Google Docs, Forms and Surveys Web 2.0

Among the many activities I keep busy with in my life, I manage properties exclusively for military and government personnel that travel or are permanently assigned to other areas that don’t allow them to effectively rent and manage day to day activities for their home. I utilize many electronic methods for managing a client’s property. Most administrative items are accomplished online to include money disbursements and billing activity which is delivered to my customers on the Google Documents area of my Gmail account.

Google Docs is a web-based service where you can create, store and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations.  You can work on your own or collaboratively.  You can also import docs from MS Office and Open Office. The presentation tool also has a chat feature built in that allows me to collaborate with my clients if they have questions or concerns.

I deliver all of my client’s monthly statements and scan in expenses, receipts and bank deposits directly to the Google Docs forum and then choose the sharing settings so that clients can only view or download their activity specific to their property.

Because I do this all on line, I save money and time on mailing and postage. Customers love it because they have instant access to current and historical data such as contracts and agreements related to their property. Some have requested that I provide access to their accountant so that they can streamline their tax preparation. When you are stationed overseas, this is a great method for collaboration.

Other Google Docs tools include Google Forms and Google Surveys.

A great educational tool called Google Forms, allow students to administer surveys electronically and receive instant results. Students can take interest or opinion surveys such a listing their top ten favorite websites. The form tool enables you to create forms that are posted on the web. As users enter the data, it appears immediately in your spreadsheet.

This survey from Google has several advantages over other free survey programs: You can create “unlimited” questions; most free programs limit the questions to ten. In addition, an unlimited number of people can respond to this survey; on the other hand, free survey programs limit the response to a hundred people. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that the results are always available; meanwhile, for other free survey programs the results are not available after ten days unless the author subscribes to the expensive service.  

See more on this technology at:

https://sites.google.com/a/share.epsb.ca/learning-with-web-2-0-technology--lwt-aisi/Home/voki

Integrated Microsystems

It is predicted that over the next five years, chemical, optical, fluidic, biological, and mechanical components are will be able to be integrated with computational logic in designing the commercial chip. Measurement and instrumentation technologies are expected to be some of the most significant areas for short-term advancements with enabling effects. Biotechnology research and production, sensors and various chemical synthesis capabilities are all expected to be significantly improved by these emerging advances by 2015. Entire systems like satellites and automated laboratory processing equipment for example, may have integrated components at a microscale and will be built at a portion of the cost of existing macroscale systems. This will revolutionize sensing and processing information for a range of civilian and/or military applications. Advances could also permit proliferation of presently controlled processing capabilities (IE, separation of the nuclear isotope).

One factor that contributes to its success is the significant cost savings the technology delivers which makes it worth the investment. Microscale components are cheaper and surprisingly more durable than current technologies. With R&D budgets strained, it makes sense to investigate the viability of the technology.

Logistical considerations are expected to drive manufacturing and production of integrated microscale systems. The ability to design and engineer more capabilities in specific chip technology provides architects more space to integrate more technology. This allows more options for emerging microscale amalgamation.

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For a copy of the Global Technology Report, click here. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1307.html

To look at the relevant topic that I discussed without the download, click on this link. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1307/MR1307.sum.html

Use of Radical Materials

The past 10 years has seen many significant advances in our capability to develop materials with increasing precision at this scale.  The result is radical materials – materials that far outperform conventional materials in their strength, lightness, conductivity, ability to transmit heat, and a whole host of other characteristics.  Many of these are still at the research stage.  However; as requirements for high performance materials continue to be in demand everywhere from medical devices to advanced microprocessors as well as safe, efficient cars to pilot space flight, the development and use of radical materials will become more common.  In particular, watch out for products based on carbon nanotubes.

Forces that would support the research would include technical and governmental. For obvious reasons, technology drives the requirements and governments interest in supplying resources for new technologies would benefit society as a whole.

Inhibiting forces could include social/political. Many groups see advances in technologies that include research to support non natural creations as risky and are more likely to protest against further advances.

Open collaboration on this technology type would be appropriate and beneficial between those that understood the context and application. Scientific and governmental interests in developing new types of materials is well expected and received in those communities.

Reference Link: http://2020science.org/2009/12/25/ten-emerging-technology-trends-to-watch/#ixzz1BzoM6hZq