Monday, February 23, 2009

Presidential Technology Use Not New

During February the news programs and newspapers were overflowing with references to the similarities between our new Commander in Chief, Barack Obama, and our sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. Commentators and reporters have discussed ad nauseam how the two men inherited extremely difficult national issues and how they both tried to reach out to friend and foe alike to forge a truly representative administration. The
ability of these men to effectively communicate is another attribute that they share. While we may think of this communication as verbal, you might find it surprising that both embraced some very cutting edge technologies.

President Obama’s “Blackberry” affinity is already become a topic of many commentaries and even some legal maneuvering within the government. He can continue to use it, albeit with great restriction. Just as it was during the campaign, now as his administration picks up momentum, we see the extensive use of the web and social networking tools like “MySpace” and “Facebook” being used to communicate with a new generation of engaged citizens. Even news events are chronicled and delivered at light speed using all form of new technologies from video on the web to cell phone instant messages. Truly the Obama administration has fully embraced the new technologies of the times.

I have to admit that up until about a year ago I would never have thought of Abraham Lincoln as a technology maven, but after reading a book by Tom Wheeler titled “Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails,” I became fascinated with how well he understood and made use of the new technologies of his time.

Well before Lincoln began his presidency, Samuel Morse was developing his invention for using electrical sparks to distribute messages over wires spanning long distances. In fact, it was in 1843 that congress appropriated funds to string a telegraph wire from Baltimore to Washington, DC.

Skipping ahead to Lincoln’s time in office we learn that he was the first president not only to use the telegraph but that he had a telegraph installed in the Whitehouse. During the Civil War it was reported that he regularly spent considerable time with his personal telegraph operator receiving real time reports from his generals on the battlefields and sending back orders. The latter was most likely not always appreciated by the Generals.

Lincoln also understood that with the telegraph breaking down distance and geography barriers, he could no longer rely on the same speech for all occasions. Since the telegraph enabled a report of a speech made in Washington to be printed in the newspaper in Baltimore that very day, he could not give it again two days later when he traveled to Baltimore.

It is fascinating that although some 150 years separates these two men, the similarities remain remarkable.

Labels: , , , ,

Presidential Technology Use Not New

During February the news programs and newspapers were overflowing with references to the similarities between our new Commander in Chief, Barack Obama, and our sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. Commentators and reporters have discussed ad nauseam how the two men inherited extremely difficult national issues and how they both tried to reach out to friend and foe alike to forge a truly representative administration. The
ability of these men to effectively communicate is another attribute that they share. While we may think of this communication as verbal, you might find it surprising that both embraced some very cutting edge technologies.

President Obama’s “Blackberry” affinity is already become a topic of many commentaries and even some legal maneuvering within the government. He can continue to use it, albeit with great restriction. Just as it was during the campaign, now as his administration picks up momentum, we see the extensive use of the web and social networking tools like “MySpace” and “Facebook” being used to communicate with a new generation of engaged citizens. Even news events are chronicled and delivered at light speed using all form of new technologies from video on the web to cell phone instant messages. Truly the Obama administration has fully embraced the new technologies of the times.

I have to admit that up until about a year ago I would never have thought of Abraham Lincoln as a technology maven, but after reading a book by Tom Wheeler titled “Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails,” I became fascinated with how well he understood and made use of the new technologies of his time.

Well before Lincoln began his presidency, Samuel Morse was developing his invention for using electrical sparks to distribute messages over wires spanning long distances. In fact, it was in 1843 that congress appropriated funds to string a telegraph wire from Baltimore to Washington, DC.

Skipping ahead to Lincoln’s time in office we learn that he was the first president not only to use the telegraph but that he had a telegraph installed in the Whitehouse. During the Civil War it was reported that he regularly spent considerable time with his personal telegraph operator receiving real time reports from his generals on the battlefields and sending back orders. The latter was most likely not always appreciated by the Generals.

Lincoln also understood that with the telegraph breaking down distance and geography barriers, he could no longer rely on the same speech for all occasions. Since the telegraph enabled a report of a speech made in Washington to be printed in the newspaper in Baltimore that very day, he could not give it again two days later when he traveled to Baltimore.

It is fascinating that although some 150 years separates these two men, the similarities remain remarkable.

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, February 16, 2009

Tired of Typing With Your Thumbs?

As more and more of us are using enhanced mobile phones or the new “Swiss army knife” of business persons, the Blackberry, some major issues seem to eventually arise. Typing into these devices anything more than a short “? time R U mtg me” is awkward, and if your are not 15 years old, downright irritating. God did not design many of us to type with our thumbs. (Although if you are regular reader of my typos you may think I type everything I write with my thumbs ... no brain, just thumbs!)

It is not just the keyboards that pose problems. The screen size may be fine for displaying a small picture or brief message. Doing a Google search for the complete Periodic Table may pose some issues for even the best of eyes. The same holds true for writing and reading a large document or spreadsheet. What seems to be happening is that we want these wireless devices to connect with the Internet and provide the same usefulness as our regular office or home computers do.

Many have opted to use a lap top computer. While most lap tops are as robust and feature loaded as any office machine, they can get a bit heavy to be carrying around from place to place. Also, they have many more features than most people actually need. How many people really need to be editing network quality video on the bus into Cincinnati?

Enter a new breed of computers, the Mini Lap Top. They are larger than any enhanced phone but much smaller and lighter than a regular lap top. They are also less expensive and energy efficient. Many of the major brands have models priced at less than $275 and offer some very attractive features. Most business people will need to spend about $500 to get a model that provides the most often used features to allow for mobile access to the Internet using WiFi, Bluetooth and some of the mobile carrier’s technologies.

The screen size is usually about 8 inches (measured diagonal) and most weigh in at about two pounds. They have a slightly smaller keyboard than one might find on a standard computer but it is much larger than any Blackberry pad. The keys are in the QWERTY, or standard orientation.

Instead of a hard drive, these Minis use solid state storage in lieu of a power hungry disc drive. The screen resolutions are adequate. The family would not able to gather around and watch a movie.

A mini is not for everyone. If you travel a lot and just need to keep up with email and some correspondence and be able to surf the web occasionally this might be something you should consider. Most of the major brands have a Mini line. Dell, Sony, HP and others have several models.

Labels: , , ,

Tired of Typing With Your Thumbs?

As more and more of us are using enhanced mobile phones or the new “Swiss army knife” of business persons, the Blackberry, some major issues seem to eventually arise. Typing into these devices anything more than a short “? time R U mtg me” is awkward, and if your are not 15 years old, downright irritating. God did not design many of us to type with our thumbs. (Although if you are regular reader of my typos you may think I type everything I write with my thumbs ... no brain, just thumbs!)

It is not just the keyboards that pose problems. The screen size may be fine for displaying a small picture or brief message. Doing a Google search for the complete Periodic Table may pose some issues for even the best of eyes. The same holds true for writing and reading a large document or spreadsheet. What seems to be happening is that we want these wireless devices to connect with the Internet and provide the same usefulness as our regular office or home computers do.

Many have opted to use a lap top computer. While most lap tops are as robust and feature loaded as any office machine, they can get a bit heavy to be carrying around from place to place. Also, they have many more features than most people actually need. How many people really need to be editing network quality video on the bus into Cincinnati?

Enter a new breed of computers, the Mini Lap Top. They are larger than any enhanced phone but much smaller and lighter than a regular lap top. They are also less expensive and energy efficient. Many of the major brands have models priced at less than $275 and offer some very attractive features. Most business people will need to spend about $500 to get a model that provides the most often used features to allow for mobile access to the Internet using WiFi, Bluetooth and some of the mobile carrier’s technologies.

The screen size is usually about 8 inches (measured diagonal) and most weigh in at about two pounds. They have a slightly smaller keyboard than one might find on a standard computer but it is much larger than any Blackberry pad. The keys are in the QWERTY, or standard orientation.

Instead of a hard drive, these Minis use solid state storage in lieu of a power hungry disc drive. The screen resolutions are adequate. The family would not able to gather around and watch a movie.

A mini is not for everyone. If you travel a lot and just need to keep up with email and some correspondence and be able to surf the web occasionally this might be something you should consider. Most of the major brands have a Mini line. Dell, Sony, HP and others have several models.

Labels: , , ,

Monday, February 09, 2009

A Digital Teaching Moment

I listened to a commentary on National Public Radio a few days ago. The commentator, David Shipley of the New York Times, was discussing how President Obama was able to convince his security contingent and his legal counsel to allow him to keep his beloved “Blackberry.” As has been reported extensively, Mr. Obama long ago joined the throngs of aficionados of this part phone, part computer, and part social secretary. While the commentator was not lamenting this new twist to presidential communications, he did suggest that the President could use this as a real “teaching moment” for the others who are - some would say - addicted to this device. In fact, the “Blackberry” has been dubbed by some pundits as the “crackberry.”

The commentator opined that it was not that the President used a “Blackberry” it was how and when he chose to use it that was going to be significant. It is one thing to check email and voice mail while riding in the back seat of your car to the next appointment. It is another to have it on the conference room table in plain site and beeping while meeting face to face with another human.

I could not agree more. It is not just the improper use of “Blackberries” that drive me nuts. It is the use of cell phones, iPods, GPS devices and other personal electronics that has given an entirely new definition to rude and dangerous behavior.

There is nothing more distracting than giving a business presentation to a group of “professionals” sitting around a conference table festooned with enough “Blackberries” to bake a good size digital pie. It is one thing to multitask and another to be just plain rude. I am never sure if the people are emailing the CEO of the company or playing a game with the guys sitting across the table.

I have written several times about the proliferation of “Bluetooth” and how it has made the cell phone even more intrusive. Standing at the deli counter at Biggs, I am in no mood to learn all the gory details of the most recent surgical procedures or loves lost of the lady standing next to me waiting for ½ pound of ham, “sliced very thin please…and Suzy you won’t believe what Rita said about…..”.

And there are the folks that think they are on the Star Ship Enterprise now that they have equipped their vehicles with a new GPS devices. OK, let’s look out the windshield occasionally and see some of us other drivers who are not only in the same galaxy, but on the same road. And for heavens sake put that cell done down while driving 5 MPH though a snow storm in I-74 …with your flashers on!

It really comes down to doing what your mother told you. Do what you are doing. Be respectful to others and keep your eyes on the road. I am not worried. Our new President has had good upbringing.

Labels: , , ,

A Digital Teaching Moment

I listened to a commentary on National Public Radio a few days ago. The commentator, David Shipley of the New York Times, was discussing how President Obama was able to convince his security contingent and his legal counsel to allow him to keep his beloved “Blackberry.” As has been reported extensively, Mr. Obama long ago joined the throngs of aficionados of this part phone, part computer, and part social secretary. While the commentator was not lamenting this new twist to presidential communications, he did suggest that the President could use this as a real “teaching moment” for the others who are - some would say - addicted to this device. In fact, the “Blackberry” has been dubbed by some pundits as the “crackberry.”

The commentator opined that it was not that the President used a “Blackberry” it was how and when he chose to use it that was going to be significant. It is one thing to check email and voice mail while riding in the back seat of your car to the next appointment. It is another to have it on the conference room table in plain site and beeping while meeting face to face with another human.

I could not agree more. It is not just the improper use of “Blackberries” that drive me nuts. It is the use of cell phones, iPods, GPS devices and other personal electronics that has given an entirely new definition to rude and dangerous behavior.

There is nothing more distracting than giving a business presentation to a group of “professionals” sitting around a conference table festooned with enough “Blackberries” to bake a good size digital pie. It is one thing to multitask and another to be just plain rude. I am never sure if the people are emailing the CEO of the company or playing a game with the guys sitting across the table.

I have written several times about the proliferation of “Bluetooth” and how it has made the cell phone even more intrusive. Standing at the deli counter at Biggs, I am in no mood to learn all the gory details of the most recent surgical procedures or loves lost of the lady standing next to me waiting for ½ pound of ham, “sliced very thin please…and Suzy you won’t believe what Rita said about…..”.

And there are the folks that think they are on the Star Ship Enterprise now that they have equipped their vehicles with a new GPS devices. OK, let’s look out the windshield occasionally and see some of us other drivers who are not only in the same galaxy, but on the same road. And for heavens sake put that cell done down while driving 5 MPH though a snow storm in I-74 …with your flashers on!

It really comes down to doing what your mother told you. Do what you are doing. Be respectful to others and keep your eyes on the road. I am not worried. Our new President has had good upbringing.

Labels: , , ,

Monday, February 02, 2009

Saving Energy Can Be Tough

With energy costs rising, global warming issues finally getting some attention and a realization that we must conserve our world’s resources, there has been a renewed effort to conserve our electricity consumption. Much has already been written about installing more efficient lighting and turning it off when not needed. Seeking out the most efficient appliances such as hot water heaters, refrigerators and dishwashers has become common place for many conservation conscious consumers. Over and above the obvious culprits of energy waste are hidden offenders of these new 21st century mores.

Called “vampire devices” these ubiquitous electronic devices individually consume only very small amounts of electricity. Because of their shear numbers and because they are usually turned on 24/7, they account for significant energy use. Just as their name sake might indicate, curtailing this drain on our energy resources might require more than a wooden stake through the heart.

Look around your house. They are everywhere. The digital clocks on the microwave, on the stove, on the VHS machine, on the cable box, etc., etc., are good examples. Since in most homes, none of these clocks agree, do we need them all? Many of us use cordless phones that, when they are in the cradle, are consuming small amounts of electricity. Even when the phone is not in the cradle, the cradle itself is using a few watts of power.
Almost all modern home entertainment devices from TVs to DVD players, from game consoles to simple radios are always “ON” even when they are turned “OFF.” Don’t believe me? Just touch the little transformer plugged into the wall that powers one of your small devices when the device is turned off. It is warm. Warm means “ON.”

Of course the problem is that in most cases you can’t turn these devices off. Sure, you can unplug the microwave when not in use. Some of the more muscular among us might pull the stove away from the wall and unplug it when not in use. Of course these solutions are ridiculous. Even the home entertainment devices are not easily disconnected. Many TV’s must have power to maintain the internal memory. After a power failure, how long does it take for you to reset all the channels and settings?

For sure there are some things you can do. For example, there is no reason to leave the cell phone charger plugged in when not in use. Unfortunately, what you can reasonably do is very little. The designers and manufactures need to do things differently. Some designs could use memory chips that don’t require constant power. The placement of a convenient on/off switch to make using the clock on the microwave or stove optional is another simple thing.

In the meantime, we all need to keep an eye out for the little savings. The little savings can add up to big saving quickly. Perhaps this is more of a wooden toothpick than a wooden stake. It is a beginning.

Labels: ,

Saving Energy Can Be Tough

With energy costs rising, global warming issues finally getting some attention and a realization that we must conserve our world’s resources, there has been a renewed effort to conserve our electricity consumption. Much has already been written about installing more efficient lighting and turning it off when not needed. Seeking out the most efficient appliances such as hot water heaters, refrigerators and dishwashers has become common place for many conservation conscious consumers. Over and above the obvious culprits of energy waste are hidden offenders of these new 21st century mores.

Called “vampire devices” these ubiquitous electronic devices individually consume only very small amounts of electricity. Because of their shear numbers and because they are usually turned on 24/7, they account for significant energy use. Just as their name sake might indicate, curtailing this drain on our energy resources might require more than a wooden stake through the heart.

Look around your house. They are everywhere. The digital clocks on the microwave, on the stove, on the VHS machine, on the cable box, etc., etc., are good examples. Since in most homes, none of these clocks agree, do we need them all? Many of us use cordless phones that, when they are in the cradle, are consuming small amounts of electricity. Even when the phone is not in the cradle, the cradle itself is using a few watts of power.
Almost all modern home entertainment devices from TVs to DVD players, from game consoles to simple radios are always “ON” even when they are turned “OFF.” Don’t believe me? Just touch the little transformer plugged into the wall that powers one of your small devices when the device is turned off. It is warm. Warm means “ON.”

Of course the problem is that in most cases you can’t turn these devices off. Sure, you can unplug the microwave when not in use. Some of the more muscular among us might pull the stove away from the wall and unplug it when not in use. Of course these solutions are ridiculous. Even the home entertainment devices are not easily disconnected. Many TV’s must have power to maintain the internal memory. After a power failure, how long does it take for you to reset all the channels and settings?

For sure there are some things you can do. For example, there is no reason to leave the cell phone charger plugged in when not in use. Unfortunately, what you can reasonably do is very little. The designers and manufactures need to do things differently. Some designs could use memory chips that don’t require constant power. The placement of a convenient on/off switch to make using the clock on the microwave or stove optional is another simple thing.

In the meantime, we all need to keep an eye out for the little savings. The little savings can add up to big saving quickly. Perhaps this is more of a wooden toothpick than a wooden stake. It is a beginning.

Labels: ,