Dear Applicant, Don't Bother

As much as computers, the Internet and other electronic advances have brought us together, they also keep us apart. Face-to-face communication, personal letters and even phone conversations have been replaced by e-mail and texting.

OK, there’s no putting the technology genie back in the bottle, and who would argue with innovative gadgets which help us in our everyday lives. But there are downsides to this progress: diminished human contact in the form of communication walls that contribute to an impersonal, hands-off existence.

Take the case of job applicants today. Many employers have gone “paperless” for economic and environmental reasons. Or, in the case of a few employers, they find it a convenient way to eliminate a paper trail if legal issues arise in a hiring dispute. Just hit the delete key and that file vaporizes (though it might still be retrievable by a cyber sleuth).

Some employers refuse to accept resumes and cover letters via U.S. mail (a contributing factor to the postal service’s financial woes). Instead, applicants are urged to submit online profiles with the appropriate documents to the e-mail of a specific person – human resources director, recruiter, etc.

Those seeking work always are encouraged by job boards and services to address their cover letters to a person, not a generic “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madam.” If you follow that advice, you would expect and hope for fair consideration of your application. Unfortunately, this is the response you might see months later:

Dear applicant:

Thank you for your recent expression of interest in the position of Director of Impersonal Communications.

Although your credentials are impressive, we regret to inform you that you were not selected to interview for this position. The decision was made to pursue candidates whose background and experience more closely match the position requirements.

You may wish to periodically check our website in order to keep apprised of other positions which we are actively recruiting.

Thank you for your interest.

The e-mailed rejection above is real, nearly word for word, except for the bogus job title. Sadly, this is pretty typical of the new type of form response letters employers are using (if they respond at all). “Dear applicant” and no name or signature of any kind at the bottom. Would any serious job seeker apply for a position that way?

Yes, employers today will defend the practice by saying they have been too overwhelmed by a flood of applicants because of the Great Recession.

It’s not unusual for three open positions, say at a college or university PR office, to draw 350 applicants whose credentials are likely to vary from “absolutely ideal” to “you’ve got to be kidding.” That’s a ton of processing for employers, especially companies which have downsized and have fewer staffers doing the same or more work.

But, even with that changed reality, how can “Dear applicant” be acceptable when it takes just a minute more to address an electronic response to Mr. Doe, Mrs. Doe or Ms. Doe – if your hiring personnel bothered to look at the application package? What happened to a more personalized and professional greeting?

Perhaps the “applicant” waited several months to get a form response that turned out to be a rejection. What PR message does it send? Maybe the wrong message: If this company, institution of higher education, or business, cares so little about interaction with strangers seeking employment, how would it be if I worked for them? Would I ever apply there again? Why waste my time?

Electronic communication can be a wonderful experience. In the case of Facebook, for example, it can bring together long-lost relatives who live thousands of miles apart, reunite old high school friends, allow you to stay in touch with former co-workers, develop new friendships based on shared interests, connect with job leads, etc.

But on the flip side of advances in technology, electronic walls allow us to brush aside the finer communication skills, ones that require human interaction in a more meaningful way. You can't read body language and gestures in an e-mail or text message. Video, even when streamed live, still has an artificial quality.

With remote access dominating communication, you get a society whose children are disconnected with parents and the real world because they’re lost in virtual world. For instance, they don’t play sports outdoors because it’s easier to play indoors with the gadgets (and perhaps bully other kids online, a growing trend).

I’m not saying we should go backward and reject technology – personal computers, laptops, cell phones, iPad, iPod and the rest. They represent progress in the Information Age, and we can anticipate more innovations on the horizon.

But in our haste to embrace all things technology, let’s not forget about little touches that enrich our lives – at home, in the office and at school. It begins with simply addressing someone by name, even if the news is not good.

As for me, I practice what I preach at writenowworks.com.

Fake Electronics Take Tech Toll

There is a growing worldwide epidemic of counterfeit microchips, routers, and computers costing the electronics industry billions of dollars annually, and the problem has serious implications not only for business but for national defense and homeland security, analysts say.

The number of bogus electronic products has more than doubled, from 3,868 in 2005 to 9,356 in 2008, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Counterfeit electronic parts cost the information technology industry about $100 billion a year, according to the not-for-profit National Electronics Distribution Association.

Typically, counterfeit electronic parts are less reliable than original design ones and may not work. Fake parts can highly compromise originally designed applications such as those involved with data storage, computer operations, and automotive functions.

A Saudi Arabian citizen was convicted earlier this year of purchasing and selling counterfeit Cisco components intended for use by the Marine Corps. These parts were intended for monitoring troop mobility in Iraq, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

“Counterfeiting is a very serious issue that impacts the entire high-tech industry on a global level, ’’ a Cisco public relations spokesperson said. “Cisco and other leading IT companies have been actively addressing this issue for several years now.”

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, recently raised the subject at a briefing attended by reporters from around the globe. Clearly, with the threat of increased terror activity globally, authenticity and integrity of electronic parts are growing concerns at all levels, Chertoff said.

Well-known brands hit hard by counterfeiting in recent years include OEM companies such as Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, NEC, Hewlett Packard, Xerox, and IBM. It’s so bad that distributors worldwide must now examine every part they receive. One distributor, PCX, headquartered in Huntington Beach, Calif., takes the defensive position that “a part is considered suspect until we prove otherwise.”

China is where the bulk of counterfeit electronic parts originate. The economic giant supplies many of these parts to the United States, according to a recent report by the Commerce Department. In many instances, parts are “recycled” from electronic waste sent to China as scrap.

It works this way: Workers dismantle mother boards, recover components, and remove part numbers and other corporate identification. Then the workers imprint forged dates, brand names, and other bogus product codes. These parts then make their way to electronic marketplaces and other brokers before being distributed globally by “knock-off” suppliers.

Besides China, other places responsible for this illegal practice include Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Eastern European countries, U.S. officials say.

Knock-off components even may be infiltrating traditional distribution channels. Within lots, parts may be “contaminated” with counterfeit components, all from the same authorized dealer. Ultimately, dealers must provide refunds in an effort to salvage their image and brand.

Many of the bogus parts are of such high quality that it is becoming increasingly difficult to ascertain “original” from “counterfeit.” To take it a step further, some dealers are affixing “anti-counterfeit” labels to verify authenticity. In order to stem the flow of these illegal components, potential victims are banding together.

The Defense Department and National Aeronautics and Space Administration are creating standards that help users avoid buying counterfeit parts, according to the Independent Distributors of Electronics Association, a nonprofit trade organization which teaches members how to detect bogus products. Many times when distributors have been known to sell fake parts they are blacklisted.

The process of detecting counterfeit parts is increasingly difficult since hardware is getting more complex. Many of these parts require a microscope to determine their authenticity. Under a microscope, examiners determine the placement of the logo, the quality of the vacuum seal, and the depth of the etchings to help identify potential fraud.

The counterfeiting game also is moving to a higher level, with some culprits saving shavings and material coatings from original parts to make it even more challenging for suppliers to detect differences.

Even so, turnabout is fair play. Some suppliers de-pot or de-encapsulate ICs, processors, and memory chips to inspect the interior die for markings and dates. Other suppliers are even X-raying their incoming parts to determine authenticity.

Chipmakers, like Intel, have developed software to help customers identify the processor inside a computer to make sure that it’s performing up to OEM standards.

Experts in the electronics industry warn that supply chains are becoming more global and less transparent. No one can be sure which parts are going into which computers. These computers can affect everything from national security, to air traffic control towers, and weapons systems.

This post is courtesy of TechMan who tracks trends and issues in business, industry and technology.

Big Electronics Trends For 2010

New and innovative consumer products are taking center stage at the International Consumer Electronics Show, the largest tradeshow in the world.

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, keynote speaker for the Jan. 7-10 event, focused on tablet PCs and unveiled a 10-inch touch display from Hewlett-Packard called “the slate.’’ The launch was timed to preempt “the tablet” from Apple which analysts and competitors believe is close to announcement.

The word on the street is the next technology wave is the convergence of the Internet, Wi-Fi, and 3G connectivity. The dynamic between Apple and Microsoft appears to be intensifying as Apple continues to gain market share.

The tradeshow, a staple since 1967, this year features over 2,700 exhibitors, according to the CES. Held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the CES attracts executives, media, consumers and international attention.

Among the expected exhibitions was 3D, delivered either Blu-ray or broadband, and a huge selection of OLED TVs, but likely not ready for mass markets. Other attractions included EBook technology as well as next-generation cell phones as Google jumps into this market with its Android operating system. LCD and plasma displays also looked thinner and cheaper.

Amid all the hype and speculation attached to the CES, we thought it might be more valuable to list anticipated trends during the New Year. According to Peter Putman of Display Daily, the following are nearly certain predictions:

1. Bi-stable Digital Signage. What is different about a bi-stable display from other types (e.g. LCD) is that after the power is removed from the display, whatever is showing on the display remains until the next time the power is restored and the image is refreshed. As more signs transition from paper and film to LCDs and LEDs, power conservation is becoming more important. Larger format bi-stable displays are one answer to the problem, particularly where images are left on for long periods of time.

2. Goggle Program Guides. The market for NeTVs is growing dramatically. TV manufacturers expect sales in the millions during 2010, which should see the first NeTVs with full-blown Web browsers with channel and program guide interface.

3. LED-Powered 3LCD Projectors. Analysts expect the first models to appear this quarter. These models are expected to save significantly on power consumption.

4. Movie Rentals Via SD Cards. DVDs will continue their five-year decline, and Blockbuster will close most of its stores. Self-serve kiosks and drugstore and grocery checkout lines will prevail with flash or SD (San Disk) cards. Currently, SD cards are available at Walmart for about $10.

5. Wireless Home Theater In A Box. Analysts predict this technology will emerge in Q4 of 2010. Consumers will find affordable wireless surround sound systems for their new big screen TVs they purchased for Christmas.

6. Gesture Recognition For Remote Control. Gesture Recognition is a topic in computer science and language technology with the goal of interpreting human gestures via mathematical algorithms, according to Wikipedia. Gestures can come from the face or hand or any other body motion. This option will be available on TVs since price erosion continues and manufacturers can charge a premium for this feature.

7. All-in-One Blu-Ray Players. Blu-ray Disc (known as BD or Blu-Ray) is an optical storage medium designed to supersede the standard DVD format. BD format hasn’t really taken off, but lower prices for BD players have helped. What’s really needed is a combination DVR/BD-RE player which can receive cable, terrestrial, and Internet channels.

8. TV Network Widgets. For regular terrestrial TV broadcast to survive, stations and networks need to integrate their delivery models with NeTVs. Device “widgets” is one way to make this happen. TV manufacturers also may support side-loading video content to handheld devices through the TV’s USB port.

9. OLED-Equipped Netbooks. Netbooks, a disruptive technology, is leading the way to a new level of “cloud computing.” Analysts expect PC sales to start declining in 2010. Active-Matrix (AM) OLEDs is the cutting-edge product for new netbooks.

10. Metered Broadband Service. Cable TV companies and wireless broadband providers will start marketing “pay by the bit” subscriptions in 2010. For cable MSOs (Multiple System Operators) in particular, this will be an unpopular but necessary measure against losing channel tier subscribers to Internet streaming and downloads.

Note: This post came to We Mean Businss from TechMan, a contributor who monitors industry trends.

'Silver Bullet' Eyed In Print Tech

Xerox sees its silver inkjet ink as a breakthrough in printed electronics.

The company claims its technology could bring the cost of printing entire radio frequency identification tags to a penny a piece -- long a goal of the printed electronic industry. Among the advantages are a much lower fusing temperature and the ability to print under non-clean room conditions.

Based in Norwalk, Ct., Xerox employs over 54,000 people worldwide. The company has been struggling financially, with its production business revenue for the first half of 2009 down $500 million, to $2.1 billion.

But the ink may be the “silver bullet” the company needs to end its financial doldrums. This new development could pave the way for the commercialization and low-cost manufacturing of printable electronics.

Market analysts for years have been saying printable electronics offers manufacturers a very low-cost way to add "intelligence" or computing power to a wide range of flexible surfaces, such as plastic films or a variety of fabrics.

The silver pigment particles are only 5 nanometers in size and can be sintered on substrates below 140°C. This is well below current silver ink technology that sinters around 1100°C. The huge difference is because of the shape and size of the pigment particles as well as their proprietary ink formulation.

Bringing low-cost electronics to the masses has been hampered by logistics and costs associated with silicon chip manufacturing.

Integrated circuits are made up of three components: a semiconductor, a conductor, and a dielectric element. The ICs are fabricated in hugely expensive factories requiring billions of dollars of investment. By using ink jet technology, it is now possible to inexpensively produce all three components via state-of-the-art ink formulations.

Xerox claims its scientists have improved the company’s previously developed semiconductor inks by formulating the ink so the molecules precisely align themselves in an optimal configuration to conduct electricity.

Printed circuits can be used in a broad range of products, including low-cost radio frequency identification tags, light and flexible e-readers and signage, sensors, solar cells and novelty applications, including wearable electronics.

By using this new silver ink technology, it will be easier than ever to print circuits in almost any size, from smaller custom-sized circuits to larger formats, such as wider rolls of plastic sheets.

If this breakthrough technology delivers as promised, it could replace today’s silicon-wafer industry.

Note to readers: This post came to me via e-mail from a contributor who calls himself TechMan.