Using Blogs In An Organizational Structure

There are both advantages and disadvantages to using a blog in an organizational structure. One of the advantages would be the creation of a database to record the knowledge that employees possess but often not shared with others. [1] The organization can use this data to create information sheets about most commonly asked questions, procedures, and so forth. Blogs can be a good way to get back feedback or opinions which otherwise may have not be expressed because the employee may have felt uncomfortable expressing their opinions in front of others. Blogs can help people get a better understanding about the company. Also, blogs are a fast and easy way to publish information. [2] Not to mention it is an inexpensive way to gather, and distribute data to employees, managers, and customers. The disadvantages of blogs in an organizational structure would be that people often are unable to express themselves clearly. Their posts may cause misunderstandings and confusion. Another disadvantage of the use of blogs for organizations would be that people can't find the time to take out of their busy schedules to sit down and write a blog. If people do start a blog, another disadvantage would be that people do not update the blogs. Some other advantages and listed in article The Pros and Cons of Using an Online Blog Software or a Content Management System (CMS) by Christopher Heng are: allows one to focus on content, the automatic generation of site usability features, interaction with each other. [3] The disadvantages that Heng mentions are: potential security risks, inconvenient timing of upgrades, unable to use site during upgrades, comment spam in blogs, mistake you make is instantaneously reflected, and the limitations of the software. For more detail visit: http://www.thesitewizard.com/general/blogging-pros-and-cons.shtml

REFERENCES

[1] Jessup, Valacich, Wade, Information Systems Today: Why IS Matters, Second Canadian Edition

[2] Crowther, Don. " How to Build Your Business Using Blogs." http://www.101publicrelations.com/bloggingforbusiness.html

[3] Heng, Christopher. "The Pros and Cons of Using an Online Blog Software or a Content Management System (CMS)." http://www.thesitewizard.com/general/blogging-pros-and-cons.shtml

Disadvantages For Organizations To Use Smart Dust

A possible disadvantage of the use of Smart Dust is the possible invasion of privacy. [1] The device can be used both inside and outside the building structure of the company. Both ways, people may feel insecure and uncomfortable with the idea of constantly being monitored. Knowing that there is sensors for night security cameras, temperature, or lighting dectection may make peopel feel like no matter what they are doing, they are constantly being followed. [2] Also, there is a technological disadvantage for Organizations. [3] The data collected collected may not exactly be real time since it is transmitted in short bursts after some time intervals. Therefore, for some critical real time data collection/processing it might not be as appropriate.

For a better understanding of the disadvantages for Organizations to use Smart Dust read the following: http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:T4-gi5bBR6wJ:www.brics.dk/ALCOM-FT/TR/ALCOMFT-TR-03-162.ps.gz+disadvantages+for+organizations+to+use+smart+dust&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4

REFERENCES

[1] "What is Smart Dust? : Disadvantages." http://64.233.169.104/search q=cache:3vnwmvdCt1sJ:www.e-core.org.uk/content/smart_dust/smart.htm+smart+dust+disadvantages&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5

[2] Robbins, Alexandra. "More Than Meets the Eye." 19 February 2002. http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:6I2uOhYkaXEJ:www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,358558,00.asp+smart+dust+invasion+of+privacy&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9

[3] Song, Yunbin. "Optical Communication Systems for Smart Dust." August 2002. http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:tDxjkbwEeMgJ:scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08212002-230202/unrestricted/Thesis_YunbinSong.pdf+smart+dust+disadvantages&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8

Advantages For Organizations To Use Smart Dust!

The use of Smart Dust devices has many advantages for organizations. One of the greatest advantage would be the use of motes to reduce costs. With Smart Dust, Organizations can use the device to sensor lighting, and temperature in the building and provide the information to the controller.[1] In return, when the room in vacant computers would then turn off the lights, heating or cooling system. Depending on what the Organization specializes in, Smart Dust can be beneficial to them in different ways. For example, motes can be used to record data for scientific research, meteorology, for road sign detection, movement of patients in hospitals, and to detect presence of chemical or biological agents. [2] Organizations can really benefit from such precise and detailed data. Another advantage is the use of sensor networks in various fields for continuous sensing, be it for event detection, location sensing or micro-sensing [3] Also, motes can be used to monitor the security of buildings. Not to forgot the revolutionary change it will bring to computer interfaces and technology in general. For more information on the applications of Smart Dust go to: http://www.uhisrc.com/FTB/Smart%20Dust/Smart%20Dust.pdf

REFERENCES

[1] Goode,Barbara. "Business Sense." August 2004. http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:q1r1yMIOJrQJ:archives.sensorsmag.com/businesssense/bs0804/main.shtml+smart+dust+advantages+for+business&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

[2] Hoffman, Thomas. " Smart Dust: Mighty mote for medicine, manufacturing, the military and more." http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,79572,00.html

[3] Y . Nikoletseas, I. Chatzigiannakis , A. Antoniou, H. Euthimiou, A. Kinalis
and G. Mylonas. "Energy Efficient Protocols for Sensing Multiple Events in Smart Dust Networks." Computer Technology Institute. http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:T4-gi5bBR6wJ:www.brics.dk/ALCOM-FT/TR/ALCOMFT-TR-03-162.ps.gz+disadvantages+for+organizations+to+use+smart+dust&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4

Impact of Smart Dust on tools, techniques, and technology

Smart Dust devices are already being tested for various purposes. This technology has the potential to replace many tools, techniques, and technologies currently being used. For example it is said that the implementation of smart dust devices in cars will replace the current car tax systems. [1] These motes can be implanted in street lights, signals, factories, buildings, furniture, even clothing for surveillance purposes. Below is a photo of a diagram explaining road sign detection and recognition application using Smart Dust technology. [2]

The possibilities of where and how these devices can be used are endless. If used in the military they can be used to change the current techniques of how to track enemy movements, and to detect poisonous gas or radioactivity. [3] The device can be also used to monitor inventory, control lighting and temperature, mass screening for infectious disease, and to provide detailed as well as precise data. In the picture below you can see how tiny the device is. Also, the picture shows how the device can be implemented to monitor just about anything. [4]

Motes may completely change current computer interfaces and enable virtual keyboards, sculpting, and instruments. [5] For example, motes can be attached to fingernails to constantly transmit finger motion data. Overall, the implementation of Smart Dust will have an affect on several industries for different reasons. One can say many of the current monitoring systems, and current technologies may become obsolete once motes are integrated. For more information about Smart Dust click on the following link: http://www.paconsulting.com/NR/rdonlyres/BA97F6EF-B7C2-4174-903E-E7F83D840DAF/0/foresight_smart_dust.pdf

REFERENCES

[1] "Smart dut could replace car tax disc." 19 January, 2005. Northern Echo. http://archive.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/2005/1/19/25795.html

[2] Tubaishat, Malik. "Road sign detection and recognition application." 28 April, 2008. TRACKSS. http://tubaishat.wordpress.com/

[3] Hoffman, Thomas. " Smart Dust." 24 March, 2003. http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,79572,00.html

[4] Manjoo, Farhad. "Dust Keeping the Lights Off." 28 May, 2001. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2001/05/44101

[5] "Smart Dust: Organized grime." PA Consulting Group. http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:ILraiveRmkEJ:www.paconsulting.com/NR/rdonlyres/BA97F6EF-B7C2-4174-903E-E7F83D840DAF/0/foresight_smart_dust.pdf+smart+dust+computer+interface&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

What is Smart Dust? What does it do?

Smart Dust devices are extremly small wireless microelectromechanical sensors, also known as MEMS.[1] The sensors can sense just about anything for example: light, temperature, and vibrations. Each mote is said to contain sensors, computing circuits, bidirectional wireless communications technology, and a power supply.

The Diagram above, explains how Smart Dust works [2]



Smart Dust devices have many functions. Basically, the motes gather data, run computations and communicate information using two way band radio between motes. [3] Currently, the device can communicate with other motes within a range of a 1000 feet.

Diagram above: displays what Smart Dust does [4]

For more information go to the following link: http://zoo.cs.yale.edu/classes/cs434/readings/papers/SmartDust.pdf

REFERENCES

[1] Hoffman, Thomas. " Smart Dust: Mighty mote for medicine, manufactuing, the military and more." 24 March, 2003. http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,79572,00.html

[2] J. M. Kahn, R. H. Katz, and K. S. J. Pister, “Emerging Challenges: Mobile Networking for 'Smart Dust,'” J. Communications and Networks, Vol. 2, No. 3, September 2000.

[3] "Smartdust." 1 Novemeber, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartdust

[4]Kupfer, Peter."Researchers are developing tiny, airborne devices that can look and listen as they float", San Francisco Chronicle,20 Novemeber. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/11/20/MN62513.DTL&type=science