It’s hard to visualize life without the computer. Today we carry small computers – that’s what smartphones are, after all – in our pockets. However, there was a time when the greater part of consumers did not have a single computer within their homes.

How did computers turn into such an essential appliance in such a short amount of time? That’s the query that science historian and writer George Dyson asks, and answers, in his new book, Turing’s Cathedral, a sort of personal history of the computer.

Dyson has a unique vantage point that makes him an ideal author for this book. He’s the son of a top scientist, Freeman Dyson and, due to this, has spent a lot of his years at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies. The Institute was home to the globe’s most accomplished scientific minds – included Einstein’s – while they were in the midst of building and operating the very first digital computers under the guidance of scientist Josh von Neumann.

After you’ve read Turing’s Cathedral, you’ll discover just how much chance went into creating the machine that led to the computers we currently take for granted. The personalities at the Princeton Institute didn’t often mesh well, but somehow they were able to produce the world’s first digital computer. This machine was built and run from an otherwise nondescript building in New Jersey.

Genius or not, people are still people, and when working tightly on a single project there are certain to be rivalries and disagreements that occur. Turing’s Cathedral lays these matters open, showing the humanity of the scientist that created the first computer.It was not only the personal disputes that needed to be set aside to make this project successful; there were also ethical issues involved. The work that went into the development of the computer walked hand in hand with the U.S. nuclear weapons project.

You might think that history books are dry reads and a history of computers has to be filled with technical jargon. Turing’s Cathedral doesn’t fit that image at all. Anyone who uses a computer will find this book intriguing. Which is an awful lot of people today.

Global warming? Poverty? Illiteracy? Debt crises? These are all huge global problems. And they have drawn the interest of the technology pros at Google. Google recently announced its new “Solve for X” initiative, a project wherein Google’s greatest minds take on the world’s most vexing problems. The aim is for “Solve for X” minds to suggest radical ideas for eradicating some of the biggest problems facing the Earth.

Tackling the biggest global issues

It will not be simple nevertheless the individuals behind the project are excited and eager. They think that our technologies are untapped resources and they compare the forward thinking happening in the “Solve for X” project to the groundbreaking thinking that was required to get humans on the moon. Google talks about it this way: “This combination of things—a huge problem to solve, a radical solution for solving it and the breakthrough technology to make it happen—is the essence of a moonshot.”

Tackling water scarcity

An article regarding the “Solve for X” project appeared on Mashable.com a few weeks ago. Mashable cited the account of an individual who participated in a “Solve for X” retreat. He said the minds involved discussed the issue of global water scarcity. What kinds of solutions do you think this brain trust came up with? How about forward osmosis with recycled ammonium salts. While we might not be clear about what that means, the individuals at “Solve for X” do.

The need for technology brain trusts

Whether “Solve for X” does produce any real solutions for the globe’s biggest problems, the brain trust idea is obviously one with value. Technology has the facility to change the world for good. Yes, new tech entertains us. It can make it easier for us to enjoy our music, watch movies, and read our favorite magazines. But technology can do so much more. Maybe brain trusts like “Solve for X” will help us truly tap the potential of technology.

Do you manage a workplace in which people feel free to share new ideas? Do your employees come to you with new plans or solutions about ways to run company meetings more effectively? Have your employees ever introduced ideas for a new marketing plan or recommended topics for the company’s blog?

If not, then you might be running a workplace in which employee creativity is being squelched. These days a lack of creativity in your company can condemn your firm to second-tier status. It might even lead your company out of business.

Despite the industry, creativity is necessary to produce new ideas and rethink processes. Getting your employees to think creatively can mean that you have a whole team of people trying to develop your business. Not always, but often employees will not apply their creative minds to your company unless you inspire them to do so.

The best way to promote creativity is to actually encourage your employees to come up with new ideas and then to listen to these ideas when employees bring them to you. Send out an email blast asking employees for ideas to enhance your company’s products or services. Post a notice on the bulletin board asking for suggestions on how to enhance the company blog or increase its customer-approval ratings. Next, when employees answer these calls, meet with them—even if it’s during a quick phone call—to examine their thoughts. You don’t have to apply all employee ideas, obviously, but to show respect, you should pay attention to them all.

If you assume that your employees don’t have good ideas, then you may be missing out. In addition, not listening to them, or overlooking ideas will encourage your employees to do the bare minimum. You will end up with a bunch of people working for the weekend.

One more great way to promote creativity is to reward strong ideas. This could be monetary or simply pointing out their creativity to the rest of the company.

Many people want a job that allows them to be creative. It stimulates their minds and prevents boring redundancy. Many employees also have ideas on how to improve their place of business; they just haven’t voiced them to you. So encourage them to let you know what they think. It doesn’t mean that the way you have been doing things is bad; it just means that they may have ideas that you many not have thought of. Regardless, you and your business will reap the benefits of their creativity and your employees will be happier for it.

Tired of social media? Ignoring it all together? Well, jump on the bandwagon, because it’s not going away! In fact a brand new site recently popped up that is becoming popular: Pinterest. Pinterest is a bit different than sites like Facebook and Twitter, because it focuses purely on the interests of the users. This encourages creativity by allowing you to share your interests with other people rather than just posting updates about your day-to-day life.

But what is it all about? The name of the site is a hint. Pinterest is a combination of the words “pin” and “interest”. Once you’ve got a Pinterest account you literally create “pinboards” and “pin” images of stuff you like or have an interest in, resulting in a collage of your tastes.

Creating Pinterest Categories

For example, you could make the category convertibles. You can then paste any images you can find online of the new Volkswagen Beetle convertible, along with a link to the page where you found them. You could also attach any photos of convertibles that you took yourself as well as add notes to these images. You can then share these pinboards with other Pinterest users.

The Social Part of Pinterest

Just like Facebook and Twitter, you can elect to follow coworkers and friends. You do not have to follow all of a friend’s collections; for example, you can elect to follow only their collection of art, while choosing not to follow the restaurants they like in their area.

Joining Pinterest

The one challenge with Pinterest is that you have to get invited to acquire an account. You can go to pinterest.com and ask for an invitation but it might be a while before you receive one. The more surefire method to receive an invitation is to have a friend invite you that already posseses an account.

Putting your best foot forward in life makes a difference, particularly in the workplace. Hooking a job is more difficult now then ever, so it’s more important than ever before to dress for success.

Does that surprise you? Despite our increasingly casual world, what you wear in the office can affect your career prospects and overall career!

So, follow this straightforward rule for a job interview: err on the side of overdressed. Even if the company you happen to be interviewing for has a relaxed work environment, when you show up in jeans and a sweatshirt you’ll make a bad first impression. Dressing up means that you respect the interviewer and take the position you are interviewing for seriously.

This pertains to the office as well. Even a casual environment wants their employees looking sharp. So avoid grabbing a random t-shirt along with the jeans you have been wearing all week off the floor. Consider what you will be wearing and try to look professional. Showing that you choose to put effort into your appearance will set you apart in your workplace, and that can help if the boss is looking to promote someone within your department!

It goes without saying that looking great isn’t a replacement for being a good worker. Actions will always speak louder than appearance. However, standing out because you are a wonderful employee AND a smart dresser isn’t a bad thing!

You’re on Twitter, and you are tired of reading about what your brother-in-law ate for breakfast. You are interested in following the tweets of folks that actually have something interesting to talk about.

You’re in luck: Great thinkers, legislators, celebrities, sports stars, scientists, and entrepreneurs all have their own Twitter feeds, and you can catch a glimpse into their daily lives just by following them.

Here are 7 interesting people who will get you started if you are not sure whom to follow:

1. Conan O’Brien: This talk-show host is known as a master of the absurd. His posts are always witty and clever. If you’re looking to follow somebody who will give you a mid-day chuckle, follow @ConanOBrien. Also, he doesn’t promote his show through his tweets.
2. Marissa Mayer: You may not have heard of Marissa Mayer, but she is the very first female engineer at Google. So if you would like to get a glimpse into the life and thoughts of a technology expert, follow @Marissamayer.
3. Mike Massimino: If you are curious about what life at NASA is like, follow this astronaut’s Twitter feed: @Astro_Mike
4. Rainn Wilson: You probably know Rainn better from the character of Dwight Schrute for the popular Television show The Office. What you probably don’t know is that his Twitter feed is as entertaining as the show. Follow him @Rainnwilson.
5. Ryan Penagos: If you like comics, you should know Ryan Penagos. He’s the editorial director of Marvel Comics. He’s also a busy Tweeter at @Agent_M. Penagos and recently Tweeted about a new Spider-Man video game and gave his thoughts on his favorite comics. He likes the work of writer Brian Michael Bendis.
6. Barack Obama: You may or may not have voted for him but he is the Commander and Chief. Find out what’s on his mind on a daily bases @BarackObama.
7. Bill Gates: Bill Gates has produced an undeniable impact on the tech world. Learn what’s transpiring in his life and about the charitable causes he and his wife support @BillGates.

Microsoft is everywhere; their products are used around the world. And, Bill Gates, Microsoft’s chief, is among the most widely known names in the field of technology. That being said, Microsoft is missing one thing, it has never had a “cool” image. But the launch of Windows Phone, Microsoft’s new smartphone software, may well alter our opinion.

Sure Microsoft’s products are everywhere but, in the eyes of the consumer, they’ve always fallen just short of ground breaking. Microsoft has had a handful of failed products in the past, for example, the Zune. Remember this little mp3 player? What about the Kin phone? These products among others have contributed to Microsoft’s less then cool reputation.

That being said, Microsoft’s Windows Phone software has caught some attention. The Windows Phone has been well received by both critics and consumers.

The praise that Windows Phone receives is chiefly dues to its bold look and the animated home screen tiles, as opposed to the more static home screen of the iPhone. This OS has people fired up as well because it gives users quick access to their social networks. The social media icons on the home screen come to life when a friend posts an update or image, this means you don’t need to click the Facebook icon to get a peek at your activity.

It is interesting that even with all of these functions, Windows Phone has not been a big seller. This may be, in part, a result of the phones which use Windows Phone as an operating system, some people think they are boring. Another contributing factor is that most wireless providers push iPhone and Android devices.

The Windows Phone could, however, represent a change for Microsoft. Perhaps this is just the start of a line of chic, hip products from them.

We’ve already had a taste of mouse-free computing. Touchscreens on our smartphones and tablets allow us to search the Internet, compose e-mail messages, send texts, and stream movies, all without using a mouse. So what do you think this will lead us to in the future? How will we interact with our computers in the coming decades? Once we ditch the mouse, what comes next?

Gesture sensing

Consumers who own Wii or PlayStation video game systems have already got an idea of this. Both of these game systems offer users the opportunity to play games and explore the internet through wireless remotes that synch with body movements. Wii players can smack a tennis ball by swinging their hands when they hold a wireless remote. They are able to jog in place, climb a virtual mountain, or shoot menacing robots in the same way. This is called gesture sensing. The tech isn’t quite ready for standard computing yet. However, it isn’t difficult to imagine a future where gesture sensing becomes one of the primary modes of interacting with our computers.

Multi-touch technology

Multi-touch technology is the one other interactive innovation. This is what is being applied whenever you tap your smartphone screen to gain access to programs, or swipe your finger across the surface of your tablet to change screens. In the past couple of years we have seen a great deal of growth in this technology. Do you think this will end up being the primary way we navigate around our computers?

Voice recognition

Another possibility for controlling computers is vocal recognition. This technology already exists and is quickly gaining in popularity as developers figure out the kinks. One of the most common vendors is Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Vocal recognition technology has a ways to go before it’s perfect, but technologies improve so rapidly now a days that I don’t see it being very long before voice-command functionality becomes standard in every devices.

While there are many ways computing can be improved through hands free navigation technologies. It’s likely we will not see the well known mouse disappear for some time.

Mouse-free computing isn’t unknown to us. We navigate on our smartphones, tablets, and e-reader using touchscreen technology. And I’m sure this is just the beginning of interacting with computers without a mouse. So, will we ever ditch the mouse completely for more hands free technologies?

Gesture sensing

Consumers who play video games have used this for some time. Both the Wii and the PlayStation employ gesture-sensing technology. This technology allows users to hold a wireless remote and use their body movements to swing a racket, jog in place, or shoot menacing robots on screen. While this technology has not been perfected it’s not difficult to envision how gesture sensing could be applied to computing.

Multi-touch technology

Multi-touch technology is the one other interactive innovation. This is what is being applied when you tap your smartphone screen to access programs, or swipe your finger across the surface of your tablet to switch screens. In the past few years we have seen lots of growth in this technology. Do you think this will end up being the primary way we navigate around our computers?

Voice recognition

Another possible technological advancement that could replace the mouse involves voice recognition. Rather than clicking on a mouse button to open up a program, users can simply tell their computers to open a specific word file or close iTunes. Some of this already exists, most notable is Dragon NaturallySpeaking, which allows users to dictate reports and stories to their word-processing programs. Again, the tech still needs refinement, but a future where we talk to our computers isn’t really that far-fetched.

No matter what happens, though, the odds are that we’ll still rely, at least somewhat, on the humble mouse. In any case, it has served us well for many years.