What’s Technology Done For You Lately?

Stanford University is at the forefront of bookless libraries. The periodical shelves of the Engineering Library are almost bare. Starting in 2005 most engineering periodicals went online. Students now read them from laptops and mobile devices. Because engineering is a fast changing field – particularly in specialties like software and bioengineering – traditional textbooks are soon outdated. When the new Engineering Library opened in August 2010, there were 85% fewer books. According to a survey by the Association of Research Libraries, American libraries are spending more on electronic resources and less on books. It’s 21st century “resourcefulness”.

The resourcefulness shown by e-mailing doctors helps people stay healthy. According to a study published in Health Affairs, patients with diabetes or hypertension who were in e-mail contact with their doctors experienced better health outcomes. The 2-month study looked at over 35,000 patients and about 500,000 e-mail conversations stripped of identification information. Most e-mails were initiated by patients to discuss changed health conditions or lab tests. Patients who e-mailed scored better on cholesterol and blood pressure tests. According to a Harris poll, in 2010 only 9% of Americans communicate with doctors via e-mail. That’s an “unhealthy” percent.

Vibrating car seats are healthy. They prevent car accidents by alerting drivers to cars in their blind spots. Unlike visual or audio warnings, touch transmits the location of cars without drivers having to turn their head. Vibrating cell phone motors embedded in the driver’s seat create continual soft vibrations. When another vehicle moves behind or beside the car, the vibrations against the driver’s back increase in pressure and correspond to the position of the approaching vehicle. However, by continually vibrating instead of activating only in emergencies, the touch system increases driver awareness of all surrounding cars. – creating more “carful” driving”.

For more careful flying there’s the Solar Impulse. The experimental solar-powered plane completed its 24-hour test flight July 7, 2010. The single-seat plane with a wingspan of a Boeing 777 climbed to 28,000 feet and had a top speed of over 75 mph. The Solar Impulse flew at night by recharging its batteries using 12,000 solar cells. By day it was powered by the sun. However, the Swiss-led project’s goal isn’t to replace jet propulsion. It’s to circle the globe in 2013 making only 5 stops to prove new technologies can break dependence on fossil fuels – to give us “higher hopes” for the future.

Top Universities in New Zealand: the Newfangled Source of World-Class Education

The potentiality of New Zealand for world-class education has recently been discovered as the education system of this English-speaking nation revolves around the British system. So, students from other English-speaking countries will find the curriculum of the top universities in New Zealand easy to cope with. Renowned for its fascinating outdoor locations, and imposing landscapes, the country of buzzing cafes, clubs and restaurants has made its mark in the field of education also. As stated by the Ministry of Education, New Zealand, the major cities that draw the attention of global students include Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

Pupils who are eager to study in New Zealand can opt for institutions like Victoria University of Wellington, University of Auckland, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University and Massey University. Though there are other institutions available for pupils, the aforesaid names are some of the top universities in New Zealand.     

Established in the year 1897, the Victoria University of Wellington got its name after Queen Victoria. This very old university comprises 8 faculty divisions, namely education, science, law, architecture and designs, graduate research, commerce and administration, engineering, humanities and social sciences. Among them, the architecture and designs has established its uniqueness by becoming the foremost center in New Zealand. Situated in the capital city of Wellington, the university facilitates the prevalence of a vivacious atmosphere both inside and outside the campus. It also makes sure that students not only grasp a profound knowledge of their subjects, but they also apply their knowledge in their given fields.      

Located in Christchurch, the biggest city of New Zealand’s South Island, the University of Canterbury was founded in 1873. Originally called the Canterbury College, the institute is rated among top universities in New Zealand due to its advanced research centers, and a large pool of motivational faculties. The university offers education to over 2,000 foreign students and 20,000 domestic students. The six colleges that are affiliated to the University of Canterbury provide teaching in education, law, engineering, science, arts, and business and economics.    

If you want to study in New Zealand, you must certainly consider the University of Auckland, the biggest university at present with more than 38,000 students enrolled. The university boasts one main campus in the heart of Auckland or four specialization campuses in the region for enrolled pupils. There are more than 4,000 international students from over 90 nations pursing various courses in the university. You can choose one from a variety of programs offered on education, arts, science, engineering, bioengineering, business administration, theology, and medical and health sciences. The University of Auckland has occupied a top position in the list of best universities of the world, prepared by a popular rating agency.      

A study in New Zealand can be fruitful in terms of a number of student scholarships too. However, you have to apply for these scholarships much earlier due to their limited places. International students can avail a maximum of 28 scholarships every year. The most prominent scholarship schemes include Livestock Emissions & Abatement Research Network (LEARN) Fellowships and New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS).     

Analyzing the Impact of Product Evolution

Emergence of the new technological solutions such as software, microchips, bioengineering, nanotechnology resulted in higher emphasis being placed on pharmaceuticals, ICTs, and other high tech industries. At the same time, low tech sectors have also greatly evolved over time. For instance, the Portuguese footwear industry has gone through restructuring process in the 1990s: creative use of micro electronics has been introduced. As a result of this innovation, industry managed to expand despite the raising labor costs. Bioengineering is being widely used in the wine industry through fermentation techniques that enhance quality of wine. Bacteria biotechnology renewed the classic cork technology used traditionally for centuries.

In all of these cases, industry had to adjust to the new technological solutions. Companies that employed new approaches successfully retained and increased their market share, whereas traditional companies have been forced out of business. It should be pointed out that the restructuring process had significant impact on company organizational and business strategies that had to be adjusted accordingly.

Undoubtedly, Schumpeterian theory had a great impact on the current business strategies. The major lesson to be learned by the companies in business is that innovation can be transferred into a sustainable competitive advantage that cannot be easily followed by other competitors in the industry. As such, businesses must remain open minded and develop adaptive capabilities. The theory of “Peter” still remains the milestone of business practices, as the essentials for gaining and treating innovation remain unchanged – business must gain knowledge to create and sustain competitive advantage.

Learning organization – is the direct implication of the Schumpeterian’s “gales of creative destruction”. People in a learning organization must continually expand their capacity to create the results they aim at. Only under this condition organizations are able to adjust to the situations of rapid change: flexibility and productivity. There are five basic steps that distinguish learning organization from the traditional ones: personal mastery, systems thinking, mental model, building shared vision, and team learning. Combined implementation of these five basic steps allows companies to respond to the emerging changes in business environment and turn innovation into a competitive advantage.

Innovation is a continuous process that cannot be controlled or predicted with a certain degree of verifiability. In order for organizations to survive in the dynamic 21st century, they must remain flexible and enhance learning at all stages. Learning organization is the key to a strong position in the dynamic market place.