CSI eNewsletter -- 2013 Mar & Apr (Combined Issue)

The CSI eNewsletter for Mar & Apr 2013 (combined issue) can be accessed at
http://www.csi-chennai.org/csi-enl/csi-enl-2013-04-01.pdf

and also at the CSI KM Portal
http://www.csi-india.org/web/csi/enewsletter

Access the Newsletter

Contents
=======

-- The Organization of the Future, and it’s Impact on IT
-- The legal and commercial risks and issues to consider
when managing emails
-- Google Apps v. Office 365 summary: Which is better
-- 10 considerations for BYOD cost/benefit analysis
-- What Is Crowdfunding And How Does It Benefit The Economy
-- Scientists use 3-D printing to help grow an ear
-- Video: India 3.0 IT And Education
-- Internet freedom in a world of states
-- What ails India inc’s executives?
-- Inspiring interview with Dr. Vinton G Cerf, Father
of Internet
-- eBook: Definitive Guide to Next-Generation Threat
Protection
-- Apple fan launches new blog, YouTube channel
-- Virtual learning spaces
-- 7 Innovative Solutions to CAPTCHA User Attention
-- Webinar: Information Optimization and the Disruptive
Power of Big Data
-- Video: Insight Into Depression – Sadhguru (11 min 30 secs)
-- Evaluating Agile and Scrum with Other Software
Methodologies
-- Priming Kanban
-- Top 40 CRM Vendor report
-- Researchers achieve breakthrough in spin storage
-- The CS Cloud Computing Special Technical Community
(CS CCSTC)
-- Video: IT and Masses in India
-- Mark Twain Awards for Travel support
-- Cicero's philosophy
-- Announcements
-- ICT Events
-- ICT News: Voices & Views
-- ICT News: Telecom, Govt, Policy, Compliance
-- ICT News: IT Manpower, Staffing & Top Moves
-- ICT News: Company News: Tie-ups, Joint Ventures,
New Initiatives
-- Book: Estimating Software Costs (TMH)
-- Book: Internet Marketing: An Hour A Day (Wiley India)
-- Book: Know Your English (Vol. 1): Idioms and their stories
Universities Press):
-- Book: Listening Skills (Universities Press)
-- Book: Semantic Web Services (Springer)
-- Book: The Art of Agile Practice: A Composite Approach for
Projects and Organizations (CRC Press)
-- About the CSI-eNewsletter
-- Contributions to CSI-eNewsletter

InfoQuiz–2013-04-01
===================

1. “Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web” is now
known as ------.

2. Name the 1st Indian to sign up for the Giving Pledge,
a forum of wealthy people to pledge for Philanthropy

3. Which course taken by Steve Jobs helped him to excel
in his products at Apple?

4. Three Vs of BIG DATA are Volume, Velocity, and ------

5. RIM (Research In Motion), the company which makes
BlackBerry range of smart phones has been
renamed as ------


Answers of InfoQuiz-2013-02-01
========================================

5th Feb 2013, MIT (JSTOR), Google, Graph Search,
Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud

Info-graphics: 3D Printer Cheat Sheet

The growth of 3D printing has taken off in the last five years, but what does that mean for your access to the technology? What will it be used for? How might it change our society in the short and long-term?

This infographic shows you the prices of 3D printers from enterprise to consumer levels, what materials they’re using, and how we might be using the technology in the future.

See the Info-Graphics

75 questions to help you write an RFP for website design

Writing an RFP (request for proposal) can be an arduous process to say the least. Organizing your entire company and trying to agree on what your website will look like is not an easy job. However, if you are about to engage in a website redesign, providing an RFP to your prospective vendors helps you clarify your own goals and gives the vendor a better sense of the project so that they can provide you with an accurate cost and time estimate. Imagine trying to write a research paper without first drafting an outline. You need to know where you are going before you can get there.

A good web design agency will ask you all these questions before sending you a proposal. Make sure that whoever you are working with clearly understands what you are trying to accomplish before you pay them to build you something. You wouldn’t hire an architect without a detail project plan and web design is no different.

We’re providing 75 questions (under diff. categories outlined below) to help you guide your RFP process. Not all of the answers to these questions need to be included in the final RFP, but we urge you to think through all of them carefully. Some of your answers may be “I don’t know!” and that’s completely okay.

Project Details

Target Audience

Website Goals and Objectives

Design Requirements

Content Requirements

Technical Requirements

Functional Requirements

Search Engine Optimization

Ongoing Website Maintenance

Project Management

Vendor Information

RFP Response Deadline and Contact Information

Full Post

Documentary On The History Of Apple And Microsoft Show It Was All About Copying, Not Patents

We recently posted about an absolutely ridiculous NY Times op-ed piece in which Pat Choate argued both that patent laws have been getting weaker, and that if we had today's patent laws in the 1970s that Apple and Microsoft wouldn't have survived since bigger companies would just copy what they were doing and put them out of business. We noted that this was completely laughable to anyone who knew the actual history. A day or so ago, someone (and forgive me, because I can no longer find the tweet) pointed me on Twitter to a 45 minute excerpt from a documentary about the early days of Microsoft and Apple and it's worth watching just to show how laughably wrong Choate obviously is.

Full Post

National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning aims to reach more students

With its new certification initiative, the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a repository of video lectures. On the cards are translations, sub-titling and original content in different languages so that the courses reach more people.

NPTEL is also moving to a massive open online course ( MOOC) platform to host the content.

Read the full story

Know Your English -- dt. 09-04-2013

What is the difference between ‘bogie’ and ‘coach’?

What is the difference between ‘I have seen the film’ and ‘I saw the film’?

How is the word ‘beleaguered’ pronounced?

What is the meaning and origin of ‘at his heels’?

“Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.” — Franklin P. Jones

Read the full post

Know Your English -- dt. 02-04-2013

What is the meaning of ‘clean chit’?

How is the word ‘limousine’ pronounced?

What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘put one’s neck on the line’?

What is the difference between ‘takeaway’ and ‘takeout’?

“Generation gap: The one war in which everyone changes sides.” — Cyril Connolly

Read the full post

Know Your English -- dt. 26-03-2013

What is the meaning and origin of ‘What’s your poison’?

Is it okay for a man to ask, ‘What do you think of my dress?’

What is the difference between ‘knife’ and ‘dagger’?

What is the meaning of ‘religiose’?

Is it okay to say ‘I regret for not seeing your movie’?

“Belgium is a country invented by the British to annoy the French.” — Charles de Gaulle

Read the full post

Know Your English -- dt. 19-03-2013

What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘draw a line in the sand’?

Is it all right to say ‘commentate’?

How is ‘cul-de-sac’ pronounced?

Is it okay to say ‘crowdy’?

“Conscience is a mother in law whose visit never ends.” — Henry Louis Mencken

Read the full post

Know Your English -- dt. 12-03-2013

What is the meaning of the word 'lynch'?

What is the difference between 'wordsmith' and 'wordrobe'?

What is the origin of the term 'red tape'?

Is it all right to say 'commentate'?

“It's easy being a humourist when you've got the whole government working for you.” - Will Rogers

Read the full post

Know Your English -- dt. 05-03-2013

What is the meaning and origin of ‘cherry-picking’?

What do you call someone who studies insects?

Is it okay to say ‘He received his wife at the station’?

What is the meaning and origin of ‘follow suit’?

“A conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles.” — Will Rogers

Read the full post

8 Things You Should Not Do Every Day

It's for your own good. Cut these things out of your day and you'll see gains in productivity--not to mention happiness.

If you get decent value from making to-do lists, you'll get huge returns--in productivity, in improved relationships, and in your personal well-being--from adding these items to your not to-do list:

Every day, make the commitment not to:

1. Check my phone while I'm talking to someone.

2. Multitask during a meeting.

3. Think about people who don't make any difference in my life.

4. Use multiple notifications.

5. Let the past dictate the future.

6. Wait until I'm sure I will succeed.

7. Talk behind someone's back.

8. Say "yes" when I really mean "no."

Read the full post

9 Habits of People Who Build Extraordinary Relationships

The most extraordinary professional relationships are built by ordinary actions like these.

1. Take the hit.

2. Step in without being asked.

3. Answer the question that is not asked. 4. Know when to dial it back.

5. Prove they think of others.

6. Realize when they have acted poorly.

7. Give consistently, receive occasionally.

8. Value the message by always valuing the messenger.

9. Start small... and are happy to stay small.

Read the full post

11 Inspiring Quotes From Sir Richard Branson

The iconic Virgin Group founder seems to have done it all. Now he explains to Inc. how to start a company from pennies, when to "snoop around," and his trouble saying "no."

1. "A business can be started with very little money."

2. "Consider getting smaller in order to get bigger."

3. "You can be a David vs. a Goliath, if you get it right."

4. "A business is simply an idea to make other people's lives better."

5. "Unless you dream, you're not going to achieve anything."

6. "You can get too close with a doctor, or banker, and not realize you should actually snoop around."

7. "Detail is very important."

8. "You can create a business, choose a name, but unless people know about it you're not going to sell any products."

9. "Find somebody else to run your business on a day-to-day basis."

10. "Protect against the worst eventualities. Make sure you know what they are."

11. "I think because I have great difficulty saying the word, 'no,' almost every day's a different adventure."

Read the full post

Tech Trends 2013: Elements of post digital (Deloitte’s Annual Technology Trends)

Deloitte’s annual Technology Trends report examines the ever-evolving landscape of technology put to practical business use. Once again, we’ve selected 10 trends that we believe have the opportunity to impact business over the next 18 to 24 months.

This year’s theme, Elements of postdigital, looks more deeply into the five forces of postdigital enterprise that we introduced last year: analytics, mobile, social, cloud and cyber. As we have worked more deeply with these elements of postdigital, we’ve discovered that the formulae of these combined elements are likely to have the most significant impact on business.

Our 2013 trends are grouped into two categories:

Disruptors are opportunities that can create sustainable positive disruption in IT capabilities, business operations, and sometimes even business models.

CIO as the Postdigital Catalyst
Mobile Only (and beyond)
Social Reengineering by Design
Design as a Discipline
IPv6 (and this time we mean it)

Enablers are technologies in which many CIOs have already invested time and effort, but which warrant another look because of new developments or opportunities.

Finding the Face of Your Data
Gamification Goes to Work
Reinventing the ERP Engine
No Such Thing as Hacker-proof
The Business of IT

Download the 94 pages report

12 Must-Do PC Tasks

The excuses end here! Get your PC into tip-top shape by performing these 12 simple tweaks.

Computers may have become a lot more user-friendly over the past decade, but they're still far from perfect--PCs require a certain amount of configuration and maintenance to operate at their full potential. Unfortunately, because we humans are also far from perfect, we frequently don't put in the work we should, and we end up with a slower, sloppier, less secure machine as a result.

No more excuses! Whipping your PC into the best shape it can be requires but a dozen simple tasks. None are complicated, most take a matter of minutes, and all will have a major effect on how well your computer works for you. Even better, by the time you're finished you'll never have to worry about doing many of these tasks again.

Clean the case, keys, and display
Back up your data
Guard against malware
Update your software
Organize your files
Toss out the chaff
Encrypt private data
Change your passwords
Optimize startup
Organize your inbox
Automate everything
Should you defrag your drives?

Read the full post

OK, so stick with Windows XP: But how big a risk do you run?

Some organisations intend to keep using Windows XP even in the post-apocalyptic world after Microsoft ends support in 12 months. It’s a calculated risk and one they should weigh up carefully.

Even the spectre of security breaches and crashing apps is failing to convince some Windows XP-using organisations to abandon the OS before Microsoft cuts off support in a year’s time.

Recent figures from software consultancy Camwood suggest one in five companies using XP plan to stick with it despite the 8 April 2014 deadline, after which no new patches or bug fixes will be issued.

Those organisations may be taking a calculated risk and assume Windows XP’s longevity means major vulnerabilities have been identified and dealt with. But that assumption is misplaced, according to Rik Ferguson, global VP security research at Trend Micro.

Read the full post

The 21st Century Data Center Special Feature

More than ever, data centers run the world, but many of them need a 21st century reboot. Today's data centers have to be more efficient, redundant, and flexible than ever. TechRepublic and ZDNet examine when and how to best run your own data center versus when to outsource to the cloud or a service provider, and when to take a hybrid approach.

The 21st Century Data Center: An overview by Charles McLellan

Executive Guide: The 21st century data center (free ebook)by Jody Gilbert

Research: 96% say IaaS has met expectations by Teena Hammond

Video: Get up to speed on the 21st century data center by Larry Dignan and Jason Hiner

Is it better to own or outsource your data center? by Sam Shead

Open Compute: Does the data center have an open future? by Nick Heath

Cross-functional skills key to running data centers by Ellyne Phneah

Case study: School of Visual Arts overcomes energy and infrastructure challenges by TechRepublic

Cheat Sheet: Microservers by Nick Heath

Own our own data center? Why would anyone do that, CIOs ask by Steve Ranger

The 21st century data center: You're doing it wrong by Spandas Lui

Indian CIOs are breaking their in-house data center habit by Mahesh Sharma

Read the feature

100 reasons to Return to India (R2I)

Are you thinking of Returning to India (R2I)? You are finding it difficult to make an R2I decision? Your logical mind couldn't come up with enough reasons to R2I? You are not sure about how much India has changed since you left to US? Thoughts about your kids' future & the quality of life in India is stopping you from making an R2I decision? Don't worry ! I bet, you'll find answers to most of your questions/concerns in this blog post.

The objective of this blog post is not to motivate/force you to return back to India. But, if you have been contemplating about R2I for a while & couldn't make up your mind because of the lack of enough data points/reasons - this blog post is exactly for YOU. If you want to know the reasons for returning to India (R2I) - you can find them here. If you are wondering whether you should stay in US or move to India, this is the post for YOU.

Read the full post

17 Ways to Be Happier at Work

It's not difficult to experience more joy at work. You just need to know the rules.

1. Don't compare yourself to others.
2. Never obsess over things you cannot control.
3. Know and keep your personal limits and boundaries.
4. Don't over commit yourself or your team.
5. Remember you get the same amount of time every day as everyone else.\

Read the rest 12 ways

9 Habits of People Who Build Extraordinary Relationships

The most extraordinary professional relationships are built by ordinary actions like these.

1. Take the hit.
2. Step in without being asked.
3. Answer the question that is not asked.
4. Know when to dial it back.
5. Prove they think of others.
6. Realize when they have acted poorly.
7. Give consistently, receive occasionally.
8. Value the message by always valuing the messenger.
9. Start small... and are happy to stay small.

Read the full post

8 Ways to Nip Procrastination in the Bud

Putting things off is career hampering, stressful and bad for your health. Here's how to get working.

Change your scenery.
Get rid of your Internet.
Quit waffling between projects.
Quit Facebook.
Keep a detailed to-do list.
Figure out which tasks you don't like doing and why.
Don't expect perfection.
Tell someone you respect when you'll finish.

Read the full story

24 Ways to Save an Hour

Daylight Savings is stealing an hour every day. Here are 24 ways to get more done with the time you have left

1. Batch your errands--hit the post office, bank, and market in one trip, not three.
2. Turn off email and text alerts on your smartphone so you're not interrupted.
3. Set aside one specific hour each day for returning client calls and emails.
4. Budget limited time for Farmville, Angry Birds, and Mafia Wars.
5. Practice the 3 D's of management--delegate, delegate, delegate.

Read the next 19 ways

10 Reasons to Pick Up the Phone Now

Today fewer people get on the phone, preferring to text, chat, and e-mail. Here are 10 scenarios where a live voice is still the best option.

1. When You Need Immediate Response
2. When You Have Complexity with Multiple People
3. When You Don't Want a Written Record Due to Sensitivity
4. When the Emotional Tone is Ambiguous, But Shouldn't Be
5. When There is Consistent Confusion
6. When There is Bad News
7. When There is Very Important News
8. When Scheduling is Difficult
9. When There is a Hint of Anger, Offense, or Conflict in the Exchange
10. When a Personal Touch Will Benefit

Read the full post

10 Things Really Amazing Bosses Do

Are you truly an amazing boss or just a good one? See how many of these 10 traits are natural for you.

1. Good Bosses maintain control and get things done.
Amazing Bosses know efficiency can be the enemy of efficacy in the long run and so they work to create an atmosphere of expansive thinking. They empower their team with time, resources and techniques, to solve big issues with big ideas instead of Band-Aids and checklists.

2. Good Bosses foster a sense of community, making room for everyone.
Amazing Bosses form an internal culture by design rather than default, making sure they attract the right people to get on the bus and then get them in the right seats. They also make sure that the wrong people never get on the bus, or if they do, they get off quickly.

Read the rest 8 things

18 Inspirational Quotes for Spring

Spring is the time of rebirth and inspiration. Here are some amazing quotes to help you start the season with a refreshed outlook.

1. It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.">br> Lucille Ball

2. "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
Theodore Roosevelt

3. "Life isn't about finding yourself. It's about creating yourself."
George Bernard Shaw

Read the rest