@steven-l-johnson
Active 9 years, 11 months ago-
Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Spring 2015 10 years, 7 months ago
Thank you to SI and DK for bringing to my attention the potential confusion about the first Learn IT assignment due tomorrow. Unfortunately, with cancelled class this week, we missed that opportunity to fully […]
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Steven L. Johnson commented on the post, Learn IT! #1: Digital Identity Management – Part 1, on the site 10 years, 7 months ago
Please bring it to class.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Spring 2015 10 years, 7 months ago
The assigned reading for the next 5 class meetings is now shown on the Class Readings page.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Spring 2015 10 years, 7 months ago
Here is a link to Quiz #2. It is due by start of class on Tuesday, January 27.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gsVUNPLl4WA1oOqnPt_rcmVl91dFRW6iMNR1R596Qak/viewform
The quiz is open-book, open-notes. The […]
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Spring 2015 10 years, 7 months ago
Imagine one day you woke up and you could no longer access the Internet… a day turned into a week. How would your life be different if you had to go an extended period of time with no Internet access?
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When considering this question, I first presumed that no Internet access would not significantly change my life. However, as I thought more about it, it’s clear that my life would be different in several ways. The first and most drastic change would be the way I communicate. I rely on Internet access for corresponding in a professional setting (e.g. professors, businesspeople, etc.) as well as personal communication. Perhaps the worst consequence of no access in this regard would be losing an easy way to talk to my brother, who has lived in San Diego since 2010. School would become much more difficult, as literally every bit of information I need to complete schoolwork is online either through Blackboard or this site. In general, life would become more difficult for a while, but eventually I would adjust to the change. Many of these problems depend on whether I am the only one without access or everyone has lost access. Finally, I think there would be a positive to come from having no Internet access. It would be much easier to focus on things that matter. The Internet arguably creates as many distractions as efficiencies today.
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Putting aside the need to do work and school-related activities using the internet, going without would be one of those things that’s uncomfotable at first, but becomes less of a big deal over time. My major use for it is social media, email, and news, and I have gone a few weeks at a time without it in the past. At first I missed the social media aspect the most, because I felt like I was missing out on what was going on in my friends’ lives, but over time I realized I missed the news aspect the most because I didn’t know what was going on with my favorite sports teams and the world. Like anything, it takes a short adaptation to losing the internet for a short period of time, but eventually it would become a major inconvenience for a longer period of time.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Spring 2015 10 years, 7 months ago
The first Learn IT! assignment is due by the beginning of class on Thursday, January 29. The assignment instructions are provided here: Digital Identity Management Part 1.Feel free to comment on this post if […]
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Please bring it to class.
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Thank you for the feedback. I’ll fix that next time around — also please see updates here: http://community.mis.temple.edu/mis2901spring15johnson/2015/01/28/important-announcement-about/
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Spring 2015 10 years, 7 months ago
Here is a link to Quiz #1. It is due by start of class on Tuesday, January 20.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14a46PQPW8qFjMBDENz6Tos85i_DVUF9fLZhp8gn9qNw/viewform
The quiz is open-book, open-notes. The […]
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Spring 2015 10 years, 7 months ago
Anonymous speech has a long and treasured history. The Electronic Freedom Foundation notes:
The tradition of anonymous speech is older than the United States. Founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym “Publius ” and “the Federal Farmer” spoke up in rebuttal. The US Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized rights to speak anonymously derived from the First Amendment.
The right to anonymous speech is also protected well beyond the printed page. Thus in 2002 the Supreme Court struck down a law requiring proselytizers to register their true names with the Mayor’s office before going door-to-door.
These long-standing rights to anonymity and the protections it affords are critically important for the Internet. As the Supreme Court has recognized the Internet offers a new and powerful democratic forum in which anyone can become a “pamphleteer” or “a town crier with a voice that resonates farther than it could from any soapbox.”Nonetheless, as evidenced by the adoption of Yik Yak, the ease of anonymous speech in Internet-based applications can be deeply problematic:
The scourge that hit Wendorf’s school was an app called Yik Yak, one of a growing number of so-called anonymity apps that have popped up over the last two years. These apps, which include well-known competitors like Whisper and Secret, bill themselves as a kind of antidote to social networks like Facebook, promising to provide a place where you can be more honest, where you can share your private thoughts online without worrying they’ll come back to haunt you.
But there’s a reason sites like Facebook don’t allow anonymity. It can also turn people into vicious creatures, especially when they’re in high school.
What’s your view of anonymity on the Internet? Does it provide a value that should be honored and protected? Or, is it so inherently problematic that it should be regulated and restricted?
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The problems of internet anonymity are much more visible than the benefits it provides. Anonymity often indirectly allows cyberbullies to escape the consequences of their actions or to go unnoticed, which is truly a terrible thing. However, the right to speak anonymously is too far ingrained in the First Amendment to be restricted through legislation. The only viable solutions to the problems of anonymity are to attempt to change a culture in which cowering anonymously behind computers is acceptable. Such irresponsibly activity should be shamed rather than promoted through Yik-Yaks, Whispers and other social media.
Still, anonymity provides protections too valuable to restrict. It allows people to express themselves without fear of retribution. I would ultimately be against any legislation that would regulate or restrict internet anonymity on the grounds of the First Amendment, but I certainly don’t condone the problems it presents. Unfortunately, I think the problems can only be addressed through non-legislative (i.e. cultural) approaches. -
Anonymity is a quintessential factor of the internet and removing it would hurt freedom of speech. While I have no intention of posting harmful things to the internet, the idea of not having to worry about what I say impacting people’s view of me outside the internet is appealing. By keeping up some veil, as long as it is not abused for the wrong reasons, it can allow conversation to flow about any topics that people may be too afraid to talk about otherwise. With apps like Yik Yak, the freedom to post anonymously should not be taken away, but instead the access granted to certain areas or people should be removed. Not allowing high schoolers to use it in the first place would eliminate some issues to begin with. That holds true for any program that questions anonymity; restrict the access to it instead of the right to post anonymously to it, in order to protect freedom of speech.
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You raise an interesting point about the value of anonymity has evolved with regard to free speech. The potential consequences of publicly expressing unpopular ideas seemed to have been worse in the past than they are now. Now, there are laws that protect individuals from intolerance. However, laws alone can only do so much to protect individuals from backlash and bullying. I believe that many of the terrible byproducts of internet anonymity still go unpunished.
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I agree entirely with your assertions. The right to free, unrestricted speech is a crucial aspect of American law and culture. So, anonymity is no exception. There is an interesting discussion that arises out of the problems that can be attributed to anonymity such as bullying. These problems, however, should not be addressed by making anonymity illegal but making bullying illegal. Although some argue that the source of the bullying problem is anonymity and thus the most effective solution would be for legislation should target anonymity, this is blatantly unconstitutional and would never be accomplished under any political environment.
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I thought this hit the nail on the head. The social problems on the Internet would not be resolved through banning anonymity. The real problem is a cultural environment which makes anonymous bullies feel it is okay to target people and threaten or bully them. Legislation changes as a response to cultural changes; culture, on the other hand, does not change as a result of legislation. So, it would be fruitless to regulate or restrict online anonymity. I also agree that the problems brought forth from anonymity are often overblown. I’ve observed many instances where bullies were stopped simply from social pressure, not by some external, police-like authority.
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Steven L. Johnson commented on the post, These are a few of my favorite things…, on the site 10 years, 7 months ago
Irena — I agree. I’m a huge fan of Spotify and switched from Pandora for the same reasons! I had listening to ads, though, so pay for the premium version.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Fall 2014 10 years, 8 months ago
Thank you all for a great class this semester. I really enjoyed our time together.
I have updated the MIS gradebook with grades for remaining assignments as well as the overall course grade. Please email if you […]
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS5402 Fall-2 2014 10 years, 8 months ago
Thank you all for a great class this half semester. I really enjoyed our weekly discussions.
I have updated the MIS gradebook with grades for remaining assignments as well as the overall course grade. Please […]
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS5402 Fall-2 2014 10 years, 9 months ago
To the 40% of the class that has filled out your student feedback forms for this course, thank you! You rock!
Everyone else… what are you waiting for?! Please head over to http://esff.temple.edu and fill out your feedback forms.
Your feedback is very important to me. Thank you for taking care of it today.
Update: OOPS… my apologies. I just found out that SFFs for this course area already closed. Thanks again to everyone who filled them out already.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Fall 2014 10 years, 9 months ago
To the 47% of the class that has filled out your student feedback forms for this course, thank you! You rock!
Everyone else… what are you waiting for?! Please head over to http://esff.temple.edu and fill out […]
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS5402 Fall-2 2014 10 years, 9 months ago
Reflecting on everything we’ve covered in this course… if you were writing a note to your future self what is a key point you want to remember 5 years from now?Photo by Usinglight.
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One key point I’d like to remember, as it translates beyond just business application, is that “everything flows from the value proposition.” Knowing the value proposition can lead to a magnitude of insights about the rest of the business model.
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Another key point which goes beyond business application that I would like to remember is the imprortance of identifying and then responding to a problem as soon as you possibly can, whether you are Target with credit card information taken or a Hospital who’s IT system has been hacked.
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I would remind myself of our discussion centered on systems thinking. Specifically, that without examining businesses and their problems as systems, you may be addressing a symptom of a systemic problem, without knowing or addressing the underlying cause.
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My biggest takeaway, like Dan’s above, has been that companies function as systems, and even more so like organisms. If something is working poorly in one part of a system (i.e. security), it’s not only IT that is to blame, but management for not making security a priority over advertising or operations budgets. In order to make something work well or valuable, it’s important to understand the key people who can influence those parts of systems and make them work well.
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I agree with Dan on this one. To me, looking back on this course, the most important thing to take away is that businesses and problems should be thoroughly evaluated as a system. This approach takes more care and patience, but it can really help in the long run because it allows you to identify and fix the root cause of issues, rather than simply providing a temporary solution to a symptom of the larger issue.
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I would want to remember, along with systems thinking in general, is to always look for the “Why, Why, Why.” The idea that you need to delve as far as possible to find the root of issues and processes.
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I think this class has served as a good reminder that the world is always changing. Looking forward I’d like to continue to take the time to reflect on these changes and their underlying benefits, costs, motivations (it flows from the value proposition, as someone notes above). Often people fear new things, but my hope is that into the future I’m able to maintain a curiosity for the new and thoughtfully apply our assessment framework – thinking through how changing systems or technologies have or will impact me.
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I will take away discussing the importance of evolving with the technological changes in the world around us. Specifically,I took from this class a better understanding on identifying the efficiencies in leveraging technology and the corresponding challenges present to harness it. I am self-aware that prior to this class I did not uncover or notice as fully the breathe of influence technology has on current day business. It made me feel very behind the times. I would tell my future self to stay current with the evolving tools available to you and anticipate how such evolutions can be leveraged for business success.
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Always have a process in place…and probably a back-up process too. And more importantly, make sure this process is understood and followed. This theme has come up several times in our course and in different forms. Target’s hacking scandal may have been more minor if security processes were followed, CareGroup needed a quality assurance process in place and VW lacked a process for prioritizing IT projects. There are times when it is appropriate to go outside the box, but when processes are followed, many mistakes and accidents can be avoided.
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There are several things I’d like to remember like how the top IT management is able to handle extreme situations, what has to be considered, what lessons were learned. How the IT can create global processes and applications, which can function in different geographical locations. How the IT can improve the corporate operations in order to make business function more effectively. The Canvas business model has a great value as well.
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I think the combination of systems thinking and root cause analysis really helps solve the complicated problems that we face in our organizations. Knowing that the simplest solution rarely solves these problems forces us to dive deeper. I also like the business model presented early on in our material, demonstrating that each value proposition should stand alone for a unique customer base. It seems like strategy is often muddied trying to be all things to all people, this business model helps to clarify what organizational priorities should be, based upon these value propositions.
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Through this class I have learnt that managing technology and systems is a shared responsibility for both management and IT department. Technology forms the backbone of most industries; hence there is a significant need to put in place proper security measures as well as investment in technology. I have also learnt to further delve into problems so as to get to the root of the problem by using the root cause analysis. I enjoyed learning about the business model canvas which is a good way for companies to keep track of their core values.
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One of the key things I would like to remember is analyzing business models with focus on the value propositions and customer segments. I believe that a manager can use these tools to identify stakeholders of the business and then choose where to take focus a deeper analysis to grow the business.
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One key point I would like to remember is whenever you are making a business decision always see how that decision is going to affect the entire operations and functionability of the company. As easy way to look at this is to map out value propositions, financials, and customer segments. Business’s function as an entire system and to ignore a single part of the business when making a decision could be costly. By preparing and researching every business decision, there can be proof and information to back up why this was made. Another key point to go off this is communication between all areas of the company when a decision is going to be made. There may be insight at another level of the company that you had not taken into consideration and by being vocal and transparent with every decision, you can be confident you have made a positive and informed decision.
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The main point I would make is that when making decisions in the workplace, especially as a manager or someone that has an effect over multiple divisions of the company, that you need to keep all the pieces in mind. The big take away in the class has really been to be able to identify all areas that are being affected. Now when I think about a decision I like to consider who it’s affecting, how it’s affecting them, the resources available that may be needed and so on. Previously I would think like this but now I have been able to better categorize and sub categorize these items which makes managing information a lot more effective.
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I Learned a lot of new and exciting knowledge which can be summarized as following:
1) I learned the about Business Model analysis and how organization can use the business model canvas to develop, design and pivot new and existing business model to capture values.
2) I learned that the present age of technological innovation and uncertainties have led individuals, organizations, government Agencies to form a formal and informal knowledge sharing platform for the sole purpose of continuous learning in any particular domain or area of knowledge useful for economic development, better practice, problem solving and innovation.
2) Information Technology is basically changing the world, from industries to businesses to practically everything we can think of in the 21st century and individuals with entrepreneurial endeavors can be part of this new world driven by Information Technology and coming up with disruptive innovation.
3) I learned that every organization is a complex system interacting with other complex systems or components in the real world or environment in which it operates and must search for and continuously change its business model from the feedback if its environment or customers order to survive or remain in control.
4) I learned that every organization with an IT infrastructure should invest in making sure that their network is fully secured and protected from attacks or hackers because it can lead to loss of money, lives and other problems like lawsuit, when their IT network infrastructure is attacked.
5) I learned that organization must strategically select its resources, processes and values in order to innovate and also see how the selection of any of the 3 factors can have a positive or negative effect on an innovation effort.
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1. Get into the mind of the hacker. What are our weak points? What is the knowledge we value most, and how are we organizing it and protecting it. 2. IT is not a area that should be completely outsourced, or under funded. This can create huge unforeseen problems.
3. I will probably never look at “free” services the same way again. I will ask myself, what are they getting out of offering this product / service for free? How are they making their money off me? How can I do the same thing with a product / service I am offering? -
Learning a little bit more about code might not be such a bad thing.
Not part of the question but something I can’t seem to get away from since the term was introduced to me in this class are positive feedback loops.
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I would remind myself of the threat of a ‘keylogger’ and using my financial information on various internet retail websites. I’d also deeply consider the role of IT in the business process regardless if I am directly or indirectly involved in the immediate action tasks.
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Don’t fall behind! Learn about new technological advances…don’t be afraid of them. Also, ask questions and understand HOW things work – don’t accept something just because it works. The end doesn’t always justify the means.
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Always remember how system connects together pieces of the puzzle: business model is great example. Before solving for each piece of the puzzle look at the big picture and understand flow from the eyes of the customer. Once you know how business adds value, look for $$ flow and ask if it sustainable. Never forget to check new ways companies pushing to frontiers and try to be ahead of them. Before signing up for next free service remember that free cheese available only in mouse trap.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS2901 Fall 2014 10 years, 9 months ago
Reflecting on everything we’ve covered in this course… if you were writing a note to your future self what is a key point you want to remember 5 years from now?Photo by Usinglight.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site Discussion for Last Name Starting H-M 10 years, 9 months ago
To kick off this course let’s start with a fun and easy discussion question.I enjoy learning about interesting websites, apps, and gadgets.
Add a comment to this post with one of your favorites… what is an […]
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As a road warrior my favorite gadget happens to be a device that keeps my various technology charged when I am away from power. Currently I am using an Anker Astro E4 which offers 13,000mAh of additional power, which is enough to charge my phone and tablet to keep me going many extra hours.
I’ve recently participated in a kickstarter campaign for a laptop bag that has a built in AC power port and battery so that I will be able to keep my laptop charged while in the air as well, and that will have a 32,000mAh battery. This bag is still in development and with any luck i’ll get it in the next few months.
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I am always running out of juice for my phone. I use a Monster portable re-charger, but that barely keeps my phone going for a couple extra hours. The charger you have seems to be able to charge a lot more. Its interesting to hear about the laptop bag. That is a very creative way to keep you connected.
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I also have a portable external charging pack for my devices when I’m on the go. It seems that current battery tech is just barely good enough to allow a new phone to hold a charge all day but as soon as these devices get to be over a year old the batteries rapidly degrade. That’s why these external battery charging packs are so useful. I think the laptop charging bad is a unique idea for many business professionals and students and it will be interesting to see where that Kickstarter campaign goes.
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Michael – I faced a similar dilemma. My problem was that when I attend a conference, they are usually in large rooms and outlets are either not there or not practical so I have an aresnal of chargers. My phone has a mophie juice pak plus i carry a portable mophie powerstation plus but the big juice for my laptop is via a hyperjuice from hypershop. It offers 4 models that deliver anywhere from 16,000mAh all the way up to 61,000.
http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice/External-Battery-for-MacBook-iPad-iPhone-USB/
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John – That is a beefy battery pack up to 61k… I’m actually very curious if that’s legal to take on a plane as I believe there are rules around the mAh that you can take. I’ll let you know if I can find out.
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John, I have a morphie and love it, only complaint is the size of the device which adds to the phone. I have seen new battery packs coming out using new fuel cell technology which reduce the size of the pack so the phone does not become bulky. Also the battery life on the Iphone 6 is signifcantlt better than the Iphone 5 so there is less times where I have to activate the morphie.
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I’m obsessed with new devices that allow me to control the lights and other utilities in my home from my phone. I currently am using WeMo, which plugs into an outlet and lets me control the power to the outlet with the touch of a button on my phone – regardless of whether I am home or not. I recently pre-ordered a new device that is similar, but has the added benefit of allowing me to create rules, such as – turn-on whenever I enter the room. While WeMo has the ability to allow rules, it does not have the ability to sense when I enter the room (unless I buy a bulky motion sensing device, which I think is silly).
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Good post Nicholas. I don’t have the ability to control my power outlet by my phone, but I do have the ability to control the light color. Using Philips hue bulbs I can change the color to red, blue, green, etc. I can turn the light off also. I also use an app called IFTTT that allows me to set a timer for the light (like in the morning when I get up) or have the lights come on when I get home, along with other things. I like the ability to control just about everything in my house by my phone, I just haven gotten enough peices to make my house completely automated.
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Another product that you might want to consider is zwave products. I have it setup where for a monthly fee I have lights, thermostat and door locks tied to together. It’s actually quite exciting that I can go to my door and by using my keycode it can automatically turn lights on in the house and even set the temperature I want. I like you am a big fan of automation technology.
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Do these devices require a good wi-fi connection to work or are they bluetooth (or other technology) enabled?
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Nicholas: I’m also curious to know if you have researched the Nest Learning Thermostat. It’s not exactly controlling lights, but it is related to electronically manipulating your environment. For anyone who doesn’t know, Nest is a device that learns your preferences and then self-programs to adjust your home’s heating and cooling accordingly. The company makes several claims about how it will dramatically reduce your energy consumption. A year ago Google acquired the company, so I expect to see additional integration across Google’s platforms.
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Nick:
I have wanted a device like this for some time. What are the hardware requirements in your house that are needed? Did you set it up through your internet provider?
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I don’t know what I would do without the apps “Evernote” and “Nozbe.” I use “Evernote” to store information I may need to access every once in awhile, such as business cards or recorded meetings. It also helps me get to inbox zero, as I can stick an email in there easily when I have to get to it at another time. The fact that it syncs to all my computers and devices makes it that much better. It almost serves the purpose of “dropbox” in that way. I always have access to my information. I use “Nozbe” as my to-do list manager. Just like “Evernote,” I can access it across all my devices, which comes in handy. It helps to clear my head and with “Evernote,” alleviates much stress.
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I’ve never heard of Nozbe, but after reading your post I decided to check out their website. The 15 minute tutorial (of which I only watched 4 minutes) makes it look like an incredibly useful app, especially the ability to add items to a to-do list through email. I’ll probably sign up for the 30-day free trial to test it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Brandon, not going to lie, I have evernote on my phone and have never used it. Reading your post has inspired me to check it out. I never get inbox zero and I had no idea that it synced to your computer and devices. It’s crazy that I have had this in my life for over a year and have never once thought about using it. Not sure what that says about me. Safe to say I don’t into fit the “Millennial” category, I am not very tech savvy.
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I’m a big fan of the Lifehacker website. It’s full of easy-to-read posts that provide tidbits of information in a wide variety of areas. The current homepage has links to articles on everything from “making homemade frozen pizzas” to “what’s the best desk lamp” to “debt vs. retirement: figure out which to focus on with the 6% rule” to “what to do if you lose the master password to your password manager.” Sometimes the articles are more fun than practical, and lately it’s been harder to filter our sponsored content from original posts, but I’ve often found information on their site to be helpful when I’m looking for comparisons of different software programs, when I can’t figure out how to get a program to behave the way I want, or when I’m searching for information on how to do something.
I also use the Xmarks Bookmark Manager to sync my bookmarks and tabs across browsers. I know most browsers now have built-in bookmark syncing, but since I was using different browsers at home and at work for a period of time, I needed something that wasn’t browser dependent.
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Rachel, I also am a big fan of the Lifehacker site as well as Gizmodo and Engadget. I am a tech nerd so to say and I read almost every site on a daily basis. Lifehacker provides great tools for daily use whether it is in the kitchen, or on the go. It is interesting to see topics they cover on a daily basis. Have you read the comments too? Some of those are relatively funny. Check out those other two sites. They always write about new tech that is out and if it is worth spending the money for it. I enjoy reading their articles because they are unbiased and will give you the cold hard truth.
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Ali – I’m familiar with Gizmodo, but not Engadget. I’ll have to check that out. I do enjoy the comments on Lifehacker’s site — sometimes they’re just plain entertaining, and other times they provide useful solutions or options. Thanks for the suggestions.
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I have relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona temporarily and would not be able to survive out here if it weren’t for the Google maps and Yelp apps. Google maps helps get me from A to B (and finds me when I’m lost on a trail) and Yelp lets me know what restaurants or bars in the area are worth visiting. Both of these I would consider oldies but goodies. A newer app I’ve used a bit is Wunderlist, which allows me to share a grocery list with my husband so he can stop at the store on his way home and get what we need. Unfortunately, it does not stop him from calling me to ask which brand of bread to get!
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Nicole, you brought up the app I probably use the most but completely forgot to mention when I wrote my post. Google Maps and all Google apps in general are extremely useful and even scary accurate some times. I have the Google Nexus phone and if I park my car somewhere or drive to a certain place a lot my phone then remembers those locations and when I walk out in a parking lot Google Maps tells me where my car is. Sometimes I get a little scared that it knows too much! If you have an Google maps account you can go on this site https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0 and see everywhere you have ever driven sorted by date. Its amazing what technology can do no a days. You can see from this link >http://i.imgur.com/johEcbY.png that everywhere I have taken my phone the past month, Google has tracked. Pretty crazy stuff.
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That’s nuts! I have never logged into Google maps, so I’m safe from prying eyes…for now! I can see how the parking spot thing could be helpful though. Technology has a penchant for that – being helpful on one hand and potentially hurtful on the other.
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Kris, You make a good point. Although I do not have a google based phone I have experienced that “All knowing Google” moment. Sometimes it is as simple as searching something and then having all of my ads for the next week be about that one thing i searched. Even while using Google maps I have had it recommend stores for me based on previous searches which is not only creepy but slightly annoying. I have searched for USPS locations in my hometown but if I travel it willl pull up the location of my hometown rather than my current location. Sometimes I am truly concerned with how much tracking Google does and what they use that information for. Is it just to enhance the user experience and make it easier or can it be used for something more malicious?
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Celia, that’s the fine line we are dealing with today in current policy. How much information is too much? I know that text logs and gps data can now be used in the court systems to help with convictions but at what point to we say no? I think a vast majority of tech users are not tech savy so they don’t know at what point they should say no.
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It is really scary that there is such a detailed record of our every movement! I remember when EZ-Pass was popularized in the mid-90’s how many people thought it was a little too much “big brother” (and the possibility of getting a speeding ticket on the NJ turnpike if you clocked in and out at an average speed over 65 mphj!). That was nothing next to what you described, and the information you described is available for every one of us that drives around with our phones turned on. So I guess the “big brother” group will need to go stealth and travel with their phones off…
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I’m usually on the lookout for apps related to health as I suffer from chronic back pain. I recently found one via Feeling Pretty Remarkable called “Injury-free lower back.” Financially, the app makes sense because I pay $40 one time as opposed to paying $40 for each physical therapy visit or more than a thousand for an epidural shot. So far the investment has been worth it as my pain has gone down considerably and I have not spent any money on physical therapy or epidurals.
It’s incredibly beneficial to have this app because of convenience. I’m not held to my physical therapist’s schedule and it feels better to workout from home instead of doing the exercises in front of others. The app also allows you to track your progress, and it since it’s guided I don’t forget any exercise. There’s only about a dozen exercises, but if I didn’t have a guide I would somehow forget one or two and miss out on the overall healing process. There is also the added benefit of hitting pause if you need a break for whatever reason. And the best part compared to DVDs is that I can’t scratch the app and I don’t need to hook anything up before or after workouts.
I assume others experience similar benefits with workout and physical therapy (PT) apps. If anyone has a workout or PT app I’d enjoy hearing about it. I think my next purchase will come from the same company as it looks like they recently add an “Injury-free golf” app.
Thanks,
Will
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Will: I have some upper back pain I deal with, and I think at times it has to do with poor posture. If you might have similar issues, you could also look into apps that can now track and monitor your posture. The one I found with a quick search is called “Lumo” (http://www.lumobodytech.com/lumoback/). I have not tried this yet myself, but thought you might be interested.
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Chris:
Thanks for sharing. I checked out the link and this may be something I try. I really like the feedback and the price seems reasonable. If I give it a try I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thanks,
Will
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Will – how do you know if you’re doing the exercises correctly? Does the app provide detailed images so you know how to keep the proper form? How do you remind/motivate yourself to do the exercises? Oftentimes PT appointments will charge for no-shows, so that in itself is a motivator, but I’m curious if this app includes any functionality to encourage you to get back to the exercises if you haven’t done them for a while. Also, how did you know that the exercises provided in the app were valid and wouldn’t injure you further? I’ll probably check it out — if they have something for shoulder/neck pain that would be a worthwhile investment for me.
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Rachel:
Good questions.
The app has videos that shows you how to correctly do each exercise and there are some graphics that paint a good visual in my mind.
The app does not have any motivators, so you need to be driven to follow it. For me I have a couple motivators. 1) I hate being in pain. 2) If I’m in pain I can’t play golf and I can’t take care of my newborn.
Prior to buying the app they had like video previewing what was going to unfold and I just bought into it. I also did some research associated with a golfer on the PGA Tour, Jason Day, and found out he worked with someone at Feeling Pretty Remarkable. He obviously didn’t use the app, but in my mind I believed that the principles of his recovery had to be captured in the app.
Unfortunately, there isn’t anything for the neck or shoulders. Here’s a link though if you’re curious to see: http://shop.feelingprettyremarkable.com/
Thanks for the questions and post,
Will
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For any endurance athletes out there, the MapMyRun app is a must-have. First, it’s free, which is fantastic. Second, it provides real-time GPS tracking of your workout. Before this, you might go for a long run, and then come home, open up Google Maps, and figure out how far you went. (Or, for those of us who get back further, we would hop in our cars and re-drive the route.) With MapMyRun, you can track exactly how far you ran, your time, your splits, and your per mile time. It would also work for cyclists. The only downside is that you must have your phone with you. However, for me, that’s not a problem since I always keep it with me for emergencies. The app will track your progress and instantly post to social media sites (if you’re looking for some “likes” and well wishes). It will also allow you to program in music to keep you motivated. All in all, a great product.
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Hey Chris, I too have played with the MapMyRun app and agree this is a great little tool.
Just out of curiosity, how do you carry your cell phone on your run? I personally don’t like carrying my phone as it is big and bulky and bounces around a lot. I looked into purchasing a GPS watch instead but they are rather expensive.-
Paul – I was looking for a way to carry my phone during runs, and a friend recommended SPIBELT to me. The basic one wasn’t very expensive and it looked like a better option than armbands (I couldn’t find an armband I could use without removing my phone from its case), so I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it out. I’ve been using it for more than a year and I love it. It keeps my phone flat against my waist or back even when running, and there’s room for my keys, too. SPIBELT offers multiple options and sizes so people can find one that fits their phone/what ever you want to carry.
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Rachel: If you like SPIBELT, you might really like FlipBelt as well. It’s even more low-profile: http://flipbelt.com.
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I have something similar to the flipbelt that I got in Australia:http://flyactive.com.au/. Unfortunately Apple redesigned the iPhone shortly afterward, moving the input jack for headphones and making my belt obsolete. I still use it to carry stuff but it doesn’t fit as nicely as it used to. Luckily I don’t run enough for it to really matter that much!
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Chris — thanks for the link. I can see how that’s another good option, although I trust myself more with a zipper to keep stuff from falling out when running. If I’m in the market for another phone-holder, I might try it out.
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Both look like great options. Thanks guys!
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Hi, Paul: I usually just keep it in my shorts pocket. I’ve found it works just fine. GPS watches are really expensive. The one benefit of them is if you’re training for triathlons, since they can also track your distance in the water. They also offer features where you can upload data into spreadsheets for more advanced tracking. All in all, though, I’ve never considered them worth the expense. The product Rachel mentioned below could be an option …
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Chris – I do long distance traithlons and am a big fan of mapmyrun and mapmyride. I had never heard of the spibelt or flipbelt before and both seem pretty cool. I use fuelbelt which allows me to carry juice, gels, phone, money and keys. fuelbelt.com
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Chris,
I’ll definitely have to check out the MapMyRun app – this would be extremely helpful, especially for mapping out run routes for the Army Physical Training Test. We have to run two miles and every time we need to identify a new route it becomes a pain to figure out the two mile distance. I think the app you mentioned would be helpful. Thanks. -
Love that tool, but I find it annoying that it will not auto-stop and auto start everytime you reach a street corner and have to wait for a traffic light to change. Also, I am curious whether any of you have found that the times are not always very accurate? It once had me doing a five mile run at a 6:30 pace (I had a gps watch which said it was more like an 8:00 pace). I think the online computer version is much better, especially when looking to map out a route when travelling.
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As someone who has moved three times in the past eight months to different parts of the country I have to say my favorite app and website is Facebook. With all the travel involved in my job it is hard to keep in touch with all of my family and friends but Facebook has made that a lot easier. Facebook messenger, which is an extension of Facebook has also proved to be a great tool because I can message back and forth with everyone and not drive up my phone bill. My squadron at work also uses Facebook to discuss any unclassified work related things which has made communication a lot easier with all of us. Another app that I used just as much as Facebook called Snapchat. Since Facebook messenger is only text, Snapchat allows me to see people when I chat with them and overall I find the app a lot of fun to use too.
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Kristopher:
I used to absolutely hate Facebook, because I saw how addicted people were to it. But now I have to admit that it has come in pretty handy for a bunch of reasons. I have been able to use Facebook for everything from selling leftover Eagles tickets, to networking for jobs, to updating family I don’t see too often. The messenger part is pretty useful if I want to have a private conversation but don’t have someone’s cell phone. This recently came in handy and helped me expand my professional network.
Regards,
Will -
Hey Kristopher,
Like you, I have found Facebook to be a great tool to keep in touch with family and friends. I am able to be in constant communication with my family members that live in other parts of the country, and am able to keep track of their accomplishments as well. Similarly to Will, I also have reservations about the site and app. I too have seen people addicted to the site. My issue is with the current content on the site. When I initially joined Facebook it was a way to communicate with my friends who were at other colleges across the country. As time has progressed, I see many inappropriate photos/videos, and unproven rumors. Nonetheless, it still allows me to communicate with many people who I otherwise would not be in touch with as often. Thanks for the post.
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Kris,
About 3 weeks ago, I got rid of my facebook. While I certainly appreciate your perspective, I have just decided it’s not for me. I have been away from home for a long time and I generally have kept in touch with the people I have wanted to. I use linked in and twitter for news and information and just found that Facebook had lost it’s value for me. I must add that my girlfriend has facebook and she kind of acts as a filter for me. She shows me pics of my family and friends if there are things that I am missing out on. The main app I use is Whatsapp for free international texting. Haven’t got into the snapchat thing but I have heard it is fun to use. To me it seems like a lot of work for pics that are just going to disappear.
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At church I am constantly being asked to teach workshops and conferences, so I appreciate the dropbox app. Its free (with no hidden charges), easy to use and very convenient. Before I started using this app, I would create my files/lessons on my lap top and then email myself so I could access on my iPad. Now I am able to synchronize all my devices (laptop, phone, tablet ) and whatever photo or document I need is available on the go. I can save a power point presentation at home and then open it at Starbucks or the conference center. The only drawback is, I can only store files but not edit them so I have to make sure that all edits are done before upload.
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I missed this “favorite things” question until today – sorry for the lateness! A gadget that was incredibly helpful throughout my first grad program was my Samsung Chromebook. I had classes three nights a week and it was great to be able to start up the machine in seconds, enjoy 10-11 hours of battery life, and save everything onto Google Cloud. I think the amount of portability and efficiency the device brought to the table was immensely helpful for the learning environment, mostly for taking notes. After grad school I decided to try to find a device equally as portable yet more powerful – so I bought an iPad Air. I’m very impressed with the iPad’s power and versatility, but without a solid attached keyboard option, I don’t find it as portable as the Chromebook. I’ve considered purchasing the Surface Pro 3 but I think I’m going to stick with Apple and go with a MacBook Air. My intent is to find something as useful and portable for business and business school purposes as my Chromebook was during my last grad program. The hunt continues!
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My favorite website that reviews apps and gadgets is Gizmodo. http://www.gizmodo.com
Giz is a blog that reviews and comments on everything tech related. The site groups the best part from other Kinja blogs including lifehaker (site mentioned by Rachel earlier) I really suggest everyone who likes gadgets and tech check it out.
As far as my own personal favorite gadgets and apps, currently I would have to say my Laview security cameras and companion app that allows me 24/7 to see in beautiful HD the front of my home in philly. -
I’m not sure if this counts as a gadget, but I couldn’t get through a day without my Keurig. At home I have a coffee pot, so no issue there, but at work the Keurig is key. The pre-bagged and bulk packaged coffee that is served up in rusty looking coffee dispensers at work just won’t do it. Somehow it’s always too hot, too strong, or just tastes bad. Plus there’s the option for the chai tea or hot chocolate – all you need is some extra room for the flavored k-cups. After lunch there’s nothing better than a hot coffee to get through the afternoon and the Keurig I have in my office keeps me going.
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I find it really hard to choose a favorite app because there are so many good apps out there to use for different situations. I will share a few of my favorite apps:
Travel – I travel frequently and plan to continue traveling more frequently. One app that has saved me time and time again is Word Lens This app allows you to translates words into your local language. This app comes in handy when trying to read a menu or street signs in a local country and the best part is all I have to do is hover the camera over the word to see its translation. I really love this app.
Messaging: I know that there are many apps out there for messaging but when I am traveling or to keep in touch with people who are overseas I use whatsapp and groupme. Both of these apps provide a platform that allows you to message, make phone calls, share videos and pictures via the internet.
Shopping: Polyvore is both an app and a website that provides you with a search function to find different products. I can search for a red dress and Polyvore will show me all the related products, the price, where to buy it, what to pair it with and can alert you when the items you are interested in go on sale. This applies to a variety of products like clothing, shoes, home goods and more.
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(Pandora Post Resubmitted as Comment) As a big music fan, I”m always trying to find different avenues to hear new music and/or bring music into my day to day life. I listen to Sirius radio and often access WXPN online because of the wide variety of music they provide. With this in mind, Pandora is a personal favorite of mine. ..and, while Pandora isn’t new to the market, I am always impressed with the user ability to “create your own station” based on a specific artist or music type. Back in the day, I was always the first to buy the one hit wonder I heard on the radio or the compilation CD at the Starbucks check out counter. So, I guess you could say that having access to Pandora has saved me some money since I started using it. My kids are just getting old enough to have a few of their own Pandora stations so will be interested to see how their music interests change when they’re exposed to something other than One Direction and Taylor Swift. I’d be interested to hear if anyone enjoys a certain app or website similar to Pandora that might have a larger or more diversified music selection. Let me know. Thanks.
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Rich:
I have a handful of Pandora stations depending on my mood or activity and I synch it up to my car’s bluetooth so I don’t have to listen to the local radio stations. I enjoy that it is customizable, but the process of getting your station where you want it can take some time as you have to suffer through some bad songs and commercials. The plus side is that you get exposed to bands and songs you forgot about or didn’t even know existed. In your original post people mentioned Spotify, but it just wasn’t for me because on of my favorite bands was not on there. This is not typical, but without one of my favorite bands I just couldn’t stay with it.
If I could make one tweak to Pandora it would be this: Allow users a certain number of “requests” per month. This would allow users to go into their favorite tracks and play a song when they want to hear it. The reason I would limit the number of selections per month is because you still want listeners to be exposed to other songs and artists. If they were able to play what they wanted all the time it would turn into iTunes/Spotify.
Thanks for the post,
Will -
[reposting my comment on this thread]
I used to run Pandora constantly, but switched to Spotify when I realized I could play specific songs on demand. Like Will and Rich, I also have a few different “stations” set up based on what kind of music I want — workouts, homework/reading (usually classical), or just background sound. I can choose from a playlist I created, or I can select that playlist and tell Spotify to create a “radio” based on the songs in my playlist. This way I’m introduced to new music and artists that I wouldn’t have necessarily selected on my own, but it’s loosely based on music that I like If I give radio-played songs a “thumbs up,” Spotify collects them in a “Liked from Radio” playlist. Unfortunately, it doesn’t segregate different “likes” from different radio stations so I’m slightly afraid to see the mishmash of Mozart, Taylor Swift, Herbie Hancock, Pink, Run-DMC, and various Broadway showtunes, but I suppose if I’m feeling adventurous one day I could turn that playlist into a very strange radio station.
One other thing I like about Spotify over Pandora is the ability to share playlists with friends who also use the app. Spotify shows you a running list of songs your friends have listed to recently (assuming they’re sharing that information). I can listen to that one song, or, if the friend has a playlist, I can listen to that friend’s playlist. A friend can also create a playlist and share that with you — kind of like creating a mixtape for someone.
Also, Spotify offers student pricing and since we’re all students with a Temple email address, we qualify for the discounted price.
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Pandora and iTunes radio have definitely become surrogates for my Sirius XM radio, which went out the window during a recent purging of unnecessary expenses from our household budget. One of the two are coming out of my iPhone or laptop a significant portion of the day, and I get all the flexibility I want in my music, and don’t have to pay a dime for them beyond what I’m already paying for connectivity. Of course, I’m also one of the few remaining folks still grandfathered under my carrier’s unlimited data plan, so I can listen without worrying about data rates, thank goodness.
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Whether it is at home or on the go, I really enjoy reading and staying up to date with the current news on a variety of subjects. Flipboard allows me to accomplish this in a very simple way. Flipboard is an app that allows you to create your own personalized electronic magazine by aggregating different articles from various publications. The publications include The New York Times, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal to name a few. I find this app to be very useful whenever I have downtime. Recently, I also downloaded an app called Pocket, which allows you to create your own personal library from these articles so you can reference them at a later time.
Flipboard and Pocket were very useful to me during my recent trip to Arkansas. While on the plane I was able to read multiple articles without an Internet connection. It was like having 20 magazines with me on the plane. For anyone who likes to get current news on a wide variety of subjects I would definitely suggest these apps. They have helped me augment my learning throughout this program by allowing me to have access to real life applications of business concepts. The best part about these apps is the fact that they are FREE!
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Chase,
I’m pretty interested by this. One quick question: Are you able to categorize articles by interest?Let’s say I wanted to stay current on something related to different topics such politics, stock market, and golf, would I be able to pull different articles from various publications and put them into their own folder? This sounds like a really appealing app.
Thanks,
Will-
Hey Will,
Yes, you can categorize the articles by interest. In Flipboard one of the first steps is checking off various categories that you’re interested in. After that, Flipboard does the rest. The app pulls articles associated with the different categories you chose, and you can choose which ones to read, ignore, or save for later. Once you save an article to pocket, you can classify them by adding tags. For instance, you could place the tag “Golf” on all your golf articles, and when you type the word golf in the search bar at the top all articles with that tag will appear. The tags are like folders but more flexible because multiple tags can be applied to a single article. I initially downloaded these apps last May to stay well informed while in this program, now I don’t know what I’d do without them. Hope this helps.
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Triathlon is one my passions and it is a sport that has many many gadgets associated with it. I have taken some time off from competing due to the OMBA program but a few of my favorite things are:
Watch: Garmin GPS watch that tracks swimming and running. (Model FR920XT) It can do cycling to but I use something else.
Bike computer: I am all about training with power and use the Powertap by cycleops which works via an integrated bub in the rear wheel. If you aren’t training with power, you need to.
Perhaps my favorite of all is my indoor trainer. Due to weather, daylight etc, it is often hard to get outside for a ride during the winter months so I spend quite a bit of time on my Cycleops 300 Pro. http://www.cycleops.com/catalog/indoor-cycles#
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John, that’s great stuff! I didn’t know you were into Triathlons. Do you do Sprint or Full? I did a sprint triathlon in Solana Beach, California about 7 years ago. I trained for the swimming part in a pool. The actual race was in the ocean. If you didn’t know already, swimming in the ocean was much different than the pool, I nearly drowned. On top of that, I rode the bike portion on a borrowed mountain bike with a skate boarding helmet on. I looked ridiculous. People were flying by me with these aerodynamic helmets and I just looked like I didn’t have a clue. I haven’t done one since, but not because I didn’t enjoy it, I am just pretty lazy these days. If I ever get back into the swing of things I will have to check those items you listed out. That watch looks awesome. Not sure I could ever see myself investing in a indoor cycle trainer, but good on your for being active and bettering yourself.
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My newest favorite gadget is my recently acquired NeuroSky Mindwave Mobile. The Mindwave is a compact, wearable, research-grade electroencephalogram (EEG) device that allows users to gain insight into the workings of their own brains. Worn like a headset with a sensor that presses against the forehead and a small clip that attaches to the earlobe, the Mindwave connects wirelessly via Bluetooth with both my iPhone and my MacBook Air to give me near real-time EEG data (i.e., levels of various types of brain wave activity) in an easy-to-understand format, including measures of combined types of brainwave activity that indicate general levels of attentiveness and relaxation.
While there are a wide range of wellness, development, and entertainment applications available, my favorite is Sunlight. Sunlight is an app that helps the user improve his/her insight meditation practice. The app uses the Mindwave’s attentiveness and relaxation EEG detection algorithms to give real-time feedback to users as they meditate when their brain activity indicates that their minds are wandering from the focused, attentive state that is the mechanism of insight meditative practices such as Zen meditation or contemplative prayer. When the user’s mind is found to be unfocused, the app gives a gentle reminder (either through a voice prompt, or with the sound of a bell, as pre-selected by the user) to return to the focus of one’s meditative state.
While I was at first somewhat skeptical of how effective the app would be, I must say that it really does provide a very accurate measure of when my mind is not focused. Sometimes it even catches my thoughts becoming unfocused before I do, which certainly entails an entirely different level of feedback than I am able to obtain either by myself or with the aid of an instructor. With regular use, I expect that in addition to the sheer geeky interest I have in seeing my own brain activity, the combination of the Mindwave and the Sunlight app will allow me to improve my meditation practice significantly.
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I am late to the game, but happy to be here! One website that I can’t live without right now is projectfreetv.com. I live in Malaysia and this website allows me to keep up with U.S. movies and tv shows. I typically don’t have time to watch regular tv, so this is a great way for me to catch up on my favorite shows when I get time. Plus, did I mention? It’s free! Another app that I like is NFL Mobile. Again, living in Malaysia it’s difficult to watch games in real time. With this app I can watch the full game or a condensed version at my leisure. As a Detroit Lions fan this can sometimes be destructive to my life. Something that I am intrigued by is smart watches. I haven’t bought one and I am not sure if I ever will (I’m more of a classic guy) but to be able to talk to your wrist, check email, messages etc., that’s great stuff.
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I saw this incredibly app on a Facebook page and it blew my socks off. It’s an app that can scan a math problem and solve it instantly (PhotoMath). Are we going too far with convenience and allowing technology to solve problems, or does stuff like this allow us to become more efficient?
I don’t want to sound like a bitter old man, but I would never let my daughter use this until she can fully understand the “why” behind the math.http://time.com/3531375/photomath-app-smart-camera-calculator/
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My favorite gadget is my Pebble watch. In my opinion, it was the first piece of wearable technology that was actually functional. For me it serves two purposes: 1. as a meteorologist, the weather apps are solid, providing me local conditions (including esoteric scientific ones that only interest weather nerds like me) and forecasts, linked to my current position via the GPS on my phone. 2. It’s like a pager for my wrist. I get emails, text messages, twitter mentions, and sports scores sent to my watch, which increases my productivity on the margins, allowing me to determine more quickly what needs my attention and what doesn’t.
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Adam,
I also like my pebble however an eagerly awaiting the arrival of the apple watch. I think that is going to give the Pebble and other wearables a good run for its money with the integration with the iphone etc. Pebble has a nice UI but apple will be hard to beat.
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Some of my “favorite things” are centered around saving money and making wise purchasing decisions. For instance, I am a big fan of Craigslist and similar sites such as GearTrade.com, eBay, and Google Shopping. I value the reviews on Amazon and Google and typically consult both when shopping for something. Before Amazon and Google took over, I was a big fan of Priceshopper.com and NewEgg. For local services such as restaurants I rely on, again, Google reviews and the related Zagat as well as Yelp.
My I’ve had a number of favorite gadgets over the years. An ex-girlfriend of mine purchased a Citizen Eco-Drive watch for me, which I loved because it never required batteries. The watch was stolen when someone broke into my apartment when I was away for Christmas break. I repurchased the exact same watch (from eBay). Most recently my favorite gadget is the Sansa Zip Clip+ MP3 music player. Now I realize that MP3 players are old news and I loved my old iPod Nano back in the day. But this little device only costs around $30, stores as much music as I need, is so small I barely notice it, and picks up radio stations so I can listen to the news as I walk to work. Unfortunately it stopped holding a charge a few days ago and I’m considering buying another.
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I’m sorry I meant PriceGrabber.com. Unable to edit the post..
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My favorite app is imessages in the Apple ecosystems. Imessages an invention of Apple follows me across the multitude of devices from my Macbook Air, Ipad and multiple iphone devices. Also imessages are completelty integrated within the Apple IOS so I am not forced to login to another app like Viber, whatsapp etc. The other benefit is the savings in text messaging fees when I am travelling out of the country where Imessages work using strictly data and do not require text messaging fees. As apple continues to integrate the imessage technology with facetime, screen sharing and other functionality the value proposition for me increases. I know there are other applications that compete with the imessage technology however the overall ease of use, integration with all of the Apple platforms, and the usability of the services makes it a winnner in my book.
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Favorite app is Google Map and Pandora. Google Map because you can find exactly the location you need including a visual and also, stand at a certain spot on the map and look around. A client of mine needed to find exactly where a particular location was, only to find out that the address given to her was a parking lot (I was able to zoom in to it’s exact location). Pandora, because I could enjoy a variety of music or find the exact music I wanted, without being restricted the typical stations on the radio. As Rich, mentioned in his post, I can also synch my car’s Bluetooth to Pandora and I really enjoy that.
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I just came in from a day skiing, and it confirmed for me that my favorite app is the “Ski Tracks” app. I am a big fan of anything gps that I can hold in my hand/phone, but this one makes any outdoor activity more fun. For skiing, it tracks your vertical skiied, total distance skied, current altitude, and top speed. It is great for summer hiking to assess your vertical ascent, which is the other way I use it. For skiing, it leaves a permanent record of every run for the day. One warning…if you have teenagers, do not share this app with them! The “top speed” function is too much of an attraction for them, and can cause serious injury!
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site Discussion for Last Name Starting N-Z 10 years, 9 months ago
To kick off this course let’s start with a fun and easy discussion question.I enjoy learning about interesting websites, apps, and gadgets.
Add a comment to this post with one of your favorites… what is an […]
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I am truly learning a lot in this MBA
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Hi Everyone,
I finally purchased a smart phone late last year (my daughters have had iphones for years) so I am just discovering the wonderful world of mobile applications. Speaking of wonderful worlds, I loved the Walt Disney World app that I used when I was there right after Christmas. I was able to book FastPass reservations in advance, get updated wait times for attractions at all their parks, and make dinner reservations for specific times while on the go! I also like the CBS Sports Fantasy app since i can pick up players or set lineups based on breaking news. The Findiphone app is great because it also helps me keep track of where my daughters are and also want to give a shoutout to the TU mobile app!-
Paul,
I’m much like you. I am relatively new to the smart phone. Although, my job entails training individuals on SAP’s extended warehouse management system, it’s much different than using apps on a smart phone. I think my daughter that is turning 4 years old this month, was born with smart phone instructions. She can watch someone do something on their phone and then take it to the next level. It’s amazing to watch. Hopefully, I’ll learn some new things that will encourage me to use apps or gadgets more. -
The WDW app is very good Paul. So useful for finding services in the park too. I used it extensively on our family vacation there last summer. And right after I finish this program in May, my wife, daughter and I are headed back and the app will get a work out then!
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Hi Paul,
You are right, the smart phone world is wonderful. It took me a while to get one but now am not sure how I managed without it before. The Findiphone app sounds great plus it come with added peace of mind because one is able to locate family member especially if an emergency occurs. I will have to check it out.-
Christine, the Findiphone is excellent until your teenager figures out to disable it so can’t make sure they are where they say they are. I have partnered with my kids to let them show me apps they use, but then also researched popular apps they have not told me about and asked them if they know anyone who uses them. My sister has taken the opposite approach of saying t is too much to keep up with and her kids have shown her exactly what they want her to see. Nobody said it was easy, but technology has made it a new challenge indeed!
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Paul Nice Post.
I havent used the app “find my iphone” before, never even knew there was one either. But after reading this post I learnt that there is such an app that you can track your phone, lock it remotely, display a custom message, play a sound at full vol, remotely erase all content and settings, is a bit scary but interesting. Concern is what if a wrong guy gets hold of this app.
On the contrary though, this might be a useful app, if used appropriately and constructively. Helps a lot I guess.
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Paul, I used the app for WDW this past August and loved the ability to change/re-arrange the fast pass options we had selected. I also had a meal plan so had the bracelet as well which was great for snacks drinks etc. I didnt have to take money into the park and have to worry about losing it or having it stolen. What I found you had to be careful was, was how Disney had set up the ‘snack’ feature. I can imagine with having the ability to charge things to the ‘band’ then which if course charges back to your room, can be quite the sticker shock for some parents at the end of their trip.
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I am also a technophile Prof. Johnson. I have been in the wireless telecom business for over 10 years, happily anticipating and devouring all the advancements and innovations that have entered our lives. If there is one thing that I love the most, I would have to say it is the Twitter app on my Android smartphone. I don’t tweet very much, although I have been trying it out lately. Rather I love to use Twitter for news – I follow all kinds of world news, local news, tech news sites, sports sites, reporters, columnists, business executives, etc. It’s easy to slide through the feed, quickly picking out interesting items, and then creating a reading list for breaks throughout the day. I find that Twitter is my go to source when I need to know what’s going on in the world!
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Kevin- I don’t have a twitter account. I never really thought of it as a genuine news source, and I do check the news on my smartphone multiple times a day. Maybe I’ll give Twitter a try.
Saqib-
The majority of Twitter users don’t post much. When I’m speaking at a conference or evening doing a social media seminar there’s almost always one person who says something to the effect of “I have no interest in telling people what I ate for breakfast”. I always try to stress using it as an aggregate for information. Not only can you follow your favorite bloggers, news sources, athletes, celebrities, industry experts..etc, but you can also create search streams to follow general topics of interest.
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Kevin – I am similar to Saqib, never thought about Twitter that way so will have to check it out – thanks for the tip. I just created an account on Instagram – only because my daughter is studying in Australia and posting pictures there. Little by little I am joining the mobile world:)
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Kevin,
I don’t have a Twitter account either, but I do have a Facebook account which I check a few times a month. I have found that a lot of false information circulates when it comes to new within Facebook. Do you see the same thing with Twitter?-
It depends on who you follow. For example, I follow the major news sources (CBS, NBC, Wall St Journal) – sports (ESPN, FOX) – and these companies are usually careful about what the report through Twitter. It’s great for staying updated on breaking news and I also like it for following the financial news. I also work at Verizon, in enterprise sales, so I follow the tech blogs, key people. And I use Twitter to follow the main accounts of my customers – I find out great info about them in this manner.
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Hi Kevin,
I’m not too familiar with Twitter and never considered using it as a source to obtain news from one outlet. Instead, I have a bunch of apps on my phone that just send me notifications. It would be nice to have everything consolidated. Thanks! -
Kevin,
For some reason I have always refrained from facebook and twitter. I am sure there are many many postive things about these. Gone are the days, when people either used to write an actual letter using a paper and a pen, and mail it to their recepient. Imagine a world where if you needed to send a message to your loved ones, It took days to reach them via ordinary mail once sent. Imagine a world today with all the WWW, texting, gadgets, facetime, twitter,facebook, apps, the list goes on… Everything today is one click or one swipe away. Even a delay of few seconds in this day and time, if there is ever a lag in receiving a text message or a mail sent, we go crazy. Thats how we have become off lately with all the technological advancements. But all fun and loving the experience. Not sure what else will future hold, excited and will see what the next big thing is.-
Its true that old fashioned letter writing and even just proper usage of language is disappearing, but FB has allowed families to keep in touch worldwide. My family are all back in Scotland and they can share pictures and updates instantly and make me feel part of events that are taking place when I cannot afford the time to travel back.
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My latest ‘gadget’, if you want to call it that, is this little quadcopter drone that I bought recently. It has a built-in camera that can record video as it flies around. As many of you know, drone technology has gotten very popular recently, and the FAA just proposed rather lenient legislation on commercial use of drones. So you may all encounter one of these sometime soon.
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Hi,
I am sure drones will soon be a normal encounter for most people. I can image drone manufacturers are happy with the proposed legislation on commercial use. I will be excited when my local grocery store adopts a “prime air” delivery service. -
Saqib, I am sure you are having a good time with it. I have read online that Amazon is experimenting to deliver packages using the drone. Imagine that. Pretty soon I guess we will have mail packages delivered through drones at your doorsteps. The possibilities are endless.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorymcneal/2014/07/11/six-things-you-need-to-know-about-amazons-drones/
http://fortune.com/2015/02/18/amazon-drones-legal-countries/
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Hello everyone,
I’m not much of a technophile. As a matter of fact, it typically takes me some time (after I’ve researched something to near death…) to move on to new gadgets, etc. However, I do enjoy learning about new marketing/communications related software and websites – anything with the ability to make my job a little easier and make me more productive. Recently, I’ve been heavily involved with implementing a CRM tool for my region in addition to researching/learning some other industry-related marketing tools. The newest gadgets I’ve purchased recently: my Google Nexus 6 phone, which I like; the Amazon Fire TV Stick, which I’m REALLY excited about…and which arrived over the weekend – just in time for Season 3 of House of Cards.
I do see the benefit in taking this course and am excited to see how I can incorporate what I learn here into what I do now and will do in the future.
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I am very green when it comes to gadgets and apps. I always am concerned about my smart phone or computer getting a virus and destroying my products. I guess I should be more like you and do some research and read reviews on products that I may be interested in. I will admit that I have streamed movies using my smart phone through pirate sites while waiting in the airport.
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All of the major security software companies – like Symantec and McAfee – now offer apps for protecting your smartphone and tablet with anti-virus and Internet security. I recommend Lookout Mobile Security for your smartphone, especially if you are running Android. The free version will scan downloaded apps for viruses, spyware, malware. The app will also run regular scans on your phone. You can also use it to ‘find your phone’ in case of loss of theft.
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Hi Everyone,
I find learning about new technology and the gadgets that come with it very interesting, but I must admit that I only concentrate on those I believe would make tasks in my life simpler/convenient. Some of the new gadget added to my life recently are Smart TV, one less remote plus web access. I also love my smart phone, it’s like my mini assistance that comes with all the apps that range from controlling my home thermostat to making check deposit without having to visit the bank.
When it comes to Apps, one of my favorites is WhatsApp Messenger because other than just basic messaging my family was able to create a family group and we can send each other unlimited images, video, text and voice messages without incurring international messaging cost plus it’s an easy way to keep all of us in the loop with what is going on in our lives without having to make individual phone calls to relay the same message/update.-
Hi Christine,
I definitely agree with your comment on being most interested in technology and gadgets that simplify our everyday lives. My smart phone fell apart the very day I was scheduled to hop on a plane and fly out of town. I panicked and ran to get a replacement – just barely making my flight. I couldn’t imagine sitting on that flight and not having my Kindle app and music apps available. I don’t want to think about what life was like before smart phones were invented and so commonly used. I haven’t tried the WhatsApp app yet, but I keep hearing great things… -
WhatsApp is a great way to keep in touch, particularly for Android devices and non-iphones that don’t have imessage.
Saqib -
Hi Christine,
I agree with your comments! I am not interested in complicating my lifestyle with more things I don’t really need- I prefer simple. I’d like to echo your statement on the WhatsApp Messenger. It’s fantastic for communicating while traveling overseas and keeping in touch with people all over the world. Very convenient. -
Funny that you mentioned the ability to control your thermostat from your phone Christine. Even when I am home, I use my thermostat app on my phone to adjust the temperature rather than actually walking up to the thermostat. I found myself doing this the other day and was surprised how I just unconsciously reached for my phone instead of going to the next room to turn up the heat.
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Nice thread!
I am not that into texting though dont even have a texting plan on our phones. But I have always loved to meet face to face, email or speak over the phone or even a video TC. But one of my uncle from India recently introduced how great this app is, to my surprise it was and is. One of the reasons that dragged me into this app was its free unlike other service providers charge you to text.
So have used it many times, works like a charm and is pretty amazing app. Kudos to whatsApp
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I am not much of a technophile. The only apps that I have used on a regular basis are the ESPN app for fantasy football and the home page app for the NY Jets. Yes, I’m a Jets fan. Also, I use the Blackboard application to check my grades when I’m on the go. Outside of those things, I really use my phone to talk, send text, and check my work email.
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Hah – I share your pain as I am a long suffering Jets fan/season ticket holder. Hopefully we are on the right track now with “Temple Made” Todd Bowles as our coach!
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Yes- another Jets fan! I though it was just me and Paul. There’s always hope for next year…
Saqib
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The Hootsuite app is fantastic for anyone managing multiple social networks at the same time. You can read content and post from all of your networks, schedule content to any of them, and set up search streams to aggregate content. In my last job it was an absolute savior (managing social media for Herman Miller). With the Enterprise version you can even create workflow and send tweets or facebook posts to appropriate party to answer recruiting questions, customer care, or sales inquiries. The app also allows you to connect with your Saleforce data base and connect social engagement with clients/consumers to their salesforce account. It’s a great tool.
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Hi all,
Like a few others have mentioned, I can’t say I’m big on the newest technology or gadgets. While I do not really participate in social media communities often, I decided to post about the Pinterest website/app. Essentially, it’s a tool you can use to share and store visual ideas that may interest you. It’s not something I use frequently but will occasionally reference it to get ideas for home decor and party planning. Topics of interest you can follow include but are not limited to architecture/art, education, health/fitness, fashion, travel, etc. Similarly to other platforms, Pinterest can be linked to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr and so forth.
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Hello Group N-Z,
I love gadgets but am very leery of getting the latest and greatest before the bugs are worked out. That being said, I broke down and upgraded to the iPhone 6 Plus when I walked in to unlock my previous iPhone. Honestly, I did not intend to upgrade but I was hooked as soon as I saw how nice and easy it was to read my favorite websites was on the new iPhone screen. After a few months, I am still amazed at how small my previous screen was and how much I had to adjust my eyes to read on that screen.-
Hey Duke,
Like you, I love gadgets as well. I am a huge android fan and I am waiting for March 1 when Samsung announces its new Galaxy S6 and HTC will announce its new phone as well. I also love using fitbit as it does help motivate me to work out(however, I lost my fitbit when I was working out). I am currently in the process of maybe getting the new Fitbit Surge, which looks really cool.-
Vinay,
Sorry to hear about your FitBit. I really like the look of the Surge too. Would love to hear what you think of it if you do get it.-
I’m thinking about switching to FitBit too. I have a Nike Fuelband. It’s okay but I’m not convinced their algorithm for measuring fuel points is all that accurate. I can get very different readings doing the same workout.
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My wife originally wanted to upgrade from a 5S to a 6. I talked her into the 6 Plus, although at first she felt the phone was going to be way too big to use comfortably. She is a professional wedding photographer and I had her think about how nice it would be to show off her website and photography to potential clients from her phone (during casual encounters, meetings, etc). She went for the 6 Plus and now she says she can’t think of using a smaller size device. Further, her new Nikon D750 camera has a wi-fi function – she can snap pictures and sync them to an app on her iPhone. From there she can use her professional Adobe Lightroom 6 editing software on her iPhone. The screen and processing capabilities are sufficient to do some decent editing while mobile – now, even before a client’s wedding night is over, she can quick edit a few photos and post them on her blog, email them to clients, Instagram/Tweet them, etc.
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Kevin,
This is a great example of maximizing your ROI on a new iPhone 6 Plus. Thank you for sharing the great story. I hate to admit it but my eyes are not as good as they used to be so the bigger and much clearer screen have been really good for them.
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Hi everyone,
The app that I have found the most useful for me is the UpToDate Mobile App which lets me access accurate medical information from my android phone and/or tablet. It allows me to be with the patient and verify or question an original impression. The quality of its medical content is excellent and backed by studies, so it has high reliability as the most current medical thinking. -
Not until now I thought about any favorite apps per say, I have used a few since i got a smart phone as needed based on the circumstances. Now that I think about it, i dont know if I have one favorite app, as it is really hard to decide on one.
In terms of gaming, I loved angry birds, or need for speed or asphalt racing etc… but when it comes to real time, maps/gps, I am intrigued as how detail the map/gps app can get these days depending on your location. Gone are the days where we used to refer to a printed map and ask a passer by or ask at a gas station or rest areas.
In this day and age, these apps have really taken over everything. There is an app for everything, you want to deposit a check, you have an app. You want to know a good restaurant around, there is one. You need to buy a air ticket, there is one. You need to rent a car, there is one… this can go for ever..
Its just no on the smart phones these days, it even come down to car’s dashboard, smart TV’s, touch screen laptops and so on…
Cars are one thing, it used to be all knobs and crankers, but now its all touchscreen, voice activated and apps. -
I am that person, I have all social media accounts. Being part of a global e-commerce company, I need and use them all for promotion, advertisement. I have twitter, instagram and Facebook. I regularly use Viber to keep in touch with family in Scotland. My sister and I can talk and text, send pics and video – free. Calls sometimes lag or break up due to wifi issues, but overall the texting and pics work great. At times I’ve also used a similar app What’sApp to keep in touch with people. I have recently installed the app ‘ Timehop’ which syncs up with your pictures on all social media accounts and your Mac. It sends you a daily message of on this day…. and goes back as much as 7 years. I have a teenage daughter, so I always try and keep up with what is new, trying to stay one step ahead of them. The latest app installed was snapchat. Still getting used to that one, but as my daughter told me that FB is for old people and that all the kids her age (15) are using snapchat.
I think the favorite app I have is the Nest app which allows me to control the heat and air at my home. It learns your habits when you are home/away and will adjust the heat/air accordingly. You can also control the heat/air from your phone, say if you are coming home earlier and want to turn the heat up so its warm for you arriving. Its a godsend these last few weeks. But I have also noticed a decline in my Peco bill overall which helps a lot!-
Hi Elaine,
Anything that will reduce my PECO bill needs a space on the homescreen of my phone immediately :-). I’m seriously marveled by how advanced technology is specifically when it comes to creating apps. I often think, why didn’t I think of that? These app developers are making a fortune. I often wonder what goes into creating these applications.
I also have a teenager so I have a lot of social media accounts. Mostly to follow him and keep up with his life but also to communicate with friends from high school who I haven’t seen in 15-plus years. Facebook has been great with helping old friends and I gather for reunions, throw benefits and parties, amongst other things. Apparently I am not with the times, looks like I’ll need to make room for SnapChat. I’m definitely good for being years behind on anything related to technology yet my husband and son are years ahead!
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Hey everybody,
I used to be up on all the technology and would research it a lot, but in the last year or so I’ve kind of given up on that. Particularly with cell phones (which were really the only tech I would buy), you’d put in all the research, compare all of the cool features, make a decision… and then realize that you hardly end up using most of the tech packed into it or it was glitchy and needed updates. Tack onto that that a new model would come out in 18 mos or so and I’ve just started caring about reliability. Every smartphone these days has the key features I need (web, GPS, camera) anyway. So the last phone I bought was a previous version of the HTC One that was on sale for a dollar at the Best Buy. So far it’s been great for what I need. Accordingly, I’m not a huge app user, so my favorite one is probably just the IMDB app. My wife and I are always going to it when we’re trying to figure out who that actor was in that movie that kind of looks like someone or something. Good times.
Websites are a different story. I have a list of them that I cycle through pretty much on a daily business that cover news/politics, sports, and movie news. While browsing through those, I often follow included links and can end up in lots of tangential areas. I enjoy that because sometimes I have to think back about how I got there, but I usually discover something interesting in the process.
-Sam
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I consider myself a tech guy. I really like reading about all the new technology that comes out(if I have time). It always amazes me how far technology has come and where the possibilities are. With self-driving cars that Apple is trying to introduce in 2020, and Elon Musk inspiring a group to work on the Hyperloop(which is exciting). I really love the wearable watches that are coming out such as Fitibit, Apple Watch, android watch and the Galaxy Gear. A cool program(at least I think its cool) are some of the weather apps such as Dark Sky(on Apple) and Arcus(on Android) which give you minute by minute weather and can tell you precisely when it will rain/snow, etc. I think that is amazing and it has save me numerous times going out in torrential rainfall. It will tell me that it will rain for the next 5 minutes, and then stop. After 5 minutes, it really does stop. I guess I am a nerd, when I own both IOS and Android systems. But both programs are amazing to play with.
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I’d say my favorite app it is definitely map my run. While on the road for work it is not always easy to find a good running route. This app brings that to life along with the ability to track distance, pace, and historical data it truly is an asset I try to use everyday
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Stephen,
Good call this app comes in handy for more than just runs too. It is a quick reference for just measuring distances as well. I used to use this app for bike rides on trails as well. -
Hi Stephen,
I actually use a similar app called FitBit. Unfortunately I’m unable to run but this app allows me to track my daily steps (goal everyday is 10,000 steps), track my caloric intake, water intake, and allows me to set weight loss goals. I have a few friends that have the app is well and we can participate in challenges against one another which motivates you like a gym partner. Downloaded the app in early January and already lost 10 lbs. I like it because it makes me accountable for my actions, or lack thereof.
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Hi Everyone,
An app that I used for the first time this past weekend and found to be very useful is called Waze. It’s a community-based navigation app in which drivers or passengers share live traffic information. One of its main features is that community members can identify hazards in real-time so that other drivers can avoid them. Once a hazard is identified, other community members can confirm the accuracy of the identified hazard. This past weekend, I was in Colorado during a snow storm and this app helped us get to the airport on time for our flight because other drivers notified the Waze community of some road closures and traffic jams allowing us to find another route instead of getting stuck in traffic. This app was certainly my favorite, at least this past weekend.-
Jonathan,
Waze is my favorite navigation app as well. Not only is it helpful when trying to navigate safely and quickly to your destination but it can become some what of a game. When my wife and I go on road trips we use this app and look for things to report or verify reports from other members. It becomes almost like a game of I spy. Not to mention you can chat with members that are nearby and ask them questions about the area.
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Hey Everyone,
Apps have been a great addition to our lives but can also waste our time. Every so often I will find one of those apps and waste far to much time. An example of one of those apps would be candy crush. I started it and deleted it quickly, it was far to dangerous. The apps I truly enjoy are those that assist me with life. An example of one of those apps would me the unit convertor app, probably one of my best purchases. This app will convert any two types of units you can imagine and hundreds more you have never heard of. It comes in handy a lot. This has to be my favorite. -
Im not really a big app user besides my Uber account and passport to download my boarding passes at the airport. I am however hooked on my home automation system where I can turn my lights on and off from my car and regulate the temperature before I come home. What I like about it the most is that I can manage the temperature in each room individually. This saves so much money as I am only really heating the kitchen, office and bedrooms during the winter months as I spend most of my time there. I have hooked my security system to it so I can visualize my front door on video to see who is knocking at my door after hours
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Like a few others mentioned, I am not driven by new technology. It is clearly a necessity in this age, so I stay up on things as much as necessary. As an accountant, I love Excel. That is about as crazy as I get. The biggest hesitation I had about applying for the OMBA program is how it is dependent on technology that is properly functioning. I still have problems now and again, but so far lack of working technology has not hurt me very much.
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Hi,
I am also an Accountant and love Excel! Everything and anything I do is on a spreadsheet. Grocery lists, currently RSVPs for a bridal shower I am throwing, my work weight loss challenge, and of course just my day to day work functions. My only issue is I don’t use it enough to learn all the cool shortcuts and to the fullest extent it can be used. Good new is I talked my supervisor into offering our whole staff excel training training courses for beginners to experts. I’m sure you can appreciate in the Finance business how important it is to find shortcuts, specifically with Excel, to help our job run smoother, more efficient, and obviously more precise.
I can also relate to your hesitation with starting the program. I am just not good with technology. I’m actually thankful to have a teenage son who is very into technology who has showed me the ropes with my smartphone. It took my two days to figure out how to get on this course here but I finally figured it out with some help from our peers. Best of luck with this course and the program!!
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Excel is awesome. I do a lot of work with external data sources (Databases, websites, files, …etc). If you haven’t played around with PowerQuery (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39379) yet, it is worth your time. PowerQuery basically makes it easier to connect into a variety of data sources. Once you are connected, you can do some data manipulation before you bring the data into excel. It has saved me a lot of time lately.
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Hi All,
I love to download apps! I have everything from games like Candy Crush and my current obsession Trivia Crack to apps that help with my health needs like my Cardiograph and Fitbit. The problem is I am forced to delete most of them because my 16GB iPhone does not like all the space these apps take up. Needless to say I’ll be investing in the 128GB iPhone once I am able to upgrade.
My favorite and most useful app I have to say is WhatsApp. During our Statistics course I was able to communicate with my group members located in Singapore via text messaging through this app. International messaging fees would have cost a fortune. With our 12 hour time difference, having this app allowed for instant communication when necessary. I now utilize it for all of my group projects. Up until last year I didn’t own an “I-anything” as I like to say and my life has changed in mostly positive ways now that I have a smart phone that simply put-makes my life easier! I do everything now on my phone, from ordering groceries, paying bills, sending emails on the road, etc. I almost forget how I got along before this advanced technology.
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If anyone is interested in learning some of the behavioral theory behind many of these gadgets, apps and websites, you should read hooked (http://www.hookmodel.com/#book). Hooked is a model for developing habit forming technology, and it uses the model to show how companies are ingraining technology in every part of our lives.
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Like a few other students, I recently left a post stating that technology is not exactly one of my favorite things. Since the question asked about what is one of our favorite things, I figured I should loop back around and clarify. One of my favorite things is the unconditional love of a pet. I have a house full of mammals (husband included) that I simply adore.
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I was just reading this article and thought it was interesting. It’s amazing how far the internet has evolved. Vurb should be amazing(assuming it works). I think it can be the next Google.
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I think I will go with something on my dream list. I enjoy gardening, specifically attempting to grow giant vegetables. Each of these vegetables requires application of certain amounts of various nutrients at certain times in order to maximize growth. Additionally, protective fungicides and pesticides must be added rotationally along with just the right amount of water. I would love to someday have an automated system that would allow me to track and deliver water, nutrients, and other necessary additives in a more even and efficient way.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site Discussion for Last Name Starting A-G 10 years, 9 months ago
To kick off this course let’s start with a fun and easy discussion question.I enjoy learning about interesting websites, apps, and gadgets.
Add a comment to this post with one of your favorites… what is an […]
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One of my favorite apps is Waze! It gives up to the minute road conditions by being interactive with all of its users. The way it works is that every users notifies the app when there is any sort of obstacle or delay. In particular if there is an accident, Waze will automatically re-route me so that I am not sitting in tons of traffic or if there is police checking speed up ahead, I am notified prior to getting to that location.
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Hi Kristen,
I’ve never actually used Waze before but I may have to as a result of your ringing endorsement. It’s interesting because I sometimes receive Waze traffic alerts (delays, accident information) on my phone even though I don’t have the app installed. I assume that it is because Google owns Waze but I really don’t use Google maps either for navigation. I have a Garmin GPS with real-time traffic updates that I rely on. However, I was unaware that it alerts you to speed traps so that may be the only motivation I need to go ahead and give it a try! Thanks for your post.
Bill -
Its always nice to see fellow “Wazer!” Just like you mentioned, I rely heavily on the app whenever I get into my car. I usually get onto it for checking police on my route to ensure to slow down or place alerts to others. Its practically social media for GPS, great innovation.
It was quite funny to read about police’s recent opposition to this app (http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/2015/01/30/police-concerns-over-navigation-app/22628295/). Seems like more and more people are relying on the tags of police alert to slow down if police is in the area, yet interesting twist police department has raised to state the app is not safe for them.
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Wow Nil, interesting article, I do think from a police point of view that is a stretch. If anything I think the police were trying to prohibit, social media for GPS as you call it, to let each other know about speed traps. I am sure there was a similar protest with radar detectors which are now legal in some states.
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Interesting article Nil. I do not use the Waze app, but I believe technology can always be used for good or evil. The concern JSO has about an phone application being used to locate their deputies I believe is valid, but I personally feel the benefits of the app out way those concerns. Let’s just talk about it from a police perspective. A uniformed officer in a marked unit is not a difficult thing or person to locate. It is main reason for using marked vehicles in the first place. Whether an app identifies an officer’s location or the uniform, there are force protection techniques that can be used to counter any of those threats properly. The benefits that I see with this app is the ability to locate an officer by someone who truly needs assistance from the police, but doesn’t feel it warrants calling 911. With respect to traffic enforcement, it is always interesting to see how the presence of a marked police unit can influence so many motorists’ driving. And marking a police unit on the highway can aid in officer safety if the officer is involved in a traffic stop. The greatest benefit of this app though is the real time posting of traffic accidents. My question would be whether the postings of these incidents are actually notifying first responders or simply adding to the gawker phenomenon. It is great that it helps drivers find alternate routes and advise to traffic issues, but if it can also be used to aid in getting people help I’ve got no problem with it.
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This sounds like a great app. I really need to upgrade my aging smartphone. My gps app always freezes.. I just moved to Denver, so I always need directions.. Lately I’ve been using ‘Google maps’ on my iPad to search for a route. Then I take a picture of the screen with my phone and use that for navigation in my car. I walk to work, so haven’t quite felt the sense of urgency to upgrade my phone… Definitely very low-tech.
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I really love Pintrest. It is extremely versatile and malleable to personal preferences, with the pin feed adjusting and suggesting content based on your previously viewed pins. Personally, I use it for everything from getting a new workout (almost every time i work out), recipes, suggestions for crafts and activities to do with my toddler, and even for making secret pins for present ideas. Recently, I’ve even used it to take pictures of study materials, so I could access them during times I can’t open my book or computer. It’s just really convenient to have everything I want to remember and come back to in one place. I do not have enough cognitive real estate to remember where in the infinity of the internet I saw something. I think it really has a connotation of being an app for women to share outfits and DIY ideas, but recently I’ve seen more of my male friends joining and I’m really glad that they will to have access to so many resources.
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I totally agree! Whenever I’m looking for something new I start at Pintrest. Sometimes I actually feel guilty because I use it as such a great resource but hardly ever post any of my own suggestions/idea.
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I think by liking and pinning what others post, you actually promote the popularity of the pin. In a way, it contributes to the social media group consciousness.
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I have always wanted to try Pintrest. My friends are always using ideas from it for all sorts of event; baby showers, games, and parties. The only reason why i have not used the site is that i am not very creative. However, every time i see something that was made using Pintrest idea, it has looked amazing. I am very impressed by the concept.
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I think that was my original hesitation too, because it seems purely like a DIY mecca, and honestly, I don’t have time for that. But like you pointed out, it could be helpful to pin something like a baby shower idea that you need to host maybe 4 months in advance, rather than rely on yourself to remember where you saw that great idea. Also, I don’t think you have to be creative to benefit from the ideas shared on there. There’s an algorithm I find analogous to the sponsored ads from google. It picks pins and suggests them for you based on your previous history so it tailors your “feed” to your own interests. That’s the part that I like the most-the individuality of my own experience on it.
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Mariya,
I read your post and this thread about Pinterest with interest, particularly with regard to the gender disparity. There was a piece in Time describing the breakdown by gender for various social media platforms, with Pinterest being the example of a female-dominated platform. http://techland.time.com/2012/02/15/men-are-from-google-women-are-from-pinterest/I am having trouble understanding the reason for this skew. Interestingly, it seems in the UK (at least in 2012) the skew was reversed, with the majority of Pinterest users there being male. Is this a marketing phenomenon? Is it just that the brand builds momentum as being gender-specific, thereby alienating potential users of the opposite sex?
I wonder, in general, whether IT has gender bias built in. How do you build an IT or MIS platform that is accessible and appealing to men and women alike? What pitfalls should be avoided?
— As a thought question, anyone feel like this blog website we are posting on is particularly masculine or feminine, or is it neutral? Just curious!!
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Dan,
Very interesting observation, especially given what the Times piece says. Intuitively, I would have to say that it’s probably a combination of the platform design and the marketing surrounding the apps. For instance, the first time I heard of pintrest, it was on a news piece discussing its usefulness for a stay-at-home entrepreneur mom. At the time, I was home with an infant and I remember thinking (no lie), “I want to be a successful stay-at-home entrepreneur mom too!” Interestingly, the only google+ invites I’ve gotten were from my husband and software developer family members. I found the whole platform unintuitive, rigid, cumbersome, and kind of sterile. Conversely, pintrest is colorful, interactive, and malleable. Although I think they serve different purposes, I can see why there would be a gender disparity. There’s maybe one man that I follow on Pintrest that posts strikingly beautiful print ads of gorgeous models. So maybe the skew is due to its visual appeal rather than utility. However, I would personally like to see more men on there, especially in the fitness, culinary, and DIY areas.
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I have become very dependent on the Google Maps app since I moved to Tokyo last year. Being in a city where I can’t read the signs or understand the language can make getting around very difficult. With Google Maps I’m able to not only use the app as a GPS but it also has a feature that allows the user to navigate through the public transit system. Creating this extra utility of being able to choose the type of transportation I want to use to get to my destination is priceless. It also comforting that the interface is all in English so I don’t have to worry about things being lost in translation. The function is very user friendly and tells you which train to take on what line and gives you the direction the train should be heading with a list of all the stops in-between so you can be confident you’re on the right one. This app has opened my world to beyond the few blocks around my house to the whole of Japan!
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Although I prefer WAZE to provide me directions for when I am driving, Google Maps is my go to when I need walking directions. I recently visited NYC for a night and although the taxi cab driver was unable to find my hotel (not sure if I believed him or not) while we were within a mile of it, I was able to jump out of the cab and use Google Maps to find my way.
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Kristen,
I too have used google maps, since the early days when Blackberrys with a trackball were still cool. We visited Belgium, Italy and France and I watched myself on this gadget as I walked across towns. At that time, it had a countdown, until reaching a destination, feature which now it seems to have been removed. Although it’s good to know how long it will take to get there, once we are on the way, my kids just care about how much longer by repeatedly asking “are we there yet” to which I have no answer other than “not yet.”
About Waze: i have downloaded the app after reading an article but found it cumbersome to use and unsure how reliable the information really is. Maybe I just need to give it another chance to see if it will grow on me.
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I have used Google Maps heavily as well in Tokyo. It has been several years now since my month long journey there, but using the transit planning and location identification in English was incredibly useful to me as well. It is amazing how it is really a global guidemap and transportation assistant.
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I love listening to music and listen regularly whether in my car, at work, on a run or at home. I have tried Pandora, Itunes and most recently Spotify. I have found the interface and cost for Spotify is superior to the other options. The ability to select and store music and play on my PC, Iphone and MacBook seamlessly is extremely convenient. Most recently I have begun to use the Sonos system to be able to listen to music throughout my home wirelessly. This allows me to enjoy Spotify playlists throughout my home controlled by an app on my Iphone.
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Did you find it at all difficult to get used to the spotify interface? I’m a big user of Pandora and AmazonPrime music but just found the Spotify interface cumbersome, and a lot less stream-lined than Pandora. Also, how do you feel about Spotify being very connected to social media? I always see spotify playlists or songs listened to by my friends on Facebook. Although I know it’s a setting that can be changed, I don’t know that most of them are aware that this information is being broadcasted in the first place.
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As someone with two kids, Pandora is a life saver. I didn’t realize how much I use it until I started reading your post. We put it on during our meals, our trips, playtime. The best part is it’s free and my older daughter has already developed a much bigger appreciation for music. I couldn’t imagine life in our house without it.
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I love Pandora and have been using it with Sonos for years but one down side is that it doesn’t work if you’re overseas. So I’ve created great playlists but then when traveling I have to use iTunes and I find their playlist to be too random. Pandora is great at knowing what you like based on your thumbs up or thumbs down, but iTunes has fallen far behind. I haven’t tried Spotify but I just might, with the hopes that it will work overseas. Another great music app is SoundHound, if you sing a few lines of a song or let it hear a song you’re listening to around you it will give you the name and artist so you can find it again. Great at parties!
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Pandora does not work overseas? One big flaw in Pandora that you reminded me of, is that there’s very little international music on there. You can find some, but it’s mostly stuff that gets radio play in the US. So you cannot listen to your favorite artist stations from another country to get exposed to new music.
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I have a similar cloud/iTunes music set- up in my apartment. I can play music through my tv speakers/sound bar with my iPad/Apple TV. Very convenient. My parents came to visit me in Denver for the holidays, but I don’t own any holiday music.. Instead, I was able to stream an iTunes holiday station.
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I also love Waze. I love the depth it provides when it offers navigation. I also appreciate the real-time aspect of the app. I have been using Nav apps for a few years and like many, it becomes frustrating when constraints are not taken into account. Waze covers that by offering information on upcoming traffic jams (the depth as well), broke down vehicles, and even cops (I do love that aspect). It has also provided more accuracy than past Nav apps I have used.
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Do you find Waze to be more accurate than Google Maps or a regular navigation system? I travel a lot for work and to be honest, I am always lost. I am looking to find an app that can help me get to where I need at a fast pace and to provide me with detours when there are traffic jams. From your comment above, it seems that the app is great; however, I am sure it has some weaknesses. What would you say those weaknesses are? And if you were to compare, does it seem that those weaknesses are less material than those of other applications you have used in the past?
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Hi Mori,
As I am always in a rush, WAZE is my go to App as it has up to the minute traffic information as well as any speed traps. I am not sure about the accuracy of WAZE compared to Google Maps or a regular navigation system. If you are looking for a fast pace app that will provide you with the detours this is the app you should use. As far as weaknesses, sometimes I think it takes a good few minutes to load and also maybe I don’t know the program well enough but I don’t think it gives you options to go a toll free route. Give Waze a try! -
In my experiences, I have found Waze to be more accurate than Google Maps. I travel sparingly but when I do Waze generally offers me more routes and their ETA is much more accurate. As far as weaknesses, it is user generated. So you have to rely on a user to provide the accuracy of the information regarding accidents, traffic jams, etc. If nobody reports a traffic jam, you won’t see it coming. However, in my experiences the users act very responsibly on Waze.
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One of my favorite apps is the WeatherBug. As you can figure out, it’s an app for telling weather. Although there are many apps, sites and links that can meet the same goal, WeatherBug is very user friendly and seems to be very accurate. It gives you the now, 10 day, hourly, and detailed weather updates for the location of your choosing. The details are comprehensive but not too tedious or overwhelming. On the main screen, the app also provides various other options to include, maps, photos, pollen levels, and various other facts. I highly recommend downloading this app on your iPhone or iPad; I am not sure if it’s available for Android phones or not.
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With the recent string of snowstorms that has struck New England, I have found myself using my AccuWeather app daily. I live outside of Boston and recently it always seems like there is a winter weather advisory or wind chill advisory. I had not heard of WeatherBug before your post so I’m going to have to give it a whirl. Thanks for informing me about this app!
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Hi Bill,
I am excited to see what your experience with the app will be. Please keep me posted. Let me know what you think are the strenghts and the weaknesses of the app are. In my opinion, the only weakness I have identified is the lack of extensive detail on weather predictions (though, some may say that is a strength).
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I have never heard of this app and I am always checking the weather forecast on weather.com. This app sounds a lot better. I am going to have to check it out.
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Mori, I know my dad has the weatherbug app on his android/Samsung, but my smartphone is too old. I think my phone no longer works with a bunch of apps – CNN news, uber.. I might have to bight the bullet and upgrade. The biggest inconvenience is that I don’t remember login/pw credentials for any of them.. And not rlooking forward to resetting pw for 40+ apps on my smartphone.
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I have several apps that I love using. Three of my favorite apps are for music enjoyment which includes Pandora and SoundCloud. I love searching new “radio stations” for my Pandora. You can literally type in any song or artist and it will generate a radio station that has it and additional music that is similar. I am not a fan of the commercials and advertisements and recently paid the $4 extra to get rid of them. SoundCloud is also great. It is similar, but when you type in a song or artist, it searches for remixes and covers of the songs for you. As far as websites, I am also a huge Pinterest fan. Pinterest is also on my phone as an app as well. Anything I could possibly want or need to look up is on this site. I use it for home decor ideas, fashion, event planning, decorations for events such as birthdays, cooking ideas, and much more. It really is a great site. As far as gadgets, the Go Pro is great. I love that it can be used for extreme action video photography. It is an electronic device that allows you to video and then you can add music. My brother and I used it in Colorado to video him snowboarding. He added some really cool music to it and it now plays on his phone as a music video of his trip.
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I agree that GoPro’s are great. I’ve always meant to purchase one but just haven’t. I was able to use them extensively during a two week cold weather survival course in Alaska. We captured events like snowshoeing, skiing, etc that also made for some hilarious playback. I’ve done zip lines, etc and now when I look back, I wish I would have had a GoPro. I’m actually going skiing this weekend so you may have just inspired me to head to the store. I’ll let you know what I decide.
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Hey Bill,
That’s awesome. Yea the videos we captured during the skiing trip were great. I definitely recommend bringing it!
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Bill – my dad loves his go pro. He attaches it to his motorcycle/ ski helmets. Lots of interesting footage. Amazing how this camera allows you to relive an experience. He often wears it to family gatherings too. This is a vast improvement over the bulky video camera of the 80’s. Can you imagine someone trying to secretly record a politician at a fundraising event back then?
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I’ve always want to put a GoPro on my cats to see what they are up to during the day. Anybody try one on their dog or cat?
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Liz,
My brother brings his GoPro with us everytime we go snowboarding and we enjoy it as much as described. It is such a cool gadget. Interestingly, I have no vidoes of my childhood. I think my parents found the old school camcorder ridiculous but modern technology has made video recording so simple, I totally expect to have videos of my future kids and if not captured by my phone, it will be with a GoPro.
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We really enjoy the Open Table app. It is a great way to make reservations. We like to use it to find new restaurants in our area or when we are travelling.
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I like it too and think when I recently used it my Outlook calendar automatically update when I made the reservation. Love when that happens! I’m married to the Windows ecosystem so love when things integrate well. I keep class notes and other types of notes in One Note and really like that my Windows phone has a One Note tile.
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I finally live in a major city where I can use this app. I moved to Denver about 7mths ago from Harrisburg, PA. Sadly most of the restaurants there only take phone reservations.
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Hi Everyone,
Two apps on my iPhone I open and use constantly but at different times of the week.My favorite weekday app is Wikinvest. This rudimentary application links your brokerage account to a simple, reader-friendly space. It does not provide for buying or trading stocks so you can save your username and password without a security concern. The interface simply lists your positions by gains and losses for the day. Turn the phone sideways and see a particular positions performance over a number of selectable time frames. Users can also view a list of financial news topics and major indexes performances. Recently, Wikinvest has added the capability to create a “watchlist” for the equities on your radar. I, personally, like this application for its simplicity and ease of use.
My weekend app of choice is Instagram. Instagram provides photo editing and filtering to your camera capabilities. iPhones come standard with a few these options, but I find Instagram’s offerings superior. Also, I enjoy the social networking provided by Instagram. You can link your photos to many other social network websites or keep them within the Instagram limits and share them with your “followers”. For those of you who prefer to share your life via photos rather than words, Instagram provides an excellent channel. The only other social networking site I entertain is Facebook, which often leaves me more frustrated after a visit than satisfied. I always link my frustration with Facebook to the many obnoxious personal opinions littering my newsfeed. Instagram innately prevents much of this by requiring a photo as part of a post. It is more of an artistic outlet than a soapbox.
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Jordan,
I can relate to your comments as I joined Facebook when my 15 yo decided to become a frequent user. Being an old dog trying to learn new tricks, I laid low for a while and then worked up the courage to start posting. I am now more active in doing so and more selective about following many of my online friends. Instead i use it more as an news outlet and read articles from periodicals and opinions posted by various websites to which I subscribed. As far as Instagram goes, I discovered the joy of this visual art when my 10 yo set up her account and had close to 100 followers within 8 hrs. I now have 101 posts and 50 followers and very proud since I only know 2 of them. Unlike Facebook’s story telling and personal updates, I use Instagram to post visual things I find interesting and unique. Using the filter options is easy but most often I am lucky enough that the shot looks good enough to post without any alteration.
Although I have a twitter account, I have yet to post anything there and spend little if any time following other people. I will most likely continue to use the previously two apps I mentioned though i am willing to add a third if i’ll find it worth my time.
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I’m going to go with an obvious choice but I think that most people would agree that this gadget is essential. My favorite gadget is my Samsung Galaxy because I can basically manage my entire life from it. It has all of my favorite apps and pictures as well as access all of my personal information from anywhere in the world. Sometimes I feel that the device that is supposed to help me be more productive is actually counterproductive! There is just so much you can do and access on smart devices nowadays that it is easy to get distracted. I can listen to Flyers games live (as I did tonight), use it for navigation, stream music and videos, check email, and so on. One of my favorite apps is Shazam because, if I missed the intro to a song, I can figure out the title/artist while I’m driving. Otherwise, it would bug me the rest of the day!
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Bill,
Do you have an S5 or a Note?-
Hi Diane,
My wife and I have S5s. I really want to upgrade to a Note.
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Hi Bill,
Now that you have mentioned phones, it is crazy to see the evolution of the phone and how much we rely on it. I agree there are times when I should be working or writing a paper, and I find myself scrolling through my phone and it is definitely a distraction. Have you ever tried to give yourself a “break” for a day and try to put your phone out of reach? I’ve tried a few times and couldn’t last more than a few hours.-
I agree, the evolution of the smart phone has been incredible. We moved overseas before the iPhone was invented and every time we went home to visit I was amazed to see more and more people on mobile devices. I actually just got my first iPhone only a year ago so I’m still getting used to all the power I now have in the palm of my hand and I’m just as addicted as everyone else. Now my kids are wanting their own phones and I have to admit I’m not excited about giving them all that power too!
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Kristen,
I have never attempted a “break” – probably because I know that it would be impossible. It seems like most people need an intervention of sorts when it comes to their phones. My wife just got mad at me yesterday as we were driving. She asked me for toll money but I was “in” my phone and didn’t hear her. Needless to say, she thought I ignored her, etc, etc but in all honesty, I just did not realize that she was speaking to me. Sometimes, smartphones are more trouble than they are worth!
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Kickstarter. I have an unhealthy obsession because I find the concept to be incredibly fascinating. The idea of crowdfunding projects to create new companies and products is something that is a huge “need” gap that was filled most successfully by this organization. This helps greatly break down the barriers to product development and target a highly specialized user base to be early beta testers. The improved efficiency from this system is remarkable. I think as a result of Kickstarter and similar companies, there will be a great increase in entrepreneurship and product evolution, expediting innovation. One thing I would love to see succeed but with great trepidation would be a similar platform with the ability to instead of purchase a product, purchase microVC in these new ideas. Spreading ownership could potentially create a microNASDAQ of the future and take large private equity funds out of the picture, effectively spreading wealth in our society far more evenly. By the way, the kickstarter app is so fun to play with.
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I’m a big fan of the updated windows mobile version of FitBit’s app. I’m obsessed with how many steps I take and love that my phone sinks with my Fit Bit One to keep me updated as the day goes on. I log food eaten too, and like that I can do that on the go. I’m pretty competitive, so like seeing how many steps my sister-in-law has logged – it keeps me walking! Another app I find indispensable when I need it is my Flashlight XT app. It can really come in handy, and when you need it you really need it.
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My favorite app/website is Yelp! I was surprised that it hadn’t come up after all these posts. For those of you who may have not heard of it, Yelp is a reviews website where one can view and share their experiences about businesses (mostly restaurants and other social gathering places). I relied on this app whenever I am interested in going out for dinner locally, but more importantly when I am traveling domestically or internationally. More often than not, the reviews help me screen out right place. And when i do not have great experience, it is a way to warn others. Many businesses also spend large amount of money maintaining the responses to reviews and learning to improve their services. I would say most useful third-party app on my iOS devices.
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Nil, thanks for commenting about Yelp. I also find it extremely useful but you bring up what I find very discouraging. How accurate do you think it is? It is possible that companies write their own reviews or maybe one person had a really bad experience and have several people post on Yelp. My go to when going international is Trip Advisor. These reviews often include photos and paragraphs of their own personal experience, so I rely more on their reviews than Yelp, but it’s the internet so who knows what is actually true.
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I am glad you feel Yelp is useful because I am always afraid it is an easy system to trick, that could be biased by generally unhappy people or too enthusiastic ones!
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My wife loves the Yelp app. I agree it is very handy when out and about and looking for a new place to eat. The reviews are helpful in making our decision. We have had a string of bad luck lately with our final picks all having gone out of business even though they had great reviews. And the problem is their posts are still up and appear valid. Not sure if this is an downside to having so much information available that it is almost impossible to keep up to date with all of the posted information. I don’t know what Yelp’s policy is for maintaining the individual businesses. I guess we could call ahead, but then it somewhat takes away from the intended convenience of the app.
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Hi Nil.
I had a really awful experience with Yelp after a young woman failed to follow my medical advice and her cat’s eye needed to be removed. She slammed me on Yelp and everywhere she could. Yelp refused to take her comments down even when we provided them proof that when the State Board investigated they found no grounds for her complaint. There was also a lawsuit in California due to what veterinarians felt was downright extortion! Needless to say, I am not a fan.
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I never realized how much I rely on my iPhone until my four year old misplaced it in our house. It has become my lifeline. Banking, emails, social media, home alarm system, utilities, Face Time with relatives and most importantly downloaded videos to entertain the kids. I spent a day without my electronic tether and it was then that I realized how much I have come to rely on my smart phone. I use it to interact with almost everything on a daily basis without even realizing it.
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Clinton,
I completely agree. Sometimes I find it kind of sickening how attached I am to my phone but I quickly realize its amazing benefits and forget my qualms with its control over me. No doubt, my favorite gadget. I look forward to what the smartphone future holds for us.Cheers,
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Clinton, twice in my life I decided to give up sweets for one entire year. I succeeded in my intent both times. I truly wanted to check how far I could go in controlling my behavior. Sometime, I think I should do the same with my iPhone. It is an indispensable tools of modern life, but I would love to train my brain to use it only when I really need it. Perhaps, loosing it every now and then for a day or so is not a bad thing…
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Funny you should mention that you had the will to give up something you enjoy, like sweets or say, single malt. I gave up alcohol for one year three different times without any regret even though it is one of my favorite past time activity when in company of others. What made it hard was not having any when the opportunity presented itself in these social situations where it was served and expected to be had by everyone as part of the cultural experience.
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My favorite app is Hulu. I watch tv shows on my smart tv & IPad via wifi/HDMI. This much less expensive than subscribing to cable. Also there are fewer commercials and in theory the ones that I must watch are tailored to my interests. Except during elections — then it is free for all with attack ads and candidate messages.
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Hi Cory,
I have heard nothing but great things about Hulu; however, I have never personally used the app. Are you able to watch anything and everything, current, old, TV, on Demand? I am assuming it’s similar to Netflix. I am also curious to see if there is a free trial period. -
We’re actually going to be downgrading our cable subscription and picking up the paid subscription of Hulu. Definitely a lot cheaper to use and we’ll be still able to catch our shows. For sporting events and shows that aren’t covered by cable or Hulu, individual networks are now starting to roll out their own apps to catch up on their shows, which are free minus the commercials.
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I am addicted to my iPhone, and every apps that come with it. The one that I enjoy the most is WhatsApp. WhatsApp is very popular in Europe, and Europeans use it regularly to communicate because it is free texting! I am Italian and I have many friends and family members that likes to be connected through WhatsApp. My Italian friends love to send me short comedy video that make me feel connected to my homeland. I moved to the US before internet, at the time of rotatory phones and collect calls… Twenty-four years later, because of the globalization and the incredible progresses of the communication systems, I do not feel as physically distant from my family as I used to.
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Hi Cataldo, I really enjoy WhatsApp as well, especially for being free. I have family and friends in Nigeria and the UK and we often communicate through it. Technology has definitely made the world a much smaller place during the past decade or so with the invention of various social media and communication outlets. However, it is sad that instant messaging is sabotaging real communication so I try to find a balance between the two.
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I discovered one of my favorite apps when I was on vacation and I was traveling during the holidays. Trivia Crack, has literally been a new addiction that I find myself playing at least once a day. I do not feel as guilty spending a good deal of my time because somehow I convince myself that Trivia Crack is an app that stimulates the mind. I have to admit after the duration of spending a good half an hour playing, I always learn something new about HIstory, Geography, Sports, Arts, Science, and Entertainment. I feel like it is a productive use of my time. I am also competitive by nature, so I like the fact that you can play against other people and propose a challenge.
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I cannot say that I have a choice website, app, or gadget. I realized this as I began thinking about my post. I discovered that I value the choices the internet brings, the exploration. I have yet to find that when I want to learn about some topic there is no information available. The web has really created my situation. How can I possibly have a favorite? There is so much available and it changes so quickly. I can ready information on Wiki, refresh, and there is more and new information. But, I cannot waste time refreshing one website. I might miss something. Every minute there are 571 new websites created, 68,000 new blog posts and I couldn’t even find a number of new apps created. There is just too much candy to try, I can’t stop. Even as I read everyone’s posts I realize all the stuff I’m missing. It has taken me nine days to even write my post because I have to go check out all the new sites and apps I learned reading posts. I suppose after thought, I do favor the app that send me notices of new apps and websites. But this is at the same time torture. It goes, receive notice, go to site, while there receive notice, go to site, while there……. I can’t keep up. I need a faster connection. I need a wifi hub inserted in my ear. Direct and constant connection to my brain at all times would be perfect. I wouldn’t need to go anywhere. Everything would come virtually to me. My discovery would be limitless.
And, that’s all made up because I’m the guy that if you text me, I’ll call you. If an advertisement says go to our website to learn more, I’ll never know more. And I suspect I may be the last person on earth, with internet access, who does not have a Facebook account. My most used app is Webex. Please, take a moment to compose yourself. Truly, all the options are interesting but I’m rather limited on what I use for work purposes. Other than that, I’m really off-line and outside. Am missing too much? -
Looking at the responses on the discussion board I saw multiple apps discussed that I use and enjoy for many of the same reasons on a daily basis. Because of this I decided to give one of the other apps that I enjoy using. I routinely use the Bleacher Report Team Stream app. For those people who like sports this app is in my opinion better and even more adjustable than ESPN. The app allows for specifying teams of interest and other sports related interests. After Facebook, Instagram, Google maps, Waze and the other gps apps I use this one the most.
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Best two devices I’ve use are both my iPad and iPhone. Primarily as I use both primarily to complete the MBA program on. I watch the lecture videos on the iphone and use the Notability app to download all the PowerPoints and case studies to take notes. I also use the Microsoft Office suite on both devices to write my papers. The great thing about it is being able to sync between my computers at work or at home to quickly pick up with my thoughts. For the Thursday night Webex sessions, using the Webex app has been great for the most part…there are some limitations most particularly with using the iPhone. Overall, it would be slightly more challenging to complete the MBA program just for the pure fact that I would have to sit down at a desk or have to travel with a computer to complete the assignments.
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I sincerely apologize for contributing late to this thread; the post eluded me somehow though I had left a comment earlier.
I am an aviation enthusiast; intrigued especially by the cockpit. One of my childhood dreams was becoming a pilot; however, the closest I’ve ever gotten to flying an aircraft one is on flight simulators. I do have a few flight simulator apps on my phone that I play with when I’m less busy. One of them is Flight Unlimited (Las Vegas), the other one is Infinite Flight.
I intend to have a home-built cockpit after my MBA program and hopefully get a flight license someday.
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When I have to drive to another office location, it’s a 5 hour round trip. To make this time productive, I have an app “Voice Dream” that reads various files (pdf, docx, HTML, etc.) aloud. I download the files on my iPad then play the app while driving. The app lets you pick the voice you want to use for a fee however, it comes with a free one – Heather, a female US English voice. The languages it offers is: English, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Catalan, Polish, Turkish, Greek, and Arabic. It’s been very useful in the MBA program with the case readings.
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My favorite apps….
For fun: Star Walk is just an unbelievable interface, making stargazing and learning constellations fun for even the non-astronomist living in the smoggy city. It tracks your position so you can point your phone or iPad into the sky and it will populate with what stars are above, and lets you navigate through constellations seen in different seasons. A really fun and beautifully designed app to explore the magic of the night sky with your kids.
For making life easier: There used to be a website called iSepta.org — I created a shortcut icon on my iphone that would take me to the mobile website. The brilliance of this site (which worked as would an app) was its sheer simplicity. You could click on a regional rail line and see all the stops in either direction, or you could select a start and end point and it would give you the train schedule. Not that impressive, right? But what’s amazing about it is that when the site shut down, the person who used to run it left a note encouraging people to download and use the official SEPTA app instead. Well that one’s pretty awful – and it’s striking to me how it turned something so EASY into something so difficult to navigate. The lesson for me: You don’t necessarily need a brilliant or creative idea to make a successful website/app. Sometimes it’s enough to have the best user interface .
For work (health care): I used to use the epocrates app to look up drug dosing/interactions, but the forced updates became too cumbersome. I found that it was no longer reliably available to me because it would force an update right at the moment I needed to just access the information. Simple and stupid as it is, this is what led me to a different platform – now I use Medscape.
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Dan,
I’m pretty sure we used an app like Star Walk to cheat in astronomy class at NYU. In our defense, NYC smog and bright lights (and being on a roof in the winter) were not really conducive to learning. As far as Epocrates, I couldn’t agree with you more. We were all told that it was the golden standard and to download it on our phones immediately. Besides the constant updates that give you no option but to update the darn thing, I find the interface a little uncomfortable to use. The interactions/adverse reactions list for example is so exhaustive that it’s hard to tell (without having enough clinical knowledge myself) which ones are really important or common. Also, I’d like to see the class or at least mechanism right away, instead of going through the tabs. Do you feel like Medscape is better now that you have used it?
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Neither is as good as UpToDate but that requires the institutional subscription. Not impossible to set up, but not the easiest either.
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One of my favorite apps is Genius Scan. There are numerous times when you need to create a PDF on the fly and email it somewhere important. In the past, I would attempt to snap pictures of documents with an iPhone camera and send files to recipients, which often netted unpredictable results. Genius Scan, available in the app store, allows you to take a picture of a document with your phone or tablet, and converts it into a PDF for export via email or to box, drop box, FTP, Fax, iCloud etc. Common uses for Genius Scan have been creating and sending signed business documents, converting receipts to PDFs for expense reports or turning a printed picture of page or a book into a PDF for distribution. I find this app more useful that I would have expected and share its utility whenever I can.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site Information Technology Management 10 years, 9 months ago
Welcome to Information Technology Management (a.k.a. MIS5001)! I am excited to guide you in a fast-paced fun-filled learning experience.
[vimeo 120080747 w=500 h=267]
This website will be my primary method of communication between class meetings.
I urge you to subscribe to website updates so you’ll know immediately when I make announcements here. To subscribe enter your email address in the form at top-right of screen AND click on the confirmation link that email’d to you.
You will also be assigned to one of three discussion websites. The website you use is based on the first letter of your last name:
Last name starts with A through G: http://community.mis.temple.edu/mis5001s15dq1/
Last name starts with H through M: http://community.mis.temple.edu/mis5001s15dq2/
Last name starts with N through Z: http://community.mis.temple.edu/mis5001s15dq3/Finally, will use Blackboard to (a) distribute Harvard Business Case readings, (b) to submit assignments, and (c) to communicate grades.
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Steven L. Johnson wrote a new post on the site MIS5402 Fall-2 2014 10 years, 9 months ago
Tonight we’ll be doing a team-based activity (game!).
Use this link for the entry form.
If you want to learn more, check out the comprehensive Wikipedia entry on Two-sided markets.
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