Some of the safety concerns inherent in the new MyFord Touch system have drawn negative reviews from Consumer Reports. As highlighted in our discussions yesterday, this article agrees that the next generation of car software systems will focus on ease of use and safety controls and warns consumers against becoming early adopters of technology until these safety concerns have been mitigated.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/01/05/early-adopter-fun-in-the-living-room-but-safe-in-the-car/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fortunebrainstormtech+%28Fortune+Brainstorm+Tech%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Are schools past their "Electrolux Screenfridge" days?
The NYT ran an article the other day about some schools around the country that are buying iPads for all their students.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?emc=eta1
Both in the article itself and in the comments, there are those who say this is a great leap for education, and those that say the schools are wasting their money on yet another technology fad.
The lessons of Electrolux Screenfridge and On-Star -- early failures because the technology wasn't the full package it needed to be, but successes later when their tech stars aligned -- made me start to give more credence to those who are saying the iPad really IS different than failed tech-in-schools fads of the past... (it's flat, allowing for lots of eye contact and collaboration; it's fast; it's lighter than a typical textbook; it allows for image manipulation that brings lessons to life; etc....) Check it out!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?emc=eta1
Both in the article itself and in the comments, there are those who say this is a great leap for education, and those that say the schools are wasting their money on yet another technology fad.
The lessons of Electrolux Screenfridge and On-Star -- early failures because the technology wasn't the full package it needed to be, but successes later when their tech stars aligned -- made me start to give more credence to those who are saying the iPad really IS different than failed tech-in-schools fads of the past... (it's flat, allowing for lots of eye contact and collaboration; it's fast; it's lighter than a typical textbook; it allows for image manipulation that brings lessons to life; etc....) Check it out!
Hybrid Onstar and Sync system unveiled by Hyundai @ 2011 CES
Hyundai has unveiled a combination Onstar and Sync system at the 2011 Consumer Electronic Show to be included in select models starting in 2012.
Hyundai Shows Off New Blue Link Connectivity System at CES
They’ve been called distractions, but there’s no denying the importance for major OEMS to keep up with the latest and greatest telematics systems in the car world. With momentum on their side, Hyundai has revealed its own Blue Link connectivity system during this year’s Consumer Telematics Show.
Blue Link will come to market with three distinct packages to fill specific sets of needs, though all will be available together. The packages are:
Blue Link Assurance
Adds Automatic Crash Notification and Assistance, SOS Emergency Assistance, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. This will be for customers who seem to encounter bad luck on the road more often than not or are especially safety-conscious. A link to emergency response specialists opens up should the need present itself.
All Blue Link-equipped vehicles will come with a trial Assurance package. After the introductory period, it will require a subscription for continued use.
Blue Link Essentials
Despite the “Essentials” in its name, this package is very comprehensive. It starts with all manners of remote access assist, which gives owners the choices of using mobile phones or the Web to remotely lock and unlock doors, start the vehicle, or enable the horns, lights, and security panic function.
Also included are vehicle diagnostics (viewable on the Web), theft protection features, and a host of notification features ranging from social-network location sharing to voice text messaging. Concerned parents will be able to keep tabs on their Hyundai-driving children with Curfew Alert, Speed Alert, and Geofence.
Blue Link Guidance
You got it, this package is all about navigation, and making it easy. Services included are turn-by-turn directions, voice-recognition point of interest searches, and updates on traffic, gas station prices, and the weather. An Eco-Coach will help manage efficient driving habits (should you desire).
Having a mobile concierge is all the rage these days, and Blue Link Guidance will also have onboard restaurant ratings, so you’ll never be too far from your favorite Michelin Star eatery.
Hyundai’s breadwinning Sonata has first dibs on Blue Link this spring, with pricing to come. The Detroit show-bound, youth-focused Veloster is next in line to utilize Blue Link, and most of the lineup is expected to have the option by 2013.
For more information on Hyundai’s Blue Link, take a look at the official Web site.
Source: Hyundai
Hyundai Shows Off New Blue Link Connectivity System at CES
They’ve been called distractions, but there’s no denying the importance for major OEMS to keep up with the latest and greatest telematics systems in the car world. With momentum on their side, Hyundai has revealed its own Blue Link connectivity system during this year’s Consumer Telematics Show.
Blue Link will come to market with three distinct packages to fill specific sets of needs, though all will be available together. The packages are:
Blue Link Assurance
Adds Automatic Crash Notification and Assistance, SOS Emergency Assistance, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. This will be for customers who seem to encounter bad luck on the road more often than not or are especially safety-conscious. A link to emergency response specialists opens up should the need present itself.
All Blue Link-equipped vehicles will come with a trial Assurance package. After the introductory period, it will require a subscription for continued use.
Blue Link Essentials
Despite the “Essentials” in its name, this package is very comprehensive. It starts with all manners of remote access assist, which gives owners the choices of using mobile phones or the Web to remotely lock and unlock doors, start the vehicle, or enable the horns, lights, and security panic function.
Also included are vehicle diagnostics (viewable on the Web), theft protection features, and a host of notification features ranging from social-network location sharing to voice text messaging. Concerned parents will be able to keep tabs on their Hyundai-driving children with Curfew Alert, Speed Alert, and Geofence.
Blue Link Guidance
You got it, this package is all about navigation, and making it easy. Services included are turn-by-turn directions, voice-recognition point of interest searches, and updates on traffic, gas station prices, and the weather. An Eco-Coach will help manage efficient driving habits (should you desire).
Having a mobile concierge is all the rage these days, and Blue Link Guidance will also have onboard restaurant ratings, so you’ll never be too far from your favorite Michelin Star eatery.
Hyundai’s breadwinning Sonata has first dibs on Blue Link this spring, with pricing to come. The Detroit show-bound, youth-focused Veloster is next in line to utilize Blue Link, and most of the lineup is expected to have the option by 2013.
For more information on Hyundai’s Blue Link, take a look at the official Web site.
Source: Hyundai
Chip Makers target everything but Kitchen Sink
As we discussed in the class that the smartphones > PC shipments with in 2 years, the Chip Makers are targeting the wireless devices. Please see the following article for details.
This article basically confirms that over the next 5 years, the goal is to connect as many devices as possible on the internet (this includes devices in home, car etc).
Where are barriers to consumer acceptance of new technology, and when do they move?
Companies can plan to take advantage of technology trends, but what if customers or stakeholders don't want to go with them?
The case I was thinking about in class today was a few years ago, a school district in California tried to automate the taking of class attendance, which consumes a couple of minutes of each class period. They planned to use student ID cards with embedded RFID chips and put sensors on classroom doors, so that each student's attendance would be registered automatically. However, a few community members raised an outcry over what they saw as 'Big Brother' being able to track where their kids were:
http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2005/02/66554
These same kids may now be carrying around cell phones with location capabilities that their parents don't object to. These parents might also carry a grocery reward cards that notifies them when they're near a product on sale in the supermarket. How can companies determine where the line is between what is acceptable, and isn't, to their customers? How can they measure whether that line has moved over time? Does the line move when the perceived benefits of a technology overshadow the concerns, or does it just move gradually over time as people become accustomed to technology? (Or is it simply that as consumers, they can choose whether or not to participate?)
Along the same lines, about a dozen years ago I heard a presentation by computer-human interaction specialists whose research had shown that people resisted wearable computing (computer-enabled eyewear or clothing) because they did not want to have a 'cyborg' image. It would be interesting to find out whether that has changed - or not.
The case I was thinking about in class today was a few years ago, a school district in California tried to automate the taking of class attendance, which consumes a couple of minutes of each class period. They planned to use student ID cards with embedded RFID chips and put sensors on classroom doors, so that each student's attendance would be registered automatically. However, a few community members raised an outcry over what they saw as 'Big Brother' being able to track where their kids were:
http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2005/02/66554
These same kids may now be carrying around cell phones with location capabilities that their parents don't object to. These parents might also carry a grocery reward cards that notifies them when they're near a product on sale in the supermarket. How can companies determine where the line is between what is acceptable, and isn't, to their customers? How can they measure whether that line has moved over time? Does the line move when the perceived benefits of a technology overshadow the concerns, or does it just move gradually over time as people become accustomed to technology? (Or is it simply that as consumers, they can choose whether or not to participate?)
Along the same lines, about a dozen years ago I heard a presentation by computer-human interaction specialists whose research had shown that people resisted wearable computing (computer-enabled eyewear or clothing) because they did not want to have a 'cyborg' image. It would be interesting to find out whether that has changed - or not.
Apple Computer Knowledge Navigator
A concept video that Apple produced in 1987. It appears that with the iPhone and iPad they've come quite close to achieving what they described nearly 25 years ago.
Is Web Really Dead?
Wired article ' The Web is Dead' talks about how we are spending less time on Web these days.
I read some interesting rebuttals to that argument when the Wired magazine article came out.
For those who are interested in looking at them,
The Web Isn't Dead; It's Just Continuing to Evolve
Is the web really dead?
I read some interesting rebuttals to that argument when the Wired magazine article came out.
For those who are interested in looking at them,
The Web Isn't Dead; It's Just Continuing to Evolve
Is the web really dead?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)