs (or vinyl records) notably surpassed the sales of CDs. It seems there were two main reasons for this. Analysts noted that CD sales had dropped significantly in the past few years. Yet the sales of vinyl records shot up. But there was another surprising element to the new phenomenon: Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that a particular group was responsible for this new renaissance- the nostalgic Boomers or Generation Xers. Many would have thought these were behind the record sales. On the contrary, many surveys revealed that the most unlikely group was primarily responsible for the comeback of vinyl records: The Millennial consumers. Evidently, this was the group behind the dramatic rise in vinyl record sales.

Generally, the way most people listen to music has considerably changed. These days you're likely to hear music when you're in your car, in the gym, the coffee shop, or while striding down the street. The CEO of Victrola, Scott Hagen, says: "In every store you go, you're likely to be entertained with music. Undoubtedly, people are consuming more music than they used to do. But there's a difference- they aren't consuming it in the same way. What could it be? Just think of it- people used to stop, sit and listen to entire albums, from the beginning to the end. Yes, that has always been relevant; it'll continue to be relevant going forward." And the CEO of McIntosh Labs, Charlie Randall, agrees with these sentiments: " I believe it's natural for people of all generations to think the technology of their own time will eventually be replaced by future technology- that he present will become extinct.

Well, I think this is largely true, with one major exception: Vinyl records. There's definitely something romantic regarding the staying power of vinyl records. There's something deeply satisfying when you open that album jacket, see the fantastic artwork, and study the linear notes while still listening to the album. Admittedly, this is something today's digital files simply cannot replace," he says.

Remarkably, the popularity of the vinyl record seems to defy certain seeming disadvantages. For starters, there's nothing particularly fast about starting and playing a vinyl record. Think of it: You can quickly tap your phone and swiftly pull up a favorite song on Apple Music or Amazon Unlimited in a few seconds. However, with a vinyl record, you must first remove it from the sleeve. Next, you need to switch it on and keep waiting while the warm crackle prefaces a truly rare experience. Yes, with the vinyl record, you enjoy music as an ongoing activity, not merely as the backdrop.

So, against all odds, it seems the vinyl is definitely here to stay. Never mind that numerous technological advances (throughout the decades) have appeared to threaten the relevance and place of vinyl in the modern world. Indeed, a recent study by the RAA surprisingly found that vinyl records surpassed CD sales in 2020 due to the records' "relentless staying power and popularity." The same survey also discovered another significant factor: A mere 6% of music was now downloaded- this is far less than what's physically purchased in the form of CDs, tapes, or records.

As some people ask: What's really in a name? Facebook has proposed a rebrand- in the future- and some truly exciting plans. Could this be Facebook's action to save its dented reputation after the recent leaks and failures? Could it be that Facebook actually has a bigger plan for the future- beyond 2022? As noted, Facebook recently had to deal with one of its biggest ever scandals in decades. There was the intriguing matter of the shocking leak of internal documents. So, the hugely popular social media giant recently announced it would change its name. The Verge first reported the impending name change in October 2021. According to the publication, the significant name change was set to be announced at Facebook's upcoming annual conference just a few days on.

Facebook, whose value runs into almost one trillion dollars, also owns Whatsapp, Instagram, and several other high-tech products, including Oculus. The company's chairman and co-founder, Mark Zuckerberg, also said that Facebook would effectively transition from being seen primarily as a social media enterprise to a metaverse company in a few years. According to a new report by Bloomberg, Facebook's rebranding efforts started much earlier in the year. It happened when Zuckerberg began pushing the idea of the company transitioning towards a metaverse. Zuckerberg pushed the idea that users would soon be able to transport themselves- hovering between different experiences and interacting with each other through virtual reality.

So, what's the essential quality of the metaverse experience? According to Zuckerberg, it's the feeling that you're actually there with the other person, in a different place. The executive said this while outlining his concept during a company earnings meeting conference. Pu simply, a metaverse may be understood as the imagination of a virtual world, a world where users can acquire different identities while interacting with the digital world's other aspects.

According to Facebook, the metaverse is actually a virtual space where users would be able to hang out with friends, play, work, create, shop, learn and do endless things. It doesn't simply mean that users have to spend more time online. It's all about having a more meaningful, quality time online. A recent Reuters report indicated that Facebook has launched plans to hire more than 10,000 new employees in the EU in the next five years. This is how the company plans to facilitate the building of the new metaverse project. At the same time, Facebook plans to invest $50 million in building the envisioned virtual world. Facebook is not the first major global enterprise to rebrand or change its name. It's just like Google did in 2015 when it changed the parent holding company's name to Alphabet. But Facebook's planned rebrand came at a rather peculiar time.

Analysts note that Facebook has been under scrutiny for some time now. There were damaging allegations that the company helped to spread misinformation. There were claims Facebook had become a platform for hate speech elections in various countries worldwide. Much more recently, Facebook notably came under fire from the US Congress after a former employee, France Haugen, revealed some damaging internal documents touching on the company's knowledge on the way its platforms and products negatively influence and harm millions of users.

According to a survey by The Verge, 34% of the respondents questioned said they had a negative opinion about the world-dominating social media giant. Interestingly, only 29% of the respondents in this survey held a positive view of Facebook. According to Anaezi Modu, the CEO of Rebrand, who was interviewed by Wired: "Unless Facebook really plans to address some of the many damaging issues, it'll be pointless merely acting to save its name. Indeed, this may only worsen matters," he claimed.

Millions of people on social media reacted with much speculation after learning about Facebook's planned name change. Indeed, there was a flood of speculation. Some said the company would be simply known as FB. Others claimed the company would return to its founding name, "The Facebook." But media reports pointed out the new name must necessarily align with the company's metaverse ideals. The Verge even speculated Facebook would become Horizon (a virtual reality platform Facebook is developing). A Bloomberg report speculated on the name "Meta." The Bloomberg report stated that the domain name meta.com would redirect to meta.org (the name of a unique research tool recently developed under the auspices of the Zuckerberg-Chan initiative.