Technology News You Can Use

August 2007 – Issue XXIX

In This Newsletter

• Letter from the Chair
• Wireless
• Today's Mobile Computing Choices
• Have you used your WYSIWYG today?
• The Future of Desktop Computing
• Contact Us
• Archived Tech Newsletters
• IT Resource Guide

Letter from the Chair, Zandra Pulis, CPS Energy

Greetings

Thanks for opening up another issue of the North Chamber Tech Newsletter.  This issue is full of very interesting information regarding emerging technologies in personal computing.  I am continually amazed how small, fast, and mobile computers are becoming.  Jeremiah Schmitt’s article reminded me of the “mobile” phone my mother carried when she worked for AT&T in the early 80’s – it was a handset about as big or bigger than my desktop phone handset stuffed into a black carrying pouch about the size of my current laptop.  I vaguely remember an antenna coming out of the back, but I don’t remember how it was powered (did phones plug into auto cigarette lighters back then?).  Regardless of its enormity, I thought my mom was pretty cool for having one!  I do hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter.  As always, let us know if you are interested in contributing!

Zandra Pulis

CPS Energy

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Wireless by Jeremiah Schmitt, AT&T

On April 3 1973 Martin Cooper  (then GM of the Motorola Corporations Communications Systems Division) completed the first Wireless Phone call. It would take an additional 10 years to bring the first mobile phone to market.  To see the first cell phone’s used, click here   This groundbreaking device weighed in at a stout 2.5 lbs. You could talk for UP to 35 minutes and if you needed to recharge… plan on 10 hours.  A cool $3,500.00 would get you your very own DynaTAC 8000x. What did it do? You could make and receive phone calls. Yup, that’s it. Oh how far we have come. SMS text messaging followed by MMS multimedia messaging services (pictures and video). Today,  you can link your personal and business e-mail directly to your phone. Mega pixel resolution cameras and MP3 players are now symbiotic functions of many mobile phones.  So is there anything else that manufacturers and carriers can do to enhance the end user experience? The answer is a resounding yes! 

In the past few decades it has truly become  “a small world after all”. The evolution of air travel and the proliferation of the “mobile office” has created a need for data services “on the go”.  With this development there have been challenges. Early mobile phone networks were painfully slow. Since the outset carriers have been engaged in a race to raise speeds to today’s standards of 400-700 kbps. In some major markets speeds of up to 1mbps deliver an experience similar to basic DSL service.

What’s next? How about 4G?  The Japanese wireless provider DoCoMo,  is spearheading the movement which has already achieved speeds of up to 5gbps in control tests. Already they are offering services like mobile “id credit payment services” and it appears there may be a time in the near future when many of us will substitute our 4G handsets for our wallets. Information will be stored in our handsets that will allow us to use credit card or bank info to complete all forms of purchases. You will be able to purchase a Big Mac or a flight to Japan.  Undoubtedly, manufacturers and carriers alike will find new and exciting ways to exploit these blazing data speeds. Even without 4G networks, US carriers are expanding their service portfolios. Speeds are being ramped up by revamping existing networks and expanding bandwidth.  Navigational services, mapping tools and Mobile e-commerce will see a surge as carriers deliver faster speeds to the consumer. With constant improvement in network latency, these tools will become common-place and more user friendly.

The inevitable challenge for service providers will be balancing cost with demand.  Today, unlimited data access for 3G service range in costs from $19.99 to $50.00 per month depending upon the carrier and device. To deliver the speeds that 4G will bring to the table carriers will have to invest in additional bandwidth and updated hardware. Someone will have to the foot the bill for the cost. This will certainly slow down the genesis of 4G in the US.

But what if you demand faster access now or work in secondary and rural markets that see slower rollout of G3 services?  There is a solution.  Wifi is the panacea for these looking for access off the beaten path. Companies like HTC Innovations, RIM and UTStarcom are already producing WiFi enabled devices. Even the much touted Apple I-Phone comes wifi enabled. This allows the user to access hotel, coffee shop or private hot spots at will (and sometimes, with a small fee) on their handset. Two key elements of wifi for wireless users are accessibility and higher speeds in secondary markets. I am certainly not implying that wifi is a new trick. What is new and exciting though is the level at which it will be integrated in to mobile data solutions.

With the combination of  advancing 3G networks, the future development of fast 4G networks and Wifi device integration, the future of wireless is secured.  These advances will drive the quality and number of services that can be delivered to the palm of you hand.  No longer is the mobile phone a one-dimensional brick. The future of wireless is bright due to the continued enhancements of data services. Carriers, manufacturers and consumers alike will find ways to capitalize on this advancement. Frank Lloyd Wright once said: “An idea is salvation by imagination.” So it is with wireless technology, our capabilities will only be limited by our imagination.

Today's Mobile Computing Choices by Michael Espinoza, Technology Coaching

According to recent statistics, as many as 75% of business professionals work remotely or away from the office.  If you fit this category, you are referred to as a “Mobile Professional”.  This article will discuss the types of computing choices mobile professionals have available to them today.

All the options I’ll discuss are designed for Windows based computers and will run all Windows applications. Of course, keep in mind there may be limitations based on your hardware specifications and screen sizes.

When you think of portable computing you most likely think of the traditional laptop we are all familiar with.  Laptops are the most common device associated with portable computing.  Prices continue to fall on traditional laptops and this makes them a excellent choice when working away from the office. The main problem that has continued plagued laptops is weight. If you have ever traveled with a six or seven pound laptop and accessories you know that the weight can get to be a real pain on the shoulders.  Many manufactures offer lighter laptops that are definitely worth considering, but the lighter the laptop, the higher the price. Before selecting a traditional laptop, you may want to consider one of the following mobile devices.

·        Tablet PC

The Tablet PC is a laptop that allows you to interact with it using a stylist or a keyboard. Tablet PC’s come in two types, slate and convertibles; the slate form factor is primarily used for anyone who wants to use hand writing as their primary input style. The convertibles are used more for typing as the primary input style with occasional use of their writing capabilities. Manufacturers include Toshiba and Gateway Motion computing. A good web site that lists many resource sites for those interested in Tablet computers can be found at http://www.tabletpctalk.com/links.shtml.

·        UMPC

The UMPC or “Ultra Mobile Personal Computer” is a newer entry in the marketplace for mobile devices. This is typically a computer with a seven inch screen and may or may not have a built-in keyboard for input. You can think of these as small Tablet PC’s. They meet a minimal hardware spec requirement set by Microsoft to classify them as UMPC’s.

These computers are very small and easy to carry around in a briefcase or purse. These computers, like the Tables PC’s, are personal computers with Windows XP or Vista as their operating system. A few manufactures of UMPC’s include ASUS and Samsung.  There are many reference sites to learn more about UMPC’s including http://www.umpcportal.com/modules/news/

·        Palm Top, Sub-Laptop or Sub-Notebook computers.

These devices are considered the smallest Windows-based computer. They typically have screens from five to seven inches and are designed for people who want the smallest Windows/Vista OS based personal computer. One of the main points to consider regarding this category of PC’s is that they do not follow any minimum specifications. Most of these devices run a version of Windows but may deviate from a particular standard like those found with UMPC’s. A few of the popular manufactures in this category include “OQO” and the Sony VAIO. Many of the sites that cover the UMPC also these smaller devices and additionally explain the differences in specifications when considering these types of devices. 

No matter what your portable device you are considering, one of these should fit your needs. Remember to do you homework, define your needs for a portable device and read reviews on the topic so you can make a good informed decision.  Most of these devices are not available at your local retail outlets. You must purchase them on-line.

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The Future of Desktop Computing, Dylan Price, Technical Recruiter - The MedTek Group

As I was sipping my mocha on the patio of a local coffee outlet, I overheard a conversation between two hipsters from a local collegiate student body.  The conversation intrigued me immediately:  “…yeah, you can just put your credit card on the top - it reads the card - and you can separate the bill right there!”  I had to interrupt and make sure I wasn’t left behind in a wake of envy as I was with the recently released iPhone.  After a long conversation that ended mysteriously with some comments about anti-trust laws, I had found that the object in question was a brand-new technology, rumored to have been developed by Microsoft, which would enable a full 30-inch touch screen interface lodged within an IKEA table.  I went home immediately (I didn’t have a fully-functional version of Safari on any cellular phone) and searched the only place I knew to enable this kind of hearsay, YouTube.  Sure enough – Microsoft Surface was as real as the mocha now spilling down the front of my shirt.

To be honest, my first reaction was: “this will change the face of video games forever!”  I took a moment to reflect in my excitement, and realized that gaming would be the first of many technical breakthroughs this product could deliver.  We’ve all seen touch screen technology before, whether it was at the local sports bar playing classics like Trivia Whiz and Texas Hold ‘Em 3 – or ordering prints at the local everything-mart off of your digital camera’s memory card.  Microsoft has a way of taking an existing technology, packaging it up for mass consumption, and distributing it to every household in America . 

I compare touch screen computing to the dawn of the GUI (graphical user interface).  Xerox started it, Microsoft finished it.  But that isn’t the only similarity here – the GUI changed the world’s perception of computing capabilities with an improved usability and a huge aesthetic improvement.  The desktop computer would be in every middle-class American home within the decade.  Following this formula, Microsoft has big plans for your household – refrigerators, countertops, and walls to name a few. 

The four key attributes that Microsoft is hoping to impress the world with, as listed in the May 30^th press release:

·         Direct interaction. Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands, interacting with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.

·         Multi-touch. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger like a typical touch-screen, but up to dozens of items at once.

·         Multi-user. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.

·         Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to programming for this irregular platform.  Think of the board games you grew up with – CandyLand, The Game of LIFE, Chutes and Ladders – and how the medium can reinvent these classics while bringing folks back to the parlor on Friday night.  The evolution of the drafting table is upon us – the CAD (computer aided design) programs will create an efficiency never before seen within the architect’s office.  Already a hot topic among the service industry with Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., and T-Mobile USA Inc., Surface begins its eventual descent into the American household with a $5,000.00/unit price tag.  If the debut of the iPhone could be any meter for the success of Surface, the initial system price might pay for itself by the end of this year with an expected launch slated for November in selected restaurants and Sheraton hotels. 

Although the technology is amazing, when it comes to the consumer aesthetics historically have won every time.  Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have known this secret for their entire careers, always pushing the envelope on user experience and a virtual atmosphere.  So when calculating the budget for 2008, think about bringing in one of those hipsters with a BA from a local collegiate student body before launching the next best medical billing application.

Have you used your WYSIWYG today? Roger Hall, Full Fusion

It is something you use and probably don't even know it. WYSIWYG editors are everywhere. What is it? It is an acronym for "What You See Is What You Get" and pronounced (wizi-wig). Thanks to early computer programmers, we have lots of acronyms like this flying around which now have become part of regular vernacular.

Wikipedia describes it this way: "WYSIWYG is a user interface that allows the user to view something very similar to the end result while the document or image is being created. For example, a user can view on screen how a document will look when it is printed to paper or displayed in a Web browser." Common programs like Microsoft Word, Power Point, or Apple Works have integrated WYSIWYG elements to make them more user friendly. For the rest of this article, let's focus on how WYSIWYG editors make web site authoring easier.

Hiding the Code
Since WYSIWYG editors hide the code underlying the web page, there are concerns about what code these editors put in place to have the desired display. Historically WYSIWYG editors like Microsoft's Front Page added 'bloated code' thus slowing the page delivery and performance.  As a result, serious developers shunned the program. Over the last five years many improvements have been made to keep 'code clean' in the process of accurately displaying what the user intends. With these improvements, users have more abilities like the capability to 'drag and drop' elements from one application into web production files. Taking improvements like this even further, some systems have added the ability to update a site by just hitting a button on a web browser to switch into a WYSIWYG edit mode of that page. The line between print and web continues to blur with the cutting-edge function of editing a press document that automatically updates a corresponding page on a web site (see Adobe's Contribute).

One of the more favored WYSIWYG editors today is Adobe's Dreamweaver. Other development tools like Microsoft's .Net have fully integrated the WYSIWYG concept into their process. These types of programs allow developers to flip from the code view to a WYSIWYG view in their development process thus having the best of both worlds.

Handling the Content
Traditionally a single web master or a team of developers were relied upon to make web updates.  As the need for keeping site content fresh has increased, this bottle-neck has been removed. Now many web sites have a CMS (Content Management System) behind them which allows the content to be changed as needed through a WYSIWYG enabled admin area. The main administrator can oversee a sub-group of editors each assigned to update various areas and content elements. With this level of site administration in place, your web site can become a more real-time, direct representation of your company.

No matter what your experience level, products utilizing WYSIWYG editors will help you in your day-to-day business process. Ask your web support resource for ways to possibly improve or streamline these processes for your business.
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