More of The Same

By E. Brown

My friend, Don D., sent me an interesting note last year about his time spent at the Corporate University Summit. His two key take-aways were on the need for Global English and Leadership Development. You know what? Since that time not much has changed.

Global English
- Of 36 global companies, 90% believed that learning English was critical to doing business in today’s world.
- 9% of these companies indicated they were ready to train employees in this area.
- Online interactive self-paced studies were deemed the most efficient.

Leadership Development
- Leader led training is greatest need.
- Leaders preparing to teach gain greater self-awareness.
- Leaders can pass along experience.
- When leaders teach they experience credibility.
- Toward this end Wal-Mart created a series of modules called, “Teachable Points of View”. The modules can be completed within 15-30 minutes and provide leaders opportunities to share from experience.

As I have spoken with leaders over the last months these themes are reoccurring. Companies doing business overseas recognize that the English language is excellent for delivering details in data and information. New initiatives and contracts can live or die on the details. Similarly, leadership development from credible, forward thinking, and seasoned team leaders is the best way to pass on skills to the next generation of C-level executives and managers.

It’s getting better, but things have not changed much over the last year. Let’s work hard to make sure that the next 12 months doesn’t bring more of the same.

Quotable Quote – Walt Disney

I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.

- Walt Disney

Mind Mapping Showdown

By E. Brown

Have you ever tried to capture everything going on inside your head? Ever had so many ideas rushing forward that you were unable to capture them all? Mind mapping assistance is what you need.

Web Worker Daily posted a Mind-Mapping software review. Amongst the applications reviewed were:

- FreeMind (Java-based freeware)
- MindJet (For Mac and Windows users)
- MindMap (Also for Mac and Windows)

Online Collaborative Tools
- Bubbl.us
- Mindomo (Beta works with Mac, PC, and Linux)
- MindMeister (Beta, by invitation only at this time — Web Worker fave)

Tools I have used
- Visio (Not exactly for Mind mapping but works in a pinch)
- Inspiration (For Mac and Windows — one of my favorites)
- Kidspiration (Youth version of Inspiration)

Check these apps out, download trial versions, and see what works best for you. Don’t let any of your ideas get away from you — who knows where they could lead.

Have fun!

Google® CEO Says, “Mobile, mobile, mobile.”

The NYTimes has a boilerplate article about Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google going after the cellphone. This line is interesting, though: Google has gone so far as to build a prototype phone with its own software inside, according to one person who has seen it.

read more | digg story

10 Unexpected Uses For The iPod

New technologies often have unintended uses. Take the iPod as a case in point. It was developed with the intention of playing music (and later videos), but its applications now go well beyond that. Here are 10 surprising uses, some of which involve fighting crime, saving lives, and throwing meaner curve balls.

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Amazon Readying DRM-free Music Service

Amazon is rumored to be readying its own music store for launch next month, which will reportedly sell unprotected MP3s in hopes of cutting into the Apple iTunes Store’s market share.

read more | digg story

Find Music Lyrics On LyricWiki

LyricWiki is a free site which is a source where anyone can go to get reliable lyrics for any song from any artist without being hammered by invasive ads. I even found the ever elusive lyrics to “Louie Louie”.

read more | digg story

Top 30 Mistakes Of New Mac Users

Having switched a little less than a year ago, Steve learned most of these things on his own. This list would have probably saved him a lot of time and hassle.

read more | digg story

Related Articles
- Is The Market Ready For The Modbook?
- iPhone Tips and Tricks
- 5 More Reasons To Luv Your Mac
-  AppTrap Uninstalls Those Pesky Files on Your Mac

Q to Come

I just returned from a conference unlike any I have personally been to. The conference was called “Q”. It lasted three days from sun up to sun down and often into the night. I am still processing the information and inspiration I received. I’ll post on it shortly with more details.

Over the subsequent years Q will be arriving in major hubs throughout the U.S. such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Seattle. At this time Q events are limited to around 500 attendees because of its highly interactive nature.

More coming soon.

Design Secrets of Pro Designers

35 professional designers disclose their favorite CSS technique, how they prioritize their designs, their favorite font, their most read design-related books and the design magazines that they read religiously.

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10 Ways to Get The Most Out of The Apple Remote

Ten OS X programs and tips that help you get the most out of your Apple Remote – and all of the apps mentioned are free!

read more | digg story

Quotable Quote on Teamwork

Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal.

- Walt Disney

Star Trek®: New Voyages – New Episodes

If you have been under a rock, let me catch you up. The original Star Trek series was a “5 year mission, to seek out new life and new civilizations….” Unfortunately, the Captain and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise never saw their fourth or fifth year. The show debuted in 1966 and was canceled in 1969.

Now the mission has been renewed by a new cast and (film)crew. Star Trek New Voyages is about to release it’s third installment with guest star George Takei (of original series Mr. Sulu fame). If you missed the first two episodes you can download them for viewing.

Related Links
- Star Trek Movie (2009)
- Official Star Trek Site

Entertainment’s Educational Impact

By E. Brown

Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood. - Walt Disney

Why is there even a debate about the effects of entertainment on culture? I have heard some big businesses say, “TV and movies have no effect on people,” and in the next breath they “OK” spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Super Bowl commercial spot? Why spend that amount of money if media and entertainment has “no effect on people”?

Issues Around Edutainment
The answer is obvious. Walt Disney certainly understood the significance of entertainment and fun as it related to educating and learning. However, there still exists a tension between entertainment and edutainment. Many educators feel that edutainment is not educating. Some say it promotes:

• Short attention span
• Lack of focus
• Apathy
• Impatience
• Boredom
• And, in extreme cases, harmful tendencies

Regarding boredom, there certainly is some credibility. Author, Richard Winter probed this issue in his book, Still Bored in a Culture of Entertainment–

Though we have hundreds of entertainment options today–video games, the Internet, CD and MP3 players, home entertainment centers, sporting events, megamalls, movie theaters, and even robotic toys–Western culture is battling an insidious disease. It’s an epidemic of boredom. Intrigued by this “deadness of soul,” Richard Winter uses the latest historical, physiological, and psychological research to probe the nature, causes and effects of boredom. He explores:

• why some people are more likely to get bored than others
• the indifference and the loss of meaning among youth
• the attraction of extreme sports
• how advertising promotes apathy
• the link between boredom and addictions to violence and pornography

Not satisfied with mere description and analysis, Winter also offers practical ways to counteract boredom by learning to live with passion and wonder.

However, the question of edutainment is still debated. The fact is, entertainment does have a level of influence on people, society, and culture. Another fact is, too much entertainment can lead to apathy and boredom — history has shown this numerous times in previous civilizations (i.e. Roman Empire). This also reminds me of the March 2007 news about the Barbie Bandits — bored kids trying to get a “thrill” by robbery.

Edutainment is also a growing paradigm within the science museum community in the United States. This approach emphasizes fun and enjoyment, often at the expense of educational content. The idea is that Americans are so used to flashy, polished entertainment venues like movie theaters and theme parks that they demand similar experiences at science centers and museums. Thus, a museum is seen as just another business competing for entertainment dollars from the public, rather than as an institution that serves the public welfare through education or historical preservation. (Wikipedia)

Walking The Line
Part of the challenge and part of the fun is creating training and educational material that is attention grabbing, interactive, and does what it is supposed to do — educate. This is not easy. Many companies have started down this path only to get sucked over to the glitz and glitter of entertainment and not balancing out the educational side of the business.

So, the old argument about entertainment having no effect on people is bogus. Walt Disney recognized it years ago and built his early theme parks and movies around it. What we put into our lives as youth can and does shape our personal paradigm and moral compass as adults.

Therefore…

• Always be a learner.
• Always challenge yourself.
• Never stop growing and applying.
• Keep it fun.

Related Links
- Edutainment Blog
- Learning Must be Fun article
- Warcraft – Nexus of NextGen eLearning article

Tabber: New Community Builder or Privacy Invader?

Register with Tabber (Beta) and you can import your contacts from a number of sources (gmail, digg, myspace, yahoo, aim etc) and tie them to additional social sites such as blogs, del.icio.us and photo galleries. If they’re members, you can then view their recent activity on sites in aggregate or individual formats.

read more | digg story

10 Tips to Having a Business Conversation

Economist and humorist, Ben Stein, has put together this list of 10 Conversation Tips for business people you meet. You may remember Stein from recent television commercials parodying his role from the movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Stein says, “In the course of climbing the corporate ladder, or of just managing the little corner of the world you occupy, you have to communicate with people. It’s not always easy, but you have to do it. So I thought I’d offer up a few basic ideas on how to have a conversation with someone you just met.”

The Ten Conversation Tips Are:

1. Begin by knowing that the people you’re talking to mostly want to talk about themselves.
2. Establish common ground.
3. Say kind, generous things to your conversation partner.
4. Keep your comments brief.
5. Get back on common ground again as soon as you can.
6. Don’t brag unless you do it in a funny way.
7. Unless you’re specifically asked about it, don’t talk about religion at all.
8. The same goes for politics.
9. If you talk about current issues, do so in a genial, friendly way.
10. Make whatever points you need to make in a hurry, and then leave.

read more | digg story

Starhyke: U.K. Sci-Fi Comedy

Having BSG withdrawals and need a laugh? Check out the U.K. sci-fi comedy, Starhyke, soon coming out of hyperspace to a channel near you.

I love their subtitle: Boldly going… Where no one else wants to go.

Steampunk: Old is New Again

If you’re a fan of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, or Rand and Robyn Miller, you’re a fan of steampunk. What is “steampunk“?

In short, the term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions or real technological developments like the computer. It is often associated with cyberpunk and shares a similar fanbase. (Wikipedia.com)

The creativity and imagination that often makes up steampunk is a blending of the old and new, of retro and modern. Some of the arts and crafts created around this genre is uniquely handcrafted. Rent the anime movie by Katsuhiro Otomo titled Steamboy or build your own cool steampunk gear (Visit the Steampunk Workshop for ideas).

Other Related Variants
- Bronzepunk
- Sandalpunk
- Stonepunk (see the Stone Mouse)

Google® “PowerPoint” Confirmed

Today at the Web 2.0 Expo Google CEO Eric Schmidt confirmed that Google will soon launch a PowerPoint clone, completing their basic ‘Google Apps’ office suite (they already have a Word and Excel clone covered).

When asked about Microsoft®, Schmidt said:

“I don’t think we compete with them. We’re not as fully functional as MS Office — we’re more in line with how people use the web than how they use the desktop.” (Wired News)

read more | digg story

Why the Leopard delay is a Big Deal

In last week’s statement, only weeks after vehement denials of the same, Apple said it would postpone Leopard’s release from the intended WWDC’07 (second week of June) to October. And this is a bigger deal than what many people make it out to be, because Apple has painted itself, and thereby customers looking to buy their products, into a corner…

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