Is Google making us Stupid? NO

By Dan Levengood, Senior Product Specialist

There is an article in the latest issue of The Atlantic titled, “Is Google Makings us Stupid?”  It’s an excellent read.   The article points out various ways Google is changing how we learn, read, research and digest information.  Good stuff.  However, I think they give Google too much credit.

For Some Spam Remains the Original: The Digital Divide Still a Reality

By Devendra Shrikhande, Senior Project Manager

According to National Technology Scan, a study conducted by Parks Associates, approximately 18% of U.S. households (20 million in all) are without Internet access. While this number has shrunk from the 29 % (31 million homes) at the end of 2006, we are seeing the adoption curve flatten a bit as only seven percent of the 20 million “disconnected” homes plan to bridge the digital divide.

Need More Budget and Staff? - 2008 Survey on Initiatives in eHealth is Live

By Kristen Snider, Data Analyst 

As they go through the budget process, many healthcare organizations find themselves fighting for each dollar.  Finding and retaining adequate staff to complete all the little (which are usually big) marketing/IT projects that come through the door can become quite daunting.  What you need is concrete evidence. When your management team asks you to reach for the stars, you need evidence that proves you need financial and staffing resources to make it happen. 

Webinar Followup - Building a Social Network

By Ben Dillon, Vice President & Corporate Evangelist

I ran out of time during last week’s Webinar “Meet Consumer Expectations” and was left with some questions that were naturals for a response here on GeoVoices. These questions boil down to the following:

The Web is Opening Doors for People with Disabilities

By: Heather Stanley, Marketing Communications Writer

I’ll be honest.  Prior to working at Geonetric I knew very little about Web site accessibility or how people with disabilities are able to interact with the Internet. 

I remember when Michael Herring, our in-house expert, demonstrated a JAWs reader during a Webinar.  It was intriguing to hear how the technology works, and very illustrative of how important the coding is to ensuring the reader works properly.  I know how easily frustrated I become when maneuvering a Web site that is less than user-friendly.  I can only imagine the level of frustration experienced by those who are dependent on assistive technologies to read newspapers or shop online when they encounter a poorly coded Web site.

Your Brand, Microsized - Perpetuate Impressions with Favicons

By Heather Rast, Interactive Experience Manager

McDonalds may have dropped their “Supersize” menu upgrade due to increased attention on American’s diets and tendency to overconsume.  But the “moderation” bandwagon isn’t exactly overcrowded, as evidenced by walking down any grocery or convenience aisle, attending any major sporting event, or flipping through any consumer magazine.

Google, PHRs, and Leading by Example

By Ben Dillon, Vice President & Corporate Evangelist

I learned of the public launch of Google Health last week from the blog of John Sharp of Cleveland Clinic.  Google Health appears, for the most part, to be a run of the mill Personal Health Record (PHR) with conditions, allergies, medications and the like.  There is some typical Google flair in the presentation, but also a lot of awkwardness that needs to be addressed in other versions.

Perhaps the most exciting component currently is the connection to Cleveland Clinic’s Epic MyChart portal (and apparently a few others). 

The Beginning of a Web Culture

By Ben Dillon, Vice President & Corporate Evangelist

It’s hard to be a change agent.  Change in mature organizations like healthcare doesn’t happen, it needs to be driven or it will be stamped out through the shear inertia of the status quo.  Projects are at risk from many angles, and we generally focus on the barriers we can see most clearly.

Unfortunately, the most dangerous challenges are those that we can’t see.  These “silent killers” are subtle.  They typically don’t halt your change initiatives directly, but put a drag on your initiatives and smother the value they are able to deliver.

“New” PC’s Target an “Old” Market

By Devendra Shrikhande, Senior Project Manager

The senior generation poses an interesting quandary for the Internet. The Web is in some ways is ideal to help this demographic in a variety of ways - from managing tasks and keeping in touch with the latest news  - both national  and the family.

However, a combination of various factors has conspired to make it difficult and our recent Geonetric Webinar addressed the complex aspects of this issue and how we can develop a Web presence to make it easier for seniors to not only use the Web but also make them feel more welcome.

While it may seem overdue, even technology suppliers are taking notice and Microsoft is positioning its new SeniorPCsproduct line to encourage seniors to use computers and move online.

Inside the Mind of the Cancer Patient

By Ben Dillon, Vice President & Corporate Evangelist

I’m blogging from the NACCDO-PAN Conference (a meeting of cancer institute marketing, PR and development professionals) in a session by Amy Siegler, Managing Director at The Advisory Board Company, Inside the Mind of the Cancer Patient.