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August, 2008

Internet Technology Capabilities

In this Issue:

    IS YOUR BUSINESS FULLY UTILIZING AVAILABLE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY?

IS YOUR BUSINESS FULLY UTILIZING AVAILABLE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY?


As the result of escalating fuel prices, many businesses are initiating or revisiting the use of virtual meetings and other IT tools.

In the past, virtual meetings may have been veiwed as an inferior business practice that did not work well. IT improvements and increased comfort levels with non F2F (face-to- face) interaction is changing the way business is done. Long gone are the days of Mr. Tudball’s intercom tribulations with Mrs. Wiggins External link opens in a new window . Younger employees have cut their social teeth on YouTube and Facebook. Their text messaging thumbs are insured with Lloyd’s of London.

Following are terms most commonly used in connection with virtual meetings with links to the wikipedia definition, function, and software requirement for each:

· Web conferencing and Webinar External link opens in a new window

· Webcast External link opens in a new window

· SlideShare External link opens in a new window

· Telepresence External link opens in a new window

· Telecommuting External link opens in a new window

· Voice-over-Internet protocol External link opens in a new window (VoIP)

· Webcams External link opens in a new window

· Podcast External link opens in a new window

It is not necessary to invest in expensive equipment and systems to realize the benefits and savings from virtual meetings and other IT tools over conventional business travel. WebWorkerDaily.Com External link opens in a new window has useful tips for low or no-cost virtual business tools and practices.

Many businesses have the capability of utilizing Microsoft NetMeeting as a virtual meeting tool. NetMeeting comes with Windows 95 and all later versions. A simple tutorial on how to use NetMeeting to host a virtual meeting is provided by Journal of online Accountancy External link opens in a new window .

A highly recommended guidebook , Videoconferencing: New Habits for Virtual Meetings External link opens in a new window , by Janelle Barlow, can increase your confidence and put your business on an IT enhanced path.

Check with the Illinois Business and Industry Center External link opens in a new window located in your community college district for assistance in selecting and implementing an IT virtual meeting system for your business.


Please view the following sites for current informative articles which address a variety of virtual meeting topics:

· The Transnational External link opens in a new window , a newsletter on multinational travel, reported on surveys taken by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and by Orbitz. Both surveys reported that business travelers were using, or planning to use, substantially more virtual meeting technologies because of travel costs and the ease of the technology.

· An International Herald Tribune External link opens in a new window article cites examples of corporations who have successfully gone virtual to cut travel costs.

· Some virtual meeting participants and telecommuters report lack of office comradery as the downside of webwork. Several ‘virtual water cooler’ systems such as Second Life External link opens in a new window may eventually fill this void.

· Ezine External link opens in a new window provides thoughts on the benefits and shortfalls of both face-to-face and virtual meetings.

· Read tips on conducting virtual meetings and product reviews from Virtual Meeting Review External link opens in a new window.





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    Attention: Developers, Contractors, and Sub-Contracting Firms: Neighborhood Stabilization Program RFP
    In August, 2008 the United States Congress authorized the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) as a federal grant under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).  The purpose of this program is to provide emergency assistance for the acquisition and redevelopment of foreclosed and abandoned properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities.  The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), as the NSP administrator for the State, is currently seeking housing redevelopment proposals that will help revitalize and stabilize communities that have been the most negatively impacted by foreclosures, high-risk mortgages, and high rates of abandoned or vacant properties.

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    For more information or a copy of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program RFP please log on to www.haciaworks.org External link opens in a new window.

    For technical assistance and consultation related to NSP, please contact Juan Calahorrano or Gilbert Villegas at (312) 666-5910.

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    Innovate Now! is a partnership of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Council on Competitiveness, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and World Business Chicago.

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    Visit the U.S. Economic Census External link opens in a new windowto increase your knowledge of the business climate.

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