BYOD?

Bring Your Own Device? Businesses are under constant pressure to allow employees to use their personal computers and cell phones in the work place.

Should businesses allow employees to use personal devices in the work place? On the surface, it seems like a good idea. Businesses could save money by allowing employees to use their personal computers and smart phones but it could also expose businesses to big trouble.

When wireless networks started to become popular, a few geniuses at a local major networking company decided to connect wireless routers to the corporate network. The geniuses would show off how their laptops were able to connect to the corporate network in conference rooms. The problem was that the geniuses neglected to check with the folks who manage the network. A security audit revealed that unsecured routers allowed anyone sitting in the parking lot access to confidential corporate information.

Who knows what programs are installed on personal computers and cell phones. There are programs that can turn a cell phone into a bugging device. Even corporate computers are subject to employees accessing virus infected websites.

Technology is a wonderful thing but a little knowledge can be dangerous. Make sure that you understand all the pros and cons before you attempt to use new technology.

ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA:

Britannica announced that it will not be releasing any more printed volumes in the future. This has been coming for a long time. The Internet allows the average person access to all kinds of reference material.  You don’t need to have shelves of volumes to look up something.

When I grew up in the 60s and 70s, a set of encyclopedias was in almost every home. If you didn’t have encyclopedias at home, you made a trip to the library to do your school assignments. Think about what families sacrificed to purchase a set of encyclopedias. My dad’s income in 1960 was about $5000/year. My mother couldn’t recall exactly how much the encyclopedias cost but she guessed that it was in the $500 range.

Everyone complains about the cost of Internet service today but consider the portion of income that was used to pay for information in the past. If you never owned a set of encyclopedias, there was a cost incurred to visit the library. Maybe you walked to the library. You invested time. Your family must have paid taxes that supported the library. Nothing is free.

It will be interesting to observe how encyclopedia publishing companies are able to make the change to the digital age. How will they be able to generate enough revenue to survive? Can you think of another industry that might be having a tough time in the digital age? Here’s a hint, what are you reading?

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