TechDroider: Editorial

Why Being Phone Savvy is the Secret to Having a Successful Small Business

The hot button words of the business world these days are ‘small’ and ‘local’. The focus on localization has drawn a lot of interested people to small businesses around the country. Do you have what it takes to start a small business? Of course you do, but not without a bit of help from close friends, loved ones, and colleagues. But there’s also a small hero that you’re probably not thinking about: your phone. Who knew the secrets of business management were all tucked away in your pocket?

Let’s dive into how using your phone to manage your business can make all the difference.

Inventory Management Apps 


Business is all about the inventory. Even if you’re selling services, the input output ratio will make or break you. A lot of small businesses go under because they don’t keep track of their products.
Keeping an excel spreadsheet is the traditional way to manage inventory, but it results in a lot of clerical errors. This could mean spending extra time on unnecessary stock sorting or running out of things during peak business hours.

That’s where your phone swoops in to save the day. Want an app to keep track of your inventory? Apps like topshelf can help. They put all your stock in one place and make it extremely simple to update numbers.

Employee Management and Scheduling Apps


Here’s another complicated aspect of business owning: employees. They are the bread and butter of a good business. If your employees are wonderful it reflects well on your company, but managing them can be a difficult task.

Excel sheets used to be the best friend of the traditional small business owner, but this led to schedule mix-ups, accidental double shifting, and lack of manpower during crucial hours.

Imagine having everyone’s schedules at the press of a button. Being able to immediately make changes when someone requests off or has to change shifts with someone. It seems like a dream come true. Apps like Homebase have all your employee scheduling needs covered. They give every employee a profile linked to the company, so the schedule goes out to everyone at the same time.

No more “I didn’t see the new schedule” excuses. Everything is centralized so your employees can see when they’re schedule. It also makes it easy for them to be feedback about their shifts and what went well and/or wrong.

Social Media Management Apps


Marketing, marketing, marketing. That’s what it’s all about these days. If you want your company to flourish, you better come up with good Facebook campaign ideas. The Instagram posts from your business better be poppin’ and relevant or else you’ll be ignored. Don’t forget to make sure your Twitter feed is constantly updated with great deals and promotions.

Seems like a lot to manage, right? Well what if I told you there was an app for that? Yes, an app to manage all your social media apps. Sounds a bit redundant. But they’re extremely useful.

Apps like Zoho allow you to log into all your accounts from one app. From there you can schedule and queue posts, check your engagement on the different platforms, and create new post updates for your followers.

Bottom Line


With all your tools in your pocket, being a small business owner seems a lot more manageable. Your phone saves you time, effort, and additional expenses with little to no energy expended. There are a lot of different apps on the market to make your business journey easier. This means that no matter whether you sell shoes or offer real estate consultations, you can rest assured that an app has got your back.

6 Best Albums to Listen to Whilst Cruising on Your Motorbike

We all know the exhilaration we can feel from listening to music. Especially when it's one of your favourite artists, say on a sunny day on the beach, a gig, or relaxing in your bedroom after a long day. Nothing can top music when adding that extra bit of 'je ne sais quoi' to your day. So, imagine you're cruising along a vast, open road on your motorbike, just you, the engine and the cool wind brushing your face. Your earphones are in (make sure you get the best pair to suit your ride at https://www.ironhorsetrading.net/motorcycle-earbuds/) and quite frankly you feel infinite.

Now all you need is a great album to pair with your adventure! Check out our list.

Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi

80's Rock heroes, Bon Jovi, just had to make the cut on this list. We've all had a moment of head swinging euphoria whilst get a bit crazy to Bon Jovi. Released in '86, Slippery When Wet was the bands third studio album and consists of some of the absolute classics from Wanted Dead or Alive, You Give Love a Bad Name, and of course Livin' On a Prayer.

Kinks – The Kinks

That feeling of nostalgia is one that's hard to beat. There's something quite enigmatic about being swooped back into the past. This self-titled album by The Kinks is laced with that 60's Rock 'n' Roll edge, with jiggy beats and delicious guitar riffs. Featuring You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night, to name a few on the 26 track album.

Jazz - Queen

All those who love Queen, raise your hands now. How could you not? Jazz is an energetic album full of varying dynamics - classic Queen style - kooky tunes and guitar that will get your body trembling. Alongside that quality of Freddie Mercury's voice that makes you just want to scream... in a good way. Don't Stop Me Now and Let Me Entertain You make an appearance on this album, along with the fitting Bicycle Race.

One Step Beyond - Madness


Taking a break from the rock line-up for a moment, with Ska aficionados, Madness. Their eclectic mix of sax, keys, drums and bass will have you feeling like your getting down in an underground club in Camden. One Step Beyond and Night Boat to Cairo will have you revving up your engine, whilst In the Middle of the Night will have you bopping to that infectious Ska beat and brilliant lyrics, enjoying the view around you.

Stadium Arcadium – Red Hot Chilli Peppers 


Released in 2006, Stadium Arcadium is probably one of the best albums this side of the millennium. Being the band's ninth album, it wasn't always sure how much of a success the album was going to be, but this Californian rock piece of art is far from any other album out there. On this two-piece album, no song is the same and will take you from grungy and detailed electric guitar like Dani California, Snow (Hey Oh) and Make You Feel Better. To the more laid-back and soulful songs such as Slow Cheetah and She Looks To Me. This 29-track album will take you on varied experience on your journey.

Rumours – Fleetwood Mac


Although this album may not be pumping with that high energy sound that some bikers love, this album provides a different kind of energy that will make your cruise as every bit enjoyable. We all know and love the Mac, and if you said Don't Stop and Go Your Own Way didn't get you going, you'd be lying. The explosive and iconic bass solo in The Chain will put anyone in a state of ecstasy. This is an album to be enjoyed at full-blast.

This is how you can make the most out of VoIP services.

VoIP needs no introduction. With more and more businesses making a shift to this cutting-edge technology for improving their communication system, we can easily conclude that Business phone number is the best way of doing so. It is essential for making B2B and B2C communication more reliable, cost-effective, and comprehensive. If you're based in the Sunshine State, setting up a Florida LLC can offer you a host of benefits including asset protection, tax flexibility, and enhanced credibility.

VoIP’s usability is not only limited to building a unified communication platform for your business. It extends its wings to offer international visibility, empower your CRM operations, and support your marketing strategy. But, all of this is possible if and only if you are using your VoIP phone number in the right manner and reaping all of its benefits.

Most of the VoIP users are not aware of its full capabilities, and either uses it in a half-good manner or make some common usability mistakes. In both situations, the user is at a loss.

Are you also suffering from the same?


Then, you have landed at the right place. We will educate you about a few Second Phone line using the below tips and how to make the most out of it.

Make sure your internet is strong enough to support VoIP technology.


For VoIP, an internet connection is the first and foremost requirement. One of the most common mistakes that VoIP users make is they forget to check internet compatibility. This leads to poor connectivity, broken voice, and lost connections in between the conversation.

To avoid this situation, we suggest you check internet compatibility. To have a crystal clear voice quality, you need to have a minimum of 85 - 100 kbps up and down of bandwidth per concurrent call. Slow Internet connections at Mbit/s will fail to deliver what you seek.

One of the easiest ways to determine the bandwidth of your internet connection that you will be using for your business phone number is to run a speed test. There are many free resources available on the internet to help you out in this. Also, make sure that you get internet access through DSL.

VoIP adapter should be best-in-class and compatible


If you are going to use VoIP phone number to set call center software, then you must need a VoIP adapter. This adapter helps you to connect the IP connection and desktop phones. Its VoIP adapter will convert incoming voice traffic into an apt form to forward to the destination device or network.

So, this is what will make your VoIP communication possible. Also, it supports the fact that you should be extra conscious while implementing a VoIP adapter.

While you are doing so, make sure that you are connecting your VoIP adapter to your wireless connection in the right manner. You can either use an Ethernet wireless bridge or an altered wireless router for this purpose. Also, don’t forget to set up a wireless range extender to maximize your adapter reach.

Don’t ever mix data with VoIP


So, you are using the same wireless connection for data transmission and VoIP calling? Let us tell you that you are making a big mistake that will lead to interception, delays, and disturbance. Also, when you are using the same internet connection for data transmission and VoIP calling, the voice quality would be degraded. So it's better that you use BYOB (Bring Your Bandwidth) internet connection for VoIP and a separate data connection for the regular data transferring.

Optimize your Quality of Service settings


If you are using the internet for any purpose, then it is very important that you optimize your Quality of Service settings. Quality of Service or QoS refers to any technology that end-users use to manage the data traffic. It is important to reduce the latency, packet loss, and jitter while making calls over an internet connection.

While you are all set to use your US virtual number in any areas such as Florida (1- 689), New Jersey (1- 201) and so on, make sure you optimize your QoS settings properly. The ideal QoS settings for VoIP are as below.

• UDP/5060 – Priority: High

• UDP/6060 – Priority: High

• UDP/16384 to 32768 – Priority: High

Secure your connection before using VoIP over it


As your US virtual phone number is going to make calls on different areas such as California (1-209), and Texas (1-210) over an internet connection, you need to ensure that it’s safe and protected against cyber and Denial of Service attacks. You can prevent these by installing a SIP-enabled firewall during your network setup. This is the first line of defense to protect your VoIP set from threats.

Final words


There is no second opinion that VoIP has revolutionized business communication on many fronts. However, the success of this technology in your business landscape depends on how diligently and rightly you are using it. Buy it from a reliable resource and implement these tips while using it.

3 Security Risks On Your Phone You May Not Know About

Smartphones make life convenient. Today, phones let you shop, control home lighting, and bank from the palm of your hand.

But that convenience comes with security risks. Phones contain so much personal data that cybercriminals often exploit mobile devices to gain access to bank accounts and home networks.

Want to keep your phone safe? Here's three security risks to smartphone users you may not be aware of.

1. Open or Unsecured Wifi


Most of us access the internet on the go on our smartphones to avoid going over our data limits. But we don't think about is that the connection we're accessing may not be safe. 

A security experiment by V3 proved this when three British politicians had their PayPal, social media and VoIP connections hacked.

How can you avoid getting hacked?

1. Stay off of free wifi as much as possible.

2. Don't access personal info like bank accounts when using free wifi services.

3. Use a VPN when connecting to open wifi networks to keep hackers from accessing data

2. Social Engineering

Webroot defines social engineering as "the art of manipulating people so they give up confidential information."

 An IBM study discovered mobile users are three times more likely to become victims of phishing attacks (a form of social engineering).

One way cybercriminals often fool people is through email. Because personal and business email is often viewed in the same inbox, it is easier for victims to mistake an email sent to their business email address with a personal one.

Social engineering emails often appear to come from a legitimate company you do business with. These emails contain links that redirect you to a site that looks similar to a company's official website.

Common signs of phishing emails include:

4. Misspelled words and poor grammar

5. Asking you to verify your password or financial information

6. The email is addressed to a different email address than yours If you are the victim of a phishing attack, you can report it to the IC3, a division of the FBI that deals with cyberfraud.

3. Data Leakage on Mobile Dating Apps

Mobile apps often collect tons of unnecessary data about you and sells it to advertisers and dating apps are perticulaly agressive on the data they collect and how it is used. According to a recent investigation by ProPrivacy.com, collect and store all the data you provide as well as any content, like messages, made in the app. Many dating apps also keep tabs on your location and retain all your messages and personal information long after you close your account. For example, the dating app Grinder clearly states in their privacy policy that "when you send an instant message (which may include photos or location) to other users... we will retain the messages."

Even worse, when a user signs up for the popular app Tinder, they may unknowingly give the company the right to store, use, or edit personal information and even publish that information on other sites or in online search results. If you want to date online, keep the personal information you provide through dating sites to a minimum and don't use apps with perticularly liberal privacy policies.

4. Fake Apps

Mobile apps provide an easy way for cybercriminals to install banking trojans or access your home network. According to McAfee, banking trojans increased by 77% in 2018. To stay protected, don't install any device outside of your phone manufacturer's app store.

Wrapping It Up
Only you can protect yourself from getting hacked. Follow the tips above to keep your personal information out of the hands of hackers.

A Deeper Insight on Data Archiving


Data archiving is becoming more and more popular with businesses and companies. Basically, it is a process of transferring not-so-frequently-used data to a separate storage location for future uses. This way, data archiving ensures that your data remains intact and safe even when you do not use it frequently.

Undoubtedly, businesses deal with enormous amounts of data daily. However, not all the information is useful. To avoid any loss of evidences, facts and figures; companies prefer to archive their data such that it can be used at a later stage if needed.

Things to Remember For Data Archiving


  • Compliance
The foremost thing that one needs to remember when it comes to choosing archive software is that the data must stay compliant with data retention policies even when it is archived. More often than not, each company has its own set of policies when it comes to data archiving. These need to be taken care of right from the beginning.
  • Storage Medium
Where the data is stored is one of the most important components involved in data archiving. Businesses often choose to store their data in disk, tape or cloud. However, more and more organizations are shifting to cloud storage as this forms a more dynamic and flexible solution.
  • Copies
It is always recommended to store data at more than a single location or platform. This will make sure that the data you want to archive is always available and is never compromised on. As most of the data is stored in the cloud, it is a good practice.
  • Data Knowledge
Having in-depth knowledge of the data in question is of utmost importance. As the owner, you must be aware of the type and properties of the data. This is essential because such knowledge will help you in judging which data is to be archived. This will help you in ensuring that only the relevant data is available
  • Data Retention Provider
Once you have confirmed that certain data is to be archived, the next step is to choose the right cloud provider. It is highly recommended to check the standards of the cloud backup provider. An organization which has experience in this field should be preferred as it can prove to be precious if there is ever a scenario of data loss. Experience always comes in handy!
  • Integrity
Just archiving the data is not sufficient. It is also important to keep a constant check on the integrity of the data. The reason for this is pretty simple. As the data is stored and not used regularly, there is always a chance that such data might lose its integrity if kept unchecked. Therefore, you must keep a tab on the archived data from time to time in order to make sure that data integrity is intact.

Finally, data archiving is not the same as data backup. While data backup is generally used for data protection in case of data loss, data archiving allows appropriate retention of data.
  • The Wrap Up
While it is important for the companies to archive the data from time to time, it is equally important to ensure that the data that is archived is properly stored and maintained.

Audiobook vs. Kindle vs. Book! Which one should I read?

Digital books or Traditional books which preferable to this generation?

Print or digital, Readers will always find a way to satiate the thirst of their digestion. Paper books came across a long way as a reader’s popular choice.

The reader, with the evolution of a hobby like reading a book, also came to know the era of the digital book like Audiobook and Kindle book.

Paper books are more about nostalgia regarding smelling and touching the pages while audiobook is rather entertaining and Kindle book is much more convenient to satisfy a number of book collections in a device.

In terms of portability, time and price preferences among physical books, audiobooks and Kindle books may vary for today’s bookworms. Here are the few pros and cons for the individual form of the books:

Pros of reading Physical Books:

• Reading in a paper-ink gives personal feeling to hold and touch the book.

•It initiates the reader’s senses via symbols and pictures on the pages. Resting upon this, one’s imagination will draw pictures anticipating the curiosity.

•Deeper meaning will unfold as the pages will come to an end through the depicted scene or the voice.

•Book reading increases better vocabulary to the readers.

•Readers can always go for a library or bookstore for their favorite physical copy.

Cons of reading Physical Books:

•Physical books can be comparatively costly than digital books like audiobook and Kindle book. As one needs to pay for each physical book every time they are to purchase one from the book store.

•Paper book is not as much lightweight in comparison to digital books.

•It’s not easy to travel with a large collection of physical books at a time. In such a case, one needs to make a minimum choice of paper book for carrying the book for traveling.

•Preferable paper books may not be available all the time in the store.

•Many modern publishers and writers now prefer audiobook and Kindle book for reaching more audiences via digital platforms.

Reading books in any form of reaching out to a reader towards the same goal. Then how it makes a difference in the form of the audiobook, let’s find out.

Pros of Audiobook reading:

•Learn audible work is offering entertainment as close as TV. The audiobook is basically listening to an audio tape.

•What if a reader prefers not to read the book using eyes? One may not be in the situation of holding a book and read it out; like gardening, cooking, driving, after a surgery. An audio book is there to read it out to the readers.

• Audiobooks are also helping to reduce stress and gain memory improvement. As the elders say, appropriate listening helps to memorize the content faster.

• The audiobook is the exact version of word to word of a physical book, so there are no chances to miss out anything from the real book so far.

• Audiobooks are now available in a digital music store like public music domain and personalized applications. Downloading an audiobook is much of downloading other audio files in the device.

Cons of Audiobook reading:

• Audiobooks are high in cost than a printed book.

• While readers purchasing an audiobook, he/she is also paying for the narrator, sound engineer and editor.

• Audiobook version is much more expensive than the E-book edition.

• Audiobook takes the same amount of attention as the paper book reading to follow the exact detail of the story via the narrator’s dialect. Get started with Audible, learn how does audible work and it has a wide range database of titles. Also get started with 50 best audiobooks for 2019

Kindle book is another reader’s popular choice in this era. Online retailer Amazon introduced this electronic device in 2007. Over time the Kindle is upgraded with many readers’ friendly features which make it another unique choice of reading for the users.

Pros of using Kindle book reading:

• Kindle book is much easier to carry as it is wireless. The reader may access the book collections without connecting it with the computer.

• Amazon offers the largest collection of digital books in Amazon online store for Kindle book readers. Kindle book initiates the demand of E-Book in the market for such collections.

• The reader can subscribe to an electronic newspaper version or buy a book on Amazon and download it into the Kindle device later.

• Kindle devices are also offering PDF, DOC, and TXT files in the personal Kindle mail address.

• Kindle book reading has some amazing features which will give you an upgraded experience over a physical book reading. Highlighting and bookmarking system are now available in improved versions.

• While reading a book with high or poor lighting condition, the Kindle device will adjust the lighting condition for the eye care of the reader.

Cons of using Kindle book reading:

• Kindle device is sometimes very flimsy. It becomes inactive without prior notice.

• Built-in Wi-Fi system may fail to catch the signal around by the device sometime.

• Kindle has limited space for the number of books. There is no SD card slot for storing more books or try a book of reader’s choice if needed.

• Book researching option is not an easy one on a Kindle device.

• A selected passage is hard to find through the search function where one can memorize the exact page or section in case of printed books.

• Huge collections of books are also creating confusion to lose track of preferable choice books in Kindle device.

• Printed books, audio books or Kindle books reader will always find a way to reach out its digestion.

I do believe in the magic of dead leaves printing but referring to the aforementioned pros and cons of the paper book, audiobook, and Kindle book, I can conclude that the Kindle book is a much better device in terms of convenience and also as far as engaging the reader is concerned. With the audience for this particular kind of book reading

available for the new generation, it can be declared as a clear winner in comparison to the other two means.

Modern Tech Tools That Are Perfect For Teachers in 2019

When we talk about education and technology, there pops out several reasons why or how technology is an important aspect of education. Technology provides students with better imagination and understanding. It helps the students to learn better. Since this helps the teacher to understand the capacity or ability of a student, it also helps to build a better relationship with a good amount of trust. Starting from computers, laptops, and tablets, technology helps both the students and the teacher to multiply their knowledge with other resources available online than that of the only knowledge in the book. In addition, high tech gadgets help the teachers to keep engage the students with the amazing technologies which also help to not fade their interests away. With better and high technology gadgets, the teacher finds various ways to raise the curiosity of the students while they study every bit of the subject.

We will now talk about 5 such high tech gadgets that have made learning and teacher faster and smarter.

1. Smart Table This board has been taken down on the ground from the wall. Smart Tables work just in the same as the smart board does. In fact, it catches the attention of the students and keeps them engaged. These tables have 40 unique touch features while a video is playing. The teachers can also use these tables for making the tests and solutions of GMAT mocks more understandable by discussing it with the students on the table.

2. Microscopic Camera This is not an ordinary microscope, it is much more than it. Well, with the normal day microscope, a student one by one could come and see the extra small living beings but with a microscopic camera, you can plug in the wire to your laptop/tablet and in no time you and your students can see the images of the specimen in the display.

3. The Intelli Scanner With the Intelli Scanner, you can easily organize every book, DVD, or any sort of item in the class that comes with a bar code. This high tech gadget keeps the record plus identifies the object just with a short scan of the bar code.

4. Cambridge Audio G2 It takes an eternity for your voice to reach to the students when either you have tons of them in one class, or if you are a college professor. Cambridge Audio G2 works on wifi, can last up to 10 hours straight and most importantly, is loud and clear enough for all your students to understand what you speak.

5. Wacom Inkling For a teacher of art and sketching, inkling might be the most useful high tech tool. Inkling helps you to sketch on any paper surface and then directly transfer it to your computer. It is not only used for drawings, but also for marking important notes from the PowerPoint presentation, Ms. Word document and as well as from the theoretical notes from GMAT mocks.

High tech gadgets make it easier for the teachers to implement their knowledge into the best version for the students.

6 Smart Tools To Make Your Home Safe

Is the security of your family making you anxious while you are away? Do you want to make your home a safe place for your loved ones by preventing intruders from breaking in or avoiding potential injuries?

Fortunately, technology enables you to monitor and safeguard your home and your family from anywhere you go. There are many smart, remote tools, allowing you to control your home security using your mobile phone. 

Here are the most essential and useful smart tools you should get to make your home safe:

Remote Home Monitoring

The security of your house and family is your top priority wherever you go. Using remote home monitoring systems allows you to remotely monitor and control your home for a plethora of conditions like a burglar, flooding, carbon monoxide, pipes busting, etc.

You can keep an eye on your pets and when your children get back home from school. When someone suspicious breaks into your home or something unpleasant happens, you receive an alert on your smartphone, allowing you to react instantly.

Smart Doorbells



Source

Imagine you could see who is knocking at your door by merely looking at your phone. What if you doorbell could log all the time someone visits your home?

Installing a practical and futuristic smart doorbell prevents intruders from crossing the boundary of your home. A Los Angeles Police Department pilot program held in 2015 found that Ring’s smart doorbells reduced burglaries in neighborhoods by around 55%.

A smart doorbell is an internet-capable doorbell with built-in cameras, speakers and a microphone. It is easy and quick to install. Whenever someone presses the doorbell, you receive an alert on your phone, and you can see using the camera which is at the door. You can even talk with them using the speakers and microphone.

Smart LED Lights

More than 70 percent of burglaries take place when nobody is home. Using smart remote-controlled LED lights, you can make the lights pretend that someone is home when your house is empty, using your smartphone. You can modify brightness for every room and turn lights inside and outside on or off on a schedule.

Smart LED lights are especially useful when you are out of the city or want to save electricity while on vacation.

Keyless Home Locks

Keys of traditional locks are susceptible to being picked by intruders, or you may lose them accidentally. However, with keyless home locks, you do not have to fumble around with keys or fear to lose them as there is no physical key involved.

All you need is to type an access code on the keypad of your lock to enter your house. Only those having the access code can unlock your home, allowing no undetected strangers break in the house. Just make sure you choose keyless home locks only from reliable home safety equipment and different alarm packages.

Automated Security Gates

Also known as automatic driveway gates, security gates are the first layer of security for your home.

If an intruder cannot even get through your home, they cannot get to the front door of your house. These security gates give you protection and monitoring capabilities. You can control who can enter your space and view which tries to access your property maliciously.

An automatic security gate provides a greater sense of security while your kids play in the yard, as you know they will not have to deal with strangers strolling in the street.

Fall Detection Device

Do you have elderly parents or grandparents or someone with a disability at your home?

If yes, a fall detection device is a must for you.

According to WHO (World Health Organization), every year around 6, 46,000 individuals die from falls worldwide. Adults older than 65 years suffer the most significant risks of fatal falls.

To prevent this from happening to your senior loved ones, you must install a fall detection device at your home. This device has detection sensors that can differentiate between daily activities and a sudden fall.

If the device senses an out of place movement, it will instantly send a notification to the chosen phone number which could either your phone number or emergency service.

Conclusion

Smart security systems are becoming more affordable, allowing more and more people to protect their property and families. These come packaged with a professional security system, or you can get these tools from a local home improvement store for DIY.

How Technology Can Protect You from Check Fraud

Check fraud is one of the biggest concerns facing businesses today. Criminals are constantly coming up with new ways to beat the systems that companies put in place to combat fraud. It is a never-ending struggle to protect a business from fraud. Despite businesses embracing technology to replace using traditional paper checks, thieves can still take the information available online and use it to steal a victim’s identity or to get lines of credit.

Fortunately, there are always new safety measures being developed that help to protect businesses and keep them a step ahead of criminals. The following practices are some of the best ways to help protect your company from check fraud.

Payroll Services and Direct Deposit

One of the biggest problems with paying your employees by check is that most checks will have the personal information of both the employee and the business written for anyone to see. An enterprising person can easily use the information they glean from a check to commit fraud against your company.

The best way to combat this is to use a payroll service to handle paying your employees. These companies can skip the step of paper checks altogether through direct deposit. Plus, payroll companies will have all the financial information concerning the money you are paying out saved for later access. This can make filing taxes much easier to deal with.

Utilize Advanced Digital Printing

It’s often the case that even while businesses have advanced to direct deposit, not all employees want this type of payment method. For those situations, you can utilize advanced digital check printers.

Digital printers provide secure check printing. These printers can implement watermarks only visible by UV light, provide confidential printing, and offer authentication procedures for optimal security.

While it will cost money up front to get the software and materials needed to print your own checks, the security it provides is well worth the initial expense.

Switch to Smart Payment Options

For many smaller businesses or those that employ contract workers, you don’t even need to deal with the costs of hiring a payroll service. Instead, you can use the newest online payment options to pay your workers instantly.

Fortunately, many cell phone providers have developed ways to pay for goods. These apps, such as PayPal or Venmo, allow businesses to easily send money with the swipe of a button. This eliminates the risks of check fraud since there is no paper trail that can be forged.

Just keep in mind that while these types of apps will eliminate the need to use paper checks, they still have some flaws that can be exploited. Phones and online accounts can be hacked if users are careless with their personal information.

Invest in a Smart Safe


Many businesses make the mistake of leaving their checkbook in an unsecured area where managers or employees can easily access it. This isn’t smart because someone could easily steal a page of checks and use them before anyone noticed. If you must use paper checks, then you should always keep them locked in a secure location.

Nowadays, there are plenty of options for smart safes. These safes provide the standard key or lock-number combination system, but they also have more advanced options like biometric fingerprint or retina scanners. That way, you can ensure the only person accessing your safe and your checks is you.

With technology having reduced the need to use paper checks, you would think that there would be less fraud, but sadly that isn’t the case. This is why businesses should always make an effort to keep their checking information secure. By using a payroll service or secure printing, limiting the number of checks you write, and keeping your checks as secure or making them as needed, you will limit the chances of fraudulent activity affecting your company.

5 of the Best Smart Kitchen Appliances

People can often forget that their high-tech lives don’t have to stop in the kitchen. While traditionally filled with manual tools like a rolling pin or hand mixer, appliances are becoming more and more sophisticated. Just like your phone and laptop, kitchen appliances can come with operating systems that make them work as a smart device.

You might wonder though, why would you need any of these? Simple bakery equipment is enough, why would you need a refrigerator with Wi-Fi? Well to make your cooking process faster and easier. While some appliances are better at this than others, you can make cooking and baking more fun—plus, these smart devices serve as wonderful decoration.

1. Wemo Wi-Fi-Enabled Crock-Pot

If you enjoy stews, curries, and easy meals, then a crock-pot might be in your future. However, the Wemo Wi-Fi-Enabled Crock-Pot makes the already simple crockpot even more effortless. With Wi-Fi, you’re able to control the exact temperature and cook time of the food you’ve put inside. This product allows you to be precise and make dishes exactly how you want to!

2. Genican Scanner

This nifty appliance simply attaches to your trashcan. It’s an incredibly convenient tool that allows you to keep track of the items you throw away. For every item placed in the trashcan, the Genican Scanner will scan the garbage, track what it is, and add the items to your shopping list. This gadget is perfect if you tend to be forgetful, or want to be mindful of the things you throw away.

3. Perfect Drink Smart Scale

The Perfect Drink Smart Scale is exactly what it sounds like. If you enjoy making cocktails at home, it can be easy to get the measurements incorrect or to forget what you’ve added. Luckily, this smart appliance weights every part of your drink precisely, resulting in the perfect drink.

Nothing is imbalanced when using this tool and is perfect if you enjoy hosting parties or having the occasional drink. It comes with a wide variety of drink recipes with the measurements. This product also comes with an app!

4. The June Oven

The June Over is truly one of a kind. It claims to serve the functions of 7 different appliances:

  • Convection oven
  • Air fryer
  • Dehydrator
  • Slow cooker
  • Broiler
  • Toaster
  • Warming drawer

This means you don’t need any other appliance in your kitchen. No need to lug out the clunky crock pot or set up the confusing and complicated dehydrator. If you’re looking for a product that can do it all and will save you a ton of money, the June Oven in for you. 

5. Nutribullet Balance Smart Blender

This oldie but goodie is a classic in the kitchen appliance world. For years, patrons have loved and raved about the Nutribullet. The Balance Smart Blender takes everything you love about the Nutribullet and offers you more.

Not only do you get to make delicious treats with his high-tech blender, but you’re also to track your calories, nutritional information, as well as keep your grocery list up to date. Whether it’s a smoothie, green juice, or sauce, the Nutribullet Balance Smart Blender is a trustworthy choice.

Final Thoughts

Kitchen appliances aren’t typically given more than a quick thought. But as they grow in technological advancement, their popularity will as well. If you’re interested in smart kitchen appliances, it’s smarter if you grab them before they’re gone. These products are slowly but surely making their way into the 2019 marketplace, and who knows what kind of gadgets we’ll have in 10 years.

Coding Careers You Can Do Remotely

Having the technical ability to write code is one of the most desired skills in today’s job market. The amount of jobs in this sector has increased yearly, so learning to write code can be a great career for people fresh out of school as well as those looking to change careers. It is also a popular career for people who prefer to work remotely.

There is a misconception that learning how to code is difficult. However, it actually isn’t as tough as people think, especially for problem solvers who enjoy finding the solution to difficult puzzles. One of the most popular methods of learning this skill is to attend a coding bootcamp of which there are numerous ones to choose from. The following are some of the careers in coding to consider that will enable you to work remotely.

1. Web Developer

A web developer is a one size fits all description for anyone who writes code as their primary job. Writing code is generally what developers, and that is what powers every website found on the internet. A web developer typically works with a website designer to turn their envisioned design into a functioning website.

Developers usually spend their days writing code in JavaScript, Ruby, Python, PHP and many other languages to build a website. When searching for a web development job, companies will state the specific coding language you should be knowledgeable about. With careers in this field averaging around $65k a year, it is a good option for people with general knowledge of coding.

2. Frontend Developer

A frontend developer is responsible for writing the code for the part of a website that users see. CSS, HTML and at times JavaScript are used to shape the functions and appearance of a website. The majority of what you see on a website, also known as the presentation layer, is written by front end developers. These can include animated icons, buttons and the basic text in blog posts.

However, some plugins that enable these things to work may be developed by someone else. Front end developers work with back end engineers to create apps and websites that are user-friendly and work as in ways that are intuitive for users. People in this career can make upwards of the high five figures in salary, meaning this is a very in-demand job.

3. Backend Engineers

Backend engineers or developers are responsible for the server side of coding that enables a website to work. They integrate code written by front end developers with the backend code, which is where data like user accounts, content, or anything kept in databases is stored for access.

They mostly work with databases, APIs and languages like Python, PHP, and Ruby. However, they are also familiar with the frontend codes like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. This allows them to ensure both types of code work together.

4. App Developer

An app developer is someone who builds applications for websites and mobile devices. The specific languages and skills they need depend on the platform the app is meant for like Windows, Android or iOS.

Basically, a website designer designs a prototype and user interface. The app developer makes this website function on mobile and tablet devices. Developers who work on the most popular apps can earn well into the mid-six figures, which makes this among the most popular careers for coders.

With the tech industry booming, it makes sense to pursue a career in coding. The careers can be quite lucrative, and they cater toward people who prefer to work remotely. This is why writing code is a job skill so in demand and should continue to be as long as technology keeps improving.

3 Upcoming Technologies for Mobile Phones

One of the most frustrating qualities of modern technology is the way that it is continually changing, usually faster than most consumers are able to keep up with. 

It’s true what they say about when you purchase a new computer the technology will have already become outdated before its warranty has expired. And it makes little difference if the technology is for mobile phones, computers or audio/video equipment – they all rapidly become outdated as soon as you bring your purchase home.

Recently bought a new phone? This news might just hit you the hardest. 2019 is shaping up to be the beginning of a wave of technological advances for mobile phones. The following are some of the new technologies that will debut this year and in the near future.

Foldable Touchscreens

The idea of a foldable touchscreen for mobile devices has been floating around for several years now and finally there will be a couple of products integrating this technology on the market this year. Yup, Huawei and Samsung are both bringing mobile phones with a folding touchscreen to the market in 2019.

Both phones will have the ability to fold to where they are the size of a typical cell phone as well as being able to be unfolded so that the screen is the size of smaller tablets. Of course, the prices for these devices are expensive, so if you buy, you’ll probably want to protect them with something close to bubble wrap. Since that isn’t feasible the next best thing is to make sure you have the strongest case available for these new folding touchscreen phones.

Mobile Augmented Technology

Most cell phones act as all-in-one devices that can handle all your communication and entertainment needs. With more intelligent devices like iPhones and Samsung Galaxy on the market, cell companies have had to create new ways for a device to perform to keep consumers interested. Mobile augmented technology is one of the new technologies mobile phones will be able to perform soon.

This technology mixes accelerometers, GPS and the internet to superimpose digitally stored information on the real world. To visualize this, a good example would be when you travel to a new city. You can conceivably point your phone at a building and be able to quickly pull up the history of a building’s construction or information about any of the businesses housed in it, and so forth. All the required technology for this is already available in many mobile devices, so it is only a matter of time before this feature will be perfected and come pre-installed in new phones.

5G

Next to the folding phone, the most anticipated new technology is probably 5G mobile communications. This tech will be getting a formal kickoff at CES 2019, but the momentum will keep building throughout the year as different carriers switch to it and more advanced cell phone towers get erected.

In the three years since Verizon said it would start field-testing 5G, the concept has caused some of the most buzz in the history of technology. The main benefits for switching to 5G is that consumers will be able to use multiple devices with differing connection speeds simultaneously, have access to much more bandwidth and devices using 5G will have faster response speeds. (Basically – faster and better internet access.)

The Future of Tech

Technology lovers have a lot of new things to look forward to in 2019 and the near future. With devices equipped with an enlarged folding touchscreen, 5G communications and mobile augmented tech, the way people use mobile devices is set to change immensely. Not only will it increase interest in technology as a whole, but these advances could very well change our entire lifestyles. That is exciting indeed.

Tips for Starting an E-Commerce Store

Very few things are more rewarding than starting your own business and watching it grow. There are many different reasons why people choose to start their own business. However, the main aim for most of them is to be successful enough to have the freedom to work at something they enjoy. One particular area that is currently very popular is to start an e-commerce business. An increasing number of people are choosing to shop online rather than endure the hassle of shopping on the high street. If you’d like to sell something, whether it's smartphones, the latest gadgets or TVs, here are some tips to help you get started. 

What Are Your Going to Sell and How are You Going to Get Your Products?


If you’re an artist, designer, or crafter, these decisions are easy. However, if you’re not that way inclined, you’re going to need a product or products to sell. There are two options if you want to sell products made by other creators or manufacturers. You can choose to have a stock of items or start selling online with the help of something called dropshipping. If you choose the dropshipping route, you don’t have to keep any stock. Instead, you take orders and pass them to the manufacturer, another retailer, or a wholesaler. They then ship the goods directly to the customer.

Once you’ve decided on a product you want to sell you, then have to find a supplier. It’s also a good idea to check out trade group websites. Trade shows are another way of connecting with suppliers.

Getting Your Store Up and Running


You’ll have to devise a name for your store, but once you have decided on a name that represents you and the services you offer, you’ll be able to organize hosting and domain registration for your e-commerce store website. The best name to choose is one that tells people what you’re offering.

The next decision to make is which platform will power your store. There are two choices. Self-hosted means you’re in charge of hosting, implementing, and maintaining your store. If you’re not that aux fait with the technical requirements, it will be best to hire a developer. Hosted is the other option and this is when a hosting e-commerce platform takes care of the hosting and server maintenance for you. This is the option most non-technical people choose because it is far more user-friendly.

Choose a Payment Gateway


Another important decision you’ll have to make is the choice of payment gateway. Your customers are going to need a way they can easily pay for their purchases. A payment gateway is a merchant service that processes payments for online and offline retailers. When making your decision pay attention to fees that might be charged, the payment types accepted, and whether the payment systems can be integrated with your e-commerce platform.

The final consideration is to think about how you’re going to market your business. The best way to do this is to make sure your store shows up on search engine results.

Digital Kanban Boards Go Mobile: Is This the Future of Project Management?


Digital Kanban Boards Go Mobile: Is This the Future of Project Management?
Have you heard about the Kanban process? If you haven’t, then chances are that it is probably already implemented in one form or another in your workplace, you just didn’t know it was the Kanban process! If you are unfamiliar with the world of Kanban, essentially what this is, is a method of managing knowledge work and there is an emphasis on work being completed just in time, whilst not overloading team members. Kanban is a process that was first used in the mechanical engineering process, however, it is now used across all industries, and IT development is a sector has recently also adopted the Kanban method.

Visual Project Management

The Kanban process is fantastic for those who are visual thinkers. With this process, you will be able to see all your work laid out on the task board and you can see exactly what work you need to achieve in order to complete a task. The Kanban process is also great as it acknowledges that workers will be overwhelmed when there are too many tasks on their board and that keeping work pared down to the basics will ensure workers continue to stay motivated.

So, how do online Kanban boards work? Well, each time you have a task that needs to be completed, this should be written on its own specific card and it should then be placed on the Kanban board online. Kanban boards are great to organise work as you can categorise them according to their own criteria and you can then move them along your board to show how far along they are in the process and this will also give you a good idea of how much work still has to be completed for this task. It is also very satisfying to see the cards eventually end up in the done column at the very end of your board.

While Kanban was once restricted to just being a physical board, it has now moved online and into the digital world and there are now some amazing visual project management apps that can really benefit the efficiency of your workplace. These online digital boards and apps will help managers get the most out of their team and will allow you to complete projects smoothly, on time and to a high quality.

Are Online Kanban Boards the Future?

So, you may be wondering whyyou need an online kanban board and what an app can offer you that a physical board cannot. The biggest advantage with using Kanban boards online is that everything is happening in real time. This is especially important for those businesses who have staff and offices based across the world as anyone can make a change anywhere in the world and staff in all other offices will be able to see these changes in real time.

Another major reason why digital Kanban boards are far more popular nowadays than physical boards is simply due to the fact that they are portable. So, team members don’t have to be glued to a physical Kanban board and instead they can access and modify task boards while on the go. Many digital Kanban boards also have apps now too, which means team members can access all of their work tasks with just the touch of a button. These apps will give you a process for managing documents and it is far easier to provide other team members with the documents that they need to be able to work on the tasks that they have been assigned to.

What many people find great about online Kanban boards and Kanban apps is that they are a communal place too. A Kanban board quickly becomes the natural gathering hub where members of staff can discuss any issues that they may be facing with their assigned tasks, colleagues can help each other to solve problems and you can also learn from each other. Kanban boards show the accountable record of workflow and as everyone can see the discussion being held on here, this promotes transparency and a collaborative approach within the work place which is absolutely essential for effective project management.

Final Thoughts

As more and more businesses implement online digital Kanban boards into their workplace, it looks like we are only set to see a rise in this being used in future project management projects. If you feel like your current project management structure is not up to task, why not implement a Kanban digital board. This will allow staff to be held accountable for their own tasks, improveproductivity and you will be able to make your business, as a whole, more efficient.

Microsoft MCSE 70-744: Top Secrets For Passing Networking Exam


The Azure Cloud of the Microsoft family is always growing to satisfy the needs of the IT professionals. This growth involves the delivery of knowledge to individuals who will help in continuing the evolving technology. It is necessary to certify these individuals upon their successful completion of the exam. Microsoft 70-744 is an intended exam to award professionals with an MCSE certification on Windows Server 2016 security. MCSE certification is credited to everyone who takes 70-744 exam under one condition. The candidate must demonstrate an extensive understanding of the following domains which form the basis of exam setting.
ü  Threat detection breaching and implementation of solutions          (15-20%)
ü  File encryption and disk implementation                                           (25-30%)
ü  Virtualized infrastructure security                                                     (5-10%)
ü  Networked infrastructure security                                                     (10-15%)
ü  Privileged identities management                                                     (25-30%)
ü  Specified workload security implementation                                     (5-10%)

70-744 is a professionally designed exam to put into consideration all these skills based on the percentage of every respective domain. However, Microsoft provides an Exam Ref that unionizes the exam objectives strategically to help you prepare for the exam efficiently.

Consequently, Microsoft has important peculiar features of the exam preparation which are Exam Replay with or without practice test. The candidates will utilize this opportunity of doing exam replays as a way of building self-confidence to tackle 70-744 exam which is not easy to pass. It is the offer from Microsoft that needs to be exhausted before it vanishes!


Audience Targeted

MCSE certification is ideal for professionals who currently work as system administrators or network engineers and are concerned with network security tasks. This certification will take them through a deep dive of understanding various concepts.

It is also important for any IT professional who typically uses software that is configured to use Windows Server environments. He/she will understand the logic behind the managed access and cloud services techniques.

Core Requirements

Once the candidate is ready for 70-744 exam, one should have understood the network security threats solutions. The exam needs the candidate to demonstrate the professional implementation of the CIA in a system.

It is also a basic requirement for the candidate to have the in-depth understanding of the different encryption techniques. This is one way of securing data by making it viewable to particular users who have the privileges to access.

How I Prepared for 70-744 Exam


I have worked in an IT company as a generalist of various IT tasks and I always hated this. I decided to get certified after I realized that I have a passion for studying Windows Server security and its general implementation. Despite the fact that I have been in the field, I had to start afresh as a novice learner in technology arena because I have not had a chance to see what specialist do in my place of work. I had to come up with a perfect approach that helped me to pass the exam without so much mental frustration as the certified do say. However, I am proud to share the techniques that I consider crucial to every candidate intending to do 70-744 exam or any IT exam elsewhere.
ü  Analyze the course outline- having known what you are needed to understand then it is easy to implement the concepts during your learning. Remember that the course outline is like a dictator to the examiners. They must play within the course outline or else the exam will be flagged invalid. The course outline is the only thing we share with the examiners.
ü  Set all tools- most of this certification exam involves a lot of practices that are accompanied by simulators/emulators. It is important that you set all these tools on standby before you begin your learning. It is important to always settle because you do not need to stop in search of some key requirements in the middle of your studies.
ü  Study in a noise-free environment- disturbances such as noise hinders your understanding. Let us take an example where you study in a TV room and your family members are having fun, you will have a big problem in figuring out the main concepts. The conducive environment to study is where it is quiet and calm.
ü  Conceptualize- whenever you learn any concept, try to figure out how the knowledge is implemented in the real world. Every IT concept is intended to solve a problem in the society. Your learning should be based on the current inventions you see and those which you imagine.
ü  Implement-the training always provides a sample implementation of every concept that you come across. It is your duty to put into practice every sample that is designed to enhance the understanding of a certain topic. In fact, the conclusion of the sample implementations is always tested as the exam is more of theory than practice.
ü  Believe in passing- if you go to an examenvironment without trusting yourself or being confident then you might fail at last. Lack of self-esteem is the key point that explains the failures that usually happen in the exam. Remember that some of the questions are only twisted to test your ability to tackle life's scenarios in IT arena.
Where to Learn
The provision of the learning materials is often facilitated by interested partners who also want to see technology being transformed by you. The best training materials are always considered to give the best performance. Successful IT specialists do recommend the candidates to train.
Digital Files
The revision that is done for an IT exam should remain digital in the sense that the method used should be technological rather than traditional methods. This involves the use of https://www.examcollection.com/70-744.html from VCE files that are opened by a programmed computer application called VCE exam simulator. It provides efficient revision which addresses challenges faced by individuals in IT field. A number of them are available on the internet. Communicate with candidates that have already passed this exam, they definitely know which sites are worth paying attention to while preparing for the exam.
Conclusion
Networking is a common term in every IT field because it ensures that there is efficient communication between links in the most secure manner. Receiving this certification is like having the backbone of technology in your hands. MSCE certification remains the best in networking.

The Top 4 TV Deals Besides Netflix

The Top 4 TV Deals Besides Netflix
Featuring thousands of shows and movies on its site, Netflix has taken the streaming world by storm since its founding in 1997, with nearly 7.5 million customers joining its customer base in the first quarter of 2018 alone.

However, while other TV streaming sites and bundles haven’t quite reached an iconic ‘Netflix and chill’ status, there are still some TV viewers that find themselves dissatisfied with what the popular streaming site alone can offer. Thus, many people have started looking into alternative options for streaming their favorite TV shows and movies online.

Luckily for them – and for you if you have similarly found the perks of Netflix alone to be underwhelming – there are other options.

Why Are Viewers Turning to Alternative TV Deals?

Although still able to boast its success as the #1 streaming platform worldwide, services and TV deals beyond Netflix have been gaining popularity in recent years as well.

This may be due to the increasing cost for most Netflix membership plans, which has made deals like Verizon triple play – which bundles gigabit connection, TV, and phone services – a relatively budget-friendly option to turn to.

Some people are also just ready to find some new content that hasn’t yet been added to world’s favorite streaming platform. While Netflix still has an impressive offering of media for viewing, for those with more specific tastes, or who are otherwise up for trying out the two to four-week trials offered by some popular alternative streaming networks, TV viewers have no shortage of television options.

In addition to Verizon’s Fios triple play deal, listed below are four other top contenders gaining popularity as Netflix alternatives.

Top Alternatives for TV Deals


1. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is just one of the perks Amazon Prime members can gain access to when signing up for their prime membership account. However, the video service – now #2 to Netflix for streaming – can also be bought alone, without the prime membership, at a cost of $8.99 per month.

Amazon Prime Video features TV shows from dozens of channels, movies, as well as original content such as the popular shows “Man in the High Castle” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”.

2. Hulu

Hulu is another top TV and movie streaming platform, as a viewing option very similar to Netflix. Starting at $7.99 per month for its lowest-cost subscription (with an upgraded commercial-free plan available for $11.99) the pricing is similar to its top competitors.

One perk of this streaming platform is its feature of offering episodes of shows currently on air, typically allowing access to new episodes one day after airing on their respective networks. Hulu also now offers a Live TV package (at a pricier $39.99 per month), which allows users to live stream 50+ top live and on-demand channels, such as ESPN and popular news channels.

3. Acorn TV

For TV viewers in the United States who can’t get enough of the most popular British dramas and comedies, Acorn TV is an increasingly popular American streaming service providing viewer access to a myriad of TV shows from the UK as well as other countries.

At $4.99 a month, it can be an economical, commercial-free, on-demand TV deal for those still reeling over the end of Downton Abbey and who are looking for a new engaging British show to incite the same excitement.

Acorn TV is available to be streamed on several platforms, including Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or simply your iPad or computer.

4. YouTube TV

Available at $35 a month, YouTube TV is a recent premium streaming service offered by YouTube featuring cable network streaming, live broadcast television, as well as shows from other popular entertainment, news, and sports networks. In other words, it’s basically a cable replacement, which might better explain the cost.

YouTube TV can be viewed on Google Chromecast, Android and iOS devices, tablets, and an Apple TV.

How To Effectively Boost Your Business With Technology

There are many available resources out there these days that have a purpose of making your life easier, and many apps and resources that are developed specifically for convenience and communication. The ways that businesses communicate with their customers has changed drastically over the last five to ten years. Using some of these resources to help develop your businessand gain a larger customer base could have incredibly impacting results if approached in the right way. Below are some ideas and inspiration for quick and easy ways to boost your business.

Social Media

The advancements and accessibility of social media in just the last five years has had an astounding impact on the way consumers gain information. Apps such as Facebook and Snapchat have now become mainstream sources for news updates. Twitter and Instagram enable photos and stories to be shared publicly to the masses. Bearing this in mind, a well thought out and impressive social media campaign could be what is missing from a serious boost in your business. Depending on what you are offering to your customers, by pinpointing your target market, you can quickly begin to connect with your customers remotely.

Trending Topics

Whether you run a café, a car dealership or a cab service, you can tailor a social media platform to work for you. Using a hashtag can be incredibly powerful and can be used to get a subject ‘trending’. For example, if you are offering a one-time only deal, by sharing an image on Twitter, Facebook,and Instagram with relevant info and a hashtag including a keyword that you want to start trending, you can start to spread the message of your business. Using available features to give live updates can be useful if you are running events, as live videos have become a regular feature of our newsfeeds. Email marketing is another practical and manageable way to boost business as 91% of customers check their email on a daily basis. Using email to inform customers of trends and offers can again bring in business with the touch of a button.

Customer Loyalty

Of course, this is an obvious point, but spending time devising a strategy as to how best connect and communicate with customers can have long-lasting results. By implementing specific offers and deals to loyal customers, you can encourage these customers to return to your business; loyalty and points cards are a good way to do this. It can be as advanced or uncomplicated as you want; coffee shops often have loyalty cards that require ten stamps for a free drink, for example. Other shops and businesses may offer more advanced loyalty cards to collect points which a customer can then track online. By making your customers feel valued, you can ensure happy customers not only return, but spread the message. Sometimes the downfall of a business can be to not pay attention to their current customers in the quest to find new ones. This can potentially affect and impact those who have been loyal to you, so don’t forget the old just to find the new.

3 Advances in Bio-metrics and Smartphone Security

The term “biometrics” is one of those words that many of us are familiar with, but we might not be able to define it if we were on a quiz show. To help you win that top prize on Jeopardy someday, biometrics are body measurements. Thanks to some pretty amazing advancements in technology, we now use different types of biometrics as security features in our devices like smartphones. As Study notes, biometric security measures the unique characteristics that we have in our bodies; in turn, these biological traits will verify who we are and give us access to our portable devices. 

Or, as Android Central states, instead of having to remember the bunch of letters, numbers and characters that make up a traditional password, in the land of biometric security, we are the password. Here are three of biometric's coolest applications:

Iris Recognition

Iris recognition works by measuring and scanning a smartphone owner’s iris pattern. Each one of us has a different pattern of color our irises, so smartphones that are equipped with this form of biometric security can scan the user’s eye to verify his or her identity. For example, if you own a Samsung Galaxy S8, to use the iris scanner to authenticate yourself, you will lift the phone to eye level at arm’s length, and wait for the innovative scanner to capture the iris data from your peepers. The Galaxy S8 is able to do this process pretty quickly and unlock your

phone. The technology also works from a longer distance and will not get fussy and stop working if your eyes are not perfectly centered with the phone.

Fingerprint Scanners

Another cool type of biometric security involves fingerprint scanners. As you have probably been told from the time you were a kid, your fingerprints are unique, so they are a reliable way to allow — or not allow — someone into a smartphone. Fingerprint scanners work by measuring the arches, loops and whorls on the finger. If the sensor detects your unique print, it will let you get into your phone.

As M2Sys.com notes, while fingerprint scanners used to be used only by the government, the military and law enforcement, they have become increasingly popular over the past five years and are now found in a number of smartphones, including the Touch ID feature that is found on many recent-model iPhones.

Facial Recognition
As the name implies, this type of biometric security uses your face to gain access to your smartphone. Apple announced Face ID not too long ago, and it has gotten a lot of attention as people wonder if it is possible to “fool” this form of security with a photo or other methods. 

As Wired notes, a team from the website tried hard to crack the Face ID system in a number of ways without any success. The new Apple iPhone X, which features Face ID, uses more than a 2D facial check; it will use a grid of 30,000 infrared dots projected onto a face, along with an infrared camera reading the distortion of the grid to create a 3D image of your face.

As the years go by, it will be interesting to see what other advances will be made in biometric security and its application to smartphones. It is nice to know that we no longer have to recall complicated passwords to access our trusty devices and rely instead on certain unique parts of our bodies.

Why We Need to Understand Aging

Young people today are understood like no other generation before. Their likes, dislikes, reading habits, political affiliation, routes, check-ins, friends, and shopping habits are categorized and stored by the big Internet giants like Google, Facebook, and more. Young people’s habits are known, the data has been stored, and they can be studied. It is not young people that we need to understand, it is the seniors of our population. Aging is an inevitability that we all face, and there are multi-billion industries that work towards prolonging youth and defying aging at every turn.

What we need to do, however, is understand aging. We need to understand the sociological impact for the betterment of our society. We need to understand how to take care of our aging population. We need to know more about aging, because we are living longer than ever, and we are living beyond their savings. What do we do with our aging population?

We need to understand aging so that we can prepare our society and our infrastructure for the future if every young person today is looking at a life of a century or more. With the amount of money and research going in to stopping or even reversing aging through stem cell research and beyond, it’s possible that we will live longer than that. As such, we need to make changes to our society. We need people who are qualified and have doctorates in the process of aging. We need people with gerontology PhDs such as these at https://gradschool.cuchicago.edu/academics/doctoral/edd-phd-gerontology-leadership/.

We need specialists who will help direct businesses, city planners, and politicians towards building a future that takes into account our unprecedented lifespan. We have millions of seniors who will outlive their savings and need to rely on Medicaid. This isn’t just a problem for the seniors of today, but every person alive and every person who will be born.

We need everyone to be aware of this issue, and everyone needs to have an understanding of gerontology. It isn’t just a degree that will help you take care of our senior population, it’s a degree that will help direct our society to a more sustainable future.

Our parents and grandparents are going to need more help as they age. We need people who will be there to help us learn how to take care of them and their advanced medical and social issues. We also need people to help us find them housing, support, and more. We need people who have studied gerontology to take care of our seniors, and we need them to produce studies that will help create cities and technologies that address our aging population.

Studying gerontology isn’t just about taking care of our elders, it’s about making the future a place we can all live. Advancements have changed the face of our earth entirely, and we need to be innovative and forward thinking if we are going to have a bright and happy future.