electronic communication: the science and technology of transmitting information electronically by wires or radio signals with integrated encoding and decoding equipment
information transmission over communications lines
The power and convenience afforded by telecommunications, coupled with the power and convenience afforded by the Internet, has already radically changed our world - and shockingly enough, it's not over yet. There are still things to come that exceed the capacity of my limited understanding of the subjects.
With telecommunication and internet (TAI) usage growing exponentially every day, the number of questions regarding societal issues associated with using TAI has also increased. These issues include but are not limited to privacy rights, security, net neutrality, unproductive time online (gaming, Facebook, etc.). The jury is still out on these issues so it's really too early to tell the final outcome. However, we should remain vigilant and keep an active watch and voice regarding anything that could strip our privacy, security, etc. away from us.
This is why it is so important that we remember that anything we say and do online, could ultimately be seen and heard by others. Electronic media is not just monitored - every second of every minute of every hour of everyday of every week of every month of every year - information is being collected (24/7 - 365) by sources we don't even think about and servers and search engines are the biggest culprits.
Why should you care you might ask. Well, this means that even though you may delete something off your page, blog, etc., unless you have the ability to delete it off every server, search engine, index, personal computer, thumb-drive, CD, etc. that saved a copy of the information - it could still come back to haunt you. We have no way of knowing who is collecting our information or how it might be utilized in the future.
For me, this has always been "A LITTLE TOO SCARY!!! So I have always been conscious of my on-line reputation and I'd like to share some good advice that's lasted me for a life-time and is still very relevant today:
From my mother many, many moons ago, "IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO REPEAT IT VERBATIM TO THEIR FACE, DO NOT SAY IT BEHIND THEIR BACK..."
And not quite as many moons ago but still a very long time, from a UF Trainer. As I was a UF employee and I was required to attend a training/in-service regarding business communications and although I do not remember anything personal (height, weight, sex, race, etc.) about the instructor, I do remember the main point of the session and I have made it a matter of practice and I know it still applies today, perhaps even more when you think about the craziness on some of the popular sites, "IF YOU WOULD NOT WANT IT READ ALOUD AND DISCUSSED IN COURT - DO NOT PUT IT OUT THERE..."
Telecommunications and the Internet is here to stay because responsible use adds value to our lives and increases productivity, etc. but I think it would be a nicer experience for us all if everyone would just choose to use a little restraint and discipline...
My Presentation: How to "Be the Change that Makes the Difference"
It is crystal clear to me that the ability to create and give an effective presentation is a very valuable skill desired and heavily relied upon in today's business world. However, if you say the phrase, "Death by PowerPoint", why is it that we all know what the phrase means? Most of us could even share experiences of an incident(s) where we've been either the giver or receiver of a torturously, boring presentation filled with cluttered, unreadable slides which lasted way too long for any human to endure - no matter the age or maturity level.
Well, help is here! Over the last three (3) weeks I have learned some TIPs - DOs and DON'Ts of Presentationsthat I think should be in every savvy business person's arsenal of tools. I'm going to share this information with you via my experiences as I completed this project.
The first of which is a Storyboard, I have prepared many presentations but I've never used a storyboard and this project required one be created prior to beginning work on the actual slides in PowerPoint, etc. Initially, I did not like this idea, I thought it would be a total waste of time and I will admit to procrastinating but I was totally wrong. The storyboard helped me stay organized which allowed me to more quickly collect my thoughts regarding key points and how to present them. This made the rest of the presentation process a breeze - the only remaining task that took any significant time was finding the right images that would help convey my message. Check out my storyboard:
Hawiane Tidwell, 2012. Storyboard Page 2
Hawiane Tidwell, 2012. Storyboard Page 1
Hawiane Tidwell, 2012. Storyboard Page 3
Hawiane Tidwell, 2012. Storyboard Page 4
Hawiane Tidwell, 2012. Storyboard Page 5
Once I completed my storyboard, I began working on my slides in PowerPoint. Since I had the completed storyboard, I already had the text for all my slides so they were a breeze to complete. I had the text on them all in no time. Next I worked on the slides to which I was only going to add an image - TIP: as I mentioned before, this did take a significant amount of time because I had to look for just the right image. As images are important and should support your key point(s). Once I found and inserted all my images, I began to work on animations. TIP: work on and set your slide transitions as you go along and after you make major changes, watch your presentation as a slide show. I used an egg timer so I knew where I was within the three minute time limit.
Once I finished my transitions and animations, on the first slide, and using the storyboard as my guide, I recorded myself presenting my key points. TIP: Synching the audio with the flow of the slides took a little more tweaking of the transition times and the delay of animations. Finally I had the slides and the audio synched and I saved it as a Windows Media Video (WMV). I then used YouTube, Web 2.0 Tool, to share the video of my presentation with others. I have added a clickable link to the video on the YouTube website, as well as, the video below - so check it out:
Now we've come to the 2nd to last step of the presentation project assignment, critiquing yourself and a peer(s). I watched many of the videos and for the most part, I was really proud of the Gator Nation talent that's out there! Watching other presentations also helped me to formulate a mental note of things that I should and should not do. The young man's presentation I chose to critique did a great job. There was a logical flow to his presentation. He really was able to 1) anticipate and answer questions, 2) to grab my attention, 3) to set the context with concise explanation, 4) to avoid clutter by presenting readable slides and 5) he said it then showed it. He didn't use any slides with bulleted text, most of his slides contained one (1) word in large font.
My presentation (MP) was also critiqued by my peers. The feedback MP received was very favorable and from it I've learned that I am more critical of myself so I will share my view of my MP. MP had a very logical flow and sequence to the content: I started out by asking the audience a question, explained why I was there, told audience what was in it for them, told audience my story, called audience to action and then closed. I feel that I appropriately anticipated and answered questions: TIP: I opened with a question to create common ground and to grab the audience's attention and curiosity. I also asked questions periodically to keep the audience actively listening and involved.
In MP I set the context with a concise explanation that made it easy for the audience to clearly understand what MP was about. I did avoided inconsistencies, errors, and typos and I did not make any unbelievable claims. However, I do feel I could have improved on validating the claims I made within my MP. I chose to use my personal experience to validate one (1) of the claims I made - which was fine. For the other claim I made reference to multiple studies that actually support my claim but I did not actually reference a specific study because again this claim could also be validated by one's personal experiences but I didn't directly state that in MP. Yep! That was where I was harder on myself than my peer(s) - they didn't feel the claims needed additional validation... Another issue regarding MP which wasn't mentioned by my peers but I feel could be improved was the quality of the sound. I didn't have a microphone other than the one inside the laptop so there was some unavoidable background noise. For my next presentation, I will definitely find a better solution for sound.
And to wrap up my critique of myself, to avoid clutter and ensure the readability of my slides, TIP: I used the "10/20/30 Rule" - Never 1) use more than 10 slides, 2) speak more than 20 minutes and 3) use a font smaller than 30 pt. I had eleven (11) slides which included the title and references pages. The presentation was a little less than three (3) minutes and I used a 32 pt font or higher on every slide - most having a font size 54 - 80 pt. I chose images which supported my key point(s). And I also stated the point(s) then showed the supporting text or slide. There were a couple of places where I paused a little too long, I would have fixed had time permitted.
I hope this information has been helpful to you and will be a source of reference should you be required to give a presentation. TIP: Just remember to keep your audience in mind, approach the presentation from their perspective, and remember the 10/20/30 Rule - you will give an awesomely, effective presentation!!
MORE THAN JUST HYPE - SAASSIE IS WHAT SAAS DOES!!!
So what is SaaS? SaaS is an acronym for software as a service and refers to software that is made available online by a third party provider. It is a tool that lets you use someone else's operating system, hardware, applications, software - any and everything you require for your computing needs. Salesforce.com is the leading SaaS firm - other SaaS firms include NetSuite, Workday, Aravo, and Zoho. Cloud computing makes SaaS possible and I have provided a two (2) minute YouTube video below, should you desire to learn more about cloud computing technology:
"Video uploaded to YouTube by fahaimedia, 2011. Permission granted to reuse with YouTube Standard License."
And I'm sure by now you've asked yourself at least once, maybe twice - "Well, what is SAASSIE?" SAASSIE is a term I made up (I'd like to interject a disclaimer here - I came up with the idea for SAASSIE before watching Dr. Olson's video #07.03 "The Cloud" - I noticed in his video that salesforce.com's mascot's name is Saasy). Anyway, after reading the first eight (8) sections of the material it became crystal clear to me that SaaS appears to be the adrenaline or dynamite behind many of the changes that have and are taking place in the software, hardware, consulting, computing, and networking and other technology driven industries. A few of these developments I already knew about, while the majority of which I only now know about as a result of this class, UF's ISM 3004 - Computing in the Business Environment.
SaaS has really leveled the playing field and made it possible for all firms to accomplish what they once only thought was possible in dreams or with a boat load of cash. SaaS is a thing of financial beauty and SAASSIE is the way I choose to express most of the assets and benefits that SaaS brings to any firm's table (large or small):
SAVINGS! SAVINGS! SAVINGS! A firm utilizing a SaaS provider immediately saves money because allocated funds for acquiring, licensing, and maintaining software and hardware are no longer fixed but are replaced by variable expenses, so can be reduced or even eliminated all-together. Firms also save money on IT staff as the SaaS provider takes care of most, if not all issues/tasks concerning your computing needs. So, a lower total cost of ownership than that of a traditional platform with commercial software and associated maintenance and service cost is also a benefit.
Access to powerful virtualization software tools, as well as enterprise, desktop and web-based storage, applications, software and hardware.
Accessibility and remote access. SaaS services can be accessed via any Web browser and some providers even offer access via the phone.
Scalability through increased utilization and maximum capacity at data centers, as much as 80% or more in most cases and on an as needed basis. So firms are able to handle Black Swans (unexpected spikes in activity) and/or cyclical busy periods without incident. And due to the fact that coverage is allocated and additional servers are only brought online as needed, you only pay for what you use.
Secure. Even though, Saas providers take security very seriously, firms should make sure matters concerning security are spelled out in the contract and do periodic audits to make sure the agreement is being adhered to.
Innovative technology without paying top dollar for all of the associated expenses (research, proto-types, trial runs, acquisition, installations, development, staff, etc.).
Expert advice and support 24/7. Expandable services customized to the firm's needs. Environmental footprint that is smaller/greener than most firms' not using the service.
Yes, like with anything else there are some risks associated with the use of SaaS providers so make sure you research any SaaS firm thoroughly before partnering. Be sure to look at the firm's long-term viability and make sure you incorporate an exit strategy in your strategic plan. Privacy and legal requirements may restrict/prohibit a firm's use of a SaaS provider - should this be the case, there probably will not be a way around this.
Overall, from my observations, once a firm has "done their homework" (a minimum of which is addressed above), and also addresses contractual forensics, uses federated authentication and performs audits and accessibility assessments, in most cases, the benefits of SaaS will far out-weigh any remaining potential of risk. With all that said, the only thing left to say is... SAASSIE UP!!!
"VisiCalc" on an Apple II - the Mother of It All! Today!? My How Things Have Changed!
Well we are using two (2) books in ISM 30004 and earlier this week, I first read Chapter 9 from "How Computers Work", 9th Edition by Ron White instead of from the book assigned for this week's reading, "Information Systems: A Manger's Guide to Harnessing Technology" by John Gallaugher. Like I've told you before, I can laugh at myself and I'll even admit to having to do it often at times and although it was a mistake on my part, I'm glad I read both books. Surprisingly enough, the subjects covered were very closely related as White gave more specific detail about the different types and categories of software and the applications for which Gallaugher gave a detailed overview from a manger's perspective.
Dr. Olson added to the information in Gallaugher's book and provided vital information for any manager - actually for any one - about to purchase software, whether on a small or large scale. He included topics most of us rarely think of like the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - I have thought about this when it came to owning a vehicle but never in regards to owning software. However, it was clear that this is something software purchasers should really pay attention to as in March 2011, according to Gartner, a reputable research firm, TCO of software and software maintenance current base cost was $750.00 annually - this may not be much of an issue for ownership of one or two software suites but just think about a company that owns 100s or even 1,000s - the dollars add up pretty quickly.
While reading White's book, I learned that VisiCalc was the first electronic spreadsheet application and that it was released on an Apple II computer. Apparently in its day, VisiCalc was radically innovative software that made bankers, financial managers/officers, accountants - anyone having to "crunched numbers manually", very, very happy!!
I've heard of multiple Apple products including Apple computers that are currently successful and continuously gaining in market share as a result of innovative technology which continues to anticipate and meet customer needs. On the other hand however, VisiCalc failed to realize that its users' needs changed - users wanted and needed more than just the ability to crunch numbers - many required database and graphing capabilities. Where is VisiCalc now? I had never heard of this software until this week - but I have heard of Lotus 1-2-3, Quattro Pro and Excel - which are all application software, that met the changing needs of VisiCalc users and eventually replaced it - two (2) of which I have personally used. So managers also need to be aware of changes in the market and or technology that could impact their firm but also their firms changing needs. One way of proactive dealing with this by making sure an "exit strategy" is included in any plan to acquire any software.
This made it clear to me that in order for any firm's services or products to remain useful, they must be able to successfully satisfy dynamic customer needs and to do this the firm must be capable of continuous innovation. If a firm cannot keep its finger on the pulse of the ever changing needs of its customers, it will not be able to proactively meet those needs and will eventually lose those customers to its competitor(s). Apple is still alive and not just kicking but kicking butt! According to Figure 9.3 of Gallaugher's book, in 2009, Apple held 5% market share of "Desktop" operating systems (OSs), 25% of "U.S. Mobile" OSs, and 16% of "Worldwide Mobile" OSs. Below, I have zoomed in on a portion of an infographic from February 2011, which shows Apple's market share of the "U.S. Mobile" OSs to be 34% - that is a 9% increase since 2009. In seven of the 14 countries shown, Apple has the largest market share - "click" on the first link below to view the entire infographic:
To view this entire infographic - "click" the first link above.
Dr. Olson shared the following information regarding "Desktop OSs" and in closing, would like to share it with you - he stated the following (paraphrased):
"In 2005, a survey revealed that 50% of UF students bought Dell computers and 17% bought Apple - presently, nearly 50% buy Apple and only 13% buy Dell".
"In 2003, Apple only had 2% of the market share but in 2006, they changed to the Intel processor and their market share increased to 6%".
"In 2010, Apple's market share has increased to 10%, even though they are selling high-end systems which focus on quality, performance, reliability, and design - like a Porsche".
"He also shared his observations on campus and noted that Apple laptops are #1 on campus and this is a trend for college campuses nation-wide".
So if you are faced with the task of purchasing software, make sure you also consider the reputation and track record of the company and remember, "You get what you pay for but you will certainly miss the important stuff you don't pay for"...
What are Rasters and Vectors? Dinosaurs!? No! I Give - Your Guess is as Good as Mine...
Do you know what RASTERS and VECTORS are? Well up until this week, I had never heard the terms - I think I might have previously heard of vectors but it had nothing to do with images and the words alone, made me think of dinosaurs... So, the subject initially was pretty muddy for me because I was unfamiliar with the terminology and I had no clue about "this new technology that I was in the midst of learning".
You probably could have heard it a mile away - I gave a sigh of relief when finally, the light bulb of understanding was bright and I got it! Below, I will quickly share with you my understanding of this subject. First let me give a few pointers about the differences between the two (2) types of images, so you can easily decide which will be appropriated for your next graphic image project:
VECTORS: This image type will give you the most flexibility. And if you need to make a lot of changes to your image before you finalize it, definitely choose this type. Also, if you are not sure what size you need, have no fear with vectors, they are scalable and can reach extremely large dimensions without becoming distorted (blurred, grainy, etc.). Vector files usually end with .SVG or .TSVG.
RASTERS: If you are working with photographs - you definitely want to use raster-based images as generally, a vector-based image as a photo does not work well. You will know you have raster images because these type files usually have file names ending with .JPG, .PNG, and GIF. These "Bitmap" files can be large and take up a significant amount of space.
Now, I will explain how each image is generated and I will also provide you with examples:
Permission granted for reuse with Wikimedia Commons.
A raster image is created by using tiny little dots called pixels. Each pixel is assigned a color value and this arrangement of the pixels reveals the detail of the image. This arrangement makes it a great choice for the subtlety that can be involved with detailed photos. However, it is also the reason why the image can lose detail and clarity when it is enlarged - as you are spreading the pixels over a larger area.
Adobe Photoshop is a raster-based program and it works beautifully with pictures. It also offers a lot of special effects. However, once you save your image, you will not have as much flexibility when it comes to editing say - just the background - to accomplish this, you might have to actually recreate your image. Only this time, make sure you use the features you desire while you are creating your image.
Vector images are a bit more complex, they are actually created using mathematical equations - but don't worry, you will not even know the math is taking place - it's all done behind the scenes. The equations define the points and shapes of the image and if the image is resized, the equations will be recalculated accordingly so there is not a loss of detail or quality. This is the reason why size is not an issue for these images. Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based program and is excellent to work with if the potential for a lot of editing exist or you need varying sizes of your image.
To try and give you a real-life visual of the differences between rasters and vectors, below I have provided an image of each:
To the right of this text is the original raster-based image. If I were to try and enlarge this picture, it would immediately begin to loose detail and as you can see, I'm limited to what I can actually do with it.
However the image below is a vector-based image of the original raster-based image discussed above. You can clearly see that the image below, has been enlarged and it appears that the the detail is even clearer than that of the original object.
Another plus to using vector-based files is the file size itself, because everything is calculated using mathematical equations instead of using pixels, vector-based file size is a lot smaller than those of raster-based.
However, both image types are very important as they each have different benefits and uses. And there is reliable software available for both types like the Adobe products I mentioned earlier.
I hope the information I've shared takes the intimidation out of your next digital image project and helps to make it a bit easier...
Make Sure Your Firm Is DRESSED To The NINES!
As every fashion sense woman knows, having a "Little Black Dress" (LBD) in your wardrobe is critical - you know, the one that gets you through every occasion with class and style! All you have to do is just switch up the accessories and your LBD so graciously gives you an entirely different look that is spot on for the occasion you are facing - now how fabulous is that!!
No matter what industry you are in, how many employees are on your payroll, what goods, services, or products you provide, or where your firm is located in the world - EVERY FIRM should strive to be EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT. Should your firm be not able to accomplish this, I dare confidently say that your firm will probably not successfully survive in today's business world.
Operational Effectiveness (OE) - doing what every other firm in your industry is doing but doing it better (effectively and efficiently) - it's clear to me that OE is definitely the LBD that your firm needs to maintain a Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) - financial performance that is consistently above the industry averages! However, OE alone just is not enough to get and keep the job done successfully. Like all LBDs, OE needs the right accessories. So to help your firm successfully achieve and maintain SCA, you must accessorize OE with the following (If you are not sure what the difference is between OE and strategy - watch this video before you read on):
"Video uploaded
to YouTube by PotentialTra, 2011. Permission granted to
reuse with YouTube Standard License."
Strategic Positioning - by doing what your competition isn't doing or do what they are doing but in a different way, you will create and/or strengthen strategic differences which will give your firm an advantage that will be difficult for your competitors to match.
Resource-Based View of Competitive Advantage - if you are to successfully maintain a SCA, you must control an exploitable resource(s) - but not just any old resource. This resource must have the following critical characteristics: 1) it must be valuable; 2) it must be rare; 3) it must be hard to copy/imitate; and 4) it must be nonsubstitutable.
Imitation-Resistant Value Chain - Your value chain is what you do to create and bring your products/services to market and if you create a unique way of doing this you will have an edge on your rivals that will last a very long time.
Scalability - as your firm grows, you will gain scale advantages like those from economies of scale. Being able to spread your cost over an increasing number of products and services will increase your profits drastically.
Differentiation - is what sets your firm's products/services apart from all the other firms'. Grab and keep your customers' attention by using differentiation to breakout of the cookie cutter madness and to elevate your products/services above commodity status.
Distribution Channel(s) - is the path(s) you use to distribute your products/services to your customers and is one of the key players in your firm's success. If you get everything else right but fail here - your customer will not get the opportunity to even think about choosing your goods let alone buying them...
Patents/Intellectual Property Protections - do not drag your feet here - make sure you take quick action to protect your firm's creativity, innovation, inventions, etc. anything that can be copyrighted or patented. Doing this will give you some degree of protection from the firms out there who are waiting to reap benefits from your firm's blood, sweat and tears.
Porter's Five Forces/Industry Competitive Analysis - the five (5) forces are 1) rivalry among firms already in the business; 2) the threat of new firms entering the business; 3) the threat of a substitute for your product(s)/service(s); 4) the bargaining power of your customers; and 5) the bargaining power of your suppliers. Do yourself a favour - use these factors to do an Industry Competitive Analysis so that you know your firm, your industry and you are not doing business blindly.
Technology - last but not least, the icing on the cake - or should I say the finishing touch! Use the enabling characteristic of technology to help you leverage in each of the areas mentioned above and your firm will certainly be a leader in your industry.
Again, make sure that your firm is DRESSED to the NINES! OE should never be without the proper accessories.
So get out there and make sure that your firm is prepared with a properly accessorized LBD - a Successful Firm would NOT be caught dead without one!!
APs to Wireless - All I Needed to Know:
This week has been really interesting. In a few short days, I have learned more about networks and accessing the Internet than I've ever known. Should I ever be responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of an enterprise network - thanks to ISM3004 - I will be ready!
One thing clear to me is that there is no way around networks and the Internet, they are an ever present fact and necessity in the world we live in today. There's no sign of this changing as our dependence on them is continuing to increase as a result of the increased use of the Internet - not just by businesses - but also by private individuals like you and me.
*Image by Timothy Downs. Written Permission granted for reused with attribution.
Ever improving advancements in technology not only produces better equipment and lowers its cost but also makes the process of setting up a network and using the Internet more accessible to everyone. I do all my banking, stream Netflix, Hulu and other services, take on-line classes, and much more - all on-line via my home VPN (Virtual Private Network). My VPN consists of a DSL modem, Linksys Wireless router, 802.11g All-in-One (printer, fax and copier), laptop and a desktop replacement. I really can not imagine what it would be like without my direct access to the "CLOUD"...
To ease any concerns regarding security, I utilize WPA2 Encryption. Doing all I can do to maintain the integrity of my VPN is also the reason why I chose DSL over cable. I just wasn't comfortable with the idea of my Internet activity being sent to everyone on the Internet Service Provider's network. The thought of leaving it to the cable modem to handle (deliver or discard) the information correctly & without failures would be just one more thing to worry about for me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ADSLmodemWestell6100.jpg Permission granted for reuse with Wikimedia Commons.
Your needs, preferences, and price-point may lead or have already led you to setup your home or small office network utilizing equipment and/or services that are very different than those I have chosen to use for mine - in most cases you will find this to be true as no two (2) networks will be exactly the same. They are designed to cater to individual needs. Happy surfing!!
Wow!! What a week - a lot of information to wade through and so many new terms! Overall though it hasn't been too bad - I realized that I do know a little something about the inner/outer workings of computers and laptops - only I just never really knew the "real" names/terms for some of the components. However, a concept that was quite muddy for me was "Overclocking" - I had never heard this term so I had no point of reference. I can laugh at myself so I will tell you that I originally thought the term referred to staying on your laptop or computer too long and I thought, how can this possibly multiply anyone's time.
Finally I understood that overclocking is when a Modder (term used in "How Computers Work" by Ron White) and/or Hobbyist (term used by Dr. Olson in UF ISM3004 video lecture "02.04 Inside Desktop"), who has purchased a personal computer (PC) with a specific clock rate - i.e. 3GHz - Intel CORE i5 - decides to increase the speed of that machine by speeding up its internal clock (a resonating quartz crystal oscillator).
You see this clock/crystal is like the PC's conductor and the faster the crystal vibrates, the faster the PC's multiplier ticks. The multiplier is the component which controls the length of time that electricity is flowing to most of the PC's components, so the faster it ticks, the faster all those affected components inside the PC are enabled to work. When there is no electricity, these components are forced to wait or sleep (this wastes time)... Keeping the electricity coming - keeps the components revved and working!!
One way Modders/Hobbyists are able to accomplish this is by going into their PC's motherboard's setup and setting it to run at 4GHz instead of 3 (note: some manufactures lock the multiplier rates so that they cannot be altered). Modders/Hobbyists do this because they want to increase their machine's performance and know that the machine will exceed the listed speed because all manufacturers have factored in a certain margin for error. What they don't know is by how much will the PC's speed increase and will this modification destroy the machine.
WORD OF CAUTION: This is not recommended and even if you did this and your PC initially survives, there are still drawbacks: 1) Manufacturers have not extensively tested and certified the PC to run at the new speed. 2) Your machine will consume a lot more electricity. 3) Consuming the additional electricity causes it to generate significantly higher levels of heat. 4) The higher levels of heat will definitely decrease the PC's reliability and could cause the machine to become over-heated or even to burn-out. Modders/Hobbyists do address this issue but their solutions are not discussed in the written text of this blog. So with all that being said, 5) you still will not know how long your PC will last once you alter it.
TOO RISKY for me... Again this is NOT RECOMMENDED, but for those of you who are brave at heart, or maybe has some money you want to burn (pun intended...), below I have provided a YouTube video series that walks you through the entire process step-by-step for an Intel product(s):
Today, I was thinking about how hectic things get as the end of the semester gets closer. So after completing the assignments for week 1, I decided I should do myself a favor and get at least one Extra Credit Item (ECI) out of the way. Yep! You guessed it! I chose to create an Avatar. I started this adventure with lots of apprehension but I can honestly say it was all for nothing. Of the seven (7) sites provided, I utilized two (2) and I will share my experience below. And just so you know, I created all the images without divulging my personal information and they were all done for FREE:
Portrait Illustration Maker was the first site I visited. It was really easy to use but not quite the experience that I expected as I wasn't able to accomplish the look that I was after. That being said, I was still able to create several Avatars - which I will share with you momentarily. Let me first take a moment to tell you how you can get your image(s) on your computer once created.
You can do this via one of two ways - they are both super easy so it doesn't matter which one you choose. When you are ready to save your Avatar(s) you can right-click on the image; select "save Picture as"; and then choose where you want to store it; give it a name and press save. Viola! You are done!! OR you can press "download" and when the box pops up choose "save"; and then choose where you want to store it; give it a name and press save. Again, so simple - that's it - you are done!!
OK. I know you have just been bubbling with anticipation for the moment I reveal my Avatars. Keep in mind that I told you I couldn't get them exactly like I wanted them but anyone who knows me will know I tired. I think the site targets Chinese/Japanese and this was probably the reason I couldn't. So anyway here they are in all their awkward splendor - it was still a lot of fun and the site was very user-friendly:
Hawiane #1
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
Hawiane #2
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
Hawiane #5
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
Hawiane #3
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
Hawiane #4
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
Face Your Manga was the second site I visited and I downloaded the myWebFace application to my computer. To save an image(s), once you have it the way you want it you just click "save to computer"; and then choose where you want to store it; give it a name and press save. Just as easy as before and let me tell you, I had a blast at this site - there's sooo much you can do!!! The tools available were also easy to use, I played around with a few of them and this is what I came up with in no time at all:
I was able to create this image using the "MangaYou" application and was done in just a few clicks:
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
Utilizing the "CartoonYou", I created this one also in just a few clicks:
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
The next two (2) required just a little more work as the applications need a photo of you. You can either upload one from your computer or if you have a web cam you can use it to capture the photo. I used the "MyZooMe" to create this image, I thought it was sooo cute - I think it's my favorite:
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
And lastly, I used "CaricatureMe" to create this one. I'm not sure a mother could even love this face. Kinda scary, huh?
"Image created by Hawiane Tidwell, 2012.
Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
See! I told you, it's not that hard and it's really a lot of fun - so don't procrastinate. Go ahead and get started, it will be one less thing you have to worry about later and you will be glad you did!! :-)
For years I had resisted partaking in the obvious integration of Social Media (SM) and all the new Technological Advancements (TA) - some of which seemed to be created just for SM or as a result of SM. My only indulgences were a laptop, an air card and a cell phone. And I only had those because at that time I was traveling a lot for my job and I needed access to email. Until August of last year I had successfully avoided social media and networking like they were a plague.
However, Fall Semester 2011, I had to take a Social Networking class which was a requirement for a program I recently completed (Career Ladder AS to BS Degree Program in Business Administration). And quite frankly, I was a little irritated when I first found out I had to complete assignments that required me to be active on several of the major sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube, and Google. Yes, I am ashamed to say, I did go kicking and screaming but after a couple of weeks in that class I began to see the power and the value of SM and TA. I was amazed at how much easier it was to stay connected and I was surprised when I realized how businesses were utilizing these necessary tools for their advantage...
"Photo taken By alexa fades away , 2010. Permission granted to reuse with attribution."
I'm really excited about ISM3004 - and looking over the calendar, I can already see I will be venturing into waters I've yet to charter (like this Blog). Yeah!! This is a good thing though and I'm ready to go! I desire to obtain any knowledge, experience and/or skills that could be a catalyst for my professional success and increased competitiveness and human capital value. According to Chapter 1 of "Information Systems: A Manager's Guide to Harnessing Technology" by John Gallaugher, today many businesses realize that SM and TA should be a vital part of their strategy for marketing and they desire to hire Managers and other employees who posses the necessary experience and skills.
For businesses, social media can be used as one-way and/or two-way communication and marketing tactics which allows companies to send a highly targeted message to a large number of potential customers. And do it very quickly and at costs extremely lower than traditional advertising. Technology whether direct or indirect is apart of almost every job function and it's use and reliance upon is also continuing to increase.
Successful companies are those companies that proactively embrace "Our Forever Changing World of Communication and Technology". They become a part of the social media community by creating Blogs or Twitter feeds or establishing pages on social networking sites like Facebook, etc. This helps to set them up to successfully achieve their goal of gaining a sustainable competitive advantage. This is just one (1) of the many reasons why SM and TA is so vital and necessary to businesses. For more information and/or to see real-life examples, check out these sites on the Web: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/ http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/why-big-companies-are-blogging/ http://www.sitepoint.com/15-companies-that-really-get-corporate-blogging/
This is also one (1) of the many reasons why these tools are very important to many business professionals like myself and many of you. As I stated before, I desire to obtain any knowledge, experience and skills I can to help ensure that I become more competitive and marketable - so I'm sure you can see how it is not only important but very necessary. By doing this, I hope to gain a sustainable competitive edge over my professional peers and I would imagine that if I were to take a poll, the same would be true for many of you.
The class I mentioned I took last year barely covered Blogs. It basically just provided their definition without any hands on experience. I'm glad that this will not be the case with ISM3004. Also from the readings in Chapter 1 of "Information Systems: A Manager's Guide to Harnessing Technology", I've come to realize that blogging can give anyone a very real and powerful voice and presence in our society. Many businesses have wised up to this fact and not only do they blog - they also constantly monitor electronic media to ensure that there isn't "anything out there in cyberspace" that could jeopardize their reputation. The old quote, "The pen is mighter than the sword", can certainly move over and make room for "The keystroke is giving the pen a run for it's money". With that being said, I found a video on YouTube that gives some pretty good advice on the basics and etiquette of blogging:
"Video Uploaded to YouTube by yourBusinessChannel , 2008. Permission granted to reuse with YouTube Standard License."*
Now that I've gotten my feet wet regarding blogging, with the help of this class I'm wading out into the deep as fast as I can. With the information provided by our instructors and another video I found on YouTube, it was easy to create this Blog and I'm loving the hands-on experience. The video walks you through how to create a Blog on Blogger step-by step. It will probably answer most, if not all of your questions and it's less than four (4) minutes long - I couldn't believe how easy it was to follow. So check it out...
"Video Uploaded to YouTube byBloggerHelp , 2011. Permission granted to reuse with YouTube Standard License."*
*For those who are wondering what "YouTube Standard License" means - I found a very informative video - you gussed it, yes on YouTube. Using simple laymans language it explains the copyright and licensing in regards to YouTube and it briefly mentions Creative Commons. If this issue was "muddy" for you before, this video will definitely help to make it "clearer" - happy blogging...:
