Cars are becoming rolling smartphones

Businessweek had an interesting article recently discussing how automakers are putting more and more technology into their vehicles.  I'm most familiar with Ford's Sync technology and I'm really impressed by it.  Not only does do the usual in-car functions such as voice navigation and 911 assistance, but it also essentially turns your phone and MP3 player into hands-free, voice activated devices.  So not only can you make and receive calls using the in-vehicle microphone and speakers, but the system will also read your texts messages to you and allow you to send certain generic reply texts using only voice commands.  You can also control your MP3 player with commands such as "Play Genre: Rock," "Play [Artist]," or "Play Track: [Song Title]."  


The best part about Sync, however, is that it's only a $400 option on new Ford vehicles. Ford reported that vehicles with Sync move twice as fast off their dealer lots and that non-Ford owners are three times as likely to consider the brand after viewing demonstrations of Sync. Also, used cars equipped with Sync, on average, sell for $200 more in auctions than those without it.  It's obvious that Ford is really dialed-in to what consumers are demanding in terms of connectivity features in their vehicles.

To read more about Sync click here.

Robots to the Rescue!

A company named Kiva Systems has developed robots that operate many warehouse functions currently performed by humans.  The company has combined three technologies - WiFi, digital cameras, and low-cost servers - into these robots which allows them to perform order fulfillment functions. The servers work in real-time, receiving orders, immediately dispatching robots to bring the required pods to the worker fulfilling the order, and then returning the pods to their storage locations. The robots receive their orders wirelessly, while using cameras to read navigational barcode stickers on the warehouse floor.

The techology has already proven very promising.  Kiva lists Walgreens, Gap and Zappos as some of their largest customers, with Walgreens planning to have 1,000 bots in its warehouses by next summer.  Zappos' Vice President of Fulfillment is quoted in the article as saying, "It's exceeded all of our expectations, doubling the productivity of our pickers and cutting our energy costs in half."  So not only are these robots more efficient than humans, but because they don't need air conditioning or much lighting, they also save on warehouse energy costs.  Maybe it's time we humans start watching our backs! 

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/apr2009/id20090415_876420.htm

HP looking to simplify IT

HP recently announced a new company-wide initiative dubbed Instant-On, which is an effort to package its hardware, software and consulting services that can be offered as a single purchase, instead of three or more purchases as it's currently done.  The effort is aimed at helping large enterprises reduce IT complexity and becoming more responsive to internal needs as well as the needs of their customers.  By integrating the work of its hardware, software and services divisions, HP says it can help companies navigate disruptive trends such as the influx of mobile devices and the introduction of cloud computing services.  This will, in effect, allow large enterprises to uses technology to provide better, faster service to their customers, even as business requirements and consumer expectations keep changing.  


HP's primary goal of this initiative is to reassure IT buyers that all the different divisions of HP are working toward a common goal of reducing complexity and simplifying management for IT teams.  If HP can successfully deliver on this promise, the instant-On initiative will be a sure hit with IT departments around the world.

Do you have space for a revamped Myspace?

Myspace.com recently announced that it will be rolling out a completely revamped site on Wednesday, November 3.  Now I know you're probably thinking, "So what!?"  It seems to most the the social networking site is past the point of no return, with Facebook drawing well over twice the traffic during the month of September.  And the disparity is only growing.  But that's why I find this story interesting.

Apparently, Myspace realizes it can no longer compete with Facebook, so it's changing its focus.  It will not longer be a social networking site, but rather with the remake it will transition to a social entertainment site.  Now, visitors will be greeted by a mosaic of tiles featuring the most popular videos, music, and news on the site. Entertainment content, not friends, is meant to be the focus.  Myspace acknowledges that the change will likely drive away a portion of its current user base but believes it will result in positive net users over the long run.  Also, users can now sync their accounts with other social media sites such as Twitter, YouTube and even Facebook.  There is also a push to roll out innovative mobile apps and a revamped mobile site.  


I'd like to see the revamped site survive if it can offer something new and different.  However, the deck is stacked against Myspace.  No online business has ever managed to turn itself around after falling out of favor with the public.  Nevertheless, I may just be curious enough to create a new account to check it out.

SAP Now Has Its Head in the Clouds

CIO.com recently posted an article reporting that SAP announced at the Tech Ed Conference in Las Vegas that its customers will now have more options and tools for deploying the SAP's software on private clouds.  As we all know, SAP is a major supplier of ERP systems to major corporations.  With this new initiative, SAP is closer to offering completely cloud based ERP systems.  Once such systems become reality, there will be little reason for a company's employees to be located at a single location.  So virtual offices, such as those discussed in The Advocate article quoting Dr. Schwarz, will become ever more popular.  Not only would this save employees time from not having to commute everyday, but more significantly it would allow firms to employ a global workforce without regard to geographic office locations.  Armed with a laptop, an employee can set up an office anywhere he or she can find Internet access.

The Jesus Phone Disciples

CIO.com recently published an article entitled 12 Types of Cell Phone Users That Drive Us Nuts.  As the title suggests, the article contains a humorous slideshow of 12 type of cell phone users that just don't conform to social norms.  While I initially read the article for my own entertainment, I began to think about the process of how society reacts to new technologies and how norms, as well as faux pas, form over time.  There always seems to be an evolution as to how devices are used and thought of by society, and if you fall behind the curve...well, you end up in an article on CIO.com. 

One of the annoying types listed by the article is "The iPhone Snob or 'Jesus Phone Disciple'".  Apparently, it's no longer cool to show off and brag about your iPhone - that sort of behavior is now reserved for MacBook Pro users.  And although I've never owned iPhone, in the past I could have been labeled as a "Mr. 'I Can't Look Away From My BlackBerry'".  At a previous job, I parked two blocks away from my building and was often guiltly of reading emails on my BlackBerry for the entire two block trek.  And even though I no longer have that device, I still find myself doing it with my new smartphone.  It's something I'm working on, a work in progress if you will. 

So which faux pas are you guilty of?!  Come on, I fessed up, now it's your turn!

Dell Getting Serious about Networking

An article posted on CIO.com today announced that Dell has hired away a former Cisco executive, Dario Zamarian, to head up its networking division.  Zamarian will be the first vice president ever dedicated to Dell's networking division, which signals that Dell is putting more emphasis on networking than ever before.

As we talked about in class, more and more data and software are moving into "the cloud", which means that network usage will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years.  Networks are also being increasingly taxed by the rapid proliferation of mobile search.  It used to be that someone had to be sitting in front of a computer in order to perform a Google search or surf the internet.  Now with smartphones, those same people can surf the internet anytime and from anywhere, leading to many more searches being performed overall.

Dell has clearly recognized this trend and is now playing catch up in the space.  Just a few weeks ago we saw them engage in a pricing war with HP over 3Par, a leading, high-end storage vendor specializing in cloud services.  By the time HP finally emerged victorious, the two companies had bid up 3Par's stock price to a multiple several times higher than it was at the beginning of the war.  It seems that Dell isn't giving up, however.  It is now speculated that Dell may try to acquire Brocade, another storage networking player.  It'll be interesting to see if there will be further consolidation in the sector as the big guys who are behind the curve acquire smaller, more innovative firms.