I recently read an interesting Computerworld piece on the “Internet of Things,” which talked about the many electronics and even nonelectronics (such as toilets) that are becoming and will become connected via Wi-Fi. Typically, articles like this one go on about all the cool things that these new devices will bring us, including a refrigerator that will text you when you are out of milk or better yet that will order milk for you from the store to be delivered. Of course, outside of Cyber Monday, one of the big buzzes this week on the Web has been that, in the future, such deliveries will likely happen via an Amazon drone. This Computerworld piece, however, had nothing to do with future conveniences or sci-fi prognostications.

It’s been a year now since Microsoft launched its latest operating system, Windows 8. The release includes some really cool features, particularly for touch screens, yet its adoption numbers are paltry. Although its user base has been growing consistently by about 0.5 percent each month (or at an annual rate of 6 percent), as of the beginning of June, just 4.3 percent of users were running Windows 8, according to NetMarketShare. Meanwhile, Windows 7 users accounted for 44.8 percent of the market—and that number actually increased from October 2012.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, what with my spring travels for Commonwealth and recent surgery. Hopefully, that changes starting now.

It’s hard to believe that it was only a decade ago that we at Commonwealth decided to assume control of our destiny and take the fate of our technology into our own hands. During that time, we have focused on making our advisors more efficient by integrating data and operations and keeping our tools incredibly easy to use. At the same time, however, we have placed so many tools at our advisors’ disposal that it is easy for them to become overwhelmed by the options.

Life throws you a curveball every once and a while. The tragic and unfortunate event that happened earlier this week in Boston was one of those curveballs. On a day when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts celebrates Patriot’s Day (a state holiday), we were instead mourning unimaginable injuries and the loss of lives.