It must indeed be the flowers that have me dazzled! Blossoms are bursting out everywhere! It also seems that we're seeing the blooming of new technology, new applications  and - occassionally - things that make one stop and think. 

On March 19, newspapers around the world announced the death of Sir Arthur C. Clark, 90, one of the truly great science fiction writers. It was surely one of his books I pulled off the shelf in the library as a child that first introduced me to the possibilities and wonders of science and technology - and imagination. I wish I could have thanked him for firing up my fascination for technology! And a fascination for the rapidly evolving communication technology surrounding us now.

March delivered more stories on touch screen technology - another example of a "Minority Report-like Interface" was on display at CeBIT in Germany. And I belately discovered the Microsoft Surface. I say belated because it was released almost a year ago and I've just tripped over it.

Then I discovered the not-so-new idea of a virtual keyboard. Now there's an idea - you don't even need a peripherial, just an image of one! It sure would make typing on my iPhone MUCH easier!!

I've added some suggested reading for those who are looking for something in the form of "crushed tree flakes wrapped in cow skin" as books are described in The Future of the Book, edited by Geoffrey Nunberg. Come to think of it, I don't think it's available in a hardbound copy at all, let alone a leather cover. Either way, I've added three books to the reading list.

For something entertaining, don't miss the video of three very hardy souls with their "portable computers" working hard at Starbucks. Here I am drooling over the MacBook Air and these people need a freight hauler to get their equipment around!

Finally, please tell me, am I wrong at wondering what Hallmark was thinking when they launched their new self-adhesive wrapping paper?

Following are a few excerpts from my blog postings during March; enjoy! If you like, you can connect via a RSS feed to get the posts as they happen.

Please visit my site and join the conversation as I continue to observe trends, identify new technology, and comment on developments in the graphic communications industry - printed and digital, mailed and e-mailed. There are always new links to articles, websites, and blogs that I hope you will find interesting.

All the best,

 

Don't get me wrong, I love my iPhone! Even after paying the "early adopter" premium... Even after seeing "remanufactured" units for less than half what I paid... But I hate its fussy little "touch pad" keyboard. Ick! Could a "virtual keyboard" be the way around my problem?

I've tried all kinds of ways to deal with those teeny-tiny keys. I had an HP PDA years ago (pre-iPAQ - Axiom, I think it was called) and bought a fold-out "butterfly" keyboard to use with it. It mostly worked. This just might be the answer; read about it here>>

Since it's possible to print a book pretty much any time and anywhere, or even not print it at all - as in an e-book or audio book - perhaps we should ask ourselves, "to book or not to book? That is the question." (Sorry, Will...)

It doesn't look like we're at the end, yet. I don't think it's the book that's going out of fashion, but reading... Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, as quoted by John Markoff of The New York Times, was actually discussing the Amazon Kindle when he said:

Two titles that explore books, writing, libraries, and the future of communication for you to consider are: The Future of the Book, edited by Geoffrey Nunberg and Print is Dead: Books in Our Digital Age, written by Jeff Gomez. Read more about them in this post>>

For something a bit more practical for business, take a look at Demonstrating to Win! a guide for developing and giving successful software demos. When was the last time you sat through the "Demo from Hell?" Or worse yet, when did you give it? Some useful material for those of us who sell for a living. Find out more here>>

Computers have gotten smaller and lighter over the years; and now we have the Apple MacBook Air - thin enough to slip into an interoffice envelope - and the itty-bitty Eee PC! The Eee is small enough to tuck into a handbag, though the screen made me really squint! Reading glasses, anyone?

For the fun of it though, here is a video of an improv group that took "portable computing" to its extreme. We're all used to seeing coffee drinkers slouched over their laptops in Starbucks, but not many of us have seen a full desktop computer on the table next to us! Enjoy the video here>>

Hallmark, the "when you care, send the very best" folks, have come up with a new twist on wrapping paper! Now it's self-adhesive. Yup, no need for tape, string, or ribbons; just peel off a sheet and wrap it around anything.

The last time you tried to wrap a bicycle? Or was it the first and only time? With this kind of paper you just overlap the sheets and they will stick to each other and the seat, handlebars, or tires to create a (more or less) neat package.

That's the good news. Now for the bad news; read on>>