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IT Trends: Airline Wi-Fi, Volkswagens That Run on Methane

Workers still quitting jobs despite poor economy.

Take This Job and Shove It …

Although the national unemployment rate is 9.5 percent, a recent Wall Street Journal article found that the number of people quitting their job surpassed those being fired. In March, more than 1.87 million people willfully gave up their jobs, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the forecast looks grim. In a 2009 Right Management survey, 60 percent of employees said they intend to find other jobs once the market improves.

In a survey conducted by Dice.com, a job board for tech professionals, employees were asked what would persuade them to stay at their current job if another opportunity arose.

Wi-Fi On the Fly

If you’re a mobile professional and frequent flyer who needs Internet access aboard an aircraft, options for connectivity are increasing. Many airlines have installed Wi-Fi equipment on their aircraft. Southwest Airlines recently joined the ranks of carriers offering onboard Wi-Fi and hopes to have its entire fleet equipped by early 2012. Southwest’s price for Internet connectivity ranges from $2 to $12.

Fill ’er Up

Alternative energy sources may be closer than we realize. Case in point: the Bio-Bug, a Volkswagen Beetle converted by British engineers to run on methane gas created from human waste. The biogas-powered vehicle has a top speed of 114 mph, according to its creators. The waste from about 70 homes in the United Kingdom is enough to power one vehicle for 10,000 miles — the average annual mileage for UK motorists.
Sources: Geeky-gadgets.com and tech.blorge.com

Internet Connect

184 million adults are connected to the Internet, according to a 2009 Harris Interactive poll. The survey revealed that each user spends an average of 13 hours per week online. Other interesting findings include:

Where do you access the Internet?
76%    Home
40%    Work
32%    Other Location

Who spends the most time on the Internet?
Age        Weekly Hours
30-39             18
25-29             17
40-49             17

 

Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.