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You might already know that the number of mobile-connected devices has already exceeded the world’s population, and in order to survive, businesses will need to respond.
Smart, connected devices can improve your business efficiency while reducing operational costs. In order to take advantage of these systems, it is important to know what they are, their benefits, and some of the best options to use within your organization.
Defining Smart, Connected Devices
When you hear businesses refer to smart, connected devices, do you have a good idea what they’re talking about? To understand these devices, it is important to know that they will have three elements:
Benefits of Smart, Connected Devices
There are a variety of reasons that connective devices are becoming such a hot topic while being adopted rapidly by businesses. These tools allow businesses the ability to analyze data that is collected from numerous devices quickly and efficiently. There are a variety of other benefits to these devices that make it clear that all businesses need to jump on the connectivity bandwagon:
Connected Devices that Business Should Adapt
Businesses need to adapt to the new world of smart, connected devices. New technologies are constantly being developed, and there are a variety that are already on the market:
To remain competitive in the business world, it is important to keep your technology up-to-date. By investing in smart devices with Internet connectivity, you’ll transform the way that you connect with your clients, customers, and employees, improving the way that you do business.
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Peter Davidson works as a senior business associate helping brands and start ups to make efficient business decisions and plan proper business strategies. He is a big gadget freak who loves to share his views on latest technologies and applications.
The cloud is growing every day. It is not the clouds in the sky that people are talking about. It is the cloud of information that is being stored on the World Wide Web.
There was a time when people were limited in how much information they could store on a computer. There were also limits as to how that information could be accessed. The cloud makes information available to anyone at any time as long as they are allowed to see it. This is changing the way that people communicate and the way that business operates. Healthcare is one of the areas where cloud technology offers many benefits.
Communication through the Cloud
The use of cloud technology is very important when it comes to communication. One of the types of cloud technology that is being used in healthcare is VoIP. A VoIP phone system in place in healthcare has several benefits for both the healthcare professionals and the patients.
VoIP systems give healthcare businesses a lot of flexibility. They have many of the features and the abilities of the biggest phone systems that only large companies used to have. It is now very easy for a healthcare professional to utilize VoIP phone systems and to get all of the features that are offered without the big investment that a traditional phone system would require. There is less money, time and equipment needed to establish the VoIP system. That makes this system accessible to even the smallest healthcare businesses.
The VoIP systems make it easier for healthcare offices to track all of their phone calls. It allows them to handle all of the information that is received in a better fashion. The information can be prioritized and distributed where it is needed. All of this will translate into better care for the patients of that healthcare office.
Information sharing through the Cloud
One of the keys to providing good healthcare is information. The more that health professionals know about a person, the easier it is to keep them healthy. The problem is that a single individual can have several healthcare professionals that are involved in their care. Many mistakes are made because one healthcare professional does not realize what another is doing.
The cloud makes it easy to collect all of the information about an individual and make it accessible to all of the healthcare professionals that need to see it. The decisions they make for that individual will be based on complete information rather than a little bit of guesswork.
A cloud phone system can also help health professionals by allowing them to communicate easily. Conference calling, video calling and the other features of these phone systems can allow the health professionals to share information with their colleagues in a much more timely fashion.
There is one other way that cloud technology is changing healthcare. Patients are taking advantage of these modern phone systems to see their doctors through the cloud. They are connecting with doctors through video conferencing and through the phones instead of going into the office for a visit. Many doctors are able to provide a patient with the treatment they need through these systems. This can help improve healthcare in several ways.
Cloud technology does offer many benefits to the healthcare system, but it also can be dangerous. The information that is being stored in the cloud can be accessed by people that should not have it. The communications using the cloud involving the healthcare systems can also fall into the wrong hands. Security is a high priority for the use of cloud technology in healthcare and that is a good thing. Patients expect their private information to stay that way.
Doctors and healthcare offices have been slow to adapt to the technology that is being offered. They are very used to the old way of doing things. The more doctors become willing to adapt to the advances that are happening, the more patients will accept it. The benefits of the cloud in healthcare far outweigh any dangers and it is something that more professionals need to use. A doctor should provide the best care they can at all times. It is something that every patient deserves when it comes to healthcare.
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Peter Davidson works as a senior business associate helping brands and start ups to make efficient business decisions and plan proper business strategies. He is a big gadget freak who loves to share his views on latest technologies and applications.
Children are figuring out how to use the internet at a much younger age than in the past. Kids 1 or 2 years old are exposed to computer devices to help distract them. They quickly learn how to press the right buttons on smartphones, tablets and other devices. It is great that kids are learning to use technology at such a young age, but it also can create nightmares for the adults.
The internet is full of information and entertainment for people of all ages, but not everything found on the internet is appropriate for young children. It is up to the parents to make sure that the kids are not exposed to things they are not prepared to handle or that could put them into a dangerous situation. Parents need to find ways to protect their children when they are not around to monitor it themselves.
The Use of Parental Controls
One of the things that parents are turning to is parental controls. This is software that can prevent a child from different activities when they are on the computer. The controls vary in what they can do. Some of the common things that parental controls can do include:
Parental controls can do many things, but parents still have to wonder if they are really protecting the child. For many parents, the key is learning how to use the parental controls in the right way.
Using Parental Controls
In order to get the most from parental controls, it is important that parents learn how to use them. This requires a little bit of thought about what they want their children to be exposed to, what the children are capable of doing and how the parent wants to protect themselves and the computers from problems the kids may use.
If the question that parents have is whether parental controls and antivirus protection work, the answer is yes and no. They can be effective because they have the capability to prevent children from accessing things they should not when they are using a computer. While they are effective as a tool for parents to use, they are not perfect.
Parents need to make sure that the parental controls and antivirus protection is turned on at all times. They need to make sure they are checking the controls and making sure they are suitable for the age of their child. More importantly, they still need to be involved with their children and their computer usage. Doing all of these things will keep children safe. If you have any thoughts or ideas, please take the time to share them with us.
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Peter Davidson works as a senior business associate helping brands and start ups to make efficient business decisions and plan proper business strategies. He is a big gadget freak who loves to share his views on latest technologies and applications.
Today’s technologically advanced society offers consumers a multitude of ways to view their favorite programming. The most common and traditional way of watching the news, entertainment, sporting events and many other types of programming is of course through your cable television package.
However, every day, thousands of consumers are figuratively cutting the cable cord and choosing another less expensive and more convenient option: Internet TV.
Internet TV and apps that offer live TV streaming can be less expensive than costly cable TV packages, and there are other benefits as well that make such an option attractive to those fed up with paying high monthly cable bills. If you have been thinking about cutting the cable cord, or if you would like to know more about Internet TV and why online TV streaming is getting popular, then consider these important factors, so that you can make a more informed choice.
The More Programming You Wish to Watch, the More Expensive Cable Can Be
This is one consideration you are probably already aware of. Basic cable is offered at one monthly price, but if you wish to add additional channels, such as movie channels or sports channels, then you will have to pay additional fees each month.
On the other hand, many Internet TV streaming services let you watch live Internet TV channels for free. You will, of course, pay a monthly fee for other types of TV streaming, but the cost is typically a great deal less than any cable service, and sometimes you’ll find that an Internet TV service offers more exclusive programming and special events than your cable TV does. It is important that you research any streaming service first, so that you can compare the costs and programming options.
Internet TV Lets You Watch Anywhere on Your Mobile Device, Smart TV, Computer or Laptop
With many live events, such as sports events, you needed to be home to watch the game. But with Internet TV, gone are the days of having to rush home to watch the game, lamenting over great plays you might have missed, or trying hard not to hear the outcome of a game until you have had time to watch what you recorded on your DVR.
With Internet TV and live TV streaming, you can be sure to be able to catch that big game at any time, so long as you have a device with you capable of streaming the video. If you are a big sports fan, you’ll definitely want to look for a streaming service that offers a lot of the major sporting events and networks.
Do You Have a Strong Internet Connection?
Before you engage in cord cutting and make the switch to Internet TV, you’ll want to be sure you have a strong Internet connection. Excellent, consistent bandwidth is required in order to ensure that all streaming runs smoothly, without annoying buffering interruptions or lagging video.
If you plan on streaming video that is high bandwidth you may want to upgrade your Internet connection. Additionally, you don’t want an Internet package that charges you according to your data usage. Video streaming uses up a lot of data, so an unlimited data plan is definitely the best way to go.
Is One Internet TV App Enough?
If you want to watch specific programming, you may need to use different streaming services. For example, if you like some of the shows exclusive to HBO, you’ll of course want the HBO app, and if you like streaming movies, you want to choose Netflix.
But there are also plenty of services that offer a large combination of live TV channels, movies, and many other types of programming, which will save you an ample amount of money as well as be more convenient.
Less Equipment Needed
With cable, you need your TV, along with a cable box, remote, and cable cords, and possibly a DVR. With Internet TV, all you need is an app and a source for viewing the video, such as a tablet. This saves money as well as space, because most cable companies also charge a monthly fee for the use of their equipment in addition to the cable package price.
Additionally, equipment such as cable boxes are often prone to malfunction, which can be infuriating if it happens often. But with Internet TV, so long as you have a strong Internet connection, there should be no issues.
Have you already made the move to Internet TV or are you thinking about doing so in the future? Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with Internet TV so that others can become more informed.
Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
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As the manager of a small business or an entrepreneur just starting out, you should always be on the lookout for anything that can improve your productivity, time management, organization, and ultimately make day to day tasks easier to manage.
It can be hard enough trying to run things in the office without also having to worry about your online presence. But like it or not, today’s business needs an online presence in order to ultimately succeed, or at least remain competitive.
Thankfully, there is large number of tools and apps at your disposal that can be used to facilitate online functions and tasks leaving you free to focus on other responsibilities.
With literally thousands of useful apps to choose from, it can be a daunting task finding some that will best fit your needs. The following 7 tools are typically useful for any small business owner, and best of all, they are also all free.
If you aren’t using Google Drive yet, you should get started right away. This business-friendly, easy to use tool is ideal for storing all types of files and documents, and enables you to access them from any mobile device.
You can also share documents with other colleagues, employees or team members, as well as edit them without from wherever you are. Its integration with other Google apps makes it an extremely functional and useful tool.
If you ever have need of services that you don’t currently have the staff to handle, such as graphic design, website content, blog posts, marketing materials, etc, then you would do well to start using Elance.
This site lets you find and hire freelancers for the rates you are comfortable with, choosing from thousands of potential candidates.
You can view reviews and credentials of the freelancers you are interested in, and post project details and wait for the freelancers to come to you.
Using Elance is a great time saver and the ideal way to find cost-effective services without having to hire and train a full or part-time employee.
UberConference is an online conferencing tool that provides users with an easy way to instantly set up conference calls.
With anywhere from just a few attendees to potentially thousands, this is an ideal app for all manner of online calls, from speaking with vendors, holding meetings with clients, or providing a training seminar for employees in offices all across the world.
Additionally, the remote screen sharing feature makes it especially useful when attempting to share information with others. It lets you show any other attendees on the conference call what is on your screen, so that you can easily point out images or review documents with others.
If your business takes advantage of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, then having TweetDeck will give you greater control over your social media management and campaigns.
TweetDeck can be used to view multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts all at the same time in an intuitive interface, so that you can quickly post updates or respond to followers without having to flip between different platforms or accounts.
If you don’t currently have a website but want to get one up and running quickly, you don’t necessarily need to shell out thousands for a professionally designed website.
Wix offers a multitude of different website templates to choose from. All you need to do is create an account, select one, and provide content for the various pages.
Wix writes the website code for you and uploads it, so that the result is a clean, polished looking website that is ready to perform.
In regards to website performance, there probably isn’t a better tool than Google Analytics.
This handy platform will let you know how your website is performing, so that you can better figure out how to improve it and gain new visitors and increase website visibility.
Free and easy to use, it’s a great tool for maintaining a strong web presence.
Want to know more about how others view your business? Then use Social Mention, which monitors several different social media platforms for criteria you enter, such as your business name.
When your business name is mentioned on any network, Social Mention lets you know so that you can see if you are receiving good or bad reviews.
It is also a great way to keep track of customer concerns or see which areas of your business need improvement.
Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
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