Archive for the ‘Computers’ Category

Using A 3D Scanner For Innovative Technology Production

Posted on March 12th, 2010

The line between reality and the digital world is quickly becoming transparent. One new device, the 3D scanner, has proven that we can now take real objects and put them in a digital format in real time. This type of functionality has already had a profound impact on a variety of different industries.

The first use of 3D models that come as a result of scanning is to use new models in already-large industries: such as game development. 3D models, when created the conventional way, can take weeks or months to perfect. By simply scanning a real object and uploading it, and making minor tweaks, an artist can get the model done in as little as a day.

3D printing goes hand in hand with 3D scanning. If you were to have a 3D model in digital form, special printers could print out an actual model of it in perfect form. The printer is specially designed to create the object with a material such as plastic or derivatives of plastic. For when needing a physical model, whether for art or for business uses, 3D printing has become the staple.

The use of 3D scanning has been increasingly popular in the education sector. 3D scanning can be used by scientists to log a newly found species, fossil, or other artifact. The beauty of the operation is that the artifact can be digitalized and sent to scientists around the world in just an hour. In addition, digital libraries of historic findings will ensure the artifacts will never escape history.

Dentistry is another field that is making use of 3D scanners. In this case, the 3d scanners are used for two reasons: to act as a clearer visual, and also to design custom fitted dental implants. As of current, only the technology savvy dentist offices are making use of this technology. It’s certainly less messy and less time consuming than using plaster to get an image of the mouth like normal methods must.

Architects love 3D modeling, since they can take a real-world model and have a digital version sent to a client in a matter of hours if tweaking is needed. Digital architecture models are also good to have around for reference when maintenance personnel need to fix a particular area of the building. 3D scanning of large models or unusually tall models can take longer, if it’s possible at all.

In Conclusion

3D scanning has stumbled upon an exciting time. We are finally making advances in greatly reducing the time necessary required to make a movie graphic, develop a video game, or even pitch a building design. As 3D scanning technology grows, so too will all the industries that it has directly affected through it’s convenience.

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Easy Solutions For Cisco IOS And Hardware Dilemmas

Posted on March 7th, 2010

Technology classes will prove to students that some hardware and software packages, such as those Cisco creates, are not so easy in learning. Cisco has created some of the best routers, switches, and programs in the world- but learning how to use them has proved to be a task.

The first reference material to consider is Cisco posters. These posters, often found free through the Cisco Academy or through third party retailers, cover many topics such as router commands and network hardware specifications. Keeping up a Cisco poster in your room is a great way to learn all of the ins and outs of Cisco products a little bit each day at a time.

Learning the specifics of how hardware works is one of the key problems Cisco students have. Some software programs, such as Packet Tracer, are the solution to this problem. Cisco gives away Packet Tracer for free to those who are in the Cisco Academy. If you aren’t a student, you will have to find an alternative to the Packet Tracer software to practice networking.

Every work station and student computer should have a copy of a Cisco dictionary on it. This software outlines all of the Cisco software commands, yet also explains what they do and gives examples of usage. It’s an invaluable tool that is free for everyone. It only takes a minute to do a quick search in the dictionary for a term you need, research it, and implement it into your network.

Cisco has their own line of books and learning materials. The only downside is that these manuals are often hard to read and require attention to detail in order to allow the information to sink in. Books also are subpar in terms of quick reference, as they are thick with information and flipping through pages can be time consuming. Desktop software and posters are quicker, but books tend to be more thorough in explanations.

If you are operating within the Cisco IOS, you can easily find help by using the in-program help feature. You can quickly find what a command is used for, or which commands can be used in each level of router mode. A similar feature is included within Cisco switches for all recent Cisco IOS versions. There are no explanations, of course, but it acts as a great refresher for when you forgot a command name.

Closing Comments

There are plenty of references to find in Cisco materials. Depending on what you need, you might want the simple desktop program or an expensive book to help you out. Cisco classes are tough work, so do not feel discouraged over the course of your networking hardware and software studies.

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Sidestep Forfeiting Your Webhosting For Websites

Posted on February 25th, 2010

When planning to build a website, web hosting plans are absolutely required. Without a good plan your website will not be hosted and therefore, not visible to the rest of the world. There are many types of hosting plans out there, and after choosing one, you must manage to keep it up on your site.

Before committing to any hosting plan you should be extra careful when reading the terms of service and privacy policies. If you break those rules set in place by the company, you are at high risk for having your service terminated. This can be potentially dangerous if you run a business or have already built up a strong website. Do yourself a favor, and read the terms of service to avoid being canceled on.

You should also be prepared for the pricing. Sometimes signing up for a discount can be tempting, and you actually get that low price offer. You should also try to get an idea of whether or not you can afford the payments each month after the trial or discount offer ends. Hosting plans will not last unless you cough up the cash for them.

If your hosting is too expensive, then auto-renewals may also be a problem. These are tricky because they will renew at the set time, without fail. But if your information isn’t updated or current you can risk your cards being declined and thus, losing your hosting package. This is risky for anyone with multiple websites. Be sure your auto renewal information is up to date and that you get the required payments in when necessary.

Advanced purchases can be hugely beneficial if you can afford them. These will ensure that you at least have hosting for a number of months without running into financial problems or other things that would make you unable to pay. Paying for many months of hosting in advanced isn’t recommended, but a few months at a time can keep you safely hosted.

Your last option would be to always have a back up plan. Regularly manually backing up websites and using back up hosting options can prevent you from losing your hard work to a simple error or flaw in the system. Web hosting companies are ran by people that make mistakes – so protect yourself by getting back up options installed and ready to kick in if your site loses its hosting package unexpectedly.

In Conclusion

Even though web hosting isn’t terribly expensive, it isn’t great to lose out on your hosting because of a mistake. Most of the time the above errors do not allow you to get a refund, and if you are eligible for one it will be quite difficult.

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Using Microsoft Dynamics Software To Aid Business Efficiency

Posted on February 7th, 2010

Microsoft Dynamics is a software package that has had businesses excited to finally make their business as efficient as possible. Microsoft created the software suite dubbed Microsoft Dynamics CRM in order to help out sales teams, analyze data, and make smart business decisions.

Businesses that are focused around customer support and lead generation absolutely need a software package like Microsoft CRM. The program allows the data entry of new possible leads, with editable fields to fit any industry. It also allows for business officers to quickly find leads based on name, telephone number, or other fields that act as a good search metric.

Human resources departments will love the fact that Microsoft Dynamics also includes support for employee management. All employees in the system can be easily organized and searched according to different criteria- making it easier than ever before to track current and noncurrent employees. It’s especially helpful for logging information such as payroll, so that quarterly taxes are easier to file.

There are those in the company that have the sole task of finding out how to improve the business. Even when you are making record-breaking profits, there is always room for improvement. This is done through analyzing, which is also a forte of the Microsoft suite. Graph creation is done much like you would see in Microsoft Excel, but there are features that make for easier management of the data and graph sets you create. An efficient business uses this feature to constantly monitor endeavors.

Contract management is normally a hassle for any size business- and the problems only get worse once you start to grow in size. Microsoft CRM includes a contract management module that can easily store contract information, including pricing, dates, and contact information, in order to streamline the process. Contracts can be stored and searched just like the employee module, meaning you will never have to sift through another file cabinet with frustration ever again.

Secretaries know that making a schedule isn’t easy. In fact, that’s the whole reason they exist- to help managers and high-profile employees to manage their schedule effectively. Secretaries can use the Microsoft CRM software in order to plan out schedules, print them as needed, and quickly edit them for fast reference. The alternatives, such as an electronic organizer, take too long to enter data and are inefficient. Microsoft CRM allows for quick editing and maintenance.

In Conclusion

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a great package for small and large businesses. As businesses grow, you will notice that organization quickly starts to stumble. Consider trying out a free trial of Microsoft Dynamics CRM provided by Microsoft to see if the package is right for you.

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Posted in Business, Communications, Computers, General, Internet Business | Comments (0)

Connecting A Computer Network With Packet Tracer

Posted on January 8th, 2010

Programs that are meant for engineering professionals never are easy to learn- but practice makes perfect! Packet Tracer is a good example of a tough program released by Cisco, of which even making a small computer network can pose a challenge.

Having a networked based on a hub is easy enough- there isn’t any significant configuration. Putting a router in the network is a different story, however, since it will separate networks. Because it does so, any network containing a router will have at least two different network addresses for proper communication. Configuring them is just a matter of assigning the correct addresses and settings.

Constructing the network will take two crossover cables and a console cable. The two crossover cables will connect each desktop to the Ethernet ports of the router, while the console cable will connect one of the computers to the router for configuring. Be sure that the cable you are using isn’t a straight-through when using your Ethernet cable, as this type of cable is reserved for unlike devices.

The IP addresses you assign will be the logic of the operation. It’s up to you which network numbers and addresses you use, but they must follow a certain convention in order to work. You will be using at least four IP addresses total, counting your two desktop machines and two Ethernet ports on the router. Assign each Ethernet port and IP address that corresponds to a certain network. If you assign both to the same network, you will quickly see the configuration won’t work.

The gateway address is also very important: it allows a computer to connect to a network. The gateway address is configured on the desktop, and it’s value is the same IP address as the Ethernet interface that it is connected to. Without the gateway, information wouldn’t have a way of getting from one network to another. It’s one of the most common rookie mistakes to accidentally leave the gateway address blank.

We can confirm that the network was set up properly by pinging a computer from another. As long as you did everything correctly, you should get a success message when using the command line interface. If you get an error regarding a time out, odds are you have input the wrong IP address information or forgot to open the Ethernet ports of the router. Troubleshooting is a valuable skill to have, so try to fix the problem yourself before asking for help if you get stuck on a problem.

In Conclusion

A basic network is easy to setup in theory, but harder to actually create. Confusing Cisco IOS commands and problems such as a faulty cable is enough to give anyone a hard time. Internet tutorials and troubleshooting tactics are a good solution if you have hit a stumbling block.

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Posted in Communications, Computers, Reference And Education, Technology | Comments (0)

Usage Ideas For Free Internet File Hosting Websites

Posted on November 10th, 2009

Free file hosting has become a new fad, thanks to the decrease in cost it takes to run a web server or add large amounts of disk space to them. Now we can use such file hosting websites to do everything from helping run a business to securing homework to a reliable network.

Thumb drives, or what may be better known as USB drives, have been popular for several years now. They allow college students and work professionals to transfer documents from one location to another with the convenience of Plug and Play technologies. Sadly, these small devices are quickly lost and easily broken, so free file hosts are the better alternative if both locations have Internet access.

Webmasters know that backing up a website is important in case of a hard drive failure. The problem is that sometimes even a backup can be rendered useless if it is one the same server or same network in a hosting facility. The best action would be to remotely host the backup- which can be done through file hosting websites that offer large space allowances.

Attachments sent via email were not meant to be of large size. Email services don’t like to allow large attachments because it wastes their own disk space, so you could run into trouble when trying to send friends a video or music you may have created. File hosts are a good solution, since their limits are much higher than your average email service, and they also allow for easy sharing.

Your home computer is in need of backing up as well- since you probably have critical data that you need access to. This might be files detailing your taxes, insurance information, credit card details, or any number of passwords you have stored. If you were to lose the data in a hardware failure, you wouldn’t be able to recover it. Backup your key files regularly so that if your laptop or desktop does crash, you will always have a backup.

The problem with collaborating on a project that involves modifying files is that you can easily overwrite the work of another coworker or student. Instead of using email to send and receive files, use a free file hosting website as a common grounds of sending and receiving the files. That way you will always have access to the most recently updated file.

In Conclusion

Free file hosts are plentiful on the Internet. There are many different types of rules from one host to another, so it’s best to do a comparison of some of the most popular. For more redundancy, you could also pick several to use.

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Deciding On Buying An Extended Auto Warranty Package

Posted on October 27th, 2009

After buying a car, either new or used, you have the option of buying an extended warranty. Whether or not it is in your best interest to buy the extended warranty is up for debate. Since some can cost quite a bit of money, it’s important to determine which road to take.

It’s a tough decision when presented with an option of getting an extended warranty when you are buying a new car. In theory, a new car should last around 100,000 miles if it is a good make and model, as well as a modern one. I warranty that goes beyond this mark is a favorable one, but anything less and you might be throwing away your hard earned money.

Used cars are a different story. Used car dealerships don’t always offer a warranty after purchase, so it’s up to you to find a third party to accept your coverage. Depending on the make and model, you might have to pay a different rate than what someone else would. For older cars that tend to break down, you can expect to pay a much higher amount than a newer car.

Before buying a car, you should already be reading reviews of how others have been pleased or displeased with it. Buying a car without reading feedback of others is a poor decision that can lead to you buying a “clunker.” If you do happen to read reviews after buying the car that suggest trouble down the road, buying a warranty would be a great idea.

Used cars are tough to gauge when deciding if you should get an extended auto warranty. Theoretically, and old car that was not in your possession could break down at any time because you don’t know how it was handled with the previous owners. You can have a mechanic look the car over fairly well before deciding to buy the car or the warranty if you don’t have the expertise to judge the car yourself.

The bottom line is that you want to save money. If you are paying more money in auto warranty coverage than what you would in repair bills, you are still losing money. That’s why most of the time you need to do research into the matter, and make some statistics to see when a good time would be to opt for coverage. Being logical about the situation will assure that you save the most money.

In Conclusion

Extended car warranties are a great investment if you are tired of worrying about your car breaking down. If you sign on with a good company, you can enjoy having your car taken care of for many years to come without a care in the world.

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Qualities Of Web Directories That Webmasters Should Look For

Posted on September 17th, 2009

Web directories are used today to gain recognition and traffic from others. From free to paid listings, there is certain criteria that you should consider before submitting your own website. Otherwise you may be wasting time, money, or even hurting your own website’s popularity.

Faceless corporations are tough doing business with- the same applies with Internet directories. Owners who don’t keep their directories updated on a continual basis don’t typically make for good targets of your time and effort. Instead look for directories that have easy contact information listed in case you should ever need to contact the Internet directory owner to fix your listing, or answer questions.

Internet directories that receive a lot of attention usually gained the attention by offering a good, respectable, service. You can depend on these directories, and it isn’t hard finding them! Do traffic rank queries on directories you are considering to see what their reach is to the average Internet user. If it’s high, odds are you will find satisfaction.

Finding leads on good Internet directories is easy enough- just read some reviews! Read each review with a bit of doubt, however, and ask yourself why the reviewer is taking his or her time to write it up. Is it out of good will, or are they getting paid via commission? Finding out yourself can be hard, the best way to do so would be to ask others who they trust as a reviewer, or ask those who have bought links from the directory in question to see if they were happy with the purchase.

Web directories can also be gauged by their listings. A directory that lists any website that has money isn’t the type of directory you may want to associate your business with. As soon as spam websites are added to a directory, the appeal of the directory goes down and your purchased listing will go unnoticed in the future. Also look at recent listings to see how often the directory attracts new website listings.

If your website can’t be categorized under the subjects listed, look into suggesting a new category so that you may add a listing. General categories are fine, but you will also have more competition with other webmasters who like to submit to general categories. Being as specific as possible is the best route, as it also ensures that visitors will find what they want, and not become aggravated otherwise.

In Conclusion

Web directories can be measured in all sorts of ways. Through experience you can weed out the less reliable directories, although it may take some trial and error. If you’re noble enough, you’ll also provide reviews of directories to help others looking for the same quality you are.

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A Checklist Of Methods To Secure Your Dedicated Server

Posted on August 8th, 2009

It’s not fun to go through your server and close every opening that a malicious web user can take advantage of. Nevertheless, it is completely necessary to keep your web site running and free of harm. To get started, you should be open your control panel and forage around your options menu.

Your security plan starts right away. Don’t lose any time in determining who you want to give direct access to your server, and who shouldn’t have access at all. Next determine how users of your web site will need to access your server. Allow and deny permissions to files and directories to correspond with the rights you want them to have- whether it be to read, write, modify, or execute files.

Stay up to date on your modules that you load onto the server. An example would be with the PHP module that allows a server to run PHP code. Every so often, there will be security exploits found out that are solved through a new release of the module. By staying up to date on patches, you will avoid the destruction of your server through careless administration.

The languages you support will be your down fall if you don’t know how to code in them. Languages are so powerful that you can easily delete your entire website with a single line of code, depending on which language you are using. Obviously there should be security measures in place to not allow regular website users to execute such code. Something such as the SQL injection is something to avoid.

Any services you are not using should be disabled promptly. Sometimes your server will come with ports and programs running that you not only don’t need, but won’t be monitoring as a result. Telnet is an example of a service that few have a real need for, and can be used to gain entry into a server. Find out how to change and close ports to avoid destruction that could be otherwise avoided with a few minutes of time.

A back up of your files and database will be the cure for when something does go wrong- and odds are it will. You don’t even have to go face to face with a bad user to have this happen- a simple accident of deleting something can turn your entire server awry. It’s best to back up on a regular basis, such as every Friday, to keep up the routine and not slack off on this vital part to your server administration.

Final Thoughts

Odds are that your web host will have a guide for you, or a server already secured once you purchase it. Take advantage of the generosity of these web hosts and read up all you can on security tactics. It could save your website, your hobby, and even your financial stability if you are a professional webmaster.

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Gaining Recognition Through Directory Submissions

Posted on July 8th, 2009

Traffic can come from many sources, and Internet directories are on of the major few sources. Placement in a well-esteemed directory will not only give you targeted traffic, but also gain you link popularity. Optimizing your submission process will give you best results.

Many directories you find will be open to a broad variety of websites. Others will be more specific instead. You may see some directories that only accept a specific type of website. Legal and medical directories are great examples. We wouldn’t want a website about food showing when we are trying to find an able-bodied lawyer, after all.

In your search you will see that many directories are going to require payment for good placement. Ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred, the cost you pay largely depends on the acclaim of the directory. The Yahoo! directory is a good example, as it demands that users pay several hundred dollars just to get your application reviewed. Smaller directories will be less expensive.

Triple check that you have the correct URL before submitting. Even the simplest of mistakes in spelling will render your time, and possibly money, useless. Friendly directories run my webmasters will usually allow you to change details should you make an error, but larger “faceless” directories probably won’t be so forgiving. Also check any description or title information several times not just for spelling errors, but for appeal to get users to click your result.

Editors do enough work as it is without having to properly edit the submission you create to go in the correct category. Always make use of sub-categories when possible, else you are liable to be denied a listing. You will usually find more traffic in a broad category, but at the same time it won’t necessarily be targeted traffic and you run higher odds of getting denied. Make use of the sub-categories where possible so you don’t waste your time.

A website that doesn’t look appealing is going to get denied with most directories, even if you have decided to pay for the listing. Directories linking to other websites are essentially putting their own credibility on the line. As a result, they won’t want to give out links to websites that are either not helpful or are of harm to visitors. The higher class directories could even require that your website obtain minimum traffic levels first.

In Conclusion

It isn’t hard to find a directory on the Internet that allows paid and free submissions. The hard part will be getting a list and organizing it so you have the results that fit you. Also mark off any directories you submit to so you don’t submit to the same directory more than once for the same website.

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