Augmented Reality is the Next Form of Information Sharing

Several notable mobile applications have or are going to be released that utilize augmented reality through a phone’s camera.  These apps push real-time information and process onto the screen, allowing users to scan their surroundings to discover what they are looking for.

The most notable of these is of course being developed by Google, called Google Goggles. It exists as a standalone application for Android phones and as a feature of the Google Mobile App for the iPhone.  With Goggles, the user snaps a picture, which is transmitted across cellular networks to Google’s servers. Google’s computers then tell the phone what they recognized in the photo. This process can take only a second or two – and sometimes even less.  Iconic buildings and artwork, products on store shelves, barcodes and magazine advertisements are a breeze. The system can recognize text on a poster and search the Web for a page with similar writing, or translate the menu at a French restaurant.

Microsoft also has a visual-search app for Bing, though its features are more limited.  So far, these computer systems are less skilled at recognizing humans. But the Google Goggles team is working on a system that can identify faces in photos, as long as those people say it’s OK for Google to include them in its database.

A few similar apps are already utilizing such augmented reality features to make very useful tools.  StarMap, for instance, allows you to observe thousands of stars, constellations, and other stellar objects instantly, simply by pointing your phone in the area of interest.  Word Lens has the capability of instantly translating words in to numerous other languages, simply by placing the words in few of the camera – the text transforms in real time, right before your eyes.  One last entertaining innovation is Peak.AR, which allows you to point your screen at nearby mountains and learn the names of every peak instantly.

Of course, Yelp also now has an augmented reality feature with its app, allowing you to view restaurant names and reviews on top of the restaurants themselves.  To learn more about Google Goggles, read the full CNNTech article here.

Productive Synergism:Fostering a Culture of Collaboration with SharePoint 2010

By Deen Ferrell, Business Development Executive, Cal Net Technology Group

“Corporate synergy occurs when corporations interact congruently.” (Wikipedia.org/wiki/Synergism)

I have always loved the concept of synergism. In its purest sense, it means achieving a sum that is more than the combined value of its individual parts. In the organization, this is done by building upon a collaborative process where ideas are allowed to collide, evolve, and create an energy all their own, independent of the energy of individual contributors.

This process has never been more viable than it is today with Microsoft SharePoint 2010. Finally, organizations have a tool that allows their people to work together in ways that are most effective for them. Whether through the desktop, the internet browser, or the mobile device, people can access their data quickly and efficiently, contributing to the corporate dialog in real-time so that ideas, processes, and conclusions are fluid and ever evolving in a tireless quest toward realizing organizational goals.

Take, for example, The Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, an organization where leaders were tasked with bringing together 37 counties, 56,000 young people, 1,100 Cub Packs, Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews, with 80 full-time employees and over 15,000 volunteers. The goal was to create a way that would intelligently organize and empower the flow of ideas and communication between the various groups and individuals.

Joe Mueller, Director of Public Relations, speaks of the decision to turn to Microsoft SharePoint 2010; “We want to harness the passion and creativity of volunteers—that’s why we’ve been so successful for 100 years. Paid staff just provides support. Giving volunteers the ability to create and publish content will directly improve the quality and relevance of our programs…Our new SharePoint Server 2010 Web site has the potential to improve our overall program quality and help us grow Scouting. Our constituents will be able to get information faster and get better-quality information. This will help our leaders deliver better programs to kids…the Web is the entry portal for everyone who is shopping for programs, looking to volunteer or otherwise engage in Scouting.”

Kevin McCallum, Chief Architect at Quicken Loans, faced a similar challenge, tasked with finding a business collaboration platform for multiple companies on multiple infrastructures over multiple networks in multiple configurations. Quicken wanted an enterprise-level platform with advanced search capabilities and the ability to manage and centralize information for their sister companies, maintaining control over content access. Kevin turned to SharePoint. “We used SharePoint Server 2010 to leverage the strengths in all of our various companies and tie them together for maximum synergies. At Quicken Loans, we call this ‘pulling the threads.’”

After the launch of ThreadNation.com, Quicken Loans intends to incorporate social computing features like executive blogs or an “Idea Factory,” in which business proposals can be reviewed and rated. It also plans to add business collaboration tools like workflows and document libraries, with the goal of extending intranet portals to other companies in the family. “Eventually,” says McCallum, “we will have a single portal in which to store anything that crosses the boundaries of these companies. With SharePoint Server 2010, we’ve taken the first steps toward this exciting goal.”

Facing the demands of one of the largest producers and distributors of food and pet products in the U.S., Del Monte Foods wanted to automate more processes on its company intranet, including ones with higher levels of complexity. They turned to SharePoint 2010. “We see SharePoint Server as the focal point of collaboration, with other tools extending from it like spokes of a wheel,” says Jonathan Wynn, Manager of Advanced Technology at Del Monte Foods. “We will save time, boost efficiency, eliminate the potential for mistakes, reduce duplicated efforts, reduce paperwork—overall the SharePoint Server 2010 solution will help us become an even leaner organization.”

Battery giant Energizer Holdings, Inc. is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of primary batteries, portable battery-powered devices, and portable flashlights and lanterns. Their interest in SharePoint was as a way to communicate their fun, irreverent personality on a platform that promoted greater levels of interaction with consumers as well as incorporated more rich media. “With SharePoint Server 2010, we have so many options for engaging consumers with a more interactive and dynamic experience,” Karen Presnell, Assistant Brand Manager for Energizer states. “We want our Web site to be more of a destination for consumers, and SharePoint…will help us attract and build an Energizer community.”

As barriers to communication continue to erode, SharePoint Server evolves as a clear leader in the quest to capture the energy and productivity collaboration can create. Tapping the synergistic nature of an uninhibited communication flow, SharePoint helps companies and organizations fully mine resources in a way that past generations could only dream of. Click here to view article.

The five things we love about Windows 7

Valentine’s Day is finally upon us; as such there is a lot of love to go around. At Cal Net, we have lots of love for Windows 7. We have fallen head over heels for the Windows 7 migration and this is why:

1. Jump lists – can get you straight to what you look at the most. It’s like jumping on a computer trampoline!

2. Improved task bar and full screen previews.

3. Windows “Snap” – you can resize and rearrange windows quickly and easily.

4. Personalizing your PC – best ever… my PC is themed to fit my specific tastes.

5. Improved Search – makes it easier to find those files and emails that you thought were lost.

This Valentines Day my secret Valentine is definitely Windows 7! Click here to view more information on Windows 7…you may just fall in love.

Android app leads to a safer commute

When I drive I sometimes notice that the car in front of me, or the side of me is swerving a bit. I look to the driver and am usually encountered with the sight of seeing them on the phone.  This does not relieve my stress but makes me nervous that people are focused on what’s going on with their phone instead of the road. Now don’t get me wrong – I am a huge fan of all and everything app, technology or phone related. But typing on your Droid while driving is not the right way to play with technology.

However – there is now a solution! A new Android app called DriveSmart uses the GPS systems to lock the phone while it is in motion. The app directs calls to go straight to voicemail or your Bluetooth if it is turned on and auto replies back to texts letting the contact know that the owner of the phone is driving.

This is an amazing app that is paving the way for drivers to be more centered on the road instead of focused on their phone. It is important and will surely lead to less text related accidents on the road. Click here to view info on the DriveSmart app.

In 2010, apps were downloaded like never before

As a huge fan of mobile apps I am constantly logging into the app store on my smartphone to see all the cool new apps available. I have to admit I was not falling out of my chair when I found out that 2010 had an unprecedented amount of app downloads. People, including myself went a little bit “app crazy”.

Everyone knows I am an Angry Birds addict, but there are also many useful apps for business that make communication, emailing and attachments much easier to sift through on a tiny handheld device. You would think these would be the most downloaded apps of 2010…but drum roll please… they were the Angry Birds and Facebook apps! Not too surprising those are the ones I find myself fiddling around on during downtime.

What’s even more jaw dropping is the fact that in December alone, there were 300,000 free apps downloaded per day. That’s A LOT of app downloads. Click here to view Techcrunch.com’s article Report: Analysis Of The Great Mobile App Store Boom Of 2010.  You will be astounded at the amount of apps we are consuming.

The New Year brings new technologies

It’s the New Year! Now this does not only mean champagne toasts and New Years resolutions, but future changes in technology for the coming year. So what technological advances will we be seeing in 2011?

Well according to TechCrunch’s article Seven Technologies That Will Rock 2011, the predictions are centered on many aspects of social technologies including a site that is believed to surface in the same way as Twitter. This new site is called Quora. At the moment, Quora is creating much buzz in Silicon Valley. Quora is not only about following friends but instead following ideas, questions, or concepts.

Another prediction centers around The Cloud. The Cloud will become more streamlined so all forms of media will be available on all your devices. Whether it is having your favorite tune on your iPad, iPhone, Droid, TV, or computer without having to worry about the song not being able to link up to all your devices. It’s all about connecting technologies here.

Check out the whole list and be amazed with what is in store for 2011. Technologies ranging from mobile wallets to context aware apps are on the list. I raise my glass to a new year of technological advances.

iPad’s of the future with different Internet capabilities

If you were to tell me three months ago that Apple was about to release three new versions of the iPad I would never have believed it. What is the reasoning behind this I have to ask myself? Well while looking at CNET news I discovered this article, Rumor: Apple prepping three iPad 2 versions. As I nearly tumbled out of my desk chair, I read the article in a surprised fashion.

So what is this all about? Quite simply it is all about the ability to connect to the Internet. Each iPad will have different Internet connect abilities. One will only feature Wi-Fi while another will contain CDMA access. AND for all of you attached to your smartphones, one will have a Universal Mobile Telecommunications system, otherwise known as 3G technology!

Now at the moment these are only rumors. But I can definitely see Apple finding ways to have different Internet capabilities. Not everyone needs to be constantly connected while others do. Lets see what happens with Apple in the coming months.

New toys at the Consumer Electronic Show

Cal Net is aching for new toys and with the Consumer Electronics Show right around the corner, it looks like our wish is about to come true. New technology is always exciting, and the Consumer Electronics Show is where new technologies can meet and mingle.

One exciting new technology that will be unveiled is Intel’s Sandy Bridge Chip. This chip helps enhance graphics in a way that has never been done before.  Graphics technology is now put straight into a laptop. I have to say that I cannot wait to test this out! What can go wrong with Intel graphics put directly in the Central Processing Unit? It can only be faster and just plain better.

Dear, Consumer Electronics Show… be ready because here comes Cal Net to devour new technology. Click here to view info on the Sandy Bridge Chip line.

How I.T. companies must do more with less

As we are well into our recession, many I.T. companies have to take chances by doing more with less. Of course technology solutions are always sought in order to create better and more succinct results. Sometimes technology can reduce headcounts in order for things to be a bit more efficient and cost effective for any I.T. business.

In the current I.T. climate, this can actually be a good thing – specifically for software developers and application specialists. These specialists are important because they bring in more efficient ways of using technologies for any organization. It’s bad news for support staff that deal with infrastructures.

Now that cloud computing has come to the forefront, more traditional I.T. support will be a thing of the past.  It is important to keep up on the trends, or companies will be doing less when they could be optimizing their productivity in order to get ahead.

Apple in the SMB Workplace

Recently Cal Net Technology Group was featured in Channel Pro magazine’s “Apple in the SMB Workplace” article. SMBs have taken a shine to all things Apple, yet their limited IT resources are largely focused on Windows. Consider how to fill the gap and make Macs, iPhones, and iPads pay for you.

Click here to read what Cal Net’s President and CEO, Zack Schuler has to say in Channel Pro’s article.