Six ways to make Web 2.0 work

Web 2.0 tools present a vast array of opportunities—for companies that know how to use them. Technologies known collectively as Web 2.0 have spread widely among consumers over the past five years. Social-networking Web sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, now attract more than 100 million visitors a month. As the popularity of Web 2.0 has grown, companies have noted the intense consumer engagement and creativity surrounding these technologies. Many organizations, keen to harness Web 2.0 internally, are experimenting with the tools or deploying them on a trial basis. Over the past two years, McKinsey has studied more than 50 early adopters to garner insights into successful efforts to use Web 2.0 as a way of unlocking participation. We have surveyed, independently, a range of executives on Web 2.0 adoption. Our work suggests the challenges that lie ahead. To date, as many survey respondents are dissatisfied with their use of Web 2.0 technologies as are satisfied. Many of the dissenters cite impediments such as organizational structure, the inability of managers to understand the new levers of change, and a lack of understanding about how value is created using Web 2.0 tools.

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MathScience Innovation Center Receives $200,000 from Altria Group to Support 21st Century Nanotechnology Fellows Program

The MathScience Innovation Center announced a two-year pledge of $200,000 from Altria Group to support the 21st Century Nanotechnology Fellows Program. Dr. Julia Cothron, Executive Director, announced the grant at a recent meeting of the MathScience Innovation Center's Board of Directors. The Nanotechnology Fellows Program is a capacity-building workforce program for K-12 educators. Through the program and a pair of associated conferences, the Center will expand math and science teachers' opportunities to learn about the emerging field of nanotechnology and effective ways to integrate it within the curriculum. Brian K. Wells, Manager of Production for Philip Morris USA, an Altria company, serves on the board of directors for the MathScience Innovation Center Foundation. Mr. Wells noted, "As leading employers based in central Virginia, Altria is committed to helping spark students' interest in the study of math and science, which are the basis of so many career disciplines. We commend the MathScience Innovation Center for focusing on teacher training in order to raise the level of local math and science instruction and contribute to Central Virginia's competitiveness in the global marketplace."

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Eight business technology trends to watch

McKinsey's continue to have some interesting news - here is some of their latest on technology... Eight emerging trends are transforming many markets and businesses. Executives should learn to shape the outcome rather than just react to it. Technology alone is rarely the key to unlocking economic value: companies create real wealth when they combine technology with new ways of doing business. Through our work and research, we have identified eight technology-enabled trends that will help shape businesses and the economy in coming years. These trends fall within three broad areas of business activity: managing relationships, managing capital and assets, and leveraging information in new ways.

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Talks Kevin Kelly: How does technology evolve? Like we did

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Nation's First Green Gym to Run On Human-Generated Energy

Shedding pounds and expending energy is no longer just good for you – it's also a way to give back to the environment. The Green Microgym, based in Portland, Oregon, is the nation's first gym that aims to use human-generated energy from clients as they work out. Adam Boesel, the gym's owner, hopes that in the future the gym will run entirely on the energy generated by clients. While the science behind generating energy from spinning wheels – commonly used in much of the exercise equipment installed in gyms – the issue at hand thus far has been how to adapt the technology and find the right equipment. A Texas-based company, Henry Works is currently developing a device called the Human Dynamo, which Boesel's Microgym hopes to use. The dynamo connects a number of exercise bikes with a battery that stores the energy generated as people exercise. Appliances like lamps or televisions can then be plugged into the box in order to utilize this power. Although installing the energy-generating equipment is expensive, if gyms can pony up enough to do so, they stand to save significantly in the long-term. And as with all technology, the expectation is that the further the concept is developed the more affordable and viable it will become.