Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Cyber Monday
The biggest shopping day of the year for retail stores is the Friday after Thanksgiving also known as Black Friday. On this day stores offer outrageous discounts with some stores opening at 4:30 a.m. With the boom of the internet in the last decade or so a new phrase has been coined; Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday officially started in 2005 when the term was coined based on research showing that 77% of online retailers reported a significant increase in sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004. Online shoppers can enjoy the discounts that are available to those on Black Friday without the hassle of waiting in lines and dealing with the crowds. It is very important that companies keep their websites up to date and make sure that they are offering deals that the consumers will not be able to say no to. Information technology plays an important role because they need to make sure the website is functioning properly and efficiently. This Cyber Monday lots of companies experienced difficulties with their online ordering services due to the heaving volume of customers. Sears, Saks Fifth Avenue, Costco, Dell, Victoria's Secret, Bloomingdale's and Williams-Sonoma all saw their sites malfunction at some point between Friday and Monday, according to companies that monitor Web performance. Some of the problems that people experienced included error messages, extremely long loading times, inability to recall previously stored account information, or collapsed all together. This turns people away from purchasing what they want and just causes aggravation. Many of the spokespeople from companies that were affected attributed the error to not properly testing the subsequent pages on their websites, and not preparing enough or realizing there would be a very serious problem. Due to the speedy reactions of the IT people in the companies the problem was communicated to them and steps were taken to try and solve the problem in a timely manner. A rep from Best Buy said that they ill begin preparing for Cyber Monday in January this year to ensure that every customer who uses their site will be satisfied with his or her experience.
Nokia Talks Up New N97, A Really Smart Smartphone
Danny Orr
http://www.crn.com/retail/212201347
Nokia Talks Up New N97, A Really Smart Smartphone
In Barcelona Tuesday December 2, 2008, Nokia introduced its response to the highly popular iphone. The iphone, created by Apple along with AT&T has controlled the market for a significant amount of time now. Verizon also has responded with its creation of the BlackBerry storm, which supposedly has the same capabilities as the iphone, if not more. The new N97 includes a full keyboard, WIFI, a 5 megapixel camera, 3.5 inch touch screen, 3G capabilities and GPS. Two new features that Nokia is most excited about revolve around users’ social browsing behaviors and habits. The Smartphone will have a quick contacts bar and a widgets screen to allow the customer to customize their personal cellular device. The full keyboard is an attempt to appeal to those who haven’t completely transferred over to the new touch screen technology. The phone mainly will be targeted to be sold in European and Asian markets because Nokia generally introduces most of its products to Europe, then gradually adapts to the needs of the US markets. The starting price in Europe and Asia will be approximately $695 US dollars and will be on sale in the beginning of 2009.
In my opinion, I believe this is absolutely necessary for the cellular device industry. Apple’s iphone has taken over a market that is rapidly improving technology on a constant basis. The iphone has begun to die down in the United States and the beginning of 2009 is a perfect time for a new, better smart phone to be introduced. Personally, I do not own an iphone and I am not a huge fan. I like to see that other companies are at least making attempt to compete and hopefully level the playing field in the industry. That being said, I don’t know much about the European markets in relation to the cellular phone industry. The 700 dollar price range is a bit pricey and with the economy taking a turn for the worst in many areas of the world, this phone may not appeal to the lower and middle class in many countries. Phone companies generally bill their customers a flat monthly bill, but with the introduction of these smart phones, companies now have the options of including internet service, music options, and other fees on the monthly bill. The upgrade of your personal cell phone may be beneficial for the time being, but the day that monthly bill is placed in your mailbox is the day the consumer realizes that these recent technological upgrades are not seeing eye to eye with your checkbook.
Hey Professor Pridmore, I apologize for posting the blog on my friend's account. My google account hasn't been working lately for some reason.
Thanks, Danny
http://www.crn.com/retail/212201347
Nokia Talks Up New N97, A Really Smart Smartphone
In Barcelona Tuesday December 2, 2008, Nokia introduced its response to the highly popular iphone. The iphone, created by Apple along with AT&T has controlled the market for a significant amount of time now. Verizon also has responded with its creation of the BlackBerry storm, which supposedly has the same capabilities as the iphone, if not more. The new N97 includes a full keyboard, WIFI, a 5 megapixel camera, 3.5 inch touch screen, 3G capabilities and GPS. Two new features that Nokia is most excited about revolve around users’ social browsing behaviors and habits. The Smartphone will have a quick contacts bar and a widgets screen to allow the customer to customize their personal cellular device. The full keyboard is an attempt to appeal to those who haven’t completely transferred over to the new touch screen technology. The phone mainly will be targeted to be sold in European and Asian markets because Nokia generally introduces most of its products to Europe, then gradually adapts to the needs of the US markets. The starting price in Europe and Asia will be approximately $695 US dollars and will be on sale in the beginning of 2009.
In my opinion, I believe this is absolutely necessary for the cellular device industry. Apple’s iphone has taken over a market that is rapidly improving technology on a constant basis. The iphone has begun to die down in the United States and the beginning of 2009 is a perfect time for a new, better smart phone to be introduced. Personally, I do not own an iphone and I am not a huge fan. I like to see that other companies are at least making attempt to compete and hopefully level the playing field in the industry. That being said, I don’t know much about the European markets in relation to the cellular phone industry. The 700 dollar price range is a bit pricey and with the economy taking a turn for the worst in many areas of the world, this phone may not appeal to the lower and middle class in many countries. Phone companies generally bill their customers a flat monthly bill, but with the introduction of these smart phones, companies now have the options of including internet service, music options, and other fees on the monthly bill. The upgrade of your personal cell phone may be beneficial for the time being, but the day that monthly bill is placed in your mailbox is the day the consumer realizes that these recent technological upgrades are not seeing eye to eye with your checkbook.
Hey Professor Pridmore, I apologize for posting the blog on my friend's account. My google account hasn't been working lately for some reason.
Thanks, Danny
GridApp Upgrade Boosts IT Automation Capabilities
GridApp Systems, a New York based software company, is looking to get a leg up on stiff competition from Windows and Linux by issuing their new software product Clarity 4.5. Clarity 4.5 is a database automation software that GridApp focused on tremendously in order to simplify the process of managing information. According to the article, data security threats have increased to an all-time high, so GridApp's focus was to simplify their program immensely. According to Evelyn Hubbert, a senior analyst at Forrester, GridApp's company is impressing over Windows because, "there are a lot of companies out there focusing on different aspects of data management, but GridApp is really the only one in the last six or 12 months that has realized there's a lot of work that can be automated at a day-to-day level." Clarity 4.5 was created in order to accomplish these day-to-day tasks and get more work done in the process than most other applications. This sounds great, but if the program can get the work done faster, what will happen to the employees themselves?
This type of program has increasingly worried employees involved with the IT process. They feel that automation could put them at risk for their job because it is able to do these tasks much more efficiently. Assuredly, that is not exactly the case. Hubbert believes that this actually helps these workers because it gets them away from a tedious job and allows them to focus more on other areas, such as innovation. GridApp is certainly pleased by the reaction that their product has gotten, and it is certainly a breath of fresh air within the technology ring. GridApp has focused on the customers' needs in automating, wanting to make it easier for the customers to focus on other central aspects of their jobs. They recognize that people who automate want things done efficiently, organized and done with stability, and Clarity 4.5 provides that with specific databases.
This upgrade provides a huge helping hand in the management world, providing GridApp a "niche" within that specific field. These characteristics of their program can only lead to bigger and better things for a company on the rise in GridApp.
This type of program has increasingly worried employees involved with the IT process. They feel that automation could put them at risk for their job because it is able to do these tasks much more efficiently. Assuredly, that is not exactly the case. Hubbert believes that this actually helps these workers because it gets them away from a tedious job and allows them to focus more on other areas, such as innovation. GridApp is certainly pleased by the reaction that their product has gotten, and it is certainly a breath of fresh air within the technology ring. GridApp has focused on the customers' needs in automating, wanting to make it easier for the customers to focus on other central aspects of their jobs. They recognize that people who automate want things done efficiently, organized and done with stability, and Clarity 4.5 provides that with specific databases.
This upgrade provides a huge helping hand in the management world, providing GridApp a "niche" within that specific field. These characteristics of their program can only lead to bigger and better things for a company on the rise in GridApp.
Danny Granatell Wal Mart IT to Improve Healthcare
Danny Granatell
Info Systems
11/23/2008
Wal-Mart Leading Team to Improve Health Care IT
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina several major companies in the United States began to see the need for a better health care information system. The devastating affects Katrina caused the loss of entire medical family histories in New Orleans and other areas of the country. As noted by Vice Chairman John Menzer, "Medical records, property records, court records were lost. Entire family histories -- medical, cultural, and otherwise -- were gone in an instant, and the entire region is still recovering from this massive loss of information." In response, Wal Mart pledged $1 million dollars over the next five years to develop an information system that could store medical records using information technology accessible through the Internet. The leading company, Wal Mart, is working closely with the University of Arkansas and Blue Cross Blue Shield to develop a fully functional database that will store medical records with real time access at any part of the country. This will allow for more efficient and better medical care, as doctors and pharmacists will be able to look up the medical history of a patient via the Internet instead of paper files. The designers also hope that the system will enable them to track the procurement and distribution process to significantly reduce costs and “streamline” operations. They also hope that the system reduces the likelihood of shipping errors that bring unexpected costs. As a result of the reduction in costs, the companies plan to lower the prices of generic prescriptions and drugs for the benefit of the consumer. The system will not only grant people easy access to their medical histories for personal use, but also reduce the costs of medicine enabling less wealthy people more access to these drugs.
In my view the development of such an information system would greatly reduce the inefficiencies that occur in medical practice. Imagine if your medical history was accessible through a database over the Internet. Doctors would have easy access to medical records that would allow them to make quicker and more efficient diagnoses. It would diminish the need for traditional file records, as medical histories could be stored through an online database. The system would also help out college students. I can remember the hassle it was as an incoming freshmen to track down documentation of medical records that were scattered over many hospitals and states. If the system were enabled then I easily could have downloaded my file online and sent it to the health center on campus. In other instances a health care information system would also be useful in the case of serious accidents in which little information is known about the patient. A patient knocked on conscious cannot provide doctors with information regarding what they are allergic to. The new healthcare information system would allow doctors to look up the patient’s medical file and provide the proper medical treatment. The system not only makes medical practice more efficient, but also limits mistakes and errors that could be costly.
Info Systems
11/23/2008
Wal-Mart Leading Team to Improve Health Care IT
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina several major companies in the United States began to see the need for a better health care information system. The devastating affects Katrina caused the loss of entire medical family histories in New Orleans and other areas of the country. As noted by Vice Chairman John Menzer, "Medical records, property records, court records were lost. Entire family histories -- medical, cultural, and otherwise -- were gone in an instant, and the entire region is still recovering from this massive loss of information." In response, Wal Mart pledged $1 million dollars over the next five years to develop an information system that could store medical records using information technology accessible through the Internet. The leading company, Wal Mart, is working closely with the University of Arkansas and Blue Cross Blue Shield to develop a fully functional database that will store medical records with real time access at any part of the country. This will allow for more efficient and better medical care, as doctors and pharmacists will be able to look up the medical history of a patient via the Internet instead of paper files. The designers also hope that the system will enable them to track the procurement and distribution process to significantly reduce costs and “streamline” operations. They also hope that the system reduces the likelihood of shipping errors that bring unexpected costs. As a result of the reduction in costs, the companies plan to lower the prices of generic prescriptions and drugs for the benefit of the consumer. The system will not only grant people easy access to their medical histories for personal use, but also reduce the costs of medicine enabling less wealthy people more access to these drugs.
In my view the development of such an information system would greatly reduce the inefficiencies that occur in medical practice. Imagine if your medical history was accessible through a database over the Internet. Doctors would have easy access to medical records that would allow them to make quicker and more efficient diagnoses. It would diminish the need for traditional file records, as medical histories could be stored through an online database. The system would also help out college students. I can remember the hassle it was as an incoming freshmen to track down documentation of medical records that were scattered over many hospitals and states. If the system were enabled then I easily could have downloaded my file online and sent it to the health center on campus. In other instances a health care information system would also be useful in the case of serious accidents in which little information is known about the patient. A patient knocked on conscious cannot provide doctors with information regarding what they are allergic to. The new healthcare information system would allow doctors to look up the patient’s medical file and provide the proper medical treatment. The system not only makes medical practice more efficient, but also limits mistakes and errors that could be costly.
Monday, December 1, 2008
New Power Devices Getting Closer
Are you sick of your laptop or iPod constantly going out of battery? Does it seem like you spend more time charging your favorite electronic product rather than enjoying it? Well it seems the answer is almost here. Tiny fuel cells, powered by liquids or gasses to generate electricity without combustion, have long been publicized as the eventual solution. These would allow users to skip the wall plug and simply swap out a fuel cartridge to continue listening to music or checking e-mail. Potentially, they could power a laptop for days between refills. Lilliputian Systems Incorporation, a Wilmington, Massachussetts company founded by former Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers, plans to introduce a portable fuel cell late next year for any device that can be charged via a USB port. The cigarette-pack-size charger will use a canister of butane, the same fuel used in cigarette lighters, to juice up anything from iPods to BlackBerrys to GPS Navigators. Each teaspoon of the fuel can provide 20 times the run time of a battery of the same size at a cost of $100 to $150 per device ($1 to $3 for refills).
But you might ask why haven’t researchers been trying to fix this problem a long time ago- it’s a problem everyone suffers from? It turns out the U.S. government removed a key roadblock just this year when the Department of Transportation amended its hazardous materials regulations to allow cells with methanol, butane or formic acid to be carried on airplanes. This opened many doors for innovations. Now other companies such as Panasonic, MTI, and Medis Technologies Ltd have been creating fuel cell products to be sold in the market as soon as 2009. I think this is a great invention and will make life much easier for consumers. Having a weak battery is something everyone hates and this upgrade in technology will let consumers feel secure that their products won’t die on them. What also comes to mind is the idea that consumers are used to getting a free battery charge from any electrical outlet. I wonder how many people would pay for this fuel-celled charger instead of settling for the free alternative. I feel like refill cartridges would have to be as ubiquitous as cigarettes and bottles of Coke in every 7-Eleven in order for fuel cells to take off. Especially with the economy the way it is today, it’s going to have to be pretty efficient for people to spend money on something they can get for free. Lastly, I wonder if these products will overheat after staying on for days at a time. After about three hours you could almost cook an egg on my current laptop so I wonder how developers will approach this problem. Either way this upgrade in technology is a step in the right direction for making technology more suitable for consumers and I’m excited to see what products reach the marketplace.
But you might ask why haven’t researchers been trying to fix this problem a long time ago- it’s a problem everyone suffers from? It turns out the U.S. government removed a key roadblock just this year when the Department of Transportation amended its hazardous materials regulations to allow cells with methanol, butane or formic acid to be carried on airplanes. This opened many doors for innovations. Now other companies such as Panasonic, MTI, and Medis Technologies Ltd have been creating fuel cell products to be sold in the market as soon as 2009. I think this is a great invention and will make life much easier for consumers. Having a weak battery is something everyone hates and this upgrade in technology will let consumers feel secure that their products won’t die on them. What also comes to mind is the idea that consumers are used to getting a free battery charge from any electrical outlet. I wonder how many people would pay for this fuel-celled charger instead of settling for the free alternative. I feel like refill cartridges would have to be as ubiquitous as cigarettes and bottles of Coke in every 7-Eleven in order for fuel cells to take off. Especially with the economy the way it is today, it’s going to have to be pretty efficient for people to spend money on something they can get for free. Lastly, I wonder if these products will overheat after staying on for days at a time. After about three hours you could almost cook an egg on my current laptop so I wonder how developers will approach this problem. Either way this upgrade in technology is a step in the right direction for making technology more suitable for consumers and I’m excited to see what products reach the marketplace.
Hallmark's Project WOW
Since its beginnings in 1910, Hallmark has succeeded in becoming the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1966, this private business, humbly headquartered in Kansas City, made the crossed the pond to international markets, and today has a retail network in over 100 countries, publishing greeting cards in over 30 languages. Hallmark is now making another jump, this time into becoming a technological superstar.
Project WOW, the latest Hallmark initiative, was designed with the goal of wowing customers. The newly-employed technologies allow card purchasers to embed a personal message or sound clip into a deliverable card. This capability is the result of years of hard work by the design, IT and "Advancing Technologies" teams as they collaborated and produced a method to provide Hallmark cards that include, built-in, a computer chip, a battery and a miniature speaker.
Anybody can make a card—a paper and pencil are all that is required—but not everybody can make a card that is different and yet still effective. Hallmark has accomplished this with their audio cards. They were allowed a competitive advantage through their utilization of technology and their trust in their IT teams. As technology becomes even more ubiquitous, I hope that other companies look to this Hallmark innovation and look for competitive advantages within their own information technology groups.
Project WOW, the latest Hallmark initiative, was designed with the goal of wowing customers. The newly-employed technologies allow card purchasers to embed a personal message or sound clip into a deliverable card. This capability is the result of years of hard work by the design, IT and "Advancing Technologies" teams as they collaborated and produced a method to provide Hallmark cards that include, built-in, a computer chip, a battery and a miniature speaker.
Anybody can make a card—a paper and pencil are all that is required—but not everybody can make a card that is different and yet still effective. Hallmark has accomplished this with their audio cards. They were allowed a competitive advantage through their utilization of technology and their trust in their IT teams. As technology becomes even more ubiquitous, I hope that other companies look to this Hallmark innovation and look for competitive advantages within their own information technology groups.
Microsoft To Deliver Movies To Mobile Devices, Eventually
Blockbuster has taken a little longer then most other technology services to develop movies on mobile devices. They are a little behind then that of Apple. But the new service will be more efficient and maybe be able to be powered with a longer battery while be watched in multiply places. The new services will be built on top of Microsoft’s new software platform Live Mesh, a device that uses internet connection to share information in other devices or application. Live Mesh currently allows Microsoft programs to talk to one another, but the software giant says it will eventually support Macs and Windows Mobile smart phones. Blockbuster has been interested in letting consumers view movies on their mobile for some time now. Jim Keyes who is the CEO of the movie rental giants has used a storage device to download rentals and then transferring it to his blackberry. The only problem was trying to make it user friendly and getting it out to the public. "You can see how it would make a lot of sense to give users a way to share the movie they’ve downloaded from the new set-top box onto a mobile phone. But despite the upbeat tone of the story, this is all still theoretical stuff for the company. Blockbuster CIO Keith Morrow said eventually the company “wanted” to give customers access to “any movie on any device” with an internet connection and a screen." Morrow has yet been able to show his confidence in the new device, but has been working on it within the last year. In another way of developing this technology, Blockbuster is more concerned about giving this technology to portable media players for those who travel through Blockbuster kiosks. Morrow has yet to announce when this project will be put in the works. Other ideas that were included was using "Live Mesh to allow a person to pause a movie on one TV and pick it up at the same exact place the show left off in another building and a system that would let parents know if their kids were trying to watch a movie during homework time."
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