Pulp IT

Go'on Getchyor Blog-ON!

2006-01-14T21:13:00.000-08:00

.." everything is changing..but everything is cool, your mamma said don't worry but then she worried you..everything is changing but everything is cool.."

Once upon a time in the land of imagination there was a concept based on technology tools called the internet that the people dubbed blogs; and so it was that the act of writing and publish with a blog was appropriately labled blogging. Now blogging wasn't really a scary thing, a large one eyed green thing or a secret thing that could jump out of the shrubbery in the night and startle the innocent. But for a time that was just what it did.

In the world of struggling economies was released a free as in no charge and no resitrictions method for everyone in the world to express themselves to the world 24 hours a day with inhibition.

The people loved it!

The corporations, governments, and fanatical religious groups hated it.. it meant to establish a control free society of free thinking people.

The rhetoric began the grumbles, groans, and complaints. Change was developing faster than the armies for the revolution. It was the the blogging nymphs..

They more they tried to banish it, damn it , and disqualify it the more it would mutate hybrid and shapeshift.

Now Yahoo! has converted to blog and is launching its AJAX (application of java and xml) technologies for full scale rss feed enabling to its free email services. What is RSS if not a tool that brings bloggies closer to bloggettes?

"Bloggers just throw mud at good intention and witch hunt for evil corporate dragon slaying drones," they cried. But the truth was bloggers didn't let you sleep in the arms of a lie, bloggers don't let you get away with murder and look the other way. Bloggers can't keep a secret and bloggers won't take the blame.

With a cause like that is any wonder there has been some much hatred, heartache, and joy? I thinketh not. When Sony released 50 CD titles with Extended Copy Protection content protected software using spyware like codes was it not a blogger who called attention and saved the day with only as slight bruise to Sony Ent fragile ego?!

Let's face it blogging brought the power back to the villagers and liberated them from the heavy fisted regime of King Republican Capitalism that display more Communistic intentions.

While Sony didn't mean to use illegal malicious code, it failed to properly inspect its released copies as it should have had it gone unnoticed the class action suite against them would have set new record highs.

With the princess now free to marry whom she pleased she chose to marry for love and liberate the kingdom for all eternity.

Meanwhile over in a little town called Taiwan, FarEasTone Telecommunications is planning to release its evolved 'PlayBlog' site wherein users can enjoy free blogging tools and virtual add-ons to enhance the publishing/expression experience and encourage spending all in the name of..you guessed FUN..oh the scandal.

In another galaxy the annual Blog-on event held in New York City. There were more droans about how blogging means to destroy Public Relations as we know it.

If they were wise they would realize that Blogging will preserve public relations as we need it. There were UberBloggers, Alpha Bloggers, Underdog Bloggers, and fabulous DragBloggers on display. The steady rhythm of keys typing mixed with techno music keeps things going. Blogging must live for life to feel fresh.

Everyone in the world needs to blog, read a blog, or at the very least keep an open blog mind..

So go on getchyor Blog-ON..

the end

Keeping Tabs on IT

2005-12-11T22:10:00.000-08:00

RFID (radio frequency identification) has been receiving increased press, commentary, and notoriety.

The idea behind the technology and its implementation was initially to utilize these "tags" or identification chips on highly sensitive extremely expensive items like military weapondry. In fact, the department of defense was RFIDs biggest sugar daddy simply because the technology was the most cost effective efficient way to secure safety on some of the most dangerous inventory in the world.

However, lets not limit brilliance. Dollars and cents still apply and as retailers like Walmart know all too well, the larger your inventory, warehouse, and shipments are the more relevant it would be to apply technology to maintaining security and accuracy. RFID is clearly the logical next step for national and international wholesaling and retailing inventory management. As a side note we can also add VeriSign and JP Morgan Chase which respectively have included RFID technologies for Retail Solutions and Credit Card encoding.
For good measure At&T (are they still around?) said they will begin to deploy RFID networks.

The newest addition to the growing number of RFID users is NASCAR. In 2006 Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. will be releasing their new "RFID-enabled tire-leasing program". If nothing else the increased and diversified usage of RFID tags broadens its marketing, concept, and reputation. So that the next bold statement to be made with RFID is not the tagging itself but, who is using it? and why. It would seem that anyone who intends to maintain organization into the future. Technology has always been a necessary evil in that most people would prefer to keep things simple and do things the "old fashion way" but urgency increases demand and demand increases popularity and popularity increases inspiration. And so on.. so that the RFID that was once a valued security based technology is now being sought after as an organizational tool and more.

This is a good thing but there are RFID critics who have other lights to shed on the use of this technology by the mainstream and even government. The fear of hype and that this intelligent and evolved technology will be used or rather misused for common issues concerning just plain irresponsible supervision (i.e. for missing pets, theft prevention, merchant processing, and even remote control recovery). I still think what is really being said is the same thing that has always been a theme in the IT world when it comes to exploitation of advance tools. The purpose for not popularizing technology was to minimize misuse. Obviously, more progress can be made in a controlled scientific environment. But the argument is if something can do some good give it to the people or the masses as the case may be.

My conclusion is, if one can afford to purchase this technology then one should be able to purchase and use it in a legal and constitutional manner to their hearts content. And hey, if I never lose my cell phone again in the process so much the better for me.

I don't believe that misuse of a technology will have any effect and real progress within educational and developmental environments. The worst case scenario is that it will simply annoy someone..

The next concern over RFID has to do with spying and constitutional rights to privacy vs. more effective law enforcement. Their again, if the solution solves the problem then lets move on. If the solution creates more problems than lets find a better solution or re-analyze the situation. In fact, several articles have been published regarding "spychips" RFID tags being used to spy on consumers personal shopping habits.

As stated by Bob Evans in his article "RFID Is already Proving Its Value, Business Advantage" wherein he comments,"..Some of you have felt those articles about RFID initiatives have all been a lot of nonsense because the chips are too expensive or there won't be any common standards or because RFID violates the privacy of those who even think about it or that RFID secrets on personal shopping will be fed into a massive GPS network designed by Enron and powered by the Ministry of Information.."
Likewise he went on to point out that,"..breakthrough business value that can be generated when RFID systems are used to enhance visibility, optimize supply chains, reduce latency, and eliminate paperwork and outdated and irrelevant processes.."

Back to the focus of IT as a development and deployment tool from a software perspective the reality is all to concentrated on developing fast reliable database systems to maintain the data embedded in these tags and of course be readily updated as inventory is moved.

SUN Java Systems, HP,Oracle, International paper, IBM and others will be working diligently to compete for the most effective, affordable, and easy to implement systems. Its a worthy goal much like all the kings knights vying for the hand of the youngest daughter. As long as there is a need to develop a perfected solution everyone who knows some code will be around to toss their hat in the ring or pull the sword from the stone (you know).

If you are afraid of what these changes will really mean, don't panic. RFID is a reasonably new solution that needs to become more sophisticated to really be put to use. My guess is we are at least 20 years from this goal really and the article by Laurie Sullivan "The Little Chip That Couldn't" strongly supports this fact. Where quoted mentionings of Middleware connectivity issues to the technology just not being there yet to the 4.2 billion estimated spending by 2009. Anyone who was truly afraid can sleep well knowing chances are the real change will have more to do with your grandchildren than you.

ITs on the Radio

2005-09-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

IT is redefining RADIO as we know IT: From Satellite to WebRadio to PodCasting to Audio Blogging IT is bringing a new form of Broadcasting to the world.

Why is this happening you may wonder, what's wrong with good old fashion radio? Nothing as a matter a fact the history of the first FM station is a complex and sordid one but in the end little has changed since RCA first went public with America's FM radio waves.

Generations since then have known only a change in programming to keep listeners listening and to create and maintain a nitch for itself parallel to television.

The reality is that we have the technology and experience to do more for radio than Tivo has done for television.

The FCC in its own way has actually catapulted this revolutionary evolution by mandating its digital compliance laws for all networks both public and private both radio and television. By 2010 every company that has broadcast programming station must convert or die.

Public Broadcasting so far has been the hardest hit with this new policy but and while the FCC is less known for its activism than its policies on the freedom of speech the force to convert is bringing out the best not only to broadcasting stations but to IT development and finally membership support.

This a corner stone in the history of electronics. For those companies looking to apply some real vision to their conversion requirements you the listener are the most likely to benefit from the advancements. As you will be able to enjoy more control and variety in your daily news and entertainment.

Not to mention that the biggest change of all is one that facilitates global access. Now anyone, anywhere can enjoy radio programs 24 hours a day around the world. Most companies are on the move and it is slated that these new radio broadcasts will be accessible not only from your car radio or home receiver but from your PC. Likewise because all transmissions will have some method of MP3 file transmission everyone will be able to selectively use mobile devices to take their shows on the road.

The most interesting change I have seen arise recently in newer car stereos are that the traditional tape and cd player option is being modified for satellite connectivity and MP3. Toyota's Scion and Kia's new Sportage are two such manufacturers looking to keep IT in the car and on the road.

XM is currently dominating the Satellite market but there are many more companies coming our way.

Web Radio is now available at such web sites as KCLAFM, KTSTFM,KLASFM, and KMAXAM.

PodCasting which is by far the most facinating development for the layman can be found at such web sites as Media Burn. Pod Casting is for everyone that's the biggest attraction. You don't need to spend more than $200 to be your own Pod Cast Guru! Because Pod Casting is so affordable for unlimited use its also the most likely web broadcasting tool to remain free of advertising and free of subscription fees.

Finally, Audio Blogging which may be find at weblog hosts like this one www.blogger.com. This tool allows user interface via telephone submissions. You call in and record your message usually about 1 minute in length allowed at this time and by the end of the prompts your recording is available for listening at your blog url within 30 seconds. This tool makes your blog more interesting, allows the publisher to be effective in the moment and also enables the same world wide accessibility with extra purchases required because you can send an publish from your cell phone.

This of course is only the beginning of more creative freedom of access and speech around the world 24 hours a day!

Apple's IPOD of course deserve much thanks because its popularity is bridging the consumer gap in a newsworthy manner. IPODS are for everyone and that's why everyone has one or is going to have one. Likewise the more MP3 files that contain the type of listening content for a more diverse audience is also going to increase not only the demand for IPODs but the value of them.

My prediction is that it will be even less time before companies like Yahoo! begin incorporating broadcasting technologies to their user services.

TOP 5 REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING NEW FORMS OF RADIO FEEDS?

1. Increased broadcasting range from local audiences to regional, national, and world wide
2. FCC Free ~ remember R.E.M.'s hit "radio free Europe"? Imagine Radio shows and broadcasted programs complete free from restraint or legistlation. This means no censorship or limitation to content which cannot be controlled by any government anywhere.
3. Affordability means less advertising interruptions and or more affordable ad spots.
4. Longevity ~ because the digital convergence insistence by the FCC has put many small or non profit broadcasting companies in a financial bind this technology option will make it possible for these same companies to thrive on into the future.
5. Increased employment in broadcasting and production because of the diversity to attract and respond to broader audience listening demands.

Like all things media there remains only a few ways to generate revenue:

-subscriptions
-advertising
-fundraising or donations

The good news is world wide accessibility increases and maximizes audience growth potential. This in conjunction with lower overhead expenses means more profitability by sheer volume compensation.

Had enough and wanna do it yourself?

Try Blogger for audio blogging set up its already in place all you need to do is click on the appropriate buttons to have audio blogging options at your weblog.

How to create your PodCast may be found at: www.digitalconnectmag.com in the article "Podcasting to the world" by Bradley Baymack Under " How to build the secret to solutions - 8/05 edition

Got any more to add, did I miss a spot, did I leave out a better source? Let me know leave you comments for me in the comment link below.

Call Center Blues for IT..

2005-09-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

Call Center History

Call Centers begat from of all things humble .. the need to contact a growing volume of people for the purpose of doing business, furthering a cause, rallying support..etc.

The 1970's started the real movement to have a business which sole purpose was to exclusively contact people for other companies and organizations, though since the popularization of the telephone as much as 20 years earlier people were using the telephone to increase attention and support for their businesses and organizations.

The selling point was to create an office environment that was set up to handle thousands of phone calls a day locally, regionally, nationally, and eventually internationally. These business environment where quickly named call centers. Employing hundreds of people and promoting American Businesses.

Lines of tables and chairs side by side seating equipped with a telephone, call sheet, and pen and a goal to reach as many individuals as possible in a working shift.

The 1980's introduced such technologies as monitors which displayed information about or for the people being contacted their donation and investment history to assist the callers success.

Then came the automatic dialer, which could store hundreds of thousands of phone numbers to automatically sort, dial and redial all of the listings for a contacting goal. Thereby, increasing not only caller volume but call center value as an outsourcing must.

By the 1990's headsets were replacing traditional hand held receivers and the monitors displayed more information to include addresses, some history information on the contactee, and notations all of which were IT success stories that proved to meet relevant goals of increased business, revenue, and employment.

2005 - Call Centers are reigniting IT attention and focus more than the previous decade as more consumer interest is centered around privacy, security, and customer care. Not to mention increased demands to respond to the introduction of VOIP/Telephony, Database Management, Content Management Systems, eMail, and Internet connectivity which are all increasingly becoming an artery in business fluency.

American businesses seek efficiency, dependability, and reliability. America's Call Centers are being asked to respond with improved and revitalized responsive IT in order to handle the expansion and diversity.

Increasing volume gives more opportunity to larger revenues and increase profits this is still the best way to create and develop longevity and maintain stability.

What's your Call Center's Plan for the future? Will it thrive to keep up toward the conversion goals of 2010?

Some Articles I recently discovered regarding the Call Center Crisis:

"Global Call Centers: Yes, No, and the importance of face" by Erik Granered www.interculturalpress.com (provided by Support World Magazine )

This article simply and directly deals with the need to be more enlightened about international call center needs, cultural differences, language barriers, and how to reassure security. Realizing the increased demands in the age of globalized resource development and adaptability. Can your Call Center pass the basic fitness test?

"Wake -up Call" How to transform your call center from a budget drain into a source of competitive advantage - by Alice Dragoon

This article boldly investigates and identifies the dark side of call center management and provides some insightful solutions to redirect focus for the future by pointing out that :

"..>Call centers can be a valuable source of business intelligence
>The need to balance efficiency with service
>How companies can empower agents to meet customers needs
>Consider customer needs and requests as a method of improving your call center service applications .."

Tip: If you don't your competitors will!

The Future happens every day in IT

2005-09-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

Software & Developer Tools to Watch/Buy

.NET it's true Microsoft's .NET web service software is making a name for itself by maintaining user end (desktop) relational functionality.

Be on the Look out for Vista the new Microsoft OS and its browser to follow have been released for if I am not mistaken phase two of BETA testing!

Open Source is still making strides and enjoying the occasional bites of Humble Pie - mmm to Microsoft's smaller portions of Smothered Crow over rice.

Check out CIO Magazines "Wide Open Spaces" By Steven Weber. Open Source can still compete if they are willing to learn for someone else's mistakes and make peace with compatibility requirements full throttle. Innovate by being where the other guy is not.

My Next Steps:

Wirelessness
Buying an Apple notebook

Asia is still the front runner in Mobility developments!

Recommendations:

VOIP - Voice over IP will save your life! Increase productivity and give your customer service time for a bathroom break!

IP Telephony would be another term for similar technology.

The Revelation:

Ever notice how the leading IT evolution trends are typically connectivity ones?
RFID - Radio Frequency Identification
CRM- Customer Relationship Management
VOIP- Voice over IP

When these three technologies can become one IT will have officially arrived at Enlightenment.

"That's deep."

Whether your business does business with businesses or end users internal security and application reform is still the most relevant studies show.

P2P - A scapegoat for IT woes, disappoints, and f**kups?
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water after all if not for P2P we would not have the internet.

Non Profits/ Charities/ Mitzvahs and Good Deeds

God save the Queen!

God save the Call Centers!

You know what the gifted say, " Don't spend, Invest."

Job creation should be at the forefront of any qualified CIO's agenda by way of simplifying roles that everyone plays in the organization, increase volume not responsibility..

Finally.. Top 10 reasons not to use Mobile devices for emailing and internet access..

10.Don't want to pay for additional internet access
9.Smaller screens make the option less appealing
8.Don't trust security
7.Don't want to be that available
6.Don't want to be that attached to my IT
5.I have more SPAM than I do email
4.Don't want my entire life to be a silent movie
3.Don't want to spend phone minutes
2.Don't want to give my empler any ideas
1.Top Reason not to email from a mobile device...
SPELL CHECK IS NOT AVAILABLE ON MOBILE BROWSERS

:( ooooooH!

"It's not what you Say it's the way that you Say IT.."

2005-07-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

"..That's all brother, that's all." - Mae West

Giving Dell the Business.

A prime example of the controversey that it caused when manufacturer's hoard sales and distribution.

Dell is quickly become the Microsoft of the hardware industry because of a few minor glitches in the sales line up.

Typically the food chain goes as follow:
Manufacturer -> Wherehouse -> Retailer -> End User/Consumer/Customer

or

Manufacturer -> Retailer -> End User/Consumer/Customer

or

Manufacturer -> Business (who buy in bulk at wholesale prices)

Dell is not alone but are the ring leaders for the new and improved methods

-> Dealer/Retailer/Reseller ->End User/Consumer/Customer
Manufacturer -> Business (who buy in bulk at wholesale prices)
-> End User/Consumer/Customer

Why does this methodology piss everybody off?

For those trying to make a solid living off of reselling Dell Products they are losing customers because the end user or business can buy direct.

The advantages of buying direct are: Lower cost, access to more accessories at the the time of main purchase with no waiting, incentives like free peripherals, free shipping, discounted wireless services.

The disadvantages of buying direct are: Having to reship items for repair or replacement, less customer service or direct assistance, and not enough tech support in real time.

What Dell's goals are, are quite simple to sell more of what they make, increase sales by maintaining low costs, and partnering with service providers that have easy to use applications; Finally, to sell to any and everyone that is in the market to buy.

How we do business in America for Dummies:

We start a business which sells products or services -> we sell this products and services to all sized businesses who are in the position to buy and sell and increase brand awareness -> we then make our products available to retail outlets who may then inform the public that they are now able to buy these products and services for their personal use including making suggestions for product development.

Why do we do business this way in America? Because in so doing we are keeping the cycle of life a circle. Businesses are in the position to increase jobs who are then in a position to increase revenue and handle a larger sales volume and move more of the product or service. While giving other businesses the opportunity to compete in the open market.

Dell does not like to do business the American way. Dell wants to innovate. Dell wants to the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end. Dell wants to be in the position to determine, define, dictate what consumers can have, to what extent, and to what cost.

Dell is playing a very dangerous game.

Dell also promotes the sales of some of the most affordable laptops available. So we go to the web site, we see 499 for a laptop a big step down from the 899 and up price tags. We get offers like get more for another 200, add the cd/dvd rom drive for 60 dollars more buy the time we check the 499 laptop cost the same amount as any other somewhere between 799+.

"Hey! How did that happen?" I went to Dell to save money, but you really didn't, the only way to check out at Dell.com for less is to be very happy with simplicity. Simplicity and Technology do not mix. Technology is advanced by definition. Technology faciliates more, better, faster, for less.

Sales people like Dell because the spend a lot of money on advertising and flaunt low prices that customers associate with their needs. So what happens because of the psychology involved in branding a novice consumer is going to think Dell when they are in the market to purchase hardware. Why because Dell is good and cheaper. In reality, Dell products are no more superior nor are they less expensive but because Dell has manipulated the laws and science of advertising Dell is getting everyones business. Once you become a Dell customer you will stay one because they consistently plant the seeds of co-dependency.
Writing the whole bottlenecking (rednecking) off as well "Hey, they bought I sold.."

Buyer beware, buy what you want where you want and for the price you are willing to spend. Check those rebate, warrenty, and service contract fine print.

What Dell is really guilty of is distorting the truth about what is possible regarding the affordability of Hardware and what is honest about Advertising. But what do they care, by the time consumer's figure that out you'll be rich and it won't matter? Or will it?

My next best advice is stick to the plan that provides more jobs and better quality for the longest haul.

Redneck Proofing Your IT Environments

2005-07-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

This may seem ironic but in my travels to unravel the hold up in IT from the business consumer side one has to do a considerable amount of preparation and uncover research. Here's what some of my efforts have uncovered.

Most thriving businesses have an obvious characteristic. Appropriately casually dressed employees, smiles, laughter, the occaisional outburst, and of course modern hardware and software.

If this is not a description that accurately describes your work environment I must give you a word of caution: YOU HAVE ONE OR MORE REDNECKS ON YOUR STAFF

Now some of you are:

Laughing
Wondering
Questioning
or
Expressing a Miscellaneous Emotion that could be a combination of the above

Laughing = You know it and don't know what to do about it
Wondering= What is a Redneck and how do you identify him or her
Questioning= I wonder which one of us is a redneck
Misc= I knew, I thought so, or you are one

Now some tell tale signs that you have a REDNECK in your organization are:
One you don't feel comfortable being yourself around certain people
(red necks often don't get the joke and become unnerved when you are having fun)

Two a series of bad business decisions are redirecting your productivity flow

Three morale is slacking

Four money is becoming the biggest reason to argue, overspending, business is good but we cannot afford to hire more staff, cannot afford basic upgrades or improvements problem solving that leads back to a specific employee that is either in a higher position or is always avoiding you, our technology still uses windows 3.1 or worse

Five AD WARE SPYWARE OR VIRUSES are continuing to invade and wreak havoc on your organizations network

Six someone decided to out source when they really needed to increase productivity (rednecks do not like people to look at them rednecks also believe that out sourcing means you don't have to worry about it)

Seven getting angry or frustrated when asked to problem solve or be cooperative (rednecks do not like to have to think)

Eight you're a buying the smallest possible Office Equipment and Hardware (rednecks are easily confused and do not like using little things). The only draw back to this approach is that grown ups do need grown up sized appliances for optimum use. Also we do get older and it becomes difficult to focus on smaller print and key pads.

Nine you're being asked to lie about the businesses vitality (rednecks do not like anyone to know that they made a mistake)

Rednecks can be taught but also like to mimic other behavior that they have seen be more acceptable also sexual comments make rednecks uncomfortable. Another word of caution offending your redneck is only a good idea if your redneck is not bigger than you or very strong. Most are not but do act out violently do not play with this too often or your redneck will snap.

There are seminars to send your red necks too that will teach them to be honest, admit bad judgement, and own up to mistakes but some red necks are more resistant than others.

If this sounds more like your place of business YOU ARE HARBORING REDNECKS. Don't freak out walk but do not run to the next seminar titled "How to deal with difficult people".

You do not want the redneck to know you are on to them, but you do want to minimize the growing number of problems that they are creating before your business is in ruins and you are out of a job.

Some key things to do to limit Redneck Damages are:

Utilize Computer equipment that is harder for a red neck to use I recommend IBM THINK PAD
if the concern is access related. If your red neck is breaking things go with ACER its slighter more expensive but is a hardier piece of hardware and will not easily be destroyed by fits, spasms, or "acting out".

The IBM Think pad deviates from the usual set up but offering 3 separate buttons for control and a red center button for navigation you have to have more developed motor skills to utilize these features. So the user cannot simple run a finger tip across a pad to surf the web or use software.

Do NOT use DELL!!!! I repeat Do NOT use DELL! The reason? Dell manufactures REDNECK friendly hardware. DELL systems are too easy to use for evil.

Next configure their computer to a separate isolated network, dsl, and peripherals. So that they can still play on their computer but they can't hurt anyone but themselves. Upon ruining their own system they will either ask for help or break their hardware but that is ok because at least they are not hurting the business.

Develop a new IT policy for your staff which details financial responsibility for any damage done to business desktops or neworks. This way your redneck will lose interest in playing on the computer.

Do not direct calls or customer complaints to your redneck unless someone specifically requests speaking with them.

Rednecks love money so if they feel that their behavior will personally cost them money, they will be less likely to "experiment"

Keep Marketing and Customer information out of reach of your rednecks.

They may get wierd with it and ruin your developing business relationship.

Slowly, introduce your employee as a redneck so that your colleagues and associates understand that why you are whiling to employ a red neck that you haven't lost your marbles and let your monkeys run the zoo.

Keep a file on your redneck careful to note any activity that was financially damaging, reputation fracturing, or just illegal. You will need to take this documentation to the appropriate persons for the legal removal of your redneck if he or she will not play nicely with others.

Once you have done the above mentioned tasks, you should then be in a position mentally and emotionally to work with the rest of the staff to move the business ahead.

If by some strange roll of the dice the red necks in your organization out number you, do as I have done and cut your losses as soon as possible. Apologize to any offended patrons and of course continue to network to find another more suitable position elsewhere.

Don't over react whatever you do. The signs I have described should match to the tee or you do not have a redneck.

Human Resources - Take it upon yourself to keep current on the tell tale signs of a red neck before highering them this way you can still be EOE but you will not enable damaging the business or your position.

Rednecks are people too they just have special needs and concerns. They make better customers that co-workers but nonetheless everything must be case by case. You do not want to start a witch hunt looking for your rednecks rather let them show you who they are by being patient and kind to them.

Rednecks are afraid of social rejection, they are also afraid of responsibility, they are deeply wounded by assumption, but can also be quite assuming, abrasive, dishonest, manipulative, spiteful, and abusive. Rednecks do not see themselves as people just like you so they will do things to you that they do not like having done to them. If at all possible keep your children away from them and try to avoid having children with them.

Rednecks can be very snazzy dressers but do not like to see others expressing their freedom or creativity. Rednecks like to be in charge and often get higher positions because of their willingness to be in charge.

Of course once they are in charge they do not do anything right. That makes them sad but they usually don't want that to show, so they say nice things to make it ok.

Personally, I am in training to learn to be more tolerant of rednecks. I still firmly believe in more traditional methods of dealing with redneck riddles.

I for one do not think they should be parents, teacher, couselors, clergy, president, or licensed drivers, but I am learning to accept that they are.

CRM de la CRM..

2005-07-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Sounds so good but are you missing the point?

CRM software is the talk of the town and products like those offered at salesforce.com can help you with ready to use software that includes all the relevant relational database needs. But what are you really in need of? Is it a revelation or two?

The assumption is one of three things. You are a large enterprise thriving to regain some personalization in your organization, you are a small business that is in desparate need of organization for customer accounts to maintain and grow your business, or you are a one man show for now and need the software to invest in the future of your operation when you are no longer wearing all hats in your organization.

Whatever the case just don't misunderstand. CRM is something that involves the human touch of midas. You need customer care. Your customers are people too and the more you know the better your marketing strategies can be. The great chance you have of children and grand children of these customers becoming long term customers themselves.

Just don't think that all customers need is to give you their money. They need the humanitarian feel to stay loyal.

They need to be more than just data fields. You need to understand when Joe Schmoe says he needs to complain or has a concern.

You need to hear it when he says he didn't receive his shipment. You need to provide incentives after 10 years of purchasing. You need to track how many new customers he's brought to the business.

You need to include available discounts to him. Customer Care and Sales are two things, keeping the ones you have and learning more about them to generate stability; and you need to acquire new customers without showing preference. ITs a balancing act that requires some thorough tools to perfect.

Just make sure you're working with a little more profundity than your software.

This means your customer service and sales staff should be using the software take notes not to do the work for them.

Another noteworthy observation are the over looked "good guys" the manufacturers that sell to dealers and end users alike. The charities and nonprofits who aren't as concerned with leveraging sales history but rather better customizing the offerings to those that need it the most and have fewer options. Likewise, the concern over extending products and services to those in more remote locations throughout the world.

CRM 3.0 is Microsofts newest contribution to the cause and I must admit it looks great but buyer beware if you are compromising the definition of your organizations truest needs you're not really automating your complicating the matter further.

Bookmark IT

2005-07-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

Finding closure at 2005's half-way mark!

Here is a quick list of some key turning points for the good of IT:

1. More Enterprise level involvement to school aged children
2. Increased problem solving for some of those more mysterious catastrophe's
3. Getting a handle on White Collar Crime, Industrial Espionage, and Missing Merchandise
4. More diverse relational options for real time A/R and A/P needs
5. Spending is on the rise
6. Integration is becoming more relevant than revamping architecture
7. IT Legistlation is turning in the direction of increased IT support and security
8. Peace making between IT developers, Government, ASB (all sized businesses)
9. IP Telephony
10. The birth of Data Maintenance

Here is a quick list of some of the issues we have left to confront:

1. Scalable SOA
2. Human Resources in more literal terms and applications
3. Increased attention to long term on going data maintenance
4. Diversification of application accessibility connecting businesses, to manufacturers, and end users alike
5. Realizing that any code that is used to disrupt the processes of software by way of vulnerabilities in both connection and browser security systems should be analyzed for distinction but should be bundled by law as malicious code and treated with the same severity as any virus creator. This means Phishing, Spyware/Adware, Pharming, and whatever they come up with next.
6. Locating and routing out organized crime
7. Locating and neutralizing disruptive labor
8. Concentrating labor hours in proportion to the automation processes so, that IT implementations can occur seamlessly along with training.
9. Structuring business organization for today's needs from the core of the enterprise
10. Assessing, Budgeting, and implementing in 3 and 5 year cycles IT upgrades as a permanent necessity

The greatest stride I have witnessed thus far is the responsibility each state is taking in IT focus applications and implementation innovation.

So far, Florida and Texas are stabilizing their economies and increasing employment. New York and New England states are following suit. Now it's California's turn to maintain its progressive lead in IT evolutions by practicing what it has been preaching.

Is IT time for a Union?

2005-07-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

There are reasons, rumors, and fears but is IT time to structure an IT Union?

I have been suggesting this notion often only to get it off my chest for the past five years but, as a loyal IT movement analyst and American I am always inspired to hear pro union sentiment from another writer in ITville.

Jim Rapoza's "A more perfect union" is not so much a powerfully written editorial on the unionization of the IT industry but a subtle observation of the confrontation IT faces when sales are a must and all that makes sales comes with union rules and regulations.

Admittedly, I am a pro union activist in the worst way i.e. a legacy. Great Grandfather was a, grandfather was a, and so on. Now my dad's generation the one still in charge of IT now is not so much an optimist of unionization as the rest of us; associating unions with added hassels of politics and government interface.

Still, trouble is bound to happen anyway, it's the nature of the kind of democracy we are creating in post millennium America. When trouble comes its better to have unions on your side.

Not just to legalize and mandate structure but to preserve quality production, consistent jobs, benefits, and some security for the bad times that love to come and go as frequently as the tides.

Going it alone the first time builds character so they say and makes a man of you but after a certain point it begins to weaken and undermine that which was unstoppable to begin with, its not a new idea but some times what works is all that really matters.

It was a lot of sacrifice and inspiration that has enabled IT to evolve to its present status in only 10 years time. Would that man kind had evolved so rapidly. Still the best way to preserve that which is sacrosanct in design is to lay a solid unflinching foundation that will not crumble. Architecturally speaking its the Arc d' Triumph versus the Colussium.

If you are going to go through that much effort to build it shouldn't it be strong enough to live longer than you?

Labor Bored?

2005-03-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

Some interesting new reports in the observations of the unemployed seeking to become re-employed; the employed seeking to become independent; the employed simply seeking to regain some of that once cherished stability.

While transition can bring about positive change it can also surface the darkness underneath. It all depends these days on whether or not you feel lucky, well do ya punk?

Some articles of recently discovered diplomatically address the concerns of finding Legitimate Employment in the presence of lies, theives, and the non advanced. Some good advice was giving regarding what to do when you are interviewing with new companies.
Surveying what goes on there, do the people working there seem happy to be there? Does the technology seemed advanced according to your expertise and experience? Do you get the sense that your interviewer is being "honest with you" when you inquire into the deeper details of the position or is this inquiry damaging your chances to compete?

Do you know your rights?

Are you being asked inappropriate questions either during your interviews or during the work day?

Are you being harassed without an explaination finding your "work" under sudden and inexplicable scrutiny?

Now that you have learned about how to live by the law; have you learned how to survive when you are in an environment where the law is consistantly a gray area?

What is the right thing to do?

Before you start planning your multi million dollar law suit, stop and assess the value of your well being. Indulging misconduct in the work place may not be the answer to irony that it seems.

The Labor Board in your area can be located and contacted if you have concerns.

Or do you find that being bored is more of what you are experiencing in your labor. These days it is never a "bad" idea to reassess your needs, wants, and goals.

It may be time to start dreaming a bigger dream. When it is all said and done, what about all those things that interested you when you were still in school? What about starting your own business. What are your trusted friends and relatives doing these days? Are they experiencing the same sensations you are? If so you may have potential business partners and investors at your finger tips and not even know it.

For those of you working contently enjoying the routine that affords ample amounts of personal time, family time, friend time, good pay, and a sense of accomplishment for the hours of life you have dedicated to the greater good.

Enjoy! That is the ultimate goal; but for those that eat and find you are still experiencing hunger you may wish to take some time to re-evaluate your circumstance and chose some new horizons to shape your thoughts on the future.

Be Well!

"What you earn is yours to keep"

Peripheral Intrigue

2005-02-06T01:24:00.000-08:00

I am the sentimental sort when it comes to my writing equipment. Romantic writers always are. If I could I would still type stories on those old manual typewriters. My first word processor was my total obsession, I still have though I don't use it. I think it had a built in printer and a three inch preview screen. It did have automatic spell check so that it beeped every time you misspelled a word. You could convert text to a dos format which could be read as a word document. I loved that word processor.

Then I bought my first laptop. I thought the world of my Acer. It was rugged and solid. It still works even though its power is limited.

Finally, I located a newer laptop that was as advanced as I could handle. I cringed the way I always do when I am replacing a machine that has been good to me. Would it have the same dependability? The same mojo to inspire me? Would I have an easy transition?

Yes and no. Getting a new computer is exciting but unlike the first time when everything is running through your mind and you could barely recall how long it took to set it up; by the third or fourth go..one becomes more aware of the hassles.

For one you don't want to upgrade hardware to the point where the software you own is obsolete or the data you have becomes unobtainable or nontransferrable. The anxiety of starting over replaces that once overwhelming exhuberance.

Of course, I had to download winzip again, adobe reader, I found out that the free anti virus I usually use tweaked this new system so I had to uninstall it. I had to learn how to go about replacing the dvd drive with the floppy drive, that was a hoot. With no explicit instructions, I was afraid to pull the lever too far thinking that I would break it and not even had the chance to really enjoy it.

Then there is the browser installation, that wonderful phone call to my dsl service provider to configure my new system for internet access. There's installing my email service and customizing it as my primary email source. An ode to the little things. It took all in all about 3 days to customize my new computer so that it reminded me of the old one.

This one is a definite improvement in many respects; but still like everything else it is short of "perfect" so therefore I find myself constantly comparing the purchase and weighing the worthiness of hardware upgrading esp. when the old one still works.

The trouble really began when I needed to print. I could not find my installation disk anywhere. I thought that I could just go with the standard included drivers that come with the windows operating system. You know click on add printer, scroll to brand name ( its always listed) then scroll down to model type and badda bing badda boom there I would be.

Not so, for the selection had similar numbered models I didn't realize that an imperfect selection option will give you some kind of print out but the page will be distorted the font incorrect, the color won't work, and worst of all the actual print quality is reduced by half.

I was quite disturbed. What would I do? Would I have to buy a new printer? Would I have to buy a new installation disk? Worse would they manufacturer even offer the sale of an installation disk only?

I thought about it, and realized this must have happened to thousands of other people before me and by now there had to be a solution out there somewhere on the web.

I searched by printer brand and located several websites that offered potential solutions. But then I had another anxiety moment. What if I install this and its not it, what if it screws up the system all together? What if? I went to drivers.com and decided to bite the bullet then stopped myself again. After deliberating for an hour and tearing through the house not once but three times; I took a friends advice (after insulting him for his apathy) and contacted the manufacturer's tech support line before the live option went home for the weekend.

Of course during the walk through aspect of the answering service where you choose the language, then you go through another series of questions to determine what your specific problem could possibly be, then you get reminded that there could be a fee to get the help you need. In that 2 minutes I had at least 7 reasons to hang up and go crazy, but I didn't.

I waited got a live person who immediately wanted my serial number ( why do they need this) when its not about ordering a part. Sure I understand, if I am attempting to order or replace a component the serial number would be relevant to insure that I am purchasing the correct one.

Well my yoga came in handy because I was able to twist around my open laptop, hold my cell phone, and turn my printer upside down long enough to read off the 10 digit alpha numeric id above the bar code (also upsidedown) without losing my connection to a LIVE tech support person. In the back of my mind while reading the serial number off to her I wondered " If I get charged for this will they tell me? Will they send a bill or charge it to my cell phone?" That would totally suck I thought to get an added 50.00 fee on my cell phone bill..

I let it go, she was able to confirm that the installation disk data was generically dubbed "driver". The driver for this specific printer was available for free download all over the web including the manufacturer's web site. So all I had to do was click on the appropriate links and walk through the download process. Once the Driver was installed, all I had to do was open it to complete the installation process. After that everything should be peachy keen.

I was quite delighted to find out that my instincts were correct and the driver that I kept considering installing was in fact the right one. I did however, still manage to download spyware in the course of my adventure but in the end, the correct printer driver was installed, my printer worked as good as ever, and I did find that malicious spyware and delete it from my computer for all eternity.

The story was so compelling I just had to share; how I survived yet another round of hardware replacement and peripheral intrigue..

By the way, I was not charged for the call.

Got any stories about your hardware/software upgrade or replacement adventures?
Let me know..

Grammar of the Geeks

2005-01-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

Some feel good stuff from Infoworld.

There are some new words changing the way we interpret business discussions and translate business activity. These new words and phrase were created to provide better use of the imagination while discussing and analyzing strategies.

I liked them you may too.

Align business and IT
day sales outstanding
dehire - as oppose to 'ya fired'
disintermediate
helicopter vision
holistic
incentivize
ladder the process
markettechture
netnet
organic business process
targeted analytics
value-add
visibility
wallet share

Apple Juice - an ode to Mac

I do not usually write much about Mac because I do not use one for work or play. This does not me however that I am not a huge fan.

I fall into the category of : hot for the look, scared of the price, don't want the grief of compatibility issues.

Mini Mac is a new thing. 499 is an extremely low price for anything that would call itself Mac or Apple. Mini Mac is a mini cpu that you attach to your own monitor and utilities. Of course for those that just like the software and speed of Mac systems this is good enough. For those of you like me who lust after the high tech look of a Mac system this only increases the desire to see prices drop throughout the hardware line.

I like what Tom Yager had to say about his Mac, "One day I'll tell you what similarly ridiculous things I've done to try to wreck my Macs, but they just won't wreck. As long as that remains true, I'll stay switched."

He thinks its pretty sexy stuff too. :) How about you?

Computer Blue(s) & other Hues

2005-01-25T14:32:00.000-08:00

"Wendy? "Yes, Lisa?" "Is the water warm enough?" "Yes, Lisa." "Shall we begin?" "Yes, Lisa."

There are some bigger pictures in IT. Lets look at the top three economically focused ones:

IT Unions
Pros
Cons

Globalization
Where is automation going? What is the real objective of globalization?

Limitations

Are we there yet?
Employee Morale?
What automation won't do; customer service/care, sales, and budgeting finances.

Globalization was the focus on connectivity not so much between governments but people. Not so much about money but economic structure. One rule one method one life.

Automation: noun; the method of making an apparatus, a process, or a system operate automatically; the state of being operated automatically;automatic operation of an apparatus, process, take the place of human operators.

Automatic: adj; largely or wholly involuntary; reflex; acting or don spontaneously or unconsciously; resembling an automaton. Having a self acting or self resulting mechanism from the Greek word automatos "self acting"..

Back in Greece; the struggle was getting people to recognize what was expected of them as free citizens without having to constantly be told. Perhaps as well Moses had the same hope.

What spawned from this as you can see was the belief that this was important to do with people then came the revelation that when this failed it was relevant to create a manifestation for hands on interaction in the form of machinery in order to one illustrate, then to influence, then to assist.

The evolved notion of the potential of machinery was that it would be fail safe where as people never are.

So then finally in 2005 the thinking of automation directly translates to IT. Which is developed,created, and standardized based on people. And so the problem remains, because the creator cannot create something greater than itself.

Limitations:n;that must utilize its own presence for the precision of its myriad of definitions. An act or instance of limiting; the quality or state of being limited; something that limits; restraint.

Boundaries and new horizons that will play a part in redefining for realistic comprehension are those that accept no limitation but accommodate the end as an appropriated stopping point when no more can be located. And a new border that liberates all that creates within is free to do so freely.

Are we there yet?

Yes and no. IT's there its just not willing to acknowledge itself honestly.

What a Union could do for IT?

There as been talk. There as been some consideration but will IT one day find solidarity in Unionizing? Some say,"no.."

What a Union could do:

Standardize software compatibility, Deployment, and scaling
Free up licensing restraints and agreements by consolidating dues.
Improve and standardize the authenticity of developers, engineers, technicians, and administrators.
Provide employment stability and benefits for skilled workers.
Stabilize the training of new candidates to accommodate the necessity of innovation for the future.
Consolidate resources on all levels and prioritize demand.
Revitalize relations between hardware developments and software productivity.
Ease consumer burden of legacy systems.

What IT just won't do:

Maintain monopolistic structures in the corporate environment.
Limit information and licensing required to prepare skilled developers.
Dilute the integrity of the causes.
Marginalize small business growth.
Be swayed by government overseeing.
Complicate IT; rather than improve IT

It makes so much since to keep things the way they are..
no.." Don't let the fear of politics confuse you. Invest in the immortality of IT not the trend.

ITs only business

2005-01-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

Facts, Rumors, and Hopes for IT.

SMB (small to mid sized businesses) will run the future of IT development. I think in many ways this is a true statement as enterprises by nature have more standards. Standardization is the life's blood of technology developments. Small to Mid sized businesses (in the question of does size matter) will have a large influence on development focus simply because they require to some degree more that scaled down versions of enterprise solutions. In addition fewer standards means more customization requirements these "customizations" for the most part are going to have to be simple enough for managers to use and update.

Affordability: What will take to drive the market price down? Greater stability at the core of IT. What should smaller budgets do in the mean time? Learn from someone else's mistakes. Yahoo! and 1and1.com are offering extremely affordable packaged eBusiness solutions. If you don't have the inside connection to expand your business I highly recommend utilizing a packaged service. They are more attractive than they use to be, costly effective on a monthly basis, and are "ready to wear" so to speak.

Open source is another option for those seeking internal upgrades for business management.

It is possible to implement a paperless office with the exception to a good printer and fax.

Tips for Budgeting your business: Reinvest every chance you get. Even if its 5.00 a week. Its the same principle as those in marriage counseling. Funny but true, it is often cheaper to keep her (IT).
also check out www.downloads.com there is still a lot of freeware available for those who know how to go it on their own. Peer to Peer web sites are still good too. Don't let the rumors and concerns about spyware and adware intimidate you from getting things free.
Mom said,"It's good to share."

Upgrading Systems: its really an as needed thing. Purchasing hardware and software should be done with the future in mind. You want very compatible tools so that transition is minimal and cheap.

Beta Testing: Its not what you think it is. Even after a product is released for retail sale the first customers are still (guinea pigs) testing it out. Most problems are located after the first year of release. Be hip about your information but old school when buying.

The Death of a Sales man:

Marketing, PR, Advertising, and Telemarketing~

Consumer Rejection is in many respects killing your sales staff. Revitalize your image and efforts. Sales can combine with automation but some things require a human touch. Inspire your sales force to personalize their attitude and people skills. Some times the best sales pitch makes more friends than sales. Everyone is a customer some just aren't ready to invest in your company. Find out what you need to do to change that.

Mythical IT

Why do they lie to you? What you the consumer can do..

Follow up on things. Get involved in product related forums and discussions. Get reviews from several resources. Talk to people and get their take on things. Hardware in so many ways is evolving faster than software. Software whatever the brand has bad habit of running before walking. Fear makes the world go round. Consumers have to stand up for investments that show signs of strength, loyalty, and longevity.

Open Source Vs. Microsoft

More money, more products, more news, more flaws, more people effected. That's ok for now. But the co-dependencies of corporate manufacturing are not as powerful as the liberties of community spirit. Open source has the option of simply going vertical for security and reliability rather than competing horizontally. Consumers prefer quality and all that was won can easily be lost.

My prediction is UNITY:

The more mergers we see in the future like Kmart and Sears Cingular and ATT&T are going to determine real and present needs for compliance. The pressure is going to be on for developers to learn to fuse technologies with laser surgeon skills or create simpler replacements that can accept data in any form or structure.

Illusion vs. Delusion

Which one is more harmful in business? The Illusion is that we are coming out on top the delusion is that we are the top. It is very relevant to define your struggles as well as your battles.

Don't forget how we got this far

2005-01-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

I'ts hard to believe that even though IT is just starting to really kick up some sand its time for a lot of players to retire their jerseys.

I for one still see technology as an evolving entity that has not totally been described or defined yet and yet one writer reminds us all that at some point in ones successful career IT may soon be your turn to give back.

Software Development Magazine

"Give It Back" by Warren Keuffel

"Once you've made more money than you need, how do you pass the time? Two legendary developers volunteer their energy and resources to benefit the communty. How about you?"

"We can't all have a massive impact on society, but as part of a collective effort, we can make a significant contribution."

It was one of the few non political socially conscious technology related articles I have ever read and I hope there will be more to come.

When was the last time Bill Gates invested an afternoon with school aged children who want to be developers of tomorrow?

I think maybe the next time we shell out big bucks for brand name software we need to ask whether this investment is ever going to give back..

I'ts little moves like this that keep open source and small time developers on my mind, in the public eye, and create opportunities not just chances to do big things.

Keep it up. IT might just find its way into heaven yet.

What is Telephony?

2005-01-16T18:28:00.000-08:00

Is IT literally coming through your ears? Give it time, Telephony is on the move for the simple reason that IT makes sense.

Internet protocol telephony or IP Telephony Systems are systems that transmit voice calls over Internet Protocol based networks.

Who's providing this technology? Alcatel, Avaya, Cisco Systems, Mitel Networks,NEC, Nortel Networks, Siemens, and 3Com to name a few.

These systems "break up audio, convert it into digital packets and then send those packets over a data network." One infrastructure for all forms of data transmission.

It makes sense if your phone systems are still a major appliance in your sales, customer service, and accounting systems. Often information that we receive over the phone still has to be translated and input into preexisting data systems. Telephony says it can be one thing. Like eCommerce was then so is Telephony now. It is even possible for your automated sales services to sent directly to your eCommerce transaction service so that an order can be confirmed and billed and ready for shipment with the same automated ease of your website.

As with all of the more complicated details of IT sometimes the need has to be understood before sales see a difference.

If your company is simply used to having to check emails for sales and voice mail and the website it is difficult to envision what connecting and automating all of this will do.

IT is the latest trend for 2005. Will your company be in a position to convert this year? Maybe, but if not at least you can start learning more about what it takes now so that when it is time to update your network Telephony deployments are in the budget.

Baseline Magazine was one of several Ziff Davis Publications that did a lengthy info story on IP Telephony including more enterprise related walk throughs on what it takes to implement or even planning to implement Telephony in your company. Business to Business transactions can also flourish with Telephony. Step by Step instructions make it easy to gather support in the office as well as discussing the shift with your technology providers and administrators.

Set a goal Set a budget. Technology is fun and easy to use. Less work means more time for things like innovations.

I can tell you, I have had long time customers call in on their cell phones while driving to work to place reorders for product and for product related questions that easily convert to sales. If you make it easy for customers to place orders they will take advantage and buy.

People go with their options. Make it possible for sales transactions via cell phone they'll call and order.

In fact it is the sudden gross success of cell phones that is increasing wireless development anyway.

Society is responding to modern methods of connectivity. It is good business to realize this evolution and find ways the company can do the same.

Malicious Code

2005-01-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

No, not the angry faced emoticons. The other kind; Spyware, Adware, Trojans (he hee), Worms, and Viruses.

By now you have all experienced what it is like to have your computer or the computer you rely on infected with a virus. It is a miserable experience that you have most likely learned from and will never be a victim again. Either that or you downloaded and installed so much anti virus software and updates that you can't even get one anymore.

Spyware and Adware is another story. The truth is Spyware and Adware are why there was so much legal fuss over SPAM. Getting Junk email is nothing to get excited about it comes it goes and lets face it you probably even opened a couple. Just because the offer was good.

You moved on. You spend about 3 minutes a day deleting your Spam at most and your done. The real problem was the breech in security. The special offer ad /SPAM that really carried malicious code.

The problem with the reasonably new addition of Spyware and Adware infections is that they are not always easy to detect right away.

The same truths are valid in that if you don't open or download email attachments or file links without a scan or a backup plan you are less likely to have problems. The response of developers to respond and address anti spyware/adware software and scanning for your PC were impressively fast. I would say within 48 hours there was something to remedy the situation.

The problem with slow detection regarding Spyware is that the more time you do your usual thing with spyware codes installed on your PC the more opportunities you are giving someone to gain information on you, your activities, your personal, and secure information. You don't want that.

Adware is more like a virus in that it effects the function of your system releasing numerous popup ads everytime you open a browser and or surf the web.

I do mean numerous the more you try to close them, the more they appear. Your browser becomes useless. I had the assignment a few months back of trying to disinfect a co-workers computer of viruses, adware, and spyware.

The viruses, trojans (hehee), and worms were fairly easy to locate and delete. The adware and spyware was next to impossible. I worked on it for days. I would do a scan it would come up clean then suddenly I would get an alarm from the anti virus that it was back again.

All of these recurring infections came from some spyware adware could that could not be rooted out so easily. And it was falling under the radar of pre-existing anti-virus software.

We finally had to call in a specialist who was able to teach me a few tricks. Of course if you are determined to trust everything you find on the web you will always have problems.

And of course if you are determined to think of computers and the internet as a toy to play with rather than at tool to work with you will always have problems.

Some anti-spyware and anti-adware software like Norton 2005 the newer version of Norton addresses previously overlooked malicious codes like Spyware and Adware while continuing to protect your surfing and email from the usual threats.

Notably there are also:

www.ca.com
www.microsoft.com/spyware
www.lavasoftusa.com
www.redcannon.com
www.webroot.com

These are some resources, if you don't have any funds but an immediate problem there are free tools offered by Panda and still others by running a quick search for free spyware or adware removal tools. I would recommend being just a little familiar with reputable names of anti-virus protection software just so as not to get tripped up and download more problems by a bogus ad or link.

Once your system is clean and in the worst cases you may just have to shell out 70 bucks to call in a local expert. He's there though in every town, county, and city. He's there, he knows his stuff, and he can fix it if you can't.

But once you have a clean scan again; there are some free browser based options for keeping your computer free of further infections of adware and spyware. I do recommend everyone install at least once browser based anti spyware adware tool.

Yahoo! offers one that is easy to install and if you already use Yahoo! services and browser companion tools this is quite compatible and includes a popup blocker.

Other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox have some of these securities preinstalled in their browsers and you need not add additional ones.

A Story,

In the world of web use and computing their are spiders and there are flies. A flies fate is not as attractive but the spiders are well fed.

The moral: figure out what you are and who's side your on before running head first into the unknown.

This just in from Security Enterprise Magazine:

Some P2P resources that can pose a vulnerability for spyware are: Gnutella, Kazaa, and Limewire. As a side note; I have used Kazaa and never had a problem. The biggest problem I have seen is a lack of basic discretion on the part of the user.

Common sense usually applies; also I recommend developing some web smarts (street smarts when using the web). Some of the targeted anti spyware software available admittedly have some flaws. At this point I recommend a hyper suspicious anti virus like Norton 2005 and utilizing 2 free anti spyware/adware downloadable programs (make sure one of them is a browser based tool).

Looking Back at IT

2005-01-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

I did some digging during 2004s "wrap up" and some key features, magazines, and articles caught my attention well enough to bring IT to you..

Some top Achievers:

InfoWorld Magazine

What did they do?:

They knew went to lighten up. They developed some personal touch articles that made it ok to be confused about the IT movement and ok to see room for improvement by pointing out some of their own day to day experiences. Sometimes you make more progress but not making everyone feel stupid.

eWeek Magazine

What did they do?:

They bring it to you straight from corporate vendors. They remain objective about development strategies and continue to strongly represent the consumer's perspective in the midst of controversy. They do not let their advertisers influence their article content. Honesty sells longer than lies.

Last but not least

Network Computing Magazine

What did they do?:

They have long been the younger sibling in the trade world but they have in 2004 consistantly recognized specific and too easily overlooked problems. They have brought in the human side to technology and comfortably distance themselves from being either too nerdy or too trendy to be of real use to their readers. In short, they grew up; got hip; become very kewl!

Some specific articles that impressed me from them were also cover stories like:

"Wide area wireless data: Forever Evolving" by Peter Rysavy
"Special Issue: Affordable IT" this was the work of several contributors and some useful starting points for offering a variety of relevant and affordable solutions services for tighter budgets.

What's my Point?:

I wanted to throw in some positives for those who: Want to get a heads up on things (business and technology) but don't really need to waste time starting over. "I have email." "I do own and know how to use my cell phone." types of folks.

Technology is here afterall to make your life easier, make businesses run smoother, and take the pressure off of the work force so we can get on with life and invest in the future. Having time for video games is a nice perk in the day too.

Technology is also good for the kids, makes running a home more efficient so you actually have time to teach the kids something and help them develop important social skills that make sweet childhood memories lasting ones.

Enjoy!

What Else Are They Saying?

2005-01-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

The procedure for the end of year in Technology Trade Publishing is to reflect on what happened, what changed, what went wrong, and what succeeded.

The protocol for a new year is to analyze the data and news from the previous year in order to project some focus / perspective for this one. IT cannot afford another delusion!

So as we get deeper into the first editions for 2005; I will have and review more of what's being put out there to make consumers more aware of how the future is shaping up.

Technology~isn't necessarily for everybody but will effect everyone's day to day life and those of their offspring. So stay tuned.

What Processor.com had to say:

IT spending trends on the Rise
RFID - will continue to get more attention and customers
Slight increases in IT salaries and Network Administration
SMB- will still be IT's biggest concern
Security, Privacy, and the Government will still be on the worry list
Microsoft will show signs of wear for the consumer beginning with browser concerns but hopefully ending with OS options on the rise.
VOIP - very important in their mind too.

What CIOinsight.com (CIO Insight) had to say: Plus "()" real world translations for the layman by Camille Jacks.

IT spending is on the rise (goodie)
Big Money is on the Customer(hey wait, revenue comes from sales)
IT will "eke" out more productivity gains (did you say,"eke?")
Speed Transparancy and Personalization Matter(so honesty and respect are good things?)
CIO's will fall into the New Alignment Trap (its your fault, its your responsibility, its your problem)
Retailing has become the industry to watch(what a minute, some people like to shop?)
No Relief for "Penny-Pinched" CIOs (cheaper doesn't mean effective)
The CIO Turnover Rate is about to Jump ("You're FIRED!"-"You're HIRED!")
CIOs will need more business experience to Succeed(HU?! But My uncle said..)
IT staff Levels will grow Modestly(we need some help with this, I know I said I could but..)
Offshoring's Bark Stays Bigger than Its Bite(scared ya didn't I, ya little commy bastaad)
CIOs will refocus on recruiting and retaining IT(do you know what your are doing? you should know what you are doing . This is going to cost a fortune.)
Budgeting Processes will Continue to Get Better(a penny saved is a penny earned)
ROI practices will get more creative(how about if we *** ***=increase sales this way)
Project Management Standards will get tougher(NO!)
B.O.D will sharpen focus on IT(Gentlemen I think we should..)
Performance Measurement come of Age(Alright!)
Security problems will skyrocket(what the?! holy shit! get someone in here.. NOW!)
IT goes on permanent war footing(OK bigger picture, big world, current events WOW!)
"Sarbanse-Oxley" will continue to cause trouble( bad Sarbanse-Oxley..how many times have I told you..)
Compliance Becomes a Top IT Priority(how's that going to work? I thought you knew?)
Risk Management won't prevent IT Risk Taking (lets do it!)
More Companies Call themselves early adaptors (we knew that already!)
Infrastructure moves to the front burner * this seemed crucial (well, if we do then we'll also have to, wait maybe we can just..hmm)
The Sun sets on Legacy Systems (out with the old in with the new)
CRM usage will explode (are we seeing a pattern here)
Web Services Become a Cornerstone Technology ( can you wiggle your toes)
Wireless work becomes the Norm ( breathe in deeply for me)
New Technology Gains Traction (your heart rate is stable)
CIOs want more from Vendors (read the first line for me)

what the experts say

2005-01-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

What the experts are predicting

2005 IT and you

In my last post I ranted about my personal wish lists in the worlds of IT.

Now I will tell you what the experts are saying:

Wi-Fi was the watch word for 2005 and of course its cousin WLAN; for the novice these are the wireless applications that make it possible for me to get the wireless service package of my dreams.

Telephony and VOIP (voice over IP) are the next growing trends in applications technologies. These applications make wirelessness more effective and useful in addition to leaving room for convenience applications innovations for the work place and data travel. I predict that 2006 and beyond you will find that data travel will be more active than vacationing. Of course it could well be a tie as the more your data can move around and get where it needs to go the more time you will have to enjoy a break (assuming they didnÂ?t find it easier to lay you off). Lol

Wiki is making a move to the work place. For those of you unfamiliar with Wiki it is a publishing format similar in concept to blogs in that numerous individuals may write, post, and publish messages in the form of structured and unstructured data. The main difference between blogs and wikiÂ?s I would parallel to boxers vs. briefs. Support is the bottom line. Blogs are slightly more structured its not quite as simple to use by any infinite number of unknown individuals. WikiÂ?s is a more open platform anyone may access and post which means not only employees but also customers and visitors alike my freely post to a Wiki without the same security conflicts as blogs. With blogs only designated participants have publishing access.

Acer, Modzilla, Gateway, EMC, and Juniper Networks got named as companies to watch.

Likewise for Mobile and Wireless (WiFi and WLAN) Airgo, Belair, Cisco, Intel, and Sybase received noteable mention.

Digital Convergence was a new one for me. Most of the top 8 focal points in IT are the same every year though their standing in the list may change.

Digital Convergence just so it is clear represents VOIP. So youÂ?re not Really late for class again. Some tools are just IT maintenance related.

Databases are getting favorable attention again though not for the same reasons predicted in the 1980Â?s. ThatÂ?s ok because where data goes databases will be there at various destination points to house, organize, and structure it.

RFID was a burning thing in late 2004 with WalMart being the first big retailer to utilize this technology. RFID is going to make life a simpler for major outlets and import / export efforts because there will be less to no merchandise losses. The days of shipping 2million pieces means the arrival of 2 million pieces. This will hopefully lead to lower prices and low price stability. J

IBMDB2 was on everyoneÂ?s list for recommended database tools. (FYI)

Feeling a little insecure?

No need there is a lot you can do to prevent major security problems. Information is vital learn how your current security system works. Get in depth information and spread the word during meetings and conferences. Knowing is always half the battle. Just remember most security threats have more to do with your software vendor than your actual company. This is precisely why wireless technology applications will be able to successfully press on.

Camille Jacks

Docuology-Movie Blog

Pulp IT

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Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses.

2005

2005-01-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

A Fresh Request for IT this year:

I ended 2004; bitching about corporate theivery, low IT presence, and small business apathy in the dawn of highly evolved technology.

Of course most of these things I cannot change but what I would like from IT santa next year are the following changes:

More affordably price mobile equipment in the 300 dollar range and lower

Improved wireless plan packages where ones wireless needs can be met from on provider at one low monthly price. So Cingular, Verizon, T Mobile get it together

I would like the US to have more advanced access to Nokia's newest phone models. I for one am loyal to Nokia but love flip phones. Why are all the Nokia flips and other advanced features available outside the Americas only?

I would like people to stop bitching about bugs, flaws, spyware, and viruses. I will tell you why, you are never going to make IT obsolete, you are never going to complain your way into a better world and if you would grow up and stop downloading everything you see on the internet you will find you are less likely to become a victim of such random acts of obtrusion.

I would like Dell to stop flooding the world with ad's about sales. They are the same sales just rotated. If you would just maintain one low price and a responsible service you are not going to have a problem moving merchandise.

At this point I am afraid to even buy a dell because next week the price could drop and include something else for free that is not there this week. Quit screwing with people. Yes we know you are.

I would like for ever day people to be at least moderately knowledgeable about IT. I don't care how old you are; please stop complaining and just learn something.

I would also like to see some big wig go after the credit reporting agencies with a vengence and insist that they automate for accuracy or shut down.

These are my wishes for 2005 and beyond.

Camille Jacks

Docuology-Movie Blog

Pulp IT

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Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more.

2004-12-15T20:26:00.000-08:00

Taking a Closer Look at IT..
on the job observations the inside scoop on what's holding IT up.

Believe it or not some work places are still not automating. I don't mean head of class automation like voice activated software or even telephony initiatives.

All of these things are sleek, cool, add to efficiency but still may cost quite a bit depending on the size of the company.

I am referencing basic automations like eCommerce, Mail order, Customer reports, and sales transaction. Core business functions still being written by ..h - a - n -d.. yes I said it. Business forms being written by hand and customer data lying around in aluminum file cabinets.

I am talking about 10 + year customers with no order history file.

These businesses are out there.

The interesting thing about those resisting IT is that they all fit an actual profile.

One they are small to mid sized private business perhaps even family owned and operated.

Two they are all downsizing to the point of closing up shop.

Three they all claim to be unable to afford the advancements of IT;and claim not to know how to use it or pretend that they do but really don't.

Four they are all once productive companies at the top of their food chain being swallowed whole by less more organized competition.

Five they are all whether knowing or unknowingly victims of internal theft and fraud.

The saying goes "scratch a lie, find a thief". Today however, its 'no IT investing, find a thief'.

So who's really resisting IT? Companies that are not advancing are most likely being drained from the inside. Find a company that is not embracing the standards of IT implementation you will find that that company is harboring a thief.

So who's stealing?
Hmm could it be that mail guy downstairs with the lazy eye? Could it be the receptionist that consistantly pops her gum to the melody of hold muzak? Or better yet what about the new guy who dresses well but always looks confused and asks lots of questions?

Wrong..Whomever is ultimately in charge of human resources, office managers, and bookkeepers is the culprit everytime.

The most common response," Why would I steal from my own company?" The answer,"because you can."

It is interesting that all of the 'singing and dancing' at the average work place is not being done on Broadway, off broadway, or by an over caffinated sales group but by the executives themselves.

Afterall you have to have access to company funds and the authority to distribute them before you can have the opportunity to steal(staying with the means, motive, and opportunity addage).

But of course, there is so much material to work with rather than admit that you are a thief. Blame productivity, blame sales, blame customer service, blame politics, blame the economy, blame unemployment rates increasing.....

There are unlimited excuses as to why your business is losing money every year. Just keep firing people who look like they don't have as much to do. Yeah that makes sense call it "downsizing" call it "budget cuts".

We hired you because we could afford you. Never mind that we were losing money before you got here. What happened? You weren't written up..you weren't repremanded for insubordination..hmm
All of a sudden we just don't need you anymore. I can't explain why.

I can tell you why it is because you little peeon are a scapegoat. Your job function is only relevant in a growing thriving company. If the executives are spending all the profits then there are no funds left to reinvest in sales incentives, advertising, customer care, community services, charities, and donations. There is no allure for business development efforts and product/services extentions because the executives aren't spending their 2 hour lunches thinking about how to increase customers, optimize sales, or address complaints and returns...

No, they are thinking about whatever thieves think about when it isn't taking money they should not, to buy things they should not, or to blame someone they should not..

Power corrupts as much as stupid.

So the next time you're told there is just no budget for IT expansion and in the next breath you get to hear this wonderfully intricate story about how the company is losing their shirts..it is totally acceptable to let out a fake yawn/stretch manuever and urgently behave as if you have overlooked a terribly important appointment and then get the hell out of there.

Scratch at IT.. find a .. You know. I mean really who fires themselves?

Backin' dat ass up

Baseline Magazine is right on time. With their latest cover story Wanted: Chief Espionage Officer

Some of my favorite quotes:

"..But what if the felon you should fear,now or in the future, is standing next to you?"

"The Offenders: White Men who Snoop and Steal"

This article means to change the description of the "usual suspects" and at last put blame where it belongs; at the top.

Of course, the truth is a delicate thing. Delicate things break easily in the face of a cover up. But for every peeon that took the blame there is a manager or exec. who set it up.

I also liked the point that stealing doesn't always mean money; it can be miss placing valuable data on merchandise, ad campaigns, as well as customer information. All of these efforts that could result in huge losses if your information is leaking out.

I once sat and deliberated with a colleague about who may be stealing and how. I had nothing to offer as I have never stolen. However, the possibilities after a closer look are really quite endless. Some people come disguised as employees but are ready to destroy any business they work in.

Why? How will you make a living if you systematically seek financial ruin with every opportunity? Maybe that just doesn't come into the equation of fast money now.

Hmm?!

Just a couple of key phrases and ideas that jumped out at me after the first part of this post had been completed.

IT is making it more obvious to spot a thief but lets face it; those that have been indicting now were probably stealing before. Your technology upgrades made the mundane task of business as usual more efficient and effective. Now that you see the real problem, what are you going to do about it? Or, are you the real problem? You can run but you cannot hide.

RFID-Another POV

2004-12-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

By Rick Aristotle Munarriz

Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, is a hot technology
now, and it's going to get even hotter come 2005. The U.S.
Department of Defense and a few retailers including the world's
largest -- Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) -- will make sure of that. By
next month Wal-Mart will require its contractors and largest
suppliers to tag their deliveries with passive RFID chips.

Unlike those slacker UPC bar codes, RFID chips can communicate
with electronic readers to provide efficient and immediate
tracking. You're probably no stranger to tracking gizmos that
rely on radio frequencies. From automated tollbooth transponders
to auto-theft deterrent LoJack transceivers, the consumer
applications are already making our lives easier. Now it's time
for the corporate world to start reaping the rewards of this
promising technology.

I realize that if I mention supply chain management that I will
have lost you at ply, but this is where RFID will really make a
killing at first. Walk with me over to your nearest Wal-Mart so
I can show you. Imagine new shipments tagged with passive RFID
tags. While it's not yet cost-effective to tag every individual
item that will make it out to the floor, imagine a warehouse or
stockroom where every box or pallet is tagged with a passive
tag. Because they feed off the power of the wireless reader,
they don't require batteries. Yet in an instant, inventory can
be tabulated and every item in stock can be accounted for. So
what does this mean for a company like Wal-Mart?

As a discount department store the retailer is already working
lean. Its 22% showing in gross margins isn't going to win you
over on its own. Yet by turning over its inventory quickly and
effectively, Wal-Mart is able to achieve monster profits despite
the meager markups. That's why the ability for Wal-Mart to have
a system in place that is less labor-intensive yet more accurate
will drive margins higher -- or drive sales higher if the
company chooses to pass on those savings to the consumer.

So does that mean that retailers stand to benefit from the RFID
boom? You bet, and it doesn't end there. From airlines tracking
lost luggage to food service companies trimming spoilage costs
by making sure that they move out dated inventory, the general
operating economy of many different companies and sectors will
improve dramatically. Yet while consumers will grow to
appreciate the RFID advantage, investors should aim closer to
the vest to cash in on the RFID revolution.

Companies with unique applications of RFID technology and those
involved in printing the RFID labels offer the purest of plays.
From Applied Digital (Nasdaq: ADSX) to Zebra Technologies
(Nasdaq: ZBRA), an alphabet of compelling equity situations
awaits. While many are speculative and some will just flat-out
fail, they are worth a closer look because RFID is here to stay,
and those who ultimately matter in this field stand to collect
some princely sums.

This week we will look at the printing side of the business.
Next week we will look at the upstarts vying to capitalize on
RFID in just about every other way. Why are we starting with the
printers? That's easy. While wireless readers and scanners will
obviously be a major part of the RFID experience, the process of
laminating the microchips with tags on both sides is a
perpetually disposable practice.

While a zebra's stripes may resemble a bar code, Zebra
Technologies is all about RFID. Early to the printing game Zebra
is already creating many of the traditional RFID tags as well as
heading up lucrative initiatives such as placing RFID tags on
medicine bottles to keep folks healthy and put malpractice
attorneys out of work by making sure that patients get the
pharmaceuticals that they require.
http://www.fool.com/m.asp?i=1426972&u=46237801

With $523 million -- or more than $7.00 a share -- in cash and
short-term investments, the balance sheet isn't the only thing
looking bright for the maker of RFID printers and printing
supplies. Through the first nine months of the year the
company's sales and earnings are up 25% and 31%, respectively.
The company is guiding investors to expect $1.65 a share in
earnings. That's a reasonable 31 times earnings -- or just 27
times earnings if you back out the company's cash to arrive at
its enterprise value.

UNOVA (NYSE: UNA), through its Intermec subsidiary, is another
company that is well-entrenched in RFID. From its readers to its
printing devices, the company's Intermec-related product and
service revenues grew by 16% this past quarter.

But RFID is sure to draw the attention of other worthy
players. Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) is no stranger to the
printing business, and it doesn't want to be left out of the
fun. It is spending $150 million over the next five years on
RFID technology.
http://www.fool.com/m.asp?i=1426973&u=46237801

So will the field get crowded? Perhaps, but not as crowded as
the RFID chips themselves. That's just begging to become
another microchip commodity niche and that's bad news for
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), which has been dabbling in RFID
for years.

Over the weekend I interviewed Kevin Ashton, co-founder of the
Auto-ID Center initiative at MIT. The full transcript of
Ashton's take on this booming industry will be made available to
Rule Breakers newsletter subscribers in a few days. Yes, there
is still time to sign up for a free trial.
http://www.fool.com/m.asp?i=1426974&u=46237801

But either way, slap an RFID tag on this site and make sure you
come back next week as we will dig even deeper to separate hype
from reality -- and the potential winners from the doomed losers.

Excited about the possibilities of being able to track things
through radio frequency technology? Still not sure what RFID is
all about and why you should care? All this and more -- in the
RFID discussion board. Only on Fool.com.
http://www.fool.com/m.asp?i=1426975&u=46237801

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz isn't sure he would want
an RFID chip implanted inside him, but he wouldn't mind never
losing another sock again if his garments could get tagged. He
does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this
story. He is a member of the Rule Breakers analytical team,
seeking out tomorrow's great growth stocks today.
http://www.fool.com/m.asp?i=1426976&u=46237801

This Article is courtesy of Motley Fool Newsletter

RFID-Changing the way we need databases

2004-08-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

"Young woman with a drink in her hand,
she likes to listen to rock n roll..
she moves to the music cuz it..
never gets old.

Freedom is the only thing that never gets old,
must be the only thing that never gets old.." s. o'connor

The Data Relay Race - RFID changes the Game forever.

The question is did developers see this coming?
Database development for the most part has been as straight forward
as anything else so sayeth the powers that be.

Of course the "powers that be" are seldom innovative so ok.

Database development fell under desktop or server side relevancy.
Then XML made rss possible and data could suddenly be moved around in real time.

Data could also be stored transmitted uploaded and downloaded Data could be sent from your work computer to your cell phone/smart phone to your palm. Of course RSS didn't do it but XML made it possible to not lose the shape of your data while you were moving it around for easier access. RSS just nicely capitalized on the fact that everybody liked the freedom of mobile data.

RFID means that mobile data has substance because the data on the go now is free of humans most of the time now our stuff has data and since our stuff is moving all over the world so is the data that defines the stuff.

So now that our data has grown up and has a life of its own. How do we monitor our teenage data giving it full freedom but maintaining supervisory watchfulness of any responsible data manager or owner.

Database development now means creating databases that remain fit enough to handle thousands and even million pieces of data mobile 24/7. This of course means that meta data (data about data) that is on the move must be as easily transported with no limits to the size of either the data or meta data being transported, requested, and monitored.

The clear security issue is that what if the data chip on the stuff we are keeping up with gets removed from the stuff we meant to monitor and stuck on other stuff? Ok this will mean that data will be also have to accomodate images, cameras, or some method of visually confirming that, that's the stuff. Because the data that is collected, stored, transported, and mutating is now going to be about stuff not just people.

So if database development is going to be called for active duty now that RFID is quickly getting into focus, why then has their been such an innovated lull?

RSS has still not been included in desk top database development and data collection though it is relevant to maintaining a mobile posture for all data especially that which may not be accessed from the web. The obvious genious of web based database evolutions mean not having to upload or download but does still mean that consolidation is relevant because data that is easy to access should be as easy to query in large databases. This could still mean a large amount of data to call upon at a moments notice.

So now every thing that may or may not have a soul does have data and data has a right to exist and grow.

Who out there is going to do something about it?

Other Links:

How Databases Work

How Blogs Work

Party Blogging

2004-07-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

What is RFID and what does IT have to do with IT?

www.webopedia.com produced this definition:

Short for radio frequency, any frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum associated with radio wave propagation. When an RF current is supplied to an antenna, an electromagnetic field is created that then is able to propagate through space.
Relevance: 34% URL:http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RF.html

RFID is short for Radio Frequency Identification.

My first thought is they have found yet another to locate data or data transmissions at a faster and more accurate level of transmission.

Here's what else I found out:

In earthling terms RFID technology enables a device to read data stored on the chips at a distance, without line-of-sight scanning or physical contact.

Applications currently in use:

Vehicle Tracking
Factory Automation
Anit-theft systems

Who's Benefitting from increased popular and price drops?

UPS
Wal-Mart
Target
Albertsons
US Department of Defense (no more misgivings about where that missle went).

Benefits:

Greater visibility
Product velocity across the supply chain
Better inventory management
Automatic Replenishment
Reduced invoice reconciliations
Stream lining Labor needed on the receiving side
Product Tracing
Recalls
Reduced product tampering
Theft
Counterfeiting

As with most of the popular technologies the policing aspect is very much the strongest selling point. Technology that watches when I can't. Executives keep their jobs until perpetrators become more sophisticated. RFID alleviates many of the mysteries in corp. mishaps that reduce efficiency and ideally increase goals and customer satisfaction.

Downside, the correct data must be associated with the corresponding RFID tag.

RFID is now in Phase II Operation Deployments Phase III will occurr between 2007-2009 wherein Enterprise Integration will begin.

A good breakdown to explain RFID processes details RFID as a middleware rather than solely a microhardware appliance (data chip).

Crates and Boxes are tagged with RFID Data chips and scanned.
The data is sent to information databases and to EPCIS which identify the data from the chips. RFID middleware translates, integrates, and filters the data to be used with enterprise applications ( i am guess on a front end relevancy for tracking purposes). This data is then transfered as needed to other relational systems to satisfy the break down of information like quantity and prices, inventory (how much product went out so I can reorder), This data is either sent or accessed by all company's involved ( i.e. supplier, buyer, and distributors).

All of this got done and no one has to work overtime or balance discrepancies.

The concensus is that CIO's but all Executives Really are going to make RFID implementation as standard. There is no way around it. Its about fear and control.

As a technology its cool but the moral issues will be as controversial here as anywhere else because our technology implementation is for a perfect world, the reality of it is perfect technology will have no effect on the imperfections of the world that it must function in.

The good news: American Corporations will thrive on!

Still this is not a new effort just a refined automated one. The perils that befall this initiative is no different with technology than without it.

It will decrease the margin of error. This is good news in skinnier times when money is less fluid but lets face it we only care about that when times are down. When things are good, well then it goes back to "it's only money"

Like most idealistic technology the government will be its biggest consumers and this will make information about government more likely to become accurate for the people.

Fraud will be much harder to complete because it will require more advance technology savvy with regard to programming.

Where is that missle again? At least now, when we say another country has it we'll have the actual readout to show the UN.

Plane gets hijacked, no worries, we can trace it. Just like the house arrest principle. Maybe we'll all get one!

Retail efficiency is the only improvements we'll see here on the ground.

Whatever, as long as they're buying what we are selling. ;)

2004-06-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

Some updates:

formerly free weblog's by Dave Winer is free no more. We new there was a capitalist in the house but now that his identity has been uncovered we should be able to rest a little easier.

Dissecting SPAM:

KILLER SPAM still makes headlines as do new technologies that promise to make it go away. SPAM will never go away but lets look at the real issues.

Why SPAMMERS SPAM:

1. SPAM works - it brings in new business and it is either free or damn affordable
2. Because no one can see in the dark. If you don't know where your customer base is SPAMMING is one sure fire method to start finding out and doing something about it.

Why People hate SPAM:

1.We live in a world were viruses and trojans still freely roam and pollute our air waves. One mistake could cause shame, humiliation, and hours of down time.

2.SPAM can be non specific - in a perfect world SPAM would reflect our inner most needs and wants. I am fantasizing about an affordable vacation and I keep getting SPAM about discounts on digital cable.

3.SPAM can be offensive- Penis enlargements, PORN for deviants, and weight loss supplements can be a bit much after previously deleting 200 bulk emails from your folder first thing every day.

4.SPAM can be bulky and take up considerably large amounts of space with out asking or offering a real solution to any of our real problems.

5.SPAM can be fraud - again we don't live in a perfect world. At least if it goes through the mail it can be a federal offense which would bring in some real police action to put tricksters where they belong.

A vast majority of the SPAM we receive is not legitimate, distracts us from our real focus, and often is just fragrant enough to lure people into spending more money than they have or divulging information they should not. Its not nice.

Even with all the worthy complaints SPAM is here to stay. Lets just hope it grows up. If you are going to overload me with ways to spend my money, at least make the effort to send me information on things I need to buy or know about and let me go from there.

Law Breakers in the sense of conartists, scammers, and those selling products or services illegally should be subject to the same intense FDA and FTC anal probe as anyone else.

Banning SPAM altogether; totally unnecessary. You can try to milk a bull but it won't be milk you're drinking.

Still Affordable:

Even with all the controversy IT is still something everyone can afford.

IT won't make you smarter:

Just like in elementary school when we had to learn math. Someone in your class exclaimed," Why can't we just use calculators?"

The answer was then what it is now, because you still need to know how to think.

IT will not ever replace human intelligence but hopefully it will evolve to the point where it can acknowledge any extension of intelligent interaction. This basically means that intelligence can be subjective but your IT should live in the middle so that anyone may interact with it to satisfactory result.

2004-06-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Bringing Down the Power of the Blog

eWeeks Opinion section provides us with another blogghater at Another Blog on the Fire

Harnessing the Power of the Blog:

Blogging Down:Not all sites catch fire

I was part of the second generation to participate in blogging. The first group those blogging before 2001. Since I started blogging, I have learned so much about blogging and bloggers. I have also kept a nearsightedly close watch on watch has been published about blogging. The negative comments and mudslinging have subsided in favorite of locating news worthy blogs.

Another Blog on the Fire was a throw back to the earlier anti-blogging rhetoric from 3 and 4 years ago.

There are 5 types of writers:

The Journalism Major: The Cynic; typically believes all the worlds a newspaper and today is the day my writing will line the bird cage or wrap the family fish. Usually have no cause of their own and find most current events entertaining.

The Communication Major: The Opportunist; typically believes that fact and fiction are just perception and often has no qualms about misrepresenting their subject or taking statements out of context to further their own ambitions as a serious writer.

The English Lit Major: The Carrier of Irony; is overwhelmed by the complexity of their own thoughts and feelings thinks everything is relevant and can never locate the bottom line on a topic, subject, or theme. Sees the potential novel in everything; finds self loathing rewarding every time they cannot write.

The Liberal Arts Major: The Idealist; reads frequently thinks frequently, thinks there is a reasonable solution out there. Hopes that the one day they will one day write the right thing at the right moment and change the downward spiral of an illfated universe.

The "Freelancer": Someone who has acknowledged they are or wanted to be all of the above at different points in their life but settled for just writing.

It is the self proclaimed Journalist that is the largest predator of blogging. They are systematically threatened by the blogger. The Journalist likes attention likes the power of forcing you to consume their take on world events. The blogger just wants to give up the information or the story no pomp no circumstance no Pulitzer at the end of the day.

The Journalist is horrified at the notion of just relaying information without drawing conclusions being provocative or adding drama to the situation.

The Journalist hates the blogger for thinking of it first. The blogger lost respect for the Journalist years ago. The Journalist would like to reinitiate the Salem Witch Trials with Bloggers being the modern day witches.

The Journalist hides behind "objectivity" in the hope that a blogging weakness will develop and the Journalist will be free to pounce on the blogger finding triumph in the kill of the dying. Hunting Style: Think Hyena; or Vulture.

I lose even more respect for a Journalist that actually takes the time to write about their skepticism of blogging the Journalist who wants you to be afraid to read a blog is a Journalist who is afraid the proverbial jig is up.

2004-06-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Gotta love IT

You may or may not comfortably use words like Content Management or data transference but one of the main reasons developers of all levels love blogs is because blogs catapulted RSS much in the way a B movie can bring you the next leading man.

RSS means anyone can specifically request content from numerous sources as often as these sources are updated. RSS feeds mean you control what information is coming to you and from where.

RSS means a new way of claiming information and media preferences.

Swimming with Sharks, you may need more than .NET

Small to mid sized businesses looking to increase in volume perhaps even provide a little competition for the big guys means pulling IT resources within your budget. After all it doesn't have to be as big it just has to work functionally in a superior manner.

.NET means to prove its value as a complex concentrated web service that thoroughly comprehends the dynamic of business needs.

The bigger concern? Finding local developers in your town, community, district [what have you] that have the expertise to master .NET well enough to be of reliable service to you the small but gaining speed business.

Like most of Microsoft's serious initiatives they are definitely complex enough to give you what you want but modifying it means being a Microsoft Software Developer or knowing enough to recognize a good one.

You need IT but trusting someone to do IT for you is another issue.

Still if you are selling goods on the net .NET could be the next best thing for your business.

Is there such a thing as good Data gone Bad?

DM Review published an article "Enticing But Dangerous: Assessing Web Services From a Data Quality Perspective"

What I was able to get from this was that a lot of businesses are still confused about where to impelement IT initiatives.

There is really only one of two areas you need to focus. If the main revenue generator for your business has lots of hands on representatives then your technology needs to reflect their need to keep, store , and manage customer data.

If you don't have an agressive hands on team then you need technology that acts as one on the web.

If you have both then you need to consider technologies of the relational kind that maintain both on and offline information about buying and selling habits.

There is no real bad data. This is why KM (knowledge management) is so relevant. Data of the rawest form has its place even as the seedling to solving more mysteries out there.

It is more important to organize and be responsible with your data than to simply focus on the binge and perge mentality.

Re: Who's Your Data - From Inforworld

Thinking in terms of BI is often too large an endeavor for the average American business. You have to walk before you can enter the New York City Marathon.

BI (business intelligence) as an implemented strategy should be the goal but don't expect it to just happen.

Data preservation is the puzzle that must be put together before the picture is complete. Even the evil genius who means to envision the plan and control circumstance to actualize it must acknowledge that maintaining this is another story; which is co-dependent to circumstance which may be intuited but never controlled.

What does she mean,Bob? Karma, she says and sighs. Karma is the beast that enpowers the master to take slaves until he becomes one himself. Avoid the Matrix by accepting your limitations.

Bring your business to the people then let the people determine the purposefulness of your business. Build up from there.

Who's your data? At your Age BYOD ~ Be Your Own Data!

Real World Security Applications?

That says a lot right there. Solving a problem means predicting it in the first place. You may never find the perfect security application but a good provider will be able to customize to fit your needs, intuit future needs, and roll with the punches when they are wrong without bleeding your budget dry.

When you cannot be saved defend yourself.

More Blogging NEWS

2004-05-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Feeling Down about your IT?

I recently came across an email suffix that seemed a little hard to believe [xxx@f**khotmail.com]. So naturally, I checked out the url just to see for myself.

Sure enough not only was this a legitmate web site complete with a free email service but it also linked cleverly to other like minded web sites.

I try to remain an IT Switzerland in the midst of all the mud slinging that goes on because I believe that the bottom line is the most noble cause of the IT movement. The bottom line being the best IT being available affordably Globally!

Still, I had to share this information as it speaks volumes about the real outrage that as gathered because of Microsoft.

Too, bad Microsoft fans don't go this far to promote them. ;)

Anyway~ here are the links to the email site I found and the link to a related software site I found where hundreds more are also published if you want a good laugh or cringe as the case may be.

In other IT news**

Blogging Makes headlines last week May 27,2004 when on Yahoo! news links noted Rance a blogger said to be a Hollywood A list actor vents his frustrations and findings under the red carpet on his anonymous blog?

Some believe its authenticity without reserve and are fastly hunting to locate the author's identity.

I suppose this type of mystery is why Comic Books makes such good Cinema.

Infoworld releases another Blog Related article "Blogging to Ourselves"
loosing claiming the success of the blog from the once techie oriented Web Log which is how developers learn what their systems have to say about their work. Web logs were once hardware journals regarding their software experience. Developers could learn how to improve their scripting by how well recieved their efforts were recorded on their system logs.

NetWork Computing Announced The Demise of the PDA

The Geek fantacy that never happened kinda like being able to date Super Models just because you had money from selling your largely successful geek notions.

Gadgets and gizmos have their place. The more a Cell Phone may be used as a PDA the easier life will be for the busy and popular. Likewise, price being an option Laptops are more purposeful for working on the run.

PDA's do have a market, however, as some software facilitate mobile sales in real time which will prove its value as they say in the future Grasshopper in the future.

Although the Two articles were some 20 pages apart I located another reason why it is safe to slow the sales of PDA's for the masses. IM another term for Identity Management has become a security focus that IT must secure in order to build confidence in their vision.

Too much savvy and mobility will only serve to compile pre-existing security conflicts with much of technology based business initiatives.

The best answer down play mobility features until we can better harness the safest way to exploit technology to those still working on the ground floor.

Relax~

Technology is here to stay, whereever you may end up.

2004-05-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Skools in Sessions
Between 2000 and 2003 98% of American Business either:

Lost significant revenue
Laid of up to 50% of its staff
Outsourced services or jobs in order to save money and increase productivity
Went out of business
Filed Bankrupcy
Was acquired by a more dominant competitor

If you did any combination of the above or lost your job as a result of the above listed desparate decision making you know these are bad moves made as a result of years of bad business moves with the intent of saving face at the last minute.

No over paid excutive is going to admit that their degree was not worth more than lining a bird cage, nor are they going to admit that some relative got them their job. They are never going to say I don't know what I am doing don't listen to me. They will take credit when the going is good and lay blame when it is not.

It's the nature of the RAT. Don't get mad just move on.

My favorite IT magazine cover of late was Baseline's March 2004 issue 028. The image is a corpse complete with toe tag and a sheet covering the rest of the body. The capation read," We Did Nothing Wrong"

Poetry!

Even though the image was meant to go with the issues main article relating to Software; the symbolism represented to me at least everything that I have discovered is wrong with American "Business as Usual" and is the perfect poster to go along with the above statics.

For those Executives and Entreprenuers hoping not to repeat the mistakes of their corporate counter parts here is a top 10 list of how to handle b.a.u. so that everyone comes out on top.

1. Realize when something is wrong or not working out.
2. Identify exactly what the problem is and address it thoroughly and appropriately
3. Find the origin of the problem area and correct what can be repaired; Exercise Damage Control
4. Realize the long term impact of the errors including your responsibility and address them with everyone involved.
5. Make certain this issue, problem, or mistake is completely comprehensive to all employees and departments involved.
6. Prepare your staff and retrain them before firing becomes an option.
7. Understand the value of Micromanagement and how to implement this productively.
8. Standardize procedures that prove effective in both the long and short term.
9. Stay informed regarding current events and news how they effect your company, sales, and industry. Markets fluctuate be prepared to stay on top by knowing how to lead out of troubled times. Have a back up plan. Maintain a Marketing and Advertising budget saved for a rainy day.
10. Lighten up, because you could have done better and things could have been worse the responsible your willing to be for a negative situation the more likely you will take control and turn things around.

When all else fails Start over!

Here's a tid bit from Kurt Vonnegut "In these Times"

2004-05-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Common Questions in the Office:
What is KM?
What is Knowledge Management?
What's to know?
How will this help sales?
How much will this cost?
Can we budget for this?
Where did this drama come from?
Where did this choas come from?
What is the Value of Knowledge Management?

Uncommon Office Responses:
KM is Knowledge Management.
Knowledge Management means maintaining and prioritizing information without limitation.
We need to know everything.
When we know who is buying and who is not we can then strategize how convert non sales into sales.
This could cost hundreds, thousands, or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The budget for this will be margined in proportion to staff contribution. That means the more employees are willing to contribute to the effort, the less it will cost to arrive at the constant input of new data.
Drama comes from allowing what you don't know to remain a mystery.
Chaos comes from acting as if the drama is productive.

Summary

Knowlege Management is for everyone. Its something we do everyday without thinking about it. If this effort can be put into language it can be written down. If it can be written down it can be added to a database.

If it can be added to a database it can be published via web servers and can then be accessed from anywhere at any time.

How much do you know?

Converting Knowledge into Revenue means knowing that what you know can create new opportunities for growth and productivity.

Knowing means learning from experience, mistakes, and others.
It means paying attention, talking, and listening. IT means ..

Takin' it to the streets

Just when you thought you did all you could do.

Just having the technology doesn't mean you don't have to interact with your customers. In business people buy what your selling when they are secure in knowing that what you are putting out is something that they can respect and agree with. That means getting to know you.

When your customers and colleagues are getting to know you, do they have obvious reasons to like what they are learning?

Being likeable means helping out, getting involved, and caring.

If you don't care about the effect what you are doing, saying, selling, and thinking about affects others chances are no one will care to support you.

Sharing the wealth means being happy with what you have done and extending that happiness to everyone that comes in contact with you.

Business KM core ideas:

What are we selling?
What is good or great about what we are selling?
What is our industry?
What is the average interest in our industry?
Who would benefit the most from what we have to offer?
Are we affordable?
Can we improve our effort by..
What was the result of our previous advertising efforts?
What did we learn?
What do we need to do differently to improve the situation?
Who are our customers?
What are their experiences with us?
What can I do in my immediate role to improve situations?
Can I help my co-workers do more for the company with what I have learned?
Are we Making money or losing money?
Are we being likeable?

These are some of the key questions to get started with building a core Knowledge Management focus.

Answers to these and other questions should be go into a database and be used to implement new stratgies by all involved.

The key is to ask questions and collect questions. Questions mean a desire to know and relay information this is how knowledge is collected and increased. It gives our answers a sense of direction. Every employee should feel connected to company questions and answers as part of their daily responsibility to not just doing their job but to increasing the value of daily input and out put in terms of the types of experience being had.

Best question to ask. If I was approaching this company as a consumer rather than an employee would I be satisfied? Would I want to refer others to this company? And so on.

I have found that I do my best work when I take the time to approach my job as I would most want to be approached as a customer and a person. I try and put out what I would most want to receive the result people like me and are more willing to help me do a better job.

Knowledge Management means asking,"What does Knowledge Management mean to you?"

If you are doing it right it means remembering the questions that were posed when the company first got started or discovered.

2004-04-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

Some "Post Modern" observations of IT.
My use of the term Post Modern is derived from certain concepts referenced in the book "Swerve" by Aishas Tylor and " The Art of War" as translated from Sun-tzu.

Some Key tie-ins I look for when reading hot topics in Industry news are the things that effect or fail to effect the small business effort.

Most recent article topics that caught my attention were: eWeeks "Keeping up with CAN-SPAM Act", Infoworld "Are You a Spammer?", and Network Computing " The Enforcer".

Some recent events and relevations at my current place of employment are: The negatives of investing in IT. Realizing that a large percentage of our customer base are not Internet Savvy or are still rejecting the overall movement of technology.

Small Business technology differs from Enterprise versions in that the majority of data is directly relevant to a customer experience. Small businesses deal with customers Enterprises deal with other businesses and organizations long before a consumer or end user interface is relevant.

The irony is that most development focus is situated toward Enterprise and Government but Small business while being left out in the cold because they are not spending the big bucks has more relational experience to offer the best ideas in development.

Web services are still full of promise but are really going to be more interesting to small business applications because of the price and functionality.

The best investments to small business IT would be from a core business perspective. I considered the benefits of investing in eCommerce and information distribution but I quickly realized that this investment would me a plus for attracting net based business and interest but would do nothing to nuture the customers that have been loyal since before there was such a thing as the internet.

In business sometimes you have to choose. The right answer is always perserve the current customer base first and weave the new customers in along the way. No matter how accurate software becomes there is no substitution for human contanct and consideration.

A large percentage of the population is still not completely comfortable leaving their credit card information to a machine.

Icarus rising

The purpose of building Icarus was to locate and wipe out internet offenders. True offenders are those creating and distributing viruses, worms, and trojans; Even SPAM. But until the development has been perfect ( yawn bend seventh inning stretch). It is being used to exploit P2P.

Misused and misunderstood technology is being developed to police the world of internet. Since its been done off line it is fairly easy to see where this will all end up. I really think the focus of development should be to expand on progress rather than imitate the past. All that to say " Hey, Teachers, leave them kids alone.."

People are misusing their talent for programming what is to stop the same misuse of Icarus? Answer: Not a thing. The real problem exists elsewhere.

Regarding SPAM:
SPAM needs better broader clearer definitions beyond unsolicited email. Legitimate businesses need room to capitalize on affordable growth initiatives without being burdened by the lawlessness of society. In short it is unwise to the limit freedoms of all because some will abuse their freedom. Freedom must continue to thrive because freedom doesn't come from the will or idealology of man rather some place far older and more powerful.

Small Business ventures are being neglected and this is most definitely a big problem for IT.

2004-03-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

Capitalizing on IT
Some thoughts and finds on IT developments.

In recent University Memorandums The CAN SPAM legistlation puts a bind on certain fundamentals of using the internet to activate correspondence in the one to many sense.

The controversies?

The controversies are nothing new the reason there is so much SPAM is because it is an effective method to affordably increase sales. The argument is that less reputable businesses and institution are blocking opportunities for more reputable ones and now that legistlation is toughening up on the definition of SPAM, IT's biggest champions are suffering the most by limiting the freedom to send email for the purpose of promotion and fundraising.

A similar controversy existed when Porn was making its presence felt. The consensus was Porn was bad and unacceptable; the question became when is it porn and when is it art? The problem with capitalism is that laws established out of "moral integrity" fall by the way side of "what they will buy we must sell".

SPAM can only dry up if sales are no longer a direct result of SPAMMING.

Gimmicks sell, Sex sells, Enthusiasm sells, finally SPAM sells. Efforts to make traditionally intrusive SPAM straighten up and fly right puts a squeeze on free internet services and the opportunity for the advancement of technology on a creative larger scale interaction.

SPAM and POP up blocking software seems like a good solution to those being bombarded by advertising online, the next problem is because less effort has been put into valuable Data Mining, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics at this time we do not have the high quality software that can accurately or more accurately distinguish the difference between email you want and email you don't; between java designed second screens and advertising pop-ups.

Big Brothers Mis-Adventure

Technology has evolved the strongest based on where the money is. Government needs have determined the priorities of IT. Data building, connectivity, storage, security serve as major concerns for Government needs but these focal points diminish down the food chain. Real life small business needs remain the last to be accommodated.

The problem is that the IT spending and consumerism that is needed to rejuvenate morale and the economy are being deflated by Big brothers' over involvement in a forum that continues to need more time to develop.

To top it all off at least 20 states in the US are working to spend greater effort to impose and enforce taxes on Internet related business. On a service level it would seem reasonable that offline and online business transactions should be regarded in much the same way. This would be fine if online business transactions where not consistently being challenged in key growth areas. Online business does not have the same measure of stability that offline businesses do. Therefore any additional costs and challenges make the overall effort less attractive than originally believed.

This slows down the number of new businesses popping which puts a greater lean on state employment opportunities and availabilities,etc.

The trouble with Taxes

Taxes are a problem when revenue is limited. That is when the money paid out to taxes creates a profit loss and liability. The more difficult online and IT efforts become the greater chance of more offshore outsourcing, less innovation, and less overall spending on IT.

IT facts and IT fiction

IT has a limited reality following. When the average JOE thinks of technology the connection more often than not takes the mind to Science Fiction rather than IT fact. Few imagine the real possibilities of technology and most first envision gadgets found on Star Trekk or Star Wars as being the definition of IT evolutions.

The answer means getting people to change their ideas about IT in time to preserve the progression of successful business integrations. I have to wonder given these thoughts is it really prudent to dismiss the ideas of IT unions?

2004-02-28T18:59:00.000-08:00

The Union of IT

Two years ago when the industry was being abused I asked some developer's why they did not insist on forming a Union? A simple timely question that opened the door to unexpected outrage and alas more columnists posing the same question.

While we are patiently waiting for the unanimous decision of the jury there will be increased speculation and rhetoric to soothe the weary onlookers. Keep in mind that Grunts and table smaking are no cause for alarm to satisfactory answer.

State of the Union

California has an infamous love hate relationship with its unionization process. Our strikes leave nasty stains in media related Union focus. On the one hand California is the Champion of IT as an initiator and connector to ideal work environments as is California the Champion of the under dog, the blue color, the oppressed, rejected, and deprived. A Champion, I say for as long as these groups keep their place and don't interfere with business as usual. The one thing California really can't seem to stand is its middle class. So in some back handed way labor unions represent the detested middle class and that seems the strongest catalyst for anti union sentiment.

Corrections

There are Unions which are loosely connected to IT, Electrical work, and Globalization. What I am looking at with regard to IT would be that which binds developers looking to preserve their freedom and ability to work consistently regardless of market trends in the world of hardware and software evolutions.

The bottom line is there is nothing to protect Developers from the harsh realities of the rise and fall of trends. There is nothing to perserve their necessity in American industries with alternatives to outsourcing internationally.

The fewer opportunities given to developers to work hands on in real world situations also means the future can expect fewer innovations and creative implementations coming from this area as one hand washes the other. Developers create new solutions and evolutions by locating real issues and developing the next step solutions. With the work leaving the country so will the new ideas in ITs next generation growth.

There has to be some way to keep creativity and stamina alive in the US market and if no one is calling for unions yet, I can only wonder what more has to happen before they do?

2004-02-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

Voodoo Blogging

As far as I know it's a term I created to sort of highlight choice blogs that move the edge that much further out and prove that this young medium has the potential to launch a new brand of Artistry.

The much discussed Presidential Candidate Howard Dean had intense popularity because of his online presence. Even I was reluctantly pulled to take notice. Once out in the offline world however, his passion was viewed with less enthusiasm. This is life and the unfortunate really of the 15 min. theory has stood even for bloggers. What I was impressed with though was that the online fuel was enough to rocket him out to the offline world. The result was that he was not prepared to carry it further but the reality is that he did get "there". This makes me really notice that Blogging has the power to launch a new kind of star. Just as MTV changed the world of music by bringing it to you live and in color; so does blogging technology take writing and info sharing to newer fresher heights.

Of course the list of famous people becoming famous bloggers and vice versa is a growing one..

What I want to know now is who is ready to adorn the chicken foot medallion and get down to some serious VooDoo Blogging?

2004-02-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

Affording IT may be the biggest complaint but really just a cop out. More than ever in the last ten years technology is not only more worth while but more affordable and complete.

It is more common to find out of date technologies in the average business environment than not. It is a real cold shower for anyone who was working and laid off in the IT industry. The real world is not buying as fast as the Developers are developing.

I have even seen desktops being crudely fashioned to function as a server connecting networks in a office.

My mouth agape I wondered what sort of cruel joke was this.

Can you Afford IT?

The value of technology has to be measured in result. Anything else is a drama. The most common excuse for not incorporating new technologies is that it is a waste of money because maintenance cost out weigh return on investment. This is not true if the purchases are thorough.

A new publication for Computing needs I have recently come across is www.processor.com. An excellent starting point for business who are remotely interested in catching up. Linux the likeable software is branching out to main stream advertising. This is good news for the Open Source movement. Giving the good guys a chance to sway opinion is a good move for IT in general. Microsoft is becoming a dirty word since all of the horrific worm disasters and the usual bugs. Now if Microsoft makes headlines there is a cringe in the heart of all Windows users as to what they are going to suffer through next.

Top Level Security Investments are not the problem. There have been an increasing number of Security related articles with new ideas and approaches offered. Good security investments are relevant but the bed bugs still bite because of the politics of software.

I think it is possible to incorporate modest security investments for efficacy but the real battle is just the day to day trials of life on the wild wild web. One cannot expect to feel completely secure in an evolving environment. The only thing one can insist on is Identity and Credit Card protection. I think anything beyond that is unrealistic, paranoid, and just plain expensive.

Important company data is usually backed up in several locations and generally not server based as the storage rule goes.

affordable as with appropriate spending begins with good information and resources. The October issue of InfoWorld Magazine entitled "IT on 5 dollars a day?" Devoted its efforts to reminding consumers that IT can be had. Dell recently launched a commercial regarding affordability of its hardware.

Many are still advocating building your own network and workstations. Parts are often purchased politically, so that your hardware costs have more to do with brands used to build them than functionality.

Macmall.com offers a variety of low cost Mac hardware, software, and accessories.

The average small business is as guilty of bad spending habits as government. Still with the functionality of advanced technologies becoming more accessible universally, opening your business to international trade has sound good.

Keeping up with IT news will also clear the mind as to the next big price drop location. When Mac declared it would be switching to Pentium processors; one could easily foresee that the release of those systems would mean a lower retail and resale price for current models. This is just one of many examples to aide in the prediction of the next big sale. Another could way to keep the feelers out would be the competitive edge. If Dell is selling laptops for 599 it is reasonable to assume that Dell's competitors will be following suit likewise, it is reasonable to assume that if a manufacturer drops its prices once to generate sales it will do it again because product most move.

The economic rebound will not be able to remove the fact that a lot of money went the other direction. Recovery therefore is not the same thing as a rebound. Still the slump is moving on and the future is still as mysterious as the vast universe around us. What happens next depends on what we are going to do about it.

So I am wondering can we entice small businesses to get with IT?

2004-02-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

What we have here is a failure to AUTOMATE
Discussing the relevancy of IT investments.

The history of economics itself reveals the passionate desire to develop not only standards for business, trade, commerce, and labor but to perfect the standard in a fully automated way so as to alleviate the burden and to thrive in the success of evolutionary progress.

Current events illustrate the myriad of ways in which the economy may suffer in the face of those that would deviate from the original plan. Progress becomes constipated. Saying it this way brings humor into the scenario though deep down we all no there is nothing truly humorous about it when it is present or future tense.

As the country strives to deliver itself and its allies from economic struggle it becomes more obvious that the real effort needs to be in the form of reinvesting in the plan. Even the social problems that have and will continue to erupt within society can only worsen when the economy staggers.

Regardless of the inevitable politics of software development and IT infrastructure there is still a real and present need for business to accommodate the advances that technology provides. The work force needs to be released from the pressure of having to perform too many tasks and be responsible for too many vital requirements. Organization and convenience are applicable terms to every single person in the world.

Therefore it becomes far more relevant to implement the most developed advances of software and IT. The benefits of automation implementation are:

1 Greater stability and efficiency
2 Time Saving – more gets done faster
3 Labor relief – less risk of being over worked and underpaid
4 Economic Stimulation – a greater willingness to reinvest in new ideas based on proven effectiveness
5 Increased Employment – growing businesses that have invested in automation and implementing IT as a method of simplifying tasks means that more work may be taken on and more jobs will be available as a result.
6 Solutions Development – Greater regard for the conceptualization of IT means to also guide the future of said developments for more direct problem identifying and solutions applications.

Since I have been unemployed I have found that more often than not the average job requirements still demand experience in labor that may now be automated. Will there be negative effects to this fact? Not if there is enough information about technology developments to begin with, obviously proficiencies in Microsoft Office may be feared unsatisfactory in the face of competitive software. Most of us know this should not be so. If you understand the one it should be easy to use others. The key factor in determining good software is defined by the ease in which anyone may master usage for multiple tasking.

The Internet is also proving to be a thriving force in speeding up research type, marketing information, and communication.

What once took more than a week to do may now be done in less than 24 hours. That is progress.

So if all this is true, what is holding businesses back from investing? Answer: Insufficient information, misinterpretation of significance, lack of funds, lack of encouragement, fear of the unknown.

These are all relevant ideas to consider, however, it is important for businesses of all sizes to recognize the advancement and learn to grow with it. Did people reject the light bulb initially? Perhaps, but this was a temporary thing. Such is the case for IT implementations. Developers don’t really concern themselves with the sales and marketing arenas like they should. Their first concern is perfecting what they are working with or working out.

The next phases will involve converting businesses. Still business owners need to begin waking up on their own and taking the initiative in finding out how technology can improve their business structure and goals. The work force must likewise begin educated themselves on how new technologies are going to effect not only them but also future generations.

The best way to insure that technology works for us is to comprehend its value, purpose, and usefulness in real life scenarios.

Will I find a job that can accommodate my eccentricities? That’s another story.

IT Freelance Work drying up

2004-01-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

The Buzz on Bloggin with the times...

I have been laying low in an effort to catch the buzz of the latest IT related movements..Blogging is still gaining momentum.

Some of my favorite advice related articles regarding bloggers I find address issues like how not to get fired because of your blog and how to get a book deal but there are others here that address issues covering the full scope of blogging concerns for the next generation as well.

Microsoft continues to move in and out of headlines as the software most loved to hate. But even Microsoft is rumored to be mounting the blog bandwagon solidifying blogging as the grandpappy to progressive technologies. Whether you support Microsoft or cringe at the mention the bottom line is they were doing it first and if they are doing it now you have to know it is here to stay. Open Source need only ride the waves and dive into the overflow.

Still in the competitive world of independent technologies the focus for better and worse is shifting to Browser Based and WebService/Web based development. For obvious reasons, its more practicle. If technology is truly advancing toward convenience its gonna have to be easy to access and easy to implement for this reason the internet is the most obvious platform to connect and interconnect parallel data.

Generating the confort zones for data definition is yet another hurdle. When the average person hears the word "data" they think of the Trekkie character or of some highly classified lab somewhere where governments do secret research for covert operation. Most of us don't consider personal rantings, ravings, exerperiences, and discoveries in life to be worthy of the sophisticated connotations that "Data" seems to deliver. The truth is data is just a word given to discuss whatever is there to discuss or collect for further discussion.

Still Blogging is getting another year of lime light to strut it's proverbial stuff for the purpose of fully defining perimeters for the potential usage and functionality of browser based; web service technologies. Anyone that argues this point is quite delusional and should be approached with extreme caution. What this means for the non-revolutionary is another year to lift the banner of creativity and find yet another way to implement your blog and not get booed for it. Technology needed to give something to the masses in order to maintain its sense of direction in the massive blackness of evolution and exploration. What we do with our blogs determines our priorities. If developers can collect relevant priorities and divide the divide back to human terms it will know just what the next big boom is going to be. The reward for this is free tools to play with.

Pretty cool.

I often collect articls of interest pertaining to new technologies and or blogging specifically. The latest collections of respected publishings related to this years focus for IT has me rethinking earlier intuitions about web logs and web services.

Some of the articles influencing my predictions are: "The New Enterprise Portal" article from Infoworld Re: The browser-based protal is fast becoming the enterprise UI and the nexus for a new breed of integration and applications development,"Gupta revs embedded database" from eWeek which discusses upgrading SQLBase embedded database (lets face it embedded database are the nucleus for all internet application of relevancy),"The Marketing of the president 2004" from Baseline which refers to presidential candidate Howard Dean's clever use of blogging to further campaign causes. Likewise, this has gotten a lot of attention for IT lovers just because of the association.,"Are you ready to love blogging?" from Basline Magazine discusses the benefits of encouraging employees to blog rather than fighting the inclination. This serves to bring the focus back down to the technology itself and the inspiration it delivers at greater strides than any other since the search engine really. The implication of encouraging employee blogging is that valuable information and be located and thereby improve the ideas supporting business development. and finally "Weblogs Bulk Up" a small Infoworld blurb regarding vendor initiatives to custom design software specifically for business to implement effective blogging technologies.

And there you have it from the source. I don't make this stuff up. I do believe that a miracle can happen simply by chemical reaction to compounds. I will continue to monitor this until we arrive.

My personal take:

Initially, I believed that business relevancy would determine the guiding light of browser based/web serivce tools. Now, however, I am realizing that creativity or rather the science of art instead of the art of science will be the ring leader in how it all plays out. The power is with the people.

2003-12-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

The Rumor is that IT has seen much of the famine aspects of the 'Feast or Famine' rule.

2003 pretty much served to provide ample time for IT developers introspection and reflection over hits and misses.

With all the empty pockets in IT the torched still burns brightly for the optimism of 2004.

The Millennium was suppose to belong to IT. A new answer making enormous strides and advancements. IT did not get much of the lime light it had hoped to bask in and this of course brings new concerns as to who's line is it anyway?

Still current events being what they are, new technologies managed to bring the information to the people much more timely than ever before. Perhaps the news was less than comforting but even the most horrific war reports were available to any and all via the internet which rivals only CNN for late breaking on going news reports. Blogging has been there keeping families close and the information closer.

Microsoft has proven that you can be the most despised software developer in the land and still the most widely used. Microsoft has also proven that even if they didn't like you in elementary school, jr. high/middle school, high school, college, grad school, and at the office picnic they still won't like you but you will be able to force your products on them anyway.

Microsoft has proven that class action suites can actually be a good thing when you have to pay out in vouchers toward the purchase of more of your products. Was that a waste of time or is it just me?

Open Source has proven that if they liked you, they will always like you and that if they like you they will continue to support you. Open source has also proven that if you take your vitamins you will in fact grow another inch. Open source has proven that innovation comes from listening and that people will like you even more.

IT preaches a sort of new concept in the work place that insists that the work can get done without further adu. The threat becomes can we handle that kind of responsibility?

Diversity is a goal of IT integrations but how do you get would be consumers to lose their Archie Bunker mentality long enough to hear you out? If most consumers assume they are going to hate it, assume IT is going to be a pain in the ass, and figure that most employees are too stupid to use it without breaking it will they ever find their way out of the snare of Microsoft to embrace the freedom of Open Source? Did Archie simply need a hug or is this indicative of a larger metaphore?

We have grown whether we feel like it or not. IT has evolved yet again, the old stuff has gotten better, the new stuff is taking hold, and the expensive stuff is making the cheaper stuff more interesting.

Breaking the dam may be an arduous task but there is no denying that IT is changing the world.

Can you hear me now?!

2003-11-09T16:16:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time..
Disruptive Technologies became
Technologies of the Year..

Will blogging reinvent itself to stable publishing efforts and again thrust itself into society with a whole new edge?

I am surprisingly optimistic. Trends come and go. Blogging was no exception everyone that has heard about it has given it a go. Those still standing mean what they blog about. I have located several recent articles benchmarking the predictions of two years ago that this hype would pass.

After all consistent publishing implies a kind of commitment not only to free speech but to having something to say likewise having a cause one really believes in. If we all had that going for us the world would indeed be a very different place.

Those that do will and those that don't will ... Ideally evolve.

One of the articles I thought may start off a new kind of blogging initiative was Morphing blogs to business.

The concept of Business related blogging initiatives is not so new. However, the innovation required to implement the idea intelligently is gaining momentum.

When I was bugging RSS developers to broaden their horizons to RSS syndication for database data. No one knew what to do with the concept.

Now that times are catching up with technology the relevancy is becoming obvious after all, any instance of data sharing or group data collection would require that current information and edits be readily known to any and all participants. New data in knowledge management, group data collection, and public databases make new data news data.

This would also further the evolutionary causes of database development innovations everywhere being able to seamlessly integrate RSS with any and all database platforms.

With more of XML, XML Schemas, and XML -RPC developments being integrated into desktop organizational platforms server side database development can only benefit from a closer look.

Blogging in general is based on server side database publishing so that the feed is structured to published pages of unstructured data. Taking this concept and kicking it up a notch to service structured data of both the critical and non-critical variations alike will only further causes for business initiatives globally at a far more productive pace.

All current events can be located from your feed reader of preference before you even leave for work in the morning.

The only real question now that everything is coming together to something coherent and cohesive is who's working that hard anymore?

2003-11-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

For the FUN of IT
Returning to the simpler times of software

I sort of landed into the world of IT and software development after much of the wheels of change had started to churn. Still I found the significance of certain ideas to be very humanly universal.

One example would be that of P2P file sharing opportunities. Like most earthlings the largest part of what I could know about P2P or file sharing would be what mainstream media has accounted for P2P resources and software, which is basically bootlegging. Of course it is more complicated than this for example statistics that show the overwhelming numbers of individuals not owning PC’s of any kind for various reasons. Not to mention the very large number of small businesses not embracing technologies to promote their business and sell their products even in major cities.

Price is a big factor for the other side of this sit in where business and personal uses are concerned. Researching the history of open source databases, software, and file sharing illustrates that most of the technology progress for the masses over the past ten years has been because of the freedom to be creative with software development applications and to establish open access to be used for whatever purpose. Without the hands on experience it is difficult to find practical uses for technologies and software. This is what keeps consumers opting out in their shopping selections.

Aside from the rebellious label that file sharing represents it is also a form of pleasure and relief. A way for people to share and exchange programs to keep the interest and fun of IT fresh on the minds of those shelling out thousands of dollars for hardware alone.

Back in the day, software was free and offered in order to encourage the purchase of hardware and to promote its usefulness. Now software is basically its own entity and industry. Truthfully there is not a lot wrong with that but in general most of us don’t have thousands of dollars laying around to keep reinvesting in an already expensive purchase. It is natural to assume that the new car you just bought is going to drive out of the parking lot without further expense on your part. Likewise it is natural to expect a full tank of gas for the investment. Why then is it so difficult for lawmakers and software manufacturers to find the relevancy in making their software as available and affordable as possible? It is an honest and legitimate question, ignoring IT is going to create more problems than solutions. It will lower fun, entertainment, and personal uses in technologies, it will increase the price for businesses, and finally it will slow down the ability to promote and innovate for the future.

In fact, without much in the way of hard statistics I am willing to wager that the majority of PC and laptop owners have made purchases because they needed it for serious endeavors like school and work. Likewise I am willing to wager that most PC owners made every effort to borrow software from someone they knew so as not to have to spend another thousand in order to put their hardware to use.

I think this is a near sighted marketing mishap on the part of sellers and distributors of computer hardware and software.

Entertainment brings in money just as readily as necessity. Yet no one manufacturer or seller is looking for ways to increase sales by making experience fun. Fun sells! But FUN is not leading sales the way that it could and should. Microsoft was savvy enough to partner up with hardware companies to distribute its operating systems and desktop software. Why can their competitors? What is wrong with file sharing exactly? Isn’t it ironic to the thinking mind that the top music download of the year was also the retail best seller? Popularity is not a threat to success greed however, really is.

Maybe it is time to stop and think about what’s best just for the FUN of IT by accommodating consumer needs rather than attempting to define them! When it comes to business models Open Source database software is a real time and money saver, not to mention easier for IT maintenance resources. P2P is based on the same principle of applying democratic thinking to our products and product availability. Where is the attraction of keeping a good thing so exclusive?

When has it ever been wrong to equate the power of pleasure for the most people when attempting to make a difference or a profit? The irony is that people are more likely to pay twice the price for something whether it is technically worth it or not, when it brings them a sense of pleasure, fun, or achievement.

Can your software do this? Tell us about IT..

2003-10-28T14:36:00.000-08:00

More on Microsofts Anti - Trust Settlement

Link courtesy of eWeek.com
http://www.eweek.com/print_article/0,3048,a=110727,00.asp

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1372178,00.asp

2003-10-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Finding yourself in IT
Discerning the ways in which one may find themselves exposed to technologies on the web.

Old school vs. New school

Old school publishing meant using FTP:// as a grass roots effort to contribute purity to the web. HTTP:// is the most popular method and is becoming preferred.

The object of the Open Source Initiative as a growing movement into the future of IT began with simply making source codes and software as freely available as possible. Now however, it is much more. It is also about identifying with the realities and necessities of the web as it is transformed by the people for the people.

Had I not been exposed to web log (blog) publishing opportunities I most likely would have found myself a frustrated FrontPage addict. Geocities runs very similarly to the static content publishing features of front page. To be fair a vast majority finding themselves on the web prior to 1999 most likely got their start here. Either way if you have explored private publishing efforts as opposed to the commercial ones you have been exposed to terms like TCP/IP and FTP protocols.

Previously commercialism was what defined stability, reliability, and quality content. Things have changed to reveal that the key factor of a worthy web presence has less to do with finance and more to do with content and expression. The division or differentiation of that which is meant to propagate and that which is meant to inform has been a growing concern in American regarding its media methodology.

Ways in which you may have arrived at locating FTP protocols for published pages would be: intensive research leading you to research groups, blogging, FrontPage or desktop publishing software publishing systems. Meaning that you either built up to the web via available desktop software, jumped right in looking for more advanced tools for private publishing, or you simply took advantage of the opportunity to utilize the Internet as an information centric resource.

For me it was a combination of the three though blogging ultimately won over my fidelity. FTP protocols are used in establishing a URL for your personal file server. This is usually preferred for those who are not interested or able to invest in more expensive server purchases or those that are simply getting started with the concept of web publishing as a new medium and therefore want to ensure their control within the realm of the uncontrollable.

Should you have your own server? Honestly, only if it means more efficiency, less cost, and enables more creativity. Extranet features (like web logging) are evolving and becoming more reliable as an industry responsive offering to the public. This means that developers that offer hosting as a software bundle are prepared to be responsible to their commitment. The OSI allows for both ideas to exist because it acknowledges the need for honesty and stability within the efforts of publishing requirements and IT stability.

Trust Factors

It is natural to have distrust although organizations and communities like OSI are blossoming to alleviate this pressure or confusion. Distrust comes from knowing that irony is an alchemy; not everyone who speaks to you is your friend or is honest. This is as true on the Internet as it is in real life.

The best part about the Internet is that it records in real time the wrongs and better enables more aggressive yet peaceful methods of policing. IT webs are also good for capturing flies and giving people more power to define and defend their sense of right and wrong democratically.

This is another reason why the government is eagerly participating. Their job becomes more coherent and precise when crimes are taking place via the Internet. They don’t have to trouble over the time it takes to collect facts and evidence. It’s already there.

Still, it will continue to take time and it is important for Netizens to be as informed about web related irregularities as those in their neighborhoods. This means understanding everything from top to bottom, who’s doing what, and why. Then it is possible to find out what IT means to you and what you can do about IT.

Gray Areas

Benefiting from the unknown can be more than exploitive if it is approached correctly. Again giving credit to the persistence of OSI which, stood in instance over freedom and freely accessible methods of involvement. This is a wonderful thing if you are awake enough to recognize the extreme benevolence in action. IT is only as great as society insists it to be. So we have computers so we have the Internet, now I have more to think and worry about because it only serves to parallel real life rather than improve it. Who is going to spend their last dime to get involved in that? Only those that stand to profit. Thankfully this is no longer the case. IT involves more than just parallels it encompasses the opportunity of real growth and idealism to excel and dominate therefore influence new standards.

The Value of Developing IT standards

Protocols as I have attempted to further explain in previous posts are method by which standards are pronounced in the order of importance and for relevancy. Presently Political Structuring dynamics are defined by the prioritization of Social, Economic, and Relational Methodology. I reference this as relevant by the polarization or double entendre of the use of the word Protocol subjective and objectively. The main conflict between software initiatives and web based ones were those detailing support protocol influence and motivation.

Example: there are hundreds to thousands of ways in which one may provide IT services likewise there are an equally relevant number of ways that the informed consumer may elect to invest in them. The relationship of the many-to-many is what decentralizes core focus pivotal for success or the attainment of a goal. This factor collectively shifts the definition for the relevancy of IT exponentially.

The solution is to consolidate protocols within the core that may then by further expressed or externalized in a perimeter, which completes it. Got a visual? Think of the external layers of the eye. The pupil represents the core that then colors in the entirety of the sphere that then is border by the same color that contains and encompasses vision. The irony of alchemy is that the any definitive of a conceptual visualization is that which is determined logical by the same expression. The political version of this assumes an alternative characterization or geometric shape the square.

Unity of the common principle re-establishes the emotive significance as best represented by the circle for its collective purpose of accomplishment. The question then becomes,” Can you see IT?”

Familiar Protocols

TCP/IP
HTTP
FTP
NNTP

The idea is to simplify for effectiveness. Differentiating only where necessary for the entirety of an object to be fully recognized in order to move on. So that while there is within the realm of possibility the opportunity for many Protocols there are only a select type that are necessary for the Darwinism aspects to mainstream it. This is the majority; the majority is that which represents the most readily accessible. If the most efficient is also the most available (OSI indicator) then the mission is successful and Creativity may then exist within the expression of that which has been universally enabled until it is likewise successful. Then the core creativity may expand or with reference to the pupil benefit from its innate elasticity circumstantially with regard to organically defined appropriation.

Good news to date:

AOL has released a beta version of its own web logging tool.

Microsoft has reportedly been researching developments to enhance its FrontPage software in response to the growing popularity of web logging and refined personal publishing.

2003-09-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

RESLOVING IT
Microsoft Settlement Benefits Agreement

I recently received notification regarding the Class Action Suit against Microsoft. The settlement resolution applies to California consumers only.

According to benefits claim information and court authorized notice This Settlement will:

Provide up $1.1 billion of vouchers that may be used toward the purchase of hardware, hardware accessories, and software. Vouchers may only be redeemed for cash after purchases have been made.

The settlement applies to consumers and businesses that legitimately acquired Microsoft Windows, MS-Dos, Office, Word, Excel, Works Suite or Home Essentials between February 18, 1995 and December 15, 2001 for use in the state of California.

The Settlement will resolve private lawsuits about whether Microsoft violated California antitrust and unfair competition laws.

Likewise according to this document Consumer Legal rights are as follows:

Submit a Claim form - This is the only way to get settlement benefits - i.e. vouchers that can be redeemed for chash after the purchase of computer hardware or software.

Object - Write to court if you do not like the settlement.

Go to a hearing - Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the settlement or attorney's fees.

Do Nothing - Give up all rights and nothing changes.

Who may file a claim for vouchers?

All persons or entities who between the dates mentioned indirectly purchased Microsoft software for use in the State of California for any purpose other than resale.

Indirect purchases means that one legally acquied software or a computer on which software was already installed from a person or entity other than Microsoft.

What's IT Worth?

$16 each for Microsoft's "Windows" or "MS-DOS" operating system software
$29 each for Microsoft's "Office" productivity suite software
$5 each for Microsoft's "Word" including "Home Essentials" and "Works Suite" which contain "word"
$26 each for Microft's "Excel" spreadsheet software

*note indirect purchases of Microsoft Mac/Apple software or Server side software are not included in the class action suit and therefore may not be eligible for claim benefits.

The "Volume License" is a license issued under Microsoft's "Open" "Select" or "Enterprise" license programs. Verification of licenses may be relevant for those intested in filing a claim for benefits. "Enterprise" license holders and governmental departments may not file a claim for benefits through this settlement.

Claim forms must be completed by March 15, 2004.

More information on this Settlement as well as disputes may be addressed to the following:

Microsoft I-V Cases J.C.C.P No.4106
1-800-960-5660
www.microsoftcalsettlement.com

Court
Clerk of the Court
San Francisco County Superior Court
P.O. Box 2821
San Francisco, CA 94126-2821

Class Counsel
Eugene Crew
Richard L. Grossman
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW LLP
P.O. Box 2837
San Francisco, CA 94126-2837

Defense Counsel
Robert A. Rosenfeld
HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & MCAULIFFE LLP
P.O. Box 150
San Francisco, CA 94104-0150

All correspondence reflecting settlement disputes must be post marked by December 30, 2003

The court has scheduled a hearing at 10:00 AM February 13, 2004 at the San Francisco Superior Court, Department 305, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. At this hearing , the Court will consider whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections, the court will consider them.

From the look of things Microsoft gets to come out smelling like a rose. The settlement assumes no fault or conspiracy on Microsofts part but a willingness to soothe old wounds by offering consumers a price break on future purchases and of course if consumers do not file claims for vouchers the remaining funds will go to public schools with large numbers of low income student participation.
Showing that Microsoft means not only to take but to give back without being forced by the courts.

Any thoughts?

2003-09-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Developers’ are you wishing that everyone would just get with IT?
What is holding up the consumer interest in IT developments?

This is a relevant topic for those that develop technologies as well as those who are leading the pack. Things are improving but not at the pace that it should be..It is only natural to wonder what is holding things up?

Many blame the failing economy; others blame the recent political overtures of the administrations that are. This has some reasonable validity, however, the economy has always been known to rise and fall, administrations come and go every four years. What is the solution to this problem that is ultimately right enough not to be subjected to the ups and downs of a world that no one person can control?

We know that the initial release of eBusiness overtures served to stagger the economy and disappoint entrepreneurs, corporations, venture capitalists, and consumers alike. As a result of this set back and disappointment suspicion has replaced enthusiasm. Likewise many of the global aspirations have found themselves in a state of arrested development vertically.

Capitalism often misunderstood, often misused, will never lose its place in the sun as the best and noblest way to grow business and consumer interest horizontally. What happens after that is where Socialism has its reciprocal and responsive place that works every time. The conflict lies in everyone getting “IT” straight, where they are in terms of nationalism, corporations, marketers, and the like. When doing something that is never been done before makes one a pioneer whether they embrace the title readily or no. This is way awareness and organization are so vital not to create militant unflinching groups but to create fluidly productive communities of organizations so that when all the lessons have been learned merging can then integrate with successful and beneficial result.

Holding on to the past and lessons learned is only productive reasoning until everything is understood comprehensively then it is time to move on and in moving on to the next phase one finds themselves moving forward one more step closer to the goal in mind. This should be the focal point of all eBusiness initiatives striving to recover. Understanding the “temperance” involved by definition the balance based on appropriation of emotional tides and currents internally and externally in any given situation.

If it sounds easy, it’s because it is. If it sounds like work, that is because it is. The question the remains are you willing to deal with what at first glance appears paradoxical in essence? In order to get past the mysterious oasis and regain or reclaim that victory that one first sought? For those that are; this is the right time to begin preparation for the final advancement to triumph with the afterglow of previous success or lessons learned illuminating the way. Like two hands the left benefiting from the right the right benefiting from the left until both can work in unison to grasp the attainment of real achievement.

Developers’ wishes are consumer wishes; national wishes are global wishes; and back again. Wishing for it is the first step to realizing how to implement IT. Are you going to do IT?

2003-09-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Dealing with IT

Defining the Internet system of organization by that which is enabled by IT.

Assuming you have spent some time on the Internet or perhaps none at all, here is a list of what parts are made up to define it on the whole. The Internet as a network connectivity application is made up 3 parts the Internet, Intranet, and Extranet. The term Extranet is relatively new if you have been online since the beginning but for those just getting involved it is growing enough that soon it will serve to define a third portion of the internet that facilitates as the 2nd component living both as a mediary or independent component between the 1st component (internet) and the 3rd (intranet). This will be more apparent as web services and web-based services evolve.

Internet Provides:

Email
Web browsing for on and offline browsing
Security, privacy, and encryption features the obvious presence of this is being redefined all the time.
Web publishing pages; content, text, documents, images, information building
Scripting languages designing codes, software, and database systems applications for creating, building, and adding to web published formats.
File systems – sending, receiving, transferring, and downloading files or software.
Online Storefronts – for purchasing, selling, auctioning or bartering products and services.
News groups
Discussion Groups
Search engine directories
Business Operations extensions to include banking and finance
Communities, Organization, Government
Collective Resources, References, Instruction
Education facilitators, implementation, and contributors
Intranet Provides:

Educational and University inter-connection for the purpose of aiding administration and research related requirements
Businesses for internal or inner department, office, or Enterprise data and file accessible requirements.
Government for inter-connection of departments, locations, and responsibilities.
Business 2 Business determining and connecting multiple enterprises with data relevant transfer requirements, exchanges, and adding.
Business 2 Consumer where the user-side requires access to business related data information in order to complete the service side requirements.
Peer 2 Peer where the ratio of many to one or many to many may access and relay data, based on common interests focus determined by the Webmaster. In this instance the Internet serves as a portal to access an intranet application or local server.
NEW Education! Where students may register via Internet connection to a private server belonging to institutions of instruction that offer extended learning opportunities and courses of study, which parallel the actual classroom experience.
Extranet, which actually belongs between Internet and Intranet applications resources will round out the trilogy. The Internet is the universally open access to the World Wide Web provided by ISP. The Intranet is a privately secured and maintained network that may only be accessed by individuals determined by the owner, manager, organization, or enterprise and does not have an open end or universal access like the Internet. Intranets may be configured to be accessed through a portal via the Internet, via web browser with a private or restricted URL, or from the desktop of specifically configured hardware.

Finishing Touches

Extranets are more of a buzzword or add on term to give the intranet and internet broader distinction by denoting the accessibility features for advanced security measures with the internet or intranet applications.

"Extranets" are typically intranets with greater accessibility and are at present not located behind a firewall. The core distinction is already evolving with web based businesses, web services, and securities development. This is still a new term, so for intensive purposes most often the extranet will be an adjective used to define a type of intranet application.

Good examples of Extranets taking on their own definition, would be advance features on blog software that enable multiple user interface and password protected access while maintaining accessibility from the internet, yet remaining either on the providers server or on private FTP servers.

Another more defined example would be online banking or Enterprise Edition services. That enable multiple user front end database access that is password protected by each selected participant which may be either public or private, displayed from the provider server or via html from and independent server and would provide the option of determining the security type relevant based on content and participation.

Firewall Explanations and Types

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/firewall.html

Extranet Information

http://www.intrack.com/intranet/extra.shtml

2003-09-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Congratulations IT’s a MOM
Understanding the Metamorphoses of Middleware

Much of my trade related reading on IT and web services brings Middleware into the discussion. I am also newly coming across speculations regarding the fate and future of Middleware exclusively as a topic. I can understand how those not fully in touch with terms and ideas regarding IT developments could yet again become confused by the use and definition. Understanding IT is becoming a new religion in the myriad of writings available to date. Thankfully we have made personal publishing more available so that these topics may be explained and discussed before actually becoming such.

“Diverse Middleware technologies exist to service diverse environments. Ideal Middleware systems support the following functions:

To expose data in applications
To expose methods and functions in applications
To translate different data formats between applications
To enforce business rules for data and function sharing
To manage communication between applications”
(Chapter 1 page 16 of Open Source Enterprise Solutions by Carbone and Stoddard, a Wiley Publication.)

The most recent article I found on Middleware actually discussed its mortality with certain conviction. Why? For obvious reasons that all mediations have their importance and their dismissal. Sometimes it is relevant sometimes it is not, when it is misused, misapplied, or misplaced it then seems irrelevant, however, this is not an absolute merely circumstantial. Middleware in my humble opinion is useful within hardware applications for system efficiency and useful in software applications for web services and of course for studying its duties in order to create better software applications in the future. My favorite and to me the heartbeat of Middleware is for the purpose of completing AI developments as an infrastructure integrator.

After all data size and complexity does matter. Huge data resources and weaving complex software are places where Middleware proves its value the most and lets not forget Search Engine Optimization requirements because we are not quite there yet. Search Engines are the favorite overlook resource because one we see its constant change and because two, the details that form it are much like building a mansion from toothpicks because of the remaining uncertainties “out there” in the space of life. Still it is one of the greatest enabler’s because it does serve to acknowledge all things while automating its flow of relevancy and definition as it shape-shifts in its own elasticity.

The reason for this quite simply is that data must be simplified once harvested either in bunches or in abundance. Meaning that it must be organized in like categories, relational properties, and weeded out for duplications and incompleteness until IT becomes stable.

2003-08-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Can we rebuild IT, if we have the technology?
Enterprise Document Management (EDM), web based solutions possibilITies.

How can businesses and organizations with no IT staff or in-house solutions providers create cost-effective solutions for managing information for broad and crossed section transactions implementations? Enterprise web based solutions are a key component for scenario conditioned IT management functionality demands.

The benefits of web based solutions are: no intensive programming knowledge is required, there are no server bottle neck restraints, there are no specific browser type or PC hardware limitations or requirements, and there are no desktop downloading issues in the presence of multiple-user interface for real time business transactions.

Hosting requirements may then become streamlined consistently with size and growth requirements for secured and reliable usage facilities, thereby servicing cross platform architecture with customizable tool offerings.

Document Management Solutions (DMS); include physical documents such as:

 Invoices
 Purchase orders
 Shipping orders
 Shipping invoices
 Billing invoices
 Account history reports
 Legal documents

Document scanning solutions and template downloads which integrate embedded text and CSV. Files are two solutions which, serve to:

1. Minimize the paper consumption and waste
2. Globalize business transaction processes
3. Interweave open source B2B requirements
4. Expedite the information consolidation process
5. Alleviate the mismanagement possibilities concurrent with the “ one to many and many to many” aspects of modern business development initiatives.

In so doing valuable time management concerns, employee resources, and corporate costs structures within a 24/7 time frame become easier to implement seamlessly within responsive a budget.

This solution offers an expandable wrap around feature, which encompasses interaction requirements for all sized businesses for B2B, B2C, and C2C demands.

For example: a home office may utilize this solution for the mobile dynamics, small to mid size business for mobile, b2b, and growth requirements, an enterprise and large corporations for inter/intra departmental, B2C, and global office requirements respectively. Now IT suddenly, makes sense when viewed as an improvement tool rather than a replacement tool.

As with this situation, you can see that involving responsive technologies doesn’t change business or the way it gets done rather supports it by providing preventive solutions recognized from years of research and analysis.

Web based/online databases take credit for being one of the first deployments for web service offerings. The emphasis on database evolution to not only realize this solution suggestion but to establish it’s first of a kind standard for real time implementation on any budget is vital to knowledge management.

Quality web based development tools offer uploading tool feature within a database structure, output data files (i.e. data files containing locations, names of image files, and additional relevant data extracted from a physical document) and prepare it for the above listed actions. Of course, with this type of solution the opposite function is also true. As it serves to enable “extracting” web stored data to be downloaded into individual desktops for additional needs where open source concepts apply. Lastly, newly downloaded or revised data and data files may be stored and accessed via hard drive or disk then re-uploaded for additional interactive based requirements. This process creates a functional filtration system for data and document changes and exchanges while eliminating opportunities for duplication and mishandling resulting in lost data or incomplete transactions.

Document scanning solutions vs. Transferable embedded templates and forms.

Both are relevant solutions options for physical document transfers. The main criteria for this decision making are internal ones.

If the company standard includes paper only forms which are purchased in reams or bundles and copied or maintained in paper file format, scanning hardware for documents would be the solutions requirement preferred for time management purposes. Investing in scanning hardware is not a requirement primarily, but a favored choice for converting older paper only file maintenance methods with new software and web based ones. This expansion consideration becomes applicable where longer term or longevity focuses and strategies for extensive B2B initiatives are concerned.

Financially secure businesses or new businesses may have afforded opportunities to:

-Convert older systems
-Timely apply IT based forms solutions
-Extend and weave modern methods of form purchasing (i.e. creating software, downloadable forms, and create templates within pre-existing software like MS Office tools).

In these instances, any sized business will find maintaining a web-based tool to be the self-sufficient selection, requiring no additional hardware investments to achieve immediate implementation.

All output types require only industry standard formatting of plain-text ASCII like: .txt, .csv, .mdb, .xls, XML, .jpg, .gif, etc. file extension or types (those currently found in MS Office or MS Office compatible software).

Publishing wizards, assist in database creation, specification, HTML code generation, and URL links. In order to activate mobilization; database access, linking, and publishing requirements. Varied database user types also provide additional business usage features based on these standardized requirements and demands.

The one remaining concern would be that of security as it pertains to web based services. A standardized data protection security system has been created and enabled specifically where web database’s role in servicing this area is concerned.

Additionally, layered password protection based applications for account author and user interface. Further, server side and server based securities customizations developments provide the finishing touches so that implementations of this solution address concerns of: Consistent up time, Optimum data protection, and Data author / User protection even when published on the Internet.

Amazon’s initiatives will ideally inspire the variety of eBusiness requirements and automation initiatives for everyday people. Web services are gaining popularity and momentum.

The best part is that these services work for the novice as well as the programming expert.

2003-08-20T17:45:00.000-07:00

Some IT news worth mentioning.

In the 31rst and 32nd issue of Inforworld Magazine I located a few consumer relevant articles. Chad Dickerson and Ed Foster are two of my favorite writers over there because they both have that innate need to connect to consumers regarding IT news and advancements.

"We're Not Invisible" - Why is IT like Rock 'n' Roll; Chad Dickerson
"Open Source for a song" - Investing in free IT services; Chad Dickerson
"Buy now, pay later" - Used hardware, software licensing agreements; Ed Foster

In Chad's articles he discusses analogies that may improve the overall morale of IT in addition to reminding the industry that it is not invisible. People are watching and reading and if you impress them with your harmonization capabilities they will be buying. In open source for a song, he relates to the number of times he has benefitted, profitted, and used open source software like Apache and MySQL. He realized the relevancy of dropping money in the tip jar as an investment in continuing to support these open source softwares.

I think it sends a good message. I have also participated in donating to free services that I have benefitted from. I think it is a great idea to maintaining free software and free tools for developers and users. Even the occaisional 5.00 here and there gives back and makes it possible for the things we like to stay around for the future to use and have fun with.

Finally, Ed Foster, he's the biggest consumer advocate I have come across. He is excellent at sniffing out trouble spots and likewise he pulls no punches when it comes to telling IT like IT is. There is a strong initiative to recycle hardware however, software licensing is attempting to make it impossible for software to extend to the next user. The very purpose of recycling hardware is to enable one getting the most out of sufficient hardware and two making available affordable technology to economically challenged areas. Me for example, I needed a lap tap but I didn't have the financial security to invest in a retail purchase. I located a great price on a resold laptop. It was perfect for what I wanted and needed it for.

So recycling hardware does bring technology to areas that would otherwise have to go without. It is important for consumers to know that their rights are being limited by corporate interests. How do they expect to elevate the lowest common denominator if they would chose to neglect it in favor of excessive revenues?

Definitely food for thought. I encourage IT news followers to let me know their favorite Magazines and Contributors/staff writers.

Locating quality IT related information is the best way further its understanding and investment.

2003-08-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

Are you having a Blast with your IT?
The Blaster worm is attacking Windows servers and XP OS.

Normally I try to stay of the perpetual motion of things. But this one I could not resist. Microsoft is always under attack but PR people know that it does really matter what they say as long as they are talking about you.

The Blast worm has apparently been going around but it finally hit home with me today. I turned on my PC waited for all the start up programs to run their course. Next thing I know I get an error message. Then I get another window informing me that windows would shut down in 30 seconds as the counter began. It was a modest version of a bomb timer.

I did not think much of it. Must be a glitch. The third time I start to worry. What is this? This is a new computer. Who should I call?

The next time I was asked if I wished to send an error report I clicked on Send Now. I waited then clicked on more information.

The window displayed a link: http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp.
I thought ok I'm game. I clicked on the link as fast as I could because I was about to shut down again, the little timer in the error window was still counting down at a steady pace.

The link was directed to a page that discusses the Blast Worm. Apparently its hitting Windows servers as well as xp home edition operating systems.

I got hit from both XP and HP vulnerabilities. The Microsoft link explains how to enable your built in firewalls and then leads you to the latest downloadable patches. While I was waiting for the sizeable patch to complete the download the HP window pop up appears and asks if I would like more information on the Blast worm. BTW enabling the firewalls stops the little timer from shutting you down.

I had to wait until the patch was finished downloading of course but after that I clicked on view more and was instructed how to access the problem from the HP side. The RPC vulnerability is not much more than a system based glitch that causes an XP OS to shut down 30 seconds after it is turned off because it reads as an error that could harm other program files. It won't, its not a virus but a harmless worm.

Anyone with HP and XP know that they were dangerous bedfellows from jumpstreet.

From this and other unions I can understand the desire to keep hardware separate from software and leave it to the consumers discretion. Yet and still if you have ever had an actual virus attack your system you have better perimeters for realizing what trouble really is.

Of course, Microsoft will recieve another beating for leaving such vulnerabilities so available and downplaying the necessity for the latest patch that even I recall rejecting several months ago.

I don't download unsafely and I don't open email attachments without a scan so I don't worry to much when there is another patch out there that I need to download. Its part of it.

Linux is looking better and better but ultimately I think that Microsoft users are as loyal as Linux users. Then you get folks like me who don't care as long as it works and its easy to use.

I am not into monopolies of course and don't like to get into the politics of software but I am aware that it takes more than apples to make a fruit salad. The important thing is flavor.

My best advice on this one? Don't eat the worm!!!!

2003-08-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

But do you do Windows?
IT consumers caught up in the industry controversy

From the IT consumer perspective, being caught up in the wave of controversy surrounding the new competition is a nightmare.

IT would be more advantageous for newer hardware manufactures and providers to get past the need to compete with Windows and work parallel in order assist growth and development with the consumer in mind.

I say this because I have work for a Windows platform based development firm and because I am a PC owner who finds that Windows OS and MS tools are still running the show.

Even when it comes to Mac, I like the look of a Mac desktop or laptop but the isolating software availability makes for a poor purchase where actually having to get work done is concerned. Especially where pricing is concerned, recently I was in the market for a practical laptop purchase. I wanted an ibook the way that children want an xBox. I could not, however, rationalize the price difference when it came down to the software compatibility concerns. If I caved and followed my fashion sense I would still find myself in the dubious position of being isolated.

I did the rational thing and purchased a PC laptop. I look at all the articles from servers to scripting languages and I see the same chaos. What is a consumer to do? Does anyone even care anymore? Is it more important to debate superiority or to live it and provide it?

I joined the “asp” group (active server page) not (application service provider) and I found myself in the middle of a heated debate over why php was a superior scripting language. I could have died laughing. Even after someone has made the choice of which way they want to go with development tools; the still are faced with the why should they be happy with their choice issues.

Then I read marketing statistics, which illustrate that only 75%-80% of Americans will be computer savvy owners and online shoppers. This controversy is self destructive for the industry as a unit that may only thrive if people are buying and investing in it.

MS Windows was here first. They have the name, the branding, and more over the software to back it up. I think newer server manufacturers would benefit more from assisting than competing. Windows will always win out because it is a name that carries respect, seniority, and glory.

Flaws and patches a side, Windows is here to stay. There is enough room for improvement that I would think that new developers would recognize the irony of competing. It is like an IT Greek myth or Freudian complex to do so.

Apache, Linux, and Unix would be better off finding ways that they may all create quality and affordable server solutions so that the consumer benefits and continues to invest in IT evolution.

Will they or won’t they? It is ironic but typical that no one sees the poor judgment call until it is too late. “Physician heal thyself.” Is the quote that comes to mind will the solutions providers find their own solutions?

Independent developers would likewise do well to remember they don’t have the big vendor budgets to afford this type of thinking, but will they?

2003-08-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

B2B Getting IT Together
Ideas for transforming organizations and groups into thriving communities.

Business to business as a concept has been around since the beginning of civilization. From the time the human race realized that it could become more productive as an organized unit. The only real philosophical debate has been how to get unlike ideas organized within like ideas? Typically, in history, people have the tendency to eliminate those ideas or individuals that differ. This is where the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’ originated. The premise is that groups stand a better chance for survival, however, differences of opinion often tear away at the group effort. This is evident in every area one would seek out to find it or even avoid it. This fact created a new group of analytics seeking to uncover why this phenomenon occurred and from this evolved yet another group which, based on findings sought to locate solutions to solve it. Over time these groups grew and expanded to get us closer to the goal. This is how groups become communities; communities become organizations, organizations become corporations, and back again.

Intellectually, it is comprehensive that this cycle is organic in nature and effective in practice. Emotionally, however, it is also evident that the turmoil is real and must become harmonious at some point to flourish. Based on the laws of physics, we know that this can happen or that resolution is a part of the quest. When and where; why and how may often prove mysterious or even questionable but the system of ecology is a fundamental one existing throughout nature. The bottom line on solving the controversy is simply a question of information exchange and time to assimilate it. Harmony seeks itself just as like attracts like. Furthermore, opposites will attract for the purpose of expanding perspective beyond one point of view. The key is to let needs and wants be known openly (enable communication) and not to force things together yet instead allow for them to come together naturally and instinctively.

In other words, B2B is not something to fear, avoid, or resist moreover it is a puzzle wherein each piece must find the appropriate fit with which to partner.

Once this happens, it will continue to happen provided this union is harmonious, and goals are not only established but also met and expanded upon. In this sense we may also realize that success isn’t so much about numbers but about getting IT right. That is asking the right questions and getting the correct answers. IT is work to do so and is often an intricate and complex undertaking but a necessary one that proves it’s own value.

Understanding this is why IT developments are all but synonymous with B2B efforts these days. The reason being, because IT simplifies the workload and demands so that no one involved becomes exhausted in areas that are necessary to standardize. In other words IT fills the voids and enables the tasks at hand to become satisfied with results as readily as possible. IT remains a step by step process but one that ideally, may become pleasurable to undertake. The great thing is that it continues to prompt change, growth, and new ideas while maintaining its original form and purpose.

The best way incorporate B2B when the time is right, is to express this growing interested through communication and criteria, then collect the responses, and begin cultivating ideas which develop ways that offerings, products, and services may serve to benefit growth through exchange.

Once this is accomplished then structuring IT within these solutions becomes more intuitive and clearer to implement. The ideal idea is to co-exist independently rather than co-dependently.

Defining “when the time is right”, when the possibilities have been exhausted internally and information collection and analysis has peaked to the point that it begins to become repetitive. This is one good definitive but each business, department, organization, or individual must likewise establish additional insight case by case based on open-source database collections and mining finds to the point of reasonable conclusion for itself.

Another big indicator would be the desire or urge to do so, this method is often the intuitive or instinctive approach but may be equally successful and rewarding as the overt analytical one. Communication, we now know may be spoken or unspoken but it serves none the less to further ideas. In my mind both styles are relevant and have a place, as do its counter parts, the key is to keep IT available, active, and open.

Chronicling B2B these days can be very confusing. B2B is a necessary thing, but like musicals when they are good they are very, very good and when they are bad they are horrid! I have been building up to this article since 12-2002 researching and collecting articles discussing the subject of B2B from an IT perspective. After all in order for IT developments to assist B2B IT must have a clear understanding of what role it plays. When B2B fluctuates so does the industry which, caters to its functions.

What are some B2B IT goals? Real time transactions, real time transaction management, communication, data retrieval, data storage, data mining, data exchanges, data security, eCommerce, and web services fundamentally.

The more “Creative Aspects” of IT and B2B IT sort of have to wait there turns architecturally speaking. That is to say, “You have to build it before you can paint it”. It’s a process of completion like a manufacturing assembly line.

B2B IT developers are in the position of waiting for B2B to define its own needs or move ahead instinctively and create what will definitely be required then double back and illustrate its value to businesses prepared for the guided tour.

Either way IT is still important for businesses and developers to stay aware because one may learn from what went wrong as well as what worked with equal benefit.

Advice, it is a good idea to consider that what is real for one person, company, or industry may not be a reality for anything else around it. Refer back to the mantra of “if you don’t know IT, find out about IT”. This is better than losing on a good idea because of bad timing. Something I have learned by observing business news over the past few years.

In the areas where B2B has been established and responsive in the IT development community some of the primary concerns expressed were to save time where integration’s are concerned, to conserve spending where purchases are concerned, and finally to insure quality prior to implementing or integrating technologies. This gives developers more than it may seem in terms of demand information for the supplier. It is in this way that XML began its move into B2B solutions.

Resources for B2B news, discussion, and information may be found intermittently throughout Business and IT trades magazines and consistently in B2B forums and newsletters like: CommunityB2B.com, line56.com, and Ittoolbox.com.

A good article for explaining web services and there intended role in B2B IT developments Entitled “Web Services: The Next Battleground in the War for Software Mind Share” found at: http://www.CommunityB2B.com/news/article.cfm?oid=A9D1D4D5-D192-42DB-91FBD99C58C3AE93.

End users for software are also electing to purchase CD software to be maintained and configured by in-house IT developer staff. Are all software developers offering this service? No, one of the reasons being is that web based interface is an alternative method for cost effective IT developments and security issues not withstanding are on the rise as well. The idea is to make IT solutions globally available and secure be it CD Software, Downloadable software from a developer web site, Custom solutions design, or web based interface.

Where B2B is concerned company size and activity are main areas where best results vary case by case. As the market grows globally for the largest corporations, it will be likely that some B2B situations will incorporate a collection of all types of solutions for different requirements.

Interested in more information on what it takes outside of technology? A good article I found, “Beyond Technology: What does it take to Build and manage a Collaborative Value Chain?” Found at: http://www.CommunityB2B.com/news/article.cfm?oid=7E6C84F2-7562-46DF-9785FE0FD05584A3

Finally another really good article I found which discusses how to recover from a failed mission and lessons learned in the process which is also a good read for those looking to get started called,”B2B comes back on a smaller scale.” Found at: http://www.adtmag.com/print.asp?id=7381.

Any thoughts or feedback let me know.

2003-08-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

A Look at electric commerce/ebusiness practices more questions more information
Five Key Questions to Ask Yourself Before Venturing Out on an eBusiness (Internet based business)

Lessons observed:

1. Do I have a Product (actual item or merchandise to sell)?
2. Do I have a Service (actual skill or method of doing something that saves the average person time and/or money and has been tested and proven to work and stand out against potential competition)?
3. Is there an actual demand for my product/service?
4. Is my product/service supplying the potential to generate a demand?
5. Am I going into eBusiness because I think It's easier than a brick and mortar business?
You should have been able to answer Yes to at least one of the first and second questions. Yes to questions three and four, and No to the fifth question.
If you did then and only then should you proceed with your eBusiness Venture.
Still not confident?
Some other helpful thoughts to entertain are, finding about about the competition, is there a lot? a little? or none? Understanding what this means. Most people think that a lot of competition is worse than none. It's not true, no competition means you are a front runner in a brand new field and you are going to spend a lot of time convincing people to trust you.
Is my product/service/business actually "useful"?
Is there a better way to perform this function or make it even easier to learn, use, work with, explain?

2003-07-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

Getting a feel for IT
Establishing a functional and organized relationship with computing and the Internet cooperatively.

As luck would have it in the present moment it appears as though the world of the desktop and the one of the World Wide Web remain segregated in a separate but equal manner.

For some of us the separation is beneficial for others it’s complicating. Part of the functionality of being an avid blogger and actively participating in discussions relaying personal thoughts, feelings, ideas, and findings is paving the road to understanding desktop and Internet application respectively. It is important to distinguish between that which is desktop relevant and that which is Internet relevant. The glory is you can do all this independently provided that there is a comprehensive explanation for all the tools available. One ideal analogy for relating desktop applications and resources against the Internet would be the beach and the ocean visual. Think of the desktop application as the beach and the Internet as the ocean.

Computing 101

You got your desktop or laptop. That was work, dealing with features, prices, competitive brand marketing, and sales apathy. If you got through that you are already there. You are an intelligent person living a responsible life. You already understand your role in the Universe you just need to be able to apply all your life or knowledge collected over lifetimes to create or establish a functional channel within the development of computing and software. This is a simple request and one that should be satisfied automatically.

Depending on what stage you were at when you first turned on your new PC you need to be prepared to activate this system. If you are among the present majority, you new system came complete with MS Windows OS and MS Works. With respect to the changing world, there will be other software hardware bundles available for the consumer. This is O.K. because the system has already been established and what you get with Microsoft you will also have with any other software provider.

The first thing you need to do after you have properly connected all your hardware is to install your OS (operating system) software. Once this has been completed you may wish to then customize this application for security and the like. The next step when you are ready for it would be to install desk top application software for word processing, database, spreadsheet, and depending on the software extensions that will acknowledge your inevitable need to connect to the Internet (i.e. web browser, publishing software, and email). Going with Microsoft because that is what I use and have experience with, MS Works satisfies basic desktop requirements for individual organization and document management. Depending on where you are with your software purchasing and personal needs this may be good enough for a while.

Microsoft Office is often preferred over Works. In general, the best reason for this is simply that it is a more advanced package that is built for greater use and connectivity. FrontPage98 is the first model of a web publishing application. Initially this was not part of Microsoft Office but phased into it. FrontPage98 is the publishing application that works off of Win95 OS and Microsoft Office 97 package. With respect Win95 was Microsoft’s first real accomplishment with regard to the future of computing and the Internet.

FrontPage98 enables a novice user with the tools to begin experimenting with Internet connectivity for establishing a web site presence. Creating with Front Page will enable the user with server software and ftp connection may be established from there through your Internet connection provider.

There is a lot to learn about web site publishing to get yours to the level of sites you have most likely admired while browsing. The publishing aspects of Front Page will require a basic Internet Connection like a dial up that you probably already have a working knowledge of or are at the very least aware of it. Most telephone service providers have already embraced the relevancy of Internet connection and is most likely a good place to start if your newly purchased PC is the only computer you have access to or you are just getting started with computing. There is independent ISP (Internet service providers) that will work just as well that one may prefer after having some time to get familiar with available options.

Assuming that you don’t have any other “hook ups” for establishing your Internet connection from your home, contact your telephone company and request information via mail on the services they provide. This can be done immediately as you will benefit from just experimenting with your desktop software and finding ways that it will service to assist unique needs to get organized in one centralized location. * I have already published some useful real life uses for excel, word, access, and Front Page with regard to their Works counterparts.

The normal connections available to everyday consumers are dial up or DSL. Say you want to start simple just basic dial up which is configured to work from your preexisting hardware and basic modem.

The installation walk through is completed and you are ready to start surfing the web and associating with its variety of offerings. It’s natural that your fascination with this counter culture will be boundless and enjoyable.

If you should chose to utilize personal publishing software like Front Page, you will use the same connection as the one established with your dial up.

To the credit of Microsoft the packages are quite useful and progressive but also mean to entice consumers to remain co-dependent on their product offerings.

I say this because in order to evolve your front-page creations you will require a more functional database platform like SQL server, once you are there you will then be encouraged or enticed to reinvest in your own web server and so on. Assuming that there was in fact no malicious monopolistic intent this step-by-step response only works to accommodate business budgets and is at best one solution option method and at worst painfully myopic.

Protocols

There are three main protocols for maneuvering throughout the Internet realizing of course this method is the same that others will use to access your web presence, it is highly relevant to be informed. The three protocols are FTP (file transfer protocol), NNTP (news transfer protocol), and HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol).

HTTP is the most familiar as this is the method for connecting to the public servers that make up the World Wide Web. This also defines the URL prefix that is repetitively used http://www.~ .

If you have made it past all this information you are ready to really embrace the Internet as a responsive application to your desktop requirements and personal or professional research or knowledge building requirements. The Internet is always there and will not use up space on your hard drive (computer memory). As a resource it is a glorious creation. As you are better able to establish personal interests online you will be able to build value to your computing investment. Real perceptions will require doing outside research beyond the booklets that accompanied your software. These resources are available in abundance both online and at the local bookstore, which can mostly likely be accessed on line just as readily. Public Libraries are also accommodating the new genre of resource material. This is the best method of getting the most out of the software you have before investing further in less readily comprehensive options.

In short, it is more rewarding to set out to completely understand and put to use the software that came complete with your hardware purchase unless of course your explorations are required for your work or income generating interests. You may wish to accelerating your presence, this is understandable, still in the long run you will save more time and money if you insist on taking the time to understand your purchases completely.

In the Genesis, you really shouldn’t need more than an OS, desktop organizational managing software (like MS Works, MS OFFICE, or another brand counter part), Internet Access, and an open mind to get the most out of computing 101.

2003-07-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

The history of the way we search for IT
A brief but descriptive overview of how the human race
came about search engine IT with no voodoo.

Where I got my information from,”(Mecklermedia)Web Developer.com
Guide to Search Engines” by Wes Sonnenreich and Tim Macinta,
a Wiley publication. More information may be accessed online at
http://www.wiley.com/compbooks and
http://www.wiley.com/legacy/compbook/sonnenreich/webdev/index.htm.

MIT media labs in the early 1990s, corner stoning trends for the
popularization of Internet practices like homepages and homepage
directories, then inevitably homepage search requirements and
listing initiatives.

“Archie” was created in 1990 by Alan Emtage a student
at McGill University in Montreal.

At this time there was no World Wide Web
(hard to recall but yes it’s true). The Web is still less
than ten years young but maturing steadily and benefiting
tremendously from all collaboration efforts.
(Something to think about off-line as well).

There was however, the Internet which, was made up
crudely of files scatter throughout vast networks. This
method or collection of networks was primarily made up
of a series FTP (file transfer protocol) servers and actions.

How FTP works as described directly from the source:

“The primary method of storing and retrieving files was
via the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). This was (and still is)
a system that specified a common way for computers to
exchange files over the Internet. It works like this: Some
administrator decides that he wants to make files available
from his computer. He sets up a program on his computer,
called an FTP server. When someone on the Internet wants to
retrieve a file from this computer, he or she connects to it via
another program called an FTP client. Any FTP client program
can connect with an FTP server program as long as the client
and server programs both fully follow the specifications set
forth in the FTP protocol.

Initially, anyone who wanted to share a file had to set up an FTP
server in order to make the file available to others. Later
”anonymous” FTP sites became repositories for files, allowing
all users to post and retrieve them.

Even with archive sites, many important files were still scattered
on small FTP servers. Unfortunately, these files could be located
only by the Internet equivalent of word of mouth: Somebody
would post an e-mail to a message list or a discussion forum
announcing the availability of a file.

Archie changed all that. It combined a script-based data gatherer,
which fetched sites listings of anonymous FTP files, with a regular
expression matcher for retrieving files names matching a user query.
In other words, Archie’s gatherer scoured FTP sites across the Internet
and indexed all of the files it found. Its regular expression matcher
provided users with access to its database.”

“Gopher” servers are like FTP only for plain text documents
(no images or hypertext) thus, extremely limited outside of
business related Intranet environments. 1993, Archie finds a
wife and her name was Veronica (Very Easy Rodent-Oriented
Netwide Index to Computerized Archives) Running a system
similar to Archie but for Gopher servers. Like any good marriage
there were offspring humorously named to follow suit [FYI = Jughead].

The next area of strong contribution would be The Wanderer
which was the first robot enabled web tracking device which
served initially to keep track of servers then expanded to capture
Urls regularly springing up within a web database.
*Encompassing metadata used to define search topics
for organizing search results and access musts were turned
over to web databases in the spirit or form of open source databases.

Its name was finally Wandex, another note, as a newbie to the
historical facts of search engine developments I ran as search for
notations or remnants of Wandex and was unable to locate any
additional information to add to this resource.

If you are more scientific in thinking and following a time line,
Robots became a new term for web or Internet applications as
a tool that could perform specific functions with greater dependability
and consistency than its human counter part and therefore became
a vital creation for integration. Bit of trivia the term “Robot” comes

from the Russian word for “work”. Which is now what we think of as
Internet “spiders” because their function is not only to constantly
seek out new occurrences but to also monitor pre-existing ones
for new changes. The obvious and immediate advantages of
“robots” then “spiders” became a widely popular and readily
acceptable solution for the Search Engine Development Generators.

“ALIWEB”, “JUMPSTATION”, “World Wide Web WORM”, AND
REPOSITORY-BASED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (RBSE) SPIDER.
Were some of the key contributors to elevating the modern success
and future horizons for where the Search Engines is now and is
striving to get to.

Researching these terms produced one of the few “no results”
findings for me. I can only deduce that they came they got
gobbled up for everything useful they had to offer and then
disappeared in their original state only to become fragments
of the current definitions of the Search Engine.

1994 resulted in the launching of “Galaxy”, which contained
Gopher and Telnet search features that focused on URL
description based spidering and collecting.

This brings us to April of 1994. Personally, I was in Paris party-ing
my brain out and learning to “parle en Francaise” avec a cute
Frenchmen named Jean Francois not giving the Internet a second
thought. April of 1994 also broadcasted that Nirvana front man
Kurt Cobain was found shot to death in a Washington home,
but in the world of Search Engines, what we now know as Yahoo!
Was in the throws of passionate conception.

Stanford University Ph.D. candidates David Filo and Jerry Yang
created some popular pages called Yahoo! because they
considered themselves to be a couple of “Yahoo’s”.

As the number of links grew and the number of “hits”
began to reach the thousands, the team created ways to
better organize the data. Thus www.yahoo.com became a
searchable directory which included data descriptions now
considered to be the standard for SEO (search engine optimization).

October of 1994 produced the beginnings of “webcrawler”
and in 1997 WebCrawler was gobbled up by AOL.

Some other well known SEO came out in 1994, Lycos, Infoseek,
and Opentext.

1995 DECs AltaVista arrives on the scene followed by Inktomi’s
“Hotbot” acquired by Yahoo! April 2003. MetaCrawler was released
in 1995. Giving separation to Meta Searches and the more common
data searches.

Browser concerns about the time that Yahoo had been
transferred to Netscape servers, Microsoft released its free
competitor “Internet Explorer”. Note: the majority of the
evolution within “how the Internet is being formed has to do
with survival of the fittest popularity negotiations” good to
remember for developers and engineers hoping to make
their mark.

Conclusions on tracing Search Engine History:

Clearly, it took a lot of effort and contribution to get us where
we are, now that we are here, we can study how to improve and
refine the rather tedious and awkward aspects in order to make
the next generation of events easier and better. Likewise, but
learning what to avoid, it is also important to learn what to embrace.
When stepping into search engines comprehensively, it is vital for
the developer and netizen alike to realize that search engines are
vital and improving them means the same thing to communication
as it does to information.

What I did not delve into:
Boolean as a search tool and in depth features analysis for s
earch engine pioneers that are being gobbled up by more
profitable ones. Primarily, the reason for this is because the
present remains undefined but this is an excellent time for
introspection before the next wave crashes down in order to
make it a better one for all of us surfers.

Hopefully, after this article you as the reader have been given a
fun yet reasonably substantial understanding of the evolution of
IT for the past 10 years and have some sound questions and
concerns to begin voicing in developer ears for the future. Also
a reason to feel comfortable researching the modern search tool
for yourselves either to better understand what you are working
with now or to begin working up the nerve to make your own.

It is only natural that the user-side be given a voice and a vote in
Search Engine Developments, as we will, ultimately be the ones
subjected to its faults as well as its brighter sides. The most
important thing is to keep IT moving on.

another version :
http://www.allbusinessnews.com/archives/2003/july/31prt.html

2003-07-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

Are you out there searching for IT?
Search engines are increasingly becoming the vital link to connecting individuals to the web. Are search engines as comprehensive as everyone needs them to be?

“As above so below”

As the web finds itself evolving, it is likely to recognize that the Internet is becoming a microcosm, as expansive as the universe surrounding us.

In order to navigate through it in real time search engine development becomes vital to the IT development processes.

The most interesting aspect of the Search engine is the fact this it is readily an area of fascination and required connection to the developer as well as the novice netizen (term for individuals not necessarily experienced with using the web).

The reasons being developers still need to create the proper standard for search engine optimization and individuals are complete dependent on search engines as a tool for locating areas of greatest interest.

This is an extremely complex area for all of its ability to engage freethinking as well as properly display real time business initiatives.

Searching for some bit of information is in itself an adventure not for the faint hearted. Anyone search term from major search engines will in fact produce 10’s to 100’s of thousand search results.

The question then becomes now that I know this one topic has so many definitions how do I stay focus on my one initial reason for searching. The answer is, at this point it is almost impossible. Having this wealth of information available upon demand at one’s fingertips will definitely overwhelm. IT is suppose to until of course the question in the mind becomes clearer and more focused then enabling the answer to become one in the same.

The one thing I can say on the side of the developer as “progress” is the fact that more and more Meta data is becoming a key factor. Wanting access to reference material and wanting to utilize specific key words or questions is efficiently acknowledging the step by step process. Much like the relevancy of breaking down words into syllables. Certain information requests must be likewise broken down in order to properly locate it on the web.

The key is making this information known and easy to obtain. For the researcher this means many different things. The researcher knows that mining for data involves as series of events and time in order best acquire and scientifically extract information piece by piece. What is available online is still know match for the massive amounts of information available off line. At this point, online research is still an enhancement tool. This will change in the future as researching itself will branch off to accommodate on and off line information seeking parallels. Demand then supply is the definitive slogan in this instance.

My thoughts before we get technical. Some key things to consider in reasons to explore in depth the evolutionary history of search engines:

1. Government funding goals and realizations
2. Engineering capabilities
3. XML – as an extension of Boolean relevancy
4. Open Source Database requirements
5. eBusiness promotion and location
6. Website promotion and location
7. The burdens of SPAM to compensate for inefficient search results and placements
8. Individual interest and usage percentages will increase with greater search engine efficiency
9. Consumer burdens
10. Information finding
11. Legal clarity
12. Time consumption
13. International accessibility
14. Real time efficiency
15. Search engine ecosystems ~ acquisitions, by outs, revenue generating restraints and misplacement, and domination.
16. Getting caught in the Matrix
17. Going it on your own
18. Meta Data realities
19. Synonymous term linking/correspondence
20. Syndication
21. Aggregation
22. Web service interaction and integration
23. Community Participation
24. AI (artificial intelligence)
25. Analytics (algorithms)
26. Fees
27. Knowledge Management (KM)
28. Intranet applications
29. Resource availability
30. Bandwidth
31. Data storage
32. Data security
33. Personal publishing and data collections
34. Sub-categorization
35. Falling through the cracks
36. Economic considerations and consequences

As you can see it may take all the king’s horses and all the kings’ men to put the Internet back together again.

Check out:

Searchengineblog.com

2003-07-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

Solving the boundary issues one step at a time
Search engine optimization standards for generating optimum query results.

Have you ever submitted to a search engine directory? If so you may have noticed that they tend to vary based on information required to complete the submission.

Directories are typically based on open source database management systems like MySQL. The database design usually specifies data types by file specifications like URL, Images, Descriptions of content, and summaries of the submitted file type. Search engines are not directories search engines themselves are a developed technology in order to explore directories, submit queries, and deliver data.

In spending time researching search engines I have found a very incisive explanation of the standard order to utilizing the Internet for queries and data extraction.

The result of this information I am including comes from Chapter 3, Page 53 of Web developers.com Guide to Search Engines by Wes Sonnenreich and Tim Macinta.

 How a web browser communicates with the computer its running on
 How a browser communicates with the Internet
 How data travels through the Internet
 How a web browser communicates with a web server
 How a search engine is like a web browser
 How search engines gather data on sites
 How an engine knows not to read certain pages
 What other methods of gathering data are in use

For my own web site I use freefind.com though there are several search engine customization options and of course creating your own. Whether one chooses to build a search engine for their site or simply offer one it is important to understand how and why they work in order to choose the best software to fit your personal preferences and vistor needs.

Some key criteria I preferred in my effort to locate the best selection was:

1. Price – do they offer a free service for non-commercial use like web logs.

2. Customization – do they allow for site only searching, which doesn’t spill out into the entire web?

3. HTML Customization- do they offer HTML placement that may be customized to adhere to web page requirements like those at a web log?

4. Tracking/reporting- do they offer tracking features so that the webmaster may keep record of query types and usage rates? Will these records be emailed to me directly?

5. Spidering- this is an important aspect of search engines within a web site and is slightly different from those found through major search engines. When dealing with just one or a limited number of web sites or web pages within a search engine frame the web sites unstructured data then becomes the directory itself. Searching “cars” through the entire web will produce different results than the same query at an individual web site. Spidering is automatic with larger search engines when customizing a search engine for an individual site it is important to have your own spidering for new content.

Freefind provides an index table that users may customize for their web pages weekly, monthly, quarterly; etc. in order to maintain newer content based on update frequency. If you are busy these automated responses are intuitive and very helpful. After all one of the perks to maintaining a web presence is to free up time restraints and to minimize distraction possibilities.

Unless programming is what you do and developing technologies is your sole focus.

How do you know when you need a search engine at your web site? You know when one you have content that is intended to reach others based on information desire, demand, and necessity. Once you have more than 10 pages of relevant content, you will definitely need to consider a search engine for your site. After 10 pages locating data becomes less intuitive and more stressful for the individuals you are attempting to accommodate. Keep the focus human. Do you like having to hunt around for what you are looking for? Dealing with the goose chase and chaos or would you prefer to simply locate it so that you can move on?

Of course, it is obvious that indexes are relevant, that convenience is attractive and that time is always a factor. Technology has to be learned but once it is learned it serves to ease previous burdens and demands rather than add to them which is the fear that prevents individuals from embracing these technologies all together.

It is easier to be impressed with technologies when you understand they that they are structured and how far they have come in a short period of time. It makes you wonder what took the human race so long to figure that out.

When I first started using the Internet. I was found search engines to be perplexing with the multitude of selections that appeared more vague with every new layer of query. Over the last four years, however, I have learned how to better interact with them to get what I need quickly as I have experienced a diligent effort to improve them on a consistent basis.

Now, search engines are clearly headed in the right direction and will ultimately be developed to acknowledge and address the user end requirements and expectations.

So it is a good time to get in the mix and start realizing what each user or individual may contribute to further the over all cause!

Give me your thoughts or feedback on search engine facts and theories..

2003-07-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Tao of the Internet
Defining key methods of taming the matrix within

My research of Internet Technology evolution includes finding out why some just don’t know what to make of IT. What I have found is that the complexities, which seem to parallel those of life itself often take away from the fun and enthusiasm that IT was intended to create. Then there are those who believe that the colorful adjectives that define and validate the Internet and its real life parallels mean that that battle has already been conquered; the truth of IT is somewhere in between.

What the Open Source Initiative (OSI) did was recognize that in order for IT to do the greatest good then IT must start at the beginning. Acknowledging the parent – child relationship necessary to build understanding and positive experiences. Most within the business aspects of IT regard the process as being merely that of commerce. OSI is often misunderstood as being a movement that represents eccentric philanthropists who do not require monetary reward for their investment. This is not so. Everyone must make a living. Free services on the Internet have a place and a purpose; this is what software engineers refer to as “aggregators” “parent-child relationships” and the like. Attending seminars and hearing these terms told me that business centric software engineering resulted in the same realization that Internet based developers realized from the beginning. That people need time to create and nurture their unique relationships within the new dynamic of IT and computing.

OSI pushed for more than just the right for developers to be empowered to express and develop software solutions but also to inspire more offerings for user-end participation and interaction which, may likewise be affordable by building on free software source code and architecture.

The result of this insistence gave us free email, search engine directories, news groups, discussion groups, increased e-zine and newsletter offerings, web logs, wiki’s, knowledge logs, MO-blogging, photoblogging and personal publishing capabilities. Thereby increasing inspiration for these offerings to become more and for more to be assessed by the usage of these offerings. If you will notice there are always going to be fee – based services available what will distinguished between that which, should be fee based and that which should simply be available will be defined by how many people are actually willing to pay them and actively do so.

Ideally, when it is all said and done there will be more packages offered so that one may have their cake and eat it, too in a manner that is fair to the user and provider alike.

Knowing that we are technically “not there yet” is the surest way to further the journey to the destination. Much to the credit of OSI the Internet has come a long way in a short period of time because of the willingness to accept the truth without elongating the analysis of IT.

The idea is to enable peace between business related developmental ideas and those of the Internet. The more people that get involved the faster reliable progress can be made, making efficiencies implementations more efficient from inception. When this happens new users is the result. Stability reassures the curious. Even shareware offerings in this instance assist the matter by enabling a no risk no obligation opportunity to explore something new which helps cultivate the growth that is ‘necessary’ apart from that which, is merely trendy. If you are so inclined offering free opportunities is actually its own ROI because real feedback and statistics lower marketing expenses and increase the value of PR. When your press releases are informative, indicative, and responsive you don’t have to spend as much on distributing it because the interest attracts its own audience.

The blogging community is the best example for the value of the separation because presently it is still both. In being open to IT there is a reward. The reward is activating the understanding of how an offering is actually useful in an absolute definition. This is the future, for most of us the future has never been such a fresh and invigorating term rather one that is inundated with questions, concerns, and conflict. Free freedom is making the possibility beautiful again.

The trick is letting your imagination go wild but in such a way that this brings inspiration rather than delusion. Meaning that for some IT may not be Nirvana but for everyone participating it can certainly enable it to manifest in a real way. That is way allowing for user preferences to determine future projections is also relevant. Everyone has a unique way in which, they learn and become interested in something, the questions they ask and the answers they seek. By analyzing this occurrence it becomes much easier to distinguish key factors that have been gray areas in the past. One example would be Media and Marketing demographics pertaining to: income, nationality, trends, age groups, and gender. These were all satisfying to a degree and certainly a good start but this must inevitably be regarded as merely superficial or a beginning so how does one dig deeper without imposing or influencing any given situation? The answer is by allowing IT to happen.

There is something to be had for providing guidance and assistance in the instances of human error. Likewise this can only be done in a certain way. By learning this way even more progress can be had. Making it a reality for everyone to find what he or she need in IT. By bringing IT to them directly. Another trick is the realization/application that one has to get there first in order to be useful in assisting others. The best part of the Millennium is that so many people are in fact getting there and as a result should be able to benefit from IT the most. Automating a movement is much more relevant than scrutinizing or controlling IT.

Revenue centric vendors are in a position of responding to IT, or fading into oblivion. The goal of IT is to allow everyone to get with IT.

2003-06-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Old IT – eez but Good IT – eez
Taking some time to examine where current developments derived from, how they have been expanded on, and what has stood the test of time.

Over the past three years I have collected magazine issues covering topics relating to XML. This included XML in general, databases, and web services.

As I have been feeling a sense of nostalgia in the air I have been inspired to carry that feeling over to my personal IT revelations and findings.

I now realize that much of what was really happening in software developments over the past decade had evaded me for all of the hype and terminology. Now that the marketing media has moved forward I have taken this opportunity to really catch up and share what I been able to gather in order to make sense of what one can conclude for the present and future. I say this as focus shifts from vertical to horizontal or as the song would say, left to right and my intention is to keep the bass line steady.

Here is a topic list from these magazine pages I have dogged eared and flagged with post-its.

· XML a new data language that promises to make eCommerce move more efficiently.
· Productivity gains for Net-based technology and coordination of cross-enterprise.
· The potential of web services a 4 part series of step by step analytics
· XML for global Customer Information Management
· XML-Native databases
· App. Dev. On the Web services path
· Leaders of the web services pack
· Finding an opening for open source databases
· Keeping a close eye on web services

Now I will attempt to consolidate my thoughts on much of this so that at least some basic points are arrived at and some basic conclusions can then be satisfied for the purpose of moving forward. I always encourage those with a thirst for knowledge to pursue not only where I get my information from but also to satisfy their own personal interests, curiosities, and innovations. This is why I haven’t kept a comment bar yet; I keep a contact me database. The process of learning and doing is a circular one that is constantly rotating as long as it is clear that this is the decided pattern. In this instance, for me comments are less relevant than communication. Comments are circumstantial communication is a stabilizer. I write from my personal point of view based on my findings and research. Because of this I will always have something to do tomorrow to finish the puzzle. IT is a journey a ride for the taking. The point is to approach IT in such a way that anyone can get everyone involved, to participate, and see what each unique experience may reveal for effort. This is in my humble opinion the origin of the innovations, which breed excitement. This is what makes me smile.

On XML for eCommerce efficiencies, this article suggests that XML leads the innovations to greater B2B exchanges, keeping data and data related partnerships current and active. Wireless applications are on offspring of this thought for inner business departments to maintain the same standard of activity oriented data collections. This also keeps intuitions and instinct accurate for keeping up with the rush of activity. This article was from way back in 2001. Many developers could argue that this information is much older than the article would lead one to believe, however, look at where one idea brings us two years later. Concepts like eCommerce user end software applications and mobile commerce are on the cusp of connecting the global economy and sparing us the hassles of previous import / export hassles. The idea is not to covet information but cultivate and celebrate it so that everyone may be free to benefit. Where would be today if no one thought to maintain data or information? Every generation would be forced to reinvent itself and progress would never be made. It is actually quite organic to regard IT in this way, as was its conception. Think of XML in B2B situations as bundling up to go outdoors in winter. The premise is to protect the data while in transit under even the harshest conditions.

Where IT is concerned it is important to differentiate between hype sales and visionary creations. What makes IT amazing is the fact that it may thrive and become more from the vision affordably and efficiently, keeping individuals and businesses inspired and motivated each day 24 hours a day.

Personal find favorite is the one regarding productivity gains. “Incremental efficiency gains derived using Net-based technology for coordinating cross-enterprise business activities.” Basically, this small quote illustrates the tremendous value of simplifying efficient of utilizing web technology platforms to further the data exchange principle, not only for Business to business interaction but for business to consumer eCommerce initiatives. Less is more?

Web services old school and news school applications developments are still a topic to uncover. When I think of web service I still think of old school practice, as they are the ones out on the market now serving any and all who require or desire. Web logs is my favorite example to pick on. What is the difference?

By user end definition not much, but by developer definition it is the difference between; Web services = HTTP + XML+RPC for WSDL and UDDI and Web services = HTTP + XML+ SOAP+WSDL+UDDI.

Do you like the original ’57 Ford Thunderbird or the 2002 replica of the ’57 Thunderbird. I would honestly love to be the proud owner of either however, for the purpose of making the distinction I hope this analogy served well. The truth is each depends on the other for enthusiasm. In the instances of the new to end users not so new to developers web log development web services API is researched extensively in order to achieve successful XML-RPC components.

Quick Term Glossary before I continue:

API = application program interface
HTTP = hyper text transfer protocol
XML= extensible markup language
RPC= remote procedure call
SOAP= simple object access protocol
WSDL= web services description language
UDDI= universal description, discovery, and integration

SOAP was designed to replace XML-RPC, however for that to really happen it is going to take a while if it ever completely does. I do a lot of research, until I am kicked out of groups for talking too much. Most of the development groups I participate and monitor are for API and XML-RPC. I also interact in XML dev groups where SOAP is intended, guess, which one is less antagonistic? You guessed the older wiser API/XML-RPC of course, it could be argued that this group has more specified goals for developments regarding web log user interface and development standardization’s for next generation deployment. Likewise, the ever-inseparable RSS syndication groups that in turn have an additional web service application function for the front-end data as it relates to the back end API for publishing and transferring.

Initiatives like eCommerce, global b2b and b2c relations, and global media are the definitive means and ends to WSDL and UDDI either way you slice the pie.

XML saves the day for user end applications in the global market place where, communication is at its most abundance and vulnerability. You have multi language users, multi currency exchanging, and multi shipping requirements; not to mention global marketing management for regional to individual preferences, interests, and demographics.

Did I mention that all that must then boil down internally then departmentally for customer information quality assurance (i.e., can you hear me now?). XML does not really require any further justification to continue. It gets a standing ovation. New developments may one day be able to phase out XML as a software patch in proportion to phasing out the need for patches in general, but not its remaining independent functions successes.

Think B2B – B2C – C2C as the remainder. The more efficiently businesses communicate with each other and then with customers the more likely that customer to customer communication will reflect satisfaction and loyalty. Business should likewise be encouraging C2C within their relationship dynamics. Media to Consumer and its reciprocal Consumer to Media relations is another strong area of development focus.

XML Native Databases pose an interesting question to the nature of relational database management systems or RDBMS. The idea is to not only collect and connect large quantities of relevant data but to also be able to compile and access it with ease and efficiency. The best bet it to keep competition out of the thinking where integrating systems and software is concerned. At this level it can only serve to distract, confuse, and create chaos. When considering integration the better mind set would be to seek harmony and integrity within all DBMS relational or otherwise and apply analytics whenever possible in order to consolidate information for its on content relevancy. XML was not meant to replace or nullify RDBMS but streamline them functionally. To be utilized as needed when needed not as a necessary preventive to a questionable area of concern. Remember that IT can only assist people, IT cannot replace them. The process of strategically standardizing order and organizations begins with the self then, executives, management, human resources, employees then departments and internal departmental exchange to customer service and product development as a structure of cycling in an industry.

Refocusing IT, it is always a great idea to seriously evaluate when, where, and why upgrades are needed. Sometimes it is more relevant to insure that one is making the most of pre-existing software and services. Consider “When in doubt, find out”, CIO mantra in this evaluation.

The developer’s role is often a curious one as they must be innovative enough to develop these technologies yet analytical enough to recommend the best strategies of implementation. The goal of integrating systems is to assimilate the layers of applications and their data. Greater standardizing expectation in some cases will take time as hardware systems and their software may often require a case by case focus for developers. In turn, developer to developer relations must be responsive in order to get all of the knowledge and information in the open for all network system types. In this way it will be easier to create one solid solution for every type of network solution query.

Web service Vendor Leaders in Development Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Sun are often at odds which creates consumer uncertainty but provides loads of opportunity for independent developers to shine. This is a good area to begin exchanging some healthy athletic competition. Giving small vendors a chance to illustrate that when it comes to being innovative hands on is still the best way to catch a bull. I am still a champion of .NET developments for developers and end users alike.

In this instance the all the controversy is good because it brings the necessity for open source systems back into clear focus for developers and businesses in the interest of keeping organized throughout. Popular Open – Source databases are MySQL and PostgreSQL. The constant source of confusion for OSDMS is how to incorporate competitive thinking. I have done my best to assist with some key ideas in this article beyond the general aspects the best I can add, is to control that type of thinking for when it is actually relevant to profitable solutions strategies.

The key to successful thinking is to stay informed and keep a watchful eye on the world around you. When the time is right to tie in new ideas and technologies it will come together. This in mind staying informed and maintaining your knowledge base will likewise, prevent wasted time, money, and investments in short, information management makes it possible to avoid or opt-out of the ‘wild goose chase’.

2003-06-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

DiversITy
What is the key to successful IT developments? Getting everyone involved.

Most often IT developments are created to assist Marketing and Sales initiatives. Now, however, things have changed and IT needs to focus on marketing and selling itself.

It would seem fairly simple to apply technologies created to increase marketing and sales, yet developers are often unaware who their target markets are after all developers spend most of their time developing and engineering software application.

How does the real world feel about IT? The key to selling and furthering IT developments is in fact information. Information on what IT is how it breaks down what it means to the work place and human race alike? It is often difficult to interpret what this information technology is really about beyond using technology to acquire information.

The Internet is often used but how often do those surfing the Internet really stop to contemplate what it took to develop it so efficiently? The truth no one organization or individual is exempt from benefiting from the Internet and software development applications.

Stuff I found researching this topic:

This one was the most unusual Marketing Course class assignment for ‘Technology Transfer Research’. In the project the instructor outlines the step by step approach for students to research:

Innovations behind software developments, gathering information on technology and the market, key definitions for business and technical attributes, B2B (business to business) market place, communication as a tool to establish relevancy, market compatibility, and key definitions for the various stages of development they may locate in their research.

The final requirements for this project are to define a scale-up risk associated with moving technologies into the marketplace and finally providing a recommendation based on the findings available on the technology.

This course project outlines I use as an example to illustrate the numerous layers to integrating technologies out to the marketplace as being more that mere intuition. It is an arduous task in and of itself.

Current events in mind, it likewise beneficial for consumer to meet developers halfway but researching these developments as they find needs and interest increasing in their own lives and communities.

February 13, 2003 Targeting Hispanics and African Americans Online; this article report discusses that of the men surveyed African American media consumption was the highest in general but the lowest on-line. To continue their studies produced findings that when it came to information and media resource the internet was preferred for Caucasian and Asian men and lower for African American and Latin men. Though in general the internet market is growing steadily, the percentage rates when grouped illustrate a stronger interest in the market for Asian /Pacific Islander and Caucasian. Another finding was that this ratio was the same for online shopping/consumerism. Though there were no concluded findings to support why.

February 24, 2003 Internet shopping reluctance by African Americans and Hispanics; an analytical attempts to retrieve information on eCommerce resistance. Findings were reportedly from Knowledge Networks/Statistical Research and the US Department of Commerce. Still with no solid explanation for why.

February 27, 2003 African Internet Audience Grows; Nielsen / net ratings showed that African American internet audience had increased 8% (10 million) surfers to include a large increase on DSL use for internet access.

March 25, 2003 Two Thirds of Kids Using the Internet; New statistics study children participation on the internet in proportion to the percentages of those with internet access in the home. Some of the more revealing aspects of this particular study showed, that there was a definite link between children using the internet provided it was available in their homes. Again these studies revealed the more Caucasian children had Internet access in the home than did African American or Hispanic children. Another thing I found interesting was that beginning ages for this study where 2-5 in this age group the margin was close to equals with all races of children. The gap slowly increased for ages 6-12 and 13-17 where African American and Hispanic children showed less interest or involvement with age. The increase in using the Internet away from home or school as increased with increased availability in places like public libraries from 20 to 60 percent from 2000 to 2003.

March 27, 2003 Internet Population to Max out at 80% in the US; Analyst for overall Internet saturation in the US is now expected to max at the 75-80% margin. The finds in this study reveal race and age not with standing simply why Americans are opting out of the Internet.

No computer 28%
No interest 23%
Don’t know how to use it 15.4%
Too expensive 9.6%
Fear of technology 2.6%
Privacy/security issues .8%
Not appropriate for children 1.4%
Computer not good enough 3.4%
Consumes too much time 3.6%

All but two areas of this finding are immediately reversible now that the reasons for lack of participation have been distinguished. The remaining areas of difficulty are No interest, Fear, Security issues. These areas are challenging because they are non-specific as they are case by case.

In some respects I think that these areas will dissipate when the other reversible areas are addressed and reversed.

The irony of affordability is that it is easier to find affordable hardware, software, and ISP services on line. The final statistics of this study cover the percentage of PC Households from 2000-2007 (speculated) and selling prices retail for PC systems from 2000-2006 showing a slight decrease until 2006 then a sharp increase anticipated.

Article on the top 20 ways to increase the life of your PC
http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml?id=r00620021014pit01.htm&fromtm=e106-3

Final thoughts on this topic, I have had a personal interest in computing from the time I they were available in the home in the 80’s. My first computer was a Texas Instrument. I even took classes on programming in summer school on a Commodore 64. In college I got all A’s in CSI courses. The funny thing is my brother sold my computer, so I never consistently had a computer at home. We had an apple lab in Jr. High briefly. Yet my interest in this field never subsided neither did my interest in Economics. I sound like the poster child for nerds but truthfully I never was. I was always outspoken often being disciplined and was not encouraged to pursue my interests seriously even once, yet I manage to find my way back in this field which has become an industry. Second point, I am not Caucasian or male, the bottom line is that Marketing statistics are limited to just that, they are not absolutes or gospel. They are just to give a general idea of what areas may need more encouragement to increase participation or less.
Statistics are circumstantial because what is true today could easily reverse or differ tomorrow because of circumstance. Interests should always be pursued and innovations are always relevant. Technology does in fact fill a void, assist students, households, and businesses of all sizes functions with greater efficiency.

*Statistical information gathered from miscellaneous surfing and the Center for Media Research

Article on Affordable PC search results:
http://msn.zdnet.com/zdfeeds/msncobrand/reviews/0,13828,2910317,00.html

2003-05-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

XML – Can you dig IT?
An explanation into all the hype surrounding XML’s contribution to software.

I wanted to write about XML for every day people because I found that over all the information available and insight of developer’s would do well to impress consumers who are no longer in a place of “blind trust” where IT is concerned.

I wanted to address the fact that developers working with and for the integration and optimization of XML are doing so, so that consumer’s may find greater satisfaction in their software investments.

Yet and still this is an exciting industry, even skeptics (of which there are many) cannot really stay away from IT. The main reason being, that the possibilities boggle the mind and stimulate the imagination with an unparalleled sense of enthusiasm.

XML may not presently have the power to convert you, but it should at least lift you out of non believer status and make you curious again as to what the future of developments may hold for personal and business applications.

I also wanted to mention the results of the most recent AI (artificial intelligence) publishings that I have found. When I think AI immediately I get sci-fi images swirling around in my mind and I have remind myself that AI as it relates to data-mining is a good thing. As it enables large amounts of data collections too, which would not only possess analytic functionality but also incorporate complex memory retrieval and associations within the analytics. You’ve got to admit that is impressive if only from the developer end. I am not certain what something like this will do in the mass market as now more than ever people are expressing a strong passion to do their own thinking and speaking. If the final product of AI is solid there will be an audience to follow. If it consolidates the data-mining requirements as a web service like system. Any thoughts or concerns on this one? My response, don’t be intimidated by the sound.

Most of these developer tools, however, are made to simplify the workload of large corporations and streamline the evolving workload of small businesses so that real time business may be had evenly throughout various industries as required to address management and customer needs alike. Who likes waiting around for so and so to get back from vacation to complete a transaction likewise, who wants to be prevented from attending an important event because business cannot be done without them. This type of technology makes it possible to incorporate more of the realities of the human existence without interfering with the equally important demanding 24 hour a business world.

XML as it relates to structured data, unstructured data, and databases.

Why the sudden tie in? Because while the term XML does not have the power to evoke the same stimulation to the imagination, XML is every bit as intoxicating and relevant to the every day demands for efficient technology. These areas seem to be growing every day.

As you know, structured data is the term used to relate to data that organized within specified rows and columns, though structured data does not necessarily have to be in the form of database content or spreadsheet formatting. These are after all just frames created to express some organized way to contain structured data requirements. Unstructured data is often synonymous with content stored and published in MySQL but may also take the form of metadata (data about data) or simply regarded or understood as such whenever one is in the position of experiencing large chunks of information like say text books or resource documents. Because there is only minimal organizational efforts implemented the data itself may still be regarded as unstructured because context and circumstance retain the ability to affect it.

XML as an optimizer for structured and unstructured data because lets face it, it is an instinct to explore the results of our explorations and quite frankly with good results. XML makes interaction, manipulation, and analytics more efficient by not allowing data to lose its shape, format, or original display while it is in the process of being explored. Basically allowing for the ideal situations for the enhanced learning process. How many times of you opted to not pursue a curiosity about something because you thought it would change, break, or harm it in some way? XML developments regard this instance and enable the process to continue without the side effects.

All the while databases and spreadsheets still have a special unbreakable bond with data that won’t be damaged by optimizations created outside of its framework and storage capabilities. Which may likewise be enhanced with XML collaborations.

Database duality explanation to shed light on the benefits of XML (as needed).

Think of databases as you would bodies of water some are self-contained, like ponds and lakes with very little external influence impacting the existing ecosystems thriving beneath the surface. In this scenario, over time and predictable routine there will inevitable generate a demand for something to “happen” in order for these ecosystems to thrive with the same energy, less the pond and every organism within it stagnate and become obsolete unto itself.

XML is much like a filtration system that may be used to resemble more fluid relational database systems that function with the constant activity of rivers and oceans. These occurrences sometimes are ironic for too much activity is as detrimental as a lack there of, databases systems function in real world situations in much the same way. The development and integration of XML within the ecosystems of database content management, collections, group collaborations, and retrieval systems are the reasons why XML may be used as needed to maintain the balance of information so that it is constantly current and consistently reliable or useful.

With the duality in mind it is important for users to distinguish between database types. There are front-end application requirements and there are back end requirements.

MySQL would be a great example of the back end variety. Because it may be used for “front end” components it is often mistaken for a cure all for database requirements.

Access would be a great example of the front-end variety. Unlike MySQL you cannot make the same mistake where usage is concerned. Back end software is a developer tool and front-end software is an administrative tool.

Another duality example would likewise be relational databases versus flat databases. A common misconception would be then that front-end database systems are flat, while back end are relational. This is not so, both MySQL and Access have relational capabilities (connecting data that is related between multiple database tables. Flat database tables are basically independent Excel and Access may be used as flat tables. Likewise, most web database existing to date like eCriteria.net are flat database tables and they are intended to specifically be used as front end applications for general data collections requirements like contacts, polls, FAQ, and the like. The difference is that Access and Excel are more evolved to expand to accommodate more complex (relational) requirements intuitively.

So why the need for web databases if software is so much more efficient? The answer simply, is that typically in situations where a database is meant to be published (made accessible to visitors). Flat database solutions are required. Therefore, web databases meet the required database needs as well as the publishing and hosting requirements readily. To clarify, this is the premise to web databases but not its limited focus this concept may work as efficiently for intranet or group collaborations efforts within multiple departments for the same effect.

That should make sense, after all what site visitor is going to spend hours filling in relational database Q & A? That is an inner office or administrative demand and responsibility. Additionally, it is also the premise to CRM and Knowledge Management systems. That is to optimize the data transfer and transcription of customer or visitor entered data into company or organization entered data so that for every demand there is a real time response of supply and vice versa. I like to call it data assimilation. To touch on where data-mining fits in for the purpose of closure are the algorithms for the analytical results where data has been collected, stored, and needs to then be interpreted efficiently for relevancy. Data-mining as an “IT” development (back end developer focus) is evolving rapidly in these times and becoming much more user friendly and comprehensive for administrative applications. My prediction for AI in the future of business will be that it will preserve data-mining’s complex requirements for companies that stay for generations.

For example, a 100-year-old company. AI would enable a company of that age to cultivate its experience and data collections from inception. So that, trends of the times and the evolutions of societies may further enable them to intuit next phases of development, their role in the ever changing world, as well as capitalize (get the most use out of) the depth of their experience.

Want more?

Two great articles I have found on discussion of XML Database evolutions and expansion concepts are:

http://www.db2mag.com/db_area/archives/2003/q1/webdev.shtml
http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2003/03/05/tmrdb.html

2003-05-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

XML – What does “IT” do?
A break down

If you know that all programming functions are based on “language” scripting then it is easy to explain XML developments up to present day applications.

If you don’t, here is an explanation that should get you on the right track to learning and exploring on your own with the massive information that is out there for consumption.

The “language “ used to program and create programming software varies from server type/brand and developer expertise or preference but to put it simply the language used for programming was created in order to communicate and standardize communication (like any language developed for human to human interaction).

Scripting Languages are used to communicate instructions and requests to and from the servers themselves. Then there are programming languages to communicate code based on the scripting language being used. So that everything functions in one harmonious flow that generates any given web page or site hosted on the “inter” or “intra” net.

XML is an eXtensible Markup Language literally, so to define its meaning would likewise literally be, the language created to denote functions which “extend”(extensible) and “increase” the value (markup) of he programming language (language) it is being used with. This thought in mind, XML is also free to work within sets of programming languages from scripting to HTML to text documents like this page. HTML stands for hypertext markup language and provides communication of human readable text, images, and design layout to and from publishing software. Likewise, XML may be used with human readable text directly for the purpose of syndication or “sending” a document or structured data to another location or software to then be reinterpreted back in to human readable text but in the exact format that it was sent (nice touch if you ask me).

XML, is meant to be used in order to create smooth and efficient communications the key ingredient to web services also. To protect and preserve what is been programmed or typed so that it may be delivered and interpreted correctly else where or within other operating systems.

Q: Why is XML in the spotlight?
A: Mostly because the more XML may be developed, the more areas which, its usefulness and functionality may be applied to in turn create more useful and functional programming tools, software features, etc. You see based on the method by which XML was created it is necessary to discover all of its abilities so that it may be used efficiently and likewise depending on its stamina, evolved or lead to new language development tools.

Q: What part does Microsoft (for example) play in XML’s achievements?
A: Speaking presently Microsoft is launching an new version of MS Office which will include and enable XML in its features. In all likelihood, this will set a positive and forward example of XML and increase awareness and the developments of functionality. Essentially, Microsoft will be the one to release XML features to the world at large beyond the developers’ scope. This will serve to provide more insight into its developments.

To Quote,” Most vendors are becoming much more XML-friendly and consequently it [xml] is changing the nature of applications vendors business. If Microsoft continues to lace its Office applications with XML, most users will have more seamless flow of information between the heavy-duty back-office financial applications and desktop applications like Word and Excel.” (from the article “Microsoft’s unified app. Goal comes into view” http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/02/24/08ibmlotus_1.html)

What this means for the Business Owner, Consumer, and Developer alike:

The only thing better than advanced know how is perfected advanced know how. XML is the beginning to this very endeavor. That is to say the beginning to furthering IT developments so that what is produced finally is totally reliable and functional “quality” software applications and integrations initiatives.

To list but not limit some of XML’s uses and accomplishments:
ü B2B
ü Data Mining Developments
ü Web Services
ü Publishing
ü Syndication
ü Database Developments
ü Internet/ inter business applications
ü Intranet/ intra business applications
ü Content Management Systems
ü Software import/export features
ü Wireless Developments (PDA, mobile, and digital imaging) import, export, and publishing capabilities
ü Enterprise applications integrations

There are variants of XML like vXML and many others for more specific requirements. The key to understanding all of them is rooted in understanding the concept of XML. Once done then over time all these developments will be cohesive and coherent to any reader.

XML is a favorite topic for business applications because of the greater efficiency and flexibility it offers which in turn caters to the slogan or theme of businesses “better results and less cost”.

To be fair, there is speculation that XML is being over hyped as the super solution. The truth of this depends on the perspective. Likewise the only real test of certainty is the one of time. If it is not the super solution it may very well be the parent or sibling of the super solution quest.

The Wrap up:

Oasis and UBL; Organization for the Advancement of structured Information Standards or OASIS and Universal Business Language or UBL are terms which are frequently associated with XML Developments, news, information, and resources.

The reason being is that more often than not XML is and will be for the time being the underlying protocol to these initiatives. Therefore is constantly being evaluated and exercised by OASIS for the involvement or standardization of UBL.

XML Schema’s – defined as the general idea of a document that describes and constrains as set of XML document instances. An XML Schema is itself an XML document, however, its position is used to further enhance an XML document. Like XML itself Schema’s will continue to evolve and be redefined but presently maintains 2 specifications of “archetype” and “data type”. Essentially, the primary purpose is the same building value added applications for web sites, improving security, accuracy, and flexibility for XML applications.

Resources for more information:
www.w3.org, http://xml.org, and www.cafeconleche.org

Article(s):
www.eweek.com/print_article/0,3668,a=36322,00.asp
www.ncc.co.uk/ncc/myitadviser/archive/issue21/government.cfm
http://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/200x/2003/03/16/XML-Prog

XML and HTML
http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2003/01/22/deviant.html

How to become a certified XML developer
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/xml/library/x-xmlcert/

2003-05-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

Web Services: CreativITy
Keeping IT real

See also; Web Services: Analysis for the rest of us

It's been said that web services stand for something that only developers can really understand.
In order to change that, its duality must be acknowledged by developers and front end users alike.

Ultimately, the scientific or biological definition of a web service is just one thing involving the structuring of
XML, HTTP, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI with reference to "web service's Universally Agreed Specifications (UAS) for:
structured data, exchange, messaging, discovery of services, interface description, and business process orchestration".
However, what web services can do when launched into real world settings is too, numerous to list and far greater in
omnifarious and omnivorous terms than originally anticipated.

Some phrases quickly becoming synonymous with web service achievements are: EAI
(enterprise application integration), STP (straight through processing), SOA (service oriented architecture),
and RTE (real time enterprise) but these are only a few and there will be others for different reasons.

Web services are destined to do more for Information Technology and Internet Technology simply because
they can fill any void or erroneous situation with a solution that may then be built on. While enterprises are
already enjoying the benefit of web services, I think that Small Businesses will be the most affected by the their
evolving presence because of the integration ease and pricing factors for the efficiency that they provide.
These factors are already serving to change the way Small Businesses evolve as well as, standardize the way
eBusinesses parallel them.

IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, BEA (Large Software Vendors) Amazon.com
(Businesses with a strong and thriving Internet Presence), and countless independent
software developers (incorporating technical knowledge and creativity within software
applications already existing) are working collectively to create web services to work within pre-existing
software frames and foundations that will likewise function within browser requirements and mobile units
like cell phones and PDA's (personal digital assistants like Palm).

Current XML and Java developments will also further the shape and usefulness of web services
as they mature in the market. The exciting aspects of web services in the moment are the
fact that they are available to put to use immediately and like other elements of luxury and
refinement will only improve with age.

The main focus of development from within software development industries is the constant
communication and creative flow. Development articles within the industry also prepare, organize,
and respond to the latest facts and findings as they occur to keep developers competitive in the spirit of
athleticism yet collectively on the "same page" in terms of organizing information and inspiration.
So that "re-inventing" the wheel syndrome does not erupt to disrupt the progress of these "disruptive technologies" forces.

In some respects, communication is improving as a result of web-based tools like groups, forums,
emails, and instant messaging. Personally, I have notice that this method of communication creates
environments that encapsulate creativity and analytics with consistency and constructiveness.
Real communication actually improves once one adjusts to the new medium.

Like businesses, Educational Institutions are changing in light of these new offerings. Harvard Law
and web logs for an example are setting new standards for Universities, developers, and bloggers as
they relate to real time data system requirements, costs, and content management integration.

Web services benefit every day desktop users by offering the ease of integration and customization
to make uses more reliable, attractive, and fun. Once earthlings (every day users) begin mastering
how to use software, integrating web services becomes something that is liberating and independent.
This is how generations become inspired to take technology to new places. Likewise, web services also
provide quality technologies to those with no experience or knowledge of the software with the same added
convenience. Does it get better than a win-win situation?!

Web services and the media

Do web services need to be validated or justified? Honestly, no, I don't really think it's necessary,
however, the presence of critics, skeptics, and "trendy" labeling does add suspicion to its reputation.
Like most things the only test that is truly revealing is that of time. The tests that determine the likelihood of
passing "The Time" test are all but conclusively affirmative that IT will.

Any solid research done on behalf of web services reveals profundity beyond coincidence and
while it's not Nirvana, "virtually" speaking it's the next best thing.

What is on the web service horizon for consumers?

· Wireless
· Mobile
· Audio components and sound card adaptations
· Syndication
· Front-End Database Components
· Design Templates Integration
· PDA Choreography

Need visuals? Here are some infrastructure illustration examples taken from:
http://www.sys-con.com/xml/articleprint.cfm?id=575

Infrastructure for web based applications
Distributed infrastructure for Web Services
Web Services used to implement Business Logic

Suggested Article for more Real World applications information:
http://www.cio.com/archive/040102/real.html
http://www.nwfusion.com/cgi-bin/mailto/x.cgi
http://www.nwfusion.com/techinsider/2003/0310techinsider1.html

Suggested article for the basic breakdown to the present moment:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2132086,00.html

2003-05-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Advantages for Using FrontPage
...maybe this HTML editor has some hidden advantages

by Robin Nobles and Dave Barry

Ever since I've been doing SEO work, I've always griped and
complained about FrontPage and all the extraneous
code it puts in the < head > section of the page, etc.

Then recently, I had the opportunity to visit with a group
of advanced search engine optimizers,
and I was shocked to find that many
of them use FrontPage and love it.

FrontPage??!!

The first thing I learned is that there are ways to keep
out the extraneous code! With FrontPage, you can
remove the code, but it keeps comes back again
and again and again. But, there's a way to get
rid of it forever.

How to Get Rid of Extraneous Code and Headers

Dave Barry, Webmaster of SmartCertify Direct, explains how:

FrontPage 97 or 98 users:

Click on Start, then Find, then Files or Folders. Search your hard
drive (generally your C drive) for a file named frontpg.ini.
Click on the file.

When it opens, look for a line that says, "Version 3.0."

Add this line under Version 3.0:

"ReformatHtml"="0"

The next time you use FrontPage, remove the extraneous
code and headers, and they won't come back.

FrontPage 2000, 2002, or XP users:

Look at the menu bar at the top of the Open Web. Click on Tools,
then Page Options.

You'll see an option box. Under HTML Source, at the top of the
page under General, you'll have this choice:

When saving file(s):

Preserve existing HTML or
Reformat using the rules below

If you choose Preserve existing HTML, and if you delete any
extraneous code and headers, you won't see the code or headers
on your pages again.

Dave added:

"To disable the HTML changing of FrontPage 2000, a registry entry is
also needed. This attachment (NoReformat.zip) will do it automatically.
Just open the file with Notepad to verify its authenticity before using it.

"The attachment and registry entry must occur on the server.

"Or, if you want to edit the registry manually, here is the code:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\Web Server Extensions\All Ports]
"ReformatHtml"="0"

Add-In that Generates META Tags

FrontPage also has an Add-in that will delete META tags
without going into the source view. It's called META Tag Maker
2002, and it will create and manage META tags through one dialogue
box, without having to go into source view.

http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/downloads/addin/
searchdetail.asp?aid=80

In fact, the FrontPage site has an amazing number of Add-ins for
FrontPage that are free for the taking.
http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/downloads/addin/default.asp

Some of the more popular Add-ins include:

Multimedia/Special FX, Windows Media Add-in, that will easily
embed audio and visual into your Web pages;

Clear Teal Template, that is a 16-page easy-to-use Web template
that lets you easily create a Web site;

Scripting/Database Tools, J-Bots Plus 2002 Trial. According to
the FrontPage site, J-Bots components make FrontPage Web
sites more customized by adding JavaScript-enabled features, but
you don't have to know how to write code or cut and paste. Simply
fill in dialog boxes, click Generate, and the JavaScript is created for you.

Other Advantages for Using FrontPage

Server side includes are easy with FrontPage. Before we go on,
let me explain what "server side includes" are.

Server side includes (SSI's) generate parts of Web pages dynamically
on the "server side." They allow you to add customization features to
your Web pages, such as an e-mail form. Unlike other forms of
dynamic content, or content that's created on the fly, server side includes
have a normal URL that's easy for users to remember and doesn't create
problems for the engines.

In other words, SSI's embed special commands into an HTML
document that tells the server to perform specific actions when a
user requests the page. The server then creates the Web page on
the fly by merging files or inserting requested information.

How might you use SSI's on your Web page? Let's say you want
to add a form to your Web site for your users to complete to sign up
for your newsletter. You could create the form using SSI's.

For more information on creating SSI's with FrontPage, visit:
http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/using/default.htm and click
on FrontPage Server Extensions.

Dave Barry, who recently created two major sections of the
Dell Web site using FrontPage, manages 40 to 50 Web sites at
SmartCertify, and he easily moves back and forth between those
sites using FP. With that many sites, there is a lot of duplicity,
and he can effortlessly share objects with FP or edit multiple Web sites.
With FrontPage, you can cut and paste between
the sites, use shared borders, and easily drag
and drop files, thus saving a lot of time versus
handling each site separately.

If you've ever wanted to experiment with Cascading Style Sheets
(CSS), FrontPage also makes using them a breeze. You can even create
DHTML using FrontPage.

Dave created a video on how to copy and paste, how to use
Cascading Style Sheets, and how to use shared borders with Front Page:
http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/frontpage.asp

(Author Note: When viewing these videos, make sure you have
the latest version of Microsoft Windows Media Player. To
download the latest version (7.1), click here
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
scid=kb;en-us;Q299321). Also, I found that I was unable
to view the videos if my firewall (Zone Alarm) was running.)

Another benefit to using FrontPage is being able to create
virtual directories with ease. As you know, when you specify
a home directory, all of the subdirectories beneath than home
directory automatically become subdirectories of the Web site as
well. However, you can also designate a folder located elsewhere
on the system as a subdirectory of the site by creating a virtual
directory out of it. A virtual directory is a directory or folder on a
server that is not in the actual server directory structure.

Again, Dave created a video on how to create virtual directories
using Front Page: http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/iis.asp

If you want to create a database, it's no problem with FrontPage.
It will virtually create a database for you and import data without
any database knowledge at all. The program works with Access,
SQL, Oracle, and ODBC, and you can set up an SEC-compliant
database within 30 seconds and begin working with asp pages
with no prior knowledge whatsoever.

Click here for Dave's video on how to create a database
using FrontPage: http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/dwizard.asp

To Lee Davies of #1 Internet Marketing
(http://www.1-internet-marketing.co.nz), the main advantage
to FrontPage is that you can so easily manage all your html
pages from the folders section.

For example, "If you were to rename an image, which is
something that needs to be done when optimizing, it will
rename the links to the images from every page," he explains.

What I kept hearing again and again as I interviewed users of
FrontPage is that FrontPage saves you time in creating Web pages,
because it's so easy to use. Don Hammond with DonOMite
(http://www.donomite.com) explains,

"Straight HTML pages are a breeze with FP. I know a lot of
programmers scoff at using it, but it means I can crank out a
basic HTML page in seconds rather than minutes. And when
I get paid by the job, it means more $/hr to me."

Dawn Rowlett with Web Submission Services
(http://www.internetmarketingwebsites.com) explains further:

"From the first day that I was introduced to FrontPage, I was instantly
able to catch on to some of the many features because it was so easy
to use. I think the most beneficial factor to the program for me was
that I was able to go in and design a page, knowing nothing at all
about HTML. I could include hyperlinks, tables, images, change
colors, backgrounds, insert text, create paragraphs, etc. with absolutely
no background in coding. I was able to do all of this on my first day
with the program!

"I remember one time in the beginning when I was involved
in a discussion with a designer who was using another HTML
editor and was completely stuck on the coding of how to create
a simple table. My first thought at the time was, using Front Page,
that is such a simple task."

Many professional SEOs also like to use FrontPage because it's a
program that's simple enough for their clients to use. So, when the
SEO turns the site back over to the client, the client can easily make
changes with FrontPage without having to know HTML. As Tom
Altman with RSM McGladrey, Inc. (http://www.rsmmcgladrey.com)
explains,

"Most of the folks already have the office suite, so they are used to
using Word and the like. FrontPage is not that much different, and
it lets them maintain their own site."
Make FrontPage Work the way YOU Want it to!

At the Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions Resource Kit, you'll
find links to all of the possible ways to make FrontPage work for
you, instead of the default values after installation.

http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/frontpage/
wpp/serk/apndx03.htm

Take a Free Course in using FrontPage!

Dave Barry at SmartCertify Direct (http://www.smartcertify.com)
created a free course in using FrontPage. Simply register at the
following URL, and take the free course:
http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/register-seo.asp

In Conclusion

As you've seen, some very experienced Web designers and
search engine optimizers use FrontPage as their
"editor of choice." Its ease of use and variety of ready-made
templates make it a program that's easy for beginners yet has
the functionality that advanced designers need.

It also allows the designer or SEO to get a page designed
quickly and easily, and time adds up to money for a busy SEO.

As Nancy Nelson with Search by Design! (http://www.search-by-design.com)
said, "Is it a perfect tool? Certainly not, but FrontPage combined
with minor HTML knowledge can take you a long way..."

So FrontPage users, don't be ashamed to admit that you use
FrontPage! Some of the best Web designers in the industry use it,
with good reason.

Special Thanks to Dave Barry

Dave Barry with SmartCertify created the videos, screen shots,
and free tutorial available in this article. Plus, he gave me the work
arounds for getting rid of extraneous code, and he verified the
accuracy of the content. Thank you Dave ? there's no way I
could have created this article without your help.

-------------------------------------------------

Dave Barry is a professional Webmaster, Web designer,
programmer, and search engine optimizer, all rolled up into
one amazingly talented man who works for SmartCertify Direct.
(http://www.smartcertify.com) He has also begun working
with Search Engine Workshops to put on "hands on" training
workshops at locations across the globe.
(http://www.searchengineworkshops.com)
Dave recently set up Computer Concierge International,
which is a full service networking and Internet solutions
company.

Robin Nobles is the Director of Training for the Academy of Web
Specialists, where she has taught several thousand students in her
online search engine marketing courses during the past several years.
She is also the content provider for GRSeo (Search Engine Optimizer)
software. Her latest books, Web Site Analysis and Reporting and
Streetwise Maximize Web Site Traffic, can be ordered through Amazon.
Robin has partnered with John Alexander to form Search Engine
Workshops, which offers 2-, 3-, and 5-day "hands on" workshop
held at various locations across the globe. Visit Search Engine
Workshops to learn more.

See also:

http://www.searchengineworkshops.com/articles/FrontPage.html

http://www.hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/teachingtool/html.html

2003-05-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

Embracing Databases Part IV
Conclusion: "So, What's IT got to do with me?"

Embracing Databases Part III

In an effort to bring the entirety of this four-part database article home to you, we are ready to tie in some of the meatier components to database offerings and MS Office's developments that address the need and use for them.

MS Office tools provide the functional programming necessary to complete a multitude of organizational tasks with the final being publishing requirements. As stated earlier there are aspects of publishing and presentation features that are not altogether relevant for personal use. However, as you become more aware of these software tools and reach new levels of comfort while interacting with them these features will all at once begin to make themselves useful for the creative aspects of information collecting and maintaining and in essences serve to sell themselves at no additional cost or tutorial.

For the list of Microsoft Office tools and their uses, visit:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/using/howto.asp

Another great "cross-over" feature offered in both Access and Excel that may be used with equal skill at home or at the office is the PivotTable capabilities. Great for dealing with budgets and taxes!
http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/2002/articles/xlconPTExamples.aspx

Merging into the fast lane; using databases in more, demanding settings like business administration and management applications is a pretty well covered topic. However, in this instance I wanted to bring it up in order to further the idea behind all the media coverage and what it actually means to earthlings.

The most common database file types for business environments are:

1.Contact Management
2.Time and Billing
3.Event Management
4.Resource Scheduling
5.Order Entry
6.Expenses and Expense Reports
7.Ledgers (mailing lists, contacts, customers, employees, products, orders, order details, and suppliers)
8.Customer/Client Biographical Information (names, purchases, frequency, interests, money spent over time or students, courses, times, instructors, units, books, fees paid) More complex record keeping that was discussed earlier as relevant in large active families scenarios where you have lots of data (information) on one person and likewise several people that fit in this category.

Access was created to readily accommodate these occurrences and requirements from the simple to the complex and back again. Bringing up Access, new to be release versions of MS Office notably Office 11 will introduce a new breed of functionality. The most note-worthy in this instance would be the incorporation of XML. XML stands for extended markup language. If you are not familiar with XML that is ok because it is still evolving like everything else. XML within MS Office settings should make it easier to transfer data to numerous software and publishing resources. For new users I would advise not tackling XML until you have exhausted all the other possibilities. One because it won't have much benefit until you have the experience to realize what it is intended to address and Two because by this time the beta versions will have improved these features so that it will be ready for earthling interaction.

XML looks like this:

As you can see it's not so strange. It's standard text with HTML tags wrapped around it. This language is used to make applications communications more efficient. Basically, taking human language and translating it to a language that software applications and tools may better understand to maintain formatting and structure for various types of content. In Access it will give "" tags to data fields, like the forward slash at the end tells the system that you are finishing something.

Want more information? Visit:
http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/2002/articles/xlOpenXML.aspx

Structure is the key ingredient to desktop database applications. The data or information itself may be structured or unstructured. Structured data is information from relational/complex databases. Unstructured data is typically the more generalized or flat information like emails, files, intranet sites groups or chunks of collected data that has been refined to greater structure. To clear it up somewhat, Excel Spreadsheets contain unstructured data. While, Access Databases may be used for unstructured data it may go beyond that to also include structured data. These terms may also apply to more exhuberant database software developments just so you are aware that databases come in many forms and complete different types of tasks though fundamental they are defined as one thing.

MySQL is a common Microsoft software application that is used within websites, search engine applications, and web based environments where structured and unstructured data may coexist to create one type of resource page(s). Access was designed to be the desktop version of MySQL. This is why it is so powerful.

Most direct users and buyers of MySQL software are developers or those with growing knowledge of software to apply their own applications. It is becoming easier for an earthling to achieve this level of skill so stay with me on this.
With software purchases, let your level of skill, experience, budget, and long/short term needs be your guide. When you are ready to take on MySQL you will know it.

Finding FrontPage applications when you have mastered MS Office features, chances are FrontPage will be the final tool to tackle. It is the publishing tool that will elevate your data and presence on the web out into the spotlight for any or many to view. This is when you will require or begin hearing the most about MySQL in your personal life. By this time you will also know or be in a position to start better understanding HTML code. You won't have to know it to use FrontPage but you will be able to see what the code looks like and how it exists to work with text for web publishing because every FrontPage page you work with has the HTML Tab at the bottom of the frame. Clicking it will allow you to see the HTML format for a page you have created, this will include special editor features like highlights or bold text etc. This would be a great time to start learning the basics and take some mental notes for the future. By then you will also understand why XML is so great (hint: because it gives systems more to go on for structure and formatting than just HTML by itself. It's much like the difference between hearing, "Joe left." And hearing, " Joe left about fifteen minutes ago. He went to the store to buy orange juice."

It makes software easier to like when you can see how easy it is to personify! Anyway, this method of building your presence on the web is the most independent. There are other ways, however, as I have said before, MS Office provides the type of style that gives you training wheels until you are ready to go it alone. One note there is to date no existing application that will do the thinking for you. So for the time being, well into the next 40 years or more, you will have to learn certain things about software and programming. You won't have to be responsible for most of it but in order to get the most use out of web based applications you will have to learn the fundamentals. My advice is to do this as directly, inexpensively, and logically as possible. (trust your instincts with MS Office).

An article I recommend reading when you are in the throws of transitioning to prime time is "Migrating from Access to High-End DBMS" by Matthew D. Sarrel which may be found by searching PC Magazine's Web Site or Search Engine. It gives some good step-by-step style fatherly advice to get inspired with confidence.

"Talking warmly, enjoying each other's company with a kind of understanding they had never had among on another before.

It was as though Peter had revealed their common situations, and their differences in it, their individual sorrows?by exposing himself like a child and agitating the drama of their secret and especial concerns making them see on another with serious eyes. This was, after all, so much like the action of the man who had been their father (496-97)" (Page 15)

"And this is also so much like the action of Kerouac the author in terms of both purpose and method- to reveal something universal in the human condition, and the uniqueness of individuals dancing variously to its beat beneath the stars, by displaying self in naïve youthful exhuberance. In the process Kerouac turns up the volume to amplify the whispering rush of that water which feeds our "endless sources and unfathomable springs." (page 15)

"The proposing that the road is life, and life itself is the equilibrist, demands a writing style that can respond to the momentum between opposite emotive forces." (page 20)

-Kerouac, the word and the way - prose artist as spiritual quester, by Ben Giamo

2003-04-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Embracing Databases Part III
Let's do IT!

Embracing Databases Part II

Getting organized is the theme to this article topic. Using MS Office tools to get organized at home, work, and PDA's with MS Office compatible software tools while out on the town or just living life to the fullest. Organization is the main focus for databases and spreadsheets, whether you are interested in using databases to manage/maintain your business or the business of living. There is very little philosophical difference. In business as in life the more organized you are the better quality growth experiences you are likely to encounter. Preparation is the ultimate goal of becoming organized.
Knowledge is the end result of being prepared. Good software by definition acknowledges the consistent imperfections of the human existence and assists it to achieve results more efficiently.

The software that is ultimately right for you should be measured in terms of the offering that actually caters to your unique needs in order to get organized and stay that way. When in doubt, start with what is readily available and grow from there. Most likely that is going to be MS Office and that is definitely the best place to start applying software and learning at the same time.

Before we drive off into to the land of business and revenue, I also wanted to follow up with some uses for front-end desktop databases that are geared toward fun things, too. Databases may be use for:

Recipes - including good cocktails!
Photo Images - image urls
Travel information- itineraries and journals
Music sharing - including "meta data" on music (band, year, produced by etc.)
Correspondence
Collections- (music, books, videos) this is a great way to keep track of your purchases and catalog them for serious or passionate collectors
On and Offline Auction information- keeping track of what you have sold or are selling
School Term Papers, Thesis, and Report information

Paper file folders and file folders on your Windows applications both have the quality of getting cluttered in relation to maintaining more than ten items per folder. Folders keep like files on your hard drive organized while numerous folders have nowhere else to go but databases. Another way in which you can keep clutter off your PC hard drive is by transferring files and folders that are intended for long-term storage in databases and saving them to disk as Excel or Access file. Database publishing as it relates to MS tools of course takes you to Front Page.

Publishing tools will at some point become relevant when dealing with certain concepts. For this again if you have MS Office Front Page is another great way to learn about publishing tools while you implement.

The strongest of these reasons to publish information are:

1.When keeping records that must be accessible from any location - there are other methods besides web publishing, but these are still not evolved enough as an absolute solution and web security is becoming increasingly more reliable.

2.When keeping records that you would like others to view, of course is number one reason for developing publishing tools and will always be.

3.When sharing the record keeping responsibilities with other members of the family, group, or business this is a growing area that will one day become synonymous with reason number 2.

4.When the records you are keeping are not "personal" (or intended for total privacy like identification information, account information, and credit card information). Again with increased security improvements even this will one day become an obsolete concern.

For beginners just getting familiar with the idea of using databases for personal organizational tools publishing aspects are not going to be relevant for a while. Still the more you know about what to expect from your spreadsheet or database the more you will be inspired to try it for yourself when the time is right.

Standard database features are: Tables, Queries, Forms/sub-forms generating, reports, and relational capabilities. To note earlier versions of MS Office also have Macros & Modules offerings. These features are slated to be phased out in time, still, if you have them don't be afraid to play around with them to see what they can do. Their replacements will most likely do the same job only better.

Access offers intricate and detail oriented databases requirements in order to gather, store, and build data (information records). These architectural or "building" aspect features are important for over all functionality and time inevitabilities. Ultimately the ability to build on data is what serves to separate the spreadsheets from the databases.

Here are some visuals for Access databases features:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Example 9

Access is a very aware database system designed to be useful to anyone and everyone. In the interest of acknowledging other database offerings, there are guidelines that should help those interested in one day out growing MS. For example there are standard formats for all database developments known as GADBDP (generally accepted database design practices) so that earthlings will not be let down by being adventurous. Databases are made to perform certain and specific functions by definition and any database software one should elect to use will have: Tables, queries, forms, printing, security and reports capabilities. Relational, editing, and publishing offerings will fall in to a varied area. While Access offers the basic requirements and data organizing, for creating and manipulating tables that contain data in continual row/column format, Table linking and data extraction, linking multiple tables by data relationships to create temporary tables. Query link tables and filters (queries are searches). Access query results are presented in temporary tables called record sets or virtual tables. Meaning that the query results will be presented in an organized virtual manner that duplicates the database itself (nice).

Access can import data (information) and export it to/ from Excel and other Access database files. For its popularity and power Access does deliver all database requirements of a professional relational database management system (RDMS), in addition to front-end development tools for use with client server databases (with MySQL as a standard). 'Expressions' is the term used to calculate values from data.

Access offers extremely functional data entry and editing features as well as presentation requirements in the form of reports that summarize record sets, to scan, view, print, and publish.

Another testament to Access's new user choice reputation is of course, the MS "editor tool bar" everyone has come to love and depend on because well, it gives support and creativity needed for even personal record keeping. Data Entry and Online reading would not be as much fun without it, with Access you don't have to compromise or sacrifice on those tool/features!

Database relationship tables are: 1 to 1 and many to 1 likewise, 1 to many and many to many. Finding and sorting data headings and subheadings/sorting data fields; data may be sorted in tables, queries, forms, and pages. Subheadings may serve as main database data, extensions, or conclusions. Finally, to give the last bit of information needed to begin feeling comfortable using a database, hyperlinks may be used in data fields as data entry. This is good in areas where you data (information) that you are keeping is already published somewhere on the web. It is still entirely possible to be web savvy and new to software uses like Access and Excel especially for personally record keeping.

MS Office tools before XP are not necessarily aesthetically attractive, but, they are highly powerful, efficient, and the most reliable. This is especially good to realize for those who are inexperienced and are not clear about what to expect from a database or spreadsheet. Certainly, the answer is nothing less than what MS has set the standard for!

A couple of quick thoughts to end Part III and get your ready to round out Part IV for business applications discussions, since I already have your attention and you now know not only what a database is good for but how it can start doing you some good. Here it goes:

1.In case you were wondering, database tables may relate to each other for personal use like connecting a Contact Database with To Do Table and Notes Index: ex. "Aunt Sheryl" as a query could produce: Aunt Sheryl's phone number and address, connected to notes for Aunt Sheryl's birthday reminder, connected to "To Do List" for buy Aunt Sheryl roses have them delivered to her house.

2..CSV file extension is important (CSV = Comma separated value) just so you know. This file extension type is very important, as it's the most popular type presently used for saving files to be transferred, transmitted, or opened with regard to spreadsheets (excel), email (outlook, Yahoo, and more), and PDA applications. This is the key extension as of the present 2003 being used to connect data to different software applications and hardware ports.

3.How to create a database; Access offers Wizards or you may choose to create your own. Using the wizard once or twice and you should be able to create your "own" customized database. Access keeps Data field naming, data types, and subtypes fairly intuitive. Naming fields for example: 'First Name or Last Name', data types are text, currency, hyperlinked, or numeric, when in doubt select text. Finally, choosing the number of columns you will need is fairly 'straight forward' with the wizard so play around with it extensively before building them alone and remember the goal of getting organized is to be prepared. So, be prepared to create a customized database before you actually have to build one!

2003-04-21T17:29:00.000-07:00

Embracing Databases Part II
Tag! You’re, IT?
Embracing Databases Part I

In general the average earthling is only vaguely aware of what a database is and more often than not this has to do with their job or office environment. It may not be totally obvious that databases are already a part of your everyday life.

Some examples of databases already in everyone's day-to-day life:

Cell phones -"phonebooks" are in fact databases of contact names and numbers. In fact, when you press the menu button on your cell phone you are searching a database in which all the options or sub menus are databases sitting within this searchable database and are likewise expressions of relational database properties*. *I'll explain that in the future

PDA's contain modified database like applications because it is able to structure and store data, which is basically or fundamentally what databases do. You may consider the program feature of your stereo to be a crude model for database conceptualization if for no other reason than the program feature enables storage of CD and track information to be replayed. So, there is some data being stored in this instance.

You could look at your voice mail or answering machine as a temporary voice activated database because it enables data to be stored via recording. When you are willing to splice it down to the barest essentials databases are to text and numeric data what music is to a CD, tape, or digital recording.

Suddenly, I am hoping that any lingering doubts about what databases and data are defined as are all but eliminated. Database applications in the context of this discussion provide structure to text data. Text data is basically information that comes in the form of text.

The difference between what is considered data vs. what is considered a document really is the structuring relevancy. Unstructured data rests in more complex applications. This page of text for example could be considered unstructured data. Structured data is data that must be categorized in order to make sense. Like Name: 'Bob Marley' Address: '725 Cornawall Road, Montego Bay Jamaica W.I''and so on. This data has value in a different way that may be collected and compiled to form conclusions, queries, analysis, and communication.

You could just as well say at least in the present time that unstructured data is defined as large bodies or chunks of information and structured data is smaller or concentrated bodies of data. I say presently because such basic definitions will not stand the test of time when unstructured data shrinks and structured data grows in size. They will still be different data types, size is not so much illustrated for literal relevancy, rather to provide visual concepts based on "common environment examples" that may be located where ever you may be when you happen to find this article. This doesn't mean to provide literal "in the box" explanations rather to provide the myriad of reader types with the ideas necessary to create completely realistic and logical ideas in ones imagination about how to mentally and emotionally regard these types of software applications and feel comfortable using them, learning them, and engaging in conversations about them. It is now officially 'safe' for earthlings to begin doing so. Part of becoming familiar with software developments, like everything else in life depends mainly on: interest, information, imagery, and experience.

In Part I of "Embracing Databases" I discussed using Spreadsheets and Databases for personal organizational efforts. In this portion of Part II I will continue from where I left off and expand on tools available.

Spreadsheets function as flat data pages. Current Excel spreadsheets have more elaborate tools, which enable: queries, filtering, import/export, table lists and reporting. There is definitely a nice blend of offerings for personal applications as well as, profession. This is what makes it such a great choice for beginners looking for calculations record keeping assistance. By the time you have exhausted the complexities of Excel you will be more than prepared for working with Access.

To Finish up with Excel Spreadsheet capabilities, with Excel Spreadsheets you may: Analyze Data, Automate tasks, Create Charts (for visual aids), Collect new or additional data, Format your spreadsheets, Create Forms & Tables, Print, Store, Review, and Collaborate information. An asset when planning parties, weddings, family reunions, and other group oriented personal events.

For more on getting the most out of Excel spreadsheets click here:
http://search.office.microsoft.com/assistance/tasks.aspx?p=Excel
*To note everything that Excel can do Access can also do with only subtle exceptions.

Accessing Access Databases. Why Access, there are so many? I say start with Access for a couple of reasons. One because it’s the most widely available and accessible database software in general, Two because I have interviewed several different types of people with no knowledge of each other similar levels of basic experience and they all agreed that Access would be the first database software they would reach for as a beginner.

Access, is not a bad choice even if you don’t have it and have something else and are a "novice" with databases you may want to start off with access because there is a considerable amount of support, tips, suggestions, and assistance available. It’s a powerful complex desktop system that is fun to use and interact with to keep you in control of your data management while you learn.

For a list of cool things you can do with Access databases click here:
http://search.office.microsoft.com/assistance/tasks.aspx?p=Access

Conceptualizing access relational database tools is a 3-dimensional idea that data may be linked in sub data categories within one database. So that search queries may result in thorough findings for any given topic or data entry field. This aspect of data collecting is of greater relevancy for professional or business requirements but may become relevant for personal use when larger families or households are concerned. In that sense relational databases are a practical personal management application! RDBMS (relational database management systems), just to familiarize you with the "lingo" when exploring databases you will find terms like flat database, tables, and relational databases. Not to worry, things pretty much fall in the order of the most simple to complex, a flat database is just one step from a spreadsheet, tables slightly more complex, and relational database features sort of round out and enable incorporating all data files in one searchable and organized database situation.

Some of this is fairly intuitive the rest comes from hands on experience. Still where there is interest there is evolution.

Newer MS Office Features are broadening further to accommodate more HTML and Publishing requirements. This makes some of the publishing dynamics of FrontPage become more relevant in addition to illustrating "web service" like integration capabilities with other software tools and applications.

For example Synchronizing PDA's, many of the database offerings both standard and as added software functions are created to communicate with MS Office files. Extending the Import/Export features as well as, updating information, collecting new information. Nice to know that all your organizational efforts to make your life easier and more orderly may now travel with you, wherever you go and remain available to you. The only thing better than getting organized is staying that way.

The best way to avoid over spending where technology is concerned is staying informed there are so many software and hardware tools available one could easily over invest and still be at square one. Go slow or should I say at the pace that is natural and sensible for you and your needs. The more informed you are the better decisions you can make to determine what your real needs are. Remember that time plays a key factor in retail prices this is true for software as it is for hardware. In time, things become less expensive and more efficient. So the less experience you have to less obligated you should feel to be on the cutting edge especially, if you simply cannot afford it.

It's good to know what is out there if only to reassure you that you are not wasting your time. Your efforts to assimilate software tools into your life will never become obsolete rather you have more tools to add to your efforts, new ideas, and new mobile opportunities to grow with your needs.

News : Father of the RDBM dies

2003-04-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

Embracing Databases, Data, and Software
Are we There yet? Part I

"Caring for his father and sharing their final moments together helps Peter to grow and recognize the fundamental virtues of living - what ITs all about. He saw that it was love and work and true hope.

He saw that all the love in world, which was sweet and fine, was not love at all without its work, and that work could not exist without the kindness of hope.

Together father and son attain an understanding about life's telos- including its troubles and difficulties and struggles - at times calling existence itself into question: they did that every day, yet they did not hate life, they loved it. They saw that life was like a kind of work, a poor miserable disconnected fragment of something better, far greater just a fragmentary isolated frightened sweating over a dripping faucet-time of the world, a tattered impurity leading from moment to moment towards the great pure forge-fires of workday life and love human comprehension" (472); page(s) 12-13 of "Kerouac, the word and the way prose artist as spiritual quester" by Ben Giamo

The process of organization for the purpose of collecting new information, thinking of what the future may bring, and making sense of where you have been so far is the key ideology behind software and software tools for spreadsheets, databases, and PDAs (personal digital assistants / the electronic version of a notepad and addressbook).

Typically what was once left in files folders, notepads, notebooks, binders, address books, diskettes, and post its are finding homes in technology software. Free from the hassles that paper record keeping and organizing may bring; torn pages, worn pages, missing pages, and once you spilled your drink on them because the phone rang and scared your cat smeared pages. The more real life scenarios take place the better things like software, databases, spreadsheets, and PDA's start to look. Something real that may also exist virtually, something protected from time, and circumstance.

The more evolved these software tools become, the more useful and practical to everyday life applications for everyone as well. While it may be hard to get excited about technology unless you are working in the industry, some may feel that most of the newest software is out of reach, has a bugs, or is way too complicated to use for the retail price. IT remains undeniable, however. Every passing year makes it abundantly clear that these things (software, tools, and applications) are good and useful things made by people who understand the importance of keeping one's life organized, keeping it realistic, and keeping easy to use; especially in terms of all the demands any one person may know in a lifetime.

With regard to all the intricacies, unknowns, and pricing the best thing to do is simply go slow. Start at the beginning and be innovative. Invest in something you can afford for hardware, it does not have to be cutting edge to make all the difference in your life. Learn to use software that comes with systems you currently use more often than not you will find through friends, groups, search queries, that what you have installed can give you more mileage than you ever imagined, best of all, it's already there.

Microsoft Office has got to be one of the first ideas that come to mind. Because its complexities are overtly discreet, it is quite easy to underestimate its power. MS Office is installed on almost every PC in the world homes and offices alike, yet very few have been made aware to take the time to explore it further. In fact there are very few things a PC owner could get an itch or inspiration to do that cannot be done on some level with Microsoft Office features. As a fundamental tool it's pretty aware and still growing.

Just to get going so we are on the same page; MS Office offers:

Excel - spreadsheets and introduction to database tools;
Access - a highly developed desktop relational database tool;
Outlook - email correspondence tool;
Frontpage - web page or html page publishing tool;
Word - text and document creating tool;
PowerPoint - presentation tool.

All of which serve to coexist and interact freely with each other or independently from your desktop. Even if you are not a huge fan of Microsoft or its products there is no denying that as software pioneers go, there is very little in the industry that was not motivated or inspired by what Microsoft has produced.

For the now, I wanted to address Data, Databases, and Spreadsheet aspects since these are the most required and least comprehensive to the average earthling (what I have dubbed the non - technology geek, buff, or developer). Frontpage is yet another tool that falls somewhere between necessary overrated for the average earthling. MS Word and Outlook have succeeded in making a name for themselves on their own despite their high-powered siblings.

PowerPoint, to be honest I have never had to use, do not fully grasp in real life applications beyond making funny visually stylish emails to forward to your friends and family when you are suppose to be working. I suppose I may not be the only one.
I have never had to give many presentations since Harvard Graphics days in College but I do realize that whatever most presentation tools can do Power Point is obviously every bit as efficient and fun to use I can see this, just from the quality email I get alone.

Since most database related articles and discussions I have found are focused around business applications and developer concerns for programming and web service evolutions, I wanted to focus on the often less explored and underrated, "Databases and Spreadsheets for Personal uses."

Most of us no matter how diverse have universally common interests and activities such as:

-Employment records
-Tax records, copies of returns, W2's, etc.
-Personal Calendars for daily, monthly, annual activities
-Personal Finances, Checking / Savings account balances and records
-Credit Card Information
-Insurance, Medical Information, Identification Information
-School Records, transcripts, resumes, letters of reference
-Household and Personal budget plan or records
-Shopping Lists
-Misc. Notes, reminders, post its
-Address Books
-Automotive records, finance documents, insurance, registration information, maintenance records
-Routine errands and To Do Lists

In all honesty these are pretty much absolutes for the human existence and most of which are dealt with one of three ways.

1. Keeping a collection of assorted files and file folders rarely organized and usually collecting dust unless some unexpected urgency demands otherwise.
2. Dumping the burden on someone more organized than me
3. Last and worst idea - tossing things and living in the moment

Of course the third option is initially quite popular until the inevitable reality creeps in and we realize that we cannot live this way.

So most of us by the time we are in our mid - twenties are living somewhere between options 1 and 2.

If you can relate to this information so far, keep reading because we are almost there. The best and most sure fire way to stay organized is to organize in steps beginning with internal expectations like: I wish my life were simple or I just want to be able to find things when I need them or,I am always so busy, I can never seem to stay on top of things or do the things I really want to do.

The first thing to do is take a deep breath search the house for the nearest computer and take control! Spreadsheets have come along way since the 1980s as so not to distort facts, but earthlings may use spreadsheets as the beginning steps to using organization software for order maintenance. Truthfully, with or without my blessing earthlings and aliens alike are finding inspiration in the advanced simplicity spreadsheets may offer, especially in situations like numeric record keeping because of the calculation tools available. Simple record keeping may also be done successfully with regard to important numbers, credit card information, and identification records.

For preliminary organization those are typically the first things that fall into chaos therefore the first area to beginning clearing out. A great personal discipline for changing the way you keep records is start where you are. If you don't keep records at all, STOP! Start keeping records. In fact until you are in a routine of knowing what to discard and what to keep record of, keep everything. Get a box of File folders and go to town.

Once you get use to this and you have found that you have a monster of dusty folders chasing you around start sorting information for what may be easily stored and updated in a spreadsheet. Once you have updated all your information (it is a good idea to keep back up disks just in case) destroy the paper folder and never remake a folder you have just destroyed. Once you have crossed over into keeping organized via software never turn back. Repeat this activity until all the folders you have created are now gone and nothing remains except for actual invoices and documents that may not be transferred or duplicated. Really, this is a very small and growing smaller by the year area.

At some point mid transition you will find that a database is simpler than a spreadsheet. The reason being is that you are going to need things that only a very creative and experienced spreadsheet user could maneuver around. With that same amount of time you could have created a relational database uploaded the information and gone on with the day. So it is important to know when to move from a spreadsheet to a database. MS Office is a great place to start because like I mentioned before it is probably already on your desktop and because all the tools interact for easy importing and exporting. So that once you become more experienced with databases you may begin expanding your information using these features.

Wizards are great! Lets celebrate. I don't care how knowledgeable one may or may not be, there is no getting around the fact that wizards help keep us focused, teach us to feel more confident with software, and often do thinking that we find mundane or abstract. By the time Wizards annoy you, you will know enough to do most everything as an after thought! It is a great idea! As good as the "training wheel" I must admit.

In line with the article flow, by now we have:

1.Realized our computer is cool and has software on it that can make my life easier.
2.Come to terms with the fact that chaos surrounds everyone and it is time to get organized.
3.No one person is alone in this struggle.
4.Record Keeping is unavoidable and its time to get modern and get real about the best and most efficient way to become organized in order to organize and customize our own unique worlds.

Conclusion to Part I of Embracing Databases: are we there yet?

2003-03-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

Why Do I Need A Database?
by Dan Grossman

If you're not familiar with the term as it relates to the web, a database is a structured collection of data. It can be anything from a list of email addresses to a set of names, addresses and phone numbers.

By far the most popular database management system is mySQL, because it is free, works well, and most web hosts have it installed. This can be used in conjunction with a language such as PHP or Cold Fusion to create a website which interacts with the database.

PHP is probably the most popular of languages for interacting with mySQL databases. It can be easily used to create webpages for your site dynamically. This means that, rather than a site consisting of many static or unchanging webpages, each page is generated based on information in your database, at the time the page is accessed by a user.

Creating a web site in a language such as PHP and using a database to store the information, or some of it, has many advantages over a normal static site. One of the most common and most useful ways to use a database in your website is in a content management system.

What Is It And How Does It Work?

A content management system is a set of programs (basically, webpages containing programming code) written in a language such as PHP. The content management system displays the content of your website to your visitors and allows you to easily add, edit or remove content from the site without creating a new webpage.

This is accomplished by storing the content of the site in a database. Rather than creating a "page1.html" with a layout, title, content, etc. you would store the title and content in the database, along with any other information you wanted like the author name, keywords, etc.

Then, rather than having a link to "page1.html" you'd have a URL that looked something like this:

http://www.yoursite.com/article.php?id=123

Article.php would be a page you've written in PHP which gets information from your database. The "?id=123" passes the fact that the user has clicked on a link to article number 123. The page would access your database, find article 123, and send back a webpage to your visitor with that article in the body. But, the difference between this and a static page is that you use the same webpage to access other information:

http://www.yoursite.com/article.php?id=124

You're accessing the same article.php, but you've told it you want article 124, and a new page would be created and sent to you with article 124 in the body.

The content management system also would allow you to add, edit or remove content from your site without editing many webpages. You'd simply have separate pages setup which allow you to edit the information stored in the database.

Why Do I Want To Do This?

There are many reasons to use a database-driven content management system as opposed to many static webpages. Several are:

1. Easier To Change Site Design

With a database-driven site, there is really only one webpage. The content of the site is inserted into this page dynamically when it is requested based on information passed to the page (such as the article number).

This means changing the look of the entire site can be as easy as changing the HTML in that one page. The page would contain both HTML and programming code for whatever language you chose.

2. Easier To Update Your Site

Using a database-driven content system, you no longer have to create a separate webpage for each piece of content you want on your site. By setting up a form which submits information to add to your database, you can update the site just by copying and pasting a piece of content into the form, and adding it to the database. If you write the site to take articles based on date, for example, the new content could appear immediately on your site.

How Do I Create a Content Management System?

Here are several places you can learn about building a database- driven website, specifically with PHP and mySQL:

1. http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/programming/php/

WebMonkey's PHP Programming section has many well-written articles and tutorials dealing with both PHP programming and interacting with mySQL. They even have a "PHP/mySQL Tutorial."

2. http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/backend/databases/

WebMonkey's Backend Databases section includes information about choosing a database system, an introduction to databases, several tutorials and more.

3. http://wdvl.com/Authoring/Languages/PHP/

The Web Developer's Virtual Library has several good tutorials and information about the PHP language and how to use it in conjunction with mySQL databases.

There are many uses of databases in websites, and a content management system is just one of them. Hopefully this article has informed you on exactly what a database is and has provided you with several links to good starting points for those who are interested in using a database in their site.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Grossman runs http://www.websitegoodies.com where you can find over 250 hand-picked resources,
articles, and tools! Dan also publishes the free weekly "WebDevPortal"
newsletter for website owners! Subscribe today and get articles like this every week:
subscribe@webdevportal.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Database Tutorial at
http://www.extropia.com/tutorials/sql/toc.html

2003-03-18T14:52:00.000-08:00

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10 Valid Reasons Why YOU Need A Website
© 2001, 2003 Shelby Patrick
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"Why do I need a website?" I'll bet that question has crossed your mind on many occasions. It doesn't matter if you are just starting out in business, have been in business for years, or if you aren't in business at all. Somewhere along the way, the Internet will call to you and you'll start to wonder if you should join the many ranks before you and put up your own website.

Is there any point to having an online presence? Will it make you rich, famous, or more knowledgeable? The end result is up to you, but the first step is making a decision and then acting upon it.

The following list is a compiled list of very valid reasons why YOU should have your own website.

1. Your products and/or services can be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

2. Low advertising costs, as opposed to the more traditional advertising media.

3. You can release time sensitive data immediately.

4. Reduces phone time and allows for more ways of communication.

5. Generates immediate orders and feedback.

6. Smaller companies can now compete with the larger companies.

7. Attracts new customers.

8. Individuals can publish their resumes, swap recipes, or share their knowledge/hobbies with the world.

9. Provides niche or specialized exposure.

10. Creates interest and excitement.

A website means business. It can tell people that you cared enough to join today's technology by advancing to the web. If you're serious about your business or your knowledge, having a website is one of the best choices you can make. So stop asking if you SHOULD have a website and start creating one today!

NOTE: The following information must be included if you reprint this article.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Shelby Patrick is part of the creative team at Imagen Business Solutions, an online company that offers creative website design, , content writing, Internet training, Flash animation, hosting services, and desktop publishing. For more information on her or the company, please visit our website at http://www.imbizsol.com or email us at imagen@imbizsol.com .
------------------------------------------

2003-03-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

What's REALLY Happening on Your Website?
by: Barry Harrison

Your Website offers your business a unique benefit you may not
be aware of -- valuable information about your visitors is captured
in the site log files. If you know how to interpret this data, you
can use it to improve your visitors' experience, build site traffic
and increase sales.

WHAT IS A LOG FILE?
Log files are the main source of data on visitor behavior. Every
time someone comes to your site, the log file (on your host's
server) records information like the keywords they used, the
pages they visited and how long they stayed.

HOW DO I MAKE SENSE OF MY LOG FILES?
Even a small site generates a huge amount of data. You need a
tool to analyze and present it in a way that makes sense. Some
Web hosting companies offer a log analyzer as part of their
hosting package, so be sure to check with your host. WebTrends
[www.netiq.com/products/log/default.asp] and Urchin
[www.urchin.com] are two of the best and most widely used Web
analytical tools.

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN MY
LOG FILE?
More than any single statistic about your site, watching the
trends and "before and after" measurements are key. Let's say
you identify a problem with the site navigation or you've modified
the copy on your home page-- your log file measures the results
of any changes you make.

To get the most out of your logs you'll want to understand the
following terms:

1. Unique Visits
A visit to your site by one person (no matter how long they stay
or how many pages they view) is considered a unique visit. If they
leave and return, that counts as another visit. On a typical site
almost half of all visitor sessions are caused by "spiders" or
robots, so you need a tool with advanced visitor tracking to filter
them out.

2. Hits
Often misunderstood, a hit is a request made to the Web server.
For example, if you go to a Web page that contains ten graphics
files, you make 11 hits on the server: one for the page, and ten
for the graphics on the page. Unique visits are a much better
measure of site activity than hits.

3. Page Views
Another good measure of site activity, it's the number of HTML
pages served. If your visitor goes to ten pages on your site, ten
page views are generated. You will want to compare page views
from week to week, and month to month to see significant
trends.

4. Average Page Views per Visit
Think of this as the "depth" of each visit. Most visitors to your
site will only see a single page (generally your home page)
before they click on to the next site. This is normal. Web users
are goal oriented. They scan pages to see if they contain or link
to information they want. If they don't think they're on the right
track they'll abandon the site. But visitors who view multiple
pages are clearly interested. The challenge is to convert them
from browsers to buyers.

5. Most (and Least) Popular Pages
Which pages do your visitors request most (and least)?
Monitoring these stats identifies usability and navigation
problems on your site. If visitors are not clicking through to a
page that's important to your business you can address the
problem (by modifying the navigation or the position of a link,
for example) and then measure the result of the changes.

6. Referring pages
Each time someone visits your site, their browser sends a
"referrer" which allows you to track where they came from.
This is important because it tells you who links to your site
and what search engines visitors use to find your site. It
allows you to track the effectiveness of promotion and
advertising. Referring sites may also contribute to your traffic
by increasing your link popularity rating with Search Engines.

7. Top Keywords and Phrases
Pay close attention to the keywords and phrases that are
(and aren't but should be) included in your site statistics.
These are the words people are actually using to find your
site. This information will not only help you better serve and
sell to your audience, it can also lead to higher Search
Engine rankings.

CONCLUSION
Web logs contain valuable information about your site. By
understanding the general trends and the specific activity
that's taking place, you can make better business decisions.
Web log analysis allows you to determine what's working --
and what's not. And that's a huge benefit for any business.

Barry Harrison, author of "REDiTIPS eMarketing Newsletter"
is a partner in
Resolve Digital, Web Strategies for the Real World.
Visit his site at http://www.resolvedigital.com
or mailto:barry@resolvedigital.com

2003-02-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

Fight the Brain Drain
Who's the best person to prevent knowledge loss in your organization? You are! Here's how

ROBERT CAREY

FEBRUARY 01, 2003 -- Is there any doubt that 2002 was a bad year to be an employee? With layoffs happening at a frightening pace, many folks dreaded showing up for work in the morning, fearful that there was a pink slip waiting for them. According to Challenger, Gray and Christmas, a Chicago-based employment research firm, about 3.3 million people lost their jobs last year. That is, then, 275,000 job cuts per month.

It's almost as bad to be an organizational survivor. Why? Because it means that you're now responsible for more work. In fact, there's a term gaining wide use to describe the additional responsibility remaining employees take on from those who have left: ghost work.

"Ghost work is very demoralizing, because people are expected to do more -- without a pay raise or the knowledge to handle the additional tasks," says Hamilton Beazley, chairman of Strategic Leadership Group, an Arlington, VA-based consulting firm.

Even more disturbing is this: In the coming years, after the economy inevitably rebounds and layoffs subside, the rate at which people leave their organizations -- and take their knowledge and experience with them -- is going to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that 19 percent of baby boomers holding executive, administrative, and managerial positions are expected to retire in just the next five years, and the number of boomers who become eligible for retirement will remain steady -- at 12,480 per day -- from 2010 until the mid-2020s. And believe it or not, the public sector has a more immediate crisis: By 2005, more than half of the 1.8 million federal government employees will be eligible for retirement, including 71 percent of those within the senior executive ranks.

For both corporations and associations, these figures could mean disaster. There will be an exodus of knowledge and experience on a scale never before seen, resulting in a loss of productivity that could easily cripple the ability to compete. There are, however, some forward-thinking organizations that have implemented programs to promote continuous knowledge transfer between co-workers (a process Beazley calls "continuity management") in order to maintain productivity, regardless of the rate of employee turnover. Among the companies with such programs are General Electric, Siemens, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the World Bank.

And for meeting planners -- who, in essence, are specialists in transferring knowledge among people both internally and externally -- this is a perfect opportunity to become indispensible by helping to nurture continuity management programs within their organizations. The hook: Face-to-face meetings are a crucial component to any such initiative.

"In the coming years, continuity management will become a prominent management function, as important as any that we see today," says Beazley. What's more, "This task requires planners to create a new definition of their role," adds Deborah Amidon, founder and CEO of consulting firm Entovation International, in Wilmington, MA, and author of the new book The Innovation Superhighway (Butterworth Heinemann, 2002). "If planners can redefine their role in terms of the huge flow of knowledge that they help catalyze, they are instantly more valuable in the eyes of management."

So, what do you need to know about continuity management in order to promote such a program -- and yourself -- within your organization? Read on to find out.

Getting Started

Before you say to yourself, "A project like this is simply too big for me to handle," define the scope of your task with one simple question: Which department do you plan the most meetings for? Aside from your own meeting planning department (if there is one), this department is probably the area you know most about in your organization. As a result, you can help initiate a continuity management program within that department -- presumably with the blessing and assistance of human resources personnel. This places the project on a scale you can manage.

With your group defined and human resources in your corner, you should begin by taking these two steps:

Identify the valuable knowledge that the department's members possess.

Determine exactly where the knowledge they possess is.

The former is more closely related to a meeting planner's job than the latter, but knowing where people store their information is as important as determining what people know. Boston-based consulting firm Delphi Group estimates that 70 percent of organizational knowledge is in the minds of employees (known as "tacit" knowledge) while just 30 percent is in externalized forms (known as "explicit" knowledge).

Tacit knowledge includes:

People's information networks -- "the people they consult with regarding specific aspects of the business," says Beazley.

Knowledge of the corporate culture, and according to Beazley, "how people get their jobs done within that culture."

Unique experiences they've had and innovations they have made. "No matter how bright an employee is, if he doesn't have past experiences to refer to and build on, he will be at a disadvantage," says Beazley. "Your people need to know the victories and defeats of their predecessors in order to serve them in their future decisions and actions."

Explicit knowledge includes:

Files
Databases
Rolodexes
Audio- and videotape
Microfilm
Any other recorded form of information

Full Story

All Rights Reserved; Copyright 2003 Story by Robert Carey, Title: Fight the brain drain, Source: Http://www.successmtgs.com, Magazine issue Successful Meetings magazine February 2003. Contact Executive Editor Rob Carey at rcarey@successmtgs.com

2003-01-29T19:14:00.000-08:00

Web Service: Analysis for the rest of us

What are web services? Answer: n. Web based application to application communication; programming or programmatic interfaces made available to cooperate with established software, programming languages, and integration requirements. Web services are a set of technologies designed to automate connections across applications and databases. Answer: v. to develop a set of technologies in order to bring web based applications and services to their full potential.

What that essentially means is that web services are technologies developed by programmers and developers to make existing software more efficient, provide fillers for gaps and bugs, and in its most evolved state, provide services not necessarily new to the industry but that are refined for independent use, are more affordable, and user friendly.

Some examples of web services available to all user types/groups:

http://wbloggar.com
http://www.blogger.com
http://moveabletype.org
http://drupal.org
http://www.ecriteria.net

Some examples of web service providers and vendors for business applications:

http://www.trellix.com
http://www.tractionsoftware.com
http://www.amuletc.com

Web services are specifically designed to offer:

1. Flexibility
2. Customization
3. Convenience
4. Realistic data collecting (sales, media, CRM, and marketing)
5. Independence and alternative software solutions
6. Real time problem solving
7. Real time trouble shooting
8. Refinement and reinforcement for existing technology platforms (integration)
9. Enhanced usefulness and functionality of technology architecture
10. Encouragement and assistance in Many-to-Many requirements (i.e. open-source, P2P, B2B, B2C, etc.) in core developments
11. Compatibility catalysts for future software developments and demands

Sounds great, what’s the problem?

Bad technology investments and misunderstanding the step-by-step movement of IT developments that lead to bad investments, have served to create suspicion where “the next big thing is concerned” a situation of “One bad apple ruining the whole bunch”.

Another major problem area would be over complicating the explanations and descriptions of technology applications. Thereby, creating a “negative” language barrier that serves to redirect interest rather than inspire it.

In rare situations, some older but still used technologies will not allow for seamless integration or easy integrations and the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” thinking together can work against the web service flow.

Makes sense, what are some good solutions?

Where suspicion and bad judgments are concerned time is the only real remedy for healing lost ROI wounds. Implementing a lessoned learned approach to new IT investments that are placing real time supply together with real time demand. The key here is staying present and focused. The irony is that many of the investments that lost money in the last three years where not necessarily bad ideas but badly timed. Investing in a supply before there was a real and equal demand. At some point over the next 20 years all of these new developments are going to be relevant, the key is taking it step by step.

Where communication is concerned it’s ideal and necessary to bring computer talk back to a vernacular form through articles like this one and others, through user interaction with web services, media, and emedia support, streamlining shop talk in the information age should just be par for the course.

The reasoning; just like any other trade, there’s programmer talk, lawyer talk, doctor talk, it’s still very important to the world that serves to support these trades that every day language be applied or applicable when discussing it or referring to it. In some respects, web services like web log software (blogging) help in this area because they give users opportunities to actually learn while interacting with the service itself.

Finally, with regard to old technologies and a general stubborn streak to change, independent software developers (like the ones listed above for web service providers of business applications) may do a considerable amount to pitch in. Where, consultations, experience in transitioning, platform specialization / expertise, and solutions providing that deal with and focus on the case-by-case concerns of transitioning and hardware restraints or issues. In this sense, one would have to reason that technology and cars have something in common, in that there inevitably comes an age or point when it’s simply time to upgrade with newer more efficient equipment. Classics will always hold sentimental value but when it comes to reliability there is in fact a moment when it is time to look at what more can be accomplished in less time with newer technologies.

Web services: Analysis for the rest of us: Tech talk

We now know for certain that web services are at least in its bare bones form, web based applications to applications communication. Middleware is what enables and simplifies much of this, application to application communication.

The basic platform for web services are: XML and HTTP (extensible markup language and hypertext transmission protocol which runs basically everywhere on the internet).

The more complete web service platform, which follows XML and HTTP are:

1. SOAP: Simple Object Application Protocol; defines a uniform way of passing XML-encoded data and defines ways to perform remote procedure calls using HTTP as the underlying communication protocol. Middleware requires a WAN wrapper and SOAP does this.
2. UDDI: Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration Service; provides the method for dynamically locating other web services. UDDI is layered over SOAP.
3. WSDL: Web Service Description Language; creates a way for service providers to describe the basic format of web service requests over various protocols/encoding. WSDL is used to describe what a web service can do, where it is located, and how to run it.

This is just some of the basic “tech talk” used when discussing web services. It is helpful for non-programmers interested in learning more about web services to become familiar with these basic terms in order to not be thrown off by certain articles and information resources, as they tend to intertwine and create that dreaded language barrier.

Links and resource suggestions to further web service interests:

http://www.w3.org/2002/ws/
http://www.106.ibm.com/developerworks/webservices/
http://www.webservicesarchitect.com
http://msdn.microsoft.com/webservices/
http://www.ws-i.org

There are many more resources and links available but these will definitely get the party started and the juices flowing for realizing the real potential behind web services.

Another common mentioning for web service platforms is Microsoft’s .NET tool. To clarify, .NET is not a web service itself, but a web service developer tool. The reason there is so much .NET discussion are because standardization implications and requirements. Clearly, a Microsoft web service tool that is properly developed would make an ideal environment for increasingly more efficient for web service developments. Microsoft is notably among the first of the “Big Vendor’s” to offer up such a tool.

Web Services: Analysis for the rest of us: Bringing it home

Web services essentially are still a nascent development of Information Technology. However, all of the uncertainty aside they are here to stay and a major tool for building a better tomorrow. Web services are to IT what IT is to labor, the Sewing Machine is to sewing, or the washing machine is to laundry. Translation, who knew it could get easier?

Well it gets easier, it gets better, and it gets cheaper. That counts for a lot to most of us. Furthering the causes of web services should inevitably complement social needs for change as well, by making better use of labor hours, and decreasing past and present “issues” where age and gender have played a negative role in terms of who is best suited to do what in various departments, with technology doing most of the tedious work it will at the very least set a new awareness standard for better conditions all the way around in the work place and the community at large.

That fact that web services were already up and running before the beginning of the 21rst century sheds a light of optimism on the future we have to look forward to and the enthusiasm that is creating it.

Suggested reading:

“Out of the box: strategies for achieving profits today and growth tomorrow” by John Hagel III
www.valleyofthegeeks.com/book.html

Related information links:

Web service blog about web services http://webedge.sys-con.com
http://www.webservicesfaq.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=fullstory&recordID=265
http://www.voidstar.com/node.php?id=423
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/01/24/2002TOYxml_1.html