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June 29, 2006

Why I love Inc. Magazine

I turned 13 on Dec. 4, 1970. I spent most of my formative years during the 1970’s. It was an age of mixed messages and contradictions. Big business was not cool but, most of my college classmates studied accounting. So my declaration that I love INC. Magazine maybe a little shocking (gasp). I also adore the Harvard Business Review. (Gasp! Gasp!)
Here is why.

In the July 2006 issue of Inc. there is a great article on p. 55, about really listening to your customers and truly adapting to their needs. On page 61of the same issue is an exciting article about the “Five New Technologies That Will Change the Way You Do Business”. The five are:

* Robot Assistant (android) by 2016- a Japan based company produces a recptioist that looks like Hello Kitty and another business hopes to robot police on the street in 5 years

* Voice Recognition by 2012- “the fact is, machines won’t be truly integratedinto our livesuntil we can talk to them…Look at what Google is up to. The company recently secured a patent for a voice controlled search engine.”

*Proactive Computers by 2010-”software that takes note of our behavior and surroundings and puts it to use…your PC might get you what you need before you even think to ask

*Holography by2011 - “why waste so much time on travel if you can place a 3-D version right into the offices of your prospects or your regional employees at a moment’s notice.”

*Flexi-screens by 2009 - “How about an entire wall that is one big screen? Or a 14-inch computer display that can roll-up enough to fit in your coat pocket? Or a small display that’s so inexpensive, you’ll be able to place on on the box of every widget you sell.” (Could add new meaning to “talking books”)

I can see an application in libraries for each of these and a challenge to all librarians. If I were a newly minted librarian, I would be beating down Googles door. Librarians have valuable skills they can apply to the development of these technologies.

But, back to even more great stuff inside the covers of INC. Magazine. On the bottom of p.32 is an inset box that discusses how some companies are hiring top level executives to write their blogs. A great example of guerilla marketing can be found on p. 102. Then on page 94 is a discussion of the Topos Router, “The magic of the box occurs when you mount it on a lamppost. Install 30 of them per square mile, and you’ve created a wireless network that can transmit data all over a city.” There is more,so much more in each issue. Go to teh periodicals section of your library and peruse this magazine. You will find at least one idea you can use in your library.

Just wait until the next Harvard Business Review comes out.

posted by Anna at 1:20 pm |

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