Japan EMBA - Management of IT

We discussed Google’s visual search application for Android phones, called “Goggles”.  Using Goggles, I was able to take a picture of several items.  Goggles recognized each of the items and successfully initiated Google searches for web pages related to the items.

Some of the items I tried were:

• The Temple T
• A ukiyo-e print in our house of Kinkaku-ji (the Gold Pavilion) in Kyoto
• The Eiffel Tower

Here’s a video from Google about Goggles.

VATSIM is an organization which provides simulated air traffic control services.   The services are provided through user developed extensions to the Microsoft Flight Simulator, user-developed controller workstations, and a network of servers.  Using these services, a user piloting a virtual aircraft can file a flight plan and “fly” guided by other users who act as controllers.  VATSIM has about 250,000 members who are virtual pilots and virtual controllers.  Vatsim’s software is developed collaboratively by its members.   Pilot and controller training is offered online.

Checkout  www.vatsim.net/about-vatsim

Here’s a demonstration video:

Tom Friedman returned to MIT in 2007 and presented an update to The World is Flat. Here’s a video of his update:

http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/519

The cost of a gallon of HP printer ink is $8000 making it more expensive than a first growth Bordeaux wine! A gallon of Chateau Lafite Rothschild costs about $2000 to $4000 depending on the vintage. The article states that HP’s profit margin on supplies is 14-16%. If this is correct, some of the cost is certainly related to the cost of producing the ink. I suspect some of the cost is also related to the cost of producing disposable cartridges (which contain the nozzles for the ink), and the allocated cost selling subsidized printers.

http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?doc_id=7159&layout=rich_story

The second article discusses Kodak’s printer strategy vs HP’s. Kodak seems to be moving to a model where they charge more for the printer but less for the ink — reducing the cost for each printed page.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/technology/17pogue.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Grace Hopper, the person most responsible for modern programming languages, appeared on 60 minutes in the 80s. The interview included her famous nanosecond lecture. You can view the interview here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sUT7gFQEsY