With all the complaining about social media sapping the productivity out of the world’s workers, Twitter ruining the English language, and smart phones extending the work week to 24-7, it’s nice to read a story or two about technology’s blessings.

Two recent examples that caught my attention:

1. Information Week’s “GPS Can Save Drivers 4 Days Per Year, Cut Co2 by 21%”

GPS devices always seemed an unnecessary accessory. Granted, they are valuable tools for traveling workers, like salespeople and cops, but do regular people who travel the same routes every day really need satellite-powered hand-holding?

Then along comes this study, in which researchers found that drivers who use a real-time traffic-enabled GPS save up to four days of driving time a year. Even better, they cut the CO2 emissions by 21 percent.

If I didn’t have an excuse to buy a GPS before, I do now.

2. From these pages, “BlackBerry Handhelds Save Heart Attack Victims”

CIO.com recently published a story that chronicled the efforts of doctors at Washington, DC’s VA Medical Center, who have begun using BlackBerrys in the cardiology department. In particular, the department has been using software called mVisum since January 2009, which helps cardiologists remotely diagnose heart attacks and quickly communicate the information to doctors and nurses who are working with the patient.

According to the article, mVisum can decrease the time it takes to get patients into appropriate treatment by making secure, accurate EKG readings available to cardiologists on their smart phones. And timing is key with heart attacks, especially certain kinds. The quicker they are diagnosed, the higher the chance of recovery.

The article notes another benefit of the mVisum software: It can also reduce hospital stays for patients, which saves money.

The lesson from both stories is this: If you enable people to get the most out of the tools you give them, good things can result.

Like any other technology, software is no different. I cannot say with conviction that knowing how to create a pivot chart will end world hunger, but it will make for a happier, more productive employee, and a company that is a little less in the red.

MORE INFO IN: Desktop Application Support | Contact PC Helps

You do not have flash or javascript support.

Average (0 votes)

Reply