Why Outsource Your IT

Businesses, large and small, rely on computer systems to operate. It is unimaginable to think that in any industry, business can function without the benefits of today’s technology. Traditionally, a business has its own IT Support within its workforce. Since most modern systems have to be operative 24/7, the IT department is also staffed around the clock.

It does cost quite a sum to train and employ experts to serve the IT Services for any business. Some companies have turned to outsourcing IT Support to reduce costs. Although this is the primary reason for doing so, this is not the only advantage from this strategy. Let us try to discover why more and more companies have opted to outsource their IT Services.

Outsourced IT Support provides a wide range of services. This include consultation about business needs, installation of hardware, management of software systems, maintenance of network, and resolving computer security threats. This gives any company more chance to allot resources where it matters most – the core operation of its business.

Knowing that experts in the field operate your IT Helpdesk, you can be certain that your IT needs are satisfied according to standards. Your equipment is of good quality and licensed; your personnel are of adequate experience and certified. You also have the benefit of having only one point of contact for all IT-related concerns. No need to contact another team just because you have a different problem.

Ever had a technical issue and your own IT team was quite slow in responding to your calls for help? IT companies thrive because they are needed. They long to keep a good relationship with their clients. Outsourced IT Helpdesk tends to provide a quicker response in case any issues arise about an IT-related concern. They answer calls and emails immediately to assess circumstances and deliver the required solution. Outsourced IT Support is usually able to fix a problem remotely, removing the need for an on-site visit.

Companies specializing in outsourced IT Services continue to prosper because their support is central to any business. Companies that have hired and outsourced IT Support have realized a good return of their investment. This remains to be the trend in the business world today.

View | 0 Comments | Posted By admin | Posted 10th February 2012   

Useful Windows key shortcuts

If you have a keyboard with the windows key on it (the on that looks like a wiggly window) then you can do some timesaving shortcuts with it! Here’s a list of things you can do:

1. Windows key – displays the start menu
2. Windows key + E – opens a new Explorer Window.
3. Windows key + D – minimises all windows that are open and displays the desktop
4. Windows key + D – opens all windows again
5. Windows key + F –  displays the Find all files dialog box
6. Windows key +L – locks your windows XP computer
7. Windows key + M – minimises all open windows
8. Windows key + Shift + M – restores all minimised windows
9. Windows key + R – displays the Run command
10. Windows key + F1 – displays the Windows Help menu
11. Windows key + Pause/Break – displays the Systems Properties dialog box
12. Windows key + Tab – cycles through the buttons on the Task Bar
13. Windows key + U – displays the Utility Manager with accessibility options
14. Alt + Tab – toggles between open windows
15. Windows key + Up Arrow – maximises the current window
16. Windows key + Left/Right arrow – adjusts thewindow to the left/right side of the screen.
17. Windows key + Down arrow – minimises thwe window to the Taskbar.
18. Windows key + T – shows a thumbnail preview of all the application running
19. Windows key +P – gives you different presentation options for the display of your computer/projector
20. Windows key + (+ or -) – launches the magnifier so you can zoom in or out.
21. Windows key + X – runs the Windows Mobility Centre (volume, brightness, wireless etc)
22. Windows key + Ctrl + F – searches for computers (if you’re on a network)

http://www.seoconsultants.com/windows/key/

http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/30-windows-7-hotkeys-ultimate-guide/

View | 0 Comments | Posted By ccameron | Posted 9th December 2011   

Liquid-Crystal, Auto-Focussing Glasses

Forget Bifocals, these auto-focusing glasses are made from liquid crystal, amnd are able to manually or automatically generate a near focus zone by sending electrical current through the glass and changing the light refraction.

These glasses, entitled ‘Empower’ were developed by Dr. Ronald Blum after over as dcade of research.

They feature microchips, accelerometers and rechargeable batteries, and have two modes – manual and automatic.

To activate the near focus manually, the user simply needs to touch the side of their glasses.

To reactivate automatic mode, you need to slide your finger down the arm of the glasses. In automatic mode, an accelerometer monitors head movements and generates the near focus when your head is tilted down. Possibly not the most useful if you want to look at something eyelevel or higher that’s close to you, but it’s certainly an extraordinary invention, removing the distortion experienced with bifocals, or the need to have the near focus zone visible all the time.

For more info on these new creations, have a look here: http://www.blogiversity.org/blogs/willburns1/archive/2011/02/16/forget-bi-focals-get-these-liquid-crystal-auto-focusing-glasses.aspx

View | 0 Comments | Posted By ccameron | Posted 5th December 2011   

Robots that have made up their own language

The University of Queensland, Australia has developed a pair of robots called ‘Lingodroids’, which have invented a shared language with each other. They play location games that allow them to construct a vocabulary for names of places, directions and distances.

Ruth Schulz, director of the project, said “In their current state all they can talk about is spatial concepts, which I think is pretty cool as a starting point… the important part is that they are forming these concepts, they are starting to really understand what words mean and this is actually all up to the robots themselves.”

Each robot has sonar, a camera, a laser range finder, microphones and speakers which allow them to communicate with each other as they move around their environment. They play “wher4e are we” games, negotiating obstacles like chairs and desks, and beeping when they are close to each other.

When a robot finds an area it doesn’t have a name for, it randomly generates a word for it, and tell the other robot what they have discovered. This has led to them slowly building up an agreed vocabulary. The robots can even direct each other to a certain location in their environment using their language.

“The long term vision is robots that you can use in a domestic environment… real people interacting with real robots in a natural way,” said Schulz. “You don’t want to be pressing buttons to communicate with your robot in the home that you just want to clean your kitchen,” she explained.

“If you want it to clean your kitchen, you just have to say, ‘can you please clean my kitchen.’”

Read more: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/artificial-intelligence/lingodroid-robots-invent-their-own-spoken-language

View | 0 Comments | Posted By ccameron | Posted 28th November 2011   

Toolbars – just say no!

When downloading things from the internet, make sure you untick the boxes that ask you to install hundreds of other toolbars – they generally slow down your browsing and make the screen space smaller.

Occasionally you’ll find some useful or timesaving add-ons, e.g. ones that tell you how many emails you have, but make sure you read through what they all do – don’t just click yes to things without reading them.

Also, you don’t need a toolbar for searching in IE9 now – the address bar is also a search bar!

View | 0 Comments | Posted By ccameron | Posted 24th November 2011   

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