Marketing Review — Fall 2008 - (Page 40)

packaged with a set of silicon ear inserts to ensure precise, comfortable fit. You can adjust them to block out distracting sounds, or to knock down noise when you need to stay aware of your surroundings. According to product manager Tom Gospel, Klipsch designed these superlightweight earphones based on ear canal studies involving several dozen human volunteers conducted at the Indiana University School of Speech and Hearing. www.klipsch.com RECYCLING/REUSE OF RETIRED ELECTRONICS What to do with your retired and electronics: When you update and upgrade your personal electronics arsenal, what do you do with those decommissioned devices? Tossing them in the trash is not only wasteful, but ewaste takes a toll on the environment. Here are several resources for donating and recycling electronics and other items: RECYCLES.ORG Electronics recycling and reuse: www.recycles.org/byte/index.htm COLLECTIVEGOOD Environmentally and socially responsible recycling for mobile phones, pagers and PDAs: www.collectivegood.com SHARE THE TECHNOLOGY Locates organizations that process equipment for reuse instead of recycling sharetechnology.org COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS Locates schools seeking tech goods: www.pcsforschools.org CRISTINA FOUNDATION Supports training of the disabled, homeless and underserved youths through donated technology: www.cristina.org/ SMOKE OUT: Vamoose smell neutralizer Sometimes you need to clear a room before a presentation. Literally. Bad smells are distracting, whether you’re holding a meeting or trying to decompress after one. A few sprays of Vamoose rids odors from rooms, equipment, and rental cars. Marketing manager Michael Romanies in Austin explains how: “It permanently changed the molecular structure of the tar and nicotine produced by the cigarettes, cigars and other smoke.” The formulation is also safe for spraying in vents, on carpets and on electronics, he says. “It’s a way to convert a ‘smoking room’ to a ‘nonsmoking room.’” www.VamooseProducts.com MYBONEYARD.COM Simple, safe, environmentally responsible way to recycle; provides free shipping and ensures personal data is cleared: www.myboneyard.com COMMUNITY-BASED ONLINE GIVE/TAKE message boards: www.freecycle.org, www.craigslist.org COMING SOON TO ANY DESKTOP NEAR YOU. As we go to press, here’s a sneak preview of two technologies being perfected to simplify work life while saving the earth’s resources CUTTING THE CORD: eCoupled wireless energy Wireless energy may soon liberate laptops, cellphones and other gadgetry from power cords. At the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, a venture called eCoupled wirelessly powered laptops. Its technology assesses a device’s power needs and battery lifecycles to provide the precise amount of power. When fully charged, the technology shuts off—unlike plug-in adapters (AKA wall warts). Once eCoupled-enabled, devices won’t require chargers, cords, or connectors—saving trouble, space, and energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 75 percent of all electricity used to power electronics is consumed by products that are switched off. So this next-generation technology holds a key to a greener future. More information: www.ecoupled.com LUGGAGE LOCATOR: Zoombak and PocketFinder GPS Trackers Developed to track children, pets, and cars, these handy devices can also be used to keep tabs on luggage, briefcase, keys, cellphone, and other gear. Location Based Technologies, Inc. recently debuted its PocketFinder Personal Locator. Says CEO David Morse, the two-ounce puck can last a week on a single charge. Zoombak rep Jerry Tolk uses his to track his baggage. Non-GPS alternatives include the new Loc8tor Plus. www.zoombak.com; www.pocketfinder.com, www.loc8tor.com 40 PORTABLE SOLAR POWER: NRG Dock This compact solar-powered charging station for the office, home, or remote location uses a photovoltaic cell to recharge all of your personal electronic devices in one place, day or night, and off the energy grid. A regulator ensures the proper voltage for powering as well as charging personal communication devices, including laptops. In the event of a blackout, NRG Dock provides emergency power to cellphones. More information: www.nrgdock.com n HSMAI MARKETING REVIEW • FALL 2008 http://www.recycles.org/byte/index.htm http://www.klipsch.com http://www.collectivegood.com http://www.sharetechnology.org http://www.pcsforschools.org http://www.cristina.org/ http://www.MYBONEYARD.COM http://www.myboneyard.com http://www.freecycle.org http://www.craigslist.org http://www.VamooseProducts.com http://www.ecoupled.com http://www.nrgdock.com http://www.zoombak.com http://www.pocketfinder.com http://www.loc8tor.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marketing Review — Fall 2008

Marketing Review – Fall 2008 Contents The Online Marketer Success Stories Forecasting Trends Ian Schrager: The Revolutionary Man Leaving No Stone Unturned: The Quest for Ancillary Revenue Gaga Gadgets for Execs on the Go: Functional New Portable Technology to Make Life and Work on the Road More Hospitable Effectively Weathering the Ups and Downs of the Economic Cycle Experiments in Podcasting Higher Transportation Costs and a Slowing Economy Shift Hotel Room Demand

Marketing Review — Fall 2008

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