News

• Long-awaited Payment Mobility is Catching OnDecember 2010

  After hearing for years about Scandinavians buying soft drinks with their cell phones, it looks like PayPal is gaining traction as the preferred mobile-payment provider. An obvious threat to credit card companies, PayPal has the opportunity to get between the customer and the merchant. Mobile payment is another disruptive force that amplifies some of the possibilities discussed in the Smart Systems Economist article below. This link takes you to a NY Times overview of PayPal's glowing prospects. Visit full article ›

 

• Potential for Sweeping Changes in the Online EcosystemNovember 2010

  The Commerce Department and the Federal Trade Commission are considering new rules that will increase online privacy, but which will, if adopted, will transform the online ecosystem and the monetization of online activity. Visit full article ›

  The Economist on Smart SystemsNovember 2010

  The Economist provides an interesting perspective on "Smart Systems". This brief overview talks about recent developments in this hot area enabled by connectivity, inexpensive computing power, and ubiquitous sensors. Operational breakthoughs are possible in a variety of fields, including Care Management and Healthcare delivery. The link to an audio interview with the writer at the end of the article provides additional perspective and is also worth listening to. Visit full article›

 

• Value Creation: A PrimerNovember 2010

  In this video presentation, Tim Koller of McKinsey focuses on how true value is created and how understanding value creation needs to guide capital investment decisions. Although the examples are primarily from the for-profit world with corporate valuation in mind, this is useful to anyone considering IT capital investment decisions. Link to presentation›

  Technology Pricing PowerNovember 2010

  This is an interesting and brief analysis by Jim Stogdill, reacting to a presentation by Tim O'Reilly and John Batelle. Jim provides a brief overview of recent history in technology and the ability of some technology providers to achieve a much higher rate of return on their investments and innovation. The article also includes a link to the original O'Reilly and Batelle video. Visit full article ›

• Healthcare Policy Direction Will Remain DynamicNovember 2010

  The Congressional Budget Office projects that Healthcare will be 17.4% of Gross Domestic Product in 2012 and growing. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that Americans are divided over national healthcare policy. A majority are against the Health Reform bill, but a majority also favors each of the major components that were polled on. Political uncertainty will continue for Payors, Providers, and local government on Federal healthcare policy. Visit full article ›

 

• Shift from Landlines to Cell Phones Continues to AccelerateJuly 2010

  One basic assumption of how organizations communicate with the public is shifting.  The poor economy has accelerated the shift away from landlines towards cell phones. Organizations need to consider this communication channel and whether traditional telephone communications will be welcomed when calling someone on their mobile phone - even someone who has voluntarily provided their number. A recent CDC survey is attached.View survey results ›

• Early Challenges in Sharing Digitized Health DataApr 2009

  Google Health allows individuals to centralize their personal health information by getting providers and insurers to forward their digital records to Google.  This article from the Boston Globe discusses the specific issues that a tech-savvy individual encountered when they reviewed information from their insurer on Google Health. Visit full article ›

• Greenspan Stresses the Need for Health IT BenefitsApr 2009

  In a speech at the HIMSS conference, Alan Greenspan stressed the need for Healthcare IT to deliver cost benefits for the sake of the U.S. economy and our competitiveness in the world.Visit full article ›

• The Challenges of Electronic Medical Record AdoptionMar 2009

  As discussion about the benefits of Electronic Health Records (EHR) increases, the New York Times looks at some of the non-technical barriers to large-scale adoption of EHR.;Visit full article

• Google announces entry into smart-grid technologiesFeb 2009

  Google is applying wed-services to a pressing societal need to use energy more intelligently. They have created a free web-service that is a piece of what consumers will need to track household energy use in near real-time. Combined with "smart" meters and household displays, pilot studies have shown consumers able to significantly reduce their energy consumption and costs. Visit full article ›

• YouTube passes Yahoo to become the No. 2 search engineJan 2009

  YouTube is now the second most popular search engine; second only to Google.  It is being increasingly used by people who prefer to receive their search results as video rather than as text. Visit full article ›

• Apple, Steve Jobs, and the Future Jan 2009

  The National Public Radio Show "On Point", spent an hour on January 9, 2009 discussing high-technology and innovation in America. The topic was ostensibly Apple and Steve Jobs, but with Bill Joy, Kara Swisher, and Steve Levy they were soon discussing much bigger topics. Visit full article ›

• How to fix the innovation gap: A conversation with Judy Estrin Jan 2009

  Judy Estrin, Silicon Valley executive and former Cisco CTO speaks to McKinsey Quarterly about her new book "Closing the Innovation Gap: Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy". Visit full article ›

• A Widget Onto the Future Dec 2008

  Technology is influencing Higher Education through the use of Widgets, simple pieces of web software that can be programmed to support instructor objectives. Visit full article ›

• Small is beautiful Dec 2008

  The surprising success of notebooks that do less and cost less. Visit full article ›