Maya Wright-Article Critique 2

The article I read, "U.S. Government Sets up Online 'app. store' ", is about just that. According to the article, the White House administration has revealed a government 'app. store' that is intended for use by the federal bureaucracy only. The U.S. chief information officer believes that this application of technology will bring the policies of the government up to speed with the trends of today. He also believes that this will assist the government in leveraging new technology. On Tuesday, September 15, Google announced their formation of a 'government cloud'. This cloud would contain public data for use by federal, state, and local governments.

I believe that this new and innovative use of already existing technology is a great way to benefit our country as a whole-by strengthening our internal structure (government) the nation becomes stronger. Providing an application that is solely for government use will make communication, convenience of data, and data transfer much more ideal for our officers. I think if use of the 'app. store' becomes mandatory for officials, it could revolutionize communication throughout the White House and beyond.

A major concern I have surrounding this application is security. If officials utilize 'cloud-computing', the storage of data is somewhat safer because it is not stored on the hard drives of the people using it; instead, it is being pulled from the internet. Assuming that the Google Cloud would be a private cloud, this also increases the security of the information being accessed. Another thought is the access and data flow of those who utilize the 'app. store'(of course not all officials would have access to the same apps.) because this information is sure to draw plenty of attention from potential hackers and frauds. Implementing a system providing access to top secret intelligence should be complexly encrypted to ensure that no one besides the intended recipient gains access to the information. This is a major risk that could be potentially hazardous to the public, but highly beneficial if properly executed. Another thought is to continually jump between different Wi-Fi frequencies in no specific pattern to offset connection hackers. This idea of government 'apps.' has equally beneficial and jeopardizing effects that could occur. The highest concern for a launch and heavy integration of this system is ultimately security and a possible unnecessary leaking of U.S. private records, transactions, files, and confidential intelligence. On the other hand, if intense and innovative security measures are enforced, applied, and put into place, this could revolutionize internal government communication and policy. Although the servers storing all of data will be private, rather than public, the threat of hackers still exists because in the past, hackers have broken into virtual private networks (VPNs). On a positive note, if the system is implemented and becomes mandatory, the government will save money on procedural items. Considering that the 'app. store' has already been unveiled, I assume such precautions/measures are already being taken. In my opinion, for an application such as this, it is only as good as its platform, storage, and infrastructure.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/16/government.app.store/index.html?iref=newssearch

Article #1

A major issue today in the world is our reliance on fossil fuels and a source of energy for transportation. There have been many advances in the field however it is still not ideal. Many people have debated on the proper use of energy and which strategy works best Ever since Ford’s Model T, the gasoline engine has been the primary source of locomotion. Recently there have been inventions of cars which use both gasoline and electric as their energy. These cars are known as hybrids. Using both electric and gasoline has saved people much money on the ever-rising price of gasoline. The price of electric is barely anything comparatively speaking. Along with these hybrids, there are also now cars that solely use electric. These cars are much more efficient than any other car on the market today. There are downfalls to using electric cars today but companies are working to make a more efficient system these cars. The article “Supplying the brains for electric cars” by Steve Hamm explains this energy efficient system which is soon to come to the United States.
This article explains how the company Better Place will be installing “Brains” into electric cars. This system or brain makes it possible for drivers of electric vehicles to know how far they can travel with remaining battery charge and where is the closest place to charge up their battery. This system will also manage navigation and track the vehicles location. This system will from learn drivers behavior and use this information to predict future driving. This system is not going to be very cheap however is will pay itself back in the long run. Each charging station will costs an estimated $500,000 and the batteries will cost about $12,000 each. It is now being debated whether or not this system should be installed into the United States. This entire system will cost $200 billion dollars for the battery switching and charging stations for the entire United States. Before making its way into the U.S., there will be other smaller countries which adopt this system. There is a plan being set into action which will have Israel in 2011 and Denmark. There will be an estimated 100,000 cars by the year 2016. Better Place has created partnerships with several companies. These partnerships include the chipmaker Intel, software maker Microsoft and electronics manufacturer Flextronics. These are well respected companies and with their help, this project should be accomplished efficiently and effectively.
I believe that this system will ultimately work. It may take some time to get this plan 100% effectively into action however this will be a much better system than relying on oil. It is a known fact that as time goes on the price of oil will continue to rise. Initially it may be expensive to get everyone to transfer to using electric cars but as technology gets better and time goes on, the price of these cars will go down. Not only will it become a much cheaper way of transportation but it will also be quite beneficial to the environment.



http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2009/tc20090915_179936.htm

Melissa Marino Blog #1

The article I read, titled How Social-Networking Sites Can Reveal Your Social Security Number, was taken from the Wall Street Journal.  It discusses the dangers and risks of having your personal information displayed on a public website, such as Facebook, Myspace, or any other social-networking site. Alessandro Acquisti, a IT professor from Carnegie Mellon, and researcher Ralph Gross conducted a study involving taking information from these websites and coming up with the social security number of the person.  Forty percent of the time, Acquisti and Gross could guess the first five digits of the number just by knowing the birth date and hometown of the subject; 8.5% of the time guessing all 9 digits correctly.  The numbers were even higher for people born after 1989 (around ages 20 and younger who probably use sites like this a lot).

            Facebook and other social-networking sites have become as important to teenagers as cell phones and ipods.  Now, it is much more common for someone of the high school or college age to have a website than not. There are well over 500 members in the Loyola 2012 network alone.  And recently a huge surge of people, a generation before us, has started to make good use of sites like these to keep in touch with people from their high school, college, or past. It has become part of everyday communication and activity.  Many people also use it for groups and organizations around campus.  With all of this usage, it is inevitable for countless pieces of information to circulate through public and semi-private websites. 

            Not only do I have a Facebook page, but it also displays both my birth date and hometown.  After reading this article, I was extremely shocked and scared about how easy it is for a stranger to obtain such serious and important information about me.  On top of these sites, how many times does a website, or any other form of organization, prompt us to give the last four digits, the hardest to decode, of our social security number? Although sometimes these places seem trustworthy and giving the information seems integral, we have to look at the facts.  If someone has knowledge of our name, birth date, hometown, and social security number, it is only a matter of time before they are able to adopt our entire identity.

            Although very interesting to learn how Social Security numbers are made up, it can be somewhat alarming that something so private can be decoded.  Until reading the article, I was under the impression that my social security number was completely random. Acquisti wants to see the Social Security Administration change the way they designate Social Security number to people.  They should definitely come away from such a systematic method due it the ability to decipher them. Acquisti and Gross, and now I, warn you to be mindful about the information you choose to disclose on public websites.  Although we expect the government and Social Security Administration to protect us from things like identity theft, we need to realize that there are things we can do to lower the chance of something like that happening to us.

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/07/09/how-social-networking-sites-can-reveal-your-social-security-number/?mod=relevancy

Ernie Menold- Article Analysis #1

With the expansion of the internet, and the need for a higher degree of education, many people have moved toward online degrees, or “e-learning.” CNN’s article, “Social networks provide new lessons in learning,” by Laura Farrar, explains how a new institution, University of the People, plans to use social networking as its catalyst for teaching students over internet courses. Internet courses have slowly been progressing into a better source for a student to learn, and this article explains another step into the improvements of online schooling.

University of the People plans to put social networking into use in its newly found institution. Along with readings and studying the textbook, online students will have resources from professors of the University of the People. Documents that will aid the student will be posted. Students will also have to link up with other students for discussion after reviewing course material. There are aspects of this networking that makes the online students feel like they are in the classroom. This social networking also helps thrive online schools in another way: retention. If a student using “e-learning” can develop a sense of trust and unity with its online peers, online schools have a better chance of staying afloat.

I find this interesting because I have read some articles predicting that most schools will consist of 50% online courses. I personally doubt the abilities of an online course. I learn better from a well prepared, well addressed lecture by a professor. I think the hands on learning in a classroom can not be beaten. The assistance a professor has is also a big aspect I think. Sure, e-learning users may be able to email their professor, but that could take time they may not receive the right answer they really wanted.

I also realize that e-learning presents many opportunities for people who can’t afford institutions with hands-on learning with credited professors. This is where I feel online courses with this social networking is a big improvement in society. It can give the less fortunate a higher degree of education, setting them up for a successful future and not bound to the limits of society.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/09/university.socialnetworks/index.html

Jenn Monahan - Article Critique #1

Microsoft, one of the world’s leading IT pioneers, has just announced their plan to update the company’s new and exclusive business management system, Dynamics AX ERP (enterprise resource planning). This breakthrough of modernized software will now provide large-scale companies with more customized features to further successfully manage their businesses. With the purchase of this new technology from four of their partners, Microsoft plans to update three of their five major types of industries (manufacturing, retail, and professional services) through advancing these features for more efficient support and execution.

The objective of the Dynamics AX ERP software is to provide 1,000 plus employees in a company with a management system to keep up with the rapidly increasing waves of technology. According to the article that I came across on today’s New York Times online homepage, improved “formulas for food and chemical products,” will be a clear competitive advantage to the software that Microsoft can provide. I was actually quite surprised after I had read the article and then went to the Microsoft Dynamics website, to find that such advanced formulas for the food and beverage industry did not exist. I do believe that because of these new formulas, Microsoft will definitely be able to win over powerful and influential companies in that specific industry, through such advancements. I would have been disappointed if I managed a large food and beverage company, and purchased such an complex software program that did not include these formula applications prior to Microsoft’s decision to add these new features. This will now be a component that the specific market for food and beverage management will now consider when looking to purchase/transition to a newer and more efficient organizational system.

In addition to the food and beverage side of Dynamics AX ERP, the improved technology for retail will also be advantageous for Microsoft’s campaign. Although Microsoft is collecting applications and formulas from two companies that already manage retail IT (LSRetail and To-Increase), the packaged deal with all of the additional features that are included does sound extremely reliable. Now retailers can have improved software for actual store management, along with point- of- sale and merchandising. As many of you who have worked in the retail field know, companies within that particular industry are always looking for more efficient and cost effective ways to carry out their daily management systems within their customer service aspects of their brand. Updates to these “old faithful” systems that are used worldwide in retail, are completely necessary to keep up with the demands of customers and the expectations of valuable administration.

Overall, I do believe that when Microsoft has finished updating their existing software (which should be within the coming year—according to the article), that there will be little to no competition amongst similar software companies. As a leader in the IT and IS world, Microsoft can take the cake with their new line of management software, and basically throw it in their competitor’s faces. With such an influence in every aspect in today’s modernized technological era, this company can crush its opponents like no other. I believe that the continued expansions that Microsoft is making by taking steps to improve management will open new doors and windows of opportunity to all of their users in the present and future.

*Link for Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2009/09/22/22idg-microsoft-buys-software-to-bolster-its-core-erp-prod-25951.html

**Link for Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP:
http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/en/us/default.aspx

Calvin M Reyes - Article Critique 1

       Linda J Roger’s article, “Automated Oncology,” reports Lifebridge Health Corporation’s switch from paper to digital information in their hospitals. Rogers explains reasons for the change, the process of conversion as well as its results. She talks specifically about the new systems affects within the oncology departments of Sinai and Northwest hospitals. In addition to the management of these two hospitals this local Baltimore company also own two nursing and rehabilitation centers, and one health and fitness club.

       Rogers describes the issues that arose making the switch to computerization an imperative change. The company at the time was looking at an expansion because of an influx of patients all with different information, diagnoses, and treatment plans. The company needed faster and more efficient way to keep track of each patient’s record. In addition the company wanted to set up a system in which they could interconnect their different locations making easy to transfer information without the use of paper means such as letters or faxes. Another major factor the company was interested in is universalizing the information for different employees such as nurses, pharmacists and physicians. Allowing access to records by the different parties and allowing them to make updates easily as they occur was an important aspect of the quick pace care that the company not only wanted but that was central to this specific field of study. Oncology, “the branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of tumors,” as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is a very fast paced as well as intensive field within the medical world. Because when dealing with cancer most decisions and updates are generally all of great significance it is necessary that the information is readily available for those who need it as soon as it is released, or learned.

       The company needed a way to present the material clearly for all parties involved, at the time when it comes out, and without mistakes. They needed to computerize their records and means of communication. Lastly they needed to be able to track their patients from hospital to hospital, their treatments, their visits, and their current health. The solution that they decided to go with was called CPOE a technological system that was oncology-specific. The Computerized physician/provider order entry (CPOE) is medical management software developed by the Physician Order Entry Team (POET) at Oregon Health & Science University.  

        The shift at first was a slow process and took some convincing for certain team members but once it was implemented it was found to make the company’s record system much easier. CPOE because of its specific design brought positive results to the entire company.

       This article was an excellent example of how information systems can change the way a company works to make it more efficient. This article ran parallel to our classes’ current studies on changing ones outlook on information and finding simpler ways to provide it for study. It followed Thomas Friedman’s lecture on making the world flat through a paperless world. I found this article to be interesting because it was a local example. The company being based in Baltimore made it relatable to what I am currently studying and put a visual aspect to my research. 

Automated oncology Rogers, L.J. Health Management Technology Feb. 2009, vol.30, no.2, pp. 22-3. ISSN: 0745-1075 (print), CODEN: HMTEE2 Publisher: Nelson Publishing Inc. Country of Publication: USA

http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/jewish.cfm

http://dictionary.oed.com/

http://www.cpoe.org/

Ryan Gannon - Article Critique #1

The article I read was called “Dell Service to Help Hospitals with Digital Records” by Lance Whitney. The article is about how Dell is offering a new affordable service to help doctors and hospitals switch from their medical records on paper to electronic medical records. This electronic medical records system will connect doctors and their hospitals so they can share patient information, coordinate care for the patient, and cut costs. If a doctor or hospital purchases this service, Dell will install the hardware and software, offer training to the staff on how to use the software, and provide a 24/7 support service. Having electronic medical records will decrease health care costs for consumers, companies and the government. Also from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed, there are financial incentives for doctors and hospitals to have useful electronic medical record system in the next few years.

In America today, President Obama and the U.S. government are trying to figure out how to provide national healthcare to its citizens. However, this is a very complicated and costly process. One way to fix the problems with national healthcare is for care providers to switch from medical records on paper to electronic medical records. Having digital forms makes providing care much more efficient for care providers. Dell may not be the best electronic medical record provider, but it gives doctors and hospitals more options to choose from. This is a new industry forming and I believe as more companies like Dell create this new software the industry will have more competition which will create a more effective more affordable electronic medical records system. In the article, there is a recent March 2009 survey by the New England Journal of Medicine which discovered that less than 20 percent of doctors and less than 10 percent of hospital have just a basic form of electronic medical records system. This needs to change. Doctors and hospitals need to accept the fact that digitizing healthcare is inevitable and need to make the switch very soon.

Earlier this year, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on February 17 which provides 17 billion dollars worth of financial incentives for physicians or hospitals proving “meaningful use” of an electronic medical records system. However, right now there is a gray area of what “meaningful use” actually is. None the less, this act will speed up the painful process of switching to electronic medical records, and it will also bring us closer to having a fully functional and efficient healthcare system.

The healthcare industry needs companies to research and develop these information technologies to find the most efficient way to digitize healthcare. With this information, these companies should create new hardware and software to assist doctors and hospitals switch to electronic medical records. I believe the healthcare industry needs multiple companies to invest in developing these information technologies to digitize medical records. This would be most effective because it creates more competition within the industry. Companies will want to offer the most affordable and most effective product on the market.

I think it is generally accepted that in the next decade all hospitals and physicians will be using an effective electronic medical records system. However, right now we should focus more on finding the most efficient way to reach this goal. The road ahead for digitizing health care is going to be rough, but we need to face it now rather than wait.

Article-1

The article I researched came from Yahoo Finance and is titled “Isilon Maximizes Benefits of Server Virtualization”. Isilon is a company that has proven to be the leader in scale-out NAS, which has helped organizations with their virtual environment. Some of these organizations include the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County(PLCH), Stronghold Data, and Webair who all use Isilon IQ to benefit from server virtualization. Server virtualization is a method of dividing a physical server computer into multiple servers such that each has the appearance and capabilities of running on its own machine. This system has become popular among large companies like The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County who have one of the busiest public libraries systems in America. I believe it was a very intelligent and crucial move for the PLCH to adopt this system. As a result, they incurred less maintenance costs because there were fewer number of physical servers which helps create more space in their data center.

Stronghold Data is another company who has adopted the Isilon IQ in order to provide its customers with 24*7*365 continuous data replication for disaster recovery. A company like Stronghold Data who has continuous up-to-date information needs to be able to manage its functions easily and without many physical servers. By using server virtualization, Stronghold Data does not have the interference of one application impacting another application when upgrades or changes are made so the whole process becomes easier to manage. This technology has addressed some of IT’s biggest issues and has helped large companies function better for years. Server virtualization is a great way to save space, reduce energy consumption, and save money.

Matt Barry Article 1

            Businesses are always looking for new ways to cut down expenses and also ways in which they can reduce the time it takes to execute business operations.  One way in which firms can do this is by finding new innovative ways to track inventory and sales figures.  One new technological advance that can greatly improve inventory tracking and organization, is through radio frequency identification tags, or also called RFID’s.  An RFID is a small microchip, which is placed on a retail item and tells the firm how many of each item it has on stock and how many have been sold.  This chip greatly increases inventory accuracy and can help business’ move at a much more efficient pace.

            Throughout the article, “RFID Significantly improves Item-Level Inventory Accuracy”, written by Matt McGowan, an experiment was chronicled that tested new RFID’s.  Through this experiment, which was conducted at the University of Arkansas and focused on two Bloomingdale retail stores, researchers concluded that through the use of RFID’s, inventory accuracy increased by twenty seven percent.  It was also concluded through this survey that in an RFID system, 4,767 retail items could be counted per hour whereas in a traditional barcode system (which most retail stores still use), only 209 retail items could be counted which.  The RFID system is a 96 percent increase over the bar code system.  This is a significant change, which could greatly increase the productivity of any firm that put this system into place.  Through an RFID system, retailers can also have a better feel on who is buying what and which items are more popular.  This allows for firms to better know which items they should stock and produce more of.  This allows for retailers to possibly make more of a profit for they would not be spending money on useless items, but on things, which will actually be bought.

            In my opinion, I think that this is an unbelievable accomplishment for business.  The fact that retailers can now use computer chips within clothes to track shipments and inventories is incredible.  If I were running a retail store, the RFID system would be one of the first things that I implemented.  It greatly improves the accuracy of the inventory that is held within a retail store, it speeds up the process of counting the inventory, and it also takes away the human error, which has said to be a problem within a normal barcode system.  It also may allow for firms to become more profitable and be able to expand their business because they would be much more organized.  Every thing that I have read about the RFID system seems positive and I think that it is only a matter of time before all retailers implement this system.  From what I have read, I would recommend this system to other people.

My article can be found at:

http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/economy_finances/rfid_significantly_improves_item_level_inventory_138456.html

John Eckstein 1

Many teachers and professors believe that interaction in class is a must.  Also, it can be strongly argued that most young men and women, especially college students, have a great hunger for the use of technology.  Why not combine the two?  According to the article I read, “Classrooms Go High Tech to Engage Students” by Megan K. Scott of the Associated Press, many teachers are realizing that and beginning to take advantage of students need for technology.

Beth Simon, a computer science professor and the University of California San Diego, has utilized her student’s need for cell phone use as a way to interact with her and the rest of the class during lectures.  Not only did she not ban cell phones in her class like most professors, she encourages them to use them as a way to ask questions, comment, answer questions, and use the Internet as a resource in class.  "They're going to use it no matter what.  How do you use this ubiquitous technology that's out there to change the dynamic of the classroom, to engage the student,“ said Simon. 

You can argue that students can simply raise their hand to answer a question but if you actually have ever been in classroom you can see that there are people who raise their hand and answer questions but you also know that for the most part many more students know the answer but just don’t want to raise their hand or the teacher picks on someone else.  This could be a way to eliminate students not being able to share their thoughts and show that even if they are not raising their hand continuously they still are engaged in the class.

This article also talks about professors using podcasts and live streaming video of class as a way to lecture.  I believe that to be fully engaged in class you should be there but I think that making the lectures and class discussions available for later use would be extremely helpful.  All students miss something in class whether it by zoning out or simply not understanding it but if a student was able to go back and review everything that was actually said in class it would be incredibly helpful. 

Online class discussion boards during and outside of class, which this article also talks about, would be something that would be very useful for all students and professors.  Students could ask the professor and each other questions and post ideas they have for everyone to see.  This is also a way to make sure everyone can share their opinions and discuss topics in class.

Overall, I believe that technology is a great tool for the learner and also the teacher.  Students want technology and what better way to engage students in class than allowing them to use that technology?  All professors, especially those of the technologies, should utilize these amazing new ways to get students to learn.

My article can be found at:

http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/2009/07/16/classrooms-go-high-tech-to-engage-students.html

Jacob Blicharz- Article #1

“Social networks provide new lessons in learning”, an article written on September 9th, 2009, by CNN’s Lara Farrar explains a newly-created method of educating people online. The University of the People, the world’s first global, tuition-free online university, was founded by the Israeli entrepreneur, Shai Reshef, hoping to provide education to those who may never have the opportunity to obtain it. Reshef, also the chairman of the online study community for college students, “Cramster.com,” says “Our mission is to change people’s lives…We want to be an option for people who don’t have any other option.”

Approximately 2,000 people from about 142 countries around the world have applied for the completely virtual university since enrollment began in April; and, the interest to attend has been continuously growing. In order to be viable, Reshef believes the online school will need about 15,000 students over the next four years and $6 million to fund the project. Like every college or university, there are academic requirements that must be fulfilled. In order to attend, students must have received a high school diploma, speak English, be willing to pay admission fees ranging from $15-$50 and exam fees. Reshef said that after completing their studies and obtaining a legitimate qualification, students will pay about $4000 for their time at The University of the People.

In my opinion, I think that Shai Reshef’s purpose for creating this tuition-free virtual university follows the Jesuit ideals of being a “man for and with others” or an “agent of change.” I’m sure he is probably a millionaire from his work, but is still willing to establish this university for those unfortunate and giving them a chance to be someone in life. In the article, he proposed that the university will need about $6 million for the project to be sustainable and he is donating $1 million of that fund.

With every virtual educational project, a serious and significant problem arises for students, retention. What will Reshef and The University of the People do in order for it’s students to be actively engaged? In the article, a possible answer for this issue deals with the notion of "social networking." After studying readings and lectures posted by the University’s professional staff of volunteer and retired professors, it will be mandatory for students to enter the virtual classroom and discuss the week’s work online with each other. In the article, Reshef comments on the social networking of the University, “We believe the social networking we build around our programs will serve as a cement to keep students with each other and stay in our program.” I completely agree with his ideas because his goals seem extremely acheivable. A study mentioned in the article by the U.S Department of Education “found that “on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.”” After reflecting on the issue, I understand more clearly that this statistic could be true. I have done online homework for my Micro and Macro Economic classes my freshmen year, and currently doing Financial Accounting homework online through WileyPlus and find it very helpful in my understanding of the course material.

In conclusion, I feel that the idea of an online university is another example of how fast this world is developing through modern technology. Yes, there have been courses given online previous to the University of the People, but Reshef’s project just takes the notion of online education up a couple of notches. It’s a great opportunity and I hope it will be a success and truly helpful to those who attend.

*All statictical information has been derived from the following article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/09/university.socialnetworks/index.html

Brian Kalaf Article Analysis 1

Scalping tickets has always been an impediment for the ticket industry. Year after year, statistics have shown that a large portion of profits have been made after the initial purchase of the tickets, in what has now become known as the secondary ticket market. In this area of ticket sales, scalpers and brokers charge above the ticket’s face value, hoping that desperate customers will pay the high, and sometimes even extreme prices for the tickets. Corporations dealing with the sales and purchases of tickets, most notably Ticketmaster, have always detested scalpers and their scams. In order to combat their scamming and seemingly unethical form of business, Ticketmaster constantly tries to develop new technology, which may ultimately prevent the illicit transactions. Subsequently, Ticketmaster has recently instituted a “paperless” form of ticket sales.

The new ticketing program calls for customers to present a credit card and some form of identification when he or she arrives at the venue. The credit card is scanned and the purchaser’s personal information will prove whether or not he or she has actually made a purchase. Similarly, if the actual buyer wants to sell the ticket, Ticketmaster has developed a way for the purchaser to do so. This will largely eliminate the intrusion of ticket brokers, such as Stubhub, thus freeing the secondary ticket market and ultimately allowing Ticketmaster to have exclusive rights to the profit that can be made.

Ticketmaster seemed to have taken a conservative approach of instituting the new program. Personally, however, I feel that it was definitely intelligent and probably the correct one. Penn State has adopted the new ticketing platform, using it for its football games. When a student arrives at the stadium, he or she is required to present their student ID, which is scanned. If the student has purchased a ticket package, they will gain entry to the game. In addition, students are now allowed to resell their tickets for a reasonable profit. The University itself is able to put a limit on the number of tickets that can be resold and the actual price the tickets could be sold at. I strongly agree with Penn State’s stance because it eliminates the influence of brokers and scalpers and keeps the tickets affordable (it is purported that tickets have been sold at an outrageous $1200).

Although paperless ticket sales currently account for an insignificant amount of the actual sales, I have a strong feeling that this will change in the future. The new program is gaining support from musical icons, including Bruce Springsteen and Miley Cyrus. With the affirmation of such artists and the advantages introduces in the aforementioned examples, it is difficult to see why this new program will not flourish. Moreover, I truly hope that it will indeed succeed so unfair ticketing practices can ultimately be eliminated. In conclusion, I highly agree with Ticketmaster’s stance and truly believe this is the future of ticket sales. It incorporates innovative technology with fair business practices, which seems to have an auspicious future.

Article found online:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/sns-ap-us-tec-ticketmaster-scalpers,0,6028675.story

Sarah Kinch - Article Critique 1

“Google Docs Use Growing Among Businesses” Sarah Kinch

9/22/09

This article is primarily a report on the rapid growth and prosperity of an application recently developed by Google, known as “Google Docs.” While this may be the enterprise’s first word processing program, recent studies show that it’s increasing use in the workplace makes Google Docs a formidable opponent to the Microsoft Office organization. The results of an IDC survey suggest that while Google’s application has not yet been officially adopted by many businesses, individual employees have been making the switch to Google Docs without the permission of corporate IT. In addition, the number of respondents who are planning to use Microsoft 2010 is less than the reported number for Microsoft 2007, clearly demonstrating Google Doc’s rising success in the technological world.

I found this article both informative and extremely relevant to the concepts of Information Technology (IT). The Google enterprise applied their innovative and technological expertise to put their own spin on word documents, which I believe will appeal to a great number of firms and organizations.

To begin, the idea of making this application available on the internet gives the program an accessibility that most other word documents don’t have. In addition, Google Docs is available to use free of charge, which undoubtedly appeals to a wide variety of individuals during this particular time. With the application being free, not only will it attract the attention of those less economically stable, but it’s availability will also appeal to those who may already have a similar application (such as Microsoft Office). Because Google Docs is both online and free, there is no risk to those who are simply curious of the program. This is most likely the reason that so many business respondents in the survey have voluntarily chosen this over Microsoft Office.

Aside from Google Doc’s accessibility, the program itself demonstrates innovative and advanced technology allowing its users to edit documents, prepare presentations, and create spreadsheets online, all while simultaneously communicating with other Google users. This adds a social and collaborative aspect to the world of word processing, allowing Google Doc users to expand the way they see and use word documents. The Google enterprise found a way to apply their technology to this new application that makes it more business-friendly, which I believe could revolutionize the productivity of any workplace.

Google Doc is a perfect display of IT innovation and it’s present and future use throughout firms. While the free version has a great deal to offer, such as word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets, the Google Apps Premium offers programs that are far more advanced and business-oriented. This online package not only includes Google Docs, but also includes Gmail, Google Talk, Google Sites, and Google Calendar. The technological advances of this program demonstrate its ability to process, organize, and support the information of any organization. Google is taking Information Technology to an entirely new level, and shows no signs of slowing down.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220001160

Harry Bodozian: Article Critique 1

An article found on computerworld.com entitled, “WiMax in 2010: Too little, too late?” written by Steven J. Vaughan-Nochols discusses the ever so talked about expanding idea of WiMax wireless Internet service provider. WiMax has been in the making for a few years now and efforts are continuing to get it off the ground. WiMax stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, it is discussed that cities across the nation will be able to get rid of their current modems and internet hook ups to further be connected to WiMax, which when completed will be able to deliver an internet signal through out an entire city. This high-powered router would be placed high up on a surface allowing it to be able to deliver a signal of almost 31-squared miles. This differs greatly to the current Wi-Fi technologies that can only distribute signal to a few hundred square feet per an access point.

The continually asked question is, what is the main different between WiMax and Wi-Fi technologies and what does this mean for Wi-Fi in the future? Arthur Giftakis who is the vice president of engineering at Towerstream Corp. is quoted for saying, "High-speed mobile services that consumers and business users alike are demanding more and more, [such as the ability to watch sports highlights on a laptop on the train or download apps on a handheld device] WiMax will enable you to do those things faster than previous technologies." This provides for faster and more accessible Internet in spots that before were inaccessible. WiMax refutes the thought of ever being in a hot spot for Wi-Fi as for the most part internet access is available all over the coverage area. This is beneficial towards areas where Wi-Fi internet is often considered slow in places such as San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis, and Springfield, Ill. WiMax service though will not be considered the same and as fast in all areas, reliance on how high a router is placed will directly correlate to how fast wireless internet will be. So when asked what will happen to Wi-Fi? This does not mean the end for Wi-Fi, certain areas may be considered more suitable for Wi-Fi opposed to WiMax. Edgar Figueroa, Wi-Fi executive director, sees WiMax and Wi-Fi working “hand in glove” rather than the newer technology replacing the older. This is foreseen through the incorporation of Cradlepoint whose Clear Spot router can create a local Wi-Fi network from a WiMax signal, through these costumers can avoid Wi-Fi hotspot fees.

Although the WiMax idea appears presentable and tempting for many to get involved with, I’m not so sure that I’m completely buying it. Yes its true that WiMax appears favorable towards the consumers; certain companies will undermine the idea. Local coffee shops and Wi-Fi hot spots such as Starbucks and McDonald’s will hurt with the integration of WiMax. I also see a cost issue, as of now they’re saying that WiMax will be cheaper than Wi-Fi, not just from a service standpoint but with the idea that WiMax can be plugged in through a simple USB connection opposed to Wi-Fi which requires a router or in wall plug in. I think that in time with the expansion of WiMax, there will be more and more demand which will further lead to other costs being thrown into the mix. I also see WiMax as an internet hackers dream, with signals being surfaced for miles, the accessibility into that main steam to be easier and easier for hackers to get involved with, this in my eyes will further lead to false advertisements being incorporated into the internet signal.

I also hold into question to why WiMax has taken so long to launch? This article also presents the issue that WiMax is not alone in this idea of a well-expanded Internet provider. Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a 4G wireless data transfer technology that promises similar ranges and performance, yet as explained in the article, LTE is driven by a loose collection of telecommunications companies that support the existing Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) standard. With the continued talk of WiMax escalating, LTE is not far behind in its research to this extended Internet service proposal. Some people do see LTE and WiMax as “two technologies running a separate race.” I’m being pessimistic towards the idea of WiMax, as I don’t see it being as successful as people seem to be speculating. I see the understanding idea that weak Wi-Fi areas will benefit from WiMax, I don’t see Wi-Fi being taken over by WiMax, feel free to argue as this is only my opinion.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9137908/WiMax_in_2010_Too_little_too_late_?taxonomyId=15&pageNumber=1

Nick Velich- Article Critique # 1

Nick Velich-- 9/22/2009

Recently I read an article which discussed the movement of U.S. government data from privately run servers to publicly run servers. ‘U.S. government sets up online app store’ was an article about the government setting up an online store, which they are now using and will continue to use in the future, in order to outsource their information to other services found online. By using online resources, instead of using privately built, funded, and maintained local servers, a company (in this case the government) can significantly lower the costs to upkeep their technology needs. The process of using the internet, as opposed to a local means of running services such as email servers and data storage servers, is called ‘cloud computing.’

A business can use the process of cloud computing to outsource their technology needs on existing information technology. In this article, for example, the government has planned to store much of their data on Google servers by 2010. By using already available IT, the cost of storing data is reduced greatly. Instead of building servers, training people to maintain them, and paying people to upkeep the servers, the government (and other companies alike) can simply use web services already available, such as Google or YouTube, in order to satisfy their needs at a lower cost.

The downside to using these public servers is obvious, however. When a company maintains their own servers, they reduce third party interference and their data is more private. By storing data privately on a public application, the data is still secure (to an extent), but is under control of the company that is storing that data. There must be steps taken to ensure that the data stored is still as secure as privately stored data; encryption of the data is the easiest solution to this but is an extra step in which something could go wrong, such as data loss.

In my opinion, I agree with what the government is doing by using cloud computing to lower their costs of storing data and running applications. By doing this publicly instead of privately they are lowering costs and in the long-run it will be good for the United States. As IT grows and more resources become available, it is vital that companies take advantage of anything to cut costs and improve efficiency.

My main concern, however, with the government increasing its use of cloud computing is that the process could progress too quickly. The government is such a large ‘firm’ that I fear the amount of data could overwhelm individual companies, such as Google. Google would have to ensure that their servers are ‘up-to-speed’ in order to handle this massive influx of new data. Smaller companies can easily utilize apps like Flickr or Gmail because the individual apps are certain to be able to handle smaller scale operations.

In addition to overwhelming the public servers, the transfer of data between the current government servers and the Google servers could lead to other issues; whenever data is transferred between two physical locations, there is always the risk of data corruption or loss. I believe that utilizing this new IT is vital, but the switch should not be instantaneous. At first, both the public and private servers would need to run simultaneously in order to guarantee that the data is accurate; this, of course, increases the costs of the company at first, but in the long-run would reduce costs. Until the integrity of the data is ensured, neither the government, nor any smaller company, should switch without first addressing whether or not their data is practical for a publicly run server, and whether the switch can be done without too much hardship. If this migration from private servers to publically run servers is taken with care, then in the end cloud computing is a productive use of information technology.

Article found at http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/16/government.app.store/index.html

Matthew Boruch Article #1

Matthew Boruch

9/22/09

Many businesses are using Information Systems to generate more profit for their business. The article “Businesses using Twitter, Facebook to market goods” shows one innovative new way to reach a new type of consumer. The article uses a small business in Pittsburgh to demonstrate the trend of social networking sites throughout all kinds of businesses. The Dozen Bake Shop near Pittsburgh announced the daily specials to their fans on Twitter and Facebook as an experiment. Followers on these social networking sites responded quickly and the bakery saw a tremendous boost in sales, especially the advertised daily specials.

Both Twitter and Facebook have grown exponentially in recent years causing businesses of all sizes to use the technology to their advantage. According to the article, Twitter has grown 1,382 percent and Facebook has grown by 228 percent between February 2008 and February 2009. The technology is used as a marketing tool and allows for two-way communication between the business and the consumers. These advertisements are seen daily while people check their social networking accounts. This form of advertising is the quickest way to inform customers. The social networking method also has downsides. People can use the websites to spread news about the company whether it is good or bad. If people complain about a companies customer service on a social networking website, that opinion can spread to other consumers.

Businesses now pay close attention to social networking websites so they can please their consumers. American Eagle is one of the many companies to use a website to solve a complaint. A customer complained that the American Eagle website had crashed before she had a chance to redeem her coupon that was expiring soon. The conversation between American Eagle and the consumer took place through a series of tweets on the website Twitter. 4,000 of American Eagle’s followers could follow the situation being handled before their eyes. To avoid poor customer relations with all those people, American Eagle was almost forced to settle with the annoyed customer and give her what she wanted.

Although using social networking websites could greatly improve a company’s marketing and customer relations, not all companies could be benefitted by this technology. Poorly maintained profiles could show the customers that they do not really care. More traditional forms of media still will not be replaced by Twitter or Facebook. Tv and radio reach more people than websites can. The people who receive the online advertising may not be the kind of people that the company wants to target. According to the article, Aldo Coffee in Pittsburgh did research on their Twitter followers and found that only 18 percent of their followers were local residents. The co-owner of the coffee shop said in the article that, “‘Most of our people don’t understand the Internet’ he said, meaning that Twitter captures only a ‘small slice’ of the customer base.” Since Aldo Coffee’s main market is toward older people, the maintaining of social networking websites may not benefit the company.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09172/978727-96.stm

Dana Cullen : Article # 1

Facebook, an online social networking site, has been growing in popularity among people very rapidly, but recently has had legal trouble concerning some of their information technology, mainly the marketing program Beacon. Due to privacy complaints and a lawsuit against Facebook by 19 complainants, Facebook is being forced to stop using Beacon which in addition to giving advertisers information about Facebook users, allowed other users of Facebook to learn whether or not one of their Facebook friends had purchased items on sites such as Overstock.com and Fandango.com. This invasion of privacy has been removed, and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has publicly apologized for this. Since Beacon will no longer be used, Facebook is looking for alternate information systems to intertwine with their Site. Their new marketing system will be called the Nielsen BrandLift which will include on site polls that will give user responses to Facebook concerning how users feel about the ads that appear on their Facebook pages. In addition they have included a new program called Facebook Connect which puts the user in more control over what they wish to share with others while on the site.

This controversy has made it very clear that while information systems concerning ads and the sharing of information are growing, privacy is still a huge concern for the modern day user. Personally, I am very pleased that in the case settlement Facebook will need to develop a new marketing strategy, because Beacon was far too invasive. While their intention was to help other friends keep up to date on one user's interests, in no way should people be privy to what an individual buys on another site. If such a program was allowed to continue who is to say people’s credit card numbers being displayed on Facebook would be impossible? This case and the dangers that Beacon posed, serve as a great example of the negatives information systems pose.

Another interesting aspect that has come from this case is the new addition of Facebook Connect, which I think has great potentially as an information tool. By giving the user more freedom as well as control over what information they wish to share, Facebook is creating more confidence in users that Facebook is not only concerned with sharing users’ information with advertising firms. Facebook Connect is a way of using information technology to give back to the consumer, which I think will be met with positive response. Happier users lead to a more profitable site, and more future users. Facebook connect is also a great tool for spreading information, because people are more likely to click on a link posted from a friend than they are to click a link posted from an ad agency. It is an innovative way to actually capitalize off of users while making them feel more confident in using the site.

Hopefully other sites similar to Facebook will use this latest controversy to understand that while information systems are crucial in this digital age, they need to be less intrusive to online consumers. If people start to feel violated when using online information sharing sites, they will start to lose trust and veer away from such online sites, which will negatively affect not only sites like Facebook, but online stores too. And with e-commerce booming, less confidence in the marketplace will surely result in loss of profits for companies participating in e-commerce.

Article Source:

Ortutay, Barbara. “Facebook to shut down Beacon tracking tool as part of lawsuit settlement.” The Baltimore Sun Online. 21 September 2009. http://www.baltimoresun.com/technology/sns-ap-us-tec-facebook-privacy,0,1918285.story