Computers and Notebooks

Computers and notebooks are among the most expensive purchases you can make. Why is it then, that so many make an uninformed decision when it comes to their technological needs? It may be because they what they think is a good deal and snatch it up before the sale ends or the item is sold out. Others may just need a new computer quickly to replace one that dies. When shopping for a new computer, you want to make sure you make a good decision that will last you at least a few years. One of the most important considerations will be whether you want a desktop or laptop computer.

Before you decide which type of computer you want, you should think about your needs regarding the item. Computers and notebooks can each be purchased with the same specifications, so you will not have to decide on one type just to get the things you need on the inside. Determine the size of hard drive and RAM you need. Think about the audio and video quality you want the computer to have. Do you need extras such as additional USB ports or webcam? These are all things to think about when buying a computer.

Once you have determined what you need, you begin looking at desktop or laptop computers. The main reason for choosing between the two is primarily your needs for portability. If you travel a good deal and need your computer with you, it is best to go with a laptop. However, if you are simply looking for something to keep on at home, a desktop computer may be a better choice for you. If you decide to go with a laptop, there are additional considerations, such as battery life and weight of the computer that should also be made.

Budget is another factor that should be considered when you are shopping for computers and notebooks. Computers have become a bit more affordable nowadays, but if you want a top of the line brand or model, you should expect to pay top dollar. Desktops tend to be cheaper than laptops, but that is probably because of the ability to carry laptop computers with you where ever you go. No matter which type you choose, there are a number of models that can be purchased for less than $1000.

As you can see, there are a few considerations that you should make before you start to shop for computers and notebooks. With the price of the item, you will want to make a well-informed decision so that the computer will last you several years. Think about the specifications you need, as well as whether you want to buy a desktop or laptop. Also, set a budget so that you do not break the bank when making your computer investment.

Disposing of Your Computers and Hardware Properly

The time will eventually come when you or your business has to get rid of the computer to make room for the new one. The big question that is often asked though, is how and where. This can range from recycling to donating the computer towards an organization or charity. However before you make your decision, you should also consider what you are getting rid of.

Consider the Data on Your Hard Drive
Whenever you delete something off of the hard drive by throwing it away in the recycle bin it is not technically deleted. What happens is that the file is dumped into a section of the hard drive known as "unallocated space." The file will remain there until it is overwritten by a process, or another file being written over it. You can think of it as your hard drive being a giant phone book with the pages as the files. If someone tears out a page of the phone book it does not mean that the numbers that were on that page will stop working. Whenever you dispose of your computer you should either have the drive physically destroyed, or use a program to wipe the entire hard drive. These programs go through and overwrite the data on the hard drive multiple times, thus destroying any information contained on it.

Donating Your Computer to an Organization or Charity
This is probably the best use of your old computer. Not only is the donation tax refundable, but you are providing help to some of these organizations who are often struggling for funds. Just be sure that before you donate it that you have deleted all of the data from the hard drive of the machine.

Recycling Your Old Computer
This is one of the more attractive options for those computers that are too old to be of any use, even when donated, or ones that do not work anymore. Computers and their components are full of heavy and precious metals like gold or lead. They are contain other components that are very harmful and can be dangerous should the their base chemicals make their way down into the local groundwater system. Most computer manufacturers will recycle old equipment when you buy a new computer from them. Check with the manufacturer of your new machine to see if they will take yours. Otherwise the Environmental Protection Agency is always willing to provide you with information on where to dispose of your computer.

Computer and IT Support

Computers and IT (Information Technology) in general are a very big part of a lot of business in today's world, they are used all of the country and worldwide for a number of different purposes. As with all technology they carry the risk of going wrong and not only that but some people simply find them hard to use and do not understand their operation.

To some people a computer can be a daunting prospect and to others the operation of them can come second nature. However if you fall in to the category of maybe needing a little help then there are a lot of companies out there that can offer you help. Often they are support lines, you call the company up and an operator will pick up, from here you explain your problem to them or what you need help with. Some companies will try and help you from this point, but larger support companies will often work out which department you need (from what you told them) and transfer you through.

More than often they will be able to help you there on the spot, they will explain what you have to do and run through it with you on the phone whilst you do what they tell you. In the odd case the problem cannot be solved some companies will be able to send out a technician to help you.

Be warned, these businesses operate a premium rate phone line, make sure you check how much the call will cost you per minute before calling.

Computers and Technology Can Help You Find Health Insurance

In today's advanced world of computers and technology, it seems like just about everything is simpler than it was 20, even 10, years ago. We can do many things much faster and easier thanks to computers and technology. We can avoid the cost of phone bills and postage by talking for free through instant messengers and emails. We can save on gas money (and our own energy!) by keeping up with our bank accounts, and even paying bills or shopping using our bank accounts, online. We can save the time it takes to head down to the local library to search for the books we need for a research paper by using the resources of the Internet to study and explore every topic under the sun.

And, best of all for some of us, we can even work from home thanks to computers and technology.

Whether we're freelance writers, graphic designers, editors, data entry workers, or even photographers, because of the advances in computers and technology, we can set up shop right in our own homes. No more commuting, no more annoying co-workers, and no more bossy bosses!

However, despite all the perks of using computers and technology to work from home, those of us who do work from home usually lack one thing - health insurance. When we're self-employed, or contracted by a particular business, health insurance packages aren't usually one of the perks of using computers and technology to work from home.

Therefore, it's up to those of us who do use computers and technology to work from home to search for our own health insurance policies. There's good news - the same computers and technology we use to work from home can help us search for health insurance companies that sell affordable health insurance policies for individuals.

So, the next time you log on to start work, remember to take a few minutes to find a health insurance policy.

How the CRTC Will Influence Cloud Computing and Technology Adoption in Canada

A ruling by the CRTC has the potentially change the landscape and stump growth for consumer technology as well as business. As it currently stands there are internet service providers that offer a no bandwidth or unlimited internet usage. Fair use net policies exist a reasonable solution for when the network is stressed or being bombarded seems to be a reasonable compromise for most users. The new net-usage policy is based on how much bandwidth you consume.

For users that surf and research topics of interest and for email will not be impacted as much. The rest of internet users that watch videos online, stream and download music will be affected adversely. Internet capping of data rates and usage could affect how technology is used. Higher internet usage fees means that using technology such as your PC, net books, smart phones and iPads can rapidly drop if bandwidth usage is capped.

Services such as Netflix and TekSavvy that depend on internet usage can be influenced in a negative direction if usage is capped. Be prepared to pay more for monthly internet packages and as you scale up.

One of the problems that result will be that of business users that rely on VOIP for their global communication strategies. We recently received an email that we have consumed over 75% of our monthly bandwidth usage which was very surprising as we don't stream or watch many videos online and this month not much if any streaming has occurred. It then occurred to me that Skype and VoIP are included in bandwidth usage. How will this impact on Vonage users and will this change the way Vonage will be billed and will users revert back to phone service for their business communication needs? How much will your cell phone package go up a month if that usage is capped, business users should brace themselves as their cell packages will increase. Business users that use the net from their smart phones will definitely be impacted. Will paying more for internet surfing impact the way iPads are used in Canada thus limiting adoption, how much will small business owners suffer with these new regulations? This one aspect of this decision.

Another major impact that may result is the adoption of cloud computing or SaaS for vendors. The products of cloud and SaaS vendors can be impacted especially for small businesses who are more prone to adopt cloud based technology. If you are currently using Salesforce, Plex, Netsuite another ERP, CRM or any other enterprise software that is cloud/SaaS based may be in for a surprise in their upcoming bills at least in Canada. This constitutes bandwidth usage so will this influence cloud adoption for enterprise software adoption and by how much especially with services such as backup/storage services, IT as a service and other outsourced services could possibly be affected and what about gaming? Will sales of video game consoles decrease because not only will games have to be purchased but now online usage will be charged based on usage especially length of time when joining gaming communities and participating in perpetual forums.

Know What is Running on Your Computer and How This Information Can Help Speed Up Your PC

One of the things that happens to many Windows users is that their computers end up slowing down over time. Much of this is attributed to virus issues, malware problems, and registry errors. There are programs to deal with each one of those. One problem that a user causes on their own is not knowing what programs are running on their computer at all times.

To find out what programs are currently open and running, the easiest way is to hit Control + Alt + Delete. Push these and hold all three down at the same time until you see a dialogue box come up. In that box click on "Processes". This brings up a list of the applications and programs that you are currently running.

Before you do anything be careful that you don't accidentally shut something off that is actually needed to keep Windows running properly. If you do shut something off, you will have to reboot to fix the problem.

Sort the programs by their ram usage to see what the biggest computer speed hogs are on your machine. You might notice quite a few applications are in your active RAM that you aren't currently using. Some of the usual ones are Microsoft Office running in the background or the iTunes Updater. You can end these processes to free up some RAM since you don't need these things running all the time.

Another important reason to look to see what is running is because something viruses and malware will show up here. You can see them open and running while using your computer. Many have become smarter about not showing up in this list but some still do. At times these can also be caught by looking at your bandwidth to see if these programs are sending or receiving data.

Once you understand what is going on with your machine, you will be able to maintain it much easier and help it run more efficiently.

News From the World of Social Media, Computer and Technology

Due to the latest innovations, the world has changed into a global village and has brought many changes. In this respect the internet has paid much contribution, not to mention social media like twitter and Facebook which has really altered and affected our lives.

Twitter being one of the best resources for finding breaking news and information, with more than 200 million accounts, has flourished in recent years. In December 2011, a new version of Twitter was launched, available for mobile phones, iPhone and Android. Anyone who has access to it can click any tweet in his/her timeline to expand it to see photos, videos, favorites etc. and can 'discover' and plunge into a stream of useful and entertaining information which are based on his/her current location, what he/she follows and what is happening in the world.

Another social-media, Facebook also enables users to share stories on their profile pages and update their status. In accordance with the latest updates, Facebook has now rolled out a way for its users to edit and re-write their comments, simply by a click on "edit or delete".

Moreover, Facebook has issued a new email for its users, replacing their primary email accounts, like Yahoo or Gmail with a Facebook.com account.

Computers have taken over every aspect of human culture. We use computers to work, play, do research, shop, stay in contact with friends, and more. The name which has ruled the whole computer world since its first launch in November 1985 is WINDOWS. It is the most used operating system in the world. But another technology of operating systems is coming ahead which will fully replace windows, named as MIDORI. The main idea behind it is to develop a lightweight portable OS which can be easily joined to various applications.

New computer technologies keep coming out continuously and nearly everyone wants to keep up with the latest computer technology that comes along. For example, laser printers have taken the place of ink-jet printers; auto makers are appealing to car buyers with new in-vehicle technology like LTE, digital review mirrors and advanced telematics systems.

There have been more inventions such as Robots with human expressions, 4 G Technology, 3-D Processor chips and latest phones. It is said that in the near future we will see holographic cell phones replacing the simple cell phones, enabling the user to walk next to a hologram of a friend or colleague.

According to a current research, Robots of future will develop the ability of generalization and will learn to manipulate objects. This will help them to adapt according to new environments. Making robots like these is a giant leap in robotics.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of United States has developed an unnamed aircraft which can stay in air for a period of 5 years at a time. It is one of the most recent inventions in technology of the world.

Computers And Technology in the Modern World Versus Living Like a Caveman With No Tech

Some folks out there are really upset with how technology is "ruining their lives" as they say. But is it the technology or is it the people who are allowing the technology that was suppose to make their lives easier making it more distracted, shallow and hurried? What if we had no tech at all and we all lived like cave dwellers? Realize, I only compared modern men with technology to cave men because Gieko did it!

Not long ago, an astute future thinker noted after reading an article; "Is Technology Good or Bad" that some of these modern devices do more harm than good, while others are very good for humanity. Well, indeed, this brings up a good point and if you read "Data Smog" and understand the Unabomber's Manifesto and see his points on this topic, you can understand where our astute thinker is coming from,

Perhaps, we should see technology as "tools" created by men, like the 100th Chimpanzee that used a rock to crack open sea shells for free sushi. Maybe we should see technology as neutral, like money. I like technology, you know like air-conditioners, heaters, ovens, telephones, and airplanes, don't you?

Some of the stuff takes people away from what it is to be human, as if that is noble in and of itself, I wonder? Perhaps, our astute thinker is right, maybe we need to get back to a more holistic lifestyle for humanity. Of course, that really ought to be a choice.

The holistic universe seems fine and humans have most likely forgotten more than they've ever known. The human mind is very powerful and most humans have the genetic potential to tap into it all, but don't perhaps distracted, by yes modern invention and tech devices.

Some day scientists will find a way to use micro chips to convert neuron-electrical impulses into one's and zero's to send thoughts - thought swapping communication over long distances. I'd say human probably already have that capability due to the cells and bacteria that makes us one with a larger system, quantum physics will one day prove that too.

But since, humans do not seem to be able to do this in and of their own will or do not know how, science and technology will find another way. Is that then an alternate genetic path, becoming one with machine, nanotech biotech manipulation of the overall system that we call human? Hard to say, but think on this using your mind?

Computers and Technological Innovations: A Way to Ease Life

Tired of the boring and routine work at the office? Bored with the bountiful paper works? Stressed in filing documents in cabinets and drawers? If so, you are one of the millions of employees who got hooked up with the traditional office operations and records keeping. To ease your burden, you need to use computers and other technological innovations to automate your operation and to ease your work load.

Scientists, manufacturers and companies continue to conduct research to innovate equipment and machines to give relief and comfort to everyday operations and routines, both at home, at school and at work. No matter where you are, what life you have and what work you do, you cannot escape technology. It is anywhere and everywhere you go.

Computers become a way of life for everyone. Majority of us cannot live and feel helpless without them. It cannot be denied that it has become a vital aspect in business, at home and in our personal lives. It enables everyone to communicate with friends, relatives, family members and loved ones despite the distance between them. It helps students in their assignments and research works. It provides comfort in filing and tracking of records, thereby saving time and money. It lets you purchase items via electronic commerce and enables you to pay bills through Internet banking. It makes data analysis fast and easy by a click of a computer mouse. It lets you keep track of your inventory and logistics.

Other technological innovations and their associated significance:

Cellular phones and iPhones. Enable users to communicate with colleagues, office mates, friends, family members and loved ones anytime and anywhere.
Washing Machines. Let homemakers do their laundry at less time and effort.
Photocopiers. Enable students, professionals, employees and ordinary individuals to copy vital documents.
Airbags. Can save the lives of both the driver and the passenger during car accidents.
Plasma television (TV). Enable you to watch movies, television programs and news at the convenience of your home.
Digital cameras. Let you capture important events and precious moments with a click of a button.
Hybrid automobiles. Enable users to travel and go places with less gasoline and without the danger of polluting the environment.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Enable doctors to see the presence to cancer cells and tumor.
Nanomedicine. A medical scheme that uses nanorobots to perform biological functions and medical procedures, such as repairing damaged tissues, attacking viruses and cancer cells and cleaning clogged arteries.
Laparoscopic surgery. A single incision surgery performed in a patients' navel, reducing complications and hastens recovery period.
Closed-circuit television. Used by several companies and organizations to see illegal activities, like robberies, shoplifting, murder, holdup and many more.
Automated teller machines. Let you withdraw money anytime and anywhere.
Hydroponics. An inexpensive gardening method that gives farmers increased production, controllable conditions and less risks of damage crops.

No matter what innovations you choose and used, it is of utmost importance to use them wisely, efficiently and effectively without harming other people and the environment.

Computer and Technology Crimes

Computer crimes, also known as cyber crimes, can be described as any criminal act that involves dealing with computers and internet networks. There are various types of cyber crimes committed by criminals.

Here are some of the different types of cyber crimes:

1. Back Door: This type of computer crime is useful during software piracy. It is possible to access commercially provided software packages only through procedures that are secret and hard-coded. However, back doors can be created and inserted into existing programs so as to gain unauthorized access to the software.

2. Data Diddling: This type of cyber crime can be explained as an act of modifying data from a computer system with the objective of either having fun or gaining profit. Some examples include modifying school grades, changing credit rating, altering security clearance information or circumventing audit regulations.

3. Sabotage: This computer crime is committed with a deliberate intention of damaging operation or the equipment.

4. Data Leakage: This can be explained as unauthorized leakage of confidential information present in a computer system. One can accomplish this crime either physically through different kinds of storage devices or by means of network through a process known as hacking.

5. Impersonation: Every secured site needs an authorization code to gain access, Impersonation is a cyber crime that involves gaining access to a secured site by means of pretending to be an authorized used.

6. Logic Bomb: These are special programs written by software programmers with the intention of committing a crime. These programs work in the same way as a time bomb. However, they need a logic in order to trigger and explosion. A logic bomb is a type of Trojan that can damage the entire data present in a system.

Computers and Technology in the Academic Learning of Young Children

In today's world, computers have become a familiar fixture in the daily lives of children and adolescents, offering a wide range of learning and entertainment tools.

While surveys have indicated that boys are heavier users of computer games and visit websites more often than girls, no gender differences have emerged for chatting, using e-mail, or doing schoolwork on the computer. Additionally, both teenage boys and girls have expressed equal confidence in their computer skills.

On average, parents estimate that their school-age children and adolescents use the computer approximately 1.5 hours per day. Computers, electronic games and toys, and technology in general largely influence and affect the lives of children. Technology has thus proven to be largely capable of enriching the lives of children, especially in the areas of academic and social learning and development.

Computers for instance, can have rich cognitive and social benefits. Children as young as 3 years of age like computer activities and are capable of typing in simple commands on a standard keyboard. Additionally, in today's classrooms, small groups often gather around the machine, and children more often collaborate while working with the computer instead of using traditional paper and pencil methods.

As soon as children start to become literate (being able to read and write), they can make use of the computer for word processing. This lets them write without struggling with handwriting, and they can revise text meanings and style, and check their spelling. As a result, children tend to worry less about making mistakes, and their written products end up longer and of higher quality.

Specially designed computer languages introduce children to programming skills. With the support of adults, children's efforts with computer programming can lead to improved concept formation, problem solving and creativity. Furthermore, as children must detect errors in their programs to make them work, programming will assist them in reflecting on their though processes. This will inevitably lead to gains in meta-cognitive knowledge and self-regulation. Also, while programming, children are particularly likely to collaborate, persist in the face of challenge, and demonstrate positive attitudes toward learning. This is consistent with Vygotsky's theory in showing that social interaction supporting children's mastery of challenging computer tasks is capable of fostering a wide range of higher cognitive processes.

Children and adolescents spend much time using home computers purely for entertainment purposes. Many computer games emphasize speed and action in sometimes violent plots where children advance by shooting at and evading enemies. Children additionally play more complex exploratory and adventure games with themes of conquest and aggression and sports games. These include football and soccer. Children likewise enjoy simulation games, for example creating and caring for virtual pets (which require attention to "stay alive"), entering virtual realities (such as an ecosystem where the player mutates plants and animals into new species), and role-playing characters.

Speed-and-action computer games cultivate attentional and spatial skills in both boys and girls. However, while offering opportunities for learning, extensive playing of simulation games might risk blurring the distinction between virtual and real life.

Many youths use the computer to communicate. While using the internet causes some potential for causing disengagement from real life, it does hold much value in letting users acquire computer skills, information, and enabling communication.

History of the Computer - Computers and Technology

The volume and use of computers in the world are so great, they have become difficult to ignore anymore. Computers appear to us in so many ways that many times, we fail to see them as they actually are. People associated with a computer when they purchased their morning coffee at the vending machine. As they drove themselves to work, the traffic lights that so often hampered us are controlled by computers in an attempt to speed the journey. Accept it or not, the computer has invaded our life.

The origins and roots of computers started out as many other inventions and technologies have in the past. They evolved from a relatively simple idea or plan designed to help perform functions easier and quicker. The first basic type of computers were designed to do just that; compute!. They performed basic math functions such as multiplication and division and displayed the results in a variety of methods. Some computers displayed results in a binary representation of electronic lamps. Binary denotes using only ones and zeros thus, lit lamps represented ones and unlit lamps represented zeros. The irony of this is that people needed to perform another mathematical function to translate binary to decimal to make it readable to the user.

One of the first computers was called ENIAC. It was a huge, monstrous size nearly that of a standard railroad car. It contained electronic tubes, heavy gauge wiring, angle-iron, and knife switches just to name a few of the components. It has become difficult to believe that computers have evolved into suitcase sized micro-computers of the 1990's.

Computers eventually evolved into less archaic looking devices near the end of the 1960's. Their size had been reduced to that of a small automobile and they were processing segments of information at faster rates than older models. Most computers at this time were termed "mainframes" due to the fact that many computers were linked together to perform a given function. The primary user of these types of computers were military agencies and large corporations such as Bell, AT&T, General Electric, and Boeing. Organizations such as these had the funds to afford such technologies. However, operation of these computers required extensive intelligence and manpower resources. The average person could not have fathomed trying to operate and use these million dollar processors.

The United States was attributed the title of pioneering the computer. It was not until the early 1970's that nations such as Japan and the United Kingdom started utilizing technology of their own for the development of the computer. This resulted in newer components and smaller sized computers. The use and operation of computers had developed into a form that people of average intelligence could handle and manipulate without to much ado. When the economies of other nations started to compete with the United States, the computer industry expanded at a great rate. Prices dropped dramatically and computers became more affordable to the average household.

Like the invention of the wheel, the computer is here to stay.The operation and use of computers in our present era of the 1990's has become so easy and simple that perhaps we may have taken too much for granted. Almost everything of use in society requires some form of training or education. Many people say that the predecessor to the computer was the typewriter. The typewriter definitely required training and experience in order to operate it at a usable and efficient level. Children are being taught basic computer skills in the classroom in order to prepare them for the future evolution of the computer age.

The history of computers started out about 2000 years ago, at the birth of the abacus, a wooden rack holding two horizontal wires with beads strung on them. When these beads are moved around, according to programming rules memorized by the user, all regular arithmetic problems can be done. Another important invention around the same time was the Astrolabe, used for navigation.

Blaise Pascal is usually credited for building the first digital computer in 1642. It added numbers entered with dials and was made to help his father, a tax collector. In 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a computer that was built in 1694. It could add, and, after changing some things around, multiply. Leibnitz invented a special stopped gear mechanism for introducing the addend digits, and this is still being used.

The prototypes made by Pascal and Leibnitz were not used in many places, and considered weird until a little more than a century later, when Thomas of Colmar (A.K.A. Charles Xavier Thomas) created the first successful mechanical calculator that could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. A lot of improved desktop calculators by many inventors followed, so that by about 1890, the range of improvements included: Accumulation of partial results, storage and automatic reentry of past results (A memory function), and printing of the results. Each of these required manual installation. These improvements were mainly made for commercial users, and not for the needs of science.

While Thomas of Colmar was developing the desktop calculator, a series of very interesting developments in computers was started in Cambridge, England, by Charles Babbage (of which the computer store "Babbages" is named), a mathematics professor. In 1812, Babbage realized that many long calculations, especially those needed to make mathematical tables, were really a series of predictable actions that were constantly repeated. From this he suspected that it should be possible to do these automatically. He began to design an automatic mechanical calculating machine, which he called a difference engine. By 1822, he had a working model to demonstrate. Financial help from the British Government was attained and Babbage started fabrication of a difference engine in 1823. It was intended to be steam powered and fully automatic, including the printing of the resulting tables, and commanded by a fixed instruction program.

The difference engine, although having limited adaptability and applicability, was really a great advance. Babbage continued to work on it for the next 10 years, but in 1833 he lost interest because he thought he had a better idea; the construction of what would now be called a general purpose, fully program-controlled, automatic mechanical digital computer. Babbage called this idea an Analytical Engine. The ideas of this design showed a lot of foresight, although this couldn't be appreciated until a full century later.

The plans for this engine required an identical decimal computer operating on numbers of 50 decimal digits (or words) and having a storage capacity (memory) of 1,000 such digits. The built-in operations were supposed to include everything that a modern general - purpose computer would need, even the all important Conditional Control Transfer Capability that would allow commands to be executed in any order, not just the order in which they were programmed.

As people can see, it took quite a large amount of intelligence and fortitude to come to the 1990's style and use of computers. People have assumed that computers are a natural development in society and take them for granted. Just as people have learned to drive an automobile, it also takes skill and learning to utilize a computer.

Computers in society have become difficult to understand. Exactly what they consisted of and what actions they performed were highly dependent upon the type of computer. To say a person had a typical computer doesn't necessarily narrow down just what the capabilities of that computer was. Computer styles and types covered so many different functions and actions, that it was difficult to name them all. The original computers of the 1940's were easy to define their purpose when they were first invented. They primarily performed mathematical functions many times faster than any person could have calculated. However, the evolution of the computer had created many styles and types that were greatly dependent on a well defined purpose.

The computers of the 1990's roughly fell into three groups consisting of mainframes, networking units, and personal computers. Mainframe computers were extremely large sized modules and had the capabilities of processing and storing massive amounts of data in the form of numbers and words. Mainframes were the first types of computers developed in the 1940's. Users of these types of computers ranged from banking firms, large corporations and government agencies. They usually were very expensive in cost but designed to last at least five to ten years. They also required well educated and experienced manpower to be operated and maintained. Larry Wulforst, in his book Breakthrough to the Computer Age, describes the old mainframes of the 1940's compared to those of the 1990's by speculating, "...the contrast to the sound of the sputtering motor powering the first flights of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk and the roar of the mighty engines on a Cape Canaveral launching pad". End of part one.

Computer and Technology Today

Computer plays an essential role people's day to day life especially at work place, schools and even in home. Twenty first century has been the age of so many technological advancements aimed for making the lives of people better. Computer helps them become more efficient in their work.

Computer technology in banking:

Technology has made our living easy and comfortable, for instance our banking needs. Previously people need to maintain the important data of their customers manually. But right now, in just one click, they would be able to find all the customers' data instantly. The customers are able to know about the transactions of their account by logging in to the bank website. Moreover, it is possible to apply for loans through online.

Improvements of computer technology:

Computer technology has improved our life style far better than before. Due to the emergence of internet and technology, the world has shrunk to a global village. Even though the advancement in internet creates new challenges like computer problems and virus threats, the computer technology like antivirus software made easy to overcome these problems.

Computer in food industry:

The automation and computerization in food processing units is facing lots of challenges if they are used nearby water catastrophic effects on any computer system. Most food processing units prefer waterproof computers to protect their computer systems from drenching in the production area.

Computer in medical field:

Hospital is an important organization and computers are used for the management of a hospital. The accounting, payroll and stock system of the hospital have been computerized in recent days. We can maintain the record of different medicines, their distribution and use in different wards etc. using computer. Even the disease can be diagnosed by entering the symptoms of a patient. Moreover, various computerized devices are used in laboratories for different tests of blood etc.

Computer in agriculture:

Nowadays agricultural industry is also making use of the computers. The analysis that was taken some few years before shows that 44% of the farmers in Ohio are using computers for various purposes. In 1991, only 32% of the farmers were making use of it. This shows that there is considerable increase in the farmers who are using computers. As internet becomes the means of communication, most farmers use this technological advancement for transaction processing or for retrieving information. The analysis shows that out of the total farmers who were surveyed, 80% of them are making use of the internet.

Computer in education:

Due to the globalization of education, so many challenges are posed by the new trends. In order to face all these challenges, information technology in the education sector is very important. It is essential that the students become familiar with the concept and use of information technology in order to equip them for future job market. Similarly, the faculty can achieve better quality in teaching methodology. The computer technology has developed in many fields. Its drastic development has created an immense impact in almost all the fields and thus leading to a new era.

Personal Computer Buyer's Guide

There are a lot of feature decisions that you can delve into including graphics, networking, expansion, speakers and audio, weight and size that can make buying a new personal computer for non-techies more of a pill than ever. But whether you opt to purchase an all-in-the box model to simplify matters, or decide to build your own system by selecting components, you need insight into the latest and greatest features so your system isn't technically obsolete before you exit the store. Here's new information on the basics (operating system, processor, monitor) that you'll want to know to find one that's just right for you and your finances.

Operating System

There's a version of Microsoft's dominant operating system to match the specific needs and budgets of most buyers. If you're in the market for a mainstream desktop or laptop, Windows Vista has a system for most buyer's budgets and computing needs. Vista Home Basic, Vista Business, Vista Home Premium, and Vista Ultimate are each slightly different.

Home Basic is the least expensive but offers little beyond the basics including Windows Movie Maker and Windows Photo Gallery. Vista Business adds remote access and support of system imaging; Vista Home Premium comes equipped with the Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker. Vista Ultimate offers all these features as well as encryption for stronger security. For most home users, the Home Premium version offers the best balance of price and features for everyday tasks. If you want Vista Business, prepare to add about $100 to the Home Premium price. For Vista Ultimate, you'll need to add about $130.

If you want a super-small and super-cheap laptop, check out the Dell Inspiron Mini or a similar tiny deskbound "netTop" that have attractive prices usually less than $300, laptop mobility, and features that people who like to play games really enjoy.

Processor

The big processor news for 2009 is in desktops. Intel introduced Core i7 with features such as a new 32-bit nanometer manufacturing process; an integrated memory controller and graphics processor. It will take a while for the Core i7's advantages to find their way into every PC makers' desktop lines and laptops will take even longer to integrate the Core i7, but there's no lack of choices for CPU s out there.

If you want a desktop with respectable power at a reason price, Intel's Core 2 Duo or AMD's Athlon X2 processors fit the bill. Most two-core CPUs cost under $200 but if paired with the right amount of memory and graphics card, you'll get all the processing oomph you need. If you have more than $200 to spend, a four-core chip will give your processing capabilities an even bigger boost. CPU's with Intel's Core 2 Extreme are the fastest quad-core chips available but you'll pay big-time for all that speed. You'll only want to consider a four-core if you're seriously into playing games on your computer.

On the mid range laptop side, look for systems that support Intel's Centrino 2 platform, which offers the highest bus speeds and new features for enhanced HD playback and wireless support. Laptop gamers should consider notebooks equipped with Intel's Core 2 Extreme series of CPUs for four cores of processing power.

Displays

Whether you have your sights on a laptop or desktop, you'll have to decide how much screen space you want. Get a slightly larger monitor screen that you think you'll need - once you discover how handy a big display can be, it's hard to go back. A good starting point for a desktop PC is a 19-inch widescreen display, which provides ample room for comparing documents side by side or displaying both your web browser and your email program onscreen at the same time.

If you're into movies, remember these numbers: 1920x1200. That display resolution, whether on a desktop monitor or laptop screen, will let you watch high-definition video and Blu-ray movies in their full glory. For desktops, that resolution tends to be available with a 24-inch monitor; on laptops you'll need at least a 17-inch screen. Warranty, Service and Support.

If You Wanted a Top Spec Tablet, and You Had a Budget, What Are Your Options?

One of the main things that everyone loves about iPad is the screen. It has a fabulous Retina display, which is specified as 2048 x 1536 pixels, making this an HD experience for reading, playing games and watching films. The other main point is the processing power. Now this is where the iVisture HD actually outperforms the iPad. The iPad runs a Dual Core processor with 1GB of RAM, whereas the iVisture runs a Quad Core processor with 2GB of RAM. Most people will agree that the RAM is key for usability, and having twice as much makes such a difference to the user's experience.

This unit is the closest specification I have seen to the iPad Retina, in many ways better. When you look through the specification, there is nothing I can see that would tempt me into looking at the iPad as an option, but you may not agree. The main draw of the iPad, has been the Retina display, which this unit comes with. A retina display is measured by the pixel size of 2048 x 1536 over the 9.7inch screen, that gives the very impressing 326 Pixels Per Inch (PPI). As a result of this highly compact pixel ratio, the definition when watching a film is truly amazing and provides incredible detail, clarity, contrast and colour. You have to see a screen playing an HD film, to really appreciate the depth and vibrancy. The other key element to a great Tablet is the touch screen, and in this case both screens have a 10 point touch. So in simple terms, you can use both hands to type - should you possess such skills as touch typing (I could probably use a 4 point touch for my typing skills). Regardless of your typing skills, there are some two player games that make use of this feature, but either way it adds to the great touch based experience we have witnessed with both Tablets.

For those that want processing power, the iVisture has a quad core processor over the dual core on the iPad. It also has 2GB of RAM, compared to the 1GB of the iPad. So if you want to run multiple apps or some heavy duty games, the iVisture will provide smooth gaming action or handle jumping between apps exceptionally. I have been using the iVisture for 8 months now, and the processing power is really important to the way I use a Tablet. This unit has performed really well at everything we have tested it with. The other key thing about having a high level processor is the unit will last longer. Let me explain. As technology moves forward and hardware is stretched further by the advancement of software, the processing power has always gone up. If you start with a low specification you will have to upgrade / replace your device.

The iVisture has 16GB of storage, and unlike the iPad you can expand it with a simple slot on the side, to add a further 32GB. As it is a slot, referred to as a micro SD card slot, you could then just swap over multiple cards. This means you could swap over your Micro SD Cards, although I guess most people wouldn't do that. But I have heard many people say "wake up apple, add expansion" Also because the iVisture has a Micro USB, I have used an adaptor to then connect my Samsung portable Hard Disk Drive, which gave me a further 1TB - Yes 1 Terabytes (or 1000 Gigabyte) of storage. I have all my films, pictures, video and all the kids programs loaded on this - Such an easy way to be portable with massive amount of instant storage.

I really like that the iVisture has the capacity to add a further 32GB, giving 48GB in total, by simply inserting a mini SD card into the side. And I love the fact that I can add a portable, external hard drive and the unit is capable of delivering power to that external device - making it portable, powerful and expandable.

Another great feature of the iVisture is the ability to connect it to the big screen of your HD TV. So in my case I move up from the 9.7inch to 42inch screen (great for films, games, pictures and just showing off). With the combination of the external HDD and the HDMI connection, this unit was incredible on our holiday. We had loads of music and kids programmes ready to play on the HD TV in the apartment we rented. And as many of you will know, entertaining two kids under three, is a full time job and if technology can lend a hand - it is very welcome. It meant the adults got a little time to sunbath. Best holiday ever, thank you iVisture.

The build quality of both units is impressive, with their nice metal case and amazing touch screen. They are both less than 10mm thin (iVisture 9.8mm and iPad 9.4mm) and they are not too heavy for a 9.7inch tablet at 0.62kg for the iViture and 0.65kg for the iPad. The iPad has the very well known round home button, where the iVisture has a number of buttons and the well known Home key graphic on the screen (like all Android's do - the outline of a house) - In short they are both a joy to hold and use. The iViture has the advantage of the amazing leather case and the fantastic keyboard that is included. I must point out the weight listed is just for the Tablet and not the keyboard, simply for direct comparison, you understand.

We have completely fallen in love with the iVisture and I have been using it now for over 8 months without any issues. As such I have to highly recommend the reliability of this Tablet.

While testing this Tablet, I have to say straight out of the box it was ready to go. I placed the tablet into its bespoke designed leather case that holds it really well, very snug and in perfect positioning for the buttons and both the front and back cameras. Powered it on and connected it to my WiFi. I then had the fun of adding loads of apps from the Android Play Store, after adding my gmail account settings (If you don't have a gmail account, you can simply create one during this setup process) That was it.

The keyboard feels like a metal style, high quality keyboard. I would say it was a little like an Apple MAC keyboard to use, as it has raised buttons that are square a slightly spaced from each other to avoid fat finger typo's.. I'm using it for this article, just a joy to type on. To connect this keyboard, I switched on the Bluetooth setting on the Tablet and then pressed the connect button on the keyboard. It popped up with a unique 4 digit code, that after entered meant they were paired between the Tablet and the keyboard; so simple, so quick and I only had to do this once.

I have fully charged the keyboard, and approx once a month I recharge the keyboard, but this has just become a habit as I have seen no sign that the battery has run completely down on the keyboard. You can also switch the keyboard off when not in use, which would save the battery even further. When you switch the Tablet back on the keyboard takes a second to connect to the tablet (no new code needed), and you are typing away again. What is also impressive is that when the iVisture notices the keyboard is connected the usual on-screen keyboard no longer appears, so you have the full screen without the graphical keyboard taking up a third of it. I also noticed that the keyboard it held in place by magnets and as such is really quick to remove and even use remotely away from the tablet. The case also doubles as a means of propping the screen up, either with or without the keyboard. You end up with something that looks a lot like a laptop, with touch screen.

In summary, this Tablet is the nicest I have ever used. The Retina display is simply perfect with 2048 x 1536 pixels you can simply see every detail. Zooming into pictures and text means you can just see the clarity so clearly on the screen, and not a square edged fuzz of pixels. The screen is the first thing that you will notice, and it is amazing. The touch screen is really precise and no near misses so far, even in the far corners where most Tablets let themselves down.

We have looked through the tech spec and in almost every way it beats the iPad Retina, and as it comes with the lovely keyboard included for £150 less than the iPad on its own. We see no reason to buy the more expensive fruit based tablet, and then have to also invest in a case and keyboard to replicate the same experience.

How To Speed Up Antivirus Scans on Windows 8

Most laptops and PCs are equipped with the Windows 8 operating system. It can be a hassle keeping it up to date and optimized. You want to use a nag free anti virus that is easy to use. Technophobes like myself would want to avoid the entire sage all together- no matter how dire the consequences are. In order to enjoy a stress free digital life you will have to explore quite a few DIY processes to be your own Systems administrator.

Most antivirus software will penetrate your hard disk to check for any lingering viruses or incredulous pieces of software. This means that the antivirus will check each piece of data for any viruses or Trojan - regardless if the file is old, new, or temporary. If you have a particularly large hard drive, the antivirus software can take many hours to complete a scan. You can decrease the time it takes for the virus scan to complete by deleting temporary files. As you delete programs and surf the web, pieces of information are embedded into your computer's hard drive. This can reduce the performance of your computer and make it sluggish.

Deleting Temporary Files On Windows 8

With your screen cleared of any inconspicuous Windows or programs, place your cursor to the bottom right of your screen. There will be a search box - this will allow you to search for any kind of program or Windows command on the whim. In the search box, type in "Disk Cleanup". You will see an option pop up saying "Free Disk Space by Deleting Unnecessary Files".

Your computer will usually have one hard disk where it installs most of its programs. If for some reason you have multiple hard drives or if you have an external hard drive that is connected to your desktop or laptop, then you will have to do a disk cleanup on each hard drive. Once the "Free Disk Space by Deleting Unnecessary Files" opens up, use the drop-down menu to select the hard drive that will have its temporary files deleted. The "Disk Cleanup Tool" will start to scan the hard drive and calculate how much free space you will potentially gain. Click on the check boxes then click on the "OK" button. Click on "Delete Files". Windows 8 will then take a couple of moments to delete these temporary files.

Once the deletion process is complete, restart your computer. Restarting the computer will turn off any background processes that may bog down the antivirus scan. You will find that the antivirus program will take a less time to complete the scan. Deleting temporary files can also help dismantle certain trojans or viruses from further infecting your system.

What Are Computers Used for in Space?

Many think of a spacecraft as an ultramodern vehicle loaded with the latest in modern computing that would put household computers to shame. However, due to the difficulty of operating computer hardware in the vacuum of space and the very limited amount of energy available aboard a spacecraft, most space computers are actually basic and decades old, only performing the simplest of functions.

1. Shuttles/Rockets

   • The ships themselves use computers for guidance, but the processing chips are actually quite slow. Since a spacecraft computer doesn't have to do a lot of quick calculations -- just enough to keep itself on a generally accurate course toward space -- it doesn't need a powerful chip. In fact, a high-speed processor sucks a lot of energy, which is precious on spaceships that have limited space for energy storage and need all of it to do other tasks.
     

   Space Probes

   • Space probes use computers to gather scientific data, process it and store it. They face a difficult problem in that the computers they host generate heat which can't be dissipated by fans or liquid cooling in the vacuum of space. Many probes use old tape drives for data storage, as most modern hard drives won't work in space.
     

   Satellites

   • Satellites also use basic computers for guidance and other basic tasks, as most of the technology is in their sensors and antennas. Companies are more concerned with the reliability of a satellite and don't want to have to replace it because of a computer malfunction, and prefer to host most computational power on the ground. However, as the cost of launching satellites drops, companies may opt for greater computational power on a satellite in the future, leading to space-based data servers, for example.
     

   Crews

   • International Space Station crews use modern laptop computers for a number of different tasks, such as payload management, navigation, avionics and support. As of March 2011, the space station had 119 laptop computers, which control a variety of platforms. The laptops usually last about three or fours years. Getting new laptops can be a tricky and expensive proposition, since testing new hardware for space and delivering it to the space station are time-consuming processes.
     

What Is the Difference Between Hyper Threading & Multi-Core Technology

Hyper-threading and multi-core central processing unit technologies both improve system performance by increasing the amount of work the device can do in the same relative amount of time. However, hyper-threading and multi-core technologies approach performance gains differently, and both can be used simultaneously. Hyper-threading optimizes processes to improve CPU efficiency, while multi-core technology adds the equivalent to multiple processors in a single chip. Hyper-threading is a proprietary Intel technology, whereas any CPU maker can implement multiple-cores.



Threads and Processes




A single-core CPU doesn't actually multitask: rather, it's so fast at switching between tasks or threads that it gives the user the the impression and experience of running multiple programs at the same time. The processor divides how much of its time will be dedicated to each process in a given interval, and swaps between tasks rapidly to create the multi-tasking user environment. For example, if you're running Windows Media Player and editing an image in Adobe Photoshop, the CPU may be dividing its resources so that 10 percent goes to WMP, 30 percent goes to Adobe Photoshop, 20 percent goes to Windows, 10 percent goes to various other tasks and the remaining 30 percent is left unused.
Multi-core




Adding a second core to a CPU adds what the computer hypothetically doubles as processing power: a second core is like running two single-core processors. If the computer has multiple processors or a multi-core processor, it can actually run multiple tasks simultaneously. Multi-core CPUs can still only handle individual threads as fast as each CPU's clock-speed allows. However, programs can be written to split up tasks over multiple threads to take advantage of the multi-core technology. A computer that's running a dozen tasks at once can decrease how often it jumps between threads for each CPU in a multi-core environment.
Hyperthreading




Hyper-threading creates the effect of adding an additional core to an existing CPU, allowing it to more efficiently handle thread switching. The CPU is the fastest part of the computer, and it can only process information as fast as the rest of the computer can bring it over — this leads to inefficiencies when switching between tasks. If there's no information for the CPU to process, no work can be completed and the missed cycles are left unused. Hyper-threading helps organize multiple threads more efficiently so they can be passed to the CPU to process in the previously unused cycles. According to PC Stats, a CPU without hyper-threading typically runs at about 60 percent efficiency, whereas the use of this technology improves the efficiency to around 90 percent.
Drawbacks




Hyper-threading and multi-core technology improves general computer performance and multitasking capabilities in almost every situation. According to PC Magazine, hyper-threading may hinder individual thread performance, so users may see a performance improvement without hyper-threading when running just one thread at a time. Software needs to be written to take advantage of multiple threads to see performance boosts. Single-thread programs are unable to take advantage of multi-core and hyper-threading processors.

How to Write an Academic Paper on Computer Technology

Writing an academic paper on computer technology is similar to writing for any other subject area; you must have a clear thesis statement that is supported in the body paragraphs of your paper. Writing an essay is meant to prove to your teacher or reader your mastery of the subject, and you must research your topic thoroughly. Many technical papers follow an essay-like structure, but other research papers may include your research methods, results and discussion.

1. Essay

   • 1
     Research your topic. You want to truly understand your subject and be able to support your ideas or methods.
     
   • 2
     Write your thesis statement. "People have become too dependent on computer technology, which will lead to problems in the future" is an example of a thesis statement.
     
   • 3
     Write your introduction, in which you clearly state the purpose of the paper. Use an attention-getter to start the introduction, and end with your thesis.
     
   • 4
     Introduce body paragraphs that support your thesis statement. Use experiments or data that researchers have collected. You can also use quotations and statistics. For example, you must explain why or how people are too dependent on technology and how this reliance is detrimental to society.
     
   • 5
     Finish your paper with a conclusion, which should begin with a restatement of your thesis. Summarize your main points, and do not add any new information.
     

   Research Paper

   • 6
     Research your topic. You want to support your research project with experiments that have been done in the past.
     
   • 7
     Determine what question you want to answer in your paper. Answering the question "Do people use the computer too much each day?" through research is a question for a research paper.
     
   • 8
     Write a background section of your paper, in which you summarize other research that has been done in the past and how it relates to your research. Write your method section, which explains how you conducted your research. This section should include any materials you used and should be very specific, so that you or others can repeat the research. Complete your results. Put any statistics or data in a table or graph for a visual aid. Tell your reader your findings from your research in this section.
     
   • 9
     Write the discussion of your results. The results section should be only the data you collected from your research, and your discussion is your explanation of the results and what they mean.
     
   • 10
     Finish your paper with a conclusion that may restate the problem or question you wanted to answer with your research, the main conclusions from your data and discussion, and what actions should be taken for future research.
     

How to Strip Computers

That old computer sitting in your garage or basement isn't necessarily a useless piece of junk. Even old computers have parts that can be stripped and used with other working computers. You can use the parts to replace broken parts on other computers, sell the parts, or use the parts from several stripped computers to build a new computer. The practice of stripping computers for parts to use in other computers is commonly referred to as "cannibalizing." The logic behind cannibalizing is that you can keep three broken computers or cannibalize one and have two working computers.


How to Strip a Desktop Computer

Shut down the computer and disconnect all cables and peripherals, including the power cable.

Open the computer case by removing the screws on the back panel and sliding the side or sides off.

Disconnect all internal cables that connect computer parts together and remove them from the case if possible.

Unscrew the hard drives and optical drives from the computer's bays and slide them out. The drives might be screwed in on multiple sides.

Disconnect all peripheral cards from the motherboard -- they look like boards sticking perpendicularly out of the computer -- by removing the screw mechanism holding the edge of each card in place and gently pulling the card away from the computer.

Remove the memory modules by depressing the lever on the locking mechanisms on both ends of each stick and lifting the sticks out.

Remove the computer's power supply by unscrewing it from the case and sliding it out of the holding mechanism.

Disconnect the motherboard from the case by removing the screws that hold the board to the case. There are usually seven to 12 screws.
How to Strip a Laptop Computer

Shut down the computer, disconnect the power cable, and eject the battery. The battery is usually removed from the back of the computer and has one or two slider switches that you push to release it.

Turn the laptop upside down and remove all the screws holding down removable panels on the bottom of the computer.

Slide all the removable panels off the bottom of the laptop -- you may need to use a wedge.

Remove the hard drive from the laptop if you can see it under one of the removed panels.

Slide the memory modules up and out to remove them if you can see them. You may need to release the modules by pushing some retaining levers.

Remove the screws or slide the eject levers -- similar to the ones on the battery -- connecting the optical disc drive to the laptop, if the laptop has one. The drive should then slide out.

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Communication Technology Pros and Cons

Communication technology refers to electronic communication, like cell phones, social networking websites, and email. The effect of communication technology on the communication process is plentiful. Some of these effects are positive, while others are negative.

Pro - Accessibility

Communication technology has created many electronic communication tools. These electronic communication tools have made the world a more connected place.

Con - Nonverbal Communication

In face to face communication, nonverbal communication, like facial expressions and body language, reinforces your message. Communication technology does not allow for nonverbal communication.

Pro - Mass Communication

Electronic communication, especially email, makes sharing information with a large group of people easy. Many businesses and academic institutions use electronic communication to send information to a large number of people.

Con - Digital Divide

Not everyone has the same level of expertise with communication technology. The difference in communication technology skills within groups of people is known as the digital divide.

Pro- Social Relief

People who are socially awkward in person can interact easier with others through electronic communication. Chat rooms, online forums, and dating websites are among the technology which can relieve the socially awkward.

Con - Laziness

Communication technology creates laziness for some people. People who use electronic communication to talk to somebody in the same room are displaying lazy behavior.

IT & Computer Maintenance Job Description

Information technology and computer maintenance professionals, specialists and technicians have become ubiquitous in today's computing and IT-intensive work, and business environments. An IT maintenance professional's job responsibilities encompass installing, testing and monitoring large computer and hardware systems, Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks; troubleshooting and solving IT-centric issues and ensuring smooth running of all IT systems. The primarily hardware-centric job description has broadened to include maintaining or repairing peripherals components, multiple software and storage devices, and monitoring help desk applications.

Educational Requirements

• Computer maintenance professionals generally have associate degrees in computer science, information technology, telecommunications or electronics engineering. Other professionals can enhance their market value with varied IT certifications offered by Novell, Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA. Expert tinkerers or individuals with exceptional technical skills, knowledge and adaptability but with no formal degrees also find employment as PC technicians in many small and medium businesses and non-profit groups.
  

Primary Responsibilities

• Computer maintenance professionals or specialists plan, design, test, install and connect computers and workstations in a network; troubleshoot hardware, network and software problems; fix and repair PCs; address security and performance issues and systems crashes in large corporations and businesses. They also address help desk and Internet connectivity issues, and ensure that employees can functions in a trouble-free manner. IT maintenance technicians employed with computer manufacturers and big-box retailers generally diagnose, troubleshoot, fix, replace parts and repair PCs as well as install computer security programs.
  

Additional Knowledge/Attributes

• Computer and IT maintenance professionals deal with fast-changing technology and constantly evolving and overlapping job responsibilities. They must show the willingness to gain new knowledge and technical skills apart from the specific educational qualifications. They must keep abreast of latest developments in hardware and software technologies; understand protocols, networks and operating systems such as Linux, UNIX, Novell NetWare and Microsoft and new-generation Web-based applications. A basic comprehension of peer-to-peer networks, email systems and network architecture models is also becoming important.
  

Varied Job Settings

• Employment opportunities and workplace settings have increased with widespread use and deployment of computer systems and IT/Web-based applications. Computer and IT maintenance professionals with different specializations build, monitor and maintain large IT systems, data center facilities and networks in government agencies, large-workforce corporations, high-tech firms, educational institutions, retail, media and entertainment businesses. Others work with specialized computer retail stores such as CompUSA and Microcenter. Experienced IT maintenance professionals work as independent consultants or are part of small and medium IT repair/maintenance shops.
  

Required Tools of the Trade

• IT and computer maintenance professionals and specialists always work with a set of tools and allied technological aids. They have to always be on call or alert to respond to specific queries, IT-related or help-desk issues in most large office environments. They are always on the move during working hours and have to be equipped with exhaustive tools and paraphernalia of the trade. While fixing issues physically on site or location, they need software troubleshooting CDs, hardware tools, testers, hand toolboxes, software-loaded USB drives, Boot CD with diagnostic programs, anti-virus programs, utility, applications and PC security CDs.
  

4 Tips to Get More Views on a YouTube Video

How to get more views on a YouTube video?

Video marketing has become one of the most important assets in the networking world and there's no better place than YouTube to get your business going. But in actuality, it's not so easy to gather subscribers for your channel unless and until you promote it with good content. Speaking of which, here are few ways to increase those views on your YouTube videos and entice people to click on that subscribe button. A lot of businesses uses YouTube. Users of YouTube are increasing continuously and its user ratio will grow further with the time.

Interact with people on YouTube

YouTube means watching videos! This is the biggest myth that needs to broken. YouTube is itself a social networking site where you can interact with people or groups relevant to your niche. Search for videos similar to the ones you post, comment on it and leave an advice with your video's link at the footer. This way you'll get a significant amount of organic traffic and this way your Alexa will improve.

Content is the king

This statement remains universal and evergreen and will remain the same forever. If you give your audience something worth a watch, they will definitely recommend it to others through sharing on Facebook or Twitter. One quality video is ten times better than hundred pieces of crap; you never know that could go absolutely viral in few hours.

Tag, title and description

You can do all the hard work to formulate a mind-blowing video, but if you are unable to impress the search engines with the key words, you may have done it all wrong. Add a proper title to your video and make use of the Google keyword tool to sort out the low competition and high search volume keywords. Use them in the description and tag them along with the video. This could well be a difference between thousands of views and hundreds of subscribers.

Social networking sites

Nowadays, social networking sites have become a hub of marketers. Anything new and it goes absolutely viral within minutes. Get a Facebook or a twitter page for your business; build an audience on the merit of your video and let that number roll with every share and like. Google or any other search engine loves organic traffic and there's no better way than this to get it.

Choosing an Excellent SEO Company

If you have a business online, you will understand the importance of always being able to attract a steady flow of new business. This ensures that income remains steady and at a level to let your company continue to operate. This article suggests ways to identify an excellent SEO company to work with.

SEO is a specialist method of raising the visibility of a website or e-commerce company so that it is more attractive to a target audience. This is done by implementing a range of tactics designed to improve a website's rankings on the search engines, and by increasing natural activity on a company's website and social media platforms.

Choosing the best team to work with requires care and research. If you have a solid network of business colleagues, it is always worth asking for a recommendation. You can also go online and search for a reputable company. The best companies will have excellent websites which give detailed information about their services. They should also have a blog with informative articles. In addition, look for genuine feedback from clients who have successfully worked with the team before. You should also do a search online for that company, just to make sure there is no negative information about it.

By doing this you will be able to find a good team with an excellent reputation and you are more likely to avoid the disreputable companies.

Once you have chosen a few companies, get in touch with them and ask them about their services. You are looking for a company that offers a wide range of services that can be used to create a specific plan for your company. A good SEO team will be keen to work with you to establish your needs. They will take the time to find out about your business and then develop a plan that suits your timescales, budgets, and your aspirations.

Make sure you do not hire a company that uses unethical techniques. These are illegal activities which can be extremely damaging to your company. They involve spam, fake back links, and keywords stuffing. They can also involve fake followers and other underhanded techniques. Fortunately, the search engines are more capable of spotting this unethical activity. However, you still need to take care not to choose a company that operates in this way. If you are caught, it is your company that will be penalized by the search engines, not the SEO provider.

If you are unsure, simply ask questions. The best teams will be more than happy to answer them for you. They will also be able to give you examples of previous work for clients. A team with an impressive portfolio, an excellent team of gifted professionals, and an excellent reputation, will have all the information to give you and be able to answer your questions quickly.

By working with an excellent team, you will be giving your business every chance for success online. If you want to increase sales, grow your customer base and build the recognition of your band, a good SEO team will be able to help you.