Com 435 Poster Project

For the Com 435 poster project we were asked to create a poster on an emerging technology. For my poster I chose to do a new emerging technology program, school of one. This program is funded by the New York City Department of Education and was created to advance our elementary and high schools into the future. The program uses emerging technology and software to cater to students learning abilities, as well as, prepare them for the future, which will be full of high tech devices and ways of learning through computer related tasks. A good thing about School of One is that its not just another online program, but instead mixes old styles of learning with new styles to create a new program that helps students learn at their own pace. Look for School of One being implemented in a elementary or high school near you soon!

For more information, check out the products website:
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/SchoolofOne/default.htm

Instant messaging in the workplace

When I worked at Chase this summer in downtown Indianapolis I was introduce to a new technology being implemented in the workplace: Same time. This technology is very similar to AIM, or MSN instant messenger, but is used solely to contact co-workers through your computer without leaving your desk and to have a conversation without actually speaking.

The chatter was replaced by tapping on keyboards often followed by a sporadic, out-of-place laugh. Instant messaging is already taking over the office environment.

Companies are seeing the benefit of this, rolling out enterprise solutions to improve communication, internal and with suppliers, vendors and clients.

Of all those millions of people who use IM in the workplace, 40% are doing so without the authorisation or knowledge of their IT department.

This unmonitored IM access creates huge problems for companies.

• Excessive personal use is a sure fire way to drive down productivity
• Sensitive and confidential company information can be broadcast with no safeguards
• The standard policies around appropriate content in the workplace are not imposed
• IT security protocols are circumvented allowing the network to be exposed to malware
• In regulated companies, compliance rules and procedures are bypassed and ignored

IM will be implemented in every business, of that there is no doubt. In order to be effective companies will need to be ahead of the curve, implementing policies and solutions which best suit their needs and are aligned to their goals.

Communication and Emerging Technologies of 2009

This coming week we are required to create posters about an emerging technology to share with the class. As I was doing research for this particular project, I came across Time Magazines 50 best inventions of 2009. I thought this was an interesting article. There are many different gadgets, products, ideas and programs that were invented this year that may change the way we think, act and move in the future. These inventions range from NASA Are's Rocket to the 10 million dollar light bulb.

I have compiled a short list of my favorite ones:

The Smart Thermostat

the EnergyHub Dashboard, a little device, with a screen, that can talk wirelessly to your furnace and your various appliances and let you know exactly how much electricity (or gas) each one is using and how much it's costing you. It can also turn appliances on and off and raise or lower the temperature in your house so you can rein in the real power hogs.

The $20 Knee

A team of Stanford engineering students has designed a knee that's not only dirt cheap — just $20 — but also mimics the natural joint's movements. The JaipurKnee comprises five pieces of plastic and four nuts and bolts. It requires no special tools and takes just a few hours to manufacture.

The High-Speed Helicopter

Sikorsky's X2 Technology helicopter aims to annihilate that speed barrier. Unlike ordinary choppers, which pair a single rotor on top with an antitorque tail rotor, the X2 has two main rotors spinning in opposite directions and an airplane-like propeller at the rear. This highly stable setup should allow the X2 to cruise at a zippy 290 m.p.h. (467 km/h) — about the same speed as some small turboprop planes.

Communication jobs and technology, how will this change our view of the world?

Recently, we have been discussing the future of technology and many of my classes, especially Com435. The idea of technology being the next big step in careers in our society, is an excited, yet scary idea. We worry about outsourcing jobs, not just to other people in other countries, but to computers and technologies that seemed to be able to work faster, create better products and produce more revenue that the average human. But unfortunately as good as technology is in developing our society, it leaves many of our potential employees in the dark. We get these degrees in college to know the tricks of the trade and to be able to complete tasks, but if we don't know how to operate the equipment and technology that are advancing these trades, we are left with no knowledge of how to do the job that will advance our careers.

So what do we do? How do we solve this problem of communication jobs and emerging technologies? That is the question I am addressing here today. I want to know your thoughts on how emerging technologies and jobs can work hand in hand to better our society, rather than work against each other in competing for positions.

Internships. Are they necessary for landing a job?

I'm getting closer and closer to graduation, and several school officials have expressed to me that they wish me to get an internship before graduation. That's all well and good, but first, I really don't have time for one between full-time school and full-time work . Second, a good half of the internships that they're trying to hook me up with aren't paid internships.

They make it seem like if I don't do an internship, I'll never get anything more than an entry level job, ever (yes, I've told them my current job situation) Anyway, bottom line is, are internships really necessary for success? In my situation, is real-world, full-time job experience in my field good enough?

In my personal opinion, i have not had a internship specific to my field of study, but i have had work experience. And i think that is what employers are looking for, experience. You can take any experience and look at the core values, and operations of that company and relate it to another company.

But, most experts say that it is important to land an internship. And it this economy, even if you are graduating in the Spring, you might not be landing a full-time position as an employee right off the bat, and here is where internships might be useful to you.

Communication Skills are ESSENTIAL in the job market

I never thought that job hunting was ever going to be easy, especially in the midst of a recession; but I also hadn’t anticipated having my normal speech taken away from me so swiftly either.

Every application I look at seems to say that it is essential to have excellent communication skills, especially in the field of Human Resources, Public Relations, Coordination and many others.

Most jobs require someone with good communication skills. But its not only important to be able to hold a conversation, but have an extensive vocabulary.I would argue that it is easier to have good communication skills with an average vocabulary. If you don’t know how to talk flourished, it is harder to talk above others who may feel you are just trying to make them feel less intelligent than you. What is more important than knowing big words is knowing how to use the “small” words that you do know properly.

Learn proper grammar, and you will do much better with communication. Also, learning how to speak, such as body language and non-verbal, will go a long way toward making you look intelligent without making you look arrogant (which is the biggest problem facing those who know words like loquacious).

If you still feel you would prefer using “big” words, make sure you know how to use them properly. :)

Although the economy may be showing signs of recovery, companies that are hiring are still few and far between in communication fields.

If you are looking for a job in the PR industry, there have been signs of growth as well, as agencies have reported adding mid-level and senior-level staff and corporate recruiters have noticed increased interest from clients. Yet, this doesn't mean that there is going to be a free for all when it coming to the hiring process, companies are mentioning that they are going to be prudent in the upcoming quarters.

Many economists say that health care is strong across the board in hiring, from pharmaceutical to nonprofits to the b-to-b companies. But, even job seekers in the PR industry are remaining cautious as they weigh the uncertainties of a new company or industry.

Overall, it is important to remember that you are not in this boat alone, and that across teh nation there are companies, as well as, job seekers being cautious and waiting, as we see 2009 come to an end, to see what 2010 has in store for our economy.