What, exactly, is the Internet of Things? It’s a catchall term for the increasing connectivity between devices of all kinds. Find out more below.

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If you’d like to further explore the Internet of Things, check out thisbrief yet thorough introduction from consulting firm McKinsey.

Simmons Technology continues the behind the scenes work necessary to installing the College’s new telephone system.

Pilot Testing
The project is proceeding on time and the next major step is to begin a pilot test in early March. This testing period will involve a small scale rollout of new equipment to the Technology department. Team members will provide feedback and assist in troubleshooting any issues that arise. The knowledge gained from the pilot will ensure a smoother deployment across campus later this spring.

Voicemail to Email
A new and exciting feature of the new telephone system will be its voicemail-to-email capabilities. You’ll be able to listen to voicemail on your phone and have it sent via email as an audio file. This feature provides access to your voicemail from anywhere you check your email, whether on your computer, phone, or tablet.

For more information about the new telephone system, please visit ourproject website.

Before the semester break, Technology kicked off a project to install a new telephone system, which will include a full overhaul of the existing phone infrastructure at Simmons.

Department Outreach
A major component of the project is the replacement of office telephones. When the project is complete, all employees will have access to a set of features that mirrors our current phone service and provides some additional upgrades, such as enhanced emergency notifications, mobile phone twinning, and a voice-activated campus directory. During February, Technology will also coordinate with administrative assistants in each department to ensure that we’re capturing the needs of employees who require advanced telephone functionality.

Voice-Activated Directory
As the project progresses, we’ll also be highlighting some new features that will be available after the transition. We’re very excited about the forthcoming voice-activated directory search and we think you will be too. This search tool provides a simple way to find phone numbers of colleagues and departments. Just pick up your phone, dial the directory extension, and say the name of the person or department you’re looking for. The system will automatically route your call to the correct extension. It’s that easy!

If you’re traveling abroad and need to attend a Simmons or external meeting via GoToMeeting, there are two easy ways to call in.

When You’re the Organizer
If you’re scheduling a meeting, and you know that you and/or some of the attendees will be abroad, you can easily add a long distance or toll-free number for those locations. This will give you access to start the meeting from your location or to add country-specific numbers for other attendees. The steps to add call-in numbers for other countries are outlined in the image to the right.

When You’re an Attendee
If you’ll be attending a meeting while outside the US, ask the meeting’s organizer to add phone numbers for that country to the meeting. They’ll have the option of adding a long distance and/or toll-free number.

If you need a number immediately and cannot access the GoToMeeting interface or reach the meeting organizer, call theService Desk (617-521-2222) and a technician can provide you with a dial-in number for your current location.

What does a canned meat brand name have to do with unwanted email? Do hackers solve computer problems or create them? When did # stop meaning pound ornumber?

The popular tech blog Gizmodo has the answers to these questions and more inThe Mysterious Origins of 21 Tech Terms. Of course, like anything you find online that claims to be definitive, there is room for debate on the etymology of many of the terms included in this article. At least, that’s what quite a few commenters seem to think. This might be one of the few times to break a cardinal rule of the Internet that needs no explanation: never read the comments.