Tuesday, June 4, 2013
TWIF Flattener 3 - Work Flow Software
Use one of the current events sources linked at http://svhs-hwc-fall2013.blogspot.com/2013/06/approved-sources-for-twif-current.html to find a recent news article that relates to, supports, or refutes Friedman's assertion that work flow software was a "flattener." Your comment should include the title of the news article, a link to the article, and a summary of the article including an explanation of how the article relates to this point. Don't forget to check your rubric for evaluation criteria!
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Facebook Software Puts It Front And Center On Adroid Phones
ReplyDeletehttp://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/facebook/?_r=0
In the article, the release of Facebook's new, mobile software is aimed to generate and increase usage because of its conceptual integration into Google's Android operating system. The new software allows phone owners to view Facebook uploads and posts when the phone is turned on. The software also aims to increase individual Facebook use with facilitated means of access. This article relates to work flow software being a flattener because software has expanded so that social networking and cell phones now utilize it as an important coalition between two effects. Moreover, the software that Facebook is using creates an efficient way to communicate around the world through Facebook, which was basically the goal of work flow software in businesses. The clever inclusion of Facebook into cell phones creates another way for the world to become flatter since Facebook is means of communication between any two friends. Additionally, this software does not limit Facebook users with the software to only be able to communicate with other users of the same software, but allows those with the software to continue communication with anyone that has Facebook. That example shows that work flow software does not only have to flatten the world of those possessing it, but it can flatten the world for anyone with the initial social networking site. To wrap up, the creation of this software supports that work flow software not only flattens the business world, but has also expanded to flatten the world of social networking.
Oracle and Salesforce: a Data-Sharing Deal
ReplyDeletehttp://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/oracle-and-salesforce-a-data-sharing-deal/
This article from the New York Times discusses a newly formed alliance between software giants Oracle Corporation and Salesforce.com. Previously rivals, these two companies have decided to combine the software of Salesforce with the cloud computing of Oracle to easily share and integrate data between each other's applications. In essence, Salesforce's applications will rely heavily on Oracles supported database. This supports Friedman's theories on work flow software being a flattener because the article expresses that the alliance will increase the variety of what can be done on both Salesforce and Oracle business software. In the book, Friedman explicitly makes an example of Salesforce.com as great work flow software; it brought many companies and divisions of companies a software that gave standardized pipelines that were able to send messages between machines of all sorts without operation by human beings. With this alliance, Oracle and Salesforce.com softwares will be able to talk to each other with ease through cloud computing. With the sudden rise of cloud computing in recent years, this alliance can increase Salesforce's exposure even further around the globe. And for Oracle, they will receive greater amounts of business exposure due to the large amount of corporations of all sizes that use Salesforce.com as their go-to business software. Essentially, this alliance increases what both companies' software will have the capability to do on their web-based business software.
The Reply To Email Overload? Prioritize — Or Turn It Off
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/07/26/205506993/the-reply-to-email-overload-prioritze-or-turn-it-off
Friedman notes that email can help the work flow, which today would be an obvious observation. Emails are an easy form of contact inside a business or between separate businesses when no one has time to be on the phone or use other types of communication. But the NPR article explains that email can help, but it can also hurt a business. Some people can get thousands of emails a day, and as Linda Stone, former Microsoft and Apple executive explains, emails can distract workers from their daily goals. Stone states that multitasking, reading and responding to emails while working on other things for example, simply reduces the quality of the work. Her opinion is that email gets in the way, and multitasking effectively is impossible, so sometimes it is better to just turn email off to get things done. Businesses have come full circle on the subject of email: at first it was revolutionary and helped the work flow like nothing else, and it has grown and changed to the point that it can now hurt a business. The article states that businesses will need to keep adjusting and tinkering with the work flow, especially where email is involved, to keep it moving at an effective pace.
Ebay users hit by site problems
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23812366
This article written by BBC explains troubles that users are having with eBay. The article explains how users are having problems login and account management. The site has pre- warned users that this will happen and that it is sorry for the inconvenience. This still does not bode well with users and they say it takes too much time. This article refutes what Friedman says about workflow software and eBay. Friedman says that eventually we will all use sites like eBay to buy much of the stuff we buy today. This article refutes his arguments by showing the obvious kinks that sites like eBay still have. The article says that the service to the site took longer than was expected and many companies and individuals tweeted about the disturbance. By these sties shutting down it is hampering the business ability to thrive in some cases and they cannot make money off of these sites.
Baidu launches app preview service
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23808494
Chinese search engine, Baidu, will allow people to start previewing mobile apps without actually downloading them. This will give people the opportunity to try out an app before actually downloading it. This would allow apps that are not well know to be tried out, and then downloaded if liked. Currently, about .1% of apps make up 70% of downloads, showing that apps that are not well known do not get downloaded. The Light App platform would give exposure to apps, yet still allow app creators to bring in revenue through conventional methods such as downloads or in-app purchases. It also plans to add services such as online payment and travel guides. This relates to Friedman’s third flattener because software is expanding and is now available on mobile phones to be used for daily life. Friedman talks about companies such as Microsoft giving consumers the opportunity to download internet software for their company. He explains AJAX also allows people to have the opportunity to get business software online. Now, software can be downloaded onto mobile devices. People can view software before actually downloading it to save money and ensure that they pick the best possible software. There is software that can be downloaded onto mobile phones to keep track of bank account data and much more. This article supports Friedman’s third flattener because software is always changing and being able to be downloaded on different platforms and devices. This shows that the world is getting flatter because now software can be downloaded onto mobile devices rather than secluded to just home or work computers.