‘Technology’
July 14th, 2010 in Technology No Comments
An Israeli technology startup is trying to radically change how teachers and students interact through the use of its new web-based software. The software was developed by a team of educators, software developers, and graphic and creative designers who have created a suite of tools ranging from course planning and classroom management to group collaboration and student assessment. Initially developed for grades four to six, there are already plans to expand to grades three to nine. (more…)
January 18th, 2010 in Technology No Comments
This article explores the prominent place of wireless charging solutions at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, focusing on large player Powermat, which unveiled a wide range of new wireless charging solutions based on its proprietary charging technology. In addition to the more than ten new phone models from companies like Blackberry, Nokia and Motorola that debuted with built-in Powermat charging, the author was impressed with Powermat’s new battery case receiver that instantly upgrades most cell phones to wireless charging with no change to the phones’ ergonomics or design. Also extolled are the company’s new single, double and triple position mats, receiver bundles and car chargers. (more…)
October 30th, 2009 in Technology 1 Comment
Today’s mobile workers often complain about office wireless connections while cellular carriers are grappling with a rapidly rising flood of traffic. This article shows readers how some technology vendors promise to address both of these problems at once.
Companies like Texas-based InnerWireless already offer “distributed antenna systems” to handle wireless connections inside hotels, hospitals and government offices. The antenna system market is particularly promising, notes the author, because of the flood of users of devices like Apple Inc.’s iPhone who are pulling tremendous amounts of data from the Internet. AT&T, the cellular carrier providing service for the iPhone, has seen wireless data growth on its network rise nearly 5,000 percent between 2006 and 2009. It and other cellular carriers are trying desperately to offload some of this traffic by encouraging the use of WiFi, the alternative wireless technology built into many laptops and many smart phones. They are also looking to technologies that take over wireless coverage inside buildings as a way to move traffic from their overburdened cell sites.
Silicon Valley startup SpiderCloud Wireless recently introduced technology that takes over delivering either cellular or WiFi signals to smart phones or laptops of office workers worldwide. The performance improvement is so dramatic that management there expects some customers to dispense with desk phones entirely and rely solely on cell phones. While other in-building wireless networks take months to install and are more suited to large companies, SpiderCloud’s technology seems inexpensive enough for even small companies to employ.
The article talks about SpiderCloud’s new system of access points installed in office ceilings that communicate with laptops and smart phones and its specialized servers that manage how the devices communicate with each other and the Internet. One industry analyst notes that other in-building systems route a call between two people in the same building outside to the wired portion of the carrier’s network which is already burdened with heavy traffic. SpiderCloud connects those people directly, inside the building, and offloads external traffic directly to the Internet, better reducing carrier data load. Its strategy is to sell the technology to cellular carriers and let them offer it in a service bundle to businesses.
Source: Don Clark, The Wall Street Journal (New York); Oct 30, 2009
October 21st, 2009 in Technology No Comments
October saw the introduction of the Jabra Pro 9400 and Jabra GO 6400, the first DECT and Bluetooth headset solutions, respectively, to feature a touch screen base that allows both mobile and office-based workers to seamlessly manage calls from their computer telephony, desk and mobile phones. Since employees away from their desks or out of the office can often miss important calls, many are citing headsets as critical tools in boosting office productivity. The Jabra series offers “always on” connectivity and the performance of a professional office headset with the ergonomic flexibility of mobile headsets. They also deliver a clearer, more natural audio experience through wideband sound transmission and Noise Blackout™ technology that eliminate virtually all background noise. The article concludes with information on prices and distribution.
Source: PR Newswire (New York), Oct 21, 2009
