Author Archives: Guest Post

5 Things to Consider When Looking for a Library Science Degree Online

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Library science degree

If you plan to get your library science degree online, spend some time researching online schools and programs to make sure they meet your needs. The online college should have a solid reputation and offer programs that fit your schedule and career goals. Here are five things to consider before you enroll.

Program Quality and Accreditation

Image via Flickr by Thomas Hawk

If a college meets a very high standard of educational excellence, a peer review board gives it an accreditation. You will gain a quality education and good career prospects if you check the school’s accreditation before signing up to study for your library science degree online. Employers are more likely to hire graduates from accredited online colleges because they know that the degree comes from a trustworthy institution. The American Library Association provides a list of accredited master’s degree programs in library and information studies.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities

The cost of earning your library science degree online can vary depending on which school you choose and how many credits you will need to complete your degree.  Many schools offer scholarship opportunities, and most offer help with financial aid to lower your tuition costs. Knowing what type of library science jobs you want to apply for after graduation can help you understand what online colleges offer courses that will be worth your investment.

General and Specialized Programs

Image via Flickr by Chris Devers

Some online colleges offer a general education in library science. Others give you the opportunity to focus on a specialty. For example, if you like working with geography and map collections, you can choose a program with a focus on geographic information systems. If technology fascinates you, look for courses you can use to prepare for a career as a technical trainer or technology coordinator. You can also explore programs for library science careers in business, law, and medicine.

Flexibility and Part-time Schedules

Online degree programs are an attractive option for students who need flexibility or part-time schedules, but every school is different. Ask the school about their level of flexibility and what hours instructors will be available to answer your questions. You can also discuss how long it will take to complete your degree based on your scheduling and college credit needs.

Entrance Requirements

Check with the college to see what they will need when it is time to enroll. Some online colleges allow you to transfer credits from courses you have already completed, while others do not. Some will ask for a GRE or GMAT score while others only need you to prove that you have related work experience.

Before choosing an online school, it is important to do thorough research. You will get access to quality courses, good instructors, and more job opportunities when you get your online library science degree from an accredited institution. Think carefully about your interests and goals so you can choose a school that will prepare you for a successful career in the library science specialty of your choice.

Technology and the Student

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Technology and students

Before the internet, students had little choice in how to receive an education. If they wanted to ask a question, they had to wait for their professor’s office hours. If they wanted to ask a question of a fellow student, they either had to reach the person by phone or speak to them in person. It’s amazing how much has changed in a single generation of technology. Today’s students are blessed with technologies that make learning easier than ever before.

Technology in the Classroom

We live in the smart device era now. The ubiquity of phones and tablets has led to an unprecedented explosion in the development of educational enhancements. If any educational need has ever been expressed, some savvy programmer has attempted to invent a solution via an app. The result is that as long as a student has access to a smart device, they have a proverbial world of information at their fingertips. And since the University of Florida recently concluded that 98% of their students use smart devices, they do have that access.

Smart devices apps of note can be as broad in nature as Instagram or as specific as Snoozerr Recordings. Instagram is the embodiment of the proverb that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a meaningful image of a whiteboard can go a long way toward studying for the big test. Snoozerr Recordings is an audio recorder that protects narcoleptic students who make an effort to go to class but fail to stay awake the entire lecture.

The most important aspect of education is the classroom itself. In order to get the most out of each class, you need to take the best notes. Enter the Livescribe Sky Smartpen. While it costs about 100 times as much as a 10-pack of pens, you get what you pay for. The Livescribe is an audio recorder combined with a digital pen. It gives the student the ability to record the entire lesson while simultaneously taking applicable class notes, which are instantly relayed to an Evernote account for later access.

Technology outside the Classroom

Almost as important as taking notes is interacting with your professor outside of class. Older students may be surprised to learn that email is no longer the most popular form of interaction. A professor at Purdue discovered during his interactions with undergraduates that while students spend over two hours a day on the internet, only six minutes a day of that time is used for email. Instead, social media and texting are the preferred communication methods of choice.

The other part of education is the collaborative process. A key part of the college experience is sharing and debating topics with other students. Since this is the internet generation, most college attendants have been trained in this manner since childhood. Texting has become the de facto option for communication due to its convenience and ease of use. It is far from the only option, though. Podio is perhaps the best-known app for cloud collaboration between students. It allows for instant work-sharing from multiple users. Entire class projects can be completed using Podio.

Other Important Technologies for Students

Not every technology is geared toward the actual learning experience, but that doesn’t reduce their importance. The USB thumb drive is a great example of an item that is taken for granted right up until the user needs to transfer large files from a university computer to their own laptop. A MiFi is a portable cellular device that provides students with internet access. It is a terrific fail-safe for those times when a student has no access to the university wireless network.

Perhaps the best technological device is the e-reader. The ultimate in portability, the e-reader enables students to store all of their textbooks on a single device. It is functionally perfect and more economical than buying physical books to boot.

Technology is growing at an exponential rate. Each iteration enables students with even better apps and tech toys to enrich their educational experience. Any student seeking to improve his grades should investigate all of the suggestions above. For further details about technology and students, read this post on college students and tech from Campusbooks.com

Apple Makes Souffles, Samsung Makes Spaghetti

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Apple logo

Tired of car analogies being used for tech companies and the products they make? Me too. I’m hungry. Let’s go for a food analogy. What could possibly go wrong? Let’s find out.

It’s that time of year again when Apple gives us a peek at all the goodies they have been teasing about all year. But Apple is not alone.

Everyone knows Apple will be unveiling the next generation of iPhone on September 9th: presumably, the iPhone 6. It is expected to come in two sizes: bigger, and biggerer. Naturally, Samsung has to get out there a few days earlier with an update to its big phone. Everyone else with a flagship has also staged an event.

But the real excitement is around the expected unveiling of the iWatch. Yes, I’m just going to go ahead and call it the iWatch. If Apple calls it anything else, they’re wrong! Apple can insist their music player is the iPod touch. But everyone else knows it’s the iTouch.

The iWatch is the only smart time piece anyone has cared about since the rumors started flying early last year. The only reason we have the Galaxy Gear is because, as usual, Samsung decided to make spaghetti and just throw something up against the wall to see what sticks. And they wanted to make sure they got their product out there before Apple. You might think of it as preemptive copying.

Samsung’s first smartwatch effort was a lamentable mess. They quickly turned their back on the first batch, and started cooking up a second right around the time buyers remorse could set in for the original gear. Thinking Apple’s iWatch was imminent, they threw out more smartwatches. This time, there were three: The Gear 2, Gear Fit, and Gear Neo. There were credible rumors that the Apple watch would focus on fitness. So they made sure they had the fitness angle covered.

But those watches just ended up being more spaghetti on the wall, while Apple’s iWatch was still baking. Obviously, Apple was not making a quick and dirty dish like spaghetti. They were baking a souffle. It is a dish that has to be carefully prepped and baked with delicate technique and timing. Any indelicate handling or impatience with the process would cause it to fail.

Meanwhile, the dining room has been getting rowdy. Everyone only showed up for a taste of the iWatch souffle. They have been demanding that Apple hurry it up. Either take it out of the oven or take it off the menu. Still, they wait, and the line to get in keeps growing. Many have been contenting themselves with Samsung noodles and Pebble meatballs. Curiously, no matter how much spaghetti Samsung makes, people keep waiting for the iWatch souffle. Why?

Testing

No one knows what methods Apple uses for testing product concepts. However, they do it, and they do it well. Even generation one of an Apple product is quite good. They are usability experts. When you pick up an Apple product, it feels like they thought of everything.

When you pick up a new Samsung product, it feels like you are a beta tester. This is even more true with Samsung software. One of the things that almost universally surprised and disappointed those of us who covered the unveiling of the Galaxy S4 event was the degree to which nothing worked. It all felt half-baked, slapped together. At Apple events, journalists are always gushing about how well the announced features seem to work.

What Samsung lacks is a disciplined testing program for the software products they release. What they need is a greater commitment to software testing that doesn’t take shortcuts through critical processes. Major firms have the kind of test automation that allows companies to:

  • •Easily create test cases for UI and non-UI functions and use them for manual and automated testing
  • •Achieve automation rates greater than 90% for end-to-end testing
  • •Enjoy the advantages of services virtualization and minimize maintenance efforts with a model-based approach

Experience

To carry our metaphor to the breaking point, People pass up meal after quick service meal for Apple’s annual offering because they want an experience not found elsewhere. Apple products are known for providing end-user experiences that seem to transcend the technology bits. This was best stated in Apple’s iPad 2 ad entitled, “We Believe”:

This is what we believe. Technology alone is not enough. Faster, thinner, lighter: those are all good things. But when technology gets out of the way, everything becomes more delightful, even magical.

Apple’s competitors sell products. Apple’s sells experiences. Spaghetti is just food. A souffle is an experience.

In defense of spaghetti

Despite the care taken to make it, and the experience of enjoying a nice souffle, most people have never had one. They can’t cook it, nor do they go to the kinds of restaurants that serve it. But almost everyone loves a good dish of spaghetti. It is easy to make with countless variations. It is quick, cheap and accessible just about anywhere. If you are hungry, spaghetti may not be the best meal you’ve ever had, but it is filling. And you can have some right now. No waiting.

What I’m saying, in case you have lost the thread of the metaphor, is that there is something to be said for Samsung’s method. It is not all bad. It has been a good appetizer. But let’s be honest. The main dish is set to finally be served in Cupertino on September 9th. Bon appetit.

Maybe we’ll just go back to car metaphors…

Could Oracle Dominate the Cloud? Larry Ellison & Mark Hurd Say “Yes”

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Tweet storm

Oracle may be a relatively long-lived firm by tech company standards, but the company has its feet planted firmly in the future. The company’s head honchos are placing a bet on the cloud as the future of computing. President Mark Hurd and founder/CEO Larry Ellison increasingly are dropping all the tech giant’s chips on decentralized cloud computing strategies. Here’s the how and why.

Tweeting Up a Storm

Ellison and Hurd have not been shy about letting the world in on their new love, either. Mark Hurd’s Twitter account, in particular, frequently testifies to the new strategy. Here’s an excerpt:

Image via Imgur

Note the “reason one” tag: Hurd has published more than one cloud-loving Tweet, linking to a video presentation, with more presumably on the way. Also note the evangelical language. Hurd isn’t saying that we should use cloud solutions as an intelligent strategic component; he’s saying we should treat it like a welcome member of the family.

Larry Ellison, meanwhile, after some initial reservations, has dived into the deep end of the cloud pool. In a recent statement made during an earnings conference, he promised Oracle will be competitive on every level of the cloud. Clearly, Ellison’s commitment to this new strategy is unwavering.

Appetite for Decentralization

Oracle’s cloud-focused approach doesn’t end at idle tweets and conference calls. In the past several years, the tech giant has been gobbling up smaller firms doing innovative work in the field, from Nimbula to RightNow. This has enabled Oracle to offer customers dozens of cloud productivity solutions, from word processing to databases to spreadsheets. At the same time, Oracle has begun scaling back on its Sun server hardware line, moving its primary assets and expenditures into the software business. After years of change, Oracle appears to be moving back to its roots, de-emphasizing hardware and instead concentrating on making great programs.

Binary History

The focus on software is not new to the company. Oracle began with Larry Ellison’s software; the company name stems from a CIA database project Ellison worked on. Over the years, Oracle has carved a niche for itself as a provider of business-focused programs. The acquisition that led to the Sun server line was itself an outgrowth of this logical progression; if Oracle was selling software to an increasingly networked business environment, why not sell them their servers as well?

Evolving Markets

One important fact about the move away from servers needs noting: rather than roll back the entire line, Oracle has moved away from the lower-powered end of the spectrum, focusing on higher-end customers. Thus, the move can be seen as more of a refocus on core competencies in reaction to marketplace changes than a full-on retreat. The core of the Oracle business model has always been great software, whether that software is installed locally, housed on a nearby server, or floating in the greater internet.

U.S.S. Enterprises

The main focus of Oracle’s cloud shift has been toward enterprise-level businesses and the IT solutions needed by these businesses. Enterprises, as multi-tiered business endeavors, can suffer if their components are unable to properly integrate; networked software solutions are thus critical to their operation. Cloud software, therefore, is less an entirely new phenomenon and more of a progression from existing models, allowing greater flexibility for companies in the current business environment.

Cloud paradigms like Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Infrastructure as a Service allow enterprise businesses, already taxed by the burdens of multifaceted coordination, to gain flexibility in IT. SaaS makes interoffice work a breeze and compatibility concerns a thing of the past, PaaS allows in-house development without in-house development costs, and IaaS grants fluidity to the raw processing power of a company. The three combined paradigms make cloud computing a no-brainer for this growing business model. Oracle’s newfound affection is therefore entirely practical, putting the company where it needs to be to continue to service its clients.

As indicated above, Oracle (and Mark Hurd) may be in love with the cloud, but it is a healthy and well-advised affair. Careful positioning on this new frontier puts Oracle in a position to maintain its dominance going forward. And that’s something to Tweet about.

Top Security Risks Surrounding The Cloud

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If you’ve been following business technology over the last couple of years it’s hard to avoid the buzz around ‘cloud services’ and how they’re becoming mainstream in the corporate sector. A majority of businesses have applied the term to everything and anything imaginable within and outside their companies. Yes. The cloud is now mainstream.

Most cloud adopters, however, have one major concern: exactly how safe is the platform? Although most reputable service providers have top-notch security measures, experts say the cloud can’t be completely safe from data leaks.

Why is the cloud closely associated with data leaks? Fundamentally, cloud integration takes some control away from the IT department and gives it to a third-party provider. When the network is not owned by the company, it’s more open to outside entities.

Netspoke founder and CEO Sanjay Beri said the companies can expect their probability of being a victim of a data breach to triple simply because of their increased use of the cloud. That’s what IT departments are coming to grips with, and they’re starting to recognize the need to align their security practices to mitigate and prevent these threats.

While the security of cloud providers is better than practices of the average company, breaches will happen and responding to incidents will require security best practices when the response includes a service provider’s infrastructure. Additionally, companies need to know the contractual obligations because there is usually a murky line between the customer’s responsibilities and cloud provider’s responsibilities.

Other risks of cloud adoption include:

Malicious insiders: these insiders could be a business partner, a former employee, or a service contractor gaining access to corporate data for malicious purposes. The risk is even more when service providers keep the encryption keys to themselves; this means the customer is solely depending on the provider for securing the network. Cloudtweak advises cloud adopters to endeavor to know insiders and vulnerabilities beforehand.

Stolen passwords: Cloud adoption could also demystify assumptions about password security. A single compromise could make the entire database available to adversaries; making cloud breach attempts an affordable option to hackers rather than working to hack a single system for customer data. The recent iCloud password hack allowed hackers to breach multiple accounts after gaining access to user passwords.

Being proactive against the risks
When it comes to securing the cloud, the importance of control over your critical infrastructure can’t be overstated. Here are a few security risks to prevent and mitigate the risk surrounding cloud computing:

Collective intelligence: proper cloud security requires collective intelligence for maximum protection and minimum impact on your systems. Collective intelligence technology can instantly share malware-based information, improving protection across all connected systems. Also, a company offering such technology can provide real-time protection and put an end to adversary activities when it matters the most.

Encrypt your data: encryption is one of the best ways to protect the data. It requires you to move to the file to the cloud and password-protect that file so that no one can access the file without knowing the password. Also check with the cloud provider to see if the data is encrypted automatically.

Backup data: one of the easiest ways to take control of your data is to make sure you have a secure backup of all data. This is more about securing your intellectual property. Check for external backup options with the cloud provider.

 

6 Ways Modern Technology Has Changed the Workplace

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Workplace technology

When considering the vast changes that have taken over the workplace around the world over the past decade, it’s quite impressive. Employees can now communicate with co-workers around the globe, and direct supervisors can work in offices that are thousands of miles away from their direct reports. Some companies are eliminating offices altogether, saving money on rent and utilities by allowing employees to simply telecommute and work from other locations.

Cloud Technology

According to a recent study, experts predict that as 2015 draws to a close, more than 90 percent of large companies and government agencies will employ cloud technology. It has helped to alter the behaviours of business owners and employees around the world since cloud storage allows for storage and analysis of larger quantities of data.

Additionally, employees in any work location can get access to files and data, making it easier to collaborate on projects and meet deadlines. Since this form of storage doesn’t require any physical materials, such as discs or drives, it is also more environmentally friendly.

Video Conferencing

Image via Flickr by Matthew Hurst

Gone are the days of waiting at home for a spouse to get home from work, since employees can now virtually work from anywhere at any time. This is a great progression for business owners, since it provides an option to save money on office space while improving employee satisfaction by eliminating stressful drives in commuter traffic.

It also makes it easier to communicate with global clients or vendors, since employees don’t have to be in the office to accommodate time zone differences. Instead, a CEO can video chat with the boss of another company early in the morning.

Networking Tools

There are a number of online networking tools that can help improve the workplace. Social media offers a great tool for marketing and increasing awareness about a brand, with some of the largest companies in the world using these options to increase revenue.

Additionally, social media friendships can help strengthen relationships between employees, which contributes to a more positive work environment. One question on the popular Gallup workplace survey discusses the importance of having a friend at work, and these networking tools can help.

Mobile Collaboration

There’s a lot of data that supports the role of team collaboration in the workplace. When employees work together, they can learn from one another and gain experience. It’s especially helpful when working with people of other cultures and beliefs, since it helps to provide a more open-minded view on business practices and projects.

With mobile options for collaborating, managers can assign projects for people around the world to work together, using tools such as video chatting and email. Mobile companies, such as BlackBerry, have kept up by adapting platforms to accommodate more users.

Change in Career Options

In addition to opening up the world of communication and networking in business, technological advancements have also drastically increased the number of jobs that are available. For example, just 15 years ago, a career in computer science or IT was not nearly as popular or profitable as it is currently. Thousands of students are learning more about these subjects in school, providing a better path into a thriving career that’ll continue to promise success as companies rely more and more on their resident computer experts.

Potential for Globalization

As lines of communication become more open, the world feels smaller. Employees can email or chat with fellow co-workers around the globe, making it easier to expand the company into other countries. Businesses that are able to successfully make this expansion have a higher growth potential, since there are millions of potential customers in other countries that can buy your product or service. With on-line shopping continuing to grow, offering a fully functional and secure website is crucial to maintaining a successful global presence.

As you look for ways to continue to improve your company’s success, look at how you and your staff members are using technology. Some of the most successful businesses around the world have been able to embrace technological advancements, helping them take advantage of the options and alternatives to traditional business practices that may not make sense in this day and age.

 

6 Mobile Apps for the Modern City Dwellers

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Mobile apps for city dwellers

Are you looking for things to do in your city or do you want to know the best way to get around? There are all sorts of apps to help you. Take a look at these six apps for the modern city dweller.

Image via Flickr by WarmSleepy

Find Local Events with the Event Finder App

If you want to meet new people in your city with similar interests to your own, the Event Finder app is a must. It lists social events and large gatherings by time and location. There is everything from local festivals and flea markets to free concerts and political rallies. You won’t be friendless for long if you get out to the local events and meet new people. The Event Finder app is also a great way to find things to do when you’re bored.

Get Around on Public Transit with the HopStop App

Some cities are impossible to navigate in a car because the parking is so scarce. However, you can get around easily by train or bus with the HopStop app. All you have to do is put in your starting location and ending location and you’ll be given directions on where to board and how long it will take you to travel. This app is a lifesaver because you don’t have to look at route maps and try to figure out everything yourself. The app works great in big cities like New York City and Washington D.C. It will also tell you an approximate taxi fare.

Rent a Car for a Day or Two with the CarRentals.com App

Living in a big city is great because you can often get away with not owning a car, especially if your city has a good transit system. However, if there is somewhere you want to go that you can’t reach by bus, the Carrentals app is there for you. It is one of the easiest ways to book a rental car, even on short notice. The app is free and you can compare rentals from several companies to get the best price. Then, you can view and cancel reservations through the app.

Find Important Businesses Near You with the AroundMe App

If you’re looking for the closest bank, gas station, post office, grocery store, or anything else in your city, the AroundMe app can help you. For instance, it will tell you where to find the closest emergency room if you get hurt or the closest hotel if you’re not going to make it home. The app is great if you’re in an unfamiliar area, but it can also help you recognize things around you that you didn’t know were there. It works by looking at your location with your phone’s GPS.

Find Great Deals on Local Attractions with the Groupon App

The Groupon app is a fun way to discover new shops, restaurants, and attractions at a discount. It helps you get the most out of your city. For instance, you might be able to get a Groupon deal for your favorite sports team that is paired with a nearby restaurant. It helps you save money doing the things you would already do. Plus, sometimes you’ll find Groupon deals for things you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t know how, such as skydiving or riding in a hot air balloon.

Explore Your City from Your Phone with the UpNext 3D Cities App

There’s tons of stuff to do in the city, but sometimes you just want to sit at home and relax. However, now you can do both, thanks to the UpNext 3D Cities app. It is an incredible app that lets you tour buildings and venues in your city just by tapping your screen. It also provides you information about each place to help you plan future trips. It’s not available in every city, but check to see if it is available in yours.

These are just a few city dweller apps you can use to your advantage. Go out and start discovering new things in your city. How did people in the city ever live without apps?

 

The Top Green Gadgets That Are Actually Cool, Too

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Wood laptop

‘Going green’ gets a bad rap sometimes because people assume it only means separating glass and plastic and making sure you never waste a drop of water. The fact of the matter is, going green can actually be quite interesting and even innovative, integrating technological advances that rely on alternative energies such as solar power.

In order to keep going green plenty of fun, we’ve brought you the top green gadgets that will change the way you live your life, without forcing the less interesting changes into your day-to-day world.

Outdoor Speakers

Speakers that can be used outdoors are cool enough, but outdoor speakers that run on solar energy are fun, practical and very, very green. The Honeywell wireless speakers can be operated using an AC adapter as well, but it’s their ability to soak up the sun–and then play some great tunes while patching into a mobile device–that makes them so great.

SolarRoll

The Brunton SolarRoll also uses solar energy to be ultra-green but it doesn’t use that power to power itself. The SolarRoll can be hooked up to a number of other devices and charges or powers them. There are actually three different SolarRolls that have a number of different power outputs you can match up with your needs.

ASUS Ecobook

The ASUS Ecobook is a laptop that has gone green thanks to its housing. The case for the ASUS
Ecobook is made of actual recycled bamboo. There are few other gadgets like this that go quite so far to make sure recycling is paying off. The rest of the computer is made to match the Bamboo housing and that makes this laptop green and attractive.

Econova LED TV

Televisions aren’t usually considered devices that have gone green. The Econova
LED TV is breaking the mold in a number of different ways. The set is made from recyclable materials and when it gets switched off it goes to zero watts of consumption. Even the remote is embracing green tech since it is solar powered. No batteries means no used up AAs that go in the trash.

Solar Powered Keyboard

There are a number of solar powered wireless keyboards out there. Logitech and a number of other companies have jumped on this tech rather quickly. Much like the solar remote control, the green comes from no longer having to go through batteries over and over.

Water Powered Alarm Clock

Water powered alarm clocks seem to be all the rage for people who want to go green with a little bit of style. The clocks work exactly like they sound. Open up the valve, fill with regular water and a chemical reaction converts the ions in the water into energy.

WaterPebble

WaterPebble is a device that wants to help you reduce the amount of water you use. You can take
the device into the shower or put it in the sink and it will measure the water you’re using the first couple of times. By studying the readout (too much, just enough and well done) you’ll be able to gradually realize when you should turn the water off and cut your showers short.

Robomow

Robomow is both pretty cool, because it saves you energy but it’s also green because it saves
you from burning fossil fuels. The device is simply given a perimeter it should mow, much like the Roomba does inside the house. It’s rechargeable so you aren’t throwing away batteries or buying extra gasoline.

Motorized Blinds

Motorized blinds and window coverings usually only pop up in commercial and retail locations
but they’re getting more popular as a residential tool as well. The blinds
lower and raise with the push of a button and they save energy by keeping the
room cooler during the time of day when the sun shines the brightest.

Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat can actually program itself based on the best possible use of energy combined with your preferences. It will even give you a little leaf logo when the energy use is nice and green. It can also be operated remotely using mobile applications for added energy savings.

 

 

The Tech that Powers Self-Navigating Cars

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self-driving car 1

Long before Google’s initiatives, self-driving cars were a part of our collective imagination. From KITT to the Batmobile, the idea of self-driving cars has been with us for a very long time. The reality of such cars is so close, we are already making legislation for them. For once, the law is trying to get ahead of the tech. But autopilot may not be the most interesting aspect of self-driving cars.

That award goes to auto-navigation. Making a car go by itself is easy compared to making a car that knows where to go. To do that, you need to have some very specific technology in place. Here is a look at some of the technology and recent connectivity developments that will help make auto-navigation a reality.

Persistent network connection

It is possible that the greatest advance in technology in terms of vehicle navigation is the ability to maintain a persistent connection to the internet. That may not sound like the sexiest breakthrough of the 21st century, but it might well be. The most life changing advance in our lifetime has probably been the internet. The internet has come to represent easy and persistent access to all of the world’s collective knowledge. Most of our technologies, lately, have been about coming up with ways to deliver that knowledge in more focused, faster, and more convenient ways.

Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles coming out with LTE-connected cars this year, the race is already underway to make sure your next car comes with a data plan just like your smartphone. The #1 use for that connectivity will likely be for in-car navigation.

Right now, navigation systems are largely based on CD-ROMs for static mapping information. With such systems, POI data is spotty and unreliable as the status and location of businesses change all the time. Getting directions to the nearest Starbucks with one of these systems is just as likely to land you in front of a vacant lot.

In addition to outdated maps, old nav systems are littered with other common issues including:

  • Partial display loss
  • No power
  • Will not power up
  • Navigation Freezes
  • Will not accept disc
  • Error messages
  • Volume drops or increase
  • Broken joystick knob

This is just a partial list of pitfalls provided by Short Circuit Repair: a company that deals with these issues every day.

What’s more is that the effects of these issues are increased by an order of magnitude as drivers become more dependent on navigation systems. Relying on auto-navigation, and navigation systems in general, can reduce an individuals ability to develop strong cognitive maps of their environment. While this may not seem like a big deal, losing your navigation could possibly mean losing your ability to find places you commonly visit… soon, fixing your navigation system may become more essential than fixing your vision when it comes to finding your way around town.

CarPlay

If you are not excited about enrolling your car in an expensive data plan from a cellular carrier, you might want to just use the one you already have. Apple’s CarPlay allows you to do just that. It is a protocol that enables car manufacturers to tap into iOS devices for in-car navigation, entertainment, and communication. Once installed, it does not need to be updated. That is because it is using the information it gets directly off of your iDevice of choice. Google and Microsoft are also working on similar options.
These developments in navigation, when employed in concert will result in a car that, when you say, “I want to go to the grocery store” to the car, will result in your car actually going to your nearest grocery store. Why? Because Apple, Google, and your smartphone carrier know that there can be no Knight Industries Two Thousand without a persistent internet connection and the most recent navigational data in your car. Being able to connect to other cars to keep accidents from happening isn’t that far off, but that’s an article for another time.

How Secure is Your Mobile Device?

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Mobile security

While mobile devices add an impressive level of convenience to our daily lives, there are also security concerns surrounding the technology. Are you sure your mobile device is secure? Perhaps not. Consider these quick questions and their solutions.

Do You Access Public Networks?

While it doesn’t always hurt to connect your mobile device to an unsecured public network — such as in a coffeehouse — it’s important to maintain caution when connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots. Since you’re sharing your data with the network, others might be able to see any passwords or credit card numbers you enter while connected.

Instead, consider setting up a virtual private network (VPN), which allows you to access your private network over a public one, making it difficult for hackers to get a hold of your information. VPNs are often used by large corporations so employees can access the network remotely, but individuals can also set up a personal VPN. This is especially helpful when traveling, since it’s difficult to find a secure network away from home or work.

When considering this, it’s also important to remember that some devices automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots. Even if you’re not conducting any activity when connected, hackers can access information on your device, like any stored contact information, bank account numbers, or passwords. Make sure to disable these automatic capabilities.

Do You Shop Online Over Unsecured Sites?

Just like it’s risky business to share information over unsecured networks, it’s also dangerous to enter credit card information on an unsecured site. To shop safely on your smartphone, make sure you see https:// in the URL instead of http://. The “s” means the site is secure.

To add an extra level of security, only purchase from sites and apps you know are trustworthy. Never share your credit card information with a site you’ve never heard of. Chances are you can find the same product on a more reputable site that’s more likely to keep your information secure.

Do You Research Apps Before Downloading Them?

If you don’t validate apps before downloading them, your mobile device is likely less secure than you think. Without knowing it, your apps could come equipped with viruses or spyware that can track your phone usage and bank activities.

A team of hackers recently hacked into Snapchat’s files to gain access to names and phone numbers associated with accounts. According to Business Insider, the purpose of the hack was to prove how unsecure data can be on various applications. You can avoid data breaches like this by sticking to trustworthy apps. Do a bit of research and ask yourself these questions before installing the app on your device.

  • Have people had security issues with the app before?
  • Are the reviews positive or negative in regards to security?
  • What does the app have access to on your device once you download it?
  • Is it coming from a reputable developer?

It’s also a good idea to download a quality mobile security app that’ll warn you when you’re about to download a sketchy application.

Is Your Device Equipped With Safety Apps?

Along with downloading apps that prevent attacks, you can also install apps capable of securing your device after an attack. For instance, if you booby trap your mobile device before someone steals it, they’ll have a harder time accessing and using your data.

Start by securing your device with a password. This will slow a lot of thieves down, but it’s often no match for a hacker, so you might consider adding even more security. To do this, you can download safety apps that secure your data when you lose your mobile device.

For instance, Find My iPhone allows you to remotely lock your phone and track it with GPS. Prey Anti Theft is another option that helps you find your device, but you can also take pictures remotely so you can see where your device is and possibly snap a picture of the thief.

While there are countless benefits of mobile devices, the security concerns have many people worried. However, by following these security precautions, you don’t have to worry as much about losing your valuable data.