According to a June 2009 report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 61 percent of American adults look for health information online. Dubbed “e-Patients,” these individuals use the Internet to learn about health topics of interest to them or their friends and family. Be it something as benign as a splinter or life-threatening as Swine Flu (H1N1), the Internet is seen as a source for reliable health information. Of course, the Internet can’t replace doctors, but it can enable users to make informed health care decisions and thereby encourage a more participatory doctor-patient relationship.
WebMD is one of the most well-known health information portals, attracting 17.3 million unique visitors in July 2008. Social networking site Patients Like Me functions as a support group and offers a platform for sharing treatment experiences. Public agencies such as local health departments, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are sources for the most up-to-date health information and scientific data. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, podcasts, medical journals, and medical atlases can also be used to facilitate health care conversations. Beyond that, virtual tours of medical facilities and physician video libraries like VideoMD can be tapped. And clinic directories can be found on sites like the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics. Excellent resources…if you have access.
People who are prone to suffer from serious health conditions generally have little or no access to online health care information. Vulnerable non-users are more likely to be poor, less educated, elderly or chronically ill. And they tend to be from historically underrepresented groups. Some are very young, uninsured or underinsured while others may be out of work, homeless, disabled or have limited-English proficiency. Often, these individuals live in medically-underserved rural or inner city areas and lack access to online health resources. All of this can exacerbate health disparities.
Bridging the digital divide related to health care information begins with extending reliable, affordable broadband to vulnerable populations while also supplying Internet-ready computers. Likewise, collaborative efforts are needed to provide computer skills training with emphasis on strategies for accessing health information online and using chronic disease management tools. It’s also essential that health content be accurate and multi-lingual. Copyright restrictions and pay-for-use fees that stem the dissemination of health information should, likewise, be reassessed. It’s equally important that findings from health disparities research be used to craft e-health policy. Daunting as these tasks may seem, as a nation, we are on the cusp of a new era in health care, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers an unparalleled opportunity to address digital divide issues. The challenge is to turn that opportunity into action.
Showing posts with label innovation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label innovation. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
e-Medicine and the Digital Divide
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
States Compete for Efficiency and Opportunity – via Technology
This fall, all 50 states will have the opportunity to find help (in the form of cash grants) from the federal government to assist in developing their own authorities to map broadband availability. These federal grants are also available to assist in addressing broadband supply, demand and uptake rates in households, businesses and major community institutions in each state. Known as the Broadband Data and Improvement Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), between $1.3 and $3.8 million is available to each state depending on the competitiveness of their grant applications.
Why is this so important to citizens? Broadband deployment enables better access to health care and educational opportunities, while also enhancing economic competitiveness – among countless other benefits. For the first time, governments in all 50 states will be able to take a good look at how they interact with citizens as they contemplate greater broadband availability.
Here are some examples of how greater access to government services could help citizens:
Better, Faster, Cheaper is a new Web site of the Harvard University Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation, and aims to provide a forum for government officials to post best practices. There is currently a very robust ongoing column about technology and government, well worth perusing.
On his way out of office, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack worked with legislative leaders to develop an “Office of Lean” in the Department of Management. The goal of this initiative is to identify and eliminate wasteful or overlapping spending – saving money for the citizens of Iowa while simultaneously improving services. The bonus? Participating government departments are given the option to retain up to 50 percent of the identified savings.
Last year, Utah’s state government transitioned to a four-day work week and opted to close public buildings on Fridays. They realized an immediate annual savings of $4 million in energy costs alone. Utah has now moved more than 850 services to the Internet. According to state CIO Steve Fletcher, it has been very successful with citizens.
So again – how can technology help? ARRA grants across America will jump-start broadband and enable states to deploy this infrastructure faster; it will be a sight to behold when more private, government and nonprofit initiatives are funded to deploy broadband. This will also assist community anchor institutions (schools, libraries, hospitals, etc.) to become part of statewide broadband networks – whether these networks are run by government, nonprofit or private sectors.
We are witnessing a paramount shift in how governments deliver services – driven wholly by technology. But when you really boil it down, the citizens will also have a tremendous impact on the new and fresh ideas of how this will actually come to fruition. How can technology make your state government greener? How can technology reduce the cost of government? How can citizens find government more transparent with broadband access? These are your questions – but are they being directed to your government?
Why is this so important to citizens? Broadband deployment enables better access to health care and educational opportunities, while also enhancing economic competitiveness – among countless other benefits. For the first time, governments in all 50 states will be able to take a good look at how they interact with citizens as they contemplate greater broadband availability.
Here are some examples of how greater access to government services could help citizens:
Better, Faster, Cheaper is a new Web site of the Harvard University Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation, and aims to provide a forum for government officials to post best practices. There is currently a very robust ongoing column about technology and government, well worth perusing.
On his way out of office, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack worked with legislative leaders to develop an “Office of Lean” in the Department of Management. The goal of this initiative is to identify and eliminate wasteful or overlapping spending – saving money for the citizens of Iowa while simultaneously improving services. The bonus? Participating government departments are given the option to retain up to 50 percent of the identified savings.
Last year, Utah’s state government transitioned to a four-day work week and opted to close public buildings on Fridays. They realized an immediate annual savings of $4 million in energy costs alone. Utah has now moved more than 850 services to the Internet. According to state CIO Steve Fletcher, it has been very successful with citizens.
So again – how can technology help? ARRA grants across America will jump-start broadband and enable states to deploy this infrastructure faster; it will be a sight to behold when more private, government and nonprofit initiatives are funded to deploy broadband. This will also assist community anchor institutions (schools, libraries, hospitals, etc.) to become part of statewide broadband networks – whether these networks are run by government, nonprofit or private sectors.
We are witnessing a paramount shift in how governments deliver services – driven wholly by technology. But when you really boil it down, the citizens will also have a tremendous impact on the new and fresh ideas of how this will actually come to fruition. How can technology make your state government greener? How can technology reduce the cost of government? How can citizens find government more transparent with broadband access? These are your questions – but are they being directed to your government?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Technology Reuse: New life for old computers
Many of us have been environmentally conscious for years. We faithfully sort through our trash to unearth newspapers, glass, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. We take old clothes to Goodwill Industries, buy organic and tend a compost pile in the backyard. But when it comes to that old computer sitting in the hall closet and those ancient monitors gathering dust in the attic, it is difficult to know what to do.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “In 2007, discarded TVs, computers, peripherals (including printers, scanners, faxes), mice, keyboards and cell phones totaled about 2.5 million tons” of waste. When this electronic waste, or e-waste as it’s commonly known, is disposed of improperly, substances like lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants can end up in landfills. Fortunately, there are environmentally-responsible disposal alternatives that can benefit our communities.
First, open your phone book and call a nonprofit – as there are scores of them nationwide that collect donated, second-hand computer equipment. This equipment is often refurbished and offered free or at a low cost to organizations and individuals. This helps to bridge the digital divide in a major way. San Francisco’s City Youth Now has also found that donated laptops can positively influence the lives of some teenagers and young adults who have become involved with gangs and illegal drug activity. Here in North Carolina, the e-NC Authority is exploring how refurbished computers can be used to help economically-disadvantaged citizens gain access to the Internet.If you are looking to donate or acquire a refurbished or used computer, these organizations could be of assistance.
Earth911.com: Web site offering a searchable database of over 100,000 reuse/recycling centers nationwide.
EPA: The EPA’s Do the PC Thing offers helpful information about clearing data from your computer before making an equipment donation.
Goodwill Industries: Contact your local Goodwill to find out if the location accepts computer donations.
National Cristina Foundation: Accepts donations of used computer equipment from individuals and corporations, and then matches that equipment to non-profit organizations, schools, and public agencies that serve the disabled, at-risk students, and the economically disadvantaged.
Plug-In To eCycling: A partnership program between the EPA and electronic manufacturers, retailers, and service providers, which is designed to provide consumers with options for donating and recycling used electronic equipment.
Kramden Institute: Durham, N.C.-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated computers and awards them to economically-disadvantaged K-12 students in the Triangle area.
Purple Elephant Computer Factory for KIDS!: Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit that provides refurbished, operational, Internet-capable computers to individuals and organizations.
Recycles.org: Web site serving as a national and regional exchange network that connects prospective computer equipment donors with nonprofit participants.
TechSoup: Offers discounted and donated technology products to nonprofits. Web site also features a blog, Webinars, articles, discussion forums, and information about upcoming technology events.
Monday, March 16, 2009
A Bounty of Technology – Served Local and Organic
Recently, some of our staff attended the 2nd Annual Farmer & Chef Banquet on Feb. 26 in Rutherfordton, presented by the Foothills Connect Business and Technology Center in Rutherford County. It was a celebration of the work of Foothills Connect with FarmersFreshMarket.org – a Web-based food product brokerage that links rural Rutherford County farmers with Charlotte-area restaurant chefs.
Imagine that you are 50+ years old – the age of most of North Carolina’s farmers. Your income used to be subsidized by working at the local textile mill; the farm income added an edge you often needed to pay bills and have a reasonably good life.
Now, your income and lifestyle have reversed. The mills are gone, their looms are silent. The silence you now hear is the deafening and panicked anxiety to find a way to still earn a living. What’s left? The farm. Suddenly, you realize that the farm income must justify your primary chance to flourish financially.
You also realize that this might be a blessing in disguise. Through the Foothills Connect Farmer’s Fresh Market program, you are given the opportunity to learn how to use a computer to exchange orders with the Charlotte-area restaurant chefs. Through Isothermal Community College, participants can graduate from the Farmers Adopting Computer Training (FACT) program and then receive a rebuilt computer.
So – back to the farm, up on the tractor. Eureka! Through Foothills Connect, you have started tilling up the land to grow crops being demanded by chefs in the big city. You learn that others are having success with the program too. Down the road, your friend sold 60 pasture-fed turkeys for $100 each. That’s $6,000 for sixty 28lb. turkeys. That has to be a good omen. There’s also the “Kudzu Lady” Edith Edwards, who does untold, beautiful, succulent things with the plant that we so often otherwise grumble about.
At the Feb. 26 banquet, the farmers joined together with state and community leaders, elected officials and the many Charlotte chefs and sous-chefs that participate in the program, including Charlotte Marriott City Center Executive Chef Jean-Pierre Marechal. Chef Liz Rose of Café on the Mall has prepared a sumptuous meal from crops born out of the good earth of Rutherford County. The tables are also festooned with flowers grown in the county.
DINNER:
Red Feather Farm beef patties
Tiny Myrtle Meadows molasses mashed sweet potatoes
Savannah Red’s cornbread, served w/ “Kudzu Lady” kudzu blossom jelly butter
Yoder Farm microgreens and deviled eggs
Spicy Peaceful Valley grit cake
Shiloh Acres braised BBQ pulled chicken
Moonflower Farm Asian microgreens
DESSERT:
Golden Valley honey cake
Baked Limber Twig apples w/ cinnamon
Presiding over the banquet are Chef Marechal and Foothills Connect Executive Director Tim Will. This celebration is the result of their efforts to use technology to connect farmers and chefs – merging each other’s needs with the Internet to create a new way of life for the people of Rutherford County.
FarmersFreshMarket.org continues to pay all participants back in good wages. The farmers love the fresh air. The chefs love the fresh food. Both parties love the smell of money, success and satisfaction. In this project, technology, the land and its people have come together to create new jobs and good food. It is a win-win, especially for our tummies on that particular evening. We noticed more than a few folks going back for second and third helpings.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Twittersphere
“As of December 2008, 11 percent of online American adults said they used a site like Twitter or another similar vehicle that allowed them to share updates about themselves or to see the updates of others.” (Twitter and Status Updating, Pew Internet & American Life Project)
For the uninitiated, Twitter is a free micro-blogging/social networking site that imposes a 140-character limit on each individual post or “tweet,” as such bite-sized status updates are called. The phenomenon allows you to give “followers” a real-time update, via computer or a mobile device, about what you’re doing at that very moment. So, let’s say you’re at the gym and you just bench-pressed 300 pounds. Now, who wouldn’t want to hear about that? Or, maybe you find it comforting to tweet when you’re having a bad day. You’re certainly not alone. Twitter is staying mum about the number of Twitterers it has snared, but estimates put the figure at between 4 and 5 million – not bad for a site that launched in 2006. And naysayers swore would never make it.
But what if minutia’s not your thing? Well, if you can get past the frivolity, Twitter has potential beyond its stated purpose. Consider fundraising and emergency notification, for instance.
If you blink, you might miss the fact that Twitter is about community-building, and Twestivals really capitalize on this notion. The 100 percent volunteer-run Twestival concept came about in September 2008 after a group of London Twitterers connected and organized a food drive/fundraising event to help a local homeless charity. Word spread quickly, and Twitterers had a hunch that the micro-fundraising concept could be elevated to affect change on a global level. That hunch was recently tested.
On Feb. 12, 2009, 202 international cities hosted a Twestival to unite the Twitter community in support of charity: water, a nonprofit bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. From Asheville, N.C. to Johannesburg, South Africa and beyond, people gathered for an evening of fun and fundraising. Some sold tickets for entry, while others collected $1 or $2 per participant. In the end, the event raised $250,000, which will be used to fund 55 sustainable water projects and provide clean water for over 17,000 people in Ethiopia, Uganda, and India. The first Twestival-funded well will be drilled in Ethiopia at the beginning of April. Imagine how this concept could be used to support causes and projects in North Carolina’s communities.
On the subject of emergency notification, think missing children. @MissingChildren is a Twitter account that was created by web developer Nate Ritter. The account uses data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to tweet about missing, endangered, and recovered children. Twitter is also being used by some cities and colleges as one part of an overall system to make people aware of crisis situations. It’s quick. It’s to the point. And perhaps most importantly in these economic times, there’s little to no impact on the bottom line.
For the uninitiated, Twitter is a free micro-blogging/social networking site that imposes a 140-character limit on each individual post or “tweet,” as such bite-sized status updates are called. The phenomenon allows you to give “followers” a real-time update, via computer or a mobile device, about what you’re doing at that very moment. So, let’s say you’re at the gym and you just bench-pressed 300 pounds. Now, who wouldn’t want to hear about that? Or, maybe you find it comforting to tweet when you’re having a bad day. You’re certainly not alone. Twitter is staying mum about the number of Twitterers it has snared, but estimates put the figure at between 4 and 5 million – not bad for a site that launched in 2006. And naysayers swore would never make it.
But what if minutia’s not your thing? Well, if you can get past the frivolity, Twitter has potential beyond its stated purpose. Consider fundraising and emergency notification, for instance.
If you blink, you might miss the fact that Twitter is about community-building, and Twestivals really capitalize on this notion. The 100 percent volunteer-run Twestival concept came about in September 2008 after a group of London Twitterers connected and organized a food drive/fundraising event to help a local homeless charity. Word spread quickly, and Twitterers had a hunch that the micro-fundraising concept could be elevated to affect change on a global level. That hunch was recently tested.
On Feb. 12, 2009, 202 international cities hosted a Twestival to unite the Twitter community in support of charity: water, a nonprofit bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. From Asheville, N.C. to Johannesburg, South Africa and beyond, people gathered for an evening of fun and fundraising. Some sold tickets for entry, while others collected $1 or $2 per participant. In the end, the event raised $250,000, which will be used to fund 55 sustainable water projects and provide clean water for over 17,000 people in Ethiopia, Uganda, and India. The first Twestival-funded well will be drilled in Ethiopia at the beginning of April. Imagine how this concept could be used to support causes and projects in North Carolina’s communities.
On the subject of emergency notification, think missing children. @MissingChildren is a Twitter account that was created by web developer Nate Ritter. The account uses data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to tweet about missing, endangered, and recovered children. Twitter is also being used by some cities and colleges as one part of an overall system to make people aware of crisis situations. It’s quick. It’s to the point. And perhaps most importantly in these economic times, there’s little to no impact on the bottom line.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Rural entrepreneur finds success with New Ventures Business Development, Inc.
Sheri Bowers, owner of Bowers Family Studios in Wadesboro, N.C. (Anson County), talks about how her small business got started and why the community must continue to support New Ventures Business Development, Inc. as a key strategy for local economic development.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Now Boarding: In-flight Wi-Fi
This week, USA Today reported that Delta Airlines is now offering in-flight Wi-Fi on flights between Regan National, LaGuardia, and Logan airports. The service, called Gogo, is provided by Aircell. Gogo works by connecting a plane’s Wi-Fi hot spot to the ground over a 3 MHz signal that links to Aircell’s network of 92 cell towers across the United States. Passengers traveling with Wi-Fi enabled devices can have access to the service for a nominal fee ($9.95 for flights lasting three hours or less, and $12.95 for trips exceeding three hours). And speed? Well, Aircell’s Web site doesn’t mention specific download/upload figures, but users say the service performs well.
Delta’s decision to upgrade its in-flight service menu follows that of competitors. American Airlines launched its Gogo service a few months ago—with power outlets at every seat in business and first class. Coach passengers get one outlet for every two rows. No privacy filters to shield your laptop screen from prying eyes though. You’re on your own there.
In-flight connectivity is, of course, not new. Boeing actually came to market with its Connexion service in 2004, when the product was offered on international carriers like Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Unfortunately, the company’s bulky 400-pound system didn’t find wide appeal among domestic airlines, so Connexion was discontinued in 2006. But that was two years ago…
Aircell’s system is light-weight at just 125 pounds, and the company cites easy installation and expert client support as selling points. And then there’s the potential revenue boost. These days, many passengers travel with an electronic device, and airlines are guessing that while those folks are munching on their honey-roasted peanuts, they’ll also want to e-mail, surf, chat, and shop. If their hunch is right, demands for VoIP won’t be far off.
Delta’s decision to upgrade its in-flight service menu follows that of competitors. American Airlines launched its Gogo service a few months ago—with power outlets at every seat in business and first class. Coach passengers get one outlet for every two rows. No privacy filters to shield your laptop screen from prying eyes though. You’re on your own there.
In-flight connectivity is, of course, not new. Boeing actually came to market with its Connexion service in 2004, when the product was offered on international carriers like Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Unfortunately, the company’s bulky 400-pound system didn’t find wide appeal among domestic airlines, so Connexion was discontinued in 2006. But that was two years ago…
Aircell’s system is light-weight at just 125 pounds, and the company cites easy installation and expert client support as selling points. And then there’s the potential revenue boost. These days, many passengers travel with an electronic device, and airlines are guessing that while those folks are munching on their honey-roasted peanuts, they’ll also want to e-mail, surf, chat, and shop. If their hunch is right, demands for VoIP won’t be far off.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Fight Night: The Internet vs. Newspapers
If the Internet were a boxer, it would be the heavyweight champion of the world; taking its rightful place alongside boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. In this same context, newspapers would represent an aging, near-retirement opponent, lying dazed on the mat with a cut over its left eye, hoping for a second wind.
So, what happened to newspapers, a once-formidable contender? Well, it’s complicated. But for starters, while newspapers were training 10 hours a day and mixing together pulpy, old-school protein powders, promoters for the Internet were out scouting for new talent and taking notice of a shift in journalism. The Internet honed in on this weak spot and came out swinging. And newspapers are still reeling…
The Numbers Tell the Story
Newspapers just aren’t packing them in like they used to. A survey by Scarborough Research for Journalism.com shows that in 2005, 38 percent of 18-24 year olds were reading newspapers in an average week. By 2007, that figure dropped to 33 percent.
In contrast, the Internet is attracting fans. Princeton Survey Research Associates International conducted a survey for The Pew Internet & American Life Project that illustrates this point. Survey participants age 18 and older were asked “Did you happen to use the Internet yesterday?” In January 2005, 58 percent said yes. By October-December 2007, 72 were in the affirmative. That’s a big jump.
The Blog Jab
Citizen journalism has gained in popularity and is challenging the way we define “news.” Search engine Technorati currently tracks around 112 million blogs and estimates another 175,000 are created every day. From notable blogs like the Daily Yonder to voyeuristic TMZ and Perez Hilton, bloggers deliver timely content, often beating traditional news outlets to the punch.
The Ad Hook
In March 2008, the New York Times reported that newspaper advertising fell 7.9 percent last year. Advertising used to be a mainstay of the industry, but ad dollars follow eyeballs and these days, millions of those eyeballs are glued to the Internet – therefore making Yahoo!, Google and Craig's List the new go-to companies for advertisers.
The Broadband Uppercut
The speed and agility of broadband has changed expectations about information delivery, and given people power to shape their news experience by quickly gleaning stories from multiple sources. Broadband also makes it easier to collaborate online, building on the concept of creating communities through shared experiences, which is one of the Internet’s greatest strengths.
The Final Punch
The Internet seems poised to deliver the deciding blow, but newspapers aren’t going to disappear tomorrow. Having survived radio and television, they can withstand the Internet. Many papers already boast a respectable online presence, and some of the best writers still call the newsroom home. The medium’s success rests with its ability to use what it has. And in this competitive Web 2.0 climate, it also must become a stronger advocate for universal broadband and net neutrality. Beyond that, time is on the industry’s side, so there’s still a chance to mend whatever may be broken.
So, what happened to newspapers, a once-formidable contender? Well, it’s complicated. But for starters, while newspapers were training 10 hours a day and mixing together pulpy, old-school protein powders, promoters for the Internet were out scouting for new talent and taking notice of a shift in journalism. The Internet honed in on this weak spot and came out swinging. And newspapers are still reeling…
The Numbers Tell the Story
Newspapers just aren’t packing them in like they used to. A survey by Scarborough Research for Journalism.com shows that in 2005, 38 percent of 18-24 year olds were reading newspapers in an average week. By 2007, that figure dropped to 33 percent.
In contrast, the Internet is attracting fans. Princeton Survey Research Associates International conducted a survey for The Pew Internet & American Life Project that illustrates this point. Survey participants age 18 and older were asked “Did you happen to use the Internet yesterday?” In January 2005, 58 percent said yes. By October-December 2007, 72 were in the affirmative. That’s a big jump.
The Blog Jab
Citizen journalism has gained in popularity and is challenging the way we define “news.” Search engine Technorati currently tracks around 112 million blogs and estimates another 175,000 are created every day. From notable blogs like the Daily Yonder to voyeuristic TMZ and Perez Hilton, bloggers deliver timely content, often beating traditional news outlets to the punch.
The Ad Hook
In March 2008, the New York Times reported that newspaper advertising fell 7.9 percent last year. Advertising used to be a mainstay of the industry, but ad dollars follow eyeballs and these days, millions of those eyeballs are glued to the Internet – therefore making Yahoo!, Google and Craig's List the new go-to companies for advertisers.
The Broadband Uppercut
The speed and agility of broadband has changed expectations about information delivery, and given people power to shape their news experience by quickly gleaning stories from multiple sources. Broadband also makes it easier to collaborate online, building on the concept of creating communities through shared experiences, which is one of the Internet’s greatest strengths.
The Final Punch
The Internet seems poised to deliver the deciding blow, but newspapers aren’t going to disappear tomorrow. Having survived radio and television, they can withstand the Internet. Many papers already boast a respectable online presence, and some of the best writers still call the newsroom home. The medium’s success rests with its ability to use what it has. And in this competitive Web 2.0 climate, it also must become a stronger advocate for universal broadband and net neutrality. Beyond that, time is on the industry’s side, so there’s still a chance to mend whatever may be broken.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thinking differently (externally) about innovation
The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center’s annual Rural Partners Forum is coming up in early October and the topic this year is INNOVATION. And we’re sure that they’ll present a slew of different ways in which innovation touches our state’s rural economies, but is there a vehicle for innovation more radical than the Internet?
While most companies still cling to the invention model that centers on internally-generated ideas and intellectual property, other companies are beginning to adopt a fundamentally different way of thinking about how to develop new products and processes. They understand that the Internet is fueling the transition to an open model of innovation that is driven by greater access to talent, risk-taking entrepreneurship and capital – wherever in the world it is found.
In 2000, Proctor and Gamble (P&G) realized that their return on increasingly expensive research and development (R&D) investments was inadequate. Studying their process for innovation, they estimated that each of their internally-employed researchers had at least 200 talented peers worldwide with skill sets that that P&G could potentially use. So P&G decided to fundamentally change their view of R&D to now include not only the 7,500 people inside the firm, but also 1.5 million scientists and engineers outside the company. The Internet made this possible by providing those new connections. The results more than support the wisdom of that decision – to adopt an open innovation policy. The company reported in 2006 that R&D productivity is up almost 60 percent, and 45 percent of products in development having key elements from external sources. Their innovation success rate has doubled, the cost of innovation has decreased, and perhaps the most telling of all – the price of a share of P&G stock has doubled.
Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical giant headquartered in Indiana, has also used the Internet to dramatically change their innovation model. Eli Lilly created and spun-off Innocentive, a Web-based service firm that posts client’s scientific problems and offers cash for accepted solutions, maintaining the anonymity of all involved. This approach allows firms of all sizes to efficiently use the Internet to leverage their access to a critical and scarce R&D resource – talented human capital. It was found that for the 166 problems solved through Innocentive, the further the problem was from the solver’s expertise, the more likely he or she was to solve it. Non-experts in one field solved problems in another field by thinking differently. The results reinforce the value of the Internet as a boundary-eliminating connection that can serve to enrich blockbuster innovations.
The application of the Internet to spurring innovation is not limited to R&D enterprises. Netflix, a mail-order and Web-based entertainment service recently offered a $1 million award for an algorithm that would improve efficiency of one of its existing internal systems by at least 10 percent. They drew over 15,000 entrants from 126 countries, and the leading solution came from Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
While most companies still cling to the invention model that centers on internally-generated ideas and intellectual property, other companies are beginning to adopt a fundamentally different way of thinking about how to develop new products and processes. They understand that the Internet is fueling the transition to an open model of innovation that is driven by greater access to talent, risk-taking entrepreneurship and capital – wherever in the world it is found.
In 2000, Proctor and Gamble (P&G) realized that their return on increasingly expensive research and development (R&D) investments was inadequate. Studying their process for innovation, they estimated that each of their internally-employed researchers had at least 200 talented peers worldwide with skill sets that that P&G could potentially use. So P&G decided to fundamentally change their view of R&D to now include not only the 7,500 people inside the firm, but also 1.5 million scientists and engineers outside the company. The Internet made this possible by providing those new connections. The results more than support the wisdom of that decision – to adopt an open innovation policy. The company reported in 2006 that R&D productivity is up almost 60 percent, and 45 percent of products in development having key elements from external sources. Their innovation success rate has doubled, the cost of innovation has decreased, and perhaps the most telling of all – the price of a share of P&G stock has doubled.
Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical giant headquartered in Indiana, has also used the Internet to dramatically change their innovation model. Eli Lilly created and spun-off Innocentive, a Web-based service firm that posts client’s scientific problems and offers cash for accepted solutions, maintaining the anonymity of all involved. This approach allows firms of all sizes to efficiently use the Internet to leverage their access to a critical and scarce R&D resource – talented human capital. It was found that for the 166 problems solved through Innocentive, the further the problem was from the solver’s expertise, the more likely he or she was to solve it. Non-experts in one field solved problems in another field by thinking differently. The results reinforce the value of the Internet as a boundary-eliminating connection that can serve to enrich blockbuster innovations.
The application of the Internet to spurring innovation is not limited to R&D enterprises. Netflix, a mail-order and Web-based entertainment service recently offered a $1 million award for an algorithm that would improve efficiency of one of its existing internal systems by at least 10 percent. They drew over 15,000 entrants from 126 countries, and the leading solution came from Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
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