Introduced in January at Lotushpere, IBM’s new Sametime Everplace3 instant messenger client is an interesting attempt at integrating data elements into a voice-based device.
The key to this new iteration is “presence awareness,” a tool available when using Sametime in conjunction with IBM’s Collaboration Center portal. When a user is connected, his or her presence information is made visible to other users courtesy of a small cell phone image next to the user’s screen name. See who’s available, send them a message — text or voice — or take the time to call them. Continue reading ‘When Will We Get Integrated Voice Technologies?’
Archive for February, 2003
The great thing about the Internet is that it fosters such tremendous community while, simultaneously, championing intense individualism. In some ways the Internet is, in fact, Adam Smith’s perfect version of capitalism — a place where self-interested rational agents run around acting in the most self-interested manner possible. Okay, maybe I was a bit heavy on the “rational” part, but you get the idea. Continue reading ‘The Community Can Take Care of Itself’
My wife and I have been thinking about taking up a residence in another state and commuting back and forth. Our kids are getting to the independent stage and we hate being locked into a single climate option. As we were discussing some of our options the other day, Vicky asked me about the best way to have Internet access on out future road trips between hometowns. Continue reading ‘Getting Connected in the Car — The Promise of Wireless Networks’
This one caught me a little by surprise, although I’m not really sure why. It’s not like I’m not scouring the Web waves for interesting convergence and integration news all the time.
So, here’s the short of it. As reported on Slashdot, It appears that the Finland cell phone manufacturer, Nokia, will be throwing in its lot in the handheld gaming industry with its N-Gage. Not only is this device capable of playing games, but other noticeable features include a cell phone, radio, Web and data capabilities, and an MP3 player. In fact, throw in an e-book reader and a food synthesizer and there would never be any need to go anywhere if you owned this device. Just stay home and jack in. Continue reading ‘Integration Can Come from Any Direction’
Until now, most of our thinking regarding distributed information in education has been with reference to the Web and specific, digital devices. If I want to distribute the ability to register for classes, I make that information available on the Web and then students can have access to that process/information from any computer.
The same general approach is used for course information, teaching materials, and research. These methods of distribution, I might add, have proven effective and reliable. They are, however centralized — the user must have enough technological sophistication to access these distributed materials via an Web interface or a handheld device because the point of data access and entry is still “back home” in a central location — and they are also ubiquitously digital - users must make a shift from traditional, analog practices and adopt new, digital technologies in order to sue them. Continue reading ‘Making Information Mobile and What That Might Look Like’
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