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IBM Labs has released its 5th annual "Next Five in Five" – a list of innovations with the potential to change the way people work, live and play over the next 5 years. The Next Five in Five is based on market and societal trends expected to transform our lives, as well as emerging technologies from IBM Labs around the world that can make these innovations possible. Their predictions include: Holograms will be a part of our lives. You … [Read more...]
As I travel across the country talking to agents, the question I hear most often is, "Can you just give us a couple quick tips on the top things we can do right now to make our agency more profitable and effective?" The answer is, YES! As an insurance technology consultant and editor, I've been able to discover the cool new tools, websites, gizmos and gadgets that can make your life easier, more productive, and more competitive. I have … [Read more...]
I read about the development of technology to control your computer using sounds. It made me smile as I immediately thought about the TV commercial for the Clapper. Clap on, clap off. Take a look at this video to see the latest incarnation of the Clapper. I’m not sure what the practical implications of this technology might be – but your computer could become an awesome light switch. … [Read more...]
A new iPhone application allows you to find detailed information on any product simply by taking a picture of it. With the SnapTell Explorer application, you can take a picture of a book—and within seconds the screen will display the right book with reviews, links to other Web sites (including a Wikipedia entry), and online prices from multiple retailers. Welcome to the future of shopping. How does it work? According to SnapTell, "SnapTell … [Read more...]
Most agencies should consider using a blog as a communication tool for employees and clients. Essentially, blogs are simple Web sites. They are perhaps one of the easiest—and quickest—technologies to implement. Creating a blog is simple. Sign up for an account at Blogger.com, TypePad.com, WordPress.com, or another blog publishing tool of your choice. Next, select a name for your blog. Finally, choose a theme. A theme determines what your … [Read more...]
Google provides many tools that can help you understand Web searches. Google Insights provides you with all kinds of information about any keyword/phrase in which you are interested. You'll find out how searches for that keyword/phrase peak and ebb over time, where geographically that search is most popular, and what other keyword/phrases are used to conduct similar searches. For example, at the time of this writing, we tested the tool using … [Read more...]
Have you ever tried to set up a meeting with people who use different calendars? At best, it can be a challenge. TimeBridge, a PC Magazine Editors' Choice, helps you set up meetings for those with unrelated scheduling systems. You've got Outlook; she's got Google Calendar; he's got Thunderbird, and so on. Instead of playing phone-tag and worrying about time zones, you just send out the invites, and TimeBridge handles the confirmations and … [Read more...]
OK, so I don’t have an iPhone yet. But many people do. 2insure4less.com has released a new Insurance Shopper iPhone application. It is the first mobile phone application of its kind. Now, iPhone and iPod Touch owners can receive insurance quotes directly through their mobile devices. The Insurance Shopper application helps individuals save time when searching for affordable insurance quotes by storing their information on the company’s Web … [Read more...]
