As the year closes and we deal with planning and other technology-related issues here at LegalNurse.com, Vickie and I have had more than a few discussions over what tech tools are on the horizon, not just for Certified Legal Nurse Consultants, but also for us. After giving away so many this year, Vickie’s personal wish list starts with her own iPad2®. That tops my list too, along with a better smartphone, a faster laptop and a smaller iPod. Vickie can tell you with absolute certainty that I haven’t been that good this year, so Christmas may end up being new white socks from CostCo® instead.
Vickie and I also discussed how the loss of the visionary Steve Jobs left the world in a state of technological limbo. No one at Apple®, Microsoft® or Google® has quite figured out the next transition. All three want us to keep our applications, photos, music, back-ups and data in the cloud and instantly accessible – which is a great idea so long as we have wireless Internet access all the time. Apple is trying to take us into the Star Trek® future with voice-controlled phones and computers and seems to have set a high starting bar with “Siri.” I think that Siri’s application to your legal nurse consulting businesses is iffy, unless Siri starts making your prospect calls and appointments for you. I already use voice control for some systems in my car – although with often imperfect and sometimes unexpected results, especially when I’m screaming in terror or ranting in anger. Without making the obvious joke, I’m hoping Apple has better penetration into operating systems for cars and airplanes than Microsoft and Windows®.
At the end of the day, or at least the end of 2011, iPhones and Android® phones are replacing our video recorders, digital cameras, gaming devices and music players but still make the web painful to use (that’s what all the apps are really trying to remedy). Tablets like the iPad2 and Kindle® Fire make up for some of the browsing shortcomings of our phones and are great for reading books and magazines, playing games, watching tiny movies and other entertainment. However, they aren’t full-fledged laptop substitutes, are too big to use as a phone and don’t have the business functions we need. I haven’t seen a real working person who can live on an iPad (yet). That brings us back to our laptops, which to their credit keep getting thinner, lighter and more powerful but don’t replace our phones or tablets, and are the only thing that keep us working when the Internet isn’t around.
After all our technological advances, we working stiffs are left for the foreseeable future with the need to carry three different devices and to have gadget envy over the ones we don’t have. If Santa brings me an iPad2, I may change my mind.
I’m excited about the future and the new technology that is just around the corner. I wish I could be the one to invent it! What about you? Where do you think the future of technology will lie for your legal nurse consulting business? What kind of gadgets do you want and what do you want them to do? CLNC® consultants can be a demanding group when it comes to their technology needs, so I’d like to hear your thoughts on what you’d like your techno-Santa to bring in 2012. Who knows, maybe Santa will read this blog and you’ll get lucky!
Keep on techin’,
Tom
P.S. Comment and share what advances you want in technology and what current technology you’re most excited about.
Dear Tom,
Thank you for bringing all your tech-tips to Certified Legal Nurse Consultants throughout the year. I hope Santa brings you that iPad2 that you have been wishing for. As for me, I just invested in a tablet (with mobile internet access of course) and an updated cell phone. I am waiting for someone to come out with a “Thought Processor.” It would be a gizmo that takes your thought vibrations (both gray and white matter) and all the lessons learned from Vickie and interfaces them with your favorite computer. Yes you heard it here first (PATENT PENDING). Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you, Vickie and the Institute.
Larry, now you’ve got me thinking. Merry Christmas and Happy 2012 to you and Karen.
Dear Tom and Vickie,
Thank you for all the blogs and tech tips that keep us informed. I would love for Santa to bring me an IPad2 also. I hope you get yours. The two of you are an inspiration to Certified Legal Nurse Consultants everywhere. Happy Holidays and have a great New Year.
Kim, Merry Christmas and here’s to Santa bringing you that iPad2!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Kim, Larry, Vick and all my CLNC® amigos. Thank you for a great year. Here’s hoping Techno-Santa had an extra iPad on the sleigh for all of us! Ho, ho, ho.