Technology

IT users are frustrated by failure

Judi Hasson — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:28:39 -0500

A new study by Pew Research finds that the public does not see technology as particularly user-friendly, with nearly half of all consumers saying they need help setting up their devices or learning how to use them. It's understandable, but ironic. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, not give us headaches. Even after everything is up and running, the poll found that chances of problems are relatively common.

The survey found that many users experienced high failure rates that included home Internet access 44 percent of respondents, computers 39 percent, cell phones 29 percent, smart phones 26 percent, and music players 15 percent. One might assume this would be a source of great frustration, but 72 percent of respondents said they were confident they would be able to fix the device anyway after using a range of available options.

While some found their own solution, and others called customer support or found a tech-savvy friend, only 2 percent tried to have their problem fixed by looking for a solution online.

For more about ignoring online solutions:
- see this profy.com article

A bad diagnosis for e-medical records

Judi Hasson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:48:14 -0400

The great promise of electronic medical records, a quick way for doctors to improve diagnoses, reduce errors and improve the quality of patient care, remains a dream rather than a reaiity. Technology, it turns out, is not the major problem. There is no doubt that the health care industry has been held back by loose and overlapping technical standards and poor interoperability among the different types of health information systems. But Computerworld reports that the biggest obstacle stems from the lack of financial incentives for most health care providers to invest in using electronic records internally, or to share the data with other providers. The federal government has a pilot program, and some institutions have taken the lead, but who will pay for the needed IT transition remains unresolved and the biggest impediment to substantial progress.

For more on health records:
- see this Computerworld article

How to avoid server remorse

Judi Hasson — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:15:26 -0400

Purchasing a new server or servers is a key business decision for IT professionals. You need to know how much processing power and storage capacity is required, and must be able to provide the right infrastructure for your company. But it is easy to slip up, spending huge sums on technology that either doesn't work the way you anticipated or is quickly outmoded. Inc.com has some basic tips to avoid server purchasing mistakes, and to help you prepare to make that big purchase pay off.

One key piece of advice: Don't think short-term by underestimating capacity and buying too small. Another suggestion: Be aware, in advance, of what people, tools and processes will be key to keeping the server running. The experts also suggest not loading up essential data on one server in the event of a breakdown, knowing your server's power needs and planning for environmental requirements, including temperature controls.

For details on purchasing pitfalls:
- Check out this Inc.com article

How CIOs can gain corporate clout

Judi Hasson — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:11:57 -0400

Patrick Gray, author of "Breakthrough IT: Supercharging Organizational Value through Technology," said CIOs often have a "robust knowledge of the processes and practices" of nearly every facet of their corporation but do not always use it to their advantage. His advice: Find a way to get a seat at the corporate table and a place in the strategic planning process. "Innovation is the CIO's 'secret weapon' that bridges the gap between other members of the C-suite focused on individual process areas, and the CEO, responsible for steering the company at the highest level," said Gray. "Acting to bridge the two moves the CIO from the periphery of the C-suite players into the inner sanctum."

For more advice:
- check out this TechRepublic.com article