In the 21^st Century we have seen cell phones turn into much more than just a cell phone. The iPhone, BlackBerry, and Black Jack are a few cell phones we as consumers have seen perform task that once were unheard of when relating to cell phones. These phones perform much more than a call, they act as personal computers as one can check emails, discover applications, surf the web, and so much more, but where does the amount of options we have in a cell phone end? As more competitors enter the market of cell phones the ability of cell phones looks very bright. We are in love with new technology that is smaller, better, and cheaper. With the introduction of Apple’s iPhone, that was once obsolete in the abilities the iPhone performed we probably thought how could something be better than the iPhone that performs so many tasks. Motorola had plans to change the way we all look at the popular iPhone with the introduction of the Droid. The droid is very similar to the iPhone with the same abilities which are a music player, web browser, video camera (Not in All iPhone Models), and many more, what is different from the two is the ability of the camera on the Droid. The Droid has a 5 megapixel camera which allows you to take pictures in the dark, something iPhone does not have as well as a video camera mode. You can now throw away your old camera that you have been trying to decide if you need a new one and purchase the Motorola Droid for cheaper than a camera that does so much more than taking pictures. The Droid is offered by Verizon (A Negative) for $199.99 with a 2 year contract, a small price to pay as you receive a computer, cell phone, camera, video camera, and so much more.

Reardon, M. Verizon, Motorola unveil the Droid. October 29, 2009. CNN Technology Web: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/29/cnet.verizon.motorola.droid/index.html

As Google grows in the internet world thoughts of bettering the organization become a serious issue. The serious issue is concerning Customer Service. Many users that contact Google for customer service related issue more times than none get feedback from something that resembles a robot. Human interactions between customers and Google’s Customer Service are absent causing many customers of Google to be outraged with Google. With Google’s growth of the internet markets customer service is a huge deal as they strive to success in the internet business market. Google is now performing transactions that many customers have expressed that there are problems with transactions as the companies dealing with Google see on a daily basis. How might Google fix this problem? Well the first way would be to bring a customer service unit of humans. No more of these robots or computer generated customer service units. Customers like to speak to humans to insure that a problem is solve, some customers may even document time and the name of the employee for insurance of the problem being solve if there were ever a question. If this is not an option for Google, developing software much better than they already have might be a much better idea than what they already have. I personally think Google should invest the time and money to handle the Customer Service software that many customers of Google are having trouble with. The last thing you want is to experience loss of revenue due to customer service which can really help or hurt your business. Google has a IT unit that can fix this problem, but what they haven’t done is fix it, if they want to continue to grow the IT unit must get on board and create a much better software system to create a successful customer service unit.

Krazit, T. (2009). Google tries its own take on customer service . November 5, 2009, from CNN Technology Web:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/05/cnet.google.customer.service/index.html

Burning Revenue

Burning Oil. That was the scene many viewed in New Delhi, India. In the oil fire three people were killed, along with 45 people injured. The blaze consisted of 426,084 barrels or 50,000 kiloliter of oil resulting in one of the biggest oil fires in India. How does this relate to Chapter 10 Enterprise Resource Planning and Collaboration Systems it does in some many ways. The first way is how the oil company will plan to produce the oil lost in the blaze. When a disaster such as this happens it is wise to have a Joint Problem Solving plan just as the example in the text proves in ChevronTexaco Corporation. As the oil depot in India loses their product it is now time to establish a plan to regain the lost production and revenue. The way they can produce more is of course to drill, drill, and drill creating employees to work double the amounts of time, but they will never receive the lost oil back. The best way would be to put a form of software in actions to manage the drilling and making sure a malfunction such as this one never happens again. By implementing this management system they will not have to work their employees double the time in a few days, rather they can manage the production over a given period and benefit from employees showing the most effective work. We saw the same thing as OPEX experienced a disaster such as this one with their terrible spill. The management systems organizations such as the stated above have adopted benefits in many ways such as profits, revenue, and cutting cost, which makes business more successful.

Singh, H. Three killed as India oil depot burns. October 30, 2009. CNN Technology Web:http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/30/india.oil.depot.fire/index.html

Disney sum of all thrills ride

Disney Debuts Do It Yourself Thrill Ride! Yes its true Disneyland has found a way to make one of the most popular and most fun theme parks even better. On Wednesday in Orlando Florida Disneyland opened up the new Epcot ride which allows riders to create their own ride and actually experience the ride first hand. One of the examples of the ride is “Toy Story Mania” which allows riders to actually shout at targets while they experience loops, turns, and towering drops. Disneyland has been around for numerous years and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere as they use Customer Relationship Management. By using Customer Relationship Management Disneyland has gained a competitive advantage to continue their success. Like many theme parks, which can get boring, or the same ol’ thing new rides are a must. Many theme parks add a new ride or redo a ride every year or two or even three. With Disneyland’s new Epcot ride the endless opportunities of new rides has just became a reality. Customer Relationship Management involves loyalty, profitability, and gaining insight into what the customer prefers and how this can help or hurt the organization. Many people immediately get off rides and say, “That was awesome” some will even say, “I wish it had more loops and turns.” With this new Epcot ride it almost feels like Disneyland representatives acted as riders and listened to our every word as we stepped off each ride. As you think about it, I’m sure they really do that and to our benefit thank you for doing such as thing. This is how IT can help out a company succeed in areas that only video games can think of, relating the Roller Tycoo video game where one could create their own theme park from food to rides. In this case we aren’t just customers to Disneyland we’re a say so in what we want and will get with such an awesome ride as the Epcot in Orlando, at Disneyland. Disneyland I have to hand it to you very good job and bring the new Epcot to Disneyland California so I can try it out!
Sutter, J. (2009). Disney Debuts Do It Yourself Thrill Ride. October 14, 2009, from CNN Technology Web:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/14/disney.math.ride/index.html

As Dell’s stock drops 3% what might be next? Will there be a larger percentage drop or a rise? With Dell’s latest creation I think a rise in the stock might be in Dell’s future. Dell has listened to customers and created a laptop that actually charges wirelessly! Unbelievable right? The Dell Latitude Z is 16” across meaning a great size screen along with a 14-millimeter thickness. Nice and sleek is what Dell is going with as they compete with the competition of the think laptops. Where Dell rises above the competition is in the wireless technology to charge as it sits on a dock just like many wireless devices. I think it is crazy and one of the best ideas I have ever heard a computer manufacture think of and put out in to the world for consumers to benefit from. I wish Dell introduced this before I bought my desktop in August, DAMN! Dell not only produced the first wireless charging laptop, but in the past 10 year Dell has excelled using the Supply Chain Planning System. The Supply Chain Planning Systems Dell uses increases their competitiveness as they keep track of customer orders, sales information, manufacturing capacity, and delivery capability as Dell receives an order. By performing such tasks Dell can improve their systems by having an edge on what customers want and need out of a computer. In this case Dell has listened to customers and noticed that many computer buyers preferring little or no wires as they order computers. Dell is known for making your computer to fit your needs and with everyone’s busy on the run schedules and lives I believe Dell just made a computer for every person that fits in this category. If Dell continues to succeed in customer satisfaction due to Operations Management and Supply Chain Management there’s no telling how much that stock percentage might go up! Now Dell Needs Wireless Charging MP3 Players Then I Would Be Pretty Much Set!

Ogg, E. (2009). Dell brings wireless charging to laptops. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from CNN Technology Web:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/09/29/cnet.wireless.laptop.charging/index.html?iref=newssearch

Staying connected in the business world is more important than ever. As one sees more and more business professionals, one can’t help, but notice the cell phone attached to their ear. What about when a business professional is on the road and has a call while using their phones GPS? Garmin has you covered! Garmin is at it again; first it was their GPS that solved everyone’s direction needs as they travel. With an already obsolete product they have just made the GPS market something even more interesting with the Garmin GPS Smartphone! One can now view one’s directions while taking that business call. With the new cell phone laws and business becoming more mobile than ever this will be a great way for Garmin to really create a better product which is already more popular than it was 2 to 3 years ago. For those who do not want to pay the added high price fee of having a phone system in your vehicle this is an awesome way to create a more competitive market with the navigation screens imbedded into high priced vehicles. Garmin’s Nuvifone will be offered for $299 after rebate from AT&T which brings up a point of how business is completely mobile and how Garmin’s Nuvifone will really help out those who don’t like the Bluetooth head sets, tickets for being on cell phones, and viewing their maps as they make those important business calls. I think I will be able to use this in my profession as a Real Estate Broker to meet with my clients at the destination wished and be on the phone at the same time. I’m sure once my sister picks up this information about the Garmin Nuvifone she will be just as interested as I am since she uses her Garmin everyday in her profession. Garmin Good Idea!
 

Wildstrom, S. (2009). Smartphones: Garmin’s GPS Is Ringing. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from Business Week:http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_41/b4150080790291.htm?chan=technology_technology+index+page_top+stories

Can a microchip fake eye really help the blind see again? I have found an article from CNN Technology’s website that may answer that very question and provide a solution for the blind in a stunning technology form. Researches from MIT believe the microchip eye can help the blind see again as they turn to databases for help. CNN Technology’s Priya Ganapati describes the eye and chip working in a fashion of “The glasses that patients wear contain a coil that can wirelessly transmit power to receiving coils surrounding the eyeball. The eyeball holds a microchip encased in a sealed titanium case to avoid damage from water seepage. The chip receives visual information and activates electrodes that in turn fire the nerve cells that carry visual input to the brain.” This relates to chapter 6 Databases and Data Warehouses because in order for this device to properly work images must be stored in a form of database. That database being the microchip imbedded in the fake eye. Many blind people can see shadows and forms of shapes; some that once could see can even remember what the people around them looked like. With that being said in the case of one that once could see and one that is now blind the memories of what the people around them looked like can be stored in the chip or database and with the technology MIT researchers have developed, the signal can then be sent to the eyes making the image appear. This is still being research and MIT researchers say in the next 3 years test in blind patients will become more popular. I think it is crazy and amazing how we may discover a way to make the blind see again. It’s a great thing and would be very interesting to see the microchip eye in action.
Ganapati, P. (2009). Microchip may help blind people see again. Retrieved September 24, 2009, from CNN TechnologyWeb:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/24/eye.microchip.wired/index.html

Can an alarm clock really help you sleep? If you’re like me the snooze button sure helps me sleep, but that’s just being lazy and not wanting to get up. What if an alarm clock really helped you get to sleep and stay asleep, would you pay $399 for it? The Zeo Smart Clock will do that and more. With the Zeo Smart Clock you benefit from viewing a graph of your sleep pattern, upload data to track your sleep, and also coach you to the best sleep possible. With the $399 price you get the Zeo Smart Clock along with six months access to a Zeo’s online sleep coach. This coach will help improve the quality of your sleep and tell you what necessary steps to take before you head off to bed. I picked this article since it expresses such intelligent infrastructure architecture to produce such a device that can actually improve your sleep. The Zeo Smart Clock engineers or enterprise architects have stated, “Around 20% of Americans get less than six hours of rest a night.” Of course we all know the healthy number of hours we need of sleep is eight, but some never can even come close to eight hours, we are lucky to get six hours. In order to discover such a device involves the ability to build an infrastructure that can discover the points that the engineers or enterprise architects state. For example their infrastructure is able to sensor brain signs of the four sleep stats which are REM, light, deep and waking sleep. As all this works together and is created you get the Zeo Smart Clock which could change the sleeping world. I wonder if it would help me because when I sleep I have noticed the only way I can really get a goodnight sleep is by placing my body in the middle of my bed, but wouldn’t it be nice to find out other things possible to get the best sleep possible. I think this Zeo Smart Clock is something many people will try out and decide on their own if it really works or not. I would love to try it out and see firsthand if this Smart Clock really works. Price a little high being I’m a college student, but if they’re looking for people to try it out consider me onboard to try it out!

Zeo measures your REM sleep Retrieved September 18, 2009, from CNN Technology Web:http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/18/smallbusiness/zeo_sleep.fsb/index.htm?postversion=2009082415

“Go ahead and email me” That’s what many of us say as we are leaving a work related environment when someone ask you to check something out that they want to share with you. But what do you do when your email doesn’t work? Gmail users had to ask themselves that on September 1st 2009 as they went to check their Gmail accounts and discovered their email accounts were unavailable for two 2 hours. This couldn’t have happened at a busier time as well, taking place during the prime web surfing hours. This refers to our text in the way of down time and how much money companies can lose and don’t forget about the company’s reputation. In Gmail’s case more than 1.75 million companies are charged an annual fee of $50 per user for their employees. Their accounts are much different than the free ones, but as the text states down time equals the loss of a lot of money. With email account Google anticipates 53 minutes of down time a month, which makes me think… They’re losing almost an hour of revenue a month meaning in the long run they’re losing a quite sufficient amount of money. “According to Gartner Group, on average, enterprises lose $108,000 of revenue every hour their IT infrastructure is down.” The text also shows a great example of how Google could take action to the problem with the graph on page 145 figure: 4.17. Taking Google’s Gmail down time a year it’s estimated to lose $1,296,000 if they have down time for 53 minutes every month for a year. $1,296,000 that is a lot of money and the title of this article asks a great question “Is Gmail ready for business?” It’s going to be a tough year for them if they don’t address this problem fast.Baltzan, Paige.
Business driven information systems/ Paige Baltzan, Amy Phillips.-2nd ed.Hempel, J. (2009) Is
Gmail ready for business? Retrieved September 11, 2009, from CNN Technology Web: http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/09/03/is-gmail-ready-for-business/

You Tube is at it again! You Tube, everyone’s favorite video site just got better for consumers. You Tube has been in talks with movie studios to introduce movie rentals from the already popular video viewing site. In the past you could only watch some selected full videos and endless amounts of clips, but what happens when those clips aren’t there anymore due to popularity? That’s where I think rentals come into place and will be a great addition to You Tube’s already successful video viewing website. Say you’re using the same clip for a presentation and one day it’s gone! That would ruin your presentation, but with rentals that could solve your problem easily knowing one could always keep it as a rental. Technology and Ebusiness isn’t it great! The rate looks to be around $3.99 per movie, but could change since I viewed this article on 8/3/09 and there was no price available. Today being 8/4/09 a price was added and if that’s the price I believe many You Tube fans will love endless rentals for $3.99 per movie. Just like Netflix, Amazon.com, and iTunes You Tube will become a part of the business-to-consumer or B2C Ebusiness. With Ebusiness comes the ability to have a competitive advantage with the continuing growing Ebusiness entering the market every day. You Tube has already performed its competitive advantage of providing free video clips that everyone from children to teacher’s use in their everyday lives. For example in IS 130 we see many educational clips helping our class grasp the concept we are learning; coming from You Tube. Children also use it to learn, watching video clips of Sesame Street and many other educational videos. You Tube has also shown the way sustaining technology is performed in Ebusiness with improving their already popular site with rentals. What will You Tube think of next? The list could be endless. Great move YouTube!
No Author (2009). YouTube in talks with major movie studios. Retrieved September 3, 2009, from CNN Technology Web:http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/02/technology/you_tube_movies.reut/index.htm?postversion=2009090218#TOP

Picture this; you’re relaxing on a nice afternoon as you hear your phone ring. You pick it up, say hello and there’s no response. Your first thought is maybe something’s wrong with my phone while you repeat hello, hello, and hello! You realize it’s not your phone after you hear, “If you would like to get the best deal on your phone service, cable, internet, and etc.” That could be the most annoying thing ever and thanks to Robotics it has been a popular method in many businesses trying to push a new product or promotion. Don’t worry these annoying call that ruin your relaxing afternoon will soon be over. The band of robocalls has taken place in August of 2008, but the last of the Amendments will take place on Tuesday September 1st, 2009. One of the last Amendment that stands out the most is a $16,000 fine from the Federal Trade Commission. You might ask how will they know if people are still receiving these annoying robocalls? The Federal Trade Commission has set up a report 1-800 number for those still receiving calls and also a website. You are strongly encouraged to report the robocalls to either the website located at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ or 1-877-FTC-HELP so the Federal Trade Commission can fine the given numbers. The CNN article states, “Calls from politicians, public services announcements and “informational” calls will be exempt from the new rule. A call alerting a traveler that his or her flight has been delayed would still be allowed, for example.” This related to our technology of Robotics, how we benefit from many intelligent systems such as Laser scanners robots cleaning airline floors, hospitals floors, and military use to deactivate bombs which save human lives. Those are just a few ways Robotics can be a great essential to us as humans, but in the case of robocalls I believe it is crossing the line. I know I will be calling the 1-800 number to complain if I get these banned calls.
Mills, E. (2009). Ban on robocalls effect on Tuesday. Retrieved August 28, 2009, from CNN Technology Web:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/28/robocall.ban/index.html

Technology of a green future is the perfect way to describe a new product from Sony and only offered by AT&T. With the Sony Reader Daily Edition one can browse wirelessly with a 3G connection speed, but that’s not all! The Sony Reader Daily Edition also has a Library Finder that creates local libraries e-books at your finger tip for FREE! With a device being so small one would assume only a few e-books to view at a time. Wrong, the Sony Reader Daily Edition offers an internal memory that holds up to 1,000 e-books and offers expansion slots for even more storage for your viewing pleasure. How could you not be a fan, well as stated in the first line the Sony Reader Daily Edition is only offered by AT&T. This brings me to the topic of Switching Costs. Switching Cost is defined as costs that can make customers reluctant to switch to another product or service. In this case many individuals will be more willing to switch from their current wireless service to AT&T just like many did with the new IPhone. With switching from one service to another comes contract breaching and the payment of penalties, Individuals in this case would be the non-fans of this new technology. Is a $150 to get out a contract and the $400 for the new Sony Reader Daily Edition really worth it? I think so and I know many of those non-fans of AT&T being the only wireless service with such technology agree with me on how this technology can change the way we look at switching cost in the wireless industry. 1,000 e-books at your fingertips over $550 I think many will begin looking into AT&T and forget about the expenses involved with switching cost.
Ganapati, P. (2009). New Sony Reader adds touchscreen, wireless downloads. Retrieved August 25, 2009, from CNN TechnologyWeb:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/25/sony.wireless.ereader/index.html