Microsoft to (involuntarily) enter Medical Industry

Article link:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2376070,00.asp

By: Roddy Chung

Summary and effect on business:

Motion capture technology has been around for years, but only in recent years has the technology become advanced enough in both software and hardware to be mass-produced for a larger audience. When technologies start adapting to the video gamer demographic, however, the video gamer demographic has had a tendency of adapting the technology back into the rest of the world.
 
          One such example is seen with a University of Washington student fiddling with his Xbox Kinect, the most recent gaming perhenphial addon that adapts video/motion sensing as a means of user interfacing.
 
 
          A recent story is how precise robotics controls were adapted (though 'hacked' seems the more accurate term) to to the Microsoft Xbox Kinect system. Consisting primarily as a two-sensor camera that plugs into the Xbox and uses the gaming console as a platform, users can use their movement on camera to interact with video games. It is not a new technology, as motion sensor technology has been adapted into the video game field for years now, the most recent additions being the Playstation Move system and the Nintendo Wii's basic control hardware.
 
          The technology is being explored and researched upon by the University of Washington as a control interface for surgical robotics, after a graduate student began tinkering with his own Xbox and began brainstorming on the possibilities of the technology. This isn't the only story of its kind, however - the Kinect has been explored for other possibilities in the medical field, such as a touchless user interface for surgeons in the operating theatre as well as virtual reality surgeries for training.
 
          Microsoft, though notoriously protective of their IP, have in recent years faced stiff competition from open-source development (notably in the form of the Linux operating system), and has since seen the benefit of web community contribution. Microsoft-based hardware and software have had new ideas and open-source applications added to the roster because of it, and as a result, pet projects like this have been possible.
 
          While tech magazines and websites have been focusing on the medical usages of the Kinect in the last five months, it's not a long shot to see other uses be developed from gaming hardware.

Customers Demand Four Things from Your Business Systems!

Article link:

http://www.boxtheorygold.com/blog/bid/24224/Customers-Demand-Four-Things-from-Your-Business-Systems

By: Tana Piotrowski

Summary:

·         This article is about the fact that some businesses do not efficiently listen to the voice of the customer to help make their business more efficient.

·         When a business tries to build their clientele looking at the customer’s needs and opinions are an essential part of making their customers stay as their customers.

·         There are customer expectations that can be listed into four categories:

-high quality: does what its supposed to do, better then the competition

-speed: on schedule, meets deadlines, never delayed

-low cost : good value, competitively priced, occasional bargains

-pleasurable: good buying experience, (clean store, knowledgeable sales people)

·         People in businesses need to abide by these criteria to make the business better then the competetors

Effect on business:

This article states ways that a business can improve their customer’s experience.  It was designed so that businesses can follow these guidelines to potentially build their clientele and bring in new customers.  The main effect this would have on business is that the competition in the industry would be much greater since everyone is listening to their customers.  This would make it potentially harder for new entrants into the industry to make it successfully since customers will already have their “go to” companies for their products and may be unwilling to try new things.  Overall, this criteria is good for existing companies to make it further and make a more productive business then they already have.       

Advantages and disadvantages of control systems in business management

Article link:

http://www.helium.com/items/1811312-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-control-systems-in-business-management

By: Stephanie Mayes

Summary:

·         Types of control systems are:

o    Bureaucratic control – uses rules, standards and authority. Specific tasks for different employees. Lots of businesses use this form of control.

§  Advantages – less confusion about making decisions, very clear management rules and standards

§  Disadvantages – no room for business to change and grow, employee morale, undervalued employees, strictness

o    Market control – uses prices and competition. Tangible control. Not a good choice because it causes security control issues.

§  Advantage – flexible

§  Disadvantages – too much value change because companies are bought and sold, employees are affected

o   Clan control – uses culture, standards, trust, and beliefs. This is good for innovations as each employee is a decision maker. There is no one that is strictly a decision maker

§  Advantages – more chances of innovation, ideas

§  Disadvantages – lack of standard control system and strictness means employees can slack

Impact on business:

                Each business needs to decide which type of control will work best for their processes. Management decision making is very important as well as choice of employees to implement the control systems. Control systems are very valuable and with an understanding of each type, a better choice can be chosen.  

Experts Paint Grim Picture of Infosec Readiness

Article Link:

http://www.govinfosecurity.com/articles.php?art_id=3442

By: Tana Piotrowski

Summary:

-          The government and military don’t have good enough protection when using their computers and keeping from hackers getting into their system.

-          They believe the threats to information systems are evolving and growing.

-          They believe that it is because of their information systems and the way they share their information between groups.

-          They can never get ahead and don’t have a big enough department to deal with the ever changing technological advances that the hackers are involved in.

Effects on business:

                This article is a very important article to U.S society.  Since there is a lot of important documentation in the government and military systems it is imperative that it be kept secure.  It is somewhat surprising that they don’t have extreme measures to help keep all this documentation safe.  They claim that their department is too small to keep up with the everyday changes to the hacker’s ability to get into the systems.  This would affect business greatly, even internationally.  If there is a hacker in another country that can get into the systems and military files it means that they can find out way too much about the country.  They will find out information about the president, military practices, and other private information that can give them a huge advantage over the U.S.  Take the example of a hacker in a foreign country getting into the systems and reading files.  They can find out who the country trades with, how much we pay for certain imports, what our budgets our and our profits.  With that information they can get huge advantages on other countries by lowering their trading prices lower than the U.S, by stopping trading with countries that they believe are charging too much.  Doing this would not only be an effect on U.S business but international, which is HUGE.  That being said, the government and military obviously need to come up with a better team that can ensure documentation stays safe.

System Integration Improves Corporate Campus

By: Valentine George

Article link:

http://www.csemag.com/home/single-article/system-integration-improves-corporate-campus/3b196e132c.html

Report:

The headline of this article tells the reader that how system integration is essential for business and how it helps to improve it.

This article states that Johnson Controls Inc wanted to renovate and expand their two buildings. Before renovating Johnson Controls Inc took some input from customers and project managers. They gave the project team some key insights into the technologies that would provide the best financial investment while having the least impact on the environment. The two newly renovated buildings have a cafeteria, meeting rooms, and a fitness center; and a new four-level parking structure for more than 400 vehicles, including space for plug-in hybrids. By choosing to go green Johnson Controls Inc has almost doubled in size, overall energy usage has been reduced by 21%, and the annual greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by more than 857,200 lbs of carbon dioxide.

The article further focuses on efficient planning, an energy foundation management, renewable technologies, lighting controls and work environment on how these factors of system integrations have a direct impact on the employees who go to these buildings to work. A good example of system integration is, when an employee arrives at his or her desk in the morning, a motion sensor detects the employee’s presence and delivers a signal to turn on nearby task and overhead lighting and HVAC systems. As the sun rises outside and natural light enters the building, the artificial lights are dimmed. If the sun begins to shine too intensely inside the building, the system automatically lowers the window shades. If the employee leaves his or her desk, the motion detector will turn off the lights and HVAC system, as they are not needed.

The Article concludes with Johnson Controls Inc demonstrating that how these energy-related technologies and systems integration continue to be the key components in technology innovation and sustainability.

Interview with Instructional Designer Sue Shick, Lead Engagement and Solution Architect for Second Life, Case Western Reserve University

Article link:

http://www.phoenix.edu/uopx-knowledge-network/articles/expert-voices/interview-with-instructional-designer-sue-shick.html

Electric School Boogaloo:
Schooling in Reality and Virtual Reality

                The University of Phoneix’s online presence goes beyond simply distance education over the Web, but a full-fledged university campus in virtual reality. A teacher and designer from the University of Phoenix talks about their campus in the Second Life environment, what they do, and what they intend to do.
 
                The Internet has vastly expanded our ability to find and access information, be it personal or business. We live in an age where we no longer have to see the Internet as a novelty, even though there are novelties aplenty on the Net.  One of these novelties are Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) environments, and the term is usually linked to video games like Modern Warfare or World of Warcraft, where a large population of computer users are gathered together. It's a rich environment, and games are one common way to bridge anonymous users with one another. 

There's a lot of potential in this technology, of course, and it's already in use in business. However, MMO platforms still a ton of possibilities - even within existing ones.  Distance education has been around for a long time. While the Internet has streamlined and sped up delivery of said education and material, the University of Phoenix had taken a grander approach to this field, turning online schooling into an actual online school. Literally.

 In the virtual reality of Second Life, a 3D MMO (mostly) user-created environment, the University of Phoenix has had a virtual campus for a few years now. Using the Second Life environment it is possible to walk a virtual campus, interact with virtual exhibits, view virtual lessons - but the University takes it a lot further, going so far as to include Second Life as part of class labs and holding online classes complete with visual and vocal interaction. The University of Phoenix talks about Second Life and what they do in this article on their website. While the article is fairly recent, it's interesting to mention that tech circles have mentioned (offhand) the University of Phoenix's work in Second Life some time before its official mention of starting in 2007. 

The University of Phoenix isn't the only organization to do their business in Second Life's virtual reality; there have been articles of concerts being held and other corporate names having virtual branches in Second Life. The potential of virtual reality is definitely staggering, and this article has only touched on one way things can be done in the near future.

 By: Roddy Chung

Google takes position in tourism by offering ITA Software

Article link:

http://www.dailynewsengine.com/608/google-takes-position-in-tourism-by-offering-ita-software/

By: Stephanie Mayes

Summary:

·         Google spent 700 million dollars for a software company specializing in travel agents and airlines

·         The company, ITA, began in 1996 by computer scientists from MIT. It has about 500 employees

·         Google’s goal is to reduce frustration for people finding the right flight at the right price

·         Google’s goal is customize software used by ITA QPX U.S. Airways, Continental Airlines, Kayak, Orbitz, and to incorporate Microsoft’s search engine

·         Google’s competition is Expedia, FareCompare, Hotwire, and Bing Travel

·         The database on air fares and customers (airlines, travel agents, specialist) is very comprehensive

·         ITA Software is very innovative, high performance and developed by experts in the sector

Impact on business:

                Database Software is relevant in all industries, not just accounting! It is a foundation tool to generate business and compete strongly. Knowledge of database information systems is transferable to many industries. Google’s acquisition can have many results. Examples are user friendly internet business, error free transactions, and timeliness of up-to-date information. Increased competition will also affect businesses and consumers. This software is very complex. ITA is a team of aviation sector and software scientist; which means, Google’s database will be very efficient, accurate and reliable. Hopefully, this will increase consumer spending on travel.