Week 13: Clear on Social Media Use in Business

Social Media in the Business World

"Social Media Buzz" by Widjaya Ivan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28288673@N07/4847679257/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Why is Social Media so Important in Business?

Social media is so extremely important to us because it allows us to market our products and our ideas. Your company will be left behind if you don't learn to use the new social media type websites like blogging, video sharing websites, and social networking websites.  Today, marketers are so involved in using these social media websites, helping their business reach a large audience quicker and effectively. Social Media allows businesses to communicate with their consumers to hear their experiences with their products. 

What can businesses do to start using Social Media?

Businesses need to create a firm plan before jumping into social media:

• Who do they want their audience to be? Who do they want to market to?
• What is the goal that they would like to accomplish with social networking?
• How are they going to get people to become involved in their social media, and what techniques will they use?
• What is their plan to put into action so that they will be successful?

What are some examples of social media websites?

Numerous social media websites include: 

Digg, StumbleUpon, Youtube, Squidoo, Foursqure, Facebook, Twitter, Del.icio.us,  LinkedIn

And MANY MORE!

How does Social Media Influence us in the Business World?

Social Media influences the business world because it helps businesses but can also harm them. A bad presence or presentation on a social media website can do harm to a company's reputation. A company's image after a tragedy can be seen on their social media websites immediately after an incident because that is where the consumers will be looking. 

Social Media also hurts individuals because businesses use social media hubs to collect information on you when they are looking to hire you. Pictures of "a night out with the guys", showing you with a beer bottle in hand, and also under the age of 21, will cost you when applying for a job.

In the end, social media is huge in the business world and many businesses are making the shift to FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, and much more. Companies are making it easy to receive coupons online, and market their products efficiently with these methods. It is a hub for companies to reach millions of people with the click of a button!

That's all for this week. Thanks for reading!

Week 12: Clear on Online Gaming

Online Gaming Today

"Angry Birds" by Denis Dervisevic

http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisdervisevic/5327974794/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

As college students' free time increases, the use of games and other online resources increase as well. Online Gaming is a social issue discussed this week. The amount of time spent playing games is outrageous. Although I am guilty for having had played Angry Birds and other addictive computer games like "The World's Hardest Game", I do realize and understand that doing so is detrimental to my progress in my school work.

Why is so much time spent playing games?

1. A research article by Nick Wingfield explains that players have significant improvements in their overall mood and reductions in stress levels. 
2. Games like angry birds are addicting by using positive reinforcement to make players feel good when they succeed in a certain part of the game. 
3. Addicting games have so many levels and upgrades that it is difficult to stop playing once you have succeeded.

Once you start playing these games, it is difficult to stop! These games are very popular for wasting time and being known as "mindless games". Games like angry birds could be so much more effective if they had incorporated some type of "fun" education to educate users while they "waste their time playing games". Internet users claim to take a "mental break" from what they are doing when they play online games.

Some of the most popular online games for PC include:

• WarCraft
• StarCraft
• Diablo
• Call of Duty

Some of the most popular online games for your Mobile Device Include:

• Angry Birds
• Fruit Ninja
• PapiJump
• Uno

What do these games have in common? 

They all have some type of upgrading system or reward system that will keep the player interested. This is where the addicting factor comes in and keeps players hooked on the gameplay instead of doing their school work!

Why is online gaming important in business?

Online gaming is extremely important in business because it is a factor that fuels sales in the business world. Many industries rely solely on gamers who enjoy wasting their time and playing games. Coding businesses code small game applications and sell them on App Stores looking to make potential profits. Online gaming will always remain a part of the business world because businesses profit off of gaming and also get their business out by using games as an avenue for advertising.

The resource that I found particularly interesting this week is actually a PDF File hosted on a website found here:

http://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/imc/pdf/xs-audio-interview-online-gaming.pdf

This is an article from IBM explaining how the gaming industry is spreading to more than just kids! It is a great article to grasp how the gaming industry is really growing!

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

Week 11: Clear on Danger in Data Breach

Is Your Private Information Safe? 

"Padlock " by Declan Jewell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/declanjewell/2472470758/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Entering your information in a website could potentially be dangerous in the long run. The databases that hold your information could be compromised. If that happens, millions of people's information will be released, possibly to the public. Once a companies data is breached, they could have long term access without the company knowing. 

Many companies have been shunned in the past for their insecure databases which have ultimately led to millions of people's credentials to be released to hackers.  A firm example of this is the Playstation Network's massive data breach. A hacker that manipulated the system's security was able to extract millions of user's account information.

 This includes, but is not limited to:

• Their Name
• Their Address
• Their E-Mail Address
• Their Password that they may have used on other secure websites
• Their Credit Card Information

This will lead the company to run into lawsuits and a large reduction of sales. Who would want to buy from a company that just went through a terrible incident like that? I wouldn't trust a company that allowed a hacker to take millions of people's credit card information! The people who's information was leaked could potentially file a lawsuit against Sony for having their personal information made public to malicious users such as hackers due to the company's poor security system. For years now, people will think twice before putting their information on the playstation network again. Also, the government may have to intervene in some instances and have Sony follow set rules. Doing that will cause the company to lose many sales because they aren't focusing on profiting, just on meeting requirements. 

This is extremely relative to the business work because you may enter your personal information on a website and it may be in the wrong hands without you knowing. You may invest your companies' dollars into a company that has been breached. This could cause potential losses in profit and you may have to find other places to invest in. You must be very careful with your money and what you do with it!

An article i found particularly interesting was:

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/data-breach

This article explains what a data breach is in depth and really helps one understand the concepts. It was a great read!

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

Week 10: Clear on Basic Database Functions and Tables

Basic Database Functions and Tables

"Microsoft Access 2010, What's New Screenshots " by IvanWalsh.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/3939161199/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

This week I was able to surround myself with databases and basic Microsoft Access functions. I am running a Windows computer and used Microsoft Office Access 2007 to go through the Scavenger Hunt Questions and learn how everything works.

First, I practiced the use of tables in a database. Creating a table is easy, all you need to do is go to the Create Ribbon Bar in Microsoft Access, then Click on table in the top left hand corner. From there you can add new fields to the table by simply clicking on New Field in the Datasheet Ribbon Bar. In design view, you can add a description of the field as well! 

A Primary Key is extremely important when starting a blank database.  This is a value that is unique for each record in the database, and you only have one of these specific keys.  A Primary key can easily be set by right clicking on the field you wish to make a primary key, and clicking "Primary Key". You can also click on this field and select Primary Key on the ribbon bar. 

Also, you can configure a field to only accept a certain value by configuring it's validation, which can be found by going into Design View, clicking on a field, then clicking on the Property Sheet on the ribbon bar. You can enter a validation rule and validation text for when the rule fails. Need to import excel or CSV data into a new table? No problem! Simply go to the External Data Tab, choose the file you'd like to import, navigate to your file, then follow the Import Spreadsheet Wizard!

These concepts are very important in business because implementing Microsoft Access and databases into a company can help them become more organized. Doing this will help keep records for a companies employees, or anything that they'd like to have on reference. It is simple to create a database and very easy to reap the rewards of one by creating queries and forms. Databases are a must for businesses!

A great resource I found while researching databases was found here:

http://www.articlesbase.com/databases-articles/microsoft-access-in-todays-business-693002.html

The author explains exactly why modern day businesses should incorporate databases into their daily routines! It is a great read! 

Thanks for visiting my blog! See you next week!

Week 9: Clear on Increase in Machine Intelligence

How Computers May Outsmart us 

by the End of the Century

"Machine vision" by Stuart Caie

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyz/2912259398/lightbox/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

        After listening to the speech made by  Michio Kaku, I was extremely interested in what could potentially happen to us if machines were to continue advancing as they are today.  The picture above is just a brief example of what machines are doing today. The machine shown above is playing connect four against itself, and as you can see, it understands the concept quite well.

        Michio Kaku first stated that our machines today are only as smart as insects. This is not potentially dangerous at all. He then went on to say that soon enough they could be as smart as mice. After that, they would be as smart as cats as dogs.

        Then I was shocked. Michio Kaku then stated how by the end of the century, our machines may be as smart as monkeys.  If machines are as smart as monkeys, they can potentially conjure up their own plans, make their own strategies, and own decisions. They DO NOT need to listen to you if they choose not to. Monkeys have enough of a brain capacity to do things on their own.

        This may be potentially dangerous to us because if machines become murderous, we could be in deep trouble. If we continue to manufacture smarter and smarter machines, they may outsmart us eventually. There have been large groups of people that have even gotten together to specify when they believe machines will eventually become smarter than us!

This is important in business because a company may rely on machines for all of its work, and when machines become smarter, what if they choose not to work? What if they choose to rebel? Our technology industry could be shattered if someone similar to this happens. We are much better off with keeping our machines' intelligence far from our level.

A great resource I enjoyed reading while looking up this topic was found here:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17518-smart-machines-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen.html

The author describes how machines are getting smarter, and could become potentially dangerous. Check it out!

Week 7: Clear on Open Source

Open Source Software

"nom nom nom" by Matt McGee

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pleeker/3006047398/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

What is Open Source Software?

Open source software is always freely distributed software that contains the source code of the program. When developers include the source code with their software, they are giving you the opportunity to find errors in the software, or develop your own version of the software and make changes to the existing software.

What can you do with Open Source software?

You can do the following things with open source software:

• You can develop your own version of the software
• You can create new features to the software
• You can fix errors in the software (and make money doing it)
• You can distribute your own version of the software

So what are the downsides to using Open Source Software?

As seen in the picture above, with having a dog comes other responsibilities. The dog must be fed, walked, and tended to daily. Much like a dog, open source software that you develop may have problems, or you may need to hire other individuals to change the existing code for your company. Once these changes are made, you can sell the software.  Why is this important in business, you ask? Your company may be just starting up and may need to decide whether they would like to pay for their software, or use open source software as an alternative. This may be very cost-effective, and can bring the company off the ground if they develop their own strains of the open source software.

What are some examples of Open Source Software available today?

Some of the most popular examples of open source software include (but are not limited to):

• Mozilla Firefox
• Filezilla
• RealVNC
• WGet
• Audacity
• Gimp
• OpenOffice
• Linux
• Apache

And many, many more!

A great source that I've found while researching Open Source software can be found here:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question435.htm

This website will help answer anything you are unsure about with Open Source software!

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

Week 6: Clear on System Software vs Application Software

System Software vs Application Software

"Tug of War" by Josh James

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshwept/5689555989/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

What is the difference between System Software and Application Software?

• System Software is a collection of programs that are required for your computer and its devices to function smoothly
• Application software is any program that helps you complete a task.

What are some examples of System Software and Application Software?

System software is anything that helps keep your computer running smoothly. So, Windows 7 Operating System would be an example of system software.

Still confused? McAfee AntiVirus, or Norton Anti-Virus are solid examples of System Software because they help keep your computer running smoothly.

Application software, on the other hand, is anything that helps you complete a task. Examples of application software are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, or even Adobe Photoshop. 

Other fine examples include MSN Messenger, or Notepad, because MSN helps you communicate with people, and Notepad helps you jot down notes. If those were the tasks you had in mind to complete, those programs can definitely lend a helping hand.

Why is this important to business people like you?

It is important that you know the difference between the two different types of software, and why they are developed. Some people are clueless as to what Microsoft Office is unless they've used it before. Knowing the difference between the two types of software is essential especially if you are a software developer or if you are running a business.

A link that I found extremely helpful when looking up System Software and Application Software is found here: http://www.blurtit.com/q4080402.html

This will answer any common misconceptions about the two types of software!

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

Week 5: Clear on Presentation Design and Layout

Presentation Design and Layout

Make your presentations stand out. Keep your audience awake!

"Matt Asleep" by Jasmic

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmic/253938958/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en

It's a great feeling to have your audience fall asleep on you!

Presenting information to your audience that you want to STICK is a very difficult concept if you don't know what NOT to do.

Some no-no's when it comes to presentation design and layout:

• Extremely large blocks of text that seem to never end
• Images from anywhere on the internet
• Boring Lists with 6-8 Bullets
• Clutter on your PowerPoint slides
• Bizarre, unprofessional , Gothic fonts 

Some things to focus on when creating a presentation:

• Images with copyright licenses (Creative Commons)
• Easy to read slides
• Simple yet harmonic backgrounds
• Sans Serif fonts
• Your voice is the BEST Audio!
• Simple Pictures or videos that will captivate your audience

     All in all, you need to keep your presentations simple. The more complicated and crowded that your slides become, the harder it will be for your audience to stay involved. Typing one word on a slide and describing its prominence in your own words can help you tremendously instead of posting 6 hard to read graphs and typing a paragraph about the topic. I've always found that using themes already created in PowerPoint can help spice up your presentations dramatically.

     This is extremely important in the business environment because you may have a great idea or topic that needs to be shown to your bosses. Presenting that idea in a PowerPoint with aspects from the "no-no" area of this blog may turn out to be a bad idea. Knowing how to keep your audience interested in your presentation relies directly on how you portray your information in your presentation. After all, who would remember anything you said after reading 10 slides full of text?

While researching this topic, a very interesting resource I used was:

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10-slide-design-tips-for-producing-powerful-and-effective-presentations/6117178

This is a 10 tip webpage that explains numerous tips on how to keep your presentations, neat, gorgeous, and effective.

Thanks for reading! I'll see you next week! :)

Week 4: Clear on Competiton and Competitive Advantage in Business

Competitive Advantage & Competition in Business

"PC vs Mac" by Sergio de Candelario Delgado

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hades87/2688943823/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

This week I was particularly clear on the concept of competitive advantage in business. 

First off, competitive advantage is both good and bad to the industry and it's consumers. When the iPhone first came out, everyone had to have one. Now, phones with an Android operating system have similar capabilities that the iPhone has, almost as if they copied the phone exactly and tweaked a few things.

Competition in Business is GOOD for the industry because:

• It leaves room for improvements in the products in the industry
• Will lead to stronger products with more features
• Will drive innovation so that companies will want to be the head of the industry with the leading product

Competition in Business is BAD for the industry because:

• Companies have to worry about doing any task better than their rivals
• Companies can't do the same thing as each other. They have to be unique
• Companies can copycat products and tweak them to be their own.
• Will lead to bad blood between companies (Mac vs P.C.)

Any product you create needs to be: Valuable, Rare, Imperfectly imitable, & Nonsubstitutable if you wish to come out on top of the industry without any companies stealing your ideas or your product structure. 

In the end, competitive advantage and competition is vital in business because companies live off of copycatting products and making them better. Many "iPhone clones" have helped keep businesses alive because people believe that the product is the iPhone, except better. Without competition, each company would only have very few products, and wouldn't make the revenue they do today.

A link that I found particularly interesting when researching competition and competitive advantage was the following:

http://www.yeartosuccess.com/members/y2s/blog/VIEW/00000008/00000062/Competition-is-Good.html

The link above describes three rules that will help your company benefit from your competition and come out on top.


I hope you enjoyed my blog post for the week! I'll catch you next week! :)

Week 3: Clear on IP Addresses

What is an IP Address?

Great question! First off, IP Address is short for Internet Protocol Address. An IP Address is four 1 byte numbers separated by a period or in easier terms, four numbers between 0 and 255 separated by a period.  This address identifies you from someone else on the internet. Please note that an IP Address is similar to a MAC Address, but is more specific to your connection to the internet with your specific computer.

An example of an IP Address would be: 128.227.36.209

"Server Room" by Torkild Retvedt

http://www.flickr.com/photos/torkildr/3462607995/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

There are two different kinds of IP Addresses on the internet. 

• One type, static IP addresses, are IP's that stay the same and never change. 
• The second type, Dynamic IP addresses, on the other hand, change every time you access the internet. 

An IP Address has two different parts.

Say our IP address is the following:

128.227.36.209

The first part of an IP Address is whats called the subnet. For example, a LAN can be identified with the first 3 sets of numbers in the IP Address. Although there are exceptions, its usually the first 3 sets of numbers. In this case, the subnet would be "128.227.36".

• The second part of an IP Address is the host. The host section of an IP Address identifies the specific computer/node that we're talking about on the network.  In this case, the host would be ".209".

IP addresses are very important to the business environment because they narrow down who is who, and can be traced back to certain people. If someone is unknowingly leaking the companies information, a reverse look-up of an IP address can sometimes help to find who the culprit is. 

A website that I found particularly interesting when doing research on IP Addresses was: http://whatismyipaddress.com/ip-address

This website tells it all when it comes to IP Addresses! I highly suggest taking a look at the website and reading a few of the facts!

Thanks for reading! I'll catch you next week!   :)

Week 2: Clear on Ergonomics

ERGONOMICS

Taking care of your health may be a major issue in the business workplace. Many people are forced to use the computer throughout their workday, and may not even notice that they are hurting themselves in the process.

 

"Ergonomics 101" by Oza Meilleur

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozameilleur/3991107754/lightbox/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Proper ergonomics helps you increase productivity, reduces risk of illness or injury, and also can decrease your risk of carpel tunnel syndrome, and many other poor posture related injuries.  Prolonged awkward posture is not normal, and will eventually become a problem. This is important in the workplace because many people are left at their computers for hours, and may need to seek surgery for the strains they've accumulated after several hours hovered over their computer incorrectly. Quick fixes to your posture can really make a difference.

Don't worry just yet, I'm here to help you make the necessary changes today, to ensure a healthy tomorrow.

• The first thing you need to do is buy the correct hardware. Ergonomic keyboards and mouses will help your hands lay naturally, and will decrease the strain instantly.
• The second thing you should do is buy some software assistance. Speech recognition software such as "Dragon-Naturally Speaking" is a great alternative to typing out everything. Dragon adapts to your voice and will type everything you speak, and even carry out commands you say. Another great option is RSI Guard. RSI guard is an injury prevention software that alerts you when you've worked too long, and helps you take breaks to prevent repetitive strain injuries. 

Proper posture is another huge aspect of proper ergonomics. Basic posture to decrease strain on your body parts includes:

• Maintaining an alignment of your ears, shoulders & hips.
• Maintaining an alignment of your wrist and back.
• Maintaining a neutral position of your wrist.
• Keeping your weight evenly distributed.
• Keeping your shoulders naturally relaxed.
• Keeping your forearms horizontal with your wrist, leaving enough space for you to rest comfortably, but not so much as to where you are hunching over the keyboard.

Another resource that I found particularly interesting while researching ergonomics was:

http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/General/ergo.htm

On this page, you can find general tips on ergonomics, as well as numerous links to exercises you can complete to help reduce everyday strain on your joints!

I hope you started fixing your posture as you read this blog post! Thanks for reading! I'll catch you later! :)

Week 1: Clear on Netiquette

 "Play Nice" by Nosha.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nosha/3353134665/
Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

      This week I was very clear on the concept of netiquette. As i've been a member of online forums for many years, I understand netiquette very well. Netiquette, or net etiquette, is a broad term which describes the do's and dont's of online behavior. If you thought behaving in person was enough, you're about to stumble into a whole new world where you'll need to "play nice".      
                 

 With a little help, behaving online is just as easy as behaving in person. After learning a few general rules, you should be on your way to behaving appropriately in the online workplace.

•  Never use CAPS when writing a message. Doing so may have your statement become interpreted as a demand or as shouting.
•  Be as brief as possible and read over what you typed before you submit it. No one wants to waste time reading a large message full of grammatical errors.
• Make sure your information is factual. Sending out something that isn't true will spark unwanted conversation. Citing your information will help people reference back to something very easily.
• Group items accordingly.  Scattered ideas will lead to confusion. Make sure to similar ideas together to convey your message more effectively.
• Don't be sarcastic or rude.  People may or may not take your sarcasm or rudeness literally. You may not mean to be rude or hurt their feelings, but it does happen frequently.

      If you live, eat and sleep with these few rules of netiquette in mind, you'll be surfing the web with ease in no time. Netiquette is essential in the online workplace and in business in general because you may convey a different message that you originally intended if you use caps, sarcasm, or post opinionated, non-factual information. It is essential to follow these rules while at work, on a discussion forum, or when you are just surfing the web.

     A link that I found particularly interesting was a Facebook page that outlines the do's and dont's of net etiquette by Alexandra Samuels. She outlines 25 rules of netiquette that everyone should follow.

The link to that list is :

 http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165752193483755&comments

The original Netiquette rules ever written can be found here:  https://groups.google.com/group/net.announce.newusers/msg/9359675b6cafe3be?dmode=source&hl=en&pli=1

I found both links very helpful with my understanding of netiquette, and I will refer to these on a weekly basis if needed, as you should too.

I hope you enjoyed my blog post. I'll catch you next week!  :)