TSA Scanners

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20023035-281.html?tag=topStories1

So TSA has installed new scanners at airports that do a full body x-ray and reveal very intimate details about a person. Obviously, some people have a huge problem with this and see it as an invasion of privacy. The alternative to getting the scan is an invasive pat-down that could bring serious personal boundary issues into play. Of course, TSA representatives say that there is no way the images will be leaked, but we've heard those kinds of stories before.

So what's more important? Individual privacy or community safety? Is this just another way that technology is infringing upon our personal rights and privileges?

Green Technology Facts and Myths

So it was always inevitable in the midst of the current green wave, that technology would soon have to "go green". I found an interesting website that chronicles articles detailing myths and facts about green technology. 


http://www.brighthub.com/guides/green-technology.aspx


The website includes the history of green technology, little known facts such as the loss of jobs attached to going green, some listed benefits, and how green technology actually impacts the natural environment. 


One of the easiest ways to find green technology is to look for the Energy Star label on consumer products.

Even though most people think of green technology in relation to corporate emissions, this is for the everyday consumer as well. So even you can go green in regards to technology! 

Scandinavian IT Outsourcing Trends

Major research in Scandinavian countries has shown that increasing numbers of companies are outsourcing their software development, especially their SD function. Most Swedish companies outsource 90 to 100% of this function. Actual savings in these Swedish and some Danish companies reaches as much as 40 to 59%.

Also, a higher percentage of the companies in these countries are choosing to outsource nearshore (within or close to the same time zone) as opposed to offshore (at least 2 time zones away). This touches on an earlier comment Lexi made about outsourcing locally, which in my opinion is a great idea.

The main pressures for outsourcing are:
1. To reduce operating costs
2. Shortage of domestic IT resources and specific skills
3. To accelerate time to market via scalability and flexibility
4. Improve business development strategy

So what are the U.S. trends in comparison to these Scandinavian? Could we take after these countries and focus on nearshoring as opposed to offshoring?

Negatives of Outsourcing

"...there is a situation today where employees have started fearing job losses. This gives rise to lower motivation and thereby decline in services. After all who would like to serve an organization that he feels is going to sack him for all his services."

So the biggest negative aspect of outsourcing that people think about, especially in the United States, is the loss of numerous jobs to developing countries in order to save costs. Organizations that might be perfectly happy without outsourcing are being backed into a corner. In order to maintain a competitive advantage, or at the very least to keep up with the pack, these companies feel like they absolutely have to outsource, outsource, outsource...

What is your opinion on this? Are companies really backed in a corner with no other option but to outsource? Or is it just the easiest way to cut costs? On an ethical point, is it worth it to save money but cost people there jobs and their livelihoods? Where is the line ultimately drawn?

"IT Outsourcing Company Posts Unprecedented Revenue Growth"

In an economy riddled with failing businesses, major IT outsourcing markets are experiencing double digit percentage growth. Tata Consulting Services (TCS) and Infosys Technologies both posted very strong revenue growth for the quarter ending September 2010. TCS posted revenues of $2 billion for the quarter and a net income of $455 million. 

TCS CEO, N. Chandrasekaran attributes this meteoric rise to his team's "agility to respond to these opportunities across markets and more importantly, execute flawlessly". With the increased demand for IT outsourcing, these companies are hiring in large quantities, which increases the job supply and backs what we discussed early in class: that jobs related to IT have some of the highest rates of increase in any market. 


One of the reasons TCS is growing to quickly is their innovativeness. In the past quarter, they have applied for 380 patents, and been granted 64 of them. This just goes to show that their intensive innovativeness is one of their strongest assets and will carry them far in combination with their very agile team of IT specialists. 


This shows some of the positives of outsourcing. Next week I will to discuss some of the negatives. 

http://it.tmcnet.com/topics/it/articles/110740-it-outsourcing-company-posts-unprecedented-revenue-growth.htm

Zoolander!

ATTENTION!!!!!! 


Dell has come out with the iPad's first true competitor! They are releasing a 7" tablet, which is a full 2.7" smaller than the iPad. Also in the works to be released within the next 6 months are a 3", 4", 5" AND 10" devices. Products will be running Google's Android operating system and some will be running Microsoft's Windows.

So we're getting closer and closer the the Zoolander-esque types of technology. Just make things smaller and smaller and smaller... hell, I'm scared I'm going to lose my state-of-the-art technology or accidentally leave it in my pocket and thrown it in the wash like a wrinkled dollar bill.

But wait...is it necessary to release five products with almost the exact same capabilities in order to compete with one of Apple's products? Should they have focused on mastering more capabilities to apply to one or two products? This feels like more of an "anything you can do, I can do better" kind of marketing strategy. They expect revenues to exceed $60 billion with the release of their new tablets. But does the technology back up the aggressive numbers and marketing expectations? As an Apple fan, I hope they do. I want Apple to have a serious technological competitor. Competition breeds innovation. I'm extremely interested to see what Apple can do with a little kick! I guess we'll see!

Can Google & China Co-Exist?

I know most of this took place much earlier this year, but I love the topic. Many of you may remember last semester when Google and China were having serious cooperation issues. It was absolutely fascinating to watch while it unraveled. For those who know the story, skip the next paragraph. For those who don't, read on...

China was setting very strong censorship blocks against certain Google searches (i.e. Tiananman Square, and "Tank Man") and completely blocked YouTube, a Google subsidiary, and other Google services. This is totally against Google's culture, which has always been known for wanting to provide information universally. "While removing search results is inconsistent with Google's mission, providing no information (or a heavily degraded user experience that amounts to no information) is more inconsistent with our mission," was their response to the controversy. Google eventually did get fed up with what they viewed as unfair censorship. They re-routed the search engine through Hong Kong and for a limited time, the Chinese people were allowed to search for anything they wanted without fear of gov't censorship. Of course, the Chinese gov't quickly shut down Google's attempt, and for a while, Google was completely frozen out of China until about two months ago, when they were allowed back in.

My question to my classmates and colleagues is one about your personal view on the matter. Should Google continue to compromise their ideals and ethics in order to access the huge market that is the People's Republic of China? Or should they stick to their guns and refuse to cooperate with these censorship laws and regulations, thereby eliminating any profits from the country? Is it an invasion of privacy to monitor someone's searches constantly? And is it our business what China chooses to regulate?