I had an uncle who worked for what was then known asBurroughs Corp., a producer of business equipment, most notably adding machinesand printers. But Burroughs was also a major technology player, specifically inthe manufacture of mainframe computers, primarily for banks and largerfinancial institutions.
As a junior in high school my knowledge of technology wasjust slightly less than it is now, but even I had to marvel when he showed me acutting-edge product he called the "Bowmar Brain" - one of the earliesthand-held electronic calculators on the market.
At the time, the list price was roughly $150, a steepticket when considering that same year, the Dow Jones first broke the 1,000mark, or a muscled-up Pontiac Firebird came off the showroom floor at $3,300.
So you can imagine my delight when locked in a life anddeath struggle with trigonometry, there was a device that performed not onlybasic arithmetic functions, but also those dreaded sines and cosines with theflick of a button.
But alas, my uncle denied my request to smuggle thedevice into the classroom and I subsequently blamed the C grade I received onthe state Regents exam on his lack of generosity to a doting relative.
But I digress.
Today, I'm only a bit more technology-savvy than duringthatprotracted apprenticeship asa teenage knucklehead, but nevertheless, I'm happy to announce that AccountingToday will make its 2010 debut with a digital edition to complement itstraditional print issue.
The digital version of the January 11 issue will offerthe same content as its print sibling, but with significantly more functioncapabilities than traditional online pubs, courtesy of embedded search toolsand a comprehensive navigation bar.
Those of you who have opted to receive the digitalAccounting Today will get an email with a link to the issue.
So spend a few moments to familiarize yourself with thetools and soon, it will become as easy as a, well, as an electronic calculator.
Now, I realize that accepting change, particularlyquantum change in process or delivery has not been one of the particularlystrong points of the accounting profession. Also, I'm confident many readersstill enjoy the tactile sense that accompanies holding a print edition, butconventional wisdom dictates the only constant is change, and publishing is oneindustry that's evolving almost on a daily basis.
So, let us know what you think. Send all comments toActoday@sourcemedia.com.
I can't promise Accounting Today digital will be quite asgroundbreaking or even as eye-opening as hand-held calculators were ageneration ago, but I've since learned that if you don't keep pace with change,you're often left behind.
