By this point, the Cambridge Analytica news is starting to cool off—even as the heat continues to be turned up on Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg. At his Senate hearings, Zuckerberg’s testimony about Facebook’s data on 87 million members being used by Cambridge Analytica could be boiled down to two essential points: …
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg took out full-page ads in several high-profile newspapers Sunday, March 25th …including the UK’s The Observer, The Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Sunday Mirror, Sunday Express and Sunday Telegraph, along with American newspapers The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. Zuckerberg apologized for the…
Ah, paper. It’s been used for centuries. But a lot of the documents created on paper? Most of them didn’t last. Paper is fragile. Paper deteriorates. The Paper Conservation Department at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is responsible for the preservation of works of art for the Museum. Works of art on paper such…
Rotary Phones Can you Imagine? Kids today will never know the pleasure of slamming down a phone in anger! For a look at how today’s kids interact with an old-school rotary phone, click on the video below: Rotary dial phones are the earliest user-controlled phone to be mass produced. Before them, a user…
‘FACEBOOK and FAKE NEWS’ Zuckerberg Asked to Answer Facebook felt significant backlash in 2017, with many expressing discomfort about the social media giant’s oversight measures in preventing inaccurate posts. With the cloud of potential Russian meddling in that most democratic of institutions—the 2016 Presidential election—2017 found Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg announcing changes, including: Stronger…
So virtually everyone knows now that the FCC has voted to rollback internet regulations put in place by the FCC during the Obama administration. This change is generally regarded as bad for consumers. Why? Well, let’s take a look at the three main aspects of ‘net neutrality’ that just got repealed: 1. Internet Service…
The resignation of Senator Al Franken is only the latest instance in a chain of fallout from claims of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct that has been swiftly growing ever since claims of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s misconduct surfaced on Oct. 5. Many of the initial accusations originally focused on Hollywood and the greater media…
It’s a story reminiscent of the 2015 San Bernardino shootings. In that case, not only were 14 people left dead, but FBI investigators were left deadlocked with Apple. The FBI wanted help with the encryption in order to gain access to gunman Syed Farook’s iPhone 5C. Apple didn’t want to give it to them. The…
The recent California wildfires are a tragedy for those whose homes were destroyed and whose lives were upturned. The recent California wildfires are a tragedy for those whose homes were destroyed and whose lives were upturned. The high-profile disaster has prompted a local relief effort on November 9th, 2017 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.…
There is something about Halloween that captures the imagination. Children, obviously, are enamored of Halloween, and it’s not just the free candy, but rather more the idea of being scared that causes a delightful frisson in a young one’s heart. Parents who are concerned about children finding Halloween too frightening should take heart…
Imagine you’re an HR professional who’s just gotten a great job. You’re now in the top Human Resources role for a fast-growing public company whose success has been said to rival even Facebook. Its market valuation is almost $51 billion dollars, encompassing 311 cities within 58 different countries. The company is already prevalent in the…
Documents—love ‘em, hate ‘em, or indifferent to ‘em, it doesn’t really matter. They’re part of your life—and a big part of Human Resources. Whether you create the document internally or receive it from an outside partner, HR departments today are in charge of more and more information than ever before. …
There’s a 13,000-pound buoy on the South Carolina Coast. Hurricane Irma brought it ashore to Hilton Head Island on Monday, September 11th, having moved it from the mouth of Port Royal Sound—more than 8 miles away. You might be forgiven for thinking: “Hurricane Irma impacted South Carolina that much?” Scientists will be studying Hurricane Irma…
Sure, today it’s easy today to find pineapples used in a refreshing cocktail or an upside-down cake. But did you ever wonder how pineapples came to become a symbol of hospitality? And did you know that cunning cyber thieves use a device called a “Pineapple” to pose a real threat to your data security? …
Salesforce.com Inc. (NYSE: CRM) is a cloud computing company based in San Francisco, California. It has become highly successful in the customer relationship management (CRM) software arena; Salesforce software helps companies to manage the tasks, relationships, and ‘buying funnel’ of new and existing customers. How successful? Salesforce is currently the largest American cloud computing…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] During my time in state government, I was part of many discussions about portals. When I worked on a portal for a small business in 1998, they were really seen as an indication of your tech grooviness and functionally. They looked a lot like electronic brochures or phonebooks.…
An unlikely hero and the importance of being up to date. You’ve probably heard about the massive cyber-attack this past weekend that successfully crippled more than 200,000 victims in 150 countries, including more than 20% of hospitals in the UK alone. The WannaCry malware spread among Windows computers, infecting and then encrypting users’ files, effectively…
Most people know that the wildly popular prison drama “Orange Is the New Black” isn’t on a network. It isn’t a ‘cable only’ show, either. “OITNB” is a Netflix original series, one that has proven so popular that it is rated in the same league as the most watched shows on cable. That’s right. The…
5i Solutions, Inc. Salutes M-Files EU GDPR Compliance Innovation 5i Solutions Inc., a value-added reseller of M-Files Corporation products that improve how business manage documents and other data, salutes new offerings by M-Files. These innovations are designed to help companies better protect their customer’s personal data and adhere to the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)…
Where’s the Beef? Today’s Highest Achieving Enterprises and Their Surprising Lack of Product Consider an intriguing recent TechCrunch.com opener: Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no…
Hacking, Spying, and Today’s High Tech This past week was the week that WikiLeaks let Americans know how easy it was for their smartphones, televisions, and even cars to be used to spy on them. On March 7th, WikiLeaks published extensive documentation that indicated secret Central Intelligence Agency capabilities to spy and hack. The files…
It goes without saying that you don’t want to be in the news for the wrong reason. And if you lived in the California towns of Marysville, Hallwood, Olivehurst/Linda, Plumas Lake, Gridley, Live Oak, Yuba City, or Wheatland you got that unfortunate experience recently. If those names don’t sound familiar to you, here’s one that…
On Tuesday, February 7th, the Army approved the construction of the last mile and a half of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). That action came two weeks after President Donald Trump ordered an accelerated review of the pipeline project—a reversal from the Obama administration’s block of the pipeline amidst global protests two months earlier. The Dakota…
Singapore is a relatively small place—an island city-state just 30 miles across. Politically speaking, it has been governed by the same party for decades. Its geography and political stability have allowed Singapore to position itself for the future rather uniquely as the world’s first “Smart Nation.” This is a truly ambitious set of programs designed…
USA Today readers may have been surprised to see the story of a fired IT worker that took his revenge on his for-profit online college employer. Allegations were that the IT worker had access to an account that stored email and course material for 2,000 students. After his employment was terminated, he changed a password…
Data mining and predictive analytics allow retailers to see into the future: they use collected information to anticipate what their customers want (sometimes even before they know they want it) and custom-tailor their marketing to match. And the practice is only growing more accurate as technology and analytics move forward. A great example of predictive…
LAS VEGAS — Carnival isn’t the first company most people think of when it comes to high tech. But that might change – especially after Carnival CEO Arnold Donald took the stage Thursday, January 5th to kick off Consumer Electronics Show 2017 (CES) in Las Vegas Nevada. CES takes place each January and is one…
An end-of-the-year article published in PC World summarized the current state of affairs in the document management arena rather succinctly: In recent years there have been fundamental shifts in how digital documents are handled, and now the expectation is that people will be able to do much more with them. Or in other words, the…
Big data may be a relatively new term, but what it describes is already critical to business: large volumes of data that are the lifeblood of many enterprises. Collecting this information is important – it can be analyzed for insights in to past performances as well as real-time activity, helping decision-makers update/modify their business strategy…
In 2013, the worst cybersecurity intelligence breach in U.S. history happened. The target of the hack was the White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM). In today’s atmosphere of fear over data breaches and email hacks, what’s being done to protect the sensitive personal data housed in government networks? What lessons have we learned from…
London’s Daily Telegraph said this country is “perceived as a place where the future happens faster than in other parts of the world.” Tech Radar reports it has “almost as many tech startups as Silicon Valley.” It’s the home of internationally successful giants like Spotify, Skype, Linux, Candy Crush and Minecraft creator Mojang. Still wondering…
The 2016 Presidential election results are still a political hot potato. So let’s leave political questions out of this and ask the other question that begs to be answered: How did the polls miss the mark so badly? We have written before about some of the challenges in modern polling, and you can read…
Don’t be worried…at least, not yet. Though it is true that it’s entirely possible you had a role in a widely-reported criminal act. No need to call a lawyer…for the moment. Even though, Though it is true that it’s entirely possible you had a role in a widely-reported criminal act. No need to call a lawyer…for…
So… you have a new friend, or a new person you are dating, maybe even a new co-worker. Who among us hasn’t used the internet to do a little online vetting of a person? Sure, you might not advertise the fact that you did it. But there’s a difference between searching and stalkingonline, right? And…
When you apply for life insurance, you fill out a lot of forms with your personal information. It’s expected, after all – you are asking a company to basically take a bet on your good health and life expectancy. Insurance companies want to know if you are a good risk. Count on at least…
Propaganda is defined by dictionary.com as: information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help…a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. Now let’s give credit where credit is due. When it comes to propaganda, North Korea is second to none. Just check out what mighty leader Kim Jong-un has been up to lately: …
There’s a joke about “How to Install a Wireless Security System:” Set out a pair of hunting boots—the largest size you can find—on your front porch, next to a really big dog dish. Leave a note on the front door that says, “Bubba, Big Mike and I have gone out to get more ammo—back in…
A little perspective can add a great deal to perception. Let’s consider a cultural icon that: Is still going strong after more than 25 years Survived the terms of four U.S. Presidents (soon to be five!) Has weathered multiple contract disputes Contributed – and still contributing – dozens of catchphrases to the English language…
Delta Air Lines, the second largest airline in the world, was forced to ground many of their planes on Monday, August 8th after the company’s computer system went down. The following day, Delta COO Gil West said, “… a critical power control module at our Technology Command Center malfunctioned, causing a surge to the…
It should come as no surprise that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) keeps pretty busy—after all, they are responsible for protecting the health of the American public by safeguarding human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics, all products that emit radiation, and the nation’s food supply. The FDA even plays a big…
Port Tampa Bay. Not only are they the largest port in the state of Florida, handling nearly a third of all cargo going in and out of the state, but they’re also one of the largest United States cruise ports, with nearly a million passengers passing through each year. That’s a lot of…
Think about the Olympics. Athletes, fans, and media from around the globe gathered for the biggest sporting event in the world. And it’s more than sports. Rio 2016 is a showcase for the very best— including some of the most innovative and advanced technology ever seen on the planet. Underwater Robots For…
George H. Gallup died over 30 years ago, but during his lifetime came to be known as one of the founding forces in public opinion research and polling. Taking the temperature of the American public was central to the Gallup organization, as evidenced by George Gallup’s book, “The Pulse of Democracy.” Gallup polls often…
There’s a new product out there that has risen remarkably from $4.6 billion in sales in 2014 to $5.4 billion in 2015. Those 2015 numbers mean legal medicinal and recreational sales of this product were higher than those of Girl Scout Cookies, Pringles, and Oreos combined. The size of the market is projected to grow…
It should come as no surprise that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) keeps pretty busy—after all, they are responsible for protecting the health of the American public by safeguarding human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics, all products that emit radiation, and the nation’s food supply. The FDA even plays a big…
A New York pizzeria saw sales rocket up 75 percent over a single weekend because of it. A television station in Florida had their weather broadcast interrupted by a reporter interacting with it. Arlington National Cemetery wants to have no part in it. And police departments have warned those enjoying it to be careful:…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Big technology changes in America’s perhaps most traditional business model September 15th, 1965: Green Acres kicked off what would become a 6 year run on the CBS network. Even though Green Acres was created by Jay Sommers as a companion series to his already existing Petticoat Junction, the new show wasn’t really like anything else…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] A new study out of Canada says the odds are that your wearable tech device (like a Fitbit) is leaking personal data in unexpected places. Eight popular wearable devices were tested by Citizen Lab and the Munk School of Global Affairs: Apple Watch; Basis Peak; Fitbit Charge HR;…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive…and so in a sense it is all about potential. — Steve Ballmer, former CEO, Microsoft Corporation Steve Ballmer isn’t…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Headlines about data theft, cyber-attacks, and the importance of protecting your data are everywhere. You probably try to keep up to date with the most recent security products and malware detectors, doing everything in your power to protect your sensitive information. But what about the companies and service providers…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Websites being attacked by hackers is nothing new, but business owners may underestimate the scope of the problem: a recent Nielsen study indicated a healthy majority (57%) of online consumers do not believe that e-commerce websites will keep their personal data secure. And small wonder with the rate…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] So your 32GB iPhone just told you you’re out of storage space. Now you have to figure out what to delete or what to move and store somewhere else. You may not have anticipated this particular pain in the neck because after all, you were smart and didn’t…
[column parallax_bg=”disabled” parallax_bg_inertia=”-0.2″ extend=”disabled” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”” background_position=”” background_size=”auto” background_attachment=”” hide_bg_lowres=”” background_video=”” extended_padding=”” vertical_padding_top=”0″ vertical_padding_bottom=”0″ horizontal_padding=”0″ more_link=”” more_text=”” left_border=”transparent” class=”” id=”” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” width=”1/1″ last=”true”] [column_1 width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced that abolitionist and Underground Railroad hero Harriet Tubman will be honored by appearing on the front of…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] In case you haven’t caught all the details of The Panama Papers, here’s a recap: What are the Panama Papers? The Panama Papers is the name given to the largest data leak journalists have ever encountered: 2.6 terabytes of data consisting of 11.5 million files. Where did they…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Someday you may be telling your kids about Eckhard Baum. Don’t know the name? Well, he started a revolution in the entertainment business. In the summer of 1975, in the city of Kassel in what used to be West Germany, Baum opened the first store that rented out…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] March is here, and all around the country basketball fans are filling out brackets in office pools, hoping that their predictions are the right ones. The phenomenon has grown so big that financial icon Warren Buffett has bought into the excitement. His company is running the office pool…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Yesterday I received a call from someone who contacted me based on a recommendation from one of my clients. Seems the subject of Dropbox had come up in one of their meetings. This client was looking for a way to share project assets with an array of people…
Welcome to The7 – Ultimate WordPress Theme Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Sometimes it’s hard not being Facebook. At least, it is if you are also considered a social media site. In early 2016 Shares of LinkedIn fell 30% after the online network targeting business people posted a fourth-quarter loss—and forecast 2016 to be weaker than prior expectations. Twitter reported a loss of $90m for the last…
It was the salvo heard round the tech world: United States Magistrate Sheri Pym ruled that Apple must write code to assist the FBI in breaking the code protecting an iPhone. But this is not just any iPhone— it’s the device that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shooters. Apple has so far refused to…
If you’re planning on visiting the campaign site for Jeb Bush, you may be in for a surprise. Although most users might assume the former Florida governor’s official campaign website would be his name – JebBush.com – they would be wrong. The correct answer? Jeb2016.com. Using Jeb’s full name will bring you to a surprising…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Some forty miles south of Lexington you’ll find the town of Berea, Kentucky– population 13,561 as of the 2010 census. The census also tells us that the city is just a little over 9 square miles—it’s not a large place. Those familiar with the area might tell you…
After the warm weather this winter, cold has hit with a vengeance in the more northerly states in the US. One of my relatives above the frost belt was telling me to be happy I lived in South Florida—turns out they lost water to their house over the weekend because the water at the meter…
The re-capture of Mexican drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán made news worldwide. Guzmán had long ago become well known as head of the Sinaloa drug cartel, and then for his conviction in Mexico for drug trafficking, criminal association, and bribery. But it was ‘El Chapo’s’ escape in 2015 that captured the attention of the…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Newton’s Third Law of Motion is familiar, at least in concept, to most of us: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law states that in every interaction, there are forces that operate on the objects involved. These forces always come in pairs, and…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Sure, headlines may call you the “most hated man in America,” but when Donald Trump is able to get away with calling you a “spoiled brat,” it may be time to re-evaluate your business plans. Well, not YOU. Unless you’re Martin Shkreli, the “Pharma Bro” boy wonder who…
Many who grew up in the 1970’s will remember the television series “The Six Million Dollar Man.” The narration sets the stage for the stories to come: Steve Austin, astronaut, was severely injured in an aviation accident. However, the injuries to his legs, right arm and left eye were repaired with in a cutting-edge $6M…
The internet links virtually everyone together these days, and oftentimes the access to it is via wireless Wi-Fi networks. Work is done at desktop computers, put into thumb drives, and carried out of the office to be worked on later on a laptop computer. Data is stored in the cloud and accessed remotely. Offices have…
Veterans Day, originally Armistice Day, is observed November 11th each year in recognition of the contributions and sacrifices made by American military veterans. Some of the more fascinating stories involve Native Americans and their use of the native languages to help develop secure military communications. These veterans are known today as “First American Veterans,” and…
Anyone who is a fan of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Talking Heads fan will likely remember their song “Cities.” Originally included on the 1979 album “Fear of Music,” it later appeared in the concert movie “Stop Making Sense.” The song not unexpectedly namechecks lots of cities—London (and perhaps not England’s version—it’s described…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] This week the Chinese government announced an end to their decades-long ‘one child’ policy and now will allow each married couple to have two children. The highly-controversial policy was introduced across China almost 40 years ago in an effort to rein in what had been explosive population growth. …
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] “My Dinner with Andre” is a 1981 movie directed by Louis Malle and starring Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn. The film was critically acclaimed, and it was not because of the action sequences. The 111 minute long movie basically depicts a conversation between two men over dinner. Almost…
Fort Lauderdale, FL 10/2/15 5i Solutions, Inc. announced today the purchase of privately held DATANET imaging systems (Toronto, Ontario), an industry-leading provider of document management, agenda and minutes automation software designed specifically for government. “We’re excited to welcome DATANET into the 5i Solutions family,” said Pat Schaefer, CEO of 5i Solutions, Inc. “This acquisition exemplifies…
Anyone who’s seen the movie “Best in Show” has an insight into the lengths to which dog owners will go to show off their prized pet. But why? Sure, there’s money involved—the price for show-winning dog semen can easily reach $2000.00, with stud fees also in the thousands of dollars. But considering it takes an…
Rapper Ice Cube is credited with first using the phrase “It’s on like Donkey Kong!” in mainstream media– way back in 1992 on his ‘The Predator’ album. Both Ice Cube and the phrase are still going strong today, and no doubt more than a few investors watching the stock market used it recently in conjunction…
5i Solutions Inc., leading technology innovator in Document Management, Document Imaging and Processing, E-Discovery and Litigation Support, and Data Hosting and Cloud Security, today announced the public debut of their new website. 5iSolutionsInc.com has gone live to serve the private and government sectors with innovative data solutions. Fort Lauderdale, FL and Indianapolis IN 10/1/15 5i…
Data, Data, Everywhere Fans of the 1960’s animated series Tennessee Tuxedo and Underdog may remember the animated short between episodes featuring the character Klondike Kat. His nemesis was the cheese stealing mouse Savoir-Faire, whose constant declaration was that “Savoir-Faire is everywhere!” Unfortunately for Klondike Kat, he was not only completely incompetent in executing his own…
In our two previous blog postings, we discussed how to get legal professionals to trust predictive review and how to limit the amount of attorney time necessary as part of the process. A third argument against predictive review is that the so-called experts cannot seem to decide on which methodology is best. There are a…
Apple and Apps that Spy Apple released iOS 9 this week and it will serve as the new operating system for iPhones and iPads. Beta-testers had already confirmed this edition will include upgrades to ‘Siri,’ better multi-tasking, and will require a smaller amount of space to download and run. But a lot of attention has…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] If you use an iPhone, you’re probably aware that only apps approved for and downloaded from the App Store are approved to run. These apps have a key that is ‘signed’ with an approved company key, and Apple makes it somewhat difficult to get around it. For those…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Social observers know that even the threat of a hurricane can send dizzying throngs to the grocery and hardware stores. The shelves are emptied of water, cans of tuna, batteries, plywood and nails. There is a run on gasoline as residents anywhere in the predicted ‘cone of potential…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Marlene Dietrich enjoyed a career spanning from 1918 all the way to 1984. The famous actress and singer, known for re-inventing her persona, has a still-famous quote: “When you’re dead, you’re dead.” With respect, not always, Marlene. At least, not according to the United States Government. Imagine…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Last month marked the 46th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the first steps by humans on the lunar surface: July 20th, 1969. A lot of monumental change has occurred since this groundbreaking (lunar surface-breaking?) event, but sometimes the differences in times are best brought home…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] In our last blog posting, we discussed the fact that predictive review can reduce costs, improve quality and sometimes even save your case but many legal professionals don’t use it because they don’t trust it. A second reason is that they believe predictive review is too difficult and…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] The French island of Réunion lies off the coast of Madagascar in the West Indian Ocean. Wreckage found washed up on the island was examined by French and Malaysian authorities to determine whether or not it was part of the ill-fated Malaysian flignt MH 370, which disappeared in…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] We are swimming in data. According to IBM, we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day. And it’s growing faster than ever. Ninety percent of the data in the world has been created in the past two years. And “The Internet of Things” will create even more…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] It seems fashionable for some these days to claim not to like Chipotle. Others may, more practically, to wish to grow a business big enough to attract such detractors. But one thing is for certain: Chipotle is rolling out a lot of burritos, and people are eating it…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] In 2005, if you’d purchased 100 shares of Netflix— remember that company that delivered DVD movies to your mailbox?—it would have cost you a little over $11,000. Not an insubstantial investment—stock analysts already liked the Netflix model, and investors had already priced a lot of future growth in—so…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Yesterday, everyone was bombarded by the news that not one, not two, but three separate entities encountered technical problems that necessitated shut-downs: United Airlines was forced to ground flights, The Wall Street Journal’s web portal was shut down, and the New York Stock Exchange—the veritable backbone of American…
[column parallax_bg=”disabled” parallax_bg_inertia=”-0.2″ extend=”disabled” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”” background_position=”” background_size=”auto” background_attachment=”” hide_bg_lowres=”false” background_video=”” extended_padding=”false” vertical_padding_top=”0″ vertical_padding_bottom=”0″ horizontal_padding=”0″ more_link=”” more_text=”” left_border=”transparent” class=”limit-wrapper” id=”” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” width=”1/1″ last=”true”] [column_1 width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Ride-sharing service Uber announced it was leaving Broward County at the end of July, 2015. They cited the ‘onerous’ regulations put in…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] The #1 ranking consumer complaint at the Federal Trade Commission for 15 years in a row has been identity theft. And again, the state of Florida ranks first in complaints out of all 50 states— Florida has, in fact, more than 1/3 of all reported identity theft incidents…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Apple Radio started this week. The new music streaming service comes from the folks who kick-started the digital music frenzy with the introduction of their iPod back in October of 2001. Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey” may have been prescient back then with its view…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Some people enjoy a drink now and then. And it’s interesting to note that the pleasure of indulging usually happens with very little idea of the actual process and ingredients behind the creation of the preferred alcoholic beverage. For instance, did you know that beer, whiskey, and ‘moonshine,’…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”no-divider” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] South Florida— You likely are not currently pondering any commonality between mixed martial arts and the recent government security breach of federal worker records. But if you are someone concerned about the security and storage of important data–especially on ‘the cloud—‘ then you’ll almost certainly be interested in…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Facebook. Twitter. YouTube. Netflix. LinkedIn. Pandora. WordPress. Amazon.com They all have something in common: they are all able to gather and assimilate a tremendous amount of information in seconds, from an immense number of sources, and turn it into revenue. Facebook and LinkedIn assemble data on their users…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] A definition of executive: Someone who has the power to put plans, actions, or laws into effect A person with senior managerial responsibility in a business organization Or, according to Forbes ASAP: Someone who wastes 150 hours per year—almost an entire month—searching for lost information. Let’s…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] The chance of an individual being audited by the IRS is at the lowest rate in a decade, with less than 1% of returns audited: about 1.2 million returns in 2014, a drop of nearly 330,000 from 2010. Reasons cited are cuts to funding for the IRS and…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] As Google races to become the first company ever to reach market capitalization of a trillion dollars, a question worth considering becomes: why, exactly is Google worth so much money? It could easily be argued that selling advertising is the reason. Certainly the purchase of YouTube was a terrific business decision, with millions of…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] The concept of the paperless office feels like it has been around for forever. That’s because it actually has been around nearly forever– or at least, ever since the advent of the personal computer. A 1975 Business Week article entitled “The Office of the Future” first predicted the…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Arthur Schopenhauer, the German philosopher best known for his work The World as Will and Representation, said, succinctly: “One should use common words to say uncommon things.” Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Using everyday words–clear, concise language–to describe something important. But consider the following sentence: The amazing…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] You thought Office Space was as bad as it gets? The Thoughtful Boss The company decided to fire a married couple. They had just bought a house and were expecting their first child. The wife’s name came up to be let go and upper management decided that the…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Change in routine can be scary, but it usually comes with some benefits. Myth #1: Paperless documents are not as secure as filed hard copies How hard is it to access your paper files? And who accesses them? If your answer is the secretary, you know just how…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Applications. Gadgets. Software. Appliances. Systems. Thousands upon thousands of things over the years, all calling for our attention, and all of them promising to “save time.” This has been seen world-round— recently the BBC published an article succinctly summarizing that “Technology is largely a succession of time-saving devices.”…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Productivity is all about capturing your ideas in an effective way that clears your mind. Most people have a preferred way to save their ideas, projects, and to-dos – and while some are arguably better than others. “Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential. Eliminate the…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Do you commonly describe your life as busy? The term carries a surprising amount of stress with it. The misconception is that being busy makes your life have more meaning – it describes a behavior more than an activity level. Busy bees: working hard, repeating the same task…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] It’s Monday, and you could not dread more the start of the week than you do right now, splayed out under the covers. Your alarm clock (read: smartphone) launches a wailing siren’s call commanding your complete consciousness. How can you transform this fatigue- and dread-paralyzed version of yourself…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] What if Manhattan’s infamously endless “days” were not cut off after a few short hours of light? The endless old buildings line up next to one another, crowding worse than businessman at Chipotle during lunch (half) hour. As much as organic food lovers and green lobbyists riot, our…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] It can be challenging for truly stoic entrepreneurs to admit that style reflects intelligence, and makes huge impacts on internal efficiency. Offices are meant to be the mecca of efficiency, productivity, and leadership – yet the vast majority of offices do not bother to focus on the external…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Last week, we went over the benefits of managing documents in an automated and searchable manner. While finding them can alleviate huge amounts of time and stress, how can you make this system a seamless process so that your clutter does not continue? Damage Control My old data…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Keeping the office free of clutter and digital files free of redundancy are two difficult tasks for the average contractor or architect. Last week, we spoke about the importance of keeping your space free of old files – but how can we find the files once they are…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Is your office riddled with rolls of old plans, partially filled purchase orders, and hard drives stuffed beyond capacity? Since the ‘90s, your paper trail may have decreased slightly, which is strange, because your online files have also reached exponential levels. Are you losing productivity and job performance…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] The Manufacturer’s Fault? Class Action Lawsuits and How to Steer Clear With 13 auto manufacturers and over 8 million passenger vehicles* sold per year, the United States is home to many a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer. Quick new model rollouts and poor reliability from parts distributors…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Ebola has been around for more than 30 years – and we can genuinely give thanks to Hollywood for proselytizing its sincere threat. Thanks to movies like Outbreak and the Mission Impossible franchise, video sequences reminiscent of the Schwarzenegger’s face stuck in outer space without a suit plague…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] When it comes to lawsuits against Pharmaceutical companies, they can be quite costly. Many cases have resulted in settlements reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, and a few have exceeded one billion. However, physicians are the ones that generally carry more risk if a patient experiences negative side…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] With so much big data being stored electronically these days, it’s created a host of security concerns for retailers who use third party vendors. Without the proper parameters and security measures in place, the possibility of unwanted individuals accessing sensitive information is all too real. When this happens,…
Late to the office? It’s too late to stress. Your boss might not appreciate jokes, but thanks to modern laws on social media, he can’t actually do anything about what you post to social media (within reason of course).
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Bring on another year of technology that shapes caselaw! As we cheer in the New Year dirtying our suites with expensive champagne and boasts for future successes, solutions and improvements, we also ready the big guns in this last-ditch effort to expand, improve, and take charge. And frankly,…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Learn from your colleagues’ mistakes. In this edition of “Technology Fails” we’ll address, the obvious, the mundane, the benign, and the obliviously performed ways in which leaders, attorneys and bosses wrecked cases and violated rights. As a partner at a law firm, your role bears responsibilities as both…
The JP Morgan breach is just one of several major security failures of 2014. Among many questions raised, most obvious is one: how can a vendor guarantee protect you from damages resulting in an unsecured system? Vendors are on the radar as the Treasury Department points the finger at third party security. For those of…
Discovery is more than just a process for disclosing evidence to opposing counsel. I personally think it gets its name from the mental taxation that eFiling imposes: changing laws and strategic filing procedures become an exercise in personal development. I have an entire soundtrack of focus music (here’s a sample) devoted to getting me through procedural…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] In the fast-paced age of electronics, our time savers can be our downfall. Email, text message, mobile phones that are not registered by the state bar… when did it become so hard to find a privileged method of communication? The truth is, email can be protected by attorney-client…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Get ready to re-install Words with Friends and play some old-fashioned paper football at the desk, boys! Modern law firms have been using E-Discovery and Document Management (DM) tools to collect, aggregate and manage their discovery evidence for years now – but the latest tools pack more punch which…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Computers are seriously changing legal profession is changing. Ne’er has a more obvious statement been made. At the risk of boring you, I will elaborate. Automation Tired of written forms and stacks of files? Congratulations, you can really, REALLY destroy them now. Make an epic bonfire to stay…
We all know someone in the office who has a problem expressing their anger in the right way. And when it comes to taking meals from the communal refrigerator, what is the right way? We scoured the internet for answers – here are a few we found. Hope this brightens up your Friday! Perfect Response…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Let’s talk about discovery… not the channel, but the essential process that all litigation must start at. You remember about a decade ago, receiving faxes from services offering to disclose and re-disclose all your discovery files. Those services have gone the way of the fax… still around, but there…
Consider Remodeling Your Cube for Maximal Enjoyment:
You thought you were prepared for life by going to law school, selecting a successful field of law, opening your private practice, or gaining your impressive partnership. The last decade of technology has turned the security of your life choices into a black hole of liability and negligence. More specifically the information gratification of the internet has…
It’s a rising trend that states require eFiling, or eDiscovery, to share pretrial and discovery submissions on both sides of a case. And we all know what a trend in the legal field results in: regulations. In truth this method once consisted of paper files and some email correspondences, but in our modern and highly strategic…
Your modern job calls for doing anything. Not just anything, in fact – everything. At once. Emailing while on the phone, nodding to your boss, co-worker, or employee while writing frantically a separate note for later – does this sound like a normal snippet of your day? Not to mention when you get home –…
Data collection and presentation have been giving most attorneys, or rather, their paralegals, quite a few headaches for the past several decades. Computers naturally exist to assist our every need – even those “case-sensitive” ones – and the slow-moving court system has finally integrated them into the discovery process. Good thing, right? But it still…
Quick, to the Cloud! The days of paper filing cabinets, libraries of receipts, and dot-matrix printers spitting out lines of double-sided paper are far behind us. Although some businesses, particularly small-volume retail sales still manage to hold on to the ancient dot-matrix printers hard-wired into rudimentary point-of-sale systems for ease of printing customer receipts, much…
Paperless has been called a popular fad – but the reality is, many a government is taking it seriously. India, the UK, even the US has begun initiatives to move federal operations paperless. In 2012, Obama announced that federal agencies must be paperless by 2019. A 7-year deadline sounds achievable for a single company – but…
As a solutions-obsessed professional, I’m constantly searching businesses that have repeatable processes. While it sounds like an area of success for clients, the sad reality is that repeating a task does not always make the human brain more efficient. In fact, our brains are wired to “fill in the blanks” – what that means is…
I have delved into the federal proposal side of government contracting. Days of pouring over Fed Biz Opps had my eyes bleeding, my mind muddled, and my ears ringing with the sounds of repeated secretarial rejection as I attempted to reach out to the various POCs listed on each nondescript entry. The sheer amount of hours, painstaking…
Last week, we rediscovered BPR and the needs for process re-engineering that most offices still suffer. Recommending a paperless office via document scanning was just step 1 of this intensive process. Problem Area #2: Your office is not even close to being organized. There was a time when “documents in triplicate” were considered…
Business Process Re-engineering was a hot-button term for the 1990’s and early 2000’s (Millennials, if you are reading this, sorry for making you consult Wikipedia) – the concept still exists but is more limited to highly specialized (and highly priced) consulting firms seeking to analyze workflows and examine the overall performance of an organization. A…
Ever Friday, 5i solutions is devoted to taking the “casual” office to the next level. We’ve shared a range of original office pranks over the last few weeks, and hope to inspire your office to do the same! Have you pranked your office? Comment with the best, silliest, stupidest, most original or unconventional office…
Document scanning is a term thrown around frequently, but rarely understood. Today I’m here to remedy that – after my experience last week with the document imaging queries, I realize that many are confused and in need of clarity on the world of document management solutions. We’re all familiar with the scanner – the…
Nothing stings like the fear of losing your retirement plan – especially when it involves framing you for having business ties to anonymous offshore banks! This one may seem a little cruel – but its ingenuity should have your office laughing for quite a while, especially if you target someone who takes pride in their…
In recent weeks I’ve been inundated with queries about one of our most useful services for streamlining the office: Document Imaging. You may know imaging as “the way that your office will go paperless,” and have heard me refer to it in many of our recent blogs. I am going back to the basics here…
There’s probably no one itching to bring some life to your humdrum office like the receptionist. The constant stress and obsessive behavior that a computer-filled environment brings almost demands a good prank. Why? Well, because it’s easy to do of course! Most likely your colleagues have never seen a prank like this. So whether…
Emissions, eco-friendly, environmentally conscious, small carbon footprint – just a decade ago, these terms were reserved for the hippies at the Al Gore fan club. Now it’s all the rage, and all the benefit to your company’s reputation and your customer’s interests, to go green. The term may make you or your colleagues want…
Are you tired of the deathly silence in the office? Sometimes I am haunted by the echoes of quiet chewing, clacking keys, shooting stilettos and the worst of all: the unstoppable, viral yawn. Break up the boredom. The next time one of your colleagues sends you a message that includes some personal information, play…
One of the biggest problems for Indianapolis law firms is bad data processing. The overly complex, mismanaged process eats away at your case time, increases stress for your paralegal team and hinders strategic opportunities for your firm during each new case. Your paralegals are key to nearly all of your important legal motions – and…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Going green is more than just a charity or a cause, but a strategy that more and more businesses are adopting to save on taxes. There are few companies or individuals who were untouched by the bad economy in the last few years, and safeguarding with good tax…
If you’re a CEO, managing an efficient workforce is one great task inherited with the position. Keeping your office organized, efficient, successful… this is a constant challenge to say the least! Of course, I can hear my own sarcastic remark of “boohoo boss!” ringing in my ears from days when I was not in charge.…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] The paperless office. It’s about more than being green. There are endless benefits to managing a paperless office successfully – and most of them reduce your stress level and show up tangibly in your bottom line. Big business? According to IDC Report, an enterprise employing 1,000 workers wastes…
The internet is absolutely ridden with lists on how to improve your workforce. They range from the amusing to the obscene, and promise ridiculous outcomes: Make them work faster! Reach deadlines quicker! Utilize Machiavellian tactics to ensure they no longer take coffee breaks! (thankfully there may be some humor in this article…) Most recommend…
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Your paralegal is a key factor in assembling nearly all of your important legal motions – but data processing eats away at your paralegal team and hinders strategic opportunities for your firm during every new case. The truth is, your paralegal teams are only human – and as such,…
Many firms have relied on nXT to keep track of litigation, document management, document imaging and e-discovery. With the XERA advancements, doing an upgrade can be a very intensive, long-term process. Companies looking to upgrade from nXT to XERA have the option of doing an in-house upgrade, or outsourcing the problem to 5i Solutions. …
The CEO… The Bossman (or woman)… El Jefe… The Big Cheese… The Grand Poobah… The Head Honcho… The title isn’t important. The thinking, behaviors, actions and disciplines are. There are plenty of resources available in the business world for helping you take your career or your company to the next level. What we…
Your network needs protection against security threats. I would be hard pressed to name a group that has no need for security – thanks to the internet, the only industry would be one that has no use of computers. However, every organization has different standards for this security. A high-end cyber or IT security system…
I have a confession: I am a workaholic. If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of us. After all, who isn’t? Most working people prescribed a 40-hour work week could not call themselves lazy, and have likely been plagued by office dreams as much as the next person. Waking up with chills after trying…
I took a business trip recently from our Ft. Lauderdale office out to the Pacific Time Zone. I played the trip as you normally do, tried to fool my body it wasn’t really midnight when it was 9PM Pacific, splashing cold water on my face, chewing the strongest mints I could find (which served to…
Browsing can be dangerous. We’re here today to warn you about the most recent uncovering of a major security threat for internet users (read: you). Browsing the internet causes untold damage to millions of users’ computers daily. Daily? No. By the minute. We’re not trying to sensationalize here. It’s gotten to a point of no…
There are many important skill sets of effective leadership. In his now famous TED Talk (viewed by over 16 million people) Simon Sinek How Great Leaders Inspire Action is a powerful vision of what is necessary to move people into action. Great leaders do many things: They do great work, consistently. …
Working in an office environment means more than just having good time management or online document repositories. One fundamental skill in a good employee involves a very serious ability to prioritize. Seeing through the time constraints and time-wasters is almost more essential than a good enterprise content management system, so we’ve simplified your time-wasters…
I’m sure you’ve seen the news coverage of the Open Secure Socket Layer (OpenSSL) security issue called “Heartbleed”. This vulnerability can allow hackers to steal certificates, session keys, passwords and other sensitive data from server memory, while remaining undetected. What does that mean? Simply put, the bug allows anyone on the internet to read…
I remember office environs before the advent of the computer. Before the instant answers and endless questions that came through the internet. When paperwork was still a bureaucratic pile of nonsense, but it was just that, a PILE. Quantifiable. Limitable. Eliminate-able. Papers could be lost! They could be eaten by dogs! There was a…
Everyone has a wake up routine, I find that physical activity gets me going. I’m an early riser – I go to the gym in the morning to perk myself up and prepare for the day. So this morning, rolled out of bed bright and early and noticed sunny South Florida waking up: large, curly-tailed lizards…
Growing up in England, my parents were the children of a World War II family. They were evacuated from London, grew up on food rations and were impressed with a sense of “save everything.” I remember growing up you didn’t leave food on your plate, and you only took what you could eat. My mum…
