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!

Todd cuts 70 minutes from triathlon personal best!

At last weekend's 2011 Ford Ironman Lake Placid competition, Newforma Co-founder and Director of Sales Todd Kozikowski cut one hour, 10 minutes and 27 seconds from his 2010 time at the same venue.

After swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles, Todd is resting and tending to Newforma duties.

“The energy from the crowd was unbelievable,” Todd said. “Thousands of people come out to cheer people on. But now it feels great just to relax with my family.”

In addition to achieving a personal best time in the triathlon, Todd raised more than US $2,500 for David’s House, a residential facility for families of pediatric patients at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.

To see pictures of Todd during the race, including a video of his crossing of the finish line, visit this page.

Quick update: Todd K's Ironman

At a time of day when most of us are putting our feet up or thinking about starting the coals on the grill, Newforma Co-founder Todd Kozikowski is deep into the marathon portion of his triathlon competition at Lake Placid, New York.

You can follow Todd’s progress by entering his name in the “Athlete Tracking” field here. You'll see Todd competed the 2.4-mile swim in one hour and 15 minutes, and the 112-mile bike ride in six hours and seven minutes.

For background, see this blog post, or visit Todd's dedication page at the website of David’s House.

We’ll post pictures (or links to pictures) when the race is done. For now, go Todd!

Man of iron, heart of gold

You may not be aware that Newforma Co-founder and Director of Sales Todd Kozikowski is a triathlete, more commonly (and more descriptively) known as an “Ironman.” That means Todd competes in a race that demands him to swim 2.4 miles, bicycle for 112 miles and run for 26.2 miles.

That’s right. Todd covers 140.6 miles in a day. For fun. He's doing it again this Sunday, July 24.

Todd's motivation this year is not all about fun and games, though. He has dedicated this year’s event to a cause that touched the Kozikowski’s lives recently, as Todd describes here:

Nearly 14 months ago, Laura and I welcomed our baby daughter, Elena, into the world. Elena was born with a few minor complications and spent a brief period of time in the neonatal intensive care unit at Elliot Hospital in New Hampshire. During that time, I felt the world had stopped and the only thing I wanted was for our baby to be healthy. We were fortunate because Elena fully recovered and left the NICU after only a few days. But, I couldn’t stop thinking about the parents and children who spend their days, weeks, months, and even longer in this environment.

Todd discovered a facility that provides housing for families visiting children at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. It's called David's House. In this short reflection, Todd tells why participating in an Ironman competition is easier than enduring what many David's House residents undergo.

This year, Todd invites us to join him — not on the Lake Placid Ironman course this weekend (thank goodness), but in his desire to support David’s House.

Please make a donation here, writing “Todd K” in the “Name of Person to be Acknowledged” field.

And please revisit the Newforma Blog in the coming days as we report more about Todd’s 2011 Ironman competition!