Friday
Dec311999
76 - Special Report From Hartford, CT - Meetings of the Future Meeting
December 31, 1999
1. Starbright Links Children's Hospital Units Via Technology - Spielberg Project: There are many different applications using on-line learning and collaboration. Starbright uses these new tools in a unique way: to link children with serious illnesses to their peers Sick children can be lonely and scared. They are often isolated and forced to learn a vocabulary that should burden no child� "chemotherapy", "transplant," "isolation." Through the creation of projects that encourage children to overcome the challenges that accompany prolonged illness, STARBRIGHT gives them something back�their childhoods.
We are pleased to announce that The MASIE Center will make a $25,000 donation on behalf of the attendees of TechLearn '98. In addition, we will give each attendee 25 TechLearn Dollars that they may donate to Starbright to support their many projects.
STARBRIGHT is chaired by filmmaker Steven Spielberg and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf. To hear Spielberg describe the impact of STARBRIGHT World, which we will feature at TechLearn '98, go to http://www.starbright.org/press/screening.html Starbright is also releasing multi-media training programs on CD-ROM for helping kids deal with upcoming hospital procedures and the impact of diabetes. Technology and learning at work!
TechLearn '98 will address how our industry can support this important project via local and national corporate sponsorships. The systems will be demonstrated and Starbright staff will address how the training and learning industry can build a new coalition of training and technology groups to support these efforts. What a great way to extend our collective belief in learning and collaboration!
2. Survey Results: PCs and Sound: Here are the preliminary results from our most recent TechLearn Trends Survey. We asked readers to indicate the percentage of the desktop PC's in their organizations were equipped to deliver audio. Here are the percentages of desktops with soundcards and speakers or headsets in organizations:
23% of Readers Report 100% Sound Ready PC's
22% of Readers Report 75% Sound Ready PC's
17% of Readers Report 50% Sound Ready PC's
32% of Readers Report 25% Sound Ready PC's
6% of Readers Report No Sound Ready PC's
There were 1,554 responses to this survey. In follow-up dialogues, a good number of readers indicated that while many PC's had sound cards, there were a limited number of speakers or headsets distributed. A few organizations had "pulled" sound after managers complained about workers listening to music or playing games at their desktops. Once again, the home based PC is more likely to be sound enabled than the work based PC. Final results and more analysis will be posted on our website in the next week. Thanks for the responses!
3. Centra Positions Tools for Sales Applications: As a sign of the evolution of the on-line learning world, we are starting to see tools that are aimed at vertical applications, such as sales. Centra announced yesterday the release of their new version of the Symposium Software. They now have customized their collaboration and teaching tool for use by organizations wanting to add technology to their sales process. Centra has created solutions aimed at events such as Product Launches, Virtual Sales Team Support, Customer Relationship Management and Enterprise Resource Planning.
I spoke by telephone yesterday with their CEO, Leon Navickas. He said their targeting of the sales function was the natural evolution of on-line learning tools from generalized applications to business related processes. It makes lots of sense, as sales is a key process that organizations want to address for reduced cycle time, higher responsiveness and lower expense. Check out their announcements at http://www.centra.com
4. Fixing Cadillacs and Fixing Missiles: TechLearn '98 Working Examples: TechLearn '98 is based on active learning models. In the lobby of the conference you will find Cadillacs and Missiles. What do they have in common? Both require trained, skilled mechanics to fix complex electronic laden devices. We will provide a up-close demonstration of how technology is being used to teach and coach staff working with these devices...and how the skills could be transferable between the military and government sectors. Join the Department of Defense's ADL Project and General Motors to see a glimpse of how speech recognition and performance support technology will change the face of learning in the future. To register for TechLearn '98, please go to http://www.techlearn.com or call 800-98-MASIE. Please register soon, as space is limited!
We are pleased to announce that The MASIE Center will make a $25,000 donation on behalf of the attendees of TechLearn '98. In addition, we will give each attendee 25 TechLearn Dollars that they may donate to Starbright to support their many projects.
STARBRIGHT is chaired by filmmaker Steven Spielberg and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf. To hear Spielberg describe the impact of STARBRIGHT World, which we will feature at TechLearn '98, go to http://www.starbright.org/press/screening.html Starbright is also releasing multi-media training programs on CD-ROM for helping kids deal with upcoming hospital procedures and the impact of diabetes. Technology and learning at work!
TechLearn '98 will address how our industry can support this important project via local and national corporate sponsorships. The systems will be demonstrated and Starbright staff will address how the training and learning industry can build a new coalition of training and technology groups to support these efforts. What a great way to extend our collective belief in learning and collaboration!
2. Survey Results: PCs and Sound: Here are the preliminary results from our most recent TechLearn Trends Survey. We asked readers to indicate the percentage of the desktop PC's in their organizations were equipped to deliver audio. Here are the percentages of desktops with soundcards and speakers or headsets in organizations:
23% of Readers Report 100% Sound Ready PC's
22% of Readers Report 75% Sound Ready PC's
17% of Readers Report 50% Sound Ready PC's
32% of Readers Report 25% Sound Ready PC's
6% of Readers Report No Sound Ready PC's
There were 1,554 responses to this survey. In follow-up dialogues, a good number of readers indicated that while many PC's had sound cards, there were a limited number of speakers or headsets distributed. A few organizations had "pulled" sound after managers complained about workers listening to music or playing games at their desktops. Once again, the home based PC is more likely to be sound enabled than the work based PC. Final results and more analysis will be posted on our website in the next week. Thanks for the responses!
3. Centra Positions Tools for Sales Applications: As a sign of the evolution of the on-line learning world, we are starting to see tools that are aimed at vertical applications, such as sales. Centra announced yesterday the release of their new version of the Symposium Software. They now have customized their collaboration and teaching tool for use by organizations wanting to add technology to their sales process. Centra has created solutions aimed at events such as Product Launches, Virtual Sales Team Support, Customer Relationship Management and Enterprise Resource Planning.
I spoke by telephone yesterday with their CEO, Leon Navickas. He said their targeting of the sales function was the natural evolution of on-line learning tools from generalized applications to business related processes. It makes lots of sense, as sales is a key process that organizations want to address for reduced cycle time, higher responsiveness and lower expense. Check out their announcements at http://www.centra.com
4. Fixing Cadillacs and Fixing Missiles: TechLearn '98 Working Examples: TechLearn '98 is based on active learning models. In the lobby of the conference you will find Cadillacs and Missiles. What do they have in common? Both require trained, skilled mechanics to fix complex electronic laden devices. We will provide a up-close demonstration of how technology is being used to teach and coach staff working with these devices...and how the skills could be transferable between the military and government sectors. Join the Department of Defense's ADL Project and General Motors to see a glimpse of how speech recognition and performance support technology will change the face of learning in the future. To register for TechLearn '98, please go to http://www.techlearn.com or call 800-98-MASIE. Please register soon, as space is limited!
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