Many of us in our area in Minnesota for the fist time received an Amber alert on our mobile phones October 22, 2015 for a missing child. The alert was later cancelled when the vehicle and child was found.
Mobile emergency alerts are sent to your mobile phone by a radio signal. Only government officials can make one of these alerts.
The alert does not need wifi, data plan, text messaging plan, nor GPS (location). It just has to be a newer mobile phone that is turned on in the area the message is sent.
When you receive alert since it is limited in the number of characters (for both transmission reasons and the size of the screen) you may want to follow up by looking it up on a smart phone, computer, radio, or tv. and taking action if needed such as finding shelter in a storm.
Also remember if driving, to wait until you pull over or have someone else with you read the message.
You have the ability to turn off Amber alerts which are for missing children and the ability to turn off severe weather messages with most phones or contacting your carrier.
Presidential messages cannot be turned off, however as far as I know there has never been any as of the time I’m writing this post.
Category: computer tips
Many people are fighting back against the use of computers, tablets, social media, and newer technologies. Usually using new media to send these messages.
There are real problems created by technology but there are also real solutions. And the solution is not to avoid technology completely or to ignore it but to limit certain uses that become bad habits or unsafe.
“phubbing” or phone snubbing is nothing new and came long before smart phones. Just the word is new (and maybe the problem and awareness is greater). When there are other people around (or even when they aren’t) you don’t want to be constantly distracted by your phone doing things that aren’t related to what is around you.
I had personally some trouble with this. I’m not sure how much it bothered other people, It actually caused extra headaches looking down at the small phone screen for too long (reading paper can do the same thing for me but worse).
To help reduce constantly being interrupted by my smart phone and to increase battery life and save money: I took the following steps. (some may be extreme)
- Turn off alerts except for the most important items. (these will vary by your preference) I turn off alerts for email since I only check it often. Turn off alerts for Facebook except for direct messages.
- dropped the cellular data package and only use wifi, texting, and less than 300 minutes
- relay phone calls with my smart phone (iPhone) through my (Mac) computer. I also do video calls more with my computer than phone.
- gps turned off most time
- turned off clock updates
- turn off blue tooth
- got rid of head phones
- kept cable but got rid of wall adapter and use a surge protector with built in USB instead
- turn off background refresh for apps I don’t use often, and since I have wifi only – leave it on for the apps I check often such as the weather – sometimes when I get away from my network I am still able to see a cached version
- turn off the phone while I sleep, while watching a movie, or at meeting (unless I’m looking at my phone for notes)
- Use Do not disturb feature on the iPhone
- Use timed forwarding with google voice.
- Got rid of car and usually my phone is quiet enough I don’t hear while walking or biking.
On my computer
- I set it to turn off or go to sleep automatically at night
- I leave laptop and phone (tablet) unplugged from power except when it needs charging.
- I use reminders on my computer and phone to help remind me of things I need to get done during the day such as brush my teeth and eat breakfast. Sometimes also called to do list. Microsoft one note is another program with this capability. I also use reminders as a paperless shopping list. Some stores have their own app for shopping lists but it is usually specific to their store.
- I use a computerized calendar on my computer and phone to remind me of appointments and birthdays (using contact info).
Do computers cause more testing of students in schools?
No, but computers allow testing to be done more easily so it is a factor. It is one of those things that people need to set limits on what they do whether it is computerized or not.
What about social media?
There are both good and bad things about social media so you have to be careful how you use it. There are many extreme hurtful viewpoints, so you will want to be careful about what you post. Will you be ok with your neighbor, grandparent, parent, child or grandchild seeing what you post?
Also be careful who you follow, and whether you or your children sign up for social media accounts. Children should be at least 13 for social media or email accounts, possibly older.
Does social media make people more or less social in everyday life? Again this is another thing that depends on how it is used. In my personal case it has made me more social both with social media and in the real world. But if all you are doing is playing games, reading long articles, and videos non-stop it can make someone less social.
Does computerization make people learn less or more? I tend to think more. Since computers can be highly adaptive, it can enable people with disabilities or simply those that need extra help do more. It may be a little less memorization and sometimes less hands on, but again this will all vary by individual.
Are computers good or bad for the envioronment?
The answer is both.
Computers, tablets, smart tvs, smart phones all take materials and energy to make and use. If not recycled properly the chemicals and materials they are made from can also be bad for the environment.
However the things that these devices have replaced actually can be beneficial for the environment since you are using less energy and able to perform certain tasks faster. Smart phones and computers have essentially combined many different tools into one complex device. Typewriters, film cameras, photo copiers, paper mail, driving to deliver information have all been reduced and sometimes eliminated.
The portability of newer electronics can also help reduce the weight that people carry.
When things in your business or organization are going good and maybe even getting better it is good thing to congratulate the people that made that happen.
On the other hand if things aren’t going right you don’t want to blame that on people.
I hear a lot of emphasis on people versus technology however people have always relied on some sort of technology or tools to survive.
- think of the tools we use to prepare and eat our food.
- Think of the shoes on our feet that can prevent cuts and diseases.
Marketers (and sometimes managers) want to put things in that start with the letter P. Just since it is simple to remember, however it is important not to get stuck on a letter and not to get over emphasize on one word.
Examples are People, Place, Process, Promotion, Product, Price.
Technology can be the Process, but it can also be part of the promotion, and it can also be the product or service. Technology can even be part of the place or location.
Sometimes when technology fails, it is blamed on people (or the technology) rather than solving the problem with the right technology.
Examples of technology vs technology
- Using computers and phones versus vehicles some people think meeting in person is the best thing, but if you are big distances apart or repeatedly going short distances in a vehicle it actually may be more personal to do something like a video call or web meeting then be stuck in traffic for an hour or 2 using an older technology called an automobile.
- Using computers, tablets , smart phones instead of (or to reduce) paper. This also means don’t use your computer just to print things off. Even radio, television, or a message board (electronic or not) could also be considered a way of using technology for reducing paper depending on how they are used.
Using technology such as robotics and computers can eliminate work that people do not want to do, that is too dangerous to do, or to assist people do get there work done. Although there is talk about these eliminating jobs, sometimes some of these jobs shouldn’t be done by people or can’t. Sometimes they assist with jobs. Some examples:
- Robots can be used in doing the dangerous work in manufacturing cars, or going to other planets.
- A robot can assist a people vacuuming their floor, when it may not otherwise get done on a regular basis.
- A computer can do mass calculations in a split second, can control heating and cooling systems so they are more efficient. As well as give a person with a disability an ability to do things independently.
Although people using social media may say all we need is people, not technology or expertise; People, technology, and expertise can all fit together.
How to Physically Cleaning your computer hardware and other electronics. Tools used include a screwdriver, rubber camera blower, electronic cleaning wipes, and microfiber cloth. Remember to power off and unplug and use precautions. DO NOT open power supply.
Be careful with batterie
Although it seems loud on the video, try to be gentle with the keyboard if banging it to get out dust.
Smart Phones and Tablets would be cleaned similar to how the monitor is cleaned, plus making sure charging and other ports and buttons are free from dust and residue.
Cleaning the vents of a computer (or similar electronics) and keeping them clear is important for airflow and reducing heat. If a computer is opened up the bottom of the computer and fans (case and cpu) typically is where dust builds up. More dust will build up if the computer or electronic is in a bad location such as the floor.
Our older post about cleaning computer / monitor
our older post about dust
When I first chose my own computer, in 2000, I chose it off of specifications.
A Dell computer tower (heavy) A dvd drive, a separate cd-rw writer. 40 MB hard drive, Windows ME, rambus ram, intel Pentium 4, Windows ME. It ended up not being such a good computer. I didn’t buy a new screen, because I didn’t know how important it was to have a good flat panel at the time. Windows ME was a short lived operating system, and eventually I had to replace it. The memory was too expensive to upgrade. And it being heavy, I was moving around quite a bit when I had the computer, was a real pain. It started very slow and shut down slow. And noisy(not including the nice speakers that came with it)
My latest computer a MacBook Air has a completely different set of specifications. The screen a 13 inch is probably similar to the viewable screen size of the used monitor that I had with the (old dell computer) but a little easier on the eyes, much thiner, and of course much lighter. My upgraded iMac and macbook air have no spinning hard drives. No optical drives (except for the superdrive I pulled from the iMac and used a usb to sata converter cable for it to work with either the MacBook Air or iMac) It super fast and does what I need it to do – watch video, communicating with others, listening to music, calculating, book keeping and record management, browsing the web, photo, and video management. Your list may differ from mine what you need want or need to do with your computer or device and that can change over time as new uses are available.
That is the main thing with a computer, tablet, or smart phone ( or most other things) it does what you need it to do. And fast is a good thing too. Also, that you aren’t hurt while using it. You don’t want to be moving around heavy things. I chose a notebook versus a tablet, simply because it is a little easier on my neck and eyes.
A reminder that the power going out by itself is not an emergency. You may want to contact your utility / power company to make sure they know about the problem.
Emergency response is only if there are other problems such as a power line down in the middle of a street, someone trapped in an elevator (in some cases calling building maintenance is better for that), or other things that you would normally call for that such as a fire, gas leek, . In Crow Wing County Minnesota they received too many calls for nonemergency power outage.
You can use a battery or crank powered radio for information. Use a Flashlight that is either battery or crank powered (LED lights last longer that is what most newer flashlights use). Water stored in freezer (see video below about putting water in freezer) and food that does not require cooking.
Don’t use electric lit gas stoves.
If there isn’t weather hazards, and it is daylight you can go outside and enjoy the day.
For your computer equipment it is good to have power conditioning for the entire building and a surge protector where it is plugged in. You can also use an Uninterruptible power supply / battery backup
Notebook computers, tablets, and smart phones don’t need battery backup since they have their own batteries. Using wireless network connection (WiFi) can help avoid problems with power surge when the power chord is unplugged.
In addition you may want to have a backup of your computer files in case something goes wrong. We sell online storage.
Fiber optics for telephone, data, cable tv are best to avoid damage from lightning strike. If it isn’t available in your area make sure those connections have a surge protection before it enters the building and again at your computer, tv, router, or other connected electronic.
Lightning rods on roof can also help (any roof antennas grounded), and being in a sturdy structure.
Computers are sometimes used to eliminate human error. The biggest example is calculations. Whether you see it in a calculator user interface or not, calculation is a core function of a computer. If the formulas are input correctly, the computer will get it right. Some other things do have the possibility of mistakes.
How can computers make mistakes?
- When someone inputs something incorrectly. This can be done by either the programmer or end user. Example: someone posting a fake story on social media. Example 2: making a typo or inputing a number wrong or in the wrong order.
- When a computer’s hardware is failing or using hardware beyond it’s compacity. This can happen over time, or very quickly if the hardware is not taken care of. Example: dust getting built up. Example 2: battery failing.
- When programs or hardware are incompatible with other programs or hardware.
- Similar to compatibility and bad programming/input: malware can cause errors and mistakes.
- Artificial intelligence: Computers have been programmed very well to play a game of chess, but other artificial intelligence are not quite as well developed such as voice recognition, facial recognition, and optical character recognition even though significant improvements are being made. Some of the trouble with voice and optical character recognition is there are many variables (much more than a game of chess) that can make it difficult. For example with optical character recognition: how high a quality scan is taken by the scanner or camera and how high quality the paper is(not wrinkled) how well the actual type is printed.
Categories
Severe Weather awareness week
Have a plan for disaster to keep yourself and the people around you safe.
Read more at https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/weather-awareness-preparedness/Pages/severe-weather-awareness-week-program.aspx
What about your computers and data?
- Always have your computer backed up offsite or online in case of natural disaster of fire. We offer online storage.
- Don’t smoke by computer(and to be even safer not in the house, especially not by a bed and not on deck/balcony). Keep it out of dust. Keep pets and small children away from computer
- Use proper electrical equipment such as a surge protector and grounded. Don’t use any frayed chords nor extension chords.
- Critical servers and network equipment should use battery backup also called uninterruptible power supply.
- When possible use fiberoptics to minimize impact of lightning strike.
- Don’t use computers or phones outside in a storm or extreme weather.
- You may want to consider turning off items during a strong storm and not use appliances nor chorded telephone.
- Have your equipment in a sturdy structure (not out in a garage)
Categories
What I recommend for antivirus
I don’ t recommend a specific brand of anti-virus since no software is fool-proof.
For Windows computer I recommend having security /antivirus software but don’t recommend a specific brand.
For Macintosh and chrome, and currently smart phones I have no recommendation, since sometimes it can actually slow down performance more than a security concern is worth. For those, I say if you want it on there, and it works well, then that’s ok.
Another thing is to remember avoid browser plug ins, toolbars and extensions unless you know what they are for. Avoid downloading programs that you don’t know if you can trust and be careful installing so you don’t add more than you want.
Be very careful about browsing. Avoid free video and music download sites unless you know they are legitimate. Avoid bit torrent and peer sharing apps. Avoid pornographic sites. Also legitimate sites that are not well maintained can be a problem as well in the comment and discussion boards.
Another thing to remember is most computer problems aren’t viruses. So you may want to use builtin programs like disk cleanup, and also go to control panel to uninstall unwanted programs.
Other problems aren’t software and are actually hardware. Your computer may need to physically be cleaned out of dust or better maintained physically. It may need hardware upgrade such as more memory or a solid state drive, or if it is real old a replacement which may be another computer or a tablet.
I am celebrating 2 1/2 years of boycotting gasoline and having a car. Only got rides a few times other than carpooling or taking the bus. The main reason is for my health. The second reason is to save money on things like car insurance, repairs, and drive time. Among many other reasons.
ebook now available on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook
Preview of my ebook
some of my latest videos:
Energy Saving devices list from ASE.org
Why do tablets use less energy than older desktop and laptop computers?
They have no moving parts such as fans, or spinning discs (other than the user moving the entire device). Everything is closer together. They have fewer parts.
They use small energy efficient displays
They also create less heat.
If you continue to use a desktop or laptop computer you can plug the tablet or smart phone into a USB port to trickle charge after you have done the 1st full charge with your charger.
If you remember to unplug the charger, it uses dramatically less energy. The charger since it is converting AC power to DC power, if left plugged in takes more power than the tablet, or smart phone it powers.
Motion sensor power strip:
Motion sensor power allows device to turn off when you aren’t in the room.
It has some outlets that stay on all the time (you would probably plug your desktop tower and router/modem into these ports)
It has some that are on only when someone is in the room: you would plug your monitor, lamps, speakers, TVs, and chargers (for phones, laptops, and tablets) into these ports.
oLED TVs/monitors
use less electricity and heat
read about other devices at