Time is money, and
technology should save time. Ergo, technology should make organizations more productive and efficient.

One of the biggest challenges in dealing with technology, however, is coping with technology overload. “There can be an intimidation factor at play for some folks,” says Dale Dunphy, an information-technology consultant with Halifax Global Inc. in Fredericton. “They feel that it will take a good deal of time to learn how to use a device, and so put off the purchase. Or, worse still, put off using it once purchased.”

Vendors often improperly assume that new users are tech-savvy, he says: “But the vendor’s notion of ‘ease of use’ often is out of touch with reality.”

Here, in a nutshell, are five top productivity boosters that don’t require a degree in IT to install or use:

> Wide-Screen Monitors

Financial professionals were among the first to adopt multi-monitor systems that let them see, at a glance, a wealth of information spread over several screens on a single desk. Now, with the broad availability of wide-screen monitors, there is virtually no need to have more than one monitor in the office.

Among the advantages of a wide-screen monitor, says Eric Willey, senior LCD product manager with ViewSonic Corp. in Walnut, Calif., are:

> the larger viewing area makes it easier to locate and read information on the screen;

> documents can be viewed side by side without eye strain;

> no extra hardware is required;

> they are affordable and often cheaper than smaller screens;

> less hunting and pecking is required;

> navigation among multiple windows and applications can be done in less time and with greater ease;

> the virtual desktop space is increased without sacrificing physical desk space; and,

> several windows can be opened for comparing spreadsheets

“You’ll see more on a wider screen. That helps you work faster,” says Mike Lanctot, owner ofMel*Con Computer Systems Inc. in Halifax.

“Scrolling is a pain in the neck,” he adds. “The less scrolling you have to do, the more productive you are going to be.”

Larger displays increase employee productivity by enabling employees to work with documents at true print size and juggle a handful of applications at the same time. The sales of wide screens is expected to grow by triple-digit rates through 2008.

> Blackberry With Bells

The ubiquitous BlackBerry has become an important tool in increasing productivity by literally extending the workplace.

“The technology provides mobile professionals with the ability to leverage every available moment by making those available moments more productive,” says Danny Bowman, vice president of product marketing for Sprint.

Here’s what the latest version of the BlackBerry offers:

> download speeds that now mirror high-speed Internet on a PC;

> ease of downloading attachments and graphics;

> Web browsing and wireless applications;

> global positioning so road warriors can get instant directions to any address;

> add-on features, including e-mail, phone, browser, speakerphone and organizer, so one piece of technology replaces several; and,

> a high-resolution colour LCD screen that automatically adjusts for indoor and outdoor lighting.

Advisors adroit at using a computer keyboard, cellphone and Web browser probably will adjust easily to the compact BlackBerry.

But, cautions Dunphy, the BlackBerry is part of the “technology elite” — expensive devices often bought for their show-off value rather than for compelling business reasons. If it is purchased to show off, productivity probably won’t be enhanced.

> Printers

Printers have improved significantly — and prices have come down. The newest printers now compete to replace photocopiers.

There is a move back to ink and away from laser printing for enhanced quality, especially with colour printing. Hewlett-Packard’s Edgeline printer, for example, is one of the new breed on the market, with print heads that span the width of a page so only the paper moves. It will:

> handle high-volume workloads quickly without technical snags;

> allow print jobs to be completed in one pass; and,

> print colour documents at twice the normal speed and cost up to 30% less per page.

“This is not only about cutting costs,” says Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president of the imaging and printing group at HP. “It’s about managing business information more efficiently to improve productivity and competitive advantage.”

It’s also about first impressions. For clients, how a document looks speaks to the quality of the job — not just the quality of the print job.

@page_break@> Wireless Internet

It’s a Wi-Fi world, and wireless connections rule. That’s true for laptops, PCs, BlackBerrys, cellphones and any other device that is intended to keep users in touch with the office and their clients. One reason for the recent ascent to the top of the productivity chart is the significant improvements that have been made in the speed of wireless connections, which now mirror or exceed most hard-wired connections.

“It’s a tremendous improvement,” says Lanctot. “Down the road, there will be even more improvements.”

The major advantages of the new Wi-Fi technology include:

> quick and easy data transfer between computers in an office or into an office from outside;

> few cords, cables and hookups to lug around when away from the office, giving a presentation or working remotely;

> increased safety because there are fewer cables, ports and plugs to trip over; and,

> ease of installation — IT whiz kids are no longer required.

> Podcasting

Podcasting — the distribution of multimedia files over the Internet for playback on mobile devices — is already second nature to the next generation. Businesses are catching on. Here’s why:

> downtime — walking to a meeting, driving to a client presentation, jogging with the dog — can be more productive;

> users can listen to and view presentations, reports and Webcasts without any hassle and with minimal hardware;

> all that’s needed is a headset and a pocket in which to tuck the iPod or MP3 player.

“I use this principle by downloading technical podcasts — there are podcasts for virtually every topic you can think of — to my portable MP3 player and listening to them while exercising or walking,” says Dunphy.

It is, perhaps, the best of both worlds. IE