For the busy business owner, audiobooks are a godsend. They’re the perfect way to intake information while performing a must-do task that doesn’t require you to think, like commuting or folding laundry. But what’s an audiobook aficionado to do if they’ve got a book or document that they want to listen to that hasn’t been made into an audiobook?
Even if you already have Microsoft Office, did you know that there are multiple ways to use Office which could potentially save you money? It’s the difference between using the traditional Office apps, versus the subscription-based model provided by Office 365.
Disasters are commonplace in the business environment, especially when you work in a technology-heavy office. It’s not a question of if you’ll ever experience a hardware failure; it’s a question of when you will. Regardless of how your business functions or what sector you fall into, there will always be disasters that you should be prepared for.
Virtual reality is a major contender for the next big technology to hit the business industry, and it’s been able to accomplish what modern neuroscience could not. In the medical sector, virtual reality has been tested on paraplegic patients in attempts to help them walk again using brain-controlled robotic limbs. However, these innovations have yielded unexpected, astounding results.
Have you have recently plugged in your Kindle and received a blue screen of death? Many Kindle users have found that Windows 10’s anniversary update is creating an issue in the way that Kindle transfers books and charges via a USB connection. Some users are reporting that connecting a Kindle to a Windows 10 device will cause the device to lock up and display Windows’ infamous blue error screen before rebooting.
Payment via mobile devices is still a relatively new concept. With newer smartphones, it’s now easier than ever to pay your bills or send money on a whim. However, this also brings up an important topic; what’s the best way to handle mobile payments, and how can those who accept and process these payments ensure maximum security?
While we tend to focus on the latest technology solutions in the workplace, sometimes it helps to view them from a different perspective, like recreation. Specifically, Windows 10 has become a popular operating system amongst PC gamers, and has reached nearly half of the considerable total user base of the cloud-based gaming platform, Steam.
Microsoft has been looking to cover more ground in the business environment by offering a new Technology as a Service (TaaS) offering, which will allow small businesses to purchase Surface products, accessories, and support for their devices, all with a monthly payment plan. Also, when it comes time to upgrade, customers can easily make the switch, as per their lease agreement.
As the smartphone takes over many of our daily tasks, it can be annoying if we have to use a separate device to accomplish what we need to, like making calls on a different phone. Did you know that it’s easy to add a second phone number to your smartphone?
Mobile platforms have given way to entirely new ways to develop and make use of apps. More business professionals than ever before are relying on their smartphones to get work done while out of the office, but the functionality of the on-screen keyboard interface has some of them stumped on how to stay productive. It’s for this reason that developers have created applications designed to listen to users’ voices, and record them in text format.
It makes no difference how your business’s administrative chain of command is set up. Everyone should have a basic understanding of how your IT works, as well as its related responsibilities and functions. Here are four easy ways that you can educate yourself (and your staff) on how your IT department works, be it internal or outsourced.
The 1990s were dominated by all sorts of great technology: VHS, floppy disks, and grossly oversized computer hardware. Learning new technology shortcuts was once all the rage, but when looked at now, these tech tips are rendered obsolete. However, that doesn’t stop them from hitting us right in the nostalgia. Here are some of our favorite tech tips from the 1990s.
Wireless technology is a staple in the office, but it’s making leaps and bounds in the medical industry, too. With innovations like wireless sensors, pumps, and other Internet of Things devices that can communicate with each other, medical care can be provided in unprecedented ways. But what would you say if we told you that wireless technology can give the blind back their sight?
Technology is always changing and evolving to suit the needs of modern society and business. Organizations that fully understand technology’s impact on business are always trying to make the most of their technology. Here are three ways that your company can better leverage its technological investments to meet your organization’s needs.
Think for the Future and Appreciate Your Technology
The most difficult challenge that your business has to deal with is admitting that you’re not thinking about the future of your IT infrastructure. This is especially true for business owners who aren’t specializing in tracking their technological assets. In many cases, business owners forsake their technology to focus on other aspects of running their organization, and operations can suffer because of it.
Even if you’re focused on ensuring that the administrative side of your business functions without a hitch, you’re still responsible for paying attention to your technology and making sure that it gets replaced in an orderly manner. If you don’t make sure that you’re proactively replacing your technology, you’ll one day find yourself surrounded by old IT equipment that’s practically impossible to manage in a productive manner. Todd Nashville explains to IT Knowledge Exchange:
Don’t get into a rut and get too comfortable. The IT field is forever changing and changing faster than ever before. It’s easier to stay current with technology than trying to play catch up after many years of being stagnant. That learning curve can be hard to overcome.
Have the Proper Equipment for Future IT Trends
Keeping up with the current IT trends is great and all, but only if you can predict your company’s own growth and IT requirements. If you can understand where your business will be in one, two, or even five years from now, you can make an educated decision concerning what technology you’ll need to accommodate these shifts in your business model before the future even arrives.
One good example of how to predict the future of your business will be to consider how many users and devices your business will need to manage five years from now. Even if you can make a guesstimate, you can plan to implement the technology needed for this growth today, while ensuring that the growth you experience won’t negatively impact your IT infrastructure. If you don’t take a proactive approach to this, you’ll find yourself forced to upgrade at the worst possible time, which could lead to wasted time and resources. Graemouse Technologies offers IT consulting to companies just like yours in order to best prepare you for future growth and IT trends.
Keep Security On Your Mind
Technology grows more complex every day, but so do the security threats that undermine businesses utilizing it. You need to prepare for dangerous new security threats that will attempt to compromise your business’s security measures. If you don’t stay on top of these threats, you could be putting your business at risk.
Take for example one of the hottest IT trends for businesses, the Internet of Things. In order to take full advantage of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of new devices accessing your network, you’re first going to want to have in place every network security measure possible. Todd Nashville explains:
Without strong authentication, firewalls, and other measures, we are heading for a heap of trouble. The more devices we add, the more vulnerable we become. To support all the various types of devices, we should have some standards. Modifying our connections so each new device will work is a major obstacle.
To future-proof your IT infrastructure, give Graemouse Technologies a call at 253.777.0763.
