Why “archive” really means “business records”

A while back, SOM’s Doris Pulsifer published an article at the “Practicing Architecture” area of aia.org that she called “Watch Your Language: Five Information Management Terms I’d Like to Replace.” The ideas she presents are so good we want to revisit them here. Check out the first term Doris would replace:

Term No. 1: “archive” is really “business records”

Paper-based definition: “To archive” information is to sequester it, out of the way, in storage. Paper files were typically shipped in boxes to an off-site location. Retrieval was manual and very time-consuming, hence seldom done.

Digital 1.0 definition: Stored files are recorded on back-up tapes or burned onto digital media, and filed in a cabinet or off-site location. Same process as before, but different (magnetic) media.

Digital 2.0 definition: Business records are kept spinning on storage disks, indexed, searchable and instantly accessible.

Makes sense, right?

Visit the American Institute of Architects website to read all of “Watch Your Language: Five Information Management Terms I’d Like to Replace.”

If you prefer to digest these ideas in a series of bites, we’ll post the other four terms ripe for redefining over the coming days.

My Grand Experiment (Part 1)

Although I am no Apple fanboy, I did preorder the original iPad, and I have to say I LOVE my iPad. However, beyond media consumption, my iPad has not "broken through" to become an essential part of my day-to-day workflow - until now. This breakthrough came as a result of a thought experiment that I took on during a recent vacation (itself the subject of another upcoming blog post).

The thought experiment was to seek out a few, very specific, high value use cases that the unique features of the iPad might be able to address in my day-to-day work life and to see if I can find my killer app for the iPad among those use cases. I am happy to say that I have found several such use cases, which I will describe in this ongoing series of posts under the title, "My Grand Experiment".

This thought experiment began with the challenge posed by a two-week vacation and "the look" that my wife gave me as I informed her that I was going to carry my laptop on our planned cruise. That look quickly inspired me to consider leaving my laptop at my office and to carry something more portable and less obtrusive. She is so accustomed to seeing me reading on my iPad, I figured why not carry that and see if it can serve my day-to-day requirements?

My conclusion, so far, is that it can, to a remarkable degree, including solving some nagging productivity issues that I have never found a reasonable way to solve with my laptop or my smartphone. This series of posts will share what I have learned so far, in the way of iPad apps, accessories, and workflow tips and techniques that are rapidly transforming my personal workflow and productivity.

Next Stop Hebron, Kentucky – Home of the United States Playing Card Company!

Susan McDowell, Newforma Director of Construction Solutions will attend the Lean Construction Institute Target Value Design event, August 24 in Hebron, Kentucky at the Doubletree Hotel. In fact, Newforma is sponsoring the cocktail reception on August 23 from 6-8 pm, so look Susan up if you plan to attend, she’s buying! There’s also an impressive line-up of presentations including Newforma customer Todd Henderson of Boulder Architects, who will present Boulder’s use of Target Value Design on several projects as well as in other design aspects. Check out a recent article highlighting how Boulder Architects practices lean construction using Microsoft Excel and Newforma Project Center.

Newforma will be attending several upcoming LCI events. We’ll keep you posted on our whereabouts.

Webinars on Wednesday - Introduction to Newforma Project Analyzer

This coming Wednesday, our live webinar will be featuring a hot new product - Newforma Project Analyzer!

Newforma Project Analyzer is our answer to one of the largest challenges faced by design firms across the globe – visibility for Executives and Project Managers into resource utilization and profitability for every project within their firm. Not only can Newforma Project Analyzer provide real time visibility into a projects status but also the ability to calculate extremely important “what if” scenarios for improved decision making.

This is going to be a great webinar and we hope that you can join us!

When: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM EDT

Where: Online, simply click here to sign up!

Webinar Topics to be Covered:

PROJECT | FIRM REPORTING: Dynamic, real-time, interactive data that's highly visual

SCHEDULING: Powerful yet simple scheduling in a graphical format

BUDGETING: Integrated solution allowing for "what-if" financial scenarios

STAFFING: Quickly identify project team members & maximize proper mix

TRACKING: Monitor performance from multiple perspectives

See for yourself why this is the hottest new product in the market! Sign up today!