Once again, another technology acronym – the OLED. The Organic Light-Emitting Diode. While chances are, most people have not heard of the OLED, we have all seen it being used in everyday devices like computer screens and digital cameras. The light-emitting diodes generate light as an electrical current is passed through them. The current generates energy, which causes the light to be emitted. The OLED is a flat display technology and is produced by placing several organic, thin films between two conductors. It is said that this device will soon be used in large TV. screens.
The OLED is often compared with the LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, and one of the main advantages that sets the OLED apart is that it emits light on its own. What this means, is that the OLED does not require a backlight, which takes up a lot of space. Unlike the LCD screens, OLEDs can be produced very thin and very light weight. This is also because of their use of organic, plastic materials, instead of metals or crystals like most of our screens today. Just this spring, Sony unveiled the first full-color, flexible OLED. According to Sony, this new invention will lead to the creation of “thinner, light and softer electronics”. As demonstrated in a You Tube video, this flexible OLED can be bent and twisted, all the while still displaying full-color images on its flat screen. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDuP8PtDJbE). The organic materials used in the OLED are extremely efficient, providing a brighter screen, while consuming less power. Another consumer advantage is the visibility one has when watching an OLED screen. For instance, turn on the TV in your house. Now try moving at an angle and observe how well you can still see the images on your screen- Most probably not too well. LCD screens require that a viewer be pretty much looking head-on at the screen, with visibility decreasing as your angle towards the screen increases. Because the OLED has a much larger field of view than the LCD, it delivers a much wider viewing angle and allows you to comfortably watch at almost any angle.
Now while it sounds as if OLEDs will take over and LCDs will become obsolete, there are several negative factors to consider. The main material used in OLEDs is organic and has a tendency to rot, affecting the lifespan of the device. Another issue concerning the OLEDs is that they must be built in special rooms with very little moisture, dust or dirt, all of which can greatly affect the production of the OLED, and its clear picture. The need for these special manufacturing conditions makes it very difficult to mass produce. Not only must the screen be built in a clean environment but it must also remain in one. Since most people cannot guarantee that there will be no intrusion of water or dirt into or onto their TVs, the OLEDs must be produced with very durable seals to prevent such occurrences.
I am sure that it is only a matter of time before giant TV screens and computer screens with this organic material are lining the store shelves and being mass produced. However, rather than jump on the technology band wagon and rush to buy one, I would rather wait until I am sure that all of the technology glitches in the OLED are worked out and that it really is safe and advisable to get rid of and replace my soon to be obsolete widescreen TV.
Lynch, Martin. “The Pros and Cons of OLED Displays”. The Inquirer, May 26, 2005.
<http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:LWVECEte-LYJ:www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx%3Farticle%3D23515+OLED+pros+and+cons&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca?
Wikipedia. “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” 2007.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED>
“Flexible, Full-Color OLED”. Pink Tentacle, May 24, 2007.
<http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/05/flexible-full-color-organic-el-display/>
“What is an OLED?”. Tech-FAQ, 2007
<http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:-67dRo2PPnMJ:www.tech-faq.com/oled.shtml+what+is+an+oled&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=ca>
Saturday, September 22, 2007
MGCR 331 - SWS
The Sentient World Simulation (SWS) is described as a “synthetic mirror of the real world with automated continuous calibration with respect to current real-world information”. While this definition sounds complex and confusing, the simulation is really just an imitation of our planet with the ability to adapt to common situations. This simulation is being developed by a company called Simulex and one of the biggest customers is the US Department of Defense. It will be used to predict various outcomes in our world. According to Purdue University professor Alok Chaturvedi, one of the co-authors of a paper on the SWS from Purdue University, “The idea is to generate alternative futures with outcomes based on interactions between multiple sides”. The systems runs a broad range of tests to determine outcomes of real-life, real-time scenarios, such as our physiological and emotional reactions. According to another blogger, the simulation system can test situations such as how long one might be able to go without food, or how one might react to televised propaganda. The “real-life” people and scenarios in the simulation are created by billions of nodes.
This emerging technology has many advantages. The military is using it to analyze behaviors of both their enemies and allies, in order to determine courses of actions and methods of how to deal with certain situations when they arise. For those who saw the movie “Shooter”, Mark Wahlberg’s character was hired to determine the best possible locations and conditions under which a sniper might make an assassination attempt. The SWS would be able to help determine these specifics, saving lots of time and money. Military uses aside, the SWS can also be used to observe the outcomes and impacts of natural disasters like tornados and earthquakes, and crises like droughts and forest fires. Since the SWS can also simulate all of the aspects of our daily lives, including small boutiques, larger institutions and everyday conflicts, it can be used to predict how individuals and groups will react to certain stressors and events.
As with most simulation and GPS technologies, this high-tech simulation system comes with a high price. Not only financially speaking but in order for people to be “copied” and represented by nodes in this system, they must give up a lot of their privacy. In order for the simulator to predict each and every possible outcome and to anticipate the impacts on our lives, it needs to be fed with constant data and where other than to collect this data than from the people themselves. Since the SWS can even simulate and imitate our emotional and psychological reactions, many people are less than thrilled with the idea of the US government and military studying them in a virtual simulation. Another downside to this simulator is the fact that in time, it will probably be able to remove all aspects of predictability from our lives. Why bother spending time dating, making business decisions, and even studying if we can simply predict the future outcomes and determine whether or not they have a big impact or are in our favor? While emerging technologies will make our lives easier, we must really consider whether we want our society run by robots and machines, and if it is right to play “God” by predicting the future.
Baard, Mark. “Sentient World: War Games on the Grandest Scale”. The Register, Jun.23, 2007.
<http://www.theregister.com/2007/06/23/sentient_worlds/page3.html>
Chaturvedi, Alok. “Computational Challenges for a Sentient World Simluation”. Purdue University, Mar.10, 2006.
<http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:_Ys4fmPfVhUJ:www.purdue.edu/acsl/abstract/march10_06.html+Sentient+World+Simulation&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca>
“Military Running a Parallel Earth Simluator”. Slashdot, Jun.29, 2007.
<http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/30/0018211>
Wikipedia. “Synthetic Environment for Analysis and Simulation”. 2007.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_Environment_for_Analysis_and_Simulations>
This emerging technology has many advantages. The military is using it to analyze behaviors of both their enemies and allies, in order to determine courses of actions and methods of how to deal with certain situations when they arise. For those who saw the movie “Shooter”, Mark Wahlberg’s character was hired to determine the best possible locations and conditions under which a sniper might make an assassination attempt. The SWS would be able to help determine these specifics, saving lots of time and money. Military uses aside, the SWS can also be used to observe the outcomes and impacts of natural disasters like tornados and earthquakes, and crises like droughts and forest fires. Since the SWS can also simulate all of the aspects of our daily lives, including small boutiques, larger institutions and everyday conflicts, it can be used to predict how individuals and groups will react to certain stressors and events.
As with most simulation and GPS technologies, this high-tech simulation system comes with a high price. Not only financially speaking but in order for people to be “copied” and represented by nodes in this system, they must give up a lot of their privacy. In order for the simulator to predict each and every possible outcome and to anticipate the impacts on our lives, it needs to be fed with constant data and where other than to collect this data than from the people themselves. Since the SWS can even simulate and imitate our emotional and psychological reactions, many people are less than thrilled with the idea of the US government and military studying them in a virtual simulation. Another downside to this simulator is the fact that in time, it will probably be able to remove all aspects of predictability from our lives. Why bother spending time dating, making business decisions, and even studying if we can simply predict the future outcomes and determine whether or not they have a big impact or are in our favor? While emerging technologies will make our lives easier, we must really consider whether we want our society run by robots and machines, and if it is right to play “God” by predicting the future.
Baard, Mark. “Sentient World: War Games on the Grandest Scale”. The Register, Jun.23, 2007.
<http://www.theregister.com/2007/06/23/sentient_worlds/page3.html>
Chaturvedi, Alok. “Computational Challenges for a Sentient World Simluation”. Purdue University, Mar.10, 2006.
<http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:_Ys4fmPfVhUJ:www.purdue.edu/acsl/abstract/march10_06.html+Sentient+World+Simulation&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca>
“Military Running a Parallel Earth Simluator”. Slashdot, Jun.29, 2007.
<http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/30/0018211>
Wikipedia. “Synthetic Environment for Analysis and Simulation”. 2007.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_Environment_for_Analysis_and_Simulations>
Friday, September 21, 2007
MGCR 331 - DIAD
The first technology I will be analyzing is the DIAD. The Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD) was first introduced in 1991 by the United Parcel Service (UPS) and was manufactured by Symbol Technologies, Inc., and had an enormous impact on the package delivery business. The DIAD is a hand-held computer weighing approximately 2.5 lbs that allows UPS delivery drivers to collect and transmit shipping information using GPS technology. The device allows customers to sign for their delivery on its screen, using a special pen that the device recognizes, eliminating the need for papers and clipboards. The DIAD also provides shipment visibility, which not only helps the drivers but also allows the customers to track their shipments and deliveries.
The introduction of the DIAD benefited UPS in many ways. UPS was having trouble competing with other major contenders in the industry such as FedEx and other carriers that could provide overnight service and also had the ability to track their orders en route. Not only did the DIAD give UPS the competitive advantage it needed but it also helped eliminate errors that occurred in the signing process. According to UPS CEO Kent Nelson, “The elimination of illegible signatures nearly triple the number of error-free, next-day air deliveries”. The DIAD’s ability to display address information, estimated delivery times, package counts, shelf locations and navigation information made the entire delivery process much more efficient. The drivers are now able to receive delivery confirmations, address corrections and pickup requests all en route!
Although the deployment of the DIAD has increased efficiency in the shipping business and has become a fundamental part of how UPS does business, there are several disadvantages. From the driver’s perspective, this device equipped with GPS technology offers increased efficiency and convenience, all in exchange for privacy. One of the main perks to being a delivery driver, on the road all day, is the freedom that comes with it. Not only can the DIAD track all orders but it also tracks all drivers! The UPS dispatchers can locate the exact locations of all drivers at the push of a button. Every driver starts their day by automatically logging into the GPS system, which enables the dispatchers to track them through their DIADs throughout the day. Another disadvantage to this wireless, technological innovation is that like all emerging technologies on the market, they require constant monitoring and frequent repairs. Unlike the standard pen and paper method, these devices break down, the wireless signals get lost, and computer glitches constantly invade the systems. Once a business decides to get involved with technology, and with IT applications, they must be committed and must invest in constant upgrades and in researching the newest equipment on the market.
In the long run, entering the world of technology will have many positive results for an organization; however, the short-term will bring the high costs of innovation and cutting-edge technology. The DIAD has definitely increased UPS’s efficiency in delivering packages and has made UPS a more profitable, competitive business. However, the costs of reaching that point were extremely high, to outfit each and every driver with a hand-held computer. Now even though UPS incurred high expenses in the beginning to introduce this device and still must assume the costs of maintaining and upgrading their technology, they now eliminate the use of 59 million sheets of paper per year, helping the environment, and have “assumed a leadership role in global wireless networking”, growing into a $42.6 billion corporation.
Schwartz, Tamara. “UPS Steps up Global Wireless Networking”. Wireless Business & Technology, Jan. 1, 2000.
<http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:A7hC2IeOQawJ:wbt.sys-con.com/read/41213.htm+UPS+DIAD+cons&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca>
“Fact Sheets: The UPS Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD IV)”
<http://pressroom.ups.com/mediakits/factsheet/0,2305,1077,00.html>
“The Wizard is OZ”. Chief Executive: Business and Industry, Mar. 1, 1994.
<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+wizard+is+Oz-a015271754>
<http://www.ups.com/>
The introduction of the DIAD benefited UPS in many ways. UPS was having trouble competing with other major contenders in the industry such as FedEx and other carriers that could provide overnight service and also had the ability to track their orders en route. Not only did the DIAD give UPS the competitive advantage it needed but it also helped eliminate errors that occurred in the signing process. According to UPS CEO Kent Nelson, “The elimination of illegible signatures nearly triple the number of error-free, next-day air deliveries”. The DIAD’s ability to display address information, estimated delivery times, package counts, shelf locations and navigation information made the entire delivery process much more efficient. The drivers are now able to receive delivery confirmations, address corrections and pickup requests all en route!
Although the deployment of the DIAD has increased efficiency in the shipping business and has become a fundamental part of how UPS does business, there are several disadvantages. From the driver’s perspective, this device equipped with GPS technology offers increased efficiency and convenience, all in exchange for privacy. One of the main perks to being a delivery driver, on the road all day, is the freedom that comes with it. Not only can the DIAD track all orders but it also tracks all drivers! The UPS dispatchers can locate the exact locations of all drivers at the push of a button. Every driver starts their day by automatically logging into the GPS system, which enables the dispatchers to track them through their DIADs throughout the day. Another disadvantage to this wireless, technological innovation is that like all emerging technologies on the market, they require constant monitoring and frequent repairs. Unlike the standard pen and paper method, these devices break down, the wireless signals get lost, and computer glitches constantly invade the systems. Once a business decides to get involved with technology, and with IT applications, they must be committed and must invest in constant upgrades and in researching the newest equipment on the market.
In the long run, entering the world of technology will have many positive results for an organization; however, the short-term will bring the high costs of innovation and cutting-edge technology. The DIAD has definitely increased UPS’s efficiency in delivering packages and has made UPS a more profitable, competitive business. However, the costs of reaching that point were extremely high, to outfit each and every driver with a hand-held computer. Now even though UPS incurred high expenses in the beginning to introduce this device and still must assume the costs of maintaining and upgrading their technology, they now eliminate the use of 59 million sheets of paper per year, helping the environment, and have “assumed a leadership role in global wireless networking”, growing into a $42.6 billion corporation.
Schwartz, Tamara. “UPS Steps up Global Wireless Networking”. Wireless Business & Technology, Jan. 1, 2000.
<http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:A7hC2IeOQawJ:wbt.sys-con.com/read/41213.htm+UPS+DIAD+cons&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca>
“Fact Sheets: The UPS Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD IV)”
<http://pressroom.ups.com/mediakits/factsheet/0,2305,1077,00.html>
“The Wizard is OZ”. Chief Executive: Business and Industry, Mar. 1, 1994.
<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+wizard+is+Oz-a015271754>
<http://www.ups.com/>
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