Remember when Windows was considered cool? It’s been a long time. Nevertheless, the Kinect – a motion and voice-sensing device initially meant as a clever feature for the Xbox gaming console – may help Windows regain its long-lost coolness quotient.

Microsoft in February released Kinect for Windows. This version of the device works with, of course, Windows-operated pcs. Now a number of users are putting the device to work in surprising ways.

Innovative Uses for the Kinect

Earlier this year the Chief Marketing Manager for Nissan North America created a virtual tour of the Pathfinder’s interior at the Chicago Auto Show. The only thing that was physically presented was the outer shell of the Pathfinder, but individuals could see the up-graded interior on a large screen by using the Kinect.

Microsoft is working with companies to create applications for the Kinect. This not only supports creativity but it puts the Kinect at the center of some of the most recent innovations. An example of a company that is working closely with Microsoft in this way is Boeing. Boeing used the Kinect to create virtual tours of its jets. Another example is a healthcare facility in Canada. They are using the Kinect’s gesture-recognition capability to swipe through CT scans. This removes the danger of getting germs on their hands from a keyboard or mouse.

Kinect: A Solid Hit

The Kinect has been a hit for Microsoft. Last year the device helped turn the Xbox 360 into the year’s best-selling computer game console. The fact is, Microsoft has sold over 18 million Kinect devices since November of 2010. It makes sense then, that a version created especially for Windows would be a hit, too.

The excitement surrounding the Kinect and its many uses can only boost Microsoft’s reputation. They may be on their way to entering into the “cool” tech company category.

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When you sift through the potential candidates for the position you’re hiring for, you want to find the super stars. You would like to find the most imaginative, enthusiastic, and motivated people you can. But you can only find out who fits the bill through an interview. And if you don’t ask the correct questions you may misjudge your candidates.

If you hold the traditional job interview, asking the same tedious questions, the odds are you won’t be able to tell the top applicants from the so-so ones. That’s why it’s important to craft a unique job interview strategy.

Ask the Right Questions

A common approach to the job interview is to inquire about past positions the individual held. What their duties were, etc. These are not the most beneficial questions as you only end up with information that may be easily read from their resume. This doesn’t help you much if you’re looking for specific qualities. Think about asking them how they improved their positions, were there any processes that they changed, or ways that they saved their company money.

Don’t ask candidates about their strengths and weaknesses. A lot of people have memorized stock answers to these questions. Instead, ask them how they bring their unique personalities to their jobs. Ask them the things they do to make their jobs more interesting and gratifying. Truly creative workers should be able to tell you of new innovations they developed and new programs they created, all in the effort of adding that creative spark to their positions.

Another simple way to measure a prospective employee’s creativity is to ask them to perform a task. For example, you could ask them to brainstorm ideas for an ad campaign, or write a brief essay about their ideal work environment. Whatever it is, it is something your interviewee will not expect and it will give you a picture of their creativity.

Today’s job market is such that it’s probable that many qualified people will apply to your open position. So, in order to sift through these applicants and find the most creative and inventive individuals, change your interview tactics to hone in on these traits.

Nobody likes traveling for business. Airports are a hassle, with all that business of removing your shoes, having to pay extra to stow bags, and the frequent delays and cancellations. We are likely to overeat on bad fast food or at hotel buffets, as well, when we’re traveling for business. Plus there is the lack of sleep. It’s little wonder that so many business people are longing for advancements in videoconferencing technology. After all, if this technology improves sufficiently – the logic goes – maybe off-site business meetings, and the business travel that accompanies this, might be a thing of the past.

The End of Business Travel?

Do we want to strive for the termination of business travel? Maybe not, think about the differences between in-person meeting and videoconferencing.

Fluid conversation tends to be less common when videoconferencing. It’s difficult to identify exactly why. It may be due, partly, to office distractions, and also to any lag that the videoconference has. These issues could be resolved with technological advancements. But in general, when people are videoconferencing they have a tendency to stick to the primary task of the meeting rather then allow conversation to flow naturally, which can result in creative ideas.

The Benefits of Face-to-Face Time

Face-to-face interactions are more intimate and allow conversation to evolve easily. Meetings may go longer should this happen, but the benefits of it can be great. New ideas come from the creative progression of conversation. While it’s true that every meeting may not turn into a positive brainstorming session, it can be a great opportunity to develop interpersonal relationships in the office.

Business Travel is Here to Stay

While many businesses turn toward videoconferencing due to the cost and ease of it, it is unlikely that business travel will disappear totally. When we develop business relationships, just like any relationships, we want to meet face-to-face because we are a social species. The benefits of face-to-face meetings are enough that savvy business owners won’t eliminate business travel altogether.

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Doesn’t it feel like we should currently have jetpacks? Teleporters? Or meals in pill form? We already have some amazing technology, like tablets, which are small computers that people can carry around. We can use the GPS in our cars to navigate around town. We can post an update to our social media sites and reach countless people at once.

So, with all of this technology, why don’t we have jet packs yet? What factors are keeping us from making these technological leaps?

Building a Better Battery

First, there is battery power. To put it simply, the batteries running our smartphones and tablets have to be recharged too frequently. A more powerful battery will permit us to run our gadgets for weeks at a time and then charge them again within minutes. This battery does not exist yet. However, it might be coming: researchers at Chicago’s Northwestern University are developing a far more powerful lithium-ion battery. If their prototype becomes commercially viable, it will likely be a game-changer.

Improving Internet Access

Another hurdle to overcome is that not enough people have access to the Internet. The truth is, most of the globe doesn’t have access to it. This is naturally restricting advancements in technology. It goes back to the basic concept of the more minds we have working on a problem, the faster we’ll solve it.

The Business of New Tech

Last but not least there is the bureaucracy. Business matters, like patent laws, can impede technological progress. Individuals and companies that come up with revolutionary things have to first navigate these waters. But if government regulations are clear and simple to comprehend, it could prevent some of this.

Even though there are a few things that are holding technology back, it is still advancing at a rapid pace. Maybe we will finally get hover boards when battery technology catches up to our imaginations.

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Businesses can use Adobe Photoshop to generate professional marketing material easily. It is a very powerful program with many features so it’s no wonder that it can cost over $600, depending on the version. Many small business owners do not want to invest this much, and they don’t require all the features that come with it. However, there are a few alternatives to Photoshop that are low-cost or free.

Not surprisingly, these programs are not as powerful as Photoshop. But they have enough photo-editing features for small business owners to easily create professional looking material. Below is a list of the best free photo-manipulation programs currently available.

GIMP

GIMP means GNU image manipulation program. It is extremely easy to use and contains the most used features of Photoshop. There are many different versions of GIMP and best of all it is completely free.

Paint.NET

Remember that old MSPaint program that came with your Windows program? Paint.NET is the successor to this, and it’s really a remarkably powerful—and free—photo editor. Paint.NET comes with its own special effects, an unlimited undo (a nice feature for those designers who are far from perfect), and an online forum full of users who aren’t shy about sharing their favorite tips and strategies for using this program. The only negative of Paint.NET? It only works with Windows-based systems.

Picnik

Picnik is a free program that works well on Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. This program has some really fun effects such as blurring, darkening, and lightening images. It’s probably the most popular free editing programs, as you don’t have to download files to use it.

Business owners needn’t let Photoshop’s high cost keep them from inserting professionally edited photos into their marketing materials. With only a bit of online hunting, even the most frugal of business owners will find the perfect alternative.

Have you ever needed your smartphone only to realize that the battery has died and you’re nowhere near an outlet? It’s frustrating, but in a couple of years, it may be a thing of the past.

A Better Battery on the Way?

Engineers at Chicago’s Northwestern University have been working on advancements in battery technology and may have discovered a way to make batteries charge in minutes and last considerably longer.

What they are working on is a new lithium-ion battery that has more then 10 times the life of present batteries. Additionally, after a year of operation, which the researchers estimate to be about 150 charges, these new lithium-ion batteries would remain 5 times more efficient then today’s lithium-ion batteries.

A Charged Battery for a Week

Ultimately, this new cell phone battery could stay charged for a whole week, even with all the apps we use daily. And the charging time? Under 15 minutes. That will sure make our lives easier, but more than that, this new battery technology may lead to smaller and more efficient batteries for electric cars.  This could therefore, have a dramatic effect on our reliance on fossil fuels.

Batteries Powering Technological Change

Advancements in battery technology are not something we normally pay attention to. But this one may have a huge positive impact on our lives, and not just where convenience is concerned. This new lithium-ion battery may hold the key to a greater technological shift.

When looking at online search engines, Google remains king. Microsoft isn’t happy with this. That is why the company launched Bing in 2009, its own search engine and a direct competitor with Google. Ever since then, Bing has gone the way of most Google-search competitors: It’s mostly an afterthought when computer users need to search the web. Most searchers still use Google for this task. However, that does not mean that Bing offers nothing for computer users. The truth is, Microsoft did a lot right with Bing, and the search engine delivers plenty of intriguing features that users should not dismiss.

Taking Another Look at Bing

When searching on Bing you may get more information about your search results then you do from Google. There’s a navigation panel on the left that includes related searches; this can help you refine your search if you didn’t get the information you were looking for. There’s also a “search history” navigation panel so that you can easily navigate to past pages if needed. This feature can be toggled on and off.

Bing Goes Beyond Search Results

Bing also brings more than just search results. Say users search for websites about pop star Lady Gaga. Bing will also bring up Lady Gaga’s most current videos. For users looking for a flight out of town, Bing beats Google easily. The search engine utilizes something it calls Farecast Technology in its Bing Travel site. This allows users quickly locate the most affordable airfare to specific destinations.

Bing Video Search Shines

Bing stands apart from Google with regards to searching for videos as well. Bing allows users to specify how long they would like videos to be, what resolution they would like, and what screen size they’d prefer. Moreover, to get a preview of the video, users only have to hover their cursor over the video to play a part of it without clicking on it.

These are just some of the reasons why computer users should not be so quick to discount Bing. Yes, Google continues to be the go-to player when it comes to search engines. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the only choice today.

Thanks to improved technology, more and more employees have the ability to accomplish most or all of their work from home. Smartphones, tablets, teleconferencing, and WiFi-equipped bookstores and coffee shops have made this feasible. This presents a big advantage for employers: the more employees that work from home, the less money companies must spend. Many companies, for instance, do not have assigned computers and desks for all of their workers as so much of their workforce is working remotely. In addition, employees working remotely are frequently more productive; they are not wasting time and energy commuting to work every day. And they’re not exchanging office gossip in front of the water cooler when in the office.

Remote Worker Challenges

One worry that many employers have when deciding to hire remote workers is, how can they monitor the amount of work they do? How do they know they are truly working and not simply playing games on their computer all day long?

One easy way to keep track of the amount of work being completed by remote workers is to set sensible goals that they must hit. This puts the emphasis on the results and prevents the manager from worrying about it, so long as the goals are being met. This also gives the employee liberty to work within the hours they are most effective.

Setting Remote Worker Deadlines

Setting deadlines is the simplest way to monitor the work being done by remote workers. Managers can set short-term and long-term goals or make something due every Friday. Additionally, a manger could have a weekly or biweekly meeting via cellphone or video chat to catch up on the growth of projects. This can put the manager and employee at ease.

Off-Site Not a Permanent Condition

While many people may have the personal discipline and time management skills to successfully work remotely, some don’t. So, if an employee doesn’t work effectively remotely, and that has grown to be obvious, remote working doesn’t have to stay permanent, it can easily be revoked. Ultimately, trust within the employee/employer relationship is among the key components of a successful remote working relationship. The worker needs to preserve that trust by hitting deadlines and delivering excellent work.

You are a busy person; you are always working on multiple projects and trying to hit deadlines.  It’s tough enough to find the time to fit a visit to the gym in, let alone play games on your smartphone. You need smartphone apps that will save you time, not waste it, but you don’t have time to search for them. Well, you are in luck; below is a list of 5 smartphone apps that will actually make your like simplier.

Top 5 Business Apps

1. WhosHere: If a deadline is rapidly approaching and you are in need of a freelancer, WhosHere lets you find freelancers for hire in your area quickly. You can send out a search, and text or call the professionals that reply.
2. Locale: What’s more uncomfortable then hearing your phone blaring during the middle of a vital business meeting? You won’t have to worry about this with Locale. This service enables you to choose your phone settings determined by your most common locations. For instance, you can automatically set your phone to vibrate mode whenever you enter your office or the local cafe.
3. WaveSecure: If you travel often for business, you run the risk of losing your smartphone in an unfamiliar city. With WaveSecure you can remotely lock your smartphone, track its SIM card, and backup any data stored on your phone until you find the device again.
4. Bump: If you’re in sales you have to collect contact details quickly. With Bump all you need to do is touch two phones together to exchange information, no more post-tradeshow data entry.
5. Scan2PDF Mobile: The Scan2PDF Mobile app lets you scan receipts, proposals, business reports, along with other documents using your smartphone camera and convert them into color PDFs. Then you’re able to e-mail these scanned documents straight to your computer’s desktop.

Are you gunning for a raise or a promotion? Maybe you only want to get noticed for job security. In either case, this can be accomplished by impressing your supervisor, but how?

What about Excel? The majority of us, regardless of our position, use spreadsheets in Excel. This program is a very robust business tool; here are some tips to increase your efficiency, which is guaranteed to impress your boss.

• Hiding Information: You may wonder why you would want to hide certain information in a spreadsheet. Well, suppose the spreadsheet that has all your data about the company also has everyone’s salary. That is private information that you don’t want to divulge at the meeting. Simple hide the column or row by clicking the related number or letter to highlight it, then right-click on that highlighted row or column and select the Hide option in the popup menu. You can then Unhide the row or column in the same way once the meeting has ended.
• Timestamping: If you want to attach a date to your spreadsheet, you can use the Timestamp function. Just hold Ctrl while you press the semicolon key. If you would like the current date and time hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys while pressing the semicolon.
• A Better-Looking Spreadsheet: Jazz up your spreadsheet with the use of Excel’s Themes option. This is found at the top on the Excel Ribbon. This aspect offers you a large variety of color schemes and fonts, or you could design your own and apply it to your spreadsheet.
• Tracking Trends: The latest version of Excel includes a feature called Sparklines. By using this feature, you can create small charts that show trends in information. For instance, you could use Sparklines to instantly figure out how many software bundles each of your company’s salespeople sold in the first half of 2011.
• Conditional Formatting: This lets you format only certain cells, you can decide on a criteria, and any cells that fall within it will be a certain color. This feature will be helpful to get a quick visual read of your spreadsheet.