Technologies to make life safer, easier

 

BY TERRY BROCK

Technology/marketing specialist

 

The goal of any tool, and of technology, is to make your life easier and to enable you to get more done with it than you ever could without it. When technology can make your life better and safer, you are on to something that can give you a decisive advantage in business.

 

In this column, I’ll give you four specific technologies that can help you be more productive and keep you — and your technology — much safer. Any business owner or businessperson can benefit from these. You’ll see videos that describe these items in more detail at www.TerryBrock.com.   

 

Sound Fit to hear better, save your ears

 

We hear a lot about the dangers of listening to music that is too loud. Children particularly need to know about this and to adjust the volume accordingly. Able Planet, a company I’ve known about for years, is dedicated to making your listening experience safer and more pleasant. They blend in technology using advanced circuitry called Linx, Audio to minimize the harsh, loud volume and enhance the rich sounds of music and the spoken word.

 

The company has announced a new product called Sound Fit that delivers better sound while you adjust the volume lower. The removable, disposable ear buds provide a deep listening experience while keeping your ears safe. Expected to retail in the $30 range, these ear buds give you the ability to lower the volume, yet hear richer, fuller sounds.

To see a video interview with Kevin Semcken, the ceo of Able Planet on this product, go to www.terrybrock .com/2009/01/ableplanetearbuds, or for more information on the company, contact www.ableplanet.com.

 

Diamond X Bluetooth from iVoice

 

Bluetooth is the technology that allows you to connect devices wirelessly. It has been around for several years and is now integrally linked with safety for talking on a mobile phone while driving. Now more than ever, safety is related to Bluetooth.

I’ve been using the Diamond X Bluetooth device with my iPhone recently and have been very pleased with the results. This device retails for $119.00. I found the clarity of a variety of calls to be consistently strong and understandable. I made it a point to ask people I was speaking with how my voice sounded and they consistently said it was very good — even paralleling the sound quality of a landline.

 

An added feature on this unit is the ability for the device to convert text to speech announcing the caller. If your caller is in your address book, you’ll hear an announcement. This is like an audio caller id when you’re busy and mobile. It can save you from talking to that persistent brother-in-law who is trying to sell you his new multi-level marketing scheme. Now, that can be real safety.

 

Fujitsu S1500

 

Scanners are a great way to control the paper jungle. With the new Fujitsu S1500 (expected release in spring of this year), you have an easy way to process that mass of paper in your life. The S1500 scanner will handle various sizes of paper at the same time. It scans both sides, in color, and processes it at a rate of 20 pages per minute. With this technology you are safe from losing important information that can be vital (think tax returns, important receipts, contact information, etc). You can see a video of this in action at www.terrybrock .com/2009/01/fujitsu_s1500_scanner/. 

 

A very nice feature built into the software is the ability to recognize cards in various languages. I’m studying Russian and Japanese now and have cards with both languages. So, in my “go ahead and show me if this works” attitude I asked the Fujitsu reps to scan my cards with Russian and Japanese. I was flabbergasted at the proficiency and accuracy it demonstrated. The cards were sorted properly and put into the right categories on the software.

 

For building relationships in business, this is a must-have. It is much easier to use than previous devices and will help give you a competitive advantage. When spring comes and this unit is available, it is worth considering for the $495.00 retail price.

 

S1500 Scanner, www.fujitsu.com/us, $495.00 (Spring Availability).

 

Lo/Jack for Laptops

 

Safety for your laptop is vital in a world where thieves are getting smarter. Absolute Software has developed a Lo/Jack for Laptops that embeds coding within the bios of a laptop computer. If your computer has this feature, called CompuTrace, built into the bios, it can signal the location of the computer every 15 minutes.

 

The technology uses triangulation to find the most recent location of your laptop. Most thieves will not remove the bios (it can devalue the computer). So, Lo/Jack for Laptops comes to your rescue, alerting you and legal authorities as to the whereabouts of your stolen laptop.

Prices run $39.99/yr for basic or $59.99/yr. for a premium service. For the safety of your laptop, not to mention your own peace of mind, this could be wjust hat you need. Visit www. Absolute.com.

 

Terry Brock is a marketing coach who helps business owners market more effectively, leveraging technology. He shows busy professionals how to squeeze more out of their busy days using the right rules and tools. Brock can be reached at 407/363-0505, by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com.