IBM Targets Smart Cities, Government Services

The article I read was called “IBM Targets Smart Cities, Government Services” by J. Nicholas Hoover from Information Week. The article is about how IBM has created software for the use of government agencies. This software can be used by all sorts of governments ranging from local government agencies, all the way up to federal government agencies. The software covers a wide range of tasks needed within a government agency by targeting five specific areas: tax and revenue management, safety and security, social services, transportation, and integrated urban infrastructures or "smart cities."

I feel that it is very important in our world today to have the most efficient government possible, whether it’s local government or the federal government. IBM has not only provided information technologies for businesses and people but also for governments. IBM's general manager for global government and education, Gerry Mooney said "IBM has decades of experience working with various government entities worldwide and understands the need for a unified approach. We are bringing that expertise to a single integrated platform that can now connect different agency teams for real-time views that span the entire government structure, allowing for a quicker, more targeted response as situations of all kinds emerge." With this approach, companies like IBM will help governments become more efficient by providing these kinds of services. With this kind of software governments can respond much quicker when faced with problems. This system will decrease the lag time from when the problem arises to when a decision to solve the problem is made.

Our government system today is slow enough, mainly because there are so many moving parts within the system, so we cannot afford to waste time with technologies that are not integrated with one another. Some government agencies are very complex which can easily cause different departments within the agency to sometimes not be on the same page with one another. However, if these government agencies implement software, like the one IBM is offering, to integrate the different departments within the agency so that everything is on the same platform, then the government agency will cut their costs and be able to work much faster.

I found it interesting that IBM creates this kind of software for many different industries. IBM has created software to integrate products for governments, hospitals, companies, etc. Even if the industries are completely different, the software created has the same goal, which is to integrate the contents so that they are able to operate more efficiently.

I believe that it is important that more companies like IBM create software that is able to integrate contents of a company. If this were to happen, more companies would be able to afford this kind of software and operate more efficiently. When a company does not have all of its components on the same platform, their costs will increase and the operation of the company will slow down. I believe every company will need to put this kind of software into their company in the future in order to effectively operate. There is no need for companies or governments to wait on implementing this kind of software. The faster they integrate their components, the quicker they will see their operations run more efficiently.

Ernie Menold- Article # 2

A CNN article by John Sutter states that within 5 years, people could not be carrying wallets and strictly relying on their phones for e-payments. Phones could also have such capabilities as: open doors for access, show identification, and show bus/train/subway pass. Like mostly every other new technology, this advancement has been going on for some time over in Asia, namely- Japan. Forrester Research took a survey of 963 people, and found that 15% were buying items in physical stores, but with their phones as the means of payment.

At the end of 2008, the International Telecommunication Union found that 2 out of 3 people own a cell phone. This number is rapidly growing annually. Even more rapidly is the growth of cell phones with internet capability. This all proves that e-commerce capability in phones is in the near future. The International Telecommunication Union stated "By 2012, 190 million people will make mobile payments." The U.S. definitely has the potential to develop this new type of payment, for devices like the iPhone have brought about a new age of what can be done with a phone. Some apps do what this article is talking about- namely, move money from saving to checking accounts, check bank statements, ect.

There is a serious problem with having all that information in a phone though. Walking around with a device to access to your checking account and personal information poses a serious threat. People that normally seek to pick-pocket wallets may look to steal phones, where they can not only spend your money, but at the same time steal your identity. Of course there would be passwords and security measures in order that this not happen, but hackers become more intelligent with technology.

Forrester Research believes that the recession will hold this development back. For just like the birth of the credit card, where every single store had to adapt and pay for the utilites to accept credit cards, now they would have to invest in accepting the technology for e-payments over a phone. This adaption could take a while.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/24/tech.cell.phone.wallet/index.html

DJ Cisek- Blog 2

Microsoft has announced that they are one year away from releasing Window’s Multipoint Server. This server will allow users to connect to another computer with only a keyboard and mouse. Now users will be able to remotely run multiple coinciding processes all from one computer. Although this software has yet to been released to the public, Microsoft plans to offer it exclusively to the education sector.
Through this press release, we begin to see the results of Microsoft’s strategic planning. Suffering a large percentage of sales in the personal computer industry, Microsoft looks to protect its stake in the educational field of computing. Microsoft is specifically feeling the heat from its biggest competitor, Apple, who operates the majority of their computers on Mac driven software. This aggressive move to develop and sell this software helps protect Microsoft from loosing a sector it helped to create. Schools across the country will have a continuing need to buy efficient computers with an effective operating system. Through this new software, Microsoft hopes that teachers, faculty, and administrators will continue to choose Windows.

Looking to separate themselves from Apple, Microsoft looks to differentiate through price. Macintosh software does not currently allow for one personal computer to be used as a hub for remote users without their own personal tower. For Mac, it is one computer tower and only one user. Microsoft will change the game with one tower and multiple users. All that is needed are additional monitors, keyboards, and mouses.

So why make a product like this now? Ira Snyder, the general for the Multipoint Server, understands that there is a great demand for such software in today’s markets. On her blog she writes, “In the World of education, shared resource computing has great potential to extend the reach and utilization of affordable computing for students.” The financial woes on Wall Street have carried over into the classrooms of our schools. Over the past several years, school budgets have been cut due to the recession. Although technology has continued to improve, many schools continue to operate with antiquated operating systems that are slow and prone to crash. The Windows Multipoint Server will now allow schools to update their operating systems for a much more attractive cost. Considering that ten remote users can connect to one full-equipped computer means that schools have the opportunity to cut their technology budget ten fold. This is great news for Microsoft, who hopes to increase sales in what was previously a stagnant market.

Finally this is a great public relations move for Microsoft. Many technology companies have been blamed for not being price conscientious. In this case, Microsoft looks to cut costs for schools while at the same promoting education for our young people. Windows Multipoint Server should help bolster revenue for Microsoft, while at the same time enhance its corporate image. This should be a strong counter attack to Mac who has dominated commercial airtime criticizing windows for it’s antiquated ways. When advertising begins for this new operating system, it should help to shed some of the recent negative press and show that Microsoft has a genuine concern for developing the next generation of young bright minds.

Works Cited
Fried, Ina. "Microsoft to schools: Share a PC." CNET News. 12 Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. .

Harry Bodozian - Article #2

In an article I found on computer world.com that was reported on October 30, 2009, Owen Fletcher reports that China has one of the developed a new computer that can potentially be classified as one of the fastest ever created. The article is entitled, "China claims supercomputer among world's fastest," this computer has been recognized as Milky Way and has the technology to process one million billion calculations per second. This is a measure that is registered in FLOPS which means floating operation points per second, it is stated in the article that the computer will be used for bio-medical computing, seismic data processing during oil exploration and for the design of "aerospace vehicles." The computer contains far more memory and processing that anything else created, it has over 11,000 microprocessors from Intel and Advanced Micro Devises and its exclaimed that the cost to build one of these processors would cost at least 600 million yuan, which when converted to United States dollar would be $88 million.

I am continually impressed with the technological advancement on the current era. With the first introduction to the desktop computer, to the further trend of laptops, to now this. Potentially could the supercomputer outdistance the laptop? I don't know we'll see where time takes us yet for China to introduce this advanced system allows them to thoroughly outdistance themselves technologically from other countries. This begs the question about the United States, are we falling behind to China technologically? China has so many advancements everyday that it is pondering to think if the US will ever be able to compete with them. I am not understating IT in the US, it is just there is everyday evidence that China continues to impress all with there advancements.

In the end I am a supporter of the supercomputer. Although I am content with the current technological devices, there is always room for advancement and it seems that the capabilities of the supercomputer are pretty endless. This article reminded me of that YouTube video that you showed us at the beginning of the year where one slide said that in the future computers will be smarter and be able to out think the human brain, up to this point I see the supercomputer as that piece of technology that will surpass human intelligence.

This article can be found here:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9140141/China_claims_supercomputer_among_world_s_fastest

Chris Nealon Article #2

On October 29^th 2009, Brad Stone wrote an article for the New York Times titled, “Amazon PayPhrase Tries to Make Paying Online Easier”.  The Article beings with Stone providing a brief description of what a PayPhrase is, and how Amazon.com is implementing it into their online checkout.  The article states that a PayPhrase is a certain phrase that a person can use to access Amazon.com and pay for purchased goods without using any credit numbers, just simply providing your “special” pin and your phrase.  The article then quotes the General Manager of Consumer Payments at Amazon saying, “They do not have to share credit card with another third-party Web site, they do not to have to be signed in, and they get this consistent experience wherever they checkout” explaining how PayPhrase will also be implemented to other online checkouts supported by Amazon, such as Buy.com and DKNY.  Stone then presents his objections to the idea, questioning the fact that since each phrase must be unique, it will not be long until people are forced to register for a phrase that is nearly impossible to remember (example given; “relentless dentist”).  The article is concluded with the author predicting the future for Pay Phrase saying, “Although Amazon is not integrating PayPhrase into its mobile shopping tools right away, it certainly will at some point. With PayPhrase, Jeff Bezos and his crew may be looking into the future, and preparing to seize a cut of the mobile payments business”, implying that perhaps PayPhrase will be used with voice recognition to make mobile purchases in the future.  The article in its entirety can be viewed at:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/amazon-payphrase-tries-to-make-paying-online-easier/?scp=1&sq=payphrase%20amazon&st=cse

            Like many other aspects of new technology, I have mixed feelings towards PayPhrase.  I believe that it is a good idea in the sense that a consumer will no longer have to spend the extra time providing a credit card number in checkout, and will be able to make fast effortless online purchases.  With that said, I don’t know how secure this system could possibly be, I feel as though replacing a credit card number with an obscure phrase could not be very safe, with hackers ability these days there could already be a program to discover someone’s PayPhrase which is basically their bank account.  Also, I feel as though being able to buy something with just typing in a word could start to cause people to spend money they really should not be spending, there is something to be said for having to provide your personal credit card number to make a purchase rather than just a two-word phrase.

            In this technology-dominated world we live in, there is a constant need for innovation, and Amazon.com has certainly shown innovation with their implementation of PayPhrase.  But systems like PayPhrase really start to make me wonder, is the basis of our consumption simply who provides the most convenient service?  If they are doing away with credit card numbers now, who knows what the future holds, perhaps someday, somebody will be able to make a purchase by nodding their head at a computer screen.  Has the world really come to a point where there is a necessity to spend thousands, possible millions of dollars on a system that saves a consumer five minutes?

Matt Barry Article 2

The article that I read was titled, “How Komatsu Innovations keep its Machinery Selling” and it was written in “Business Week” by Kenji Hall.  In this article, Kenji Hall discussed a Chinese Construction Company named Komatsu and how it uses technology and IT innovation to help speed up Business ventures and reduce costs.  Back in 2001, Komatsu created GPS systems, which they put in every one of their pieces of construction equipment.  They used these GPS systems to track where each one of their pieces of equipment were throughout the World and what types of jobs those pieces of equipment were doing.  They originally used this information only to prevent theft.   Now however, Komatsu has found many ways to use the information from the GPS systems.  Through the GPS systems, Komatsu can tell which one of its pieces of equipment has the most wear and tear, and which ones will need maintenance soon.  They can also use this information to calculate what the resale value will be when they go to sell the construction equipment that they own.  These GPS systems can also track how much is being produced at each construction site.  This tells the company where they need to slow down production and also where they need to speed it up.

This IT innovation is huge for the construction industry.  By knowing when their equipment needs to have maintenance done, they can complete that maintenance before the piece of machinery completely shuts down.  Because of this, all of the workers will be able to stay a lot more productive because they will always be working.  If they did not have the GPS system and one of the pieces of machinery shut down, then workers would be sitting around for a while with nothing to do.  Now with the GPS system, this will never be the case.  This IT innovation is also a big step for construction companies because it will be able to calculate the resale value of all of the construction pieces.  This will save the company a lot of time and allow them to complete more tasks than they were able to prior to these GPS systems.  Also, the fact that the GPS system can tell the construction sites are producing will really help out Komatsu.  It will tell them which sites are moving slowly and also which ones are moving ahead of schedule.  This will allow them to allocate their resources effectively and save money without wasting some of their assets.

One other technological advance that Komatsu is using is fuel saving pieces of Construction equipment.  One example of this is the diesel-hybrid electric excavator that they created.  Items like this will help Komatsu reduce costs while also protecting the environment.

Komatsu is greatly using technological advances and IT to their advantage and they will continue to be better off because of it.

            

Google Offers Users a Peek At Stored Data by John Eckstein

The article I read was called Google Offers Users a Peek At Stored Data it was written by Miguel Helft and published by the NY Times. The article talks about the new Google Dashboard that has been created to give users a better look at what data Google is collecting on them every time they use the products Gmail, Picasa Web Albums, Web History, Checkout, Reader and YouTube. Shuman Ghosemajumder, business product manager for trust and safety, said that all this information was already available but scattered and that Dashboard brings it all together for an easy to use interface for users. Dashboard also allows you to easily be linked to where you can adjust some privacy settings for the different products using dashboard. This isn’t available for all users just ones that are logged into their google account. Ari Schwartz, chief operating officer of the Center for Democracy and Technology, said, “It is a significant step forward in terms of trying to unite the user experience for people who use Google products.” Shwartz also said that Google’s Dashboard “mirrored efforts by Facebook” to give some better view of user’s privacy.

I think that this seems like a step in the right direction for a better system of user privacy. As mentioned in the article most of this availability already existed but it was just to hard to get to or even know about. I had no idea that as a user you had a way to adjust some privacy settings. This all is definitely a positive step forward but I still think there is a long way to go with privacy control for users. I think that every time Google or any other system or company takes data from you you should be made aware. Especially when the data is very private or personal.

I think that data collection is great so companies can figure out whom to market to but I also think that a user should be able to know what information is being collected on them as soon as it is collected. The problem with this from the users point of view is everyone uses the Internet, especially Google so it would be so hard to stop using unless they gave more rights. I could see maybe in the future a new search site that would be free of data collection and make their money some other way. I think that this Google Dashboard might raise people’s awareness of what is being collected on them and push people to demand more protection. I think this is a move that had to be done with the ever rising need for privacy control but I also think that this has started a trend that is not going to stop until a user has a great deal of control over their privacy.

My article can be found at:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/google-offers-users-a-peek-at-stored-data/