In Back to the Future, Marty McFly travels back in time, from 1985 to 30 years earlier, arriving in a suped-up DeLorean to 1955. While in the past, he subsequently messes-up his parent’s first meeting, and must then change history while he attempts to get them together to insure his own existence.  Likewise, in the film’s first sequel, Marty travels through time to help his children.  In the futuristic vision there are hover boards and flying cars.  Though fanciful, we can see areas where the world we live in mirrors much of what’s occurring in both films – but are we truly closer to the technology found in Hill Valley in 1955, or in the film’s futuristic sequel?

Where did we think we would be by 2011? Certainly there’d be flying cars and hover boards, wouldn’t there?  Yet, we’re still driving fuel-burning cars, riding bicycles and scooters, all traveling on the ground rather than through the air. Of course the computer is important to our everyday lives, but what of the other technology around us?  In essence, the things we use most haven’t changed very much in the last 70 years. By 1940, the TV had been invented; cars were equipped with air conditioning and radios, and films were in color.  The special effects in 1939’s Wizard of Oz still hold-up today.

Science-Fiction movies made decades ago have influenced and even prophesied many of the tools and machines we use today.  In Total Recall, Arnold is caught bringing a gun through a full-body x-ray screener, very much like the security measures present in airports today.  Tom Cruise, in Minority Report uses tech very familiar to anyone who’s ever used a touch-screen tablet or seen 3D TV.  In Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Pan Am flies everyday individuals into space.  Anyone who has $200,000 lying around can board Richard Branson’s similar airship.

Today we can communicate with Jetson-like videophones, communicate with the other side found on earth on your pc for hours – for free. We have such science-fiction movie staples as cloning, genetic engineering, laser surgery and more. Yet are we closer to 1950’s tech or the science fiction dreams of the 2050s? In the mental picture so many of us had about the 21st century, we’re no closer to flying our car to work as Dorothy was to finding her way back to Kansas when she first landed in Oz.

Ultimately, there are advances seen around us everywhere to remind us that the future is occurring now: Video billboards, the internet tracking our every move for our advertising dollars, 3D television, movies that cost $13 for some reason. But here is where the more things change the more they stay the same: Chevrolet is still making convertibles, Universal is still making movies, and you can still watch Back to the Future any time you want — though I’d skip that 2nd one and go directly to the third.

Do you find yourself agonizing over every little detail? Does it take you 3 times as long to complete a task because you are trying to get it “just right?” If so, you might be a perfectionist? It’s not an uncommon personality trait to see in the business world and it can help to push people to attempt to do their best. In extreme cases, though, it leads to wasted time and resources.  The outcome usually doesn’t justify the immense effort that went into it. If you find yourself in the web of extreme perfectionism, here are a few tips that can lead you out.

Make a Decision and Stick to it
You make good decisions; that is why you are managing the projects you are working on. So when you make a decision, stick to it. Try not to second-guess yourself – this just wastes time. Who’s to say your fourth or fifth decision will be any better or beneficial? If you start that second-guessing game, it can spiral out of control!

Trus t your Employees
When you unveil your plan to your employees they will inevitably have opinions. Listen to what they have to say! If they tell you it’s a good idea, trust them. This will stop you from falling into the questioning game. Also, their skills are your resources, so trust them to execute their part of the plan well. You hired them because you trust their stills, right? And lastly, before you get settled into your plan make sure you…

Have a Plan B
Sometimes things get fouled up, so be prepared with a backup plan. This will not only keep you from panicking, but will keep you mentally flexible for change. Flexibility is a great trait to have in business because things always change. You can’t plan everything perfectly, so stretch that part of yourself by having a plan to fall back on.

There is a fine line between perfectionism and having a critical eye. It’s essential to always strive for the best, but worrying about getting something perfect is harmful to the project and your mental health. The steps I’ve outlined above will help you to free yourself from the perfectionist mindset, if you find yourself there. Here is a great article about avoiding the pitfalls of perfectionism all together.

Everyday, it seems, a new technological advancement pops up in news-feeds and broadcasts everywhere. In homage to these inventions and innovations, the Technological community comes together to vote on the most cutting edge of these advances, and the winners are announced at the T3 Gadget Awards Ceremony. Over 960,000 votes were cast this year, and the winners ultimately chosen with the help of a 6 person expert panel.  Here are a number of interesting—and sometimes ironic—choices for winners.  Please check out the full list of categories and winners here. 

Ironic Winners

One of the most interesting aspects of the Awards are the categories themselves. They run the gamut of technology, and aren’t completely focused on gadgetry. For example, there’s the Best Retailer award and even the Gadget Personality of the Year award.  It is in this category that one can find an ironic choice: Mark Zuckerberg.  Although his influence on modern communication can’t be ignored, few would argue that he’s got Clooney-like charisma. And then there’s the category of Best Commuting Device in which anything that helps you get from here to there can be included. So, the electric bicycle nominee may appear like an obvious choice. The winner, in fact, was the Amazon Kindle — which makes “getting there” easier, as long as you’re not riding the electric bicycle while reading it!

Influential Winners

One of the most interesting awards, Digital Media Service of the Year, was a small surprise, seeing as Mark Zuckerberg walked off with the Personality of the Year.  Instead, it was Twitter that beat out Facebook and Google for this influential award.  Surely the CEOs of giants like Apple, Google and Facebook aren’t crying themselves to sleep over their T3 Award losses.  However, they must definitely take note that Twitter’s win speaks volumes in relation to where social media is headed.  Facebook must continue to innovate and not upset their community, or they may well end up lost and forgotten like MySpace.

Surprising Winners

If you were to question the average passerby which phone would win Phone of the Year, most would probably say the iPhone 4.  Again, though, because a very tech-savvy crowd cast the votes, the votes went to Samsung’s Galaxy S II.  Google won the Tech Brand of the Year, beating out rivals Apple and Facebook.  Although it’s just the “T3 Gadget Awards,” Google is in a much better position among the tech community in terms of brand recognition and maybe overall importance.

In the final analysis, the 2011 T3 Gadget Awards provided some fascinating insight into where technology is headed.  Some of the winners were surprising, with Samsung taking a number of Awards, showing that it’s not just the Giants in the industry making all the waves.  Please take some time to check out the complete list of Awards, categories and nominees.  You can even go back to 2008; the first year votes were cast, and see how much technology has changed, who the winners were in the past and whether or not they’re still relevant today.

Becoming “greener” is a hot topic lately, not only amongst the public but also in high-tech companies. Many businesses are looking into green tech as a way to save energy , save the environment, or to simply save money. One of the primary things you must know when looking into conserving energy is what uses the most energy?

At the CEATEC conference this month in Japan, Toshiba and Intel announced some of their upcoming plans to more easily allow companies to watch their energy usage. In this “Green Age,” it’s no surprise to see major players in the technology world coming forward with big developments that allow more regulation and monitoring of the amount of energy being used. Below are a few of the ecologically-forward changes and additions these two companies announced they will be implementing in 2012.

Intel

PC users will be able to monitor the energy consumption of their PC with the application Intel has developed. With an easy to read dashboard where the data is organized and displayed in graphs, charts, and statistics, you will be able to much more easily see how your computer is using energy.

Toshiba

Toshiba is combining their recently acquired Landish Gyr smart-meter tech with some of their own developments to bring a “smart home” offering to the table. The “smart home” gives people understanding of the energy consumption inside their homes. Toshiba is also creating a variety of cloud technologies for energy monitoring that will be available to many different types of industries including healthcare and city infrastructure.

Japanese technology companies are presently highly dedicated to monitoring energy consumption. That being said, it is interesting that many companies in the US are pulling away from this. Microsoft and Google are just two examples. Microsoft announced in June that they are discontinuing their energy-monitoring service called Hohm. While Google announced it is taking a break from the green game by shutting down Google Powermeter.

We will see what he future holds for the green technology world. It may well head further towards energy monitoring or turn to something else entirely. If you have any ideas or speculation on how technology companies will become greener; please share them with us.

The first time we heard the news that Apple was coming out with the next iPhone, we were as giddy as schoolchildren.  We all hoped that that it was going to be a game changing iPhone 5.  But, alas, it was not meant to be.  Instead, and with much fanfare, we got the iPhone 4S and we could only help but ask – is it just an iPhone 4 with a few more bells and whistles? Would it truly be worth the long wait in line?. Was the 4s going to be revolutionary or evolutionary?  This is a brief look at the 3 most noticeable upgrades found in the iPhone 4S.

Software

Maybe the most noticeable of the iPhone 4S upgrades can be found in its speed and power.  The 4S features a dual-core A5 chip found in the iPad 2, which makes opening apps, loading the browser, scrolling through home screens and countless other procedures much faster and smoother.  Apple states that the iPhone 4S is twice as fast as the iPhone 4, and exhibits seven times its graphical prowess.

Siri

Perhaps the most interesting addition in the 4S is the introduction of Siri, a voice controlled personal assistant that can help you schedule lunch dates, find restaurants or see what the weather is like in Denver just by talking to it in a conversational voice.  “Tell Jodi that I’m running late and need to reschedule my meeting” is a good example of how Siri can parse your information, find a specific person and complete the task for you. A down-side, however, is that it is still a work in progress, and many times Siri can’t handle the data in the question, and simply gives you a humorous reply.  Which is funny at first, but loses the humor after a few weeks.  Here’s another take on the topic: http://www.forbes.com/sites/benzingainsights/2011/10/17/is-siri-seriously-awesome-or-seriously-flawed/

iCloud

Similar to MobileMe, iCloud allows you to access all of your most critical data, pictures, apps, music and photos from any device, whether you access it from the device the content was created on, or if you want to use your iPad to show your friends a picture you took using your iPhone. One downfall, however, is that for users used to MobileMe’s specific syncing procedures, the user id it created doesn’t “play well” with iCloud. At the same time, iCloud doesn’t recognize email accounts like Yahoo or Gmail as they don’t contain a me.com email address.  Although it’s fantastic technology, the fact that it still has what appear to be fairly obvious faults makes it that much more frustrating to Apple enthusiasts.

Ultimately, the iPhone 4S was predestined to be a huge seller worldwide – but are its upgrades worth the wait?  The solution mostly depends on the type of user you are. If you want to have the most cutting-edge product available, with improved hardware, camera, voice controls and iCloud, it may be something to consider.   If the iPhone or other mobile phone you’re using gets you where you want to go, its good to know that the iPhone 4S is more of an evolution than revolution – but its pretty cool none-the-less.

Many industries have changed because of the cloud. Massive quantities of information can be stored and shared easily in the cloud. And with the popularity of tablets people can access it quickly. This has improved the way creative people do business, below are a few examples if this.

Portfolios
Portfolios used to be limited to what you could physically carry with you and difficult decisions had to be made about what to leave in and what to cut when putting together a portfolio. Now portfolios can be stored in the cloud, organized into categories appropriate to different clients, and accessed quickly on tablets. As you can imagine, this allows for quick interactions that can produce more opportunities.

Creative Collaboration
Collaboration used to be a word that had spatial limitations. You could easily work with individuals in your immediate vicinity, but working with someone across the globe was time intensive and difficult. It required sending huge files back and forth, often resulting in duplicate copies and confusion. Now, you can work on the same file simultaneously with only one copy being updated. By dropping the previous restrictions, creative collaboration has not only become easier, but faster as well.

Brainstorming
Mind mapping is a great way to brainstorm and when done in conjunction with the cloud, the quantity of people that can give their impute is not limited. You can access these files on tablets, work with local collogues, and update the shared file for everyone. These elements break down the distance barrier that has limited idea brainstorming in the past.

When the mobile capabilities of tablets are paired with the cloud, creativity can happen anywhere at anytime and with anybody.

Computers are prized possessions, regardless of what you use them for. They provide a practical value with regard to the processes they help us automate, but there is also an economic value which should be considered. The high cost carried by computers means they are tempting targets for any thief. Here are a few quick tips to consider when beefing up your computer’s security.

Physical Security

All computers are portable, even if they are desktop models. A thief is more than happy to do a quick grab and run, leaving you with nothing but a few cords and a monitor. To further secure your computer, try adding a security cable. These cables are generally locked with a key, and cost only $40. They are both easy to install and simple to operate, and add a level of physical safety to your computer that is priceless.

Data Security

Computer’s are worth more than the sum of their physical parts. When a computer is stolen, the thief may have access to your personal information and data. Even if your computer is password protected or your data is encrypted, the information stored within could, theoretically, be accessed. Because of this, it’s a good practice to store your bank account, credit and social security information in a different location. Having your identity stolen on top of losing your computer would only add insult to injury.

Keeping Track

You’ve probably heard of computer tracking software and services. If a thief steals your computer, especially a laptop, using a computer tracking service enables you to track down your lost computer and increases the chances of it being retrieved safely. While these apps can be installed on any computer, it’s important to note that they can be rendered ineffective if your hard drive is wiped clean. However, they are still a valuable safeguard and have been successful in numerous computer theft cases.

While all of these tips are useful in keeping your computer safe, there is no replacement for common sense and reasonable vigilance. Make sure to take good care of your computer; chances are it takes good care of you.

Portable computing has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, bringing tablet and smartphone devices to the front lines of technological advancement. These gadgets are capable of doing some awesome things, but to what extent do they actually replace the use of the classic PC? Glitz and glamour aside, the personal computer remains to be the most practical option for a wide range of computing needs. Though tablets and smartphones seem to be the dominating technological force at the moment, PC lovers need not fear. Here are the top three reasons why the PC isn’t going anywhere.

Desktops Are Still Needed

    Tech critics have long predicted the death of the personal computer. However, PCs are still alive and well and, obviously, much needed. There are certain functional and physical limitations that always seem to keep desktop computers as the most powerful option. Even if technology eventually advances to a place where a current desktop’s power fits into a tablet, think how much power will then be able to fit into a desktop where that same technology is applied! No matter how sophisticated portable technologies become, desktops will always be the superior option in terms of pace and strength.

Tablets Are Less Practical

    Tablets are great tools, useful in a variety of situations. While a tablet offers some great portability options, the PC is still the preferred machine for sophisticated computing. There are some tasks that are easier to complete on a PC based on practical sizing and style. A personal computer is superior for composing long documents, running complicated programs and even surfing the web to the full extent of Internet functionality. All of this to say, PCs are generally much more ergonomic than any tablet, making them the more practical option.

Smartphones Are Less Functional

    It seems like everyone has a smartphone these days. Smartphones are great for checking your email, watching YouTube videos or even making a phone call. Some critics claim that, as smartphones become more sophisticated, they will begin to steal away some of the laptop market. However, much like tablets, smartphones aren’t a practical choice for basic computing. Case in point: the screens are too small. This is an innate limitation, because no one wants a phone that can’t fit in his or her pocket. Can you imagine a college student writing an entire term paper on their smartphone? Neither can we.

While the portable industry has made remote computing better than ever, it’s still important to have faith in the importance of PCs. For more reasons why the PC age is still alive and well, take a look at this article.

Though Social Media has made much of professional networking a remote act, the primary way that businesspeople connect on a personal level is through face to face networking. Knowing how to network effectively is important, no matter what level of business you operate at. Here are some key tips to help you find good results in any networking situation. Remember, networking doesn’t always mean going to a networking event. These skills can be useful during a conversation at the water cooler, at the grocery store, or any social instance.

You’re There to Give, Not Get

    It’s easy to confuse a detailed monologue with meaningful conversation. When successfully networking, try changing your way of thinking. You should do your best to contribute to the conversation in a constructive way. Give more speaking time to your discussion partner and allow them to be heard. This will help you develop a quick bond that will make the conversation partner feel treasured, which will increase the effectiveness of your networking attempts.

Don’t Appear Desperate

    Whether you’re on a date or at a networking event, neediness is never a desired trait. Remember, your main goal is to contribute a sense of appreciation to the person with whom you are having a conversation. If you are constantly asking for a referral from a business representative, much like constantly asking for the number of someone you’ve just met, you’re likely to not get it. Have confidence in who you are, and approach the situation knowing what you have to offer.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

    Try and stay away from “yes” or “no” questions. Leave room for elaboration and let whomever you are speaking with feel the freedom to say all they need or want to in order to adequately express themselves. Many questions can be phrased differently to avoid making the answer one worded. For example, asking, “do you have any kids?” could be rephrased as “tell me about your family.” The second phrasing asks for the same information, but allows the responder the liberty to tell you as little or as much as they want.

    Networking is all about staying comfortable and maintaining honest conversations. For more tips, check out this article.

Companies have to alter their service plans sometimes and the change usually comes as a surprise to  their consumers. These transitions can go smoothly or not so smoothly, depending on how the transition is handled.

A perfect example of the latter is the recent Netflix debacle. Netflix, seemingly overnight, raised their prices and changed their service offering significantly. Because of this, more than a half million people dropped the service completely, a number significantly higher than they had predicted. Last Sunday, Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, sent out emails to every customer and posted an apology on their blog for the way the company handled the announcement of the recent reorganization. For many people his acknowledgement that he “… messed up. [And he owes] everyone an explanation,” was not enough. Within the apology he dropped another bomb that the streaming and DVD-by-mail services will be separated into separate services altogether. The DVD service will now be called Qwikster and the streaming services will remain Netflix. This triggered even more backlash. Apart from the letter and video apology, no effort was made to “make it up” to their customers.

In late June, AT&T changed their service plan to a tiered pricing plan and eliminated their unlimited data plan. While this upset many people, AT&T chose to honor those who already had the unlimited data as part of their plan.  This allowance for a grandfathered plan could possibly have saved the company from  losing a lot of customers to other carriers.

Regardless of why companies change the service they offer, the transition time is turbulent. When executing a massive change, companies should develop a plan of action for notifying the public to lessen any backlash. Here are some strategies that companies should think about when employing major change.

• Notice, and Lots of It:  Give the public plenty of notice and utilize a forum where customers, particularly those directly affected, can express questions and concerns.
• Grandfathered Services:  Honor services and prices current clients have prior to the change.
• Details:  Explain the change in detail! The more transparent you are with your announcement, the more your clients will trust your decision.
• Discounts: Offer a free month of service or some other type of coupon if clients take advantage of multiple services

If you have any more ideas of ways companies could make the news of service plan changes easier, we’d love to hear from you!