Archive for August, 2011

Constant connectivity is changing how we receive information

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Connected products are generally thought of as tablets, smartphones and laptops. These devices offer a quick and dependable connection to the Internet and other such connected devices. However, even more gadgets fit into the connected cannon, like HDTVs, gaming consoles and even most Blu-ray players.

Access to the Internet is, relatively speaking, easy and the information found online is easier to access. Traditionally, information was gathered through research and manual searching that required a large amount of dedicated time in order to find enough useful information. With an increase in connectivity, all we have to do is type a search query into Google using a smartphone. How has the way we consume content changed now that from almost any location, we can access an almost endless library of knowledge?

Faster Access of Information

Locating specific information can be done almost instantaneously with the help of the right device. Content was once delivered in hardbound books, but now it’s offered on websites, wikis, blogs and email. Because so many devices can access the Internet, finding the information you need is no longer a matter of locale. This makes the researching process much faster and allows for content to be consumed more quickly.

Faster Generation of Information

Content generation is simply a matter of supply and demand. Because content is so much easier to consume with connected devices, there is an ever growing need for more content. The answer to this, of course, is faster content generation. As most connected devices can also be used to upload new content, online content and information is being generated and published faster than ever.

High Rate of Communication

The time and effort needed to communicate has decreased due to the speed and connectedness of modern devices.
Because of this, information can now be communicated from user to user at a much higher rate.  For example, a YouTube video with interesting content can go viral in a matter of minutes. Users can share the video through Facebook, Twitter, Google, email, HTML embedding, Internet enabled TVs, and even texting!

How have connected devices changed the way we consume content? Speed, speed and speed. The rate at which content is generated, consumed and then disregarded is almost staggering. Information is easier to access than ever before, and at impressively high speeds. What we decided to do with that information is entirely up to us.

So, how do you feel about this almost continuous connectivity?  Do you live for it or grow weary of just how tethered to such things as work you have become.  I’d love to hear your comments.

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Access Restricted: Censorship worldwide

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

As technology grows we become increasingly more connected as a species and our access to information is expanded with every new connection. Authorities worldwide have differing views on how this increased access to information will affect the citizens of their countries and how to approach it. Some governments loosely regulate the flow of data. Some restrict access to various forms of content.  Others choose to have total control over the content people are exposed to.

The countries below approach the idea of censorship with different levels of severity when restricting Internet, cell phones, and other forms of technological communication.

The United States – The US employs minor censorship of the Internet and other technologies. It is illegal in the US to use cell phone jammers for private use however, in some instances, federal officials can.  Recently in San Francisco, an anti-police brutality protest was foiled when transit officials turned off power to cellular towers around the BART. This unprecedented mass shutdown inflamed the general public and instigated a government investigation as to the legality of the measures taken by the transit officials.

China – Chat rooms and private screens are highly monitored by the government in China and many websites are black listed. Go to this link to see if your website is blocked in China.

North Korea –North Korea is considered one of the most technologically censored countries on the planet. The government has control over all computers with access to the Internet. Only three websites can be accessed in North Korea and they solely contain academic information.
The police heavily monitor the few chat rooms allowed. This high level of censorship has created a huge black market for cell phones in North Korea.

The socio-political reasons behind the amount of restrictions vary as much as the courses of action different governments take. Here are a few reasons that are often given:

Reasons why censorship is necessary

  • Censorship can protect the safety of the public
  • Censorship can prevent youths from being exposed to inappropriate content
  • Censorship can protect social unity and national glory
  • Censorship can prevent disturbing the social order
  • Censorship can protect national security

Reasons why censorship can be dangerous

  • Censorship violates the natural right of self-expression
  • Censorship can prevent people who have an emergency from getting help
  • Censorship can lead to ignorance of the world and other cultures
  • Extreme censorship can lead to social upheaval
  • Extreme censorship can lead to an oppressed and uneducated society

Barney Warf, a professor at the University of Kansas, published a definitive study of the geography of Internet censorship in the December issue of the academic journal, GeoJournal. He believes that, ultimately, the more globalized a country becomes, or strives to become, the harder it is to regulate the amount of information the public has access to. The answer to the question of whether technological censorship is appropriate, is situational. We will continue to see the issue arise as the world gets increasingly more connected and as the flow of information becomes harder to control.

You can read this article about Professor Barney Warf and his study.  I know censorship is a touchy subject but I’d love to hear your thoughts!  Feel free to through your two cent’s worth in the hat and comment below.

 

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Is Online Anonymity a positive Thing

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Google has recently gotten a small amount of press because of their restriction of users creating profiles under pseudonyms. Currently, Google doesn’t allow fake names, and this has some people upset. One of the appealing things about the Internet is that is seems to offer umbrella anonymity. Anyone can be whomever they choose, but is that necessarily a good thing? To answer this question, we first have to take into account the pros and cons of being anonymous.

Pros

There aren’t many sites that require you to use your real name, or even have any means of verifying that the name you provide is real or not. This allows you to assume numerous personalities, crafting a new version of yourself every time you log on. This can provide a layer of safety when providing your full identity can be dangerous. Consider users who have been the subjects of abuse or stalking, the freedom to be anonymous on the Internet helps them to be less accessible and therefore less vulnerable. Anonymity comes with a certain level of freedom.

Cons

Many problems caused on the Internet begin with a improper use of anonymity. Email scams, social media spam and profile hacks begin with the creation of a fake Internet identity. While tactics such as IP address tracing and validating the information given when setting up Internet profiles can provide the true identity of any Internet user, creating a counterfeit profile is the easiest way to scam someone else. While being anonymous on the Internet is often a plus, it’s important to consider the negatives that complete anonymity can create.

The moral value of total Internet anonymity is a matter of personal responsibility. It is only as good as the person who uses it. Anonymity being good or bad is not a matter of anonymity itself, but rather, a matter of the users of the Internet. When considering if you are for or against it, first reflect on how you use it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Please comment below!

Posted in Social Media, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »

What Makes Technology Stick Around

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

It seems like as soon as you buy a new piece of technology, a faster and better version comes out. Technologies which were ground breaking last week are old news this week. However, it may surprise you to know that the root of these technologies have stayed the same for 50 years.

If we live in a world of ever changing technology, what makes these core technologies remain unchanged? Was the initial design so strong that it didn’t need much improvement? Here are a few technologies that have retained their integrity for over 4 decades.

Virtual Memory – 1962 – This allows systems to use hardware memory more efficiently by recycling space used for memory.
This concept led to time-sharing or the ability for systems to multitask.

MOS Chip – 1967 – Metal-oxide semiconductor. This technology is used today to make computer chips and is termed CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor). The technology has changed a bit over time so adaptability is one trait that has kept it alive.

C programming language – 1969 – Developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, C is the most popular and widely used programming language in the world. When you get something right why change it?

We have seen these technologies transform into other types of tech, programming languages, and inspire new concepts and designs. It’s amazing that these technologies have remained at the root of so many technological innovations today!

You can find more tech which has withstood the test of time here:
http://www.osnews.com/thread?484715

 

Posted in Just for Fun | No Comments »

What to do when your email has been hacked

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

No matter how sophisticated your email password is, there is always a chance that a hacker will find a way to decipher your information and gain access to your digital personality. So what do you do once you’ve realized that your personal email account has been compromised? It is important to be proactive in this type of situation. Taking the appropriate steps can help you repair any damage done by a hacker as well as help prevent future hacks from being successful. Here are some important steps to take.

Notify Webmail Provider

    Letting your webmail provider know that your account has been compromised is an important step that many email users might not think of. When you notify your webmail provider of a problem it gives them the chance to rectify the situation and further strengthen their security against future hacks. Your particular hack could be a part of a much larger security breach, letting your webmail provider know about it gives them the opportunity to fix it.

Change Password

    This is most likely the most important thing to do once you’ve regained control of your email account. Doing so will prevent whomever hacked your account from taking over again or from selling your password to another hacker. Make sure to make your password completely different and, if possible, make sure it shares no characters with your previous password. Also, remember to make it complex. The hacker who broke into your account may have personal information, like your birthday, that would help them decipher any new password you created that was too simple.

Notify your contact list

    One of the main reasons hackers break into personal email accounts is to send out well disguised spam. A spam email is more likely to be successful if it is sent to a victim through a recognized account. Letting your contact list know that your account has been compromised can warn them against these attempts and likely prevent the transfer of viruses or a successful scam. Make sure and relay the message clearly in your subject line, so that your contacts will know that you’ve regained control over your account without needing to open your email.

No one likes having his or her personal information compromised. It’s important to remember that, if your email has been hacked, your online banking and other Internet managed services may also be compromised. If you’d like additional information on what you should with a hacked email, please take a look at this article.

 

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Set Goals to Improve Job Satisfaction

Friday, August 12th, 2011

Having life goals keeps us motivated. The difficulties we overcome make us stronger and as we reach each goal we should set new goals.
Every step moves us towards the lives we want. We apply this to our very own lives but do we apply it to our professional lives?

We spend approximately 30% of our lives at work. For many people a large amount of this time is unfulfilling. Redundancy in our jobs can cause us to feel like we have no control over how we spend our day. We repeat the same projects day after day i.e. monitor our inbox, file paperwork, return phone calls, and wait to get off work. This leads to an uninspiring work atmosphere and employees who feel detached from the business and constantly watch the clock. Setting goals can keep things new and help combat the rut that people are stuck in at work.

  1. Set or Assess Goals Every 3-6 Months – These types of meetings will allow the team or individual to analyze the goals, set specific times for their completion, and help them stay focused.
  2. Write Down Your Goals – Physical documentation of your goals will help the group keep the focused on those goals. .
  3. Aim High – Setting goals outside the comfort zone can make people challenge themselves and learn brand new skills. However, don’t set them so high that it is unachievable for you or your team.
  4. Find a System to Measure Performance – By breaking goals down into smaller ones and determining the skills that need to be perfected, you can more easily measure the progress toward the completion of the goal.
  5. Celebrate Each Achievement – Whether working separately or with a team, be sure to celebrate each step that has been reached that supports the larger goal. Positive reinforcement goes a long way and it can be as simple as a word of acknowledgment.
  6. Schedule the Next Goal Setting Meeting – Keep goals fresh, new, and on the top of everyone’s agendas by thinking ahead and scheduling the next meeting.

We all want to be proud of the work we do and feel like we contribute. Keeping focused on our goals can illustrate achievements in a very real way and be a reminder of the part we play in the larger picture.

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Elements of Good Apps

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

A good app is one that offers value. But what determines that value? A large consideration for that answer is the functionality of the app itself, be it practical or entertaining. However, it’s important to consider the design and development put into the app. If Angry Birds crashes unexpectedly in your favorite level, then does that app still contain value? No matter what the case, if you’re debating purchasing a hot new app, here are a few key factors to consider when determining any app’s inherit value.

Stability and Reliability

A good app is one that has been rigorously tested. There are several outlying factors that can determine how an app will function and, if not tested all possible situations, you might find yourself using an app with limited functionality. Some things to consider when looking at the stability and reliability of an app: does it work without WIFI? Does it work when on airplane mode? Does it work if the service of the phone is interrupted? Depending on what the app is made to do, these factors can be paramount. Make sure to research the testing that went into any app you are considering.

Consumer Consideration

    App developers need to consider how their app will affect the user. Even a cheap app can be costly if it consumes too much data.
Most Smartphones come with a limited data plan. A good app will consider the consumer and be designed in a way that will not infer further charges with their monthly cellphone plan.  When deciding on which app to download, make sure to research the data transfer rate needed to use the app as well as any other factors that might create be supplementary charges.

A Well Built API

API stands for application programing interface. In layman’s terms, an API is the part of an app’s programing that controls how it communicates with other apps and programs. This is an important part of any app’s development because it directly affects functionality. If you download an app that connects your smartphone to your Twitter account and the API is dysfunctional and doesn’t connect well, the functionality of that app is rendered useless. Basically, if the API is broken, your Twitter postings will not work. Make sure to research the reliability of an app’s API before downloading.

While an app’s worth can be of objective determination, there will always be several key elements to look for when searching for that perfect new download. For more tips on finding great apps, take a look a this article.

Posted in Application Development, Web Developmet | No Comments »

Are We Leaving DOS in the Dust

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Remember DOS, with its black screen and blinking cursor eagerly awaiting your command. The Disk Operation System (DOS) celebrated its 30th anniversary a week ago. DOS has arguably been the most crucial OS of all time and in honor of it turning thirty, I would like to reflect on where it has come from and where it is going.

In 1981 IBM released the PC and the following options for operating systems (OS).

  • IBM Personal Computer Disk Operating System – cost at the time: $40
  • Digital Research CP/M-86 – cost at the time: $240
  • SofTech USCD p-System w/Pascal – cost at the time: $695

For the price tag, DOS was the economical choice and DOS had also been the only one immediately available.  DOS dominated the market by a landslide and DOS was crowned the operating system of choice for those who were fortunate enough to have a PC.  DOS enjoyed its popularity until the release of Windows in 1985, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that required DOS as a platform to run it on. Newer versions of Windows continued to be released and they needed DOS less and less.

Eventually, a version of Windows was developed which could run independently from DOS as it contained its own standalone OS, this was MS-Windows 95. It did, however, include a tiny bit of the 16-bit DOS code. I suppose Windows still needed a little bit of help from its trusty old friend DOS.

But all things must come to an end and in 1996 a version of Windows was released that did not need DOS. This was Windows-NT and after that Windows and DOS would part ways, but it has not left our lives.

There are many die-hard DOS users still out there that prefer its efficient and simplistic nature. They believe that the more “user friendly” interfaces have too many bells and whistles that can muck up the system. For this reason we are still seeing new versions of DOS being developed, a few of these are FreeDOS, ROM-DOS, and DR-DOS. Some computer manufactures still make computers with DOS as the main OS. We have seen DOS change however I do not believe it will go the way of the eight-track as long as people still want the simple functionality of cmd enter.

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Three gadgets to help you beat the heat

Friday, August 5th, 2011

Staying cool in the summer is sometimes more difficult than it sounds. We all have our own means of beating the heat, be it swimming, eating ice cream, or lounging in a good old-fashioned air-conditioned room. However, there will always be more unique strategies to stay cool, thanks to gadget technology. If you’re looking to last out the summer in comfort, one of these quirky devices just might do the trick.

The Bedfan

This first gadget promises to keep you cool at night, even if you like to sleep under a large blanket. The Bedfan connects to the end of your bed, positioning a small vent just under the covers, and creates a slight breeze. Thanks to natural insulation, this strategically placed airflow generates a fantastic cooling effect. If you sleep best nestled under a large cover but hate being too warm, the Bedfan is here to help. For a closer look at the Bedfan, check out this website.

The BEX Runner

Staying active in the summer can be difficult. Your probabilities for heat exhaustion can almost double when exercising in severe heat.
While the BEX Runner does not claim to prevent these dangers, it does claim to help regulate body temperature.  The BEX runner attaches to your palm and through the power of science, draws in and stores heat from your body. This effect can make exercising in high temperatures much more comfortable. To learn more about the BEX Runner, visit their website.

The iPocket Fan

This is the perfect gadget for any iPhone fanatic looking for an interesting way to cool down. The iPocket Fan is a charging deck for your iPhone or iPod. Attached to the dock is a small desk fan and, when the iPhone is attached, an animated fan display also appears on screen. If you want to make the fan go faster, simply spin the blades on the animated fan on your touch screen. While this device may not be the best thing to rely on while staying cool, it sure is a lot of fun. Check out the website to learn more.

Keeping cool is easy with the right gadgets. Make sure and beat the heat this summer by regulating your temperature. If you’d like to read up on some more cooling gadgets, take a look at this article.

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Innovative Business Card Tips

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Business cards are an integral part of competent networking. The standard is simple, a small piece of rectangular paper with fundamental contact information printed somewhere on it. However, more and more businesses are getting creative with they way they use their business cards. These new creative designs are increasing memorability and therefore producing more positive networking results. If you’re looking to create a business card that won’t be easy to forget, consider a few of these great tips.

Add Texture

This is one of the most common ways businesses create a more memorable business card. The effect is simple; creating a unique texture for the card gives the brain one more thing to remember due to the extra sense that is being engaged.

Take a look at this great example of adding a simple texture to any business card.

Make Them Share-worthy

If your card is worth sharing, the results from networking will be multiplied. Adding a relatively easy and creative design to your card will make the receiver want to show his or her friends or hang it up in his or her office. Consider the hilarious mustache-design included on this creative business card. The idea is that the card can double as a quirky mustache disguise. The receiver places the card in front of their face and shows it to their friends, which is genius, because then their friends see the card as well. It’s inventive marketing. Here is an example.

Make Them Digital

There is no rule that demands business cards be actual cards.

Creating a digital business card that your audience can access remotely is a great way to engage your audience. The easiest way to do this is by generating a QR code that leads to a digital copy of your card. QR codes are great ways to engage your audience with any information you want, combining them with your business cards will help increase your networking efforts. Check out these tips on using QR codes.

 

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