Understanding the Need for Business Intelligence Systems

DeLone and McLean first introduced a review of information systems success (ISS) literature and proposed the information success model in 1992. The contribution of technology use and acceptance and its influence toward ISS is an area of information systems research that has received significant attention from both researchers and practitioners. Specifically, computer information systems, such as business intelligence systems, play important roles in today’s medium and large enterprises’ decision-making processes. Present research streams in information systems (IS) consistently identify end user technology use and acceptance as a major concern for IS executives in both the private and public sectors. The increasing number of business intelligence system implementations suggests a need to understand why executive management and knowledge workers accept or reject business intelligence solutions. Conflicting channels of communication between information technology professionals, knowledge workers, and other stakeholders may signal dissatisfaction with end user computing. In an industry setting, understanding end user computing and acceptance of technology from two different communication streams opens opportunities to develop technology acceptance theories. Technology acceptance and convergence theories can provide information technology professionals and executive management insight asboth groups strive to achieve ISS to support and to sustain organizational goals. In this research, a pilot study using measures developed by the author was used to better understand a technology use, acceptance, and convergence model.

Artificial Intelligence: Technology of Consciousness

Technologies of consciousness include areas such as A.I., Neurology, Biofeedback, Thought Power, Mild Drugs and virtual reality as topics that will be the subject of higher-order concerns facing modern society. These topics are considered to be a level above intelligence and knowledge. Consciousness is the next great frontier in civilization’s progress because it exists beyond information, knowledge, and other forms of “rational” logic (Halal, 2008). Even more important, as the computing power of machines approach and perhaps surpass that of the human brain, machines configured with advanced artificial intelligence may develop the ability or capability to form a conscious.

The cortex of a mouse has approximately 8 X 106 neurons and 8000 synapses per neuron. A human brain is about 1000 times larger than the cortex of a mouse – research groups are rapidly approaching modeling of the human brain. According to Velde (2009), there is potential for large-scale simulations of neural processes that may result in the generation of intelligence. Halal (2008) proposed that neuron behavior, in a technical sense, should not be as difficult to replicate because transistors can be configured to produce the same behavior. Recent research and discoveries in neuroscience are contributing to tremendous strides in brain modeling and brain mapping as well as various forms of artificial intelligence. In this respect, AI is not different from other sciences like physics, chemistry, astronomy and genetics. Each of these sciences became successful because (and often when) they focused on an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the phenomena and processes they study (Velde, 2009).

Sources Halal, W. (2008). Technology's Promise. New York City: Palgrave MacMillan. Velde, F. (2010). Where Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience Meet: The Search for Grounded Architectures of Cognition. Advances in Artifical Intelligence , 1-18.

Kevin Kelly: Next 5000 days of the web

Futurist Prediction: Kevin Kelly: The next 5000 days Kelly’s prediction and video focuses on the concept of the “single global machine”. The single global machine is Kelly’s expression of the World Wide Web as a single collective of human thought and ideas. The architecture Kelly’s personification of the single global machine consists of the operating system and the application. The operating system of the single global machine is the World Wide Web as a system of interconnected network of servers that is operating 24 hours per day, 365 days per year with no interruption. Collectively, the global machine amasses 100 billion clicks a day and consumes up to 5 percent of the world’s total global energy.

Technologically, this machine is arguably the most impressive of inventions linking page to page, machine to machine and data to data. The growth of the network of computers and the doubling of power every two years gives us the impression that there is no end in sight to both the possibilities and the number of people and devices that will be able to tap into the collective machine. In the next 5000 days, Kelly envisions the process of restructuring of the web as a convergence of new applications, data and devices. The convergences of the three mentioned components create new uses which contribute tremendously to the overall body of what we know as the World Wed Web. Psychologically, humans have the ability to expand the capabilities of the single global machine by getting better at “believing the impossible” to push the current boundaries of human thought to match the level of boundless computation that the web is capable of handling. Kevin Kelly’s video: http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

Organ Growing Technology

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New Agora Method for Uses of Organ Growing Technologies

The Structured Dialogue Process (SDP) is a technique that seeks to provide solutions to questions through the use of a sequence of generating observations, clarifying observations, grouping observations and importance voting.  This process is accomplished through the use of facilitation techniques and collaboration software developed over the course of 35 years.  One of the final goals of this technique is the creation of an influence tree which is a visual representation of conclusions that have been reached and leverage points to show interrelationships and dependencies.  Throughout this process a roundtable discussion supplies responses to trigger question which are shared with the rest of the group.  This method has been known to be applied to many complex social, economic and cultural problems.  Specifically, SDP is very successful in cases when strong personalities and other barriers of effective group collaboration and dialogue have the potential to hinder the democratic process.  The SDP process can be used to seek out solutions to difficult ethical and societal issues – such as organ growing technology.

Despite the obvious concerns of abusing our own organs in the cases where another one can be readily available to replace them is hot spot for discussion.  In such cases, the trigger question may be – how do we prevent the abuse of organ growing technology but at the same time promote and encourage its best uses.  SDP can be more effective at discovering effective ways of using organ growing technology techniques to enhance the human condition.  The architecture of SDP calls for the development of a common language so that the problem can be better understood by the whole group so that each individual can ‘see’ the problem expressed through their own experience and understanding and not through someone else’s perspective.  A structured use of inquiry will be used to clarify and refine the question in context which will be marshaled through the use of root cause mapping software to aid the group to generate solutions.

 

New Agora Paper:
http://www.harnessingcollectivewisdom.com

How Can Grown Organs and its discussions be Tainted???

Medically, grown organs present an exciting and optimistic opportunity to replace diseased and/or malfunctioning organs.  In humanity’s best interest, lives can be both saved and preserved – the high demand for organs and the long lead times required to receive a donated organ would essentially be eliminated from medical facilities.  Support for the benefit of grown organs may be far reaching from an ethical perspective to help reduce some of the darkest and corrosive crimes in human history.  If the potential to grow organs can be realized instead of the procurement of donated organs, the global illegal organ trafficking market may disintegrate overnight.  According to traffickingproject.org, organ trafficking accounts for around 10 percent of the nearly 70,000 kidney transplants performed worldwide annually (traffickingproject.org, 2008).  On a more macular level, a rich recipient in need of a donor kidney organ would turn to the organ black market which harvests organs from poor donors.  National Geographic reported on a poor neighborhood in India known as "kidney village," where residents illegally sold their kidneys for about $800, which is by far less than the $160,000 price tag allegedly charged by a Brooklyn,NY organ middleman (Stier, 2009).  Illegal organ trafficking presents a moral issue for the entire global community where the heavy demand for healthy organs has materialized a new hidden market where the rich play -- and the poor pay a heavy price.  Yet the materialization of the discussion of the very sensitive topic of grown organs should be explored.   

Given the highly sensitive nature of the manufacturing of grown organs, there is a case to be made whether to approach a robust and thorough discussion of this subject using the Delphi method or the NGT method.  Fundamentally, both methods are used to reach a consensus regarding a subject however the two methods could not be any more divergent in both methodology and purpose.  One method works within hidden and potentially secret communication channels – questionnaires, surveys and emails whereas another method works within a more visible medium fostering open group communication and discussion.  There appears to be a divide and conquer methodology with the Delphi method that may potentially be used to slant an otherwise scholarly discussion toward an anonymous, yet biased and directed point of view depending on the nature of question construction and deconstruction.  In its best form, the Delphi method may be to discussion and learning to what “open source” is to software – a collection of the very best of breed solutions to a very direct and specific problem.    

Keywords:  Global, social, ethical, political, environmental, medical human rights abuse

http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.1818/healthissue_detail.asp

http://www.traffickingproject.org/2008/03/organ-trafficking-fast-expanding-black.html      

SixthSense technology

Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology

What do you get when you add a projector and a camera a bicycle helmet and place hand sensors on the tip of your fingers?  Does this sound like the technology to be used in the newest CGI movie or video game?  Will you see dead people???   Actually, this is all of the hardware required to use anything around you as an interface.  Imagine using your wall as a canvas or notepad - making notes on your wall appear bigger or smaller just by using a pinching motion with your fingers.  Let us draw a circle on our wrist to make a watch appear or use your palms for a surface for you to punch in the number for a phone call next time your want to order pizza.

SixthSense technology is rooted in innovation - bringing physical objects in the real wold and gestures together to bring humanity into the world of computers.  The technology introduced by Mistry disconnects the keyboard / mouse human interface component between humans and machines in order to bring humans and machines closer together.  Imagine using positioning a box using your fingers to take pictures - voila!  Augmented reality comes to life in SixthSense technology - take an object in the physical world and overlay it with digital technology and data for a more intuitive and richer computing experience.  SixthSense technology's goal is to integrate information to the physical world to help us stay human and to eliminate the digital divide in order to bring technology to the masses.

http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html

YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT???

The present ubiquity and conception of mobile cellular technology has been a significant factor of the modern lifestyle for decades.  In the most basic sense, the concept of mobile technology revolved around several components to make the technology work.  Assuming that an infrastructure is present to support two phones that will communicate over a radio link through a network of interconnected radio towers operated by a mobile service operator is a mouthful of information to convey in just one sentence!!  Albeit, despite the wordy explanation we do have a better understanding of mobile cellular technology – imagine that!!!  How does our newly gained knowledge of mobile cellular technology help us in understanding how to use mobile technology and perhaps dictate future use? 

(Hold that thought for a moment…)

According to The Horizon Report (2011), by the year 2015 eighty percent of the people will be accessing the Internet through mobile devices.  In Japan, seventy-five percent of the tech savvy population is already accustomed to accessing the Internet via mobile devices.  Imagine that in the United States, cell phones are already native to children under the age of thirteen and by the time these children reach early adulthood cellular technology would have outgrown its original purpose (for talking to another cell phone).…Now, I want you to remember to earlier in this post when we asked ourselves how to use mobile technology in the not so distant future?

(Good, glad you are still with me…)

The future is now…  Are we disturbed when we see signs such as ALL CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF OR ALL CELL PHONES MUST BE ON VIBRATE during a study session at the library or while in a dark movie theater??

  I think it is time that we reconsider how much of an opportunity we are missing by restricting the use of cell phones in certain ‘quiet’ places.  Imagine using mobile technology to help society dictate future use instead of future use being dictated by our outdated mobile etiquette?  Mobile devices provide a wealth of data collecting potential that can be infused with ANALYTICS LEARNING to bring forth new models learning models to help us understand ourselves better.  Experiments involving data collected from social media outlets may already be merging with data from other sources to help teachers find better and more effective ways of teaching their students according to learning style. 

So how does our newly gained knowledge of mobile cellular technology help us in understanding how to use mobile technology and perhaps dictate its future use?  The answer may lie in being unconventional – use mobile technology to help us learn about ourselves instead of us learning how to use mobile technology – use imagination!!!… Encourage mobile technology and discourage preconceived bias…. 

Imagine….what would Einstein do with a tablet device???