Offering regional and national programs, CIO (and CSO) events bring together some of the most respected names and thought leaders in information technology and security. Presented by CIOs and other senior level executives, these invitation-only programs offer timely topics and strong networking. Learn More »
Webcast: In the Google Apps Cloud: How to Achieve Your Business Objectives
Dec 3rd, '09, 1 - 2 pm US/Eastern (GMT-5)
Join Council member Brent Hoag, Director, Global IT, at JohnsonDiversey, as he discusses the adoption of Google Apps which has helped meet four corporate goals; sustainability, simplification, increased employee productivity and global collaboration.
Webcast: Collaboration Initiatives: Benchmarks & Best Practices
Dec 15th, '09, 4 - 5 pm US/Eastern (GMT-5)
Join Council members Ruth Thorpe, VP & CIO at the U.S. Pharmaceutical Operations of Sanofi-Aventis, and Gary Kuyper, CIO at Bethany Christian Services, as they speak about their collaboration initiatives and experiences in how and why they chose the social networking and collaboration tools they are using and their business goals for collaboration, and facing culture change challenges.
Data Overview: Collaboration Initiatives Field Guide: Benchmarks & Best Practices
This appendix to the Council Field Guide provides an analysis which discusses benchmarks for collaboration IT implementation costs, adoption rates and payoffs. The overview identifies top IT and business goals and satisfaction rates for collaboration initiatives as well as best practices and lessons learned for implementing collaboration IT.
Learn more about the CIO Executive Council »October 05, 2008 — Network World —
Knight Rider has nothing on what's brewing in the labs of leading automotive researchers. Today's technologies range from mobile Internet access to collision-detection systems to automated braking and steering capabilities. Some car manufacturers are even designing their cars to offer a personal touch by pulling up drivers' preferences based on fingerprint and other biometric technologies.
Here we detail some of the leading-edge technology embedded in today's cars and what new vehicles are on tap from automotive giants in the near future. (For pictures of these cool auto technologies, view a slideshow version of this story.)
Volvo earlier this year in its XC60 model introduced a feature dubbed City Safety, which promises to reduce the number of low-speed collisions that occur in heavy traffic. The vehicles are equipped with laser sensor technology that works when the car is traveling less than 19 mph. The sensors detect vehicles moving slowly or at a standstill up to 10 meters in front of the car. If as the distance between the cars lessens and the vehicle operator does not react, the car applies the brakes automatically. Volvo says it can not only automate the braking system, but also control steering to direct cars away from a potential crash.
BMW will add access to Google Maps' search capability in its 2009 BMW Assist and Navigation system-equipped 1 and 3 series vehicles. Subscribers to BMW's Assist Convenience Plan will be able to access "BMW Search" to locate businesses using a simple keyword, for example. Once the desired location is found, the system will initiate route guidance or a hands-free call with a push of a button, BMW says. The technology comes to BMW vehicles via the AT&T Mobility GSM network, which identifies the current location and destination of the vehicle automatically and then displays the local results with details of address, phone number and distance.
The California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways program at the University of California Berkeley developed a 60-foot research bus that uses special sensors and processors embedded in the vehicle to detect magnets in the pavement. While a human driver maintains control of braking and acceleration, the bus automates steering using data it receives from the magnets. A test performed in September (with the help of US$320,000 in funding from the California Department of Transportation) demonstrated the bus can make stops with a lateral accuracy of 1 centimeter. Researchers say such precision will reduce docking time at each stop, making an entire route more efficient.