Welcome to Corbin's TechTalk
Newsletter, in its fourth year of providing the latest in technology for 5,500+
meetings, hospitality and travel
professionals.
In this Issue:
I am writing this issue on a return flight from Thailand -
a beautiful and exotic place with some of the gentlest and friendliest people
that I have ever met.
This issue has a wide range of topics, tips and tools:
ARTICLE: Avoiding Death by PowerPoint
ARTICLE: The Virtual Workplace - Are You Ready?
FREE WEBCAST (on Virtual Meetings) - November 14th
The Professional Meeting Planners Network (PMPN) www.pmpn.com
& Attendee Management Inc. (AMi) www.attendeenet.com
PMPN and AMi, our newest company, congratulate Corbin on being named MPI's Supplier of the Year. We are
pleased to sponsor this newsletter in support of his work, and as evidence of our commitment to maximizing
the benefits of technology in the meeting and events industry.
Marketing, Etc.
www.2bartons.com
Need marketing or publicity help? Or, help selling out your exhibit hall? We are association specialists.
Call 847-698-5069, email dbarton@2bartons.com or visit
www.2bartons.com. Marketing Etc., a complete outsourcing solution forassociations.
Conferon www.conferon.com
Is your marketing reaching your target audience and boosting ROI? Conferon's MRA and ConferOnline options
help you meet attendance goals.
b-there www.b-there.com
Twice the efficiency. Half the work. Discover the benefits of integrated online registration, housing,
travel, & e-marketing solutions.
Network Simplicity Software Inc. www.netsimplicity.com
A leading network and Web-based solution for scheduling your company's facilities and resources.
Meeting Room Manager also supports multiple office locations making it ideal for corporate intranets.
Loudeye Corporation http://www.loudeye.com/webcasting/conference_manager.asp
Loudeye is a leading provider of digital media and Webcasting services that enables event and conference
planners to leverage the Web to extend the reach of meetings and events plus increase post-event revenue
significantly. During the past year alone Loudeye's service has broadcast more than 6,000 events.
The November 2002 issue of PC World Magazine has an interview with me on the use of technology including
PowerPoint in presentations. Here are my thoughts on how to avoid "death by PowerPoint."
Technology has made it possible for many of us to work outside the standard office environment. The Gartner
Group estimates that there will be more than 137 million teleworkers worldwide by 2003. One fifth of
U.S. workers, including a high percentage of meeting professionals, work outside the "standard" large office
environment on a regular basis.
There are many benefits to organizations in embracing this growing trend:
Reduced costs
Increased productivity
Ability to attract and retain employees
Greater geographic and time flexibility
Increased employee
satisfaction
However, there are challenges. It is more difficult to
maintain a corporate culture in a virtual environment. There is a greater chance of alienation. Brainstorming
sessions are more difficult when people are not in a face-to-face environment. In short, collaboration
is more difficult to do virtually.
This article discusses some of the online tools available to help.
I will be giving a free webcast for TechTalk Newsletter
readers Thursday, November 14th at 9:00am to 9:45am Pacific Standard Time(Standard Time -0800 GMT/UTC).
Course Title: Virtual Meetings -- Improving Business Productivity
Course description:
Learn the pros and cons of using on-line collaboration, web conferencing, and web broadcasting
in this information packed session. Virtual meetings are additional tools in the meeting planners' arsenal.
This course will show you ways to improve business communications, reduce "time to market," build
customer relations, extend the life of your meeting/tradeshow, and take a peek into the future of
how meetings will change by creative use of technology. This fast moving, content-rich
presentation will show some of the latest technology available and what is around the corner as well.
This is being provided with the support of Loudeye and will include audio, slides and streaming video.
Viewers will be able to ask questions via chat, and I plan to use the audience-polling feature as well.
Instructions for access:
At about 8:50am Pacific Time, click on the following URL:
Click on the "System Check" link on the upper left to make sure that your system is compatible. The link is
live now, so you can check it earlier if you like.
Then simply wait for the program to begin. Loudeye's technology can handle a range of connection speeds.
I will look forward to meeting with you on November 14th.
NEWS
E-CARD VIRUS ALERT
Friend Greeting
It starts with an email from someone you know:
"Greetings!
[Acquaintance's name] has sent you an E-Card -- a virtual postcard from FriendGreetings.com. You can
pickup your E-Card at FriendGreetings.com by clicking on the link below.
http://www.friend-greetings.net/pickup/XXXX
Message:
----------------------------------------------------
[Your first name],
I sent you a greeting card. Please pick it up."
If you click on the link (I have disabled the one above), it will launch an install program similar
to any new software. Although it looks completely official, don't install it - it is a worm that will
replicate itself and send the above message in your name to the contacts in your Outlook address book!
Although technically "Friend Greeting" is not a virus, as it requires the recipient to run an install program,
it serves as a reminder to be careful of any email or attachment that launches an executable file (files
that end with the following extensions or requires you to install it as with the worm above.
Fortunately, Friend Greeting is non-destructive - it won't damage your files. However, the next one could.
So, keep your virus protection up to date, back up regularly and be exceedingly wary of any executable
files or installation programs.
ASIA OUTPACING THE WORLD IN BROADBAND RACE
The U.S. is a 3rd-world country in terms of cell phone adoption. Developing countries have been able to
leapfrog over existing systems to the state-of-the-art. This is happening in broadband access as well, as
this Wired magazine article points out:
"Environmentally responsible meetings are not only
good for the earth, they're great for business.
Planning or supplying a green meeting gives you the competitive edge, a great reputation, and can save you
time and money in the process." Oceans Blue Foundation.
If you are looking for resources to make environmentally responsible choices for your meetings,
here are the top ones to check:
BlueGreen Meetings www.bluegreenmeetings.org/
This recently opened site from the Oceans Blue Foundation, is probably the best of the lot. It
contains lots of content in a well-organized manner.
*****
Environment Canada Green Meetings www.ns.ec.gc.ca/greenman/help.html
Also a content-rich site with an extensive manual, checklists, and questionnaires.
ExpoEngineer www.expoengineer.com/
This new site provides a robust web-based exhibition sales and management tool with floor-planning, booth
sales, and virtual floor plans.
*****
DMC Quick-Finder www.conworld.net/quick-finder/
Need a destination management company? ConWorld provides a searchable directory of 1,906 DMCs in 306
Destinations.
Inforetriever www.infotriever.com/
This site provides a clever and convenient way for people to add your event or contact information to their
Outlook database with a click of an icon.
Biography www.biography.com/
The best site for bios with more than 25,000 entries.
*****
RefDesk www.refdesk.com/instant.html
Everything from "Airlines on the Web" to "ZIP Code Finder" in this collection of reference links.
*****
MapQuest alternative
I received an email from Ellen Faris noting that MapQuest (mentioned in a recent TechTalk article)
doesn't seem to work well in the DC area with poor directions to many addresses. She recommends the AAA
site. (www.aaawa.com/TRAVEL/onroad.html)
as an alternative.
I heartily agree that, for AAA members, this is an excellent site for finding directions. Thanks, Ellen,
for your input!
NEW INTERVIEW: Staying Ahead of the Technology Curve
I was recently interviewed by MeetingNews Magazine with three other meetings technology consultants
in a range of technology topics including: underutilized technology tools, predictions of
future developments, the SMI patent issue and more.
!n November and December, I will be coming to:
Cabos, Dallas, Las Vegas, Maui, Orlando and Cleveland. I would love to come to your city as well so please
contact me and let's set a date:
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