Posts Tagged ‘Technology’

Every January in Las Vegas, Nevada, companies from around the globe set up booths at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). New products are showcased, companies scope out their competition and huge technology trends emerge.

One of the biggest trends coming out of CES this year was the “Ultrabook”. A term coined by Intel, an Ultrabook is essentially a computer in a category of thin and lightweight ultraportable laptops. Ultrabooks are designed to feature reduced size and weight and long battery life, while retaining strong performance.

So, with all its hype at CES, are Ultrabooks simply a consumer trend, or should you look at investing in them for your business? Here are three important factors to consider:

  • Portability – Ultrabooks are super slim and extremely light. For example, HP’s business Ultrabook, the Folio 13, weighs 3.3 pounds and is less than 18 millimeters – that’s as thin as a dime! The portability of an Ultrabook means it is easy to slip into your bag for an offsite meeting, or take travelling with you on business trips.

  • Battery Life – Ultrabooks are designed with long battery life (approximately 5-8 hours) so it is possible to get through the day often on a single charge. This extended battery life means ditching the power cord and the worry that your laptop might die in the middle of an important meeting.
  • CD/DVD Drives – To keep the design slim, most Ultrabooks do not have a drive to run CDs or DVDs. If this is important for your business to have, you can always consider purchasing an external drive to run CDs or DVDs when you need them.

Ultrabooks combine performance, style and mobility at a competitive price – making them a definite option for a small business. While some people may perceive them to be a trend right now, with all they have to offer, Ultrabooks are destined to become a permanent device for business users.

Guest post by John Cammalleri – Vice President, SMB and Partner Sales for HP Canada’s Personal Systems Group

By Donna Marrin

John’s desk has an annoying network of device cables hanging loose beneath it, and he’s been meaning to address the issue… As John prepares to leave the office one day, his foot gets caught in a printer cable. He trips and falls hard, injuring his shoulder, while the printing unit that sits at the edge of his desk topples onto his arm, fracturing it near the elbow.

It’s hard to think about this sort of thing happening to you, but an incredible number of workplace accidents occur every day, with slips, trips and falls being the leading cause of office injuries. Most workplace accidents are completely preventable. Awareness is the first step in creating a safe environment. And a little common sense always goes a long way.

• Sure, stubbing a toe can be funny. Breaking a limb is not. Disabling falls can be prevented by making sure that all open spaces are clear of electrical, telephone and computer cables, boxes, and other clutter.

• Eat your pancakes—don’t be one. File cabinets frequently topple forward when drawer weight is unevenly distributed. Always close one drawer before opening another.

• Unless you’re setting up for a Saturday Night Live skit, close all desk and cabinet doors and drawers before you walk away to prevent “walk into” accidents.

• You can wear a helmet around the office… or you can make sure supplies are stored inside cabinets, not on top of them, and heavy items placed in lower drawers or on the lowest shelves.

• Unless your workspace is an ice rink, be aware of any slippery surfaces. Drinks spilled on floors or even a dripping umbrella can be hazardous and should be cleaned up or identified immediately.

• Pay attention when you’re on the move. Don’t carry loads that block your view ahead. Not only can you trip and fall, you also become a human battering ram to the distracted coworker who walks head on into you. With that said, don’t read while walking, either. I know someone who slammed into a concrete post and knocked himself out cold while reading and walking.

• Not a fan of concussions? Then don’t climb on chairs, desks or boxes when you want to access something that’s out of reach. Use a secure stepladder instead, and have a spotter nearby.

• Handrails are in stairwells for a reason. Hold onto them when you’re descending OR ascending a staircase.

• No butts about it—millions of dollars in damages are caused each year by carelessly discarded cigarette butts. Here’s where that common sense comes into play: don’t throw matches, ashes or cigarette butts into wastebaskets.

• Hilarious in Christmas Vacation, but not so hilarious if overloaded wall sockets and extension cords turn you into a hill of ash at work. And you’ll get more than a full head of corkscrew curls if you mix wet hands and electrical switches, sockets, plugs.

• Keep an eye open for unsafe conditions caused by defective equipment, loose stairs or floorboards, torn carpet, slippery doormats, burned-out lightbulbs, etc., and report them to your manager immediately.

• No matter how much they’ve dared you to do it, do not lean back as far as you can in your chair!

Here’s to a safe 2012.

By Darrell Cook

The world today is experiencing information overload. Our daily lives are littered with incredible amounts of messages and stimuli that crowd our information processing to the point of breaking. If we try to pinpoint the source of all our stress, tension and even indecision, we might find that the culprit is the microchip. Advancing technology has created these vast information doorways with their never-ending corridors. We have built upon ways to gather, collect, formulate and dispense information more quickly than ever before in history. Google has changed the way we search for information; Apple has changed the way we surf the Web; and Facebook has changed the way we communicate. However, our capacity for taking on this plethora of content often feels insurmountable.

In order to manage all this information, we must develop our mental capabilities in ways that combat complexity. In short, we need to work on building habits that promote clarity and purpose to help us resurrect simplicity in our daily lives and dismiss the clutter that invades our grey matter on a regular basis.

Lately, I have been able to spend time with very successful people who have mastered their information traffic jam, and there seems to be a common pattern. Listed below are three helpful strategies to guide you away from a potential information overload problem.

Being present

Being present is about being in the moment and not living in the past or stargazing into the future. In our daily lives, information overload often creates vision and hope for great ideas, but it’s more important to focus on what’s happening right now. Think about conversations you have with people and how they feel when you are “in the moment” with them. They probably feel really connected to you. As a result, your relationship with them is heightened. You learn more about each other, and chances are they will want to promote you to others. Being present also generates a tremendous amount of consciousness, providing you with the energy and decision-making abilities that result in quick action. Being present is, above all, the most important step in dealing with information overload.

Removing complacency from success

After many years of coaching people, I have often found that when failure occurs, it springboards people into another gear, almost like adding rocket fuel. The emotions derived from failure spark action and drive people into a more focused mindset of deliverability. Conversely, I have also seen how brief encounters with success can act as a sedative for many. Often, people think that immediate success is sure to happen. Unfortunately, within an information-overloaded world, success is never sustaining. The competitive nature of our offerings and intellectual capital are soon captured online and our advantage is diminished rapidly. Successful people combat these issues by maintaining an “edge” or injecting a sense of urgency into innovative ideas. Keeping the focus on the added value of your unique skill in today’s business world will definitely separate you from the pack.

Leading in a digital world

Ask a good question and you will get a good answer. This adage is extremely important when you want to cut through all the clutter and complexity of problems that exist today. Successful people know how to ask the right questions, not necessarily the obvious ones. As information bombards us daily, it’s hard to determine whose opinions are the best. Although opinion makers in a digital world are quite well regarded, it is the leaders who dictate change and innovation. Leadership is about influence. The ability to set a direction, communicate it widely and, most of all, ask good questions to refine the direction is important. Leaders today know that teamwork is more important than ever, and that good teams create great results. At the root of it is the ability to know which questions need to be asked and acted upon.

Technology has propelled us forward faster than we could have imagined twenty years ago. Ironically, we are educating our youth about the future when we have no idea what’s in store for us. The world is an exciting new backdrop for bits and bytes of global content. It will be interesting to see how we navigate the tidal wave of information as the speed of communication continues to escalate. Buckle up — we are in for a bumpy ride!

Darrell Cook is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Conversys. His focus is to steward the North American growth for Digital Promotions Marketing. His career spans a wide range of technology and Internet companies throughout North America and the UK. From small start-ups to Fortune 500 firms, Darrell excels at bridging offline business processes with effective online channels. He is currently a Board of Director of the Retail Advertising and Marketing Club of Canada (RAC), and former Board of Director of the Internet Advertising Bureau of Canada.

Running a small business requires many tools, but one of the most important is access to the internet. When was the last time you thought about replacing your router? Watch the latest episode of Staples Tech TV to see the top five reasons why you should replace your router.

 

You already know how your BlackBerry smartphone makes it easier for you to run your business.  Now, Research in Motion has decided to sweeten the pot with the introduction of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.  The PlayBook is positioned as the “world’s first professional-grade tablet” and there are a few features that substantiate the claim:

  • Robust and stable QNX (pronounced “que-nix”) operating system.
  • Powerful hardware, including a dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM.
  • True multitasking capability and HDMI connectivity for presentations.
  • Encrypted Bluetooth® tethering with existing BlackBerry smartphones (running OS 5.0 or later).

The last feature listed is probably most relevant for businesses.  When pairing a BlackBerry smartphone to the BlackBerry PlayBook, users will gain expanded functionality of their PlayBook tablet – think of this feature as a larger window into the BlackBerry smartphone.

The secure connection (256-bit AES), known as BlackBerry Bridge, allows users to operate the BlackBerry smartphone email client and calendar on the PlayBook tablet (among other applications).  The advantage to users is a better graphical user interface and larger screen.  In addition, the secure BlackBerry Bridge connection also provides PlayBook owners a secure connection to the Internet using the BIS/BES BlackBerry smartphone connection.  Once the tethered connection is disconnected, all data is removed from the PlayBook tablet, ensuring maximum corporate security.  If you’re on the go and need to transfer sensitive data, the BlackBerry PlayBook / smartphone combination is your best option.  Very cool indeed.

To learn more about the BlackBerry PlayBook and to see videos of the tablet in action, follow the link below.

>>learn more about the BlackBerry PlayBook

So what do you think?  Could you see yourself integrating the PlayBook into your day to day business activities?

We’d love to hear from you!

By Elaine Mah

I was struck by a statement made by President Obama during his recent State of the Union address : “The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation.” What captivated me was the clarity of his vision, yet its successful execution is anything but clear. How do you foster innovation? It’s a question that all countries, not just the US, must ask if they have any intention of keeping their national economies productive and competitive.

One of the core challenges to encouraging innovation lies in how the notion itself is perceived. Far too often, innovation is used synonymously with invention, which is an unfair burden. Invention, the creation of something entirely new is, to me, a frankly terrifying idea. I know of nothing more idea-stunting than staring at a blank slate. Innovation should be seen as the subtle act of taking something we already know or do and, through modification, improve upon it in some manner or fashion.

A truly remarkable aspect of innovation is that we may not even be aware that significant change has occurred until someone else points it out to us. Incremental adjustments or improvements taking place over the course of doing business may not stand out to those working in the midst. This is especially true for smaller business owners who often do not have the luxury of investing in R&D or running trials in parallel to the main operation – it’s more than enough simply to keep the business running day to day.

Quite often, it takes an external party to highlight and acknowledge the achievement, which is why it’s important that business owners and management not operate in isolation. Actively seeking networking groups that allow managers and owners to interact and exchange ideas with peers can either provide insights into your operation or serve as a catalyst for change. It’s also good practice to review case studies that feature applied solutions and strategies proven to drive productivity, competitiveness and innovation. There are also many institutional or industry-led programs that aim to celebrate business innovation through inspiration or affirmation.

So getting back to the question I posed earlier, “how do you foster innovation?” I have no single, pat answer, but what is clear to me is that innovation cannot evolve in a vacuum. The more we talk about it, actively seek it, highlight and celebrate it, the more likely we are to accomplish it.

Elaine Mah joined Intel Canada in 2005 as Canadian Business Marketing Manager. She is responsible for Intel’s brand management, product positioning, product launch management and marketing research, as well as sales and integrated marketing communications, advertising and promotional campaigns designed to reach Canadian business customers. Prior to assuming this position, Elaine was Vice President at Sharpe Blackmore Euro RSCG, where she was responsible for planning and strategy on accounts including Direct Energy, Volvo, and Yahoo!, along with new business development. A marketing professional for over 20 years, Elaine received her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.

By News Canada

Profitability relies on keeping overhead costs in line while striking just the right balance with business performance. Start-up costs, especially, require careful planning to ensure every bit of equipment paves the way to revenues.

The bare necessities for your day-to-day administration usually include a desk, telephone, computer, printer, fax machine, and general desk supplies. Each business has its own unique essentials for making sales, but owners often ask: Of all the equipment available, what is wisest investment? Or put another way: What products do the most successful businesses not do without?

“These questions are the right ones for a start up, and should be asked again as the business grows,” says Steve Matyas, president of Staples Canada. “It’s always valuable for business people to learn from each other through industry associations, or with general networking in person and online. Business blogs serve this purpose for time-strapped entrepreneurs.

And when it comes to the wisest investments, here is this retailer’s Top 5 Tools list for leading you directly to the money:

1. Own the best notebook: Efficient time-management is maximized if records and files are kept up-to-date everywhere you go. Equip yourself with the very latest laptop technology, like the HP Probook line. The features of the 4320 model includes: built-in wireless; DVD and Bluetooth capability; 2.26 GHz Intel Core i3-350 M processor with 4 GB memory; 320 GB hard drive; 13.3” LED-backlit HD display; and the latest Windows operating system with a spill resistant keyboard and top energy efficiency.

2. Carry data on your key chain: USB drives today are lighter and more durable than ever. Take a look at the Verbatim Tuff-N-Tiny line. It’s penny-thin, travel-tough, resists dust and water, and fits into all standard USB ports. With a choice of 8 or 16 GB data storage potential, you can share files with customers and co-workers easily – and take it with you on your key chain.

3. Buy a mobile mouse: Business activity is often on the road, so the latest tool is a wireless mouse with built-in receiver to let you operate up to six devices. The Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX allows better precision on a wider range of surfaces, including clear glass and lacquered desks. This mouse conforms to your business needs, including hyperfast scrolling from zero to 10,000 lines in 7 seconds. With its tiny wireless receiver, there’s no need to plug it in or deal with the hassle of multiple receivers.

4. Be wireless instantly: The Valet line is a breakthrough product to quickly and simply make your home or business wireless. The Easy Setup USB Key gets you connected to the Internet in 3 simple steps. And, Cisco Connect software lets you quickly link and manage your other wireless devices. With Valet, the set up is a breeze and you can connect additional computers, block unwanted websites, and give temporary passwords to visiting customers.

5. Calculate the profit: Owning at least one HP Calculator is essential for any deal, big or small. Hewlett-Packard has designed many models and very popular for small business is item HP 17-BII with more than 250 built-in functions and date calculations. This calculator has RPN and algebraic entry-system logic; 28 KB user memory, plus the HP Solve functionality which will calculate any variable without re-writing the equation. Guided by the right calculator, you’ll keep overheads low and revenues high.

By: Gillian Earle, Toronto Hydro

There are five easy and effective ways to make your business more eco-friendly and better manage electricity costs:

1. Upgrade your lighting with conservation in mind. You can find small business incentive programs available at many utility companies throughout Canada. For example, small businesses in the Toronto area are invited to participate in Toronto Hydro’s Power Savings Blitz program by having conservation retrofits up to $1,000 completed for free. Through the program, older T12 fluorescent technology lights are replaced with newer T8 fluorescent lights, which will help save up to 25 per cent in operating costs. Traditional EXIT signs (which, by law, must be illuminated whenever the building is occupied, often for 24 hours-a-day) are also replaced with newer, efficient light-emitting diode (LED) signs. It’s an energy waster of up to 30 watts replaced with as little as 2 watts, and LED bulbs can last 10 years without needing replacement. If you do change your lighting, please ensure your contractor is disposing of ballasts and fixtures in an environmentally friendly manner.

2. During the holiday season, consider decorating your business with LED light strings. You’ll reduce energy costs by up to 85%!

3. The truth is, all electronics consume more energy if you leave them running rather than turning them on and off. Be sure to switch equipment, computers, monitors, photocopiers and appliances off when they are not in use. Upgrading older electronics to ENERGY STAR® products will also result in cost savings.

4. The most simple way to see results is to teach staff energy saving tips such as temperature control or using natural lighting when available, and they can apply this knowledge at work and at home.

A variety of conservation programs are available for small businesses through local utilities. Most offer incentives for participation and all offer the benefits of conserving electricity and seeing the savings add up month after month on your electricity bill.

Here’s an example of how one small business owner recognized the importance of conservation:

Being the owner or operator of a small business requires a lot of decision-making, especially when it comes to keeping profits up and operating costs down. Recognizing the importance of conservation is one of the easiest ways to begin reducing your operating costs. Simple actions such as turning lights and electronics off when not in use will make a difference on your electricity bills at year end. Besides these basic measures, there are many conservation programs offered by local utilities throughout Canada, designed and targeted specifically to address the unique issues faced by small businesses.

Call your local utility company to enquire about business incentive programs available for small businesses. For example, Toronto Hydro is currently promoting their Power Savings Blitz, to help make area small businesses more efficient. This program was created for Toronto Hydro’s retail business or small office customers—such as dry cleaners, grocery stores, restaurants, flower shops and other small retailers—with an annual electricity demand of less than 50 kW. The program offers up to $1,000 in free energy-efficient upgrades, with a goal of helping participants save money on their electricity bills.

Typical upgrades include: overhead lighting such as T-8 fluorescent tubes and compact florescent bulbs, which could save up to 25 per cent in operating costs; LED exit lights—these newer signs use as little as 2 watts, and the LED bulbs can last 10 years without needing replacement; water heater insulation blankets and hot water pipe insulation; and faucet aerators.

Shabnam and Frank Weber

Shabnam and Frank Weber

The proof is really in the electricity conservation pudding, although it’s not recommended for eating!

Shabnam and Frank Weber participated in the Power Savings Blitz through their business, Tea Emporium Inc.
“Toronto Hydro changed two dozen regular bulbs to compact, fluorescent bulbs. From a lighting perspective, it looks the same—nice and warm. And we’ve also noticed some savings on our bills!”

Using less electricity is good for your businesses bottom-line, and it’s the right thing to do for the environment. Some forms of electricity generation create greenhouse gas and other pollution. Generating less impacts climate change and improves air quality. It’s easy to do your part—just say “YES” to conservation.

For more information on the programs your business can take advantage of, check with your local utility company.

Have you found ways to save “green”  for your business this year or set any goals to? If so, we’d love to hear about them!

By Mike Robinson

Whether you’re concerned with megahertz, gigabytes or battery life, buying a laptop nowadays can be a confusing, if not overwhelming experience. The simple guidelines below will help you understand the basics before you buy your next laptop computer.

Laptops are categorized into four main groups:

Netbook laptops: Small and compact with a 10″ or smaller LCD screen. Perfect for surfing the Web, handling emails, word processing, etc.

Ultra-mobile laptops: Thin and light with a 12″ or 13″ LCD screen and extended battery life. Ideal choice for people do a lot of traveling while they work.

Mainstream laptops: The most common category, with a 14″ to 17″ LCD screen and lots of power. Still portable, though heavier than the ultra-mobile laptops.

Desktop replacement: Replaces the desktop computer and features a 17″+ LCD screen. Fully capable of handling your HD video, gaming, media needs and more.

To help guide you toward the buying decision that you’ll be most satisfied with, take some time to review your long-term requirements before you determine which category will best complement your lifestyle and work needs.

Once you have narrowed down your category, you need to consider the speed, feeds and other preferences you require. These are factors that will drive the cost up or down.

CPU (Intel or AMD Processor) will usually drive the price of the laptop more than any other component. Today’s technology provides consumers with a vast array of performance options to choose from. For basic computing, users will be satisfied with more entry-level technologies, while the power user will always want the best. It really comes down to how future-proof you want your purchase to be. Unless you really need cutting-edge performance, a good rule of thumb is not to buy the most expensive product on the shelf, but something in the middle—a decision that will give you the best bang for your buck. Your laptop computer’s productive lifespan should last between two and four years.

Memory is another “how much do I need” question to be considered. With today’s systems, 3 GB or more is the standard. Windows 7 will run optimally on 2 GB or 3 GB; as a rule, the more the better. For netbooks, 1 GB is the standard for most, if not all current models.

Hard drive capacity in GB (gigabytes) is a measure of how much data your computer can manage. The good news—today’s laptop computers feature larger drives (320 GB or more) and prices that have decreased significantly.

Connections (USB, HDMI, etc.) are also a common consideration among most models. Some will feature more USB ports than others, while others will offer HD video output. Again, the choice hinges on your current needs, as well as what you may need a year from now.

Ultimately, selecting the category (directly tied to screen size) that best suits your needs will be your first decision. Your choices that follow will depend on your performance needs and budget.

To learn more information, the computer consultant at any STAPLES store in Canada will be happy to help.

 

Mike Robinson is a Purchasing Manager specializing in Computer Hardware for Staples Canada.

By Clare Kumar

Investing time in getting organized may sound like the last thing you need to add to your “to do” list. However, just as you need to spend money to make money, you need to spend time to make time. And who doesn’t need more of that?

Simply answer the following questions to better organize your office space and boost productivity:

1. What exactly do you do?

Assess the activities you engage in and determine the office furniture and storage tools required to support them. Your processes may have changed since you first set up the space, or you may have inherited a space that worked for someone else. To be most productive, your office space should be designed so that you are comfortable while you work. If you spend a lot of time writing, make sure you have a space conducive to the task. If you hold in-person meetings, create a comfortable space for guests.

In my work as a professional organizer, I often see binders piled in filing cabinets, or papers piled on bookcases. Look in your office for “mismatched” systems that are often difficult, if not impossible, to use. To avoid information pile-up, know how you like to retrieve information and ensure your office storage systems reflect that.

Think about

  • furniture: desks, tables, chairs, stands for computer peripherals
  • storage pieces: drawers, filing cabinets, bookshelves, desktop file folders, lateral sorters
  • functional equipment: white boards, bulletin boards, coat racks, keyboard trays, footrests

2. What goes where?

Just as with regular real estate, office ‘real estate’ is all about location, location, location. Areas at arm’s length are considered prime space. Desk surfaces should be reserved for projects you are actively working on. Often-used office supplies should be close at hand, ideally in drawers that are part of or near your desk. Drawer organizers are effective at corralling smaller supplies, making them faster to retrieve.

Reference materials and seldom-used supplies can be stored farther away—in filing cabinets, on bookshelves or in storage cupboards. Archived items are used least and can therefore be stored in the most remote locations.

Peripherals such as fax machines, scanners, back-up hard drives, routers and cables should be stored and managed so as not to create a busy environment in your immediate working space. Cable management systems can help create visual order by reducing chaos and functional order by making it easy to identify each item. 

3. What about comfort?

A comfortable space is a productive space. It pays to be aware of proper ergonomics when selecting furniture and storage pieces. Ensuring desk surfaces and keyboards are at an ideal height can improve comfort and avoid repetitive strain injuries. Carpal tunnel sydrome and rotator cuff tendinitis are just two examples of injuries which can result from of poorly configured workstations. Not only will you suffer a loss in productivity, you could end up with permanent damage.

Chairs are not one-size-fits-all, so if you spend a lot of time sitting, it is worth understanding just how customizable they can be. Look for height and chair back adjustability, a seat pan that fits your body and arm rests that can be moved to best support you.

To make telephone use more comfortable, consider speakerphones or headsets. Locating printers a few steps away will encourage more mobility in your workday.

Your lighting should also be examined. You’ll want a mixture of ambient lighting and task lighting for focused work. Natural lighting cannot be over-rated. For every hour of focused work, whether it be writing or on the computer, take five minutes to look out a window. Your eyes will thank you.

Invest some time in getting organized. It’s a worthwhile investment that will pay you back, every day.

 

ClareClare Kumar is the founder and Chief Organizer at Streamlife, an organizing company. Clare works with business owners and employees to drive greater productivity and peace of mind through better organization at work and at home. An industry expert, Clare also creates new products to help people remove the ‘bumps’ from their day. If there’s something you do every day that’s slowing you down, she wants to hear from you.