Author: Nathan Steffenson
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Beware of Tax scam
Recently I received an phishing email that said it was from TurboTax requesting I update my info.
But looking closer at the email it was sent from a .edu email address and the URL had a .ru address. So it was not from TurboTax, but a scam to try to get information.
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Lumosity and FTC settlement
As mentioned in prior a post I am skeptic of the health benefits of Lumosity and think there are better ways to improve memory skills. The FTC reached a settlement with the company for deceptive advertising.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/brain-training-lumosity-does-it-really-work
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Video Saint Croix Falls
- Closed captioning’s most important use is to give those that are deaf, hard of hearing, or other disability such as a cognitive impairment the ability to understand what is being said (or the sounds) by displaying the written word on television or an online video.
- A second reason for closed caption is for those learning the language. Whether it is someone simply learning to read and speak or someone learning a new language closed captioning can help with that. In some cases such as on online videos it can be used to translate easier into another language.
- To avoid noise from Television sometimes closed captioning is used. This may be in an apartment building at night, a work place, a college, a school, or a busy restaurant or airport. A similar reason may be if there are no speakers on a computer or the speakers can’t get loud enough to hear.
- A fourth reason for online videos is the ability to have words searchable for video content and it can be used for a written transcript as well.
from this video:
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envelope images
Not available in my area (none of my direct customers either) and not available for businesses but I would like to share for technology news. The United States Postal Service is starting an experimental service to share the photos (scanned images from their sorting equipment) they already take of envelopes with the recipient in New York and Virginia.
There are private scanning services that offer a similar services. The private services will sometimes also scan the insides of your mail for you which the postal service does Not do (for your privacy rights).
Images of packages are not currently sent but that may change. I assume it is since different sorting equipment is used.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-united-states-postal-service-will-now-email-you-your-mail/ar-AAg4EoQ?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=mailsignout
http://realmail.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action
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smart watch
Published December 5 2015 by Nathan Steffenson
The biggest reason I don’t wear a (smart) watch is almost all of them go around the wrist and don’t want any extra weight due to ongoing health issues.
If it was able to go on my keychain and replace my key finder (and even act as a key). And be able mount to something like my bicycle to replace a speedometer then I might consider it.
Here is my annual list of technology I like.
5. magnetic cook top with automatic off. I am currently using the Nuwave oven 2 with this technology cooks fast, energy efficient and less mess.
4. 3M Command strips & accessories. Although I’ve had some issues with some tearing when taking off walls, These can be very useful tools for chord management, picture mounting, mounting solid state drives (SSD), and tool organizing such as keeping my broom off the floor. They avoid holes in the wall too.
3. Internal flash storage (or SSD) in devices with network 
connectivity. All smart phones and tablets have this(although sometimes removable). Now we need to make sure we have in our desktop and laptop computers (if you aren’t going to substitute them completely with a tablet or smart phone). Also network connectivity helps eliminate the need to pull a card out and get rid of the need for optical drives.
2. Cloud technology. Most people have already taken this up at least a portion. Why waste money on DVDs, CDs, hard drives, flash drives, extra data centers/servers, and unnecessary traveling when we have cloud technologies.
- Renewable energy, energy efficient, and other green technology.
This includes cleaning tools such as a rubber blower (such as Rocket Blaster) and cleaning wipes that can make your electronics last longer. Solar keyboards (and solar power in general). Led lighting and redirecting natural sun light with fiber optics or high efficient windows. LED bicycle lights powered by DYNO wheel as well as bicycle accessories such as quick mtx pack or a trailer that allow me to avoid using automobiles.
My personal list of Tech dislikes
7. The way people use their mobile phones, and tablet devices. I like my phone to a point, but I try to change the settings so it is less of a distraction. The main reason I like my phone is for the camera – not the phone, texting, or web. (even though I have dedicated digital cameras). I admit I have taken selfies (self-portraits) even before mobile phones, but the extent people are doing it now is a little out of hand. I actually like using my computer as a phone/video phone, for texting and web better than my mobile phone.
6. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday. Although not a technology in itself there are many sales with technology items. Cyber Monday and Small Business Saturday were implemented with web technology when started. Black Friday (the turning of red negative numbers into black positive profit) I avoid because of the crowds in person. I also avoid these sales because of overspending and buying things that are not useful for me or the people I give them to. Small business Saturday to me as having a small business with mostly local customers is more of a gimmick since people rarely expect me to work on a Saturday even if I want to. Also, it’s sponsored by big business American Express. I also don’t buy into the argument that more dollars stay local when shopping at a brick and mortar business vs online, although in some cases this is true, that all depends on the business.
5. Technology (often outdated) that is noisy, bulky, takes a lot of energy, or needs to have batteries replaced. This goes from the fake bell tower, to grass sprinkler systems that get in pedestrians way and run while it is raining, to walky talkies, film cameras, remote controls, and some toys.
4. Watches and fitness bracelets (and any accessory or clothing (like dress shoes/high heals)that can be uncomfortable). One of the reasons I still use a mobile phone is I hate watches. Watches are easy to lose and can be a safety/ health hazard. The best way in my view to be active is to have a written plan on how you are going to stay fit, have support from friends/family, and do it.
3. Printers (and typewriters, paperbooks, and paper) see paperless
2. Weapons of any kind – I know some people like to hunt for food or do archery, but we can’t always just blame people for all of our problems when it comes to these.
- Personal automobiles – They are dangerous. Noisy. bad for the environment. Sometimes used as weapons. Bad for health. People are also starting to use more bad behaviors with these such as honking with remote controls locks/car alarms constantly as well as leaving them running or pets/kids in vehicle. They can actually take away productivity and make us less social in a positive way to the people close to us. more in my ebook that I’m in progress of writing. Also sometimes people consider it to be too personal of an item forgetting they are in other peoples space when using their car or in a parking lot.
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older neat scanner
November 2015 I was disappointed to hear Neat won’t be supporting the older model scanner for the Newer version of Mac OS X El Capitan. The software library is still intact, but the scanner will probably have to go to someone using a Windows computer unless Neat changes their mind.
Update: in order to get the old Neat Scanner to work, I made one of my Macintosh computer duel OS boot (using more than one partition and pressing option key when starting to switch OS) and used OS X Mountain Lion for one of the operating systems and downloaded legacy software (cd should still work if you have it, mine got recycled due to downsizing)