Chapter 10--The 3 "Big Darn Deals" I found interesting in this chapter are the following:
Hand Exercises and Techniques to Ease Eyestrain--I found these articles to be very interesting and helpful. I recently started a new job that requires me to work on the computer for eight hours a day, sometimes longer. After reading this article, I have made it a point to to stretch my fingers, hands, and arms every half hour. My eyes are constantly focusing on numbers, so it helps to to rest them or look away from the numbers for a few minutes at a time. I never knew there was such a thing as computer glasses. I wear glasses to drive, but lately I need to wear them at work, also. I plan on asking my eye doctor about computer glasses.
Customers' Behavior, Conversations Monitored--I have never heard of Smartlane, hotblobs, or BehaviorIQ before. I will admit when I go to Wal-Mart this weekend I am going to see if I can notice any sensors. I can undestand why stores would like to monitor customers and sales associates, especially if it helps increase sales.
Should Text Messages Sent by Employees Be Private--I know a person can be held accountable for what is done on a company computer, but I never gave any thought to text messaging. Personally I see nothing wrong with employers keeping tabs on how cell phones, smart phones, and computers are being used. Yes, I know there is the privacy issue, but if you choose to use your employers devices to send messages, then you should expect to be monitored.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
3 "Big Darn Deals"
Chapter 8--The 3 "Big Darn Deals" I found interesting in this chapter are the following:
Geocaching for Hidden Treasures--I enjoyed learning about Geocaching. It was fun to do the Internet Geocache assignment. According to the article on page 321 in our text book, the first cache with GPS was documented in 2000. Geocache is similar to a treasure hunt, you try to find hidden objects by using longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates. I don't use or have a GPS, but I would search the Internet for Geocaches that would use a map, directions, and landmarks. I think this make a fun family vacation. A person could plan their trip and then add a little treasure hunt along the way.
Will Widespread Wireless Broadband Connections Kill Print Media--I found this article interesting. It talks about the possibility of the improving wireless access smothering the newspaper and magazine industry. I do believe we will loose a lot of magazines and small town newspapers, but they won't be all wiped out. We have so many magazines that cover the same topics or interest levels that it is just a matter of who is better at selling their magazine. Many small town newspapers will have to collaborate with each other in order to survive, but that is okay. So many people are involved with more than one community. I, myself, enjoy reading the local newspaper.
How Many Households Are Using Cell Phones As Their Primary Telephone--
I know many households that have gone strictly cell phones within their homes. I, unfortunately, am unable to do this. I live in a very rural area where sometimes you have cell phone access and other times you don't. My children stay home by themselves until the bus comes in the morning or during the summer months need access to a reliable phone. According to this article 20% of households use cell phones for their primary phone. It would be nice to save the money I spend on the land line, but it is nice to know that I have a reliable phone at home. I only have the minimum amount of minutes for our plan, so my plan isn't too expensive.
Geocaching for Hidden Treasures--I enjoyed learning about Geocaching. It was fun to do the Internet Geocache assignment. According to the article on page 321 in our text book, the first cache with GPS was documented in 2000. Geocache is similar to a treasure hunt, you try to find hidden objects by using longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates. I don't use or have a GPS, but I would search the Internet for Geocaches that would use a map, directions, and landmarks. I think this make a fun family vacation. A person could plan their trip and then add a little treasure hunt along the way.
Will Widespread Wireless Broadband Connections Kill Print Media--I found this article interesting. It talks about the possibility of the improving wireless access smothering the newspaper and magazine industry. I do believe we will loose a lot of magazines and small town newspapers, but they won't be all wiped out. We have so many magazines that cover the same topics or interest levels that it is just a matter of who is better at selling their magazine. Many small town newspapers will have to collaborate with each other in order to survive, but that is okay. So many people are involved with more than one community. I, myself, enjoy reading the local newspaper.
How Many Households Are Using Cell Phones As Their Primary Telephone--
I know many households that have gone strictly cell phones within their homes. I, unfortunately, am unable to do this. I live in a very rural area where sometimes you have cell phone access and other times you don't. My children stay home by themselves until the bus comes in the morning or during the summer months need access to a reliable phone. According to this article 20% of households use cell phones for their primary phone. It would be nice to save the money I spend on the land line, but it is nice to know that I have a reliable phone at home. I only have the minimum amount of minutes for our plan, so my plan isn't too expensive.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
3 "Big Darn Deals"
Chapter 7--The 3 "Big Darn Deals" I found interesting in this chapter are the following:
Contact Lenses Monitor Glaucoma--I work with the elderly and this article was very encouraging to read. Glaucoma can cause blindness if the optic nerve is damaged. The article is about a special contact lens that has silver wires inside the lens. The wires will release a medicine when the wires measure a dangerous level of pressure within the eye. Lasers are also expected to help detect glaucoma.
Education--I can personally relate to using the computer for education. Our local school district installed the Infinite website, this past fall. I am able to keep track of my children's grades, assignments, lunch accounts, and see any school announcements. I have also benefited personally with the use of computers for my own educational purposes. I was able to attend college classes the past two years without having to sit in a classroom. In December 2009, I completed the Medical Coding and Insurance program. I would never have been able to do this without having the opportunity of being able to take online classes. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.
How to Purchase a Smart Phone--I am currently thinking about purchasing a smart phone. There are so many things to consider, before making a decision. This article brought up seven suggestions to remember before making my final decision. I have already checked into different cell phone carriers and the variety of styles available. One of the things I didn't think of was making sure I purchase a phone that can synchronize my smart phone to my computer program. I also never put much thought into making sure the phone I select has a long battery life. According to this article, using the Internet and talking on the smart phone drains the battery life, at a rapid rate.
Contact Lenses Monitor Glaucoma--I work with the elderly and this article was very encouraging to read. Glaucoma can cause blindness if the optic nerve is damaged. The article is about a special contact lens that has silver wires inside the lens. The wires will release a medicine when the wires measure a dangerous level of pressure within the eye. Lasers are also expected to help detect glaucoma.
Education--I can personally relate to using the computer for education. Our local school district installed the Infinite website, this past fall. I am able to keep track of my children's grades, assignments, lunch accounts, and see any school announcements. I have also benefited personally with the use of computers for my own educational purposes. I was able to attend college classes the past two years without having to sit in a classroom. In December 2009, I completed the Medical Coding and Insurance program. I would never have been able to do this without having the opportunity of being able to take online classes. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.
How to Purchase a Smart Phone--I am currently thinking about purchasing a smart phone. There are so many things to consider, before making a decision. This article brought up seven suggestions to remember before making my final decision. I have already checked into different cell phone carriers and the variety of styles available. One of the things I didn't think of was making sure I purchase a phone that can synchronize my smart phone to my computer program. I also never put much thought into making sure the phone I select has a long battery life. According to this article, using the Internet and talking on the smart phone drains the battery life, at a rapid rate.
Monday, March 15, 2010
3 "Big Darn Deals"
Chapter 6--The 3 "Big Darn Deals" I found interesting in this chapter are the following:
Cloud Storage-- I have never heard of Cloud Storage until I read it in our text book. I found it interesting that my email is stored in my provider's cloud environment. I was not surprised to hear that Facebook, Google, Yahoo and a variety of others were Cloud Storage providers. I was surprised to find out that if the law needs to read a person's emails all they need to do in some cases is contact the company that owns the cloud, not the user.
Hard Disks--I have often wondered how the hard drive disk works in the computers. I did not realize that the hard disk is protected in a sealed case within the unit, which makes sense. The distance between the read/write head and platter is only two millionths of one inch. I can't even imagine what two millionths of one inch is. I am also impressed at the storage on a hard disk. According to the book one terabyte can store 285,000 pictures. I take alot of pictures so it is nice to know that my computer may have enough room to store them, until I am able to move them to a different form of storage.
Microfilm and Microfiche--Years ago, I remember transfering files to a microfiche for the college I was attending. I had assumed with our new technology of computers, that microfilms and microfisches would be obsolete. Microfilm is inexpensive, reduces paper and turns out it has the longest life expectancy listed. According to the time chart, microfilm life expectancy is 100 to 500 years, where as our optical discs have a 5 to 100 year life expectancy. This short article was pretty impressive.
Cloud Storage-- I have never heard of Cloud Storage until I read it in our text book. I found it interesting that my email is stored in my provider's cloud environment. I was not surprised to hear that Facebook, Google, Yahoo and a variety of others were Cloud Storage providers. I was surprised to find out that if the law needs to read a person's emails all they need to do in some cases is contact the company that owns the cloud, not the user.
Hard Disks--I have often wondered how the hard drive disk works in the computers. I did not realize that the hard disk is protected in a sealed case within the unit, which makes sense. The distance between the read/write head and platter is only two millionths of one inch. I can't even imagine what two millionths of one inch is. I am also impressed at the storage on a hard disk. According to the book one terabyte can store 285,000 pictures. I take alot of pictures so it is nice to know that my computer may have enough room to store them, until I am able to move them to a different form of storage.
Microfilm and Microfiche--Years ago, I remember transfering files to a microfiche for the college I was attending. I had assumed with our new technology of computers, that microfilms and microfisches would be obsolete. Microfilm is inexpensive, reduces paper and turns out it has the longest life expectancy listed. According to the time chart, microfilm life expectancy is 100 to 500 years, where as our optical discs have a 5 to 100 year life expectancy. This short article was pretty impressive.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
3 "Big Darn Deals"
Chapter 5--The 3 "Big Darn Deals" that I found interesting in this chapter are:
1. Interactive Whiteboards or SMART Boards--Recently our local school and community raised enough money to purchase SMART Boards for every classroom in the elementary and middle schools. It is interesting to learn you can write and erase on the boards with a special pen. The teacher and students also have the benefit of being able to save the material into a computer, so they can refer back to the information at a later date. I believe this will make learning more interesting and fun.
2. LCD and Plasma Monitors and Screens-- Today we hear alot of advertising about LCD and Plasma screen TV's and computers. I never understood the difference. Chapter 5 explains that LCD stands for "liquid crystal display" and Plasma refers to gases between two plates of glass. While both LCD and Plasma produce clear crisp pictures, it is the Plasma screens and monitors that produce the richer color on a bigger screen. The Plasma screens are also more expensive.
3. Printers--Chapter 5 helped to explain a variety of printers available today, which include ink-jet, laser, photo, thermal, mobile, multifunctional peripherals, impact, plotters and large-format printers. The one printer that wasn't mentioned in our book, but was discussed in our Printer Assignment was the Z650 printer. I had never seen or heard of a printer that could print a real life prototype. The Z650 is amazing. I also appreciate the fact we can donate our empty ink cartridges to raise money for our local school district.
1. Interactive Whiteboards or SMART Boards--Recently our local school and community raised enough money to purchase SMART Boards for every classroom in the elementary and middle schools. It is interesting to learn you can write and erase on the boards with a special pen. The teacher and students also have the benefit of being able to save the material into a computer, so they can refer back to the information at a later date. I believe this will make learning more interesting and fun.
2. LCD and Plasma Monitors and Screens-- Today we hear alot of advertising about LCD and Plasma screen TV's and computers. I never understood the difference. Chapter 5 explains that LCD stands for "liquid crystal display" and Plasma refers to gases between two plates of glass. While both LCD and Plasma produce clear crisp pictures, it is the Plasma screens and monitors that produce the richer color on a bigger screen. The Plasma screens are also more expensive.
3. Printers--Chapter 5 helped to explain a variety of printers available today, which include ink-jet, laser, photo, thermal, mobile, multifunctional peripherals, impact, plotters and large-format printers. The one printer that wasn't mentioned in our book, but was discussed in our Printer Assignment was the Z650 printer. I had never seen or heard of a printer that could print a real life prototype. The Z650 is amazing. I also appreciate the fact we can donate our empty ink cartridges to raise money for our local school district.
Monday, February 1, 2010
3 "Big Darn Deals"
Chapter 4--The 3 "Big Darn Deals" that I found interesting in this chapter are:
1. Keeping your computer or mobile device clean--I have always heard there was a special way to clean my computer, but I never knew what that was. I would just take my vaccum brush to the key board and wipe the screen off with a damp rag. I have never heard of compressed air in a can, before. I am curious to find out how much it costs for a can of air. I appreciated learning that I can use a solution mix of 50/50 rubbing alcohol and water to clean my screen, instead of spending lots of money on a special cleaning solution. I had never given any thought to static electricity causing damage to my computer. I am curious to see what an anti-static wristband looks like and where you purchase them.
2. Government search and seizure of computers--I knew the government could take my computer and go through the contents. What surprised me, is that they don't have to have a search warrant or reason, for doing so. I believe that is totally wrong. Yes, they have the right to search if needed, but they also should provide a warrant and reason as to "why" they are taking my computer. I do not like the idea the government does not have to tell me how long they will keep my computer, or if I will get it back. One question I have is, if they were going to keep my computer are they going to reimburse me? I am guessing they wouldn't.
3. How much technology should be supplied to students and teachers--This article talks about supplying inexpensive notebook computer's to students around the country and the world, to be used in place of textbook's. Right now, my children's school does not require desktop computer's or notebook computer's for their classes. Although, I am sure it will be required before they graduate. I also know that our school only purchase's enough text books, so the teachers can teach 120 students split up into four sections. The school does not supply enough books to bring home, so we have to rely on the internet for assistance. Notebook computers with the textbook software would definately help with doing homework, unless the notebook computer is unable to come home. The article states that some school district's have been able to purchase the notebook's for their students. I don't know where the school district's are finding the finance's for those purchases. Right now, many school district's are having a tough time staying above water.
1. Keeping your computer or mobile device clean--I have always heard there was a special way to clean my computer, but I never knew what that was. I would just take my vaccum brush to the key board and wipe the screen off with a damp rag. I have never heard of compressed air in a can, before. I am curious to find out how much it costs for a can of air. I appreciated learning that I can use a solution mix of 50/50 rubbing alcohol and water to clean my screen, instead of spending lots of money on a special cleaning solution. I had never given any thought to static electricity causing damage to my computer. I am curious to see what an anti-static wristband looks like and where you purchase them.
2. Government search and seizure of computers--I knew the government could take my computer and go through the contents. What surprised me, is that they don't have to have a search warrant or reason, for doing so. I believe that is totally wrong. Yes, they have the right to search if needed, but they also should provide a warrant and reason as to "why" they are taking my computer. I do not like the idea the government does not have to tell me how long they will keep my computer, or if I will get it back. One question I have is, if they were going to keep my computer are they going to reimburse me? I am guessing they wouldn't.
3. How much technology should be supplied to students and teachers--This article talks about supplying inexpensive notebook computer's to students around the country and the world, to be used in place of textbook's. Right now, my children's school does not require desktop computer's or notebook computer's for their classes. Although, I am sure it will be required before they graduate. I also know that our school only purchase's enough text books, so the teachers can teach 120 students split up into four sections. The school does not supply enough books to bring home, so we have to rely on the internet for assistance. Notebook computers with the textbook software would definately help with doing homework, unless the notebook computer is unable to come home. The article states that some school district's have been able to purchase the notebook's for their students. I don't know where the school district's are finding the finance's for those purchases. Right now, many school district's are having a tough time staying above water.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
3 "Big Darn Deals"
Chapter 2--Even though I am a self taught internet user, I found Chapter 2 very interesting. The 3 "Best Darn Deals" I found in this chapter are the following:
1. Netiquette--I did not know that the intenet had their own word for etiquette. I like it. I have always tried to be respectful while communicating on the internet. A person can not take back any negative, hurt feelings. I like the name "flame wars". That is a perfect description, of some pretty nasty comments that I have seen posted. I am slowly learning the different meanings for abbreviations and how to make emoticons.
2. Blog--I have heard about blogs from a variety of media shows, but I never understood what they were or how they work. I am looking forward to learning about this form of communication. It took a little bit of work trying to figure out how to set my blog up and then to go back and type in my first posting.
3. Mark Zuckerberg--Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook. I was impressed that he was offered jobs from Microsoft and AOL, during his senior year in school. The idea he went to Harvard and came up with Facebook, is mind blowing. I am fairly familiar with Facebook. I do not play any of the games, but I do keep in contact with high school classmates that I haven't seen in years.
1. Netiquette--I did not know that the intenet had their own word for etiquette. I like it. I have always tried to be respectful while communicating on the internet. A person can not take back any negative, hurt feelings. I like the name "flame wars". That is a perfect description, of some pretty nasty comments that I have seen posted. I am slowly learning the different meanings for abbreviations and how to make emoticons.
2. Blog--I have heard about blogs from a variety of media shows, but I never understood what they were or how they work. I am looking forward to learning about this form of communication. It took a little bit of work trying to figure out how to set my blog up and then to go back and type in my first posting.
3. Mark Zuckerberg--Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook. I was impressed that he was offered jobs from Microsoft and AOL, during his senior year in school. The idea he went to Harvard and came up with Facebook, is mind blowing. I am fairly familiar with Facebook. I do not play any of the games, but I do keep in contact with high school classmates that I haven't seen in years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)