Mobile Computing devices

Second Position Paper
By Kamakshi Samala

According to Wikipedia, Mobile Computing is a generic term that describes ones ability to use the 'untethered' technology, that is not physically connected, or the one that is in a remote or mobile (non static) environment. A mobile computing device allows storing, organizing, and accessing information through internet wireless connection or through a private network. It can run on a number of operating environments, like a compact version of Microsoft Windows and Linux, as well as also on the operating environments that are not available on desktop computers, such as the Palm OS and Research in Motion's RIM OS. A mobile device can feature a scaled-down keyboard, a pen-like stylus, or both. They are powered by batteries which have to be charged for usage. Their size usually ranges from business cards to a paperback book. They are portable and smaller and have more capacity. Example of mobile devices are Laptop computer with wireless WAN or LAN technology, Subnotebook, Personal digital assistant (PDA), Portable data terminal (PDT) with Bluetooth or IRDA interfaces, Mobile data terminal (MDT), Tablet personal computer, Smartphone, etc.

The emergence of powerful portable computers, along with the advances in wireless communication technologies, has made mobile computing a reality and a new era in data communication and processing. The days of being restricted to ones desk by cables and cords are gone. No use of a cable can mean loosing of control, and according to any IT manager’s perspective, every new device and protocol that enters a company, may create new management challenges.

Pros

• Mobile computing has both positive and negative impacts on both individual and business.
• The most common and the most significant benefit of mobile computing is that it keeps people in touch.
• Personal choice: If people are willing to pay the price for freedom, mobile computing devices can really help people do things in a different ways and in a much flexible manner. Of course, for example, laptops require a lot of peripherals to duplicate the abilities of a complete desktop system, but if an individual doesn’t mind spending the extra money for the ability to work, surf and play on the fly then a laptop may be their best solution.
• Benefit to Business:
  1. Mobile computing has had a positive impact on businesses by inspiring innovation or the improved exchange of ideas.
  2.Businesses benefits from using cell phones to reach employees in the field or by having workers use wireless laptops to run applications on-site. Surveys have indicated that this helped to increase communications and data sharing among employees. This way with better communication, the employees become more productive.
  3.IT managers who support home users, branch offices or employees who frequently travel may like to equip them with new portable mobile computing devices that are easy to set up and use, and may also increase the chances that users will actually back up their systems.
  4.Mobile Management Strategies: Today's workforce needs to be more mobile in order to compete. Mobile workers need access to company data and communications while on road and this needs to done in a secure and reliable way. This makes things handy for them to visit several company locations and have access to spreadsheets, email and the company WAN (wide area network) at each location. Also, IT departments must keep up with the challenges of securing and managing mobile access.
  5.Wireless and handhelds are witnessing better integration. PDAs for example, play a crucial role in tackling enterprise issues such as database access, supply chain management and sales force automation. Therefore, when devising a mobile computing strategy, enterprises should look internally first. This way IT enterprises can focus on developing good relationships with solution providers and integrate end-to-end, single point solutions with a targeted ROI (return on investment) in mind.
  
• Easy Backup: Most mobile computing devices come with software that provides one-button backup or automatic file synchronization between two or more computers. Sometimes the software can even store operating system and application configuration settings, allowing users to restore not only their data but also their preferred settings, applications and email on any available computer.
• Benefit to Individuals:
  
  1. Mobile computing devices have almost all the functionalities as regular desktop.
  2. Ensures speedy implementation.
  3. Ensures easy integration help.
  4. Ensures cross-platform capability: Numerous laptop models are made for both PCs and Macs, ensuring a smooth transition from existing technology.
  5. Student can benefit by having regular, reliable access to technology which makes the learning process easy
  
  
  Cons
• Size: Portable and handheld’s screen makes it difficult to read large bodies of text.
• Limited features: If one wants to create complex PowerPoint presentations or other extensive documents, the mobile computing device isn't the best option.
• Limited communication bandwidth.
• Frequent disconnection caused.
• Prototyping.
• Transactional properties.
• Optimization of location dependent query processing.
• Data visualization.
• Security:
  1. As the number and diversity of mobile computing devices and its users, and access locations are increasing, the ability to manage and control data security is the biggest concern. There has been increase in the security threat to mobile devices, and this has become a serious problem for organizations. An organization may have a layered network security approach for its headquarters or large offices, but the branch offices are often overlooked. Lapses in security in smaller locations can make the overall organization vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, to address the need for remote office security management, both security and networking vendors are offering a new form of security products that protect branch offices and provide central management as well.
  
  2. Mobile computing devices contain a lot of memory (disks and/or RAM), and are highly portable and frequently unprotected. They are relatively easy to be stolen or lost, and unless precautionary measures are taken, an unauthorized person can gain access to all the information stored inside them. The result can be a useless device infected with a virus, or a device whose data has been invisibly downloaded by an intruder. The worst situation can be when an intruder installs a spyware program that easily captures the owner's personal and valuable information’s (e.g., credit card numbers, passwords, etc.).
  
  The best practices to follow to minimize the security concerns can be:
  1.Keep the patches up to date if the device is a laptop computer.
  2.Use a password to lock the system.
  3.Use locking devices on portable computers.
  4.Use a personal firewall on computers.
  5.When using wireless connectivity features (e.g., 802.11, Bluetooth) make sure the device's security settings are set as strong as possible.
  6.Encryption is the most reliable way to prevent people from viewing confidential data.
  
  
  Therefore, in my opinion Mobile computing devices is an emerging technology and has made computing a reality. Among the applications that are finding their way to the mobile computing devices, it’s seen that market for these devices is growing rapidly and is predicted that it may grow to over $550 billion by 2008. But the growth of the mobile-device market is limited by problems related to cost, speed, security, privacy, usability, and trust. Lack of consumer trust is considered to be the most significant long-term barrier for mobile commerce. Therefore, ultimately it depends on the end user (for example, organization or an individual) to carefully compare their computing needs with the advantages and disadvantages and the chances are that whichever device they choose, it will prove to be an effective tool in day to day life and business.
  
  
  
  

Mobile Computing

3^rd Presentation Paper

Joe Farrar

Wikipedia defines Mobile Computing as “a generic term describing your ability to use technology 'un-tethered', that is not physically connected, or in remote or mobile (non static) environments.” And as I sit here in downtown Madison doing my laundry and writing this paper, connected to the laundry mat’s free wireless internet, I realize that the age of mobile computing is truly upon us.

Only a few years ago during the internet boom, I can remember seeing far flung advertisements trumpeting an information age in which humanity was set free to roam the earth continually plugged into the “information superhighway.” I also remember thinking that my super fast Pentium II PC and its 56k modem required the sum total of all the bandwidth my phone line provided just to load simple web pages and pop up ads while being anything but mobile. I wondered just how anyone would be able to surf the net without being plugged into a phone line. More importantly, why would anyone lug that heavy laptop with them everywhere? I really wasn’t that thrilled to sit at home and wait for a web page to slowly appear, much less wait in public for that webpage to load slowly. But that was then and this is now. All of those obstacles have been over come. Broadband has allowed for a faster internet and more enjoyable surfing. Wifi has negated the need for a hard line. Laptops and other computing devices have become smaller and very portable.

From a consumer perspective, the realization that you can now be mobile and connected at the same time is an empowering one. I am no longer required to sit in front of a desktop all day to perform tasks that I can now perform from anywhere with a wireless connection. I can check my email, interact with colleagues, participate in distance education, write a blog and even work while away from home. This shift from stationary computing to mobile is a trend that many consumers have picked up very quickly. As I look around, I can see two other people currently working on their laptops. Additionally, while logging into the laundry mat’s wifi network, my laptop detected no less than seven other wireless networks both secure and unsecured in range of my laptop. This serves to prove the point that consumers understand and are using this technology.

However, the speed at which this technology is being adopted by consumers is demanding that both traditional brick and mortar business and online businesses develop new strategies to leverage this technology. I hate to come back to it, but the iphone does a good job of this in that it allows for the global knowledge available on the internet to be delivered on a local scale.

As mobile computing technology evolves, I would expect to see smart devices aware of their location changing the way marketing is preformed and content is delivered. In addition to revolutionizing the way promotions and marketing functions are performed, there are also opportunities for this new technology to enhance existing business processes. For example, I can see this technology supercharging an outside sales force by connecting it to its back office processes, thereby improving customer satisfaction and the overall efficiency of the sales process.

I also think that mobile computing could be a huge competitive advantage for companies looking to cut costs and willing to look at telecommuting as an option for employees. I know this first hand because, for a time earlier this year, my wife was able to telecommute while working in her chosen profession as an attorney only needing an internet connection and our laptop. Being able to work from anywhere with a wifi hotspot helped her to work with attorneys across the country and to access voluminous documents being housed in various locations through an internet-based database. To break up the monotony of being at home day in and day out, she would sometimes work from a coffee shop overlooking Lake Mendota.

Aside from the positives of mobile computing, there is also a growing need for individuals and businesses to be more secure with their computing devices. It seems that almost every week there is news of how a stolen laptop has compromised the personal information of consumers and business. As these devices become smaller and more portable, it also makes those devices easier for some nefarious character to walk off with. The networks that these devices rely upon are also at risk from a number of threats. These threats range from something as simple as having someone “piggy back” or steal wireless internet to having an organizations entire network compromised by hackers.

There are solutions to these problems for both consumers and companies. First off, attention to personal devices needs to become second nature to consumers. Something as simple as making sure your laptop is within eyesight can save a lot of headaches in the long run. Also, organizations need to proactively formulate strategies to prevent the loss of data and instill contingencies in order to react if and when their network becomes compromised. Keeping abreast of emerging threats and knowing how to handle them as the technology changes is important to consider.

In conclusion, it is my feeling that mobile computing holds the promise of changing the way people and companies work. However, the bright future comes with a price to be paid in commonsense and vigilance on the part of those who use these technologies.

E-learning/training....two fingers up!

Rokeshia Robinson
MCS 760
2nd position paper
4/8/07



E-learning/training technology has allowed businesses to reach outside of their stateliness, while avoiding travel and time costs. The technology has also changed the way we access knowledge, how we learn, and how ongoing training is delivered. Not long ago, the only option for ongoing training occurred infrequently in a classroom for days or weeks at a time. Today, knowledge must continually be created, published, and distributed “just in time.” The huge amount of content available on the internet has found its way towards Web sites that cater to IT training and learning. While classroom learning will not disappear, increasing numbers will choose the internet to complement traditional learning.

E-learning has enabled organizations to keep up with all of these changes. Organizations are now seeing that people learn more effectively in small chunks rather than lengthy courses. The corporate culture need to support a continuous learning environment and deliver personalized learning based on user skills, experience, and backgrounds. While most people have used the Internet to gather new information, learn a new skill, maintain certification, or do their jobs, these are just the beginning of a fully formed strategy to support e-learning/training.

Frequently, the costs for an e-learning/training program are lower than traditional instructor-led training, since travel costs are eliminated and larger numbers of students can be supported. (Often, the disadvantage is the start-up costs for investment in the technology and development time.) The wide variety of online tutorials and courses ensures that the prices will remain low or even free to anyone who wants information about a certain knowledge area or skill. (i.e.; taking a free tutorial or low-cost introductory course might give a person enough of an understanding to be able to make some decisions before embarking on an expensive classroom training program. )


An ROI case study from IBM showcases $395 million saved in 2001 through the use of e-learning, as well as 43 percent of learning hours that were delivered through e-learning. (An e-learning ROI case study @www.astd.org) Another factor in the ROI equation is time and ability to train more users. For example, Krispy Kreme only trained 60 store managers in 1999, then they launched a new Management 101 blended training program including on-line courses, training videos, and classroom with 149 participants in 2001. The management turnover dropped and Krispy Kreme was able to open eight more stores than planned in 2001 (Kim Kiser, “On the Rise,” Online learning Magazine) According to Brandon Hall’s report “Return on Investment and Multimedia Training” (www.brandonhall.com)the actual time required for training by computer averages about half of that required for instructor led training, lowering costs further. A generic ROI template for an e-learning business case is available at www.tiainc.com.

All in all, I believe that e-learning brings business value to organizations. E-learning provides opportunities to address the need for a highly skilled workforce to stay competitive, the need to distribute information globally to employees, customers, and partners, the need to acknowledge new products, changes in technology, and just in time learning. In addition to these benefits, the advantages of implementing e-learning strategy include substantial savings in travel cost and time. The organization that I am currently employ at also use e-learning /training as a means to get employees to the level that they need to be as well as build new skills sets for future roles. I often overhear employees praise this form of learning due too how flexible it may be.

Let's make the world just a little smaller....

Tanner Dabel

3^nd Opinion paper

Distance Training/Education/Conferencing

Years ago, if one wanted to watch TV, make a phone call, read a book or listen to music, they would have needed a TV, telephone, some books and a stereo system. Now all you need is a laptop and some internet access. The internet seems to be the place to be. Whether it is VoIP, Bit Torrent or Web-based TV, everything seems to be shifting to the internet. The computer is a one stop shopping for daily activities (very much like a Super Wal-mart). As one wonders what else can get digitized, three more business oriented activities are quickly adapting to meet the trend. Distance training, education and conferencing are all going digital. A company employee can now do all three from, well, anywhere!

Let’s first look at distance training and how it might benefit a business. Its Sally’s first day, working at the box factory in Denver, CO. Oh, and its also Dean’s first day on the job at the same company owned box factory in Phoenix, AZ. Now, let’s imagine 50 other new employees starting at the same company owned box factory all over the United States (it’s a BIG box company). Now, boxes can be confusing work if you don’t know what your doing; so box company policy dictates that everyone go through a four hours a day interactive training course for the first four days of working at the box company. Sally, Dean and the rest of the 50 new employees check in and are quickly whisked away to the super cool training suite. You see, the box company a few years back made a cost effective decision of creating an interactive training suite in each of its box factories. Before this time, they use to have to shuffle people all around the US to the Madison, WI branch because that was the companies training facility. This wasn’t cheap since the box company hires 50 new people on average every other week. The box company would have to pay all travel costs to shuffle all these new employees from point A to point B. Let’s also not forget, the cost in time it took, moving these people around. Box employees get about $25 an hour, so losing a person due to traveling one day there and one day back easily could cost the company hundreds of dollars per person per lost day!

But let’s get back to the story about Sally, Dean and the other 50 eager to start box employees. So they get to the on-site training suite, housed with training computers. These computers have special interfaces that are all tied to each others factory suite computers. This allows all 50 employees to see a training instructor (she’s in Seattle, WA). These computers also have special software to help simulate box machines, assembly flowcharts and everything you can think of that a person would need for training. So everyone sits down, the instructor goes live using say Sonic Foundries Mediasite and welcomes everyone to day one of training. Then there’s the four hours of interactive training. When the four hours are up, everyone goes to lunch, and then it’s off to a factory wide meeting that start right after lunch.

So, let’s look at this situation and see if we can spot any direct benefits. The first thing that should be apparent is the savings in travel cost, both time and money. The person is on-site and learning opposed to having to travel someone else, learn there and then come back. Less time is wasted because the person does not need to travel. Less money is wasted because arrangements were not needed for traveling. But wait, there’s more, how about indirect benefits, can we spot any? Of course we can, how about the fact that a new employee is able to learn the skills needed to do their job AT the place they will be working at for the next few year. Sometimes it can be stressful on a new employee who gets bounced around at the beginning, traveling, learning away from their base factory and then going back to the base factory, still out of the loop and having to play catch up. With distance training, the new employee has a less stressful transition from training to actual working. Notice the other indirect benefit I slip in there two sentences ago. I’ll repeat it again “still out of the loop and having to play catch up.” New employees might also have added stress put on them because of that wasted time traveling and training elsewhere before they are assimilated into the normal working staff. With the training suite situation provided above, everyone had training in the mid morning for two hours, then it was lunch and after lunch every new employee was able to attend the onsite factory wide meeting. This would allow the new employee to start getting assimilated on day one, rather then a week later. In addition, this adds less stress on the employee when it comes to their family. Say Sally has a husband and three kids. If she had to travel out to the Madison factory for training, that’s a weeks worth of time away from her family. This adds stress to Sally, her husband and her three kids. On the flip side, say Sally stays at her branch factory, does the training there and is able to go home to her family later that night. This arrangement causes less stress on her, less stress on her family and a better outcome for everyone.

Now is the time to discuss distance conferencing and its benefits for a business. Remember when Sally and Dean signed onto the training suite computers and the instructor from Seattle was on already waiting for them. Throughout that training, Sally, Dean and the instructor participated in a distance conference. This was in the form of training. Its two years later, Dean and Sally are still with the company. Both have moved up the ranks in the box company and they both now have global roles in brokering deals with manufacturing companies overseas that need boxes to ship their products out. Sally (who’s still lives in Denver, CO), Dean (who’s still lives in Phoenix, AZ) and Stuff Incorporated (our manufacturer who needs boxes) are set to meet in a global conference at 10 PM GMT today. With the power of distance conferencing, Dean who’s at home (his daughter was sick today) logs onto his computer at 3 PM MST, Sally who actually is on vacation in San Francisco signs onto her laptop at 2 PM WST and Jerry (our Stuff Incorporated Rep.) signs onto his computer at 11 PM WEZ (because he’s in Berlin, Germany). The three meet for an hour, come to an agreement and then all log off. Jerry heads home for bed (because it’s past midnight in Berlin), Sally goes back down to the resort pool (since its only 3 PM and she is on vacation) and Dean goes to fix supper for family (because it’s getting to be dinner time in Denver soon). Again, a lot of the benefits for distance training can be applied to distance conferencing. One additional bonus that was illustrated above, people can come together, anywhere and anytime. Dean was at home with his child, Sally was at a resort on vacation and Jerry, well he’s overseas in a different company!

Let’s say another year has gone by, Dean’s moved on to another company, but Sally, she’s interested in getting into the management level of the box company in Denver. She also saw a story the other day on TV about something called OpenCourseWare (OCW). It seems if one would like to study up on a subject, Open courseware is a free way to obtain university course level material online for free. And as you might have guessed, this brings us to the third and last topic; distance learning. OCW is one of many ways in which distance learning is being offered. Personally, I think this may be the way to offer distance (learning). Sally goes to the OpenCourseWare Consortium, where she sees MIT as a choice for materials. She’s heard of MIT and remembers it being a highly respected university in the US. She follows the link to MIT’s OCW and sees there is in fact a management department which offers many of the MIT management courses. She decides that evening that she’ll start reviewing all the course materials and slowly work her way through each course until she has a firm understanding of basic management. Then she can start to apply for internal management positions and she’ll have some basic knowledge of management.

Looking at OCW, this may not have as much direct benefit, but more of an indirect benefit through its employees. With the instance above, Sally was interested in moving up in the company, and OCW empowered her to have a good chance at moving up in the company, by giving her an affordable opportunity to learn the basic level management. It allowed understand some of the more basic aspects to management so that the company could then perhaps more formally train her in the specifics without having to cover those basics. This saves the company both time and money, while allow the employee to educate themselves in the comforts of their own home at a pace they work best at.

As you can see with all three causes, each one allowed the company to save time, save travel costs and lessened the time and stress costs of the employee. Though distance training, conferencing and learning may not fit every situation, I think it’s a good fit for most. Through the means computers, software and an internet connection, distance activities will aid in bringing people together no matter how far way they are. This will give people the ability to meet anytime, anyplace. How could a business not benefit from that? The power of this flexibility is endless and very little of it has been tapped thus far. Its time for business to make the investment and implement distance activates to aid in making the world just a little bit smaller while saving the company large sums of money.

E-learning/training....two dumbs up!

Rokeshia Robinson
MCS 760
2nd position paper
4/8/07



E-learning/training technology has allowed businesses to reach outside of their stateliness, while avoiding travel and time costs. The technology has also changed the way we access knowledge, how we learn, and how ongoing training is delivered. Not long ago, the only option for ongoing training occurred infrequently in a classroom for days or weeks at a time. Today, knowledge must continually be created, published, and distributed “just in time.” The huge amount of content available on the internet has found its way towards Web sites that cater to IT training and learning. While classroom learning will not disappear, increasing numbers will choose the internet to complement traditional learning.

E-learning has enabled organizations to keep up with all of these changes. Organizations are now seeing that people learn more effectively in small chunks rather than lengthy courses. The corporate culture need to support a continuous learning environment and deliver personalized learning based on user skills, experience, and backgrounds. While most people have used the Internet to gather new information, learn a new skill, maintain certification, or do their jobs, these are just the beginning of a fully formed strategy to support e-learning/training.

Frequently, the costs for an e-learning/training program are lower than traditional instructor-led training, since travel costs are eliminated and larger numbers of students can be supported. (Often, the disadvantage is the start-up costs for investment in the technology and development time.) The wide variety of online tutorials and courses ensures that the prices will remain low or even free to anyone who wants information about a certain knowledge area or skill. (i.e.; taking a free tutorial or low-cost introductory course might give a person enough of an understanding to be able to make some decisions before embarking on an expensive classroom training program. )

An ROI case study from IBM showcases $395 million saved in 2001 through the use of e-learning, as well as 43 percent of learning hours that were delivered through e-learning. (An e-learning ROI case study @www.astd.org) Another factor in the ROI equation is time and ability to train more users. For example, Krispy Kreme only trained 60 store managers in 1999, then they launched a new Management 101 blended training program including on-line courses, training videos, and classroom with 149 participants in 2001. The management turnover dropped and Krispy Kreme was able to open eight more stores than planned in 2001 (Kim Kiser, “On the Rise,” Online learning Magazine) According to Brandon Hall’s report “Return on Investment and Multimedia Training” (www.brandonhall.com)the actual time required for training by computer averages about half of that required for instructor led training, lowering costs further. A generic ROI template for an e-learning business case is available at www.tiainc.com.

All in all, I believe that e-learning brings business value to organizations. E-learning provides opportunities to address the need for a highly skilled workforce to stay competitive, the need to distribute information globally to employees, customers, and partners, the need to acknowledge new products, changes in technology, and just in time learning. In addition to these benefits, the advantages of implementing e-learning strategy include substantial savings in travel cost and time. The organization that I am currently employ at also use e-learning /training as a means to get employees to the level that they need to be as well as build new skills sets for future roles. I often overhear employees praise this form of learning due too how flexible it may be.

Green goes great

Chinnapong Somsueb

Position paper on green policy.

Green Policy goes great.

Nowadays, several businesses have been growing in both manufacturing and service sectors. Computer businesses are also increasing in supply and demand to the market. The manufacturing of computers will be increasing the same as the businesses are growing. As a result, our environment could be affected by several performances. Focusing on the computer industry, there are many obsolete computers around as much as the pollutants during the production process. Moreover, some computers might have been used without enough power consuming awareness. Therefore, the green policy has been announced not only to protect our environment, but also improve the company’s image and position.

Several regulations have been issued for protecting our environment. For example, Design For Environment (DFE) is a method by which environmental considerations and constraints can be integrated into existing processes and product design practices. It involves considering the environmental impact of all materials and processes that are involved in the entire life-cycle of the product (1). HP which is one of the biggest computer manufactures, has been recycling products since 1987, and has developed its DFE policy in 1992 (2). Furthermore, Dell has also launched an environmental policy called Dell Earth in order to display the environmental awareness which related to its products and processes.

Obviously, any company which is involved with green policy could reduce waste, energy, materials, and hazardous substances in its products and manufacturing, as well as increase overall environmental friendliness (1). This will help the environment from any harmful circumstances. Additionally, IT buyers at government agencies and institutions will be able to search a database called EPEAT, the Electronics Products Environmental Assessment Tool which is a system to help purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate computers before buying.

However, computer manufacturers have to register their products at the site by certifying they have met the IEEE 1680 standard list (3). This is a standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. This would be an alternative way to do computing business. Powerful performance with the excitement innovation would not be enough for the future. The environment is one of the biggest issues that everyone has to pay attention to in order to protect and improve it.

From my stand point, even though someone would see this green campaign as the new marketing advertisement, new image of the company, or it would cost the company more to launch in the first hand. I totally agree with green policy for several reasons. For example, many businesses would harm or affect our environment, therefore we should help to protect or improve our world by using either the environmentally friendly goods, or preventing any harmful products. As a result, both individuals and businesses should be involved in the environmental issue as much as they could. If we can help to protect our environment together, our world will be a better place to live together.

1. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?tp=&arnumber=376641&isnumber=8590
   
2. http://www.cbronline.com/article_feature_print.asp?guid=A4A70049-5957-44C7-9C38-E6BF60B66662
   
3. http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/07/21/HNgreenlist_1.html

Going Green

Follow-Up Paper

Joe Farrar

The issue of e-waste is one that cannot be easily solved by any single entity or act of charity. Its solution lies in the collective effort and education on the part of consumers. If left unchecked, e-waste could become a serious threat to the environment and the health of future generations.

E-waste is for the most part not dealt with by the industrialized nations that produce the bulk of the global electronic waste. Strict EPA standards and recycling guidelines make it cheaper to export this problem to the developing countries of the third world for profit than to deal with it at home.

Trade in e-waste is exporting real harm to poor communities of the third world. The manner in which these materials are disposed of pollutes the land, air, and water. Men, women, and children of poorer developing countries are exposed to what is simply poison. Westerners who produce the waste or the waste brokers who benefit from its trade do not realize the severe health and economic impact. Poor countries with loose environmental laws that receive e-waste find themselves having to choose between developing their economies and the health of their citizens.

Education is the greatest tool in the fight against export of e-waste as it still remains the dirty little secret of the technology revolution. The blame for how e-waste is mishandled has been skirted by government officials, the electronics industry, and even by some companies involved in e-waste recycling.

Under the current model in which electronics are produced, e-waste begins its journey to toxic landfills before products ever hit store shelves since electronic manufacturers refuse to eliminate hazardous materials or design products for easy disassembly. In addition, government policies fail to hold manufacturers responsible for coming up with end of life-cycle solutions for their products.

Ultimately, consumers are the unwitting recipients of a toxic product sold to them by companies with the ability to prevent or limit the use of toxic materials in the manufacturing phase of the product life cycle. Left with only a few choices as to how and where to recycle, and even less information on recycling responsibly, consumers often make the wrong decision. The misguided belief that recycling is the only viable solution simply results in more problems after the fact, particularly when the e-wastes are toxic and disposed of improperly.

The crux of this issue relates to the fact that few of us realize just how the obsolete computer we pay someone to take off our hands to recycle might end up in a toxic landfill in China, India, Africa or some other far-off destination. What is sad is that there are other viable options for producing eco-friendly hardware as well as ways of ensuring that computers or other electronic hardware are disposed of in a responsible manner. There are also a new business opportunities and profit to be made without negatively impacting the environment.

Companies such as Green Disc have shown that making a profit and helping the environment do not need to oppose one another. GreenDisc offers services to “handle all your techno trash disposal needs from a CD to a PC and just about everything in between.” The amount of e-waste GreenDisk and other e-cycling businesses are able to responsibly reconstitute barely scrapes the surface of what could some day be a huge industry. Ideally, more of these types of companies will pop up around the globe affording consumers more responsible options.

Aside from the for-profit operations, there are also many not-for-profit organizations like the Computer Recycling Center and the Share Technology Organization that offer programs geared towards extending the life of used technology. This is done by donating it to those less fortunate and giving used technology a second chance to function as a useful tool. Additionally, such companies offer options for recycling damaged or unusable e-waste. Because of recent attention paid to global warming and climate change, environmental issues will figure into future consumer purchasing decisions and hopefully demand a change on the part of the electronics industry.