The simultaneous ring. Although this sounds like it can be wasteful or unnecessary for those of us that are locked at a desk for the majority of the day, there are times when this mobile networking technology can be extremely useful. The ability to have a call to the office be forwarded to your cell phone allows people to maintain closer contact, regardless of how on the move someone may be.
Personally, although I haven't upgraded my phone systems in a couple of years, I put to use a great service that, when alone in the office, was able to go out to lunch and still take all of the calls that I was expecting. It's a simple step, and although additional rates can be accumulated, can be extremely beneficial under specific circumstances. For example, what if you are out, your cell phone is about to die, but you're expecting an extremely important call from someone. If a Verizon carrier, you can dial *72 followed by the 10 digit number of the phone that you want to ring when someone instead had originally called your phone. This technology is a great selling tool for communication solutions providers although it is a fairly simple feature that is often already provided by most carrier providers. (I even used this in my final case as one of the selling points of the gentleman's need to upgrade his network system). Honestly though, I put it to use all of the time when I'm the only one in the office and need to either run out on a quick installation, do some manufacturing in the back, or need to even go out and grab a coffee or lunch.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wrong Color, Do It Again.
Color management is a HUGE deal in my business. Charges to hit specifically noted colors can be outrageous on some invoices, as brands have built themselves around the appearance of specific colors and logos. The primary language that is transferrable from RGB to CMYK combinations is the use of the pantone chart, a swatch of thousands of color combinations denoted by the mix of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black for the digital printing world.
Although it's easy for some companies to say, "Hey, our exact read is PMS201", other companies may say, "Hey, can you match the blue that's on the side of our building?". These are the tricky ones. The "in-betweeners" that is up to the professional's discretion to determine what the appropriate color can be. Luckily, technology has progressed to aid in this process.
Rather than sifting through the color swatches or holding them up to whatever the original substrate is, Pantone has released a new product, Capsure, to identify the color for you. Here is the press release from Pantone that really outlines the significance to this contribution to the visual communication industry:
Although it's easy for some companies to say, "Hey, our exact read is PMS201", other companies may say, "Hey, can you match the blue that's on the side of our building?". These are the tricky ones. The "in-betweeners" that is up to the professional's discretion to determine what the appropriate color can be. Luckily, technology has progressed to aid in this process.
Rather than sifting through the color swatches or holding them up to whatever the original substrate is, Pantone has released a new product, Capsure, to identify the color for you. Here is the press release from Pantone that really outlines the significance to this contribution to the visual communication industry:
Created for professionals in fashion, home furnishings, interior, industrial and graphic design, as well as contractors, paint retailers and do-it-yourselfers, CAPSURE allows users to accurately identify color inspiration from any surface, material or fabric and match it to a PANTONE(R) Color for easy communication. With unsurpassed accuracy, CAPSURE significantly reduces the time it takes to measure or choose a color from a sample or any other form of color inspiration.
The device uses powerful tri-directional image capture technology that eliminates the shadows and interference inherent to patterned and textured materials and surfaces. By illuminating the surface being measured from three different directions while simultaneously recording 27 color-accurate images in 1.6 seconds, CAPSURE can extract up to four dominant colors from an intricate pattern so the viewer can clearly identify the desired color.
CAPSURE’s image capture technology lets professionals preview what they are measuring on its 1.75-inch color screen, in real time, to affirm image accuracy. Those images are then stored on the device for later reference. CAPSURE has the ability to record the last 100 colors measured for later reference. Users can also annotate colors with a voice recording as well as a time and date stamp. Additionally, the device provides harmonious shades and identifies related colors that are lighter, darker or similar in tone to the identified color.
Safety First!
Driving home from work the other day, it became apparent that the world would be incredibly lost without signage, especially digital signage.
Highway signage has evolved over the decades to the point where there are not large LED electronic cabinets mounted to scaffolding over the middle of the road. The point? Constant alerts. The point of these are generally brief comments to alert a driver about the current traffic or road conditions. Although not something I really dive into myself (leave this to the government subcontractors), this is till something to recognize and appreciate. Although new bills are being passed in the federal government to alert citizens about things such as amber alerts or national security concerns, this digital signage on the highway is still a breakthrough idea for real-time updates. Here's the inside scoop on really the basic idea:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Good intentions
The intention of roadside LED text messages is to communicate ongoing traffic conditions to drivers in as close to real-time updates as possible. Known as 'roadside incidents' the sign systems report on any number of traffic incidents including slow downs, accidents, construction, lane closures, weather concerns, amber alerts and travel time alerts. The LED sign network is dedicated to keeping drivers aware of these situations and providing safe traffic conditions. In the event of any deviation of these "safe driving conditions" drivers are immediately alerted via updated messages with a status alert and if necessary, an alternate route to by-pass the incident. Typical message alerts can vary from global messages that cover the entire network (from amber alerts to posted speed limits) to messages dedicated to a road incident along a specific highway route.
The integration of LED message centers into highway traffic management is part of a more complex information gathering network know as the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) program. ITS is an initiative of the United States DOT to add information technology as a traffic management component to each state-wide transportation infrastructure. ITS does this with the goal of improving safety and reducing vehicle wear, negative transportation times and fuel costs. The central component of maintaining real-time roadside communications with LED message centers in the ITS world it is known as Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), though some state-wide DOTs describe them as Variable or Changeable Message Signs (VMS or CMS).
In building a DMS highway network, a subset of its ITS requirement is that different sign manufacturers who provide LED sign systems are able to properly communicate with the DOTs command center's sign network software program. This is known as interoperability and defined by the National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation Systems (NTCIP) protocols. The outcome of this protocol establishes a traffic control standard that allows DOTs to "mix and match" different kinds of LED sign equipment allowing them to operate in a common sign network, despite any unique manufacturing or operating characteristic they may have.
Understanding the DMS roadside environment is a study of how the various DOTs maintain and acquire electronic signage for their highways. One side being how the DOTs use VMS and the other side referring to a select group of LED sign manufacturers who supply VMS to the various state DOTs. To understand the DOTs needs both Georgia and Washington state DOT command centers were interviewed on the importance of VMS for traffic management. This is followed with an overview of several LED sign manufacturers who supply VMS signage to the state-wide DOTs as needed.(Source: http://www.signindustry.com/led/articles/2007-08-LB-Variable_Message_Systems_Used_by_DOT.php3)
Highway signage has evolved over the decades to the point where there are not large LED electronic cabinets mounted to scaffolding over the middle of the road. The point? Constant alerts. The point of these are generally brief comments to alert a driver about the current traffic or road conditions. Although not something I really dive into myself (leave this to the government subcontractors), this is till something to recognize and appreciate. Although new bills are being passed in the federal government to alert citizens about things such as amber alerts or national security concerns, this digital signage on the highway is still a breakthrough idea for real-time updates. Here's the inside scoop on really the basic idea:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Good intentions
The intention of roadside LED text messages is to communicate ongoing traffic conditions to drivers in as close to real-time updates as possible. Known as 'roadside incidents' the sign systems report on any number of traffic incidents including slow downs, accidents, construction, lane closures, weather concerns, amber alerts and travel time alerts. The LED sign network is dedicated to keeping drivers aware of these situations and providing safe traffic conditions. In the event of any deviation of these "safe driving conditions" drivers are immediately alerted via updated messages with a status alert and if necessary, an alternate route to by-pass the incident. Typical message alerts can vary from global messages that cover the entire network (from amber alerts to posted speed limits) to messages dedicated to a road incident along a specific highway route.
The integration of LED message centers into highway traffic management is part of a more complex information gathering network know as the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) program. ITS is an initiative of the United States DOT to add information technology as a traffic management component to each state-wide transportation infrastructure. ITS does this with the goal of improving safety and reducing vehicle wear, negative transportation times and fuel costs. The central component of maintaining real-time roadside communications with LED message centers in the ITS world it is known as Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), though some state-wide DOTs describe them as Variable or Changeable Message Signs (VMS or CMS).
In building a DMS highway network, a subset of its ITS requirement is that different sign manufacturers who provide LED sign systems are able to properly communicate with the DOTs command center's sign network software program. This is known as interoperability and defined by the National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation Systems (NTCIP) protocols. The outcome of this protocol establishes a traffic control standard that allows DOTs to "mix and match" different kinds of LED sign equipment allowing them to operate in a common sign network, despite any unique manufacturing or operating characteristic they may have.
Understanding the DMS roadside environment is a study of how the various DOTs maintain and acquire electronic signage for their highways. One side being how the DOTs use VMS and the other side referring to a select group of LED sign manufacturers who supply VMS to the various state DOTs. To understand the DOTs needs both Georgia and Washington state DOT command centers were interviewed on the importance of VMS for traffic management. This is followed with an overview of several LED sign manufacturers who supply VMS signage to the state-wide DOTs as needed.(Source: http://www.signindustry.com/led/articles/2007-08-LB-Variable_Message_Systems_Used_by_DOT.php3)
Obsolete Computers?
I'm not sure how sold I am on this new technology yet and I don't think it will have an immediate impact in an industry that doesn't rely on quantitative components and data but rather is streamlined by visual communications. However, the memristor is apparently a microscopic component that is anticipated to make current computer technology obsolete in less than a decade. It apparently remembers electrical states even when turned off and is expected to be much faster and cheaper than flash storage. Thus, you can shut your computer off and turn it back on to immediately return back to what you were working on without needing to reboot. HP is perhaps the furthest along with the technology that was introduced by Intel and AMD and are expected to possibly replace DRAM and hard disks by 2016. This newer, affordable, faster technology will be small enough to fit in your pocket yet will still have the entire capacity of a fully developed desktop computer.
Cool, but not feasible for me. Maybe I'll adapt to this for my personal laptop, but the development of graphics needs visual aid as well as a work station to properly channel creativity to production. I'll keep my eye out on this technology, but other than being aware, this isn't something that a competitor can obtain that would give them a competitive advantage over me in the local market share.
Cool, but not feasible for me. Maybe I'll adapt to this for my personal laptop, but the development of graphics needs visual aid as well as a work station to properly channel creativity to production. I'll keep my eye out on this technology, but other than being aware, this isn't something that a competitor can obtain that would give them a competitive advantage over me in the local market share.
Why use one monitor when 2 is so much cooler?
Here's something that incoming college freshmen are wowed at when they walk through the business school of their new university; dual monitors.
Having two monitors instead of one can be almost intimidating at first and troublesome to learn, but when mastered on how to balance the use they can be an unbelievable asset to increasing productivity. Whether using a specific monitor dedicated to only e-mail (and facebook) while the other one is for applications or navigating fluently through a full set of programs on each unit, life can be easier by having two monitors instead of one.
The control panel on your computer makes it fairly simple to figure out the configuration of external monitor sharing, even allowing you to indicate whether the monitors are aligned side by side or placed one on top of the other. So although it looks like high end stock brokers and young online poker pros are the only ones currently adapting to the use of dual screen computers, the actuality is that this can be a great opportunity to help increase efficiency for any small business. In my world, it would be a remarkable benefit to be able to have different stages of designs on the two monitors. One can be something such as the client's rendition of what they may be dreaming of and the second monitor can be my graphic design coming to life without having to constantly flip back and forth between programs and screens. Who knows, hopefully we'll grown enough that at some point I'll even need to incorporate 3 or even 4 screens!
Having two monitors instead of one can be almost intimidating at first and troublesome to learn, but when mastered on how to balance the use they can be an unbelievable asset to increasing productivity. Whether using a specific monitor dedicated to only e-mail (and facebook) while the other one is for applications or navigating fluently through a full set of programs on each unit, life can be easier by having two monitors instead of one.
The control panel on your computer makes it fairly simple to figure out the configuration of external monitor sharing, even allowing you to indicate whether the monitors are aligned side by side or placed one on top of the other. So although it looks like high end stock brokers and young online poker pros are the only ones currently adapting to the use of dual screen computers, the actuality is that this can be a great opportunity to help increase efficiency for any small business. In my world, it would be a remarkable benefit to be able to have different stages of designs on the two monitors. One can be something such as the client's rendition of what they may be dreaming of and the second monitor can be my graphic design coming to life without having to constantly flip back and forth between programs and screens. Who knows, hopefully we'll grown enough that at some point I'll even need to incorporate 3 or even 4 screens!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
If you get lost driving, is there even an excuse anymore?
Smartphones and GPS and dashboard mapping systems have made it nearly impossible for a technologically invested consumer to get lost in their vehicle. Ever.
However, a cool new feature for people on the road (like myself when I'm traveling Connecticut doing installations) is to have complete power over the route to your destination(s). MapQuest has relaunched its interface to provide an extremely updated look with handy features to allow the traveler to pick and outline the route that he/she wishes to take. Want to stop off for a restaurant or bar? Need an ATM or gas? Icons located on the map are clickable to help identify where along your route the nearest solutions may be to your problem. Avoid traffic, upload the map to your dashboard navigation system, or even create custom maps for websites or blogs to specifically target specific stops and destinations that should be noted.
However, a cool new feature for people on the road (like myself when I'm traveling Connecticut doing installations) is to have complete power over the route to your destination(s). MapQuest has relaunched its interface to provide an extremely updated look with handy features to allow the traveler to pick and outline the route that he/she wishes to take. Want to stop off for a restaurant or bar? Need an ATM or gas? Icons located on the map are clickable to help identify where along your route the nearest solutions may be to your problem. Avoid traffic, upload the map to your dashboard navigation system, or even create custom maps for websites or blogs to specifically target specific stops and destinations that should be noted.
No cash? No problem!
Here's one of the biggest problems of being a small business owner.... people at the upper chains of a corporate ladder aren't willing to take consultation advice from someone in there mid-20s.
It happens all of the time in the field as my brother and I are wearing multiple hats in our business: sales, marketing, design, installers, customer service... the list goes on and on. It always bothers me, however, that when I go out to perform an installation, customers feel as though they have an automatic right to 30 day terms with me simply because it's in their best interest and as a 23-year-old I have no right to enforce this. The common culprit; they don't have cash or a check on them! Well, unfortunately for any future customers trying to pull a move like this, technology has completely ruined any prospects of reveling in this excuse. Behold, Mobile Merchant Pro.
Mobile Merchant Pro™ for Google Android is a free, virtual credit card terminal application which gives Android users the ability to run real-time credit card transactions right on their cell phone.
Credit cards are never stored on the cell phones, and supports major credit card processing sites such as PayPal to ensure security and peace of mind. The software even allows the capability of editing invoice details or purchase order information to document the entire transaction. Immediate feedback on the acceptance or decline of the transaction further emphasizes the convenience delivered to both service provider and customer when a payment is needed to be made.
It happens all of the time in the field as my brother and I are wearing multiple hats in our business: sales, marketing, design, installers, customer service... the list goes on and on. It always bothers me, however, that when I go out to perform an installation, customers feel as though they have an automatic right to 30 day terms with me simply because it's in their best interest and as a 23-year-old I have no right to enforce this. The common culprit; they don't have cash or a check on them! Well, unfortunately for any future customers trying to pull a move like this, technology has completely ruined any prospects of reveling in this excuse. Behold, Mobile Merchant Pro.
Mobile Merchant Pro™ for Google Android is a free, virtual credit card terminal application which gives Android users the ability to run real-time credit card transactions right on their cell phone.
Credit cards are never stored on the cell phones, and supports major credit card processing sites such as PayPal to ensure security and peace of mind. The software even allows the capability of editing invoice details or purchase order information to document the entire transaction. Immediate feedback on the acceptance or decline of the transaction further emphasizes the convenience delivered to both service provider and customer when a payment is needed to be made.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)