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How AI Is Rewiring Electrical Operations by Satish Jayaram

William Attardi on September 1, 2026

Electrical professionals are facing a convergence of challenges unlike anything the industry has seen in decades. Demand for power is rising, infrastructure is aging, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and energy costs are increasingly volatile and difficult to predict. At the same time, industrial processes, data centers, health care facilities, and other critical operations have become far less tolerant of power disruptions and quality issues. What might have been a minor disturbance a decade ago can now result in significant operational, financial, or even safety consequences. Many organizations view AI primarily as an automation tool. In my experience, its greatest value in electrical operations is helping facilities make better decisions about reliability, resiliency, and energy economics. As sensors become more pervasive and computing power continues to expand, AI is enabling organizations to move beyond reactive maintenance and siloed decision-making toward operations that are more predictive, connected, and resilient. How AI Is Rewiring Electrical Operations | EC&M

The Age of Smart Light: How Digital Photonics Unlocks a New Wave of Innovation

William Attardi on July 30, 2026

Digital Photonics is at the core of ams OSRAM’s strategy, describing the combination of pixelated light emitters and sensors with digital interfaces turning them into intelligent systems. Digital Photonics, as we understand it, is transforming the role of light – from pure illumination to an intelligent, versatile technology that connects, senses and interacts. By combining advanced pixelated emitters, optical sensors, and digital interfaces, light becomes the foundation of a new generation of smart, programmable systems. Driven by megatrends, such as AI, AR/VR or robotics, this transformation is opening entirely new possibilities – faster, more efficient and more intuitive. Compared to conventional electronics systems, which rely on the flow of electrons, photonics systems can be faster, more energy-efficient, more resistant to interference, and more precise. These are inherent advantages based on the physics of light. [News] The Age of Smart Light: How Digital Photonics Unlocks a New Wave of Innovation – LEDinside

LCA Publishes Education Video Covering Occupancy and Vacancy Sensors

William Attardi on June 4, 2026

The Lighting Controls Academy has published a video version of EE102A: Occupancy and Vacancy Sensors, a free course available at YouTube. Occupancy and vacancy sensors are devices that detect when a space is unoccupied and accordingly automatically turn Off (or dim) the lights, thereby saving energy. Due to their relative simplicity and high energy-savings potential, these sensors are a staple in new construction and a feature of many retrofit projects. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) select an appropriate sensor technology based on a given application’s characteristics, 2) select appropriate features for the sensor to optimize performance in the given application, and 3) apply sensors to spaces based on their characteristics. . Lighting Controls Academy Publishes Education Video Covering Occupancy and Vacancy Sensors

LiteTrace Introduces Bluetooth Wall Switch with Integrated Occupancy Sensor and Dimming

William Attardi on April 8, 2026

The Keilton+autani IWS102/DWS102 by LiteTrace Brands transforms standard wall switches into intelligent control hubs that manage both hardwired lighting and networked devices based on occupancy, without requiring ceiling-mounted sensors or fixture modifications. Unlike typical occupancy sensors that only control their hardwired load, the IWS102/DWS102 offers dual control architecture: hardwired occupancy-based switching for connected lighting plus wireless Bluetooth control of additional networked loads. The integrated 4-button interface provides manual dimming and On/Off control while occupancy functions operate independently. A single wall-mounted sensor orchestrates lighting and equipment control across an entire room through the Keilton+autani Bluetooth network, including plug load controllers (WF20R) for appliances and equipment. Ideal for conference rooms, private offices, lunch rooms, storage areas, copy rooms, and restrooms where coordinated lighting and equipment control maximizes energy savings. SPEC-IWS102.B1.pdf SPEC-DWS102.pdf

Improving Building Operations with Cloud-Based Applications by Rahul Chillar

William Attardi on April 28, 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the integration of internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and further smart building technologies is transforming the operational management of real estate. With an increasing need for data-driven decision making, the implementation of building operation systems gains momentum. Since 75% of commercial buildings are not managed as efficiently as they could be, there is huge potential to build on. Cloud-based building operation applications can be viewed as indispensable for future-proof facilities management. As the number of connected devices is expected to exceed 75 billion by 2025, data collection in commercial buildings is becoming more relevant than ever. Now buildings can be operated remotely and conveniently from anywhere. This transformation was possible as technology, such as sensors, have been integrated into building equipment, providing essential data. Strategically deployed throughout the property, sensors are monitoring critical areas such as Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), lighting, water management, fire safety, or security. Once the sensors have collected the data, they can display it in a cloud-based building operations application. Improving Operations: Cloud-Based Building Operation Systems

It’s Back to School – How Some of Our Most Acknowledged Universities Got Their Name – Who were the true visionaries who would donate half of their estate to sculpting the minds of the future. These stories are monuments to history and culture. Let’s take a stroll through academia’s memory lane and uncover the origins of these storied university names!

  1. Ah, Harvard! The Ivy League giant was once a small college in the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlement called New Towne. But where did “Harvard” come from? Enter John Harvard, a clergyman who, in 1638, decided to bequeath half his estate and his library (a whopping 400 books!) to the fledgling college. Grateful for this generous gift, they promptly named the institution after him.
  2. A gem of New Haven, Connecticut, Yale is another Ivy League powerhouse known for its prestigious law and drama schools. It owes its name to Elihu Yale, a wealthy merchant who, in 1718, donated a modest shipment of goods (including portraits, books, and textiles) to a struggling collegiate school. Those goods were auctioned off, raising a much-needed £562 –a small fortune at the time.
  3. Dartmouth is renowned for its beautiful rural setting, nestled in the picturesque town of Hanover, New Hampshire. It was named after the Earl of Dartmouth, William Legge, a British nobleman who supported the college’s founding –despite never actually setting foot in America!
  4. Brown, this Rhode Island Ivy University, known for its open curriculum and emphasis on student choice, was founded with a mouthful of a name – the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It was renamed in 1704 for Nicholas Brown, Jr., a prominent merchant whose family donated generously to the school.
  5. Perched atop a hill overlooking Ithaca, New York, Cornell is celebrated for its diverse academic programs and its stunning natural surroundings. Founded by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, this university was unique for its commitment to practical education, allowing students the freedom to choose their own course of study. It was a revolutionary notion at the time, which would guide a curricular reform across the country.
  6. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford is renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit and its close ties to the tech industry. But this California powerhouse has a touching origin story. Leland Stanford, Jr., the founder’s son, tragically died young from typhoid fever. His father Leland Sr., railroad magnate and former state governor, and his mother Jane, founded the university in his memory, ensuring his legacy lived on through the pursuit of knowledge.
  7. This North Carolina research giant, known for its strong medical and law schools, underwent a bit of a name change in its history. Originally called Trinity College, it was renamed Duke University in 1924 after James Buchanan Duke, a tobacco and electric power industrialist who founded the American Tobacco Company. He established The Duke Endowment, to which he donated throughout his life and left half his estate after his death.
  8. Nestled in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt is a renowned research university with a vibrant campus life. It owes its name to “The Commodore,” Cornelius Vanderbilt, a shipping and railroad magnate, who provided the initial gift to establish the university.
  9. Texas businessman William Marsh Rice provided the initial funding for this Houston university, but did not live to see its opening. He was murdered by his valet as he slept, in a plot to forge the man’s will. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Rice University flourished through the years, becoming an institution known for its strong engineering and science programs.
  10. Who was Harvard named after? Origin of university names