Up Front
by Tyrone Taborn
PERSONAL TOOLS THAT MAKE YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE
The key to success is the ability to use technology to increase your effectiveness, productivity, and to fi nd work-life balance.
This month’s new products were selected to jumpstart that process.
HAVE IDEA, WILL TEXT YOU
When it comes to small business launches, black engineers are signifi -
cant players in new companies. But what if you have a great idea, and don’t
know how to turn it into reality?
www.ideablob.com can help. The business
social networking site is where small businesses and entrepreneurs share and
grow their business ideas — and win cash while they are at it. “Great ideas are
generated every day by people all across the country, and now these ideas have a
place to live and grow,” says the Web site’s developers. “Friends, family, business
associates…anyone can vote for it. Each month, the idea that gets the most votes
wins $10,000!”
The website itself grew out of an unexpected notion. Several years ago, Ami
Kassar, chief innovation offi cer at Advanta, ideablob’s parent fi rm, saw an impres-
sive animated fi lm and wondered how $10,000 in seed money would affect the
business of the movie’s creator. “There are about 30 million small businesses in the
US which need a place to grow and share their ideas,” says Kassar. “Ideablob is that
place and gives potential business owners a chance to test ideas among other entre-
preneurs in a supportive environment.”
OUT-THINK YOUR COMPETITION
If you want to beat them, out-think them. And there is a website to help
you do just that. By combining cognitive reasoning and neuroscience with the
social and collaborative nature of the Web,
www.iknow.co.jp/ empowers people
to learn a language faster, remember it longer, and manage the memory for a life-
time. The open, extensible platform powered by personalized, adaptive learning
algorithms speeds up learning. Users can collaborate to create and share various
content, and then come together to learn from, and with each other.
In less than a year, iKnow! has attracted more than 250,000 Japanese that
use it to learn English. Dozo, (please, in Japanese) check it out.
SORTING THROUGH THE WEB
The Internet is packed
with things to watch. But
do you have time to sort
through the options while
waiting for an airplane or
train connection. Enter
a Net site that blends the
Internet’s interactive power with the simplicity of tv. The patent-pending ap-
plication found at InvisionTV says it will fi nd, index, and organize millions of
videos into an interactive program guide with video search, social networking,
and personalization features that simplify navigation and browsing. Check it
out.
http://www.blackengineer.com
USBE & Information Technology I WINTER 2008 9
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