Technology
Infotainment as important as safety in future cars
With all the new cars that are being produced there are more infotainment features in them than their predecessors and this is a trend that is set to continue according to a recent survey by KPMG.
KPMG questioned over 200 car industry executives on future developments for the industry in general. Over a third of those who took part said that ‘infotainment’ will be as important to those driving as the safety features that a new car offers. They predicted more frequent and stronger collaborations between car manufacturers and IT companies.
A survey of over 200 car executives carried out by KPMG early this year revealed that in-car internet access will soon be a normal reality. Just as we can all have a satellite navigation system, soon we will all be able to get online while on the move and behind the wheel.
Already, cars have features like voice activated controls and some cars like the Tesla Model S already have internet connection. The Audi A7 also has 3G wireless built in and Audi plans to make it a standard feature on its other models. Google provides the satellite navigation system for the Tesla Model S and Microsoft and Apple will also supply in-car gadgets.
The latest Honda Accord will come with the voice activated Honda Satellite Linked Navigation System, meaning that you don’t need to stop or take your hands off the wheel to programme in the next destination.
These kinds of developments go hand in hand with aspirations for robotic cars to become reality. Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford, has already predicted semi-autonomous vehicles will be on the road by 2017 – which is hardly far into the future.
As for the fuel that will drive the future, it is not yet clear, but the increase in the number of electric vehicles and hybrids on the roads should continue. Hydrogen is widely acknowledged to be the real future fuel for transport, but there is not yet the infrastructure to truly support EVs yet, yet alone a hydrogen charging infrastructure.
One thing’s for sure – the new cars offers will make today’s look anachronistic in no time at all!
Protect your business computer systems
As a small business owner, you have many and multiple areas of responsibility. You have to run the business itself as well as all the back room functions like keeping track of the accounts, insurance of any vehicles, and security of the business.
Most small business owners immediately think about security in terms of protecting any stock and their premises from potential theft or damage. However, one area that often gets overlooked until it’s too late is the security of your business computers and the internet connection that you use.
This is usually because although everyone has becoming increasingly reliant on using the internet until you actually get attacked by a virus or Trojan there’s a tendency to assume it won’t happen to you. And when it does, it’s too late, sometimes you can lose an incredible amount of valuable data stored on a pc – or potentially worse, risk that data being fraudulently taken or copied by a hacker’s virus. For many businesses, it’s not just the company’s own information they put at risk, but also all their customer information as well. The consequences of getting a virus or Trojan on your computers can be catastrophic for a business’ reputation.
What kind of internet security to get
So, now you realise how necessary internet security is, you need to get hold of some, pronto! This is the relatively easy part. There are some big providers of internet security suites out there. A quick google search will bring up the big names in antivirus software.
Most of the companies offer free trial versions of their software that you can try out for a 30-90 day period. This allows you time to see how it works and to decide whether it’s suitable for your business. Be aware that you will need Mac antivirus for any Macintosh computers that you have. Some companies offer licenses that cover a number of computers under a business package, others cover different types of antivirus software under one license – for smartphones, tablets, pc or Mac.
If you’ve decided to subscribe to a particular internet security suite, remember to uninstall any previous ones, otherwise the new one will not work properly.
Business is booming at the old picture house
When considering where to stage your next business conferences, AGM or product launch, there are a number of important factors to consider, and it can be difficult to find a venue that ticks all of the boxes.
But there is one corporate entertainment destination that is rapidly emerging as the favoured choice for more and more business, both large and small.
The cinema is a veue that already has a special place in the hearts of millions of people around the world. For more than a century it has entertained and enchanted, and now it is satisfying the demands of the business community.
Most modern cinema buildings are located outside of city and town centres, which means there is plenty of space for cars to be parked.
The buildings come equipped with modern bathroom facilities and disabled access comes as standard at the vast majority of complexes, which is a tremendous reassurance to have.
The auditorium itself contains banked, comfortable seats which all face the front and there is enough space in front of the screen for flipcharts or even a small stage.And we haven’t even mentioned the screen yet.
Booming surround-sound audio and high-definition visuals mean that you can deliver important messages with authority and are not limited to the capabilities of archaic or unreliable technology found elsewhere. Directors and actors have shone from this stage for generation after generation, and now CEOs and keynote speakers can too.
Bars and restaurants are often hired for business events but, due to their city centre location, both of these venues fall short in several areas.
Your guests may find it difficult to find somewhere to leave their car and, though there are multi-storey car parks in most towns and cities these days, it can be very expensive to make use of these facilities for more than an hour.
You may also have to spend time moving chairs and tables, transporting speakers and projectors, and making sure that there is enough space for all of your guests.
But at the cinema everything is already in place, leaving you to concentrate your efforts on launching the product that could make you millions or the speech that will win your company clients.
Most cinemas are equipped to handle the needs of hundreds of people at one time and this skill is as equally useful in a corporate environment as it is in the leisure industry.
The cinema is a special place for people of all ages and your guests will be delighted when they learn that their next business appointment is happening somewhere that holds so many special memories for them.
It may seem like an out-of-the-ordinary idea but, when you consider the facts, it is easy to understand why the cinema is quickly winning admirers from within the corporate sector.
A grand idea deserves a worthy stage and this is a venue that truly fits the bill, as well as ticking more boxes as a corporate entertainment destination than most other more usual places.
Mobile antivirus is just as important
The majority of businesses now have antivirus software installed and running on all their computers. Everyone understands the risks that abound if you don’t have good internet security, protecting your business data and data about your customers.
But what sometimes gets forgotten is that mobile devices are just as under threat now that the majority of mobile phones can and do connect to the internet. So, you need mobile antivirus software as well. The variety of options is about as variable as for computer antivirus software. Think about what you actually need for your business mobile devices before making your choice.
Bear the following in mind when making your choice. [Read More...]
Advertising
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Business is booming at the old picture house
When considering where to stage your next business conferences, AGM or product launch, there are a number of important factors to consider, and it can be difficult to find a venue that ticks all of the boxes. But there is one corporate entertainment destination that is rapidly emerging as the favoured choice for more and [...]
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