Technology Overview

The technology is a unique knowledge management system that has been developed to provide a system that easily captures and shares any digital content.  While we feel the most powerful content is video, any digital information can be used and distributed.

We call the technology vBooks.  A vBook is a database that looks and feels like a book. The vBook interface provides a table of contents, index and search bar to easily navigate to the desired content. This vBook sits in a digital library that resembles a library bookshelf.  The library provides functionality to organize, add and remove vBooks as well as the ability to search and cross reference the knowledge across multiple vBooks.

To access the vBooks a user uses a web browser to login to their unique digital library. The vBooks that reside in this library are only those that the user has been provided (or the user has purchased). Many existing titles currently exist including Microsoft Office Training, AutoCAD, Adobe, Google, and many others are being developed every day. 

The digital library can also be accessed using a smart phone or other mobile device. We have developed an application for android devices and iPhones and the system will work on any other mobile device with web browsing capability.

Not only can data in vBooks be retrieved but also content can be captured using the phone’s camera (still or video) and it can be uploaded directly to a specific vBook that can then be organized and distributed.  Imagine being able to research and answer a question immediately or even capture a story or comment from anyone and have it available for others to access.  This can significantly aide in the process of documentation on any subject matter.

Additional Key features of the technology:

• The content is stored and distributed in a secure environment.

•  Authoring a vBook is very easy and anyone can be setup and trained to add, edit and publish content. Certain privileges can be given to individuals to view, edit or publish the content.

• The user’s access is tracked to determine user’s usage and viewing time.

• Assessment and Test vBooks are another type of vBook that can be created.

·         Contact vBooks can be setup to share contact info among different groups or units.

 

         The following are examples on how the technology can be applied to the company training programs. Many of these examples can be implemented immediately as the technology, processes and procedures already exist.

Current Usage

The technology is currently being used by many firms and organizations around the world to provide training and support to their users.  The USAF Engineering Command recently purchased approximately 44,000 vBooks on CAD Software training to be distributed to approximately 4400 Airmen. USDA/NRCS has been using the technology to train and support 1500 users across the US.

I’ve been providing training to civil engineers and surveyors around the world on design software applications. This training along with CAD and Design Standards and project workflows are also documented and distributed to these clients using vBooks.

The benefits to this system are:

1.       Deliver Instructor Lead Training: A recording of the presenter delivering the presentation or training can easily and inexpensively be produced and added to the vBook. The system can index the video to provide searching for key points simple and easy to retrieve. Close Caption can be added and translated to multiple languages. This also provides easy access to re-watch the presentations at any time.

 

2.       As a Leave behind after a presentation or live training: While a PowerPoint presentation in its printed form can deliver key bullet points, facts and figures they cannot tell the story behind these slides. Only a live presenter can deliver the additional knowledge that typically accompanies a lecture.  Capturing this training or presentation can be done prior to its delivery and then be provided at the end of the live session.

3.       Students who cannot attend a particular session can still easily obtain the knowledge by watching the video. Since the technology allows the tracking of usage it can easily be documented that a Student watched the session. 

4.       Students who are deployed can keep current with their training.

5.       Students can be provided a simple set of questions as a quiz or test to assess their knowledge.

6.       The technology provides the Student with 24/7 access to the training, even via a mobile device.

7.       Videos can also be made to show Closed Caption and this can be converted to multiple languages.

8.       The vBook is a living document that can be updated at anytime. Edits, errors and omissions can be easily updated in the vBook and an update notification can be sent from within the vBook. This provides every student with the most current knowledge and information.

9.       vBook are environmentally friendly. Eliminating the need to print the slides or distribute binders provides a “Green” Solution for the training.

Support Tool

In addition to providing training, clients can use the vBooks to share knowledge, stories and information.  A handbook can be created that would enable anyone in a company to add information about a specific or general topic into a vBook. This would provide other employees a robust system filled with knowledge that can easily be retrieved.  Prior to the knowledge being published it can be verified by an editor or subject matter expert.

Imagine being able to easily capture a procedure or process in real time and add them to the system for others to access.

Contact Directory

A Contact vBook can also be made for companies and even project that require a specific contact list. This Contact Data base provides an easy to use system of finding key personnel.  The Contact directory can easily be updated and even provide pictures of the personnel for easy identification.    

The contact can be found using a search tool or by identifying the contact by their photo. Any information can be added to the users contact page.

Envision a unit Contact vBook that provides not only the contact info but a listing of the employee’s skills or specialties. So when a project requires certain skills these employees can easily be found who may have that special knowledge or skill to match the requirements of the project.

Knowledge Curators

The technology can also easily be used by the curators for many operations.

1.       Knowledge retention and transformation is probably one of the top uses this technology can be applied to. Employees who have been with the organization who are about to retire can easily capture and document their knowledge either in text, images or even video.  This knowledge can then be easily distributed to educate future curators and used as a research tool.

2.       Details about a piece of equipment or process or even a project can be documented with pictures and video and stored in a vBook. This then becomes an easy to search resource for researchers or others who may need access to the information.

3.       Inventory vBooks can be made of equipment and this information can be shared with those that need to find a particular part or piece of equipment.

4.       Archives of photos, articles or other information can also be stored in a vBook for ease of retrieval.

Benefits:

1. The technology already exists to support the above requirements so there is no need to hire web designers to develop a storage and distribution system.

2. vBooks are easy to create.

3. Content is easy to document.

4. vBooks are secure.

Education

Education programs can be delivered by teachers using vBooks to:

1. Provide additional instructions and information

2. Provide information on rules and regulations.

3. Provide teachers with tools to be used within their own Class Room.

Since any training class can be turned into a vBook the possibilities for education is endless.

Maintenance or Restoration

vBooks can also be used in the maintenance or restoration process on a piece of equipment:

1. The vBook technology can be used to aide in the documentation and inventory of truck or plane by cataloging the parts as the object is being dismantled.

2. Used to capture and store firsthand accounts about the equipment and its issues.

3. Used to document the research about the past history of the equipment, which can be shared with others.

4. Training - vBooks can be used to deliver additional training to an Airman who may need to know  other information such as:

• CAD training

• Operating Machines

• Cleaning Parts

• Cataloging parts

Links to more information about vBooks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5BFcfQwR9E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUNqarme31I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C2fdBggWq8

www.apw-cts.com

Blog

We decided to setup this page to share our thoughts and publish short stories or articles.

We will change this page on a regular basis and welcome feedback and even your own stories.

 To have a story or comment published send it to:

 mike@apw-cts.com

 

 

Learn more about vBooks