Enabling the iPad as a tool for the legal profession
iPad Insight, a leading blog covering all things iPad, recently commented on the rise of the iPad as a tool for legal profession. It is a good read, but I found that the focus was on applications specifically developed for the legal profession. While attorneys leveraging the iPad platform as a means to practice better law and better manage the practice is becoming more common and many applications already in common use by law firms offer iPad apps as a portal to office-based case files and administrative systems, they often require changes in information technology policies or infrastructure to work properly — changes that many law firms are not yet prepared to make.
However, the greatest appeal of the iPad for many of the attorneys I have spoken with is the opportunity to substitute the iPad as a unified communications device, a convenient means for light document editing and a means to organize, search and access voluminous documents without the need to cart around boxes and boxes of files. With a little creativity, attorneys have found ways to do this effectively with non industry-specific applications and without the need for their firms to support the platform officially.
Unfortunately for many attorneys, the cost of the iPad and any associated accessories and data plans will be their own to bear as few firms seem ready to reimburse for these expenses. However, with the iPad appealing as a legal tool to even older, less technology-enthusiastic partners, reimbursement policies for iPads seem likely to change as time goes on.
A potential driver for more formal adoption and support of the platform by firms relates to compliance and security matters. Where the firm does not support use of the iPad by its attorneys, it often becomes necessary for the attorneys to forward e-mails and post documents via means that may not protect firm, client and matter data sufficiently. From a security perspective, this increases the potential for loss or misappropriation of that sensitive data. From a compliance perspective, this complicates being responsive to eDiscovery requests and could put the reputation and the assets of the firm at risk.
The bottom line? iPads likely are too appealing and a powerful a platform for the legal profession for firms *not* to move towards adopting and supporting them. However, individual attorneys and firms alike should approach doing so as a strategic initiative rather than simply adding an incremental technology.
Study Shows iPads in Kindergarten Class Improve Literacy – What it Could Mean for Pilot 1:1 Programs
According to a new article on iPadInsight, the iPad is proving to boost literacy rates in Kindergarten classes amongst participants in a recent pilot by the Auburn School Department. The article shares some exciting results as well as some excellent insights regarding potential utilization of iPads as a transformational platform in early childhood education.
Many schools dip their proverbial toes in the waters of 1:1 by piloting lower-cost platforms such as iPads or Netbooks for older students. These schools often then commit to a more comprehensive and more expensive program based on Macbook or Windows notebook computers. The news that iPads can have such a significant impact on early literacy rates raises an interesting planning consideration for schools that have done so or are planning to do so.
Given the positive results indicated by the Auburn School Department study, schools may want to look at initial iPad investments as having a dual purpose – first providing a pilot platform for a broader 1:1 program, and once retired in favor of more advanced platforms, a second life as a valuable teaching tool for kindergarten classes. In this way, schools can extend the useful life of their initial iPad investment as well as provide an educational advantage to their youngest students.
The iPadInsight article with links to the Auburn School Department’s report may be found here.
Why Every Medical Practice Needs a Chief Technology Officer
As healthcare organizations enter 2012 with expectations of reduced reimbursements and ongoing economic challenges, many physicians and administrators are questioning the role and costs of technology and those who manage it within their practices. Pathfinder Advisors’ Matt Podowitz explores how a talented Chief Technology Officer can leverage both existing and new technology both to reduce costs and create value across the entire medical practice. To read the full article, click here or visit www.medicalofficetoday.com.
Outback co-founder launches quick-service chicken concept
Outback Steakhouse co-founder Bob Basham is launching a quick-service chicken sandwich and salad chain called PDQ — which stands for “Pretty Darn Quick” — with plans to open eight to 10 restaurants in Tampa Bay, Fla., and Raleigh and Charlotte, N. C.
Basham is partnering with Nick Reader, chief executive of Tampa-based MVP Holdings, to open the first restaurant in Tampa, Fla., on Oct. 31. Basham co-founded the Outback Steakhouse chain with Chris Sullivan.
PDQ will serve chicken sandwiches from $3.85 to $3.95, chicken tenders, chicken sandwich and salad combo deals for $6.95, and shakes, Steve Erickson, PDQ president and a former Outback Steakhouse senior vice president of operations, told Nation’s Restaurant News Thursday.
PDQ combines quick-service and fast-casual qualities. Customers order at a counter and either receive food at their table or are called to pick it up, similar to Panera Bread, Erickson said.
“We’re blending the QSR and fast-casual to make it an 'In N
Mediterranean cuisine gaining favor with diners
Mediterranean cuisine is more prevalent on menus across numerous foodservice segments, as customers become interested in ethnic dishes, more healthful cuisine and vegetarian foods, a report from market research firm Technomic Inc. finds.
“The increase in menu incidence we have tracked shows that these items are not just being added to Mediterranean concepts, but to the menus of national chains within virtually all segments and categories,” said Mary Chapman, director of Chicago-based Technomic.
“We expect this to continue as awareness of the cuisine increases and as the trends feeding the growth continue to develop,” she said.
The report found that:
• Six in 10 consumers surveyed said they would likely order a menu offering that featured Mediterranean ingredients and flavors.
• Mediterranean chain sales at restaurants that feature Greek, Spanish and Middle Eastern foods increased 1.7 percent to $362 million in 2010 from 2009. Twenty leading Mediterranean chains considered in the report finished 2010 with 430 total units, up from 423 in 2009.
• Restaurants are using more Mediterranean food items, such as falafel, hummus, chickpeas and Greek yogurt. Pita sandwiches and Greek entr
Yum! to sell Long John Silver’s, A&W to franchisees
Yum! Brands Inc. has signed definitive agreements to sell Long John Silver’s Inc. and A&W Restaurants Inc. to two separate groups of franchisees, the company said Thursday.
Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
The Louisville, Ky.-based Yum Brands, which also franchises KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, said Long John Silver’s would be sold to LJS Partners, a consortium of franchisees and other investors. A&W Restaurants will be sold to A Great American Brand, which Yum described as a “franchisee leader with substantial interest in A&W restaurants.”
Both sales are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, Yum said.
“As we continue to sharpen our long-term growth focus on international expansion and improving our U.S. brand positions in KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W no longer fit our long-term growth strategy,” Yum Brands chairman and chief executive David Novak said in a statement.
Yum noted that the two sales would not have a material impact on corporate earnings or cash flow.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as Yum’s exclusive financial advisor on the sales.
Yum! Brands, then called Tricon Global Restaurants, bought Long John Silver’s and A&W from Yorkshire Global restaurants for $320 million in cash in March of 2002.
In January of this year it announced plans to sell those brands to focus on its larger concepts. It said at the time that the two brands together accounted for 1,630 units.
In announcing its second quarter results in July, which included a 28 percent decline in domestic operating profit, Yum! stressed the importance of international expansion as its growth vehicle, particularly with Pizza Hut and KFC, as it continues to work on turning around Taco Bell.
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Bruegger’s offers new sandwich, reprises value menu
Bruegger’s has added a turkey sandwich to its ciabatta panini line for the fall and is bringing back its value menu.
The Harvest Turkey Ciabatta Panini is made with roasted turkey, Cheddar cheese, sliced green apples, pickled red onions and cranberry mayonnaise. It is paired with butternut squash soup for $6.99 until January 2012.
Burlington, Vt.-based Bruegger’s also is bringing back its “4 under $4” menu, which includes Western Egg; Egg and Cheddar; Egg, Cheddar and Bacon; and Egg White and Sundried Tomato sandwiches, each for less than $4. The sandwiches, whose prices may vary among locations, are available all day.
In addition, Bruegger’s is promoting its latest “Baker’s Choice” pairing. Selected by the chain’s executive chef, Philip Smith, the special is a baked apple bagel with honey walnut cream cheese and pumpkin spice coffee, available through Nov. 22. It replaces the honey grain bagel with plain yogurt cream cheese spread and Perfect Peach iced coffee that was offered during the summer.
Bruegger’s began testing its ciabatta panini line this summer as a limited-time offer. It also recently gave them away during a social media-based test in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Bruegger’s has 298 units.
Contact Bret Thorn at bret.thorn@penton.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary
California repeals alcohol infusion ban
California Gov. Jerry Brown this week gave bars and restaurants in his state something to toast when he signed a law making it legal to infuse wine and spirits with fruits, herbs and spices.
Brown said Wednesday he had signed Senate Bill 32, introduced by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. The Golden Gate Restaurant Association and California Restaurant Association, among numerous business trade groups and small businesses, supported the bill, Leno’s office said.
“I am pleased that the Governor has recognized the need to update an unnecessary regulation that has prevented businesses across California from making infused beverages available to their customers,” Leno said Wednesday in a statement. “This Prohibition-era statute did nothing more than punish California restaurants and small businesses that are using culinary innovations to survive in this difficult economy.”
Both chambers of the California Legislature unanimously approved the bill, which revised the state’s Business and Professions Code, originally intended to protect consumers from dangerous concoctions, such as moonshine.
The bill contained an urgency clause and became law immediately after Brown signed it.
“We are certainly cheering the repeal here at Bottle Cap,” said Pete Gowdy, bar manager of the 10-week-old, 103-seat restaurant and lounge in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. “We are barrel-aging a Vieux Carr