Monitoring for Survival

The right monitoring is crucial for the maintenance and development of a company’s data system.  The data center is the heart of the technology, and we all know that a body cannot survive without a healthy heart.  There are many important monitoring features within data centers and IT management, and none can be ignored.  

In a recent article detailing the importance of these monitors, these data centers were cleverly compared to a fish tank.  In a simple goldfish bowl, keeping the water clean and the fish fed is enough.  When you upgrade to a more complicated freshwater fish tank, more work is required to maintain the more complex environment.  And when you have an even more sophisticated saltwater tank, greater attention is necessary, including observation of PH levels, salinity, etc.  

If the data center is the complex saltwater tank, then the proper care and monitoring can lead to increased productivity, improved IT functions, and economic development, among other advantages.  If the “tank” is not properly cared for, the system will not function.  

At Devar, we are well aware of this.  As the leading suppliers of these types of monitors, we are in the business of keeping our customers’ tanks running smoothly and living a long, healthy life.  When you realize the value of this monitoring equipment, and the need for the best equipment available, you can take comfort in the fact that our products can help you—and your “fish tank”— stay on level. 

Waking Up to “Alarm Fatigue”

It’s a problem so prevalent yet so subtle that it’s taken FDA involvement to bring it to the attention of the medical profession. They’re calling it “alarm fatigue,” and it refers to that endless beeping, buzzing, and blaring that patients, visitors, and medical staff are subject to throughout the day in hospitals. As detailed in this article, too many alarms going off can be the same as none going off – it’s impossible to decipher which ones are critically important, and which ones aren’t. Nurses and doctors alike are becoming desensitized to those very noises that are supposed to signal emergencies, as they all fade into background noise.

The FDA’s proposed solution is to enact a review process to ensure that new products do not beep or make other noises needlessly, hopefully clearing the airwaves a bit to return sounds that are actually important to their proper significance. They’re also looking into smarter ways of monitoring physiological signs, to use a combination of factors and readings to provide more accurate alarm events. Here at Devar, we’re dedicated to accurate and customizable alarms and monitors as well, for the medical industry and for others like wastewater and humidity. The ability to calibrate and set readings and critical events means that alarms will only go off when they need to, letting you know when your attention is really needed. For more information, contact us today!

The Next Generation of Baby Monitors

Remember the days of a walkie-talkie next to the crib to make sure the baby wasn’t awake and hungry? One of the latest monitors to hit U.S. shores is quite a far cry from that. The Smart Baby Monitor has the classic audio capability – and adds to that a 3 megapixel camera with night vision, a motion and sound detector, and (what grabbed our interest here at Devar) temperature and humidity monitors. We know that monitors are used in all types of industrial applications, but this is perhaps the closest use to home that we’ve seen yet.

The monitor doesn’t come cheaply, but can you really put a price tag on the peace of mind in knowing that your loved one is safe and soundly asleep? For the ultimate in convenience, everything can be linked to your iPhone – fully integrated monitoring in the palm of your hand. Feeds can also be checked over the internet, but we like idea of being able to simply reach over to the nightstand and look at your phone, to provide all you need to know for a good night’s rest for your baby – and you.

Humidity and Temperature Monitoring at the 2012 Olympics

Inside the London Velodrome

What’s not to love about the Olympics? Athletes performing at peak level, people and countries united in the spirit of competition, and, of course, lots of good television to watch around the clock for two weeks. Countries and cities interested in hosting the summer or winter games typically invest incredible amounts of money into infrastructure, planning, and new, state-of-the-art venues. As this BBC article discusses, London was no exception to this for 2012, and temperature and humidity monitoring play a big part in arenas like the bicycle Velodrome.

Amazingly, as the article mentions, outdoor weather factors play a huge role in the indoor environment of the Velodrome. Moreso than standard temperature and humidity, air pressure and air density of the outside air can make huge differences in the indoor air characteristics – and so can affect cyclist performances and outcomes. Things like weather systems and outside temperature affect those readings, as well as the temperature and humidity inside the dome, which is where monitoring systems come into play. Keeping an eye on those two readings will give trainers and competitors a good idea of what kind of air density they’re dealing with. What’s more, detailed recording of different training and competition environments can help with future training as well.

Here at Devar, we offer just that type of world-class quality monitoring equipment as well. Be sure to visit our site to learn more.

Medical Monitoring Continues to Save Lives

One of the most critical times in the treatment of cardiac arrest victims is the several minutes between calling 911 and the arrival of first responders, and then the transport of the patient to a hospital. As this Wall Street Journalarticle discusses, advances in medical technology are helping to make those minutes productive ones, rather than tense ones that can often feel like a waiting game. From automatic chest compressors to patient body temperature reducers – which can help preserve brain function when oxygen is cut off – these devices and the skilled paramedics who use them are a key part of exponentially improving chances of survival and recovery.

To us at Devar, though, the technology that most stood out to us was the digital transmission system used to communicate with the destination hospital, sending electrocardiogram (ECG) results ahead of the ambulance, so that upon arrival, the victim is ready to be treated. These few extra minutes of assessment and treatment can make a huge difference. Remote telemetry and monitoring are hugely important parts of the continuing evolution of health care, and these advances are among the most exciting in recent memory. For more information on medical monitoring, contact Devar today.

“Hear” and Now: Acoustic Telemetry Under the Sea

Pipelines are such a natural part of our daily life that you may not think much about what goes into their successful operation. Carrying everything from water to oil to natural gas, so many of our daily activities are directly or indirectly made possible thanks to well-constructed and reliable pipelines. The stresses on these systems are many: friction and pressure from the flow of liquid, pressure buildup from valve operation, vibration, and, perhaps most crucial, temperature. As this article from Offshore magazine illustrates, underwater natural gas pipelines are especially susceptible to the dangers of cold ambient temperatures: if they fall too much, crystals can form, slowing the flow of gas. If it goes unnoticed or unaddressed, that inconvenience turns into a burst pipe. In other words, a disaster.

Telemetry innovation plays a major role in preventing such situations. Through acoustic telemetry, the water temperature can be monitored, and maintenance personnel can be alerted when dangerous levels occur. Although we at Devar deal mostly in wired, electronic monitoring, we applaud the ingenuity of the acoustic model: it’s especially well-suited to deep-sea applications thanks to the lack of cables and wiring. As monitoring and alarm specialists, we’re here to answer any questions you might have about your own telemetry needs: be sure to visit our website for more information.

Plight at the Museum: Preserving Precious Artifacts through Humidity Control

Books, pictures, old letters – whether sitting on a shelf, hanging on our wall, or in a box in the attic, it’s likely that you’ve seen the effects of time and age on any or all of these items. Breaking down that idea of the effect of time, though, what does it really mean? Typically, it refers to the ravages of handling, temperature, and humidity on paper, an organic substance especially vulnerable to these environmental factors. Most people aren’t overly concerned about maintaining these items for all posterity, though – usually, a few decades will suffice. But what about objects that are hundreds of years old? How are they still around, and in as good of shape as they are? The answer lies in humidity and temperature control.

Of course, digital monitors like the ones that Devar supplies weren’t around when, say, Van Gogh painted his Starry Night, let alone when da Vinci gave us the Mona Lisa. But make no mistake about it – there was some type of environmental monitoring and control at work to ensure that these masterpieces stood the test of time. Products like ours just make that task easier for today’s museum curators. Humidity and temperature transmitters can be outfitted for entire buildings – after all, most museums keep paintings bare of any sort of glass covering – or for more intricately controlled environments, like the small housing in the Louvre that contains the Mona Lisa. And back to those dusty letters and old books? Humidity monitors aren’t just for institutions. Plenty of amateur archivists keep those objects precious to them in climate-controlled environments, giving them the same care and protection afforded to the great works. Here at Devar, we’re happy to serve both types of customer, helping those who care enough to save a piece of today for tomorrow.