With so many smart phones out there connecting to the Web, it’s of little surprise that people are using them for everything under the sun. Measuring what it calls “just-in-time information,” a recent Pew Internet poll showed that that 70% of cell phone owners and 86% of smart phone owners – amounting to 62% of the U.S. adult population – have used their devices to perform a variety of information retrieval activities. Usage during the 30 days prior to the survey was as follows:

• 41% of cell phone owners used their phones to coordinate a meeting or get-together
• 35% used their phone to solve an unexpected problem they or a friend encountered
• 30% used it to determine whether or not to visit a business, like a restaurant
• 27% used their device to settle an argument
• 23% of owners checked the score of a sports event
• 20% found up-to-the-minute traffic or public transit information

People are using their phones to discover all sorts of information. A strong, well-defined mobile strategy is essential for every business that has even a small presence online or in technology. As mobile connectivity continues its inescapable expansion, the sooner an enterprise establishes itself in the space, the better off they will be. Companies who have yet to embrace a mobile presence however, take heart. Even one of the savviest companies out there with a massively anticipated IPO coming up, Facebook, doesn’t know what to make of mobile.

In the news:

• America’s New Mobile Majority: a Look at Smartphone Owners in the U.S.
• Just-in-time Information through Mobile Connections
• Facebook admits it doesn’t know how mobile works

Scientists at the University of Southern California have created a new type of solar cell made from nanocrystals so small that they can be made into an ink and painted or printed onto clear surfaces like plastic. Once coated, the plastic can be bent and shaped to fit almost anywhere. These liquid nanocrystals are even less expensive to produce than traditional silicon wafer solar cells.

Another interesting finding out of MIT involves a new nanotextured glass made with an array of conical features on its surface. This new glass more easily absorbs sunlight compared to conventional glass (which can reflect nearly 50% of the light that hits it). This ultimately raises the possibility of making solar panels much more effective, especially at lower light angles during the early morning and late afternoon.  Plus, this nanotextured surface causes water droplets to bounce right off, reducing fogging and keeping the surface cleaner, longer.

How about harnessing the power of the sun to keep ubiquitous consumer electronics charged up longer? Logitech recently launched its Solar Keyboard Folio that serves as a protective case and will recharge the device’s Bluetooth keyboard while you work. They claim it can last up to two years when fully charged with just two hours of usage a day.

It is only a matter of time before such solar friendly materials and devices are increasingly integrated with our everyday lives. With the exception of the solar rechargeable iPad case, the commercialization of some of these advances is still years away. Considering the many uses for improved glass structure and paintable solar cells, in the future virtually any surface will help turn sunlight into energy.

In the news:

• Scientists at USC develop solar cells that can be painted onto plastic surfaces
• Through a glass, clearly MIT researchers find a way to make glass that’s anti-fogging, self-cleaning and free of glare.
• Logitech launches the Solar Keyboard Folio, protecting your iPad and charging whilst you work

In addition, many financial institutions like Morgan Stanley and JCM Capital of Ontario, Canada have been investing funds to back many solar initiatives and have included solar energy in their funding plans.

• Morgan Stanley is backing a $300 million fund to finance installation of residential photovoltaic systems. In a recent announcement, Clean Power Finance, a San Francisco startup that offers software tools and financing to solar installers, along with MS Solar Solutions Corp, Zions Bancorporation and solar installer Main Street will create MySolar, a new lease program that will finance up to $300 million of rooftop solar arrays for homeowners in California and Arizona.
• JCM Capital  launched a $10 million solar development capital fund for investment in early-stage photovoltaic projects installed on large commercial and industrial buildings across Ontario, leveraging the Province’s Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program. The fund’s goal is to target projects for submission during the upcoming Ontario Power Authority’s application window, assisting with early-stage development costs. The fund will also invest in Ontario-based FIT contracted projects that have not yet reached commercial operation.

The environmental benefits of renewable energies like solar power are many, but as the industry forges ahead, continued funding also helps the economy through job creation. As adoption continues at the commercial and residential levels and more funds become available, newer innovations and more efficient technologies are sure to help with attainable success.

In the news:

• New Solar Panels Blossomed Despite a Tough Year for the Industry
• Morgan Stanley Backs $300 Million Fund To Install Residential Solar
• JCM Capital Launches $10,000,000 Solar Development Capital Fund for FIT Projects in Ontario, Canada

Over the last few years, Kaiser Permanente installed solar panels to increase energy efficiency, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in annual emissions. With a combination of energy-efficient upgrades and new building practices, Kaiser estimates it saves close to $10 million per year. Many other hospitals are following suit by implementing similar programs to help reduce their impact on the environment, such as installing improved waste disposal systems, recycling materials and even simple measures like posting placards to remind employees to turn off lights in unused rooms.

There are a number of coalitions committed to encouraging hospitals to make their facilities a healthier place for both patients and the planet. Hundreds of hospitals are participating in the current “green health” movement with a goal to increase that number to 2,000 hospitals over the next three years. Some of the strategies advocated by the Healthier Hospitals Initiative are:

• Engaging hospital and healthcare leadership on environmental health and sustainability
• Serving healthier foods and beverages
• Reducing energy use
• Reducing waste and increasing recycling
• Using safer chemicals
• Purchasing environmentally preferable products

How does all this benefit patients? Implementing many of these solutions lower a hospital’s costs, ideally enabling the provision of better care. Additionally, the cost savings help support additional staff members and continued investments in other hospital programs. Fewer chemicals, happier employees and a more efficiently run hospital collectively contribute to providing patients better care at a lower cost.

In the news:

• Kaiser Permanente going green with solar installations
• Hospitals Show Support for Earth Day With New Healthier Hospitals Initiative Commitments
• 500-Plus Hospitals Join Forces to Green the Healthcare Industry
• Study Finds Heath Care Sustainability Has Tangible Financial and Job Growth Benefits

Ironically, the concept of drawing something has moved off of our mobile devices and back onto physical surfaces.  Some companies are finding that workers are so engrossed with their phones that they are trying out doodling during meetings to engage employees and facilitate communication.

Companies as diverse as software maker Citrix Systems, vacation-rental company HomeAway, online retailer Zappos, insurer and care provider Spectrum Health System, Turner Broadcasting System and even Microsoft are encouraging doodling. Many conference rooms and hallways are covered in doodles from floor to ceiling as employees sketch out their complicated ideas to better communicate them. Facebook has almost every surface of its offices available for doodling, including writable glass tables and dry erase paint on the walls.

Though sketching schematics or diagrams during meetings isn’t necessarily new in the business world, companies are now starting to make meetings more interactive by asking employees to get up and draw what they are discussing. In some cases, companies are even hiring sketch artists called “graphic recorders” to help host brainstorming sessions, keeping attendees engaged and the creative ideas flowing.

To stay ahead of the competition and increase productivity, companies will try many different tactics. Effective plans and timelines are key to these new strategic directions, even if they are just doodling around.

In the news:

• ‘Draw Something’ Update Adds Chat, Photo Capturing, Sharing
• Doodling for Dollars