The Humanity Behind the Invention of the Computer

What would existence be like without a computer? It’s difficult to imagine but it wasn’t that long ago that people didn’t have them. Now many of us carry numerous computers, i.e. laptops, e-readers, and smartphones.How did our culture go from no computers to having so much access to them in such a short time? George Dyson, a science historian, asks this question in his book, Turing’s Cathedral.Dyson has a distinctive vantage point that makes him the perfect author for this book. He’s the son of a top scientist, Freeman Dyson and, as a result, has...

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Security Challenges and Hacktivism

As technology changes cyber-criminals adapt to it. Recently MIT’s Technology Review published an article about the biggest technology security threats of 2012. A lot of us spend much of our time online: working, surfing the Web, or just chatting with friends via social media. If you spend time online, being conscious of these threats can help guard you and your data.Stolen, Spoofed CertificatesOne major issue the article concentrates on is stole or faked certificates. Certificates are used by websites that you log into, like your bank, that prove...

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Step Up Your Game in Excel

Are you gunning for a raise or a promotion? Perhaps you simply want to stand out for job security. In either case, this can be achieved by impressing your supervisor, but how?Why not look into Excel? This spreadsheet program may seem like just a simple, albeit important, business tool, but the truth is that there are several lesser-known Excel tips that enable you to work more efficiently.    Hiding Information: Did you know that you can hide columns, rather then deleteing them, when printing a spreadsheet? This can be convenient,...

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The Effects of Constant Connectivity

Remember downtime? That was when you could take your dog on a walk without having to answer your cell phone. It was when you would watch your child’s little league baseball game without also scanning your e-mail messages on your smartphone. And it was when you’d enjoy a movie at home without also working on your expense report on your tablet computer. In this era of interconnectivity, downtime appears to be a thing of the past. The important question? Is this healthy?Our devices have clearly made our lives easier. We can get directions at the touch...

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5 Smartphone Apps That Save Time

You are a busy person; you really are always focusing on several projects and trying to hit deadlines.  It’s hard enough to find the time to fit a trip to the gym in, let alone play games on your smartphone. You would like smartphone apps that will save you time, not waste it, but you don’t have time to hunt for them. Well, you are in luck; below is a list of 5 smartphone apps that will actually simplify your life.Top 5 Business Apps    WhosHere: This app enables you to find freelance contractors in your area easily. Say you...

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The Growing Remote Workforce

Thanks to improved technology, a growing number of employees have the ability to accomplish most or all of their work from home. Smartphones, tablet computers, teleconferencing, and WiFi-equipped bookstores and coffee shops have made this achievable. This presents a big advantage for employers: the more employees that work at home, the less money companies need to spend. Many companies, for instance, do not have assigned computers and desks for each of their workers as so much of their workforce is working remotely. Additionally, employees working...

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Explaining the Benefits of the Hybrid Cloud

Cloud computing has undoubtedly caught on. People can access data that is stored in the cloud—databases located far from their own computer drives. They are able to store their favorite songs, access powerful word-processing software, and send their business proposals to the cloud. This saves tons of computer memory, as everything that’s stored in the cloud isn’t stored on a personal computer. The effect is a faster computing experience, as fewer programs gum up the running speed of home computers.Not All Clouds are the SameHowever; there are various...

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Exploring Bing

When it comes to online search engines, Google is still king. Microsoft isn’t pleased with this. That is why the company launched Bing in 2009, its own search engine and a direct competitor with Google. Ever since then, Bing has gone the way of most Google-search competitors: It’s mostly an afterthought when computer users want to search the web. Most searchers still rely on Google for this task. However, that doesn’t mean that Bing offers nothing for computer users. The truth is, Microsoft did a lot right with Bing, and the search engine delivers...

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Improving Battery Technology

The more we rely on mobile devices the more we rely on one little technology. Batteries. Have you ever reached for your smartphone to look something up or to get directions and discovered that it has died? Well, in a few years, that could be something you don’t have to worry about.A Better Battery on the Way?Engineers at Chicago’s Northwestern University have been working on advancements in battery technology and may have found a way to make batteries charge in minutes and last considerably longer.According to the article, Northwestern’s researchers...

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