Knewton Creates an A+ Innovation

For industries to survive, adapting to modern technology is a must. However, some traditional sectors, such as the education, struggle to depart their old ways. Knewton teaches education a thing or two by presenting practical and personalized learning to students in a digital setting. 

Knewton’s Adaptive Learning Platform is a customized educational tool that is designed to meet particular needs of each student. Four years in the making, this software allows students to work at their own pace and select content, to make the learning experience more suited and comfortable for them. This technology has spread to tens of thousands of students at different schools, including Penn State University and the State University of New York. 

Knewton is recognized as the only business in education that was included as one of the most innovative companies in 2012 by Fast Company. The World Economic Forum also named them a Technology Pioneer, joining the ranks of Twitter and Paypal. 

For its innovative approach in education, Knewton gets an A+.

Narayana Hrudayalaya Makes Cheaper Health Care Possible

Commercialization has affected all industries, including health care. In specific parts of the world, only the wealthy can afford to recuperate from illness, since the medical industry has become a business for profit. Offering low-cost yet high quality care for impoverished countries, Narayana Hrudayalaya tells us a different story. 

The company – composed of an organized group health centers – started its operations in 2001 with a cardiac center located in Bangalore. From one hospital, founder Dr. Devi Shetty has expanded Narayana into what he calls a “health city”. The first center in Bangalore now also specializes in trauma, cancer, and eye care. Narayana health centers are also found in 14 other cities in India. This is just the beginning though, for the founder wishes to create more health cities that could accommodate 5,000 patients. 

Because of their services, Narayana is described as a model for accessible, affordable health care. But with such low returns, how does the company make economics work? 

They found that the secret to cheaper health care is hindered by routine inefficiencies and mechanics of delivery.  For one, the doctors in Narayana’s center work on a fixed salary, instead of being paid a hefty fee for every surgery. The company also has a micro-insurance program that gives farmers coverage – for a little over $2.50 dollars annual premiums.  Dr. Shetty describes their creative ways of cutting down costs “the Walmart way”. True enough, Narayana has brought a bargain deal to all of its patients by bringing medical care to the masses. 

Narayana was recognized as one of the 50 most innovative companies this year for its milestones in health care. Dr. Shetty was brave enough to test an untested model, and time has proven it effective. Many patients, especially the poor, owe their health to Narayana Hrudayalaya, the hospital made especially for them.

Huawei: Building the Future of Telecoms

China’s Huawei Technologies is the second largest telecom equipment supplier in the world. This is not a very known fact since more than 75% of its revenue comes from China, India and Latin America. Huawei works on increasing its branding by introducing an affordable smartphone that will eventually make Huawei a household name.

Huawei’s R&D have been working hard to make the company the leader in wired and wireless broadband access, optical transmission and data communications. They help global telecom operators increase their efficiency and revenue by providing open application environments, smart operational platforms and efficient services. On top of that, their continued innovations help operators build cloud computing platforms. Huawei continuously optimizes its service solutions so that clients can increase their total value of ownership and improve their return on investment.

Huawei offers a wide range of network devices to help fulfill the consumers’ diversified device requirements. Operators can take advantage of the resale market when clients are allowed rich and convenient communication experience.

To meet the growing needs of the consumers, Huawei focuses on customer-centric innovations. Forty-six percent (51,000) of their workers are engaged in R&D in 20 research institutes in USA, China, Germany, India, Sweden and Russia.

DonorsChoose.org: Connecting Needs with Help

DonorsChoose.org is a charity organization accessible online. It allows easy access to philanthropists and charity donors to find students in help of need.

DonorsChoose.org enlists public school teachers from all over America to post requests on the organization’s website. The request may be a microscope for the lab, a violin for the music class, or pencils for the poetry writing unit. Generous people can browse through the website to find an inspiring story and give their donation. When the needed fund for the project is raised, DonorsChoose.org will hand carry the requests to the school.

DonorsChoose.org started in 2000 at Bronx high school at a time when there was scarcity of learning materials. Charles Best, a social studies teacher, became aware that many kind-hearted people wanted to help public schools but were frustrated that their donations lacked influence. He created DonorsChoose.org so donors can make a direct contact with classrooms in need.

Donors can be assured that all projects on DonorsChoose.org are legitimate, and that their donations are spent on their chosen projects. DonorsChoose.org inspects all project requests submitted to them by teachers. They use the most secured and trusted technology to process the donations. They make a direct purchase and shipping of the materials needed. They alert the school’s principal as soon as the materials are on transit.

DonorsChoose.org takes actual photos as the project takes place. The teachers and pupils send letters to the donors, and provide a blow-by-blow report of how each penny was spent for the project.

To make the website real accessible, DonorsChoose.org has developed filters. Donors and philanthropists will just key in a keyword to find a project to help. Donors can sort by location, keyword (donor’s passion like painting, reading, or anything that he cares about), cost of project, poverty level or popularity.

Steven Pinkert’s Law Partnership, Pinkert & Marsh, P.A.

Based in Coral Gables, Florida, Pinkert & Marsh, P.A. was established by Steven Pinkert in 2002. Pinkert & Marsh handles a variety of practice areas, including bar admissions and grievances, patents and trademarks, commercial litigation, and real estate. The practice also represents clients in administrative law, medical malpractice, and insurance disputes. Mr. Pinkert, the Managing Partner, represents clients in a number of areas and provides counsel to U.S.-based companies seeking Chinese market entry. Additionally, he structures acquisitions of cutting-edge medical facilities and equipment around the world, including China.

A boutique firm, Pinkert & Marsh, P.A. provides a full range of professional services with a more personal approach than some larger law establishments. The patents and trademarks attorneys represent inventors and individuals seeking to protect intellectual property such as brand names. The practice also covers areas such as patent-application drafting and prosecution in computer software and hardware, medical sciences and devices, imaging technology, radiation, and therapy. Under Steven Pinkert's guidance, firm real estate attorneys assist with current market processes, such as short sales and foreclosures. They also assist foreign investors and clients who are navigating the real estate and mortgage market with the newest regulations. A title agent for Attorney’s Title Insurance Fund, Steven Pinkert conducts residential and commercial closings, issues endorsements, and updates title policies.

For patients harmed because of a diagnosis delay, an operative complication, or failed procedure, Pinkert & Marsh, P.A. assists in determining if medical malpractice occurred and litigates for patients who did indeed experience malpractice. Similarly, the firm’s skilled attorneys aggressively represent consumers injured or damaged due to defective products, including sports, playground, gym equipment, toys, vehicles, gadgets, motors, and engines. In all of its cases, the firm of Pinkert & Marsh, P.A. endeavors to provide fair and thorough representation.

Kosaka Smelting and Refining: Creating Gold Mines Out of Old Electronic Devices

With today’s technological advancement, who would have thought that Japan can promote modern-day alchemy? Kosaka Smelting and Refining proved that there are “gold mines” in old electronic devices.

Kosaka is a Japanese firm that produces gold and other valuable metals from old electronics. Kosaka has mastered the art of extracting gold, copper, silver, antimony, and other minerals from old mobile phones. The process can gather up to 20 milligrams of gold from one cell phone unit. Imagine how much gold can a ton of old phones produce.

The dismantled electronics are heated to 1,300 degrees Celsius. At this point, at least 19 different kinds of metals are extracted. Kosaka continues to innovate to extract more. Their target is to extract neodymium, an essential element used to produce magnets.

Kosaka’s innovation is timely, both politically and economically. China, the world’s largest producer of rare-earth minerals has cut 82% of their mineral exports to Japan in recent years. With this eco-friendly concept, Japan continues to have access to rare minerals while promoting recycling to help Mother Earth.