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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Dealing With a Fear of Computers

Cyberphobia is also known as the fear of computers and most likely is going to be one of those phobias that interrupts the quality of your life.

With today's technological superhighway, and the computer's ability to keep in touch with family members, even grandmothers and grandfathers are computer literate. As far as having a computer phobia, not only can it affect how you seek out information, but it can also keep you separate from family.

There are many ways to try and overcome your fear of computers, and the first is to find out exactly what your afraid of. Many of those who are considered to be afraid of computers are actually afraid of the unknown. Also, one of the great fears with a computer is that you're going to do something wrong.

If you're actually afraid of the unknown, you may try going to a simple computer class. Make sure that the instructor knows that you're afraid of computers so they take the time to teach you exactly what the computer is, how it works, and how you can get information from it. By taking a course you will be led step-by-step through your fear, and there's a good chance at the end of the course, you won't be so afraid.

The same can be said if you feel you're afraid that you're going to touch the wrong button. Many people misunderstand, and they think that they can crash or break a computer easily. In actuality, it is very difficult to crash a computer or break it. This is one of the things you will learn, if you take a computer course.

The fear of computers can be debilitating, not only can it affect your quality of life as far as how to find information, but it can also keep you separated from family and friends. If you have found that you have cyberphobia look around in your community Senior Center, your community activity center, and even your community job center and take a course in computers.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Independent Care Products - Senior Electronics

As your loved ones get older, you try to find ways to make everyday tasks easier for them. You know how important their independence is to them, so you do not want to take that away. This is why there are independent care products that help seniors do these ordinary tasks that have become more difficult. Many of these products help make using electronics easier. A great product that fits well in any senior home is a phone. The problem they have is that they cannot read the buttons. These phones have magnified numbers so even the hardest of seeing person can read them.

Similar to the larger phone is a remote control that has large buttons. These are simple independent care products that we take for granted because we can see smaller objects. You do not think about how difficult it is to use the television remote when you cannot see the buttons. Clocks also are a great electronic to get seniors. They make so many different varieties that have large numbers so they will be able to see them from across the room. They will not mistake what time it is again. You also might want to get a smoke alarm that has voice warnings as well.

If your senior loved one is hard of hearing, one of the best independent care products you can get for them is a voice amplifier headset. There are a few different ones available on the market but the concept is the same for all of them. This way you do not feel as if you have to scream to be heard. This is great for family members or even caretakers.

If your loved one is into computers but has trouble reading the screen because everything is so small, you can get a monitor screen magnifier. It actually attaches right to the monitor and magnifies everything. Because you do not want to take away your loved ones freedom, using independent care products for electronics is a great way to keep their freedom intact.

There are a number of print magnifiers as well. These are handy for map reading or when you are in a restaurant and want to read the menu. They fit easily into your pocket or purse. We also have hand held illuminated magnifiers, in different magnification to help with reading. Today's wonderful electronics can indeed make life easier for the seniors in your life.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Types of Electronic Whiteboards

Overview of An Electronic Whiteboard

Electronic whiteboards are becoming the new standard in classrooms and meeting rooms, in the 21st century. They take presenting, teaching and learning to new levels of interactivity.

What is an Electronic Whiteboard?

An electronic whiteboard allows material to be presented or displayed from a computer. Images, slides, text and even video can be displayed on an electronic whiteboard. Electronic whiteboard technology then allows for the teacher or presenter to interact with that image. For example, notes can be written on the electronic whiteboard adding information to the image presented. Electronic whiteboard technology can then capture that information and store it. Electronic whiteboards provide many useful applications in both business and classroom settings.

Thermal Electronic Whiteboard

Thermal electronic whiteboards allow the user to write, and print in black and white only. Each thermal electronic whiteboard comes with a printer attached and the images captured on this electronic whiteboard are then printed on thermal paper. This provides ease of use, but presentations on thermal electronic whiteboards often lack flair as they can only be seen in black and white. The PLUS BF-041S Electronic Whiteboard is a good example of a thermal electronic whiteboard. It is a freestanding electronic whiteboard unit with the ability to be mounted and contains a printer.

Color Electronic Whiteboard

Color electronic whiteboards can add pizzazz to presentations by introducing color. These electronic whiteboards can also be called copy boards. Using this technology, images are captured on the electronic whiteboard in color. These images can then be stored and either printed or distributed electronically. The PLUS M11s Electronic Whiteboard is a good choice for a color electronic whiteboard. It can be connected directly to a PC and images can be stored there or printed and distributed. Images stored on the computer from the electronic whiteboard can be further edited.

Portable Electronic Whiteboards

A portable electronic whiteboard is an alternative solution to a standard electronic whiteboard. Using a system such as eBeam, it is possible to turn any whiteboard into an electronic whiteboard. Simply attach the eBeam receiver to the whiteboard and connect the receiver with a USB cable to your computer. This system is quick and easy to set up on any whiteboard and it is easy to transport. The Quarter IdeaShare Q8000 Portable Whiteboard Capture System includes a receiver, mounting systems, electronic pens, dry-erasure markers, software and USB cable. These come with a carry bag for ease in portability. Portable electronic whiteboard systems are an economical alternative to standard electronic whiteboard systems.

Electronic whiteboards are setting the standard in presenting in both business and classroom settings. New schools being built include electronic whiteboards in each

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Computer Software

Computer software, or software, is the term used to generally refer to the operating and roles those computer procedures, documentation, and programs have in a computer system. This includes application software like word processors, firmware, software programmed to digitally service memory on integrated hardware carriers. Software testing such as tests on functionality, appearance and performance, and Middleware, a program that regulates and controls coordinates distributed systems. All of these things and more are covered in the broad term of computer software.

However, that is not all-inclusive, as the term software includes many other subjects. Additional covered ideas of software include video games, programs, websites, and applications. The term "software" is also used to more broadly specify anything that is not hardware but that which is used with hardware. Basically speaking, software is everything but hardware in a computer.

The term "hardware" is used to refer to the literal parts to the computer, the modem, the internal circuits, the chips; basically any aspect of the computer that is physically tangible, hence the name "hard-ware." Software, in contrast, refers to everything inside of the computer, or non-tangible aspects of the computer that are used for its common functionality. A computer can be compared to a brain where the actual circuits and hard drives are the physical brain tissue, but what goes on within the brain is the software, or "thought processing." This makes the definition of software very broad.

There are many different types of software; software that dictates the functioning of logistic programs, video programs, video game programs, online link programs, java, HTML, desktop applications, language programming, alternate scripting, and even microcode programs.

Because the term software is so broad, it is almost impossible to give it one single definition. Though, basely translated, software is something associated with, yet contrasted to hardware as the entire roster of programs, procedures, and related documentation associated with the hardware it is employed by. Or, even more loosely, any material internally used for audiovisual programs.

Computers are not the only electronic apparatus that uses software. In the rising state of electronic use in society, software can pertain to any number of electrical appliances. Computers, video game systems, cars, remote controlled instruments, nautical vessels, and even more household items such as toasters or microwaves; in the newer models of these things, advanced software is being employed to make their usefulness top notch.

However, in all of these uses that software has today, it is still able to be broken down into three distinct categories that signify the broad range of uses of all software. These categories are: System Software, which helps run computer chip hardware to minimize the difficulty in the use of computer systems; Programming software, which provides the necessary tools needed for writing computer software; and application software, which allows computers or computer powered electronics to perform more specific features.

All of existing software on the market today can be broken down into one of these categories, though each category has a more specific set of designations, they are all inclusive of what software is and how it can be categorized.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Whats the use of an Electronic Typewriter?

Electronic typewriters were developed in the early part of the twentieth century. Both individuals and businesses used electronic typewriters for their writing needs. These electronic typewriters underwent many changes throughout their history, but by the 1980’s, electronic typewriters were overshadowed by the advent of the personal computer and word processors.

Many people still rely on electronic typewriters for their written needs. Writers who might be superstitious often will only type on a certain type of electric typewriter. Many office workers use electronic typewriters to fill out forms that are not digitized. Older electronic typewriters are not as widely available as they once were, but electronic typewriters can still be found. There are also many places that will stock supplies for electronic typewriters and many places that will service electronic typewriters as well.

New lines of electronic typewriters are more sophisticated than the ones developed in the last century. These new electronic typewriters have LCD screens and word processing tools such as spell check. Electronic typewriters are often an economical choice for word processing needs. Many people prefer electronic typewriters to word processing on a computer. For some people, staring at a computer screen is difficult and can cause eyestrain. Electronic typewriters don’t cause eyestrain. Some people find that using a word processor annoying with tools such as automatic spell check popping up and needing to be dealt with. Electronic typewriters don’t have those tools. Many people find the sound of an electronic typewriter soothing. Electronic typewriters can stimulate creativity. People find the current demands of technology too demanding. It is much less complicated to learn the technology employed by an electronic typewriter than it is to use the ever-changing computer word processing technology.

There are a few options when looking to buy a new electronic typewriter. The Nakajima WPT-160 Electronic Portable Typewriter is an example of an economical electronic typewriter that offers many features. This is a lightweight, portable electronic typewriter with the ability to store fifty files in its 16K byte memory. It has a twenty-character display with features such as “search”, “insert”, and “recall” This is an affordably priced electronic typewriter.

Another electronic typewriter option is the Royal PowerWriterMD Electronic Typewriter with display. This electronic typewriter has a 100 -character daisy-printing element and a 17” maximum paper width. This electronic typewriter can store up to 48K and includes a 300-word dictionary. This electronic typewriter has an LCD display with a forty-character display capacity.

Electric typewriters make many small jobs easier. Popping an envelope into an electronic typewriter and typing an address is a quick way to get the job done. Electronic typewriters bring a certain satisfaction to creating a document. There is something special and perhaps a bit nostalgic about rolling a piece of paper into an electronic typewriter and typing until you’ve finished the paper. Then you can gently yank it out. It is often useful

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A Sonic Boom In The World Of Lasers

It was an idea born out of curiosity in the physics lab, but now a new type of 'laser' for generating ultra-high frequency sound waves instead of light has taken a major step towards becoming a unique and highly useful 21st century technology.
Scientists at The University of Nottingham, in collaboration with colleagues in the Ukraine, have produced a new type of acoustic laser device called a Saser. It's a sonic equivalent to the laser and produces an intense beam of uniform sound waves on a nano scale. The new device could have significant and useful applications in the worlds of computing, imaging, and even anti-terrorist security screening.

Where a 'laser',(Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation), uses packets of electromagnetic vibrations called 'photons', the 'Saser' uses sound waves composed of sonic vibrations called 'phonons'. In a laser, the photon beam is produced by stimulating electrons with an external power source so they release energy when they collide with other photons in a highly reflective optical cavity. This produces a coherent and controllable shining beam of laser light in which all the photons have the same frequency and rate of oscillation. From supermarket scanners to DVD players, surgery, manufacturing and the defence industry, the application of laser technology is widespread.

The Saser mimics this technology but using sound, to produce a sonic beam of 'phonons' which travels, not through an optical cavity like a laser, but through a tiny manmade structure called a 'superlattice'. This is made out of around 50 super-thin sheets of two alternating semiconductor materials, Gallium Arsenide and Aluminium Arsenide, each layer just a few atoms thick. When stimulated by a power source (a light beam), the phonons multiply, bouncing back and forth between the layers of the lattice, until they escape out of the structure in the form of an ultra-high frequency phonon beam.

A key factor in this new science is that the Saser is the first device to emit sound waves in the terahertz frequency range... the beam of coherent acoustic waves it produces has nanometre wavelengths (billionths of a metre). Crucially the 'superlattice' device can be used to generate, manipulate and detect these soundwaves making the Saser capable of widespread scientific and technological applications. One example of its potential is as a sonogram, to look for defects in nanometre scale objects like micro-electric circuits. Another idea is to convert the Saser beam to THz electromagnetic waves, which may be used for medical imaging and security screening. High intensity sound waves can also change the electronic properties of nanostructures so a Saser could be used as a high-speed terahertz clock to make the computers of the future a thousand times faster.

Professor Anthony Kent from the University's School of Physics and Astronomy, says "While our work on sasers is driven mostly by pure scientific curiosity, we feel that the technology has the potential to transform the area of acoustics, much as the laser has transformed optics in the 50 years since its invention."

The research team at Nottingham, with help from Borys Glavin of the Lashkarev Institute of Semiconductor Physics in the Ukraine, has won the immediate accolade of the publication of their paper on the Saser experiments in this month's leading Physics journal, Physical Review. The team has also won a grant of £636,000 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to develop Saser technology over the next four years.