Tech Talk!!
Are employer e-mail restrictions justified?
Bosses will say e-mail and IM restrictions are a necessary evil in the work place. Employees will say it’s nothing more than “big brother” trying to control our actions. Well, the argument can certainly be made that employers have to monitor e-mail, for very good reasons. Companies are trying to cover themselves. According to this story, 24 percent of companies have been subpoenaed due to employee e-mails and 15 percent have actually gone to court over e-mails. That leads to immense, unnecessary and avoidable legal fees.
Read More >
Beware of “FormSpy”
I wanted to pass along some information to all you Firefox users out there. According to McAfee, there is a Trojan horse floating around that disguises itself as part of the Firefox browser. If you see something called “FormSpy,” don’t install it. Read the attached link for all the details. Also, this can serve as a good reminder. You have to protect your computer. There are so many bad places on the Web. Make sure your computer has up-to-date firewalls and protection. If you need help, or have any questions, you can find a lot of great resources on my web site at www.videoprofessor.com.
Read More >
Help for commuters? Yes. But is it a good idea?
This sounds like a great idea, but is it a double-edged sword? Google, last week, began sending traffic information to commuters’ cell phones. This is great for helping people avoid the trouble spots and make their daily grind a little more manageable. There’s a “but” though. People are distracted enough when they are driving. Do we really need people reading the most up-to-date traffic information while motoring (or lack thereof) down the highway? Hey pal, watch the road or you’ll be in my bumper.
Read More >
Can it hit the ball for me too?
It’s summer. I like to golf. I wish I were better at golf. Maybe if I can figure out how to get this device to hit the ball for me, I’ll be in much better shape. Utilizing GPS technology, this caddie can tell you pretty much anything you need to know on the golf course about your ball position. It does everything except carry your bag for you, and hit the 7-iron, of course.
Read More >
Off topic:
Reveal your celebrity twin
“Hey you like ‘fill in the blank ________’.” I think we’ve all said that a hundred times to our friends. Who doesn’t have a friend or an acquaintance that looks just like a celebrity? Well, if you don’t, there is a web site that can reveal to you who your celebrity twin is. They’ve created software that analyzes facial features on downloaded photos and matches them to facial features of celebrities. Beware; the results may be a little frightening.
Read More >
Monopoly robbing the bank
I always “called banker.” No matter who I played with, I was always the banker. For some reason, I enjoyed handing out the yellow, blue and pink dollars to my friends and family. Maybe I got a rush when they gave it all back. The new version of Monopoly in the U.K., however, has pretty much taken the fun out of the banker roll. They’ve replaced the bank with an ATM-like device and the players are given debit cards instead of stacks of colored paper. In my opinion, sometimes technology does not need to be present in every aspect of our lives.
Read More >
Give me a break!
I know this country is becoming more and more obsessed about work. The 40-hour-a-week job rarely exists anymore. Heck, with PDAs and cell phones, some can make the case that they are on call 24/7. It is fine for some, but when you go on vacation and you bring your office, you may need to re-think. According to a recent survey, 43 percent of Americans take work with them on vacation, that’s up from 23 percent in 1995.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
Feeling a little stressed at work? This web site may help those blues a little. Enjoy.
http://www.therightfoot.net/mystuff/whatever/swf/bubblewrap.swf
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog July 21, 2006
Technically Speaking!!
Lapping the competition
The world has gone mobile; we all know this and live with the changes everyday. I have to think that it’s only a matter of time before we see the end of desktops. Who knows? I guess there will always be people who want the added power of a desktop, with a separate screen and keyboard. Why? If you could have a laptop that is just as powerful as your desktop, I don’t really see a need for a desktop. I guess I’m not the only one. According to this survey, desktop sales are “stagnant” while sales of laptops keep booming.
Read More >
Online reading program helps people with disabilities
As you all know, I’m in the business of teaching computers to people through my Video Professor learning lessons. So anytime I see a situation that embraces technology to help teach others, I’m all for it, especially when technology helps children. New software and programs utilized by the Community Association for Rehabilitation in Palo Alto, Calif., is allowing children with disabilities to become literate. Because the program, Route 66, combines short stories with photos, it helps kids stay focused on the material.
Read More >
The Feds are cracking down on online gambling
Apparently Uncle Sam wasn’t playing around a couple weeks ago when they passed legislation cracking down on online gambling. This week, federal agents arrested 11 people, including a very big fish. The CEO of a very, very popular gambling web site, David Carruthers, was taken into custody for alleged fraud, racketeering and conspiracy charges.
Read More >
Age verification tough for MySpace
MySpace.com is certainly taking steps to better protect its users. With the recent scrutiny in the media of late, they realized there is a lot of work to be done. One of the biggest problems with this site is that anyone can be anyone at anytime. A 50-year-old predator can pass himself off as a 15-year-old free spirit, or a 12-year-old, who is desperate for friends, can pose as the 18-year-old life of the party. Until the site can come up with a way to verify age requirements, which is a very tough hurdle, these problems will continue.
Read More >
Does this make you happy?
We’ve all pondered the age old adage that money buys happiness. Or, maybe you are on the other side of the fence, saying money can’t make you feel better. Can high-tech toys make you happy? Nope! At least that’s the opinion of the New Economics Foundation, who recently conducted a study to see if more material objects and tech toys leads to a brighter outlook on life.
Read More >
Do you YouTube?
If you have seen a newspaper or online news outlet recently, you know that YouTube.com has taken off. I haven’t seen any numbers, but the founders made an announcement last week that blew me away. Fans of the site, which was started in 2005, are downloading more than 100 million videos a day. According to site officials, 60 percent of all videos served up online are through YouTube.com.
Read More >
Off topic:
A democratic lottery
Everyone should vote. It’s our civic duty, our responsibility and the reason we’re allowed to live in the best country in the world. But unfortunately not everyone frequents the polling stations. Maybe this activist in Arizona is on to something. In an effort to get more people out to vote, he’s suggesting entering every voter into a lottery where the prize is a million bucks. Heck, your odds would be a lot better than PowerBall, that’s for sure.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
We all think we are geniuses, right? Well if you really think so, take this little test and see where you rank. By the way, I’m not going to divulge what my score was. You’ll just have to guess.
View Site >
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Lapping the competition
The world has gone mobile; we all know this and live with the changes everyday. I have to think that it’s only a matter of time before we see the end of desktops. Who knows? I guess there will always be people who want the added power of a desktop, with a separate screen and keyboard. Why? If you could have a laptop that is just as powerful as your desktop, I don’t really see a need for a desktop. I guess I’m not the only one. According to this survey, desktop sales are “stagnant” while sales of laptops keep booming.
Read More >
Online reading program helps people with disabilities
As you all know, I’m in the business of teaching computers to people through my Video Professor learning lessons. So anytime I see a situation that embraces technology to help teach others, I’m all for it, especially when technology helps children. New software and programs utilized by the Community Association for Rehabilitation in Palo Alto, Calif., is allowing children with disabilities to become literate. Because the program, Route 66, combines short stories with photos, it helps kids stay focused on the material.
Read More >
The Feds are cracking down on online gambling
Apparently Uncle Sam wasn’t playing around a couple weeks ago when they passed legislation cracking down on online gambling. This week, federal agents arrested 11 people, including a very big fish. The CEO of a very, very popular gambling web site, David Carruthers, was taken into custody for alleged fraud, racketeering and conspiracy charges.
Read More >
Age verification tough for MySpace
MySpace.com is certainly taking steps to better protect its users. With the recent scrutiny in the media of late, they realized there is a lot of work to be done. One of the biggest problems with this site is that anyone can be anyone at anytime. A 50-year-old predator can pass himself off as a 15-year-old free spirit, or a 12-year-old, who is desperate for friends, can pose as the 18-year-old life of the party. Until the site can come up with a way to verify age requirements, which is a very tough hurdle, these problems will continue.
Read More >
Does this make you happy?
We’ve all pondered the age old adage that money buys happiness. Or, maybe you are on the other side of the fence, saying money can’t make you feel better. Can high-tech toys make you happy? Nope! At least that’s the opinion of the New Economics Foundation, who recently conducted a study to see if more material objects and tech toys leads to a brighter outlook on life.
Read More >
Do you YouTube?
If you have seen a newspaper or online news outlet recently, you know that YouTube.com has taken off. I haven’t seen any numbers, but the founders made an announcement last week that blew me away. Fans of the site, which was started in 2005, are downloading more than 100 million videos a day. According to site officials, 60 percent of all videos served up online are through YouTube.com.
Read More >
Off topic:
A democratic lottery
Everyone should vote. It’s our civic duty, our responsibility and the reason we’re allowed to live in the best country in the world. But unfortunately not everyone frequents the polling stations. Maybe this activist in Arizona is on to something. In an effort to get more people out to vote, he’s suggesting entering every voter into a lottery where the prize is a million bucks. Heck, your odds would be a lot better than PowerBall, that’s for sure.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
We all think we are geniuses, right? Well if you really think so, take this little test and see where you rank. By the way, I’m not going to divulge what my score was. You’ll just have to guess.
View Site >
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, July 14, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog July 14, 2006
Welcome to our world of tech!!
The power of the mind
These are the kinds of stories that give us all hope. Despite all the negative stories out there about how technology only leads to longer work days, or more theft online, etc., it’s great to see how technology can truly help. By implanting a small computer chip into the part of the brain that controls movement, scientists were able to help a man who suffered paralysis in all four limbs move a computer cursor on the screen and even move a robotic arm. Imagine the possibilities. This is amazing technology.
Read More >
Microsoft releases fixes
What kind of computer educator would I be if I didn’t help spread the word about things that can help you? On Tuesday Microsoft released four security fixes for Windows that you all should be on the lookout for. According to Microsoft, the fixes all patch holes that could allow hackers to take control of your computer. You’ve been warned!
Read More >
Microsoft and Yahoo! play nice
Whether you’re a Microsoft or a Yahoo! instant messenger, you can now communicate across both platforms. The two giants announced Thursday that they have made good on a promise made last year. Software has been released that allows the two IM platforms to play nice. It now appears the biggest IM community in the world has been built, with more than 350 million accounts spanning both platforms.
Read More >
Firefox’s bigger piece of pie
With Microsoft’s Internet Explorer being questioned for recently found vulnerabilities, it appears that another web browser is reaping the benefits. Firefox, according to reports, now has a 15 percent market share in the United States. Internet Explorer 7 is due to be released when Vista finally hits the shelves. Microsoft better get this one right if they expect to keep its customers, all 83 percent of Internet users.
Read More >
Changing the way we shop
Wouldn’t it stand to reason that because the Internet has made it so easy for us to shop at home, that traffic in malls would decline. That’s what I would have thought, but in actuality, the Internet is not hurting sales at all. If anything, the Internet is making us more savvy shoppers. Consumers are using the Internet to do research on the goods, find the best deal and even map out their trips. According to a spokesperson from the National Retail Federation, 22 percent of all in-store sales come from people who first saw the item on the Internet.
Read More >
Off topic:
Getting your money’s worth
If you are thinking of using what is left of the summer to tackle a home-improvement project, make sure you do some research and find out what projects are going to pay dividends. According to this story, remodeling kitchens and bathrooms will pay off in the long run when it comes time to sell the home.
Read More >
The ins and outs of a 911 call
If you’ve ever wondered exactly how 911 works, make sure you read this article. It gives a breakdown of the process, but what I really thought was interesting was how it works with wireless phones and VoIP. According to public safety officials, up to 50 percent of all 911 calls come from cell phones, and only recently has the operator at the other end been given the information that helps them process the call properly.
Read More >
It takes more than willpower
Don’t feel bad if you’ve ever fallen off the diet wagon. Sometimes it’s not your fault. The emotional state you are in and the lasting effects of different moods you experience have a lot to do with you sticking to a diet. It’s pretty interesting, if you think about it. These guys have some valid points.
Read More >
You k“nose” what is wrong with this picture?
When I travel, I have my portable DVD player (sight) and iPod (hearing), my laptop (touch) and I can stop for coffee (taste). I’ll stop there, thanks. Do we really need this? Seriously? We can take music, movies—practically anything we want—around with us anytime. I’ll stick to pleasing my other four senses and leave my nose out of it.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
“Casual Games” have grown in popularity of late. It seems like every time we go surfing on the Internet we find a way to kill five to 10 minutes playing a mindless game. Well, if you’re the type of person who likes to be distracted, or just needs a break in your day, check out this site full of these games. Do me a favor. If your boss catches you, don’t blame me!
View Site >
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
The power of the mind
These are the kinds of stories that give us all hope. Despite all the negative stories out there about how technology only leads to longer work days, or more theft online, etc., it’s great to see how technology can truly help. By implanting a small computer chip into the part of the brain that controls movement, scientists were able to help a man who suffered paralysis in all four limbs move a computer cursor on the screen and even move a robotic arm. Imagine the possibilities. This is amazing technology.
Read More >
Microsoft releases fixes
What kind of computer educator would I be if I didn’t help spread the word about things that can help you? On Tuesday Microsoft released four security fixes for Windows that you all should be on the lookout for. According to Microsoft, the fixes all patch holes that could allow hackers to take control of your computer. You’ve been warned!
Read More >
Microsoft and Yahoo! play nice
Whether you’re a Microsoft or a Yahoo! instant messenger, you can now communicate across both platforms. The two giants announced Thursday that they have made good on a promise made last year. Software has been released that allows the two IM platforms to play nice. It now appears the biggest IM community in the world has been built, with more than 350 million accounts spanning both platforms.
Read More >
Firefox’s bigger piece of pie
With Microsoft’s Internet Explorer being questioned for recently found vulnerabilities, it appears that another web browser is reaping the benefits. Firefox, according to reports, now has a 15 percent market share in the United States. Internet Explorer 7 is due to be released when Vista finally hits the shelves. Microsoft better get this one right if they expect to keep its customers, all 83 percent of Internet users.
Read More >
Changing the way we shop
Wouldn’t it stand to reason that because the Internet has made it so easy for us to shop at home, that traffic in malls would decline. That’s what I would have thought, but in actuality, the Internet is not hurting sales at all. If anything, the Internet is making us more savvy shoppers. Consumers are using the Internet to do research on the goods, find the best deal and even map out their trips. According to a spokesperson from the National Retail Federation, 22 percent of all in-store sales come from people who first saw the item on the Internet.
Read More >
Off topic:
Getting your money’s worth
If you are thinking of using what is left of the summer to tackle a home-improvement project, make sure you do some research and find out what projects are going to pay dividends. According to this story, remodeling kitchens and bathrooms will pay off in the long run when it comes time to sell the home.
Read More >
The ins and outs of a 911 call
If you’ve ever wondered exactly how 911 works, make sure you read this article. It gives a breakdown of the process, but what I really thought was interesting was how it works with wireless phones and VoIP. According to public safety officials, up to 50 percent of all 911 calls come from cell phones, and only recently has the operator at the other end been given the information that helps them process the call properly.
Read More >
It takes more than willpower
Don’t feel bad if you’ve ever fallen off the diet wagon. Sometimes it’s not your fault. The emotional state you are in and the lasting effects of different moods you experience have a lot to do with you sticking to a diet. It’s pretty interesting, if you think about it. These guys have some valid points.
Read More >
You k“nose” what is wrong with this picture?
When I travel, I have my portable DVD player (sight) and iPod (hearing), my laptop (touch) and I can stop for coffee (taste). I’ll stop there, thanks. Do we really need this? Seriously? We can take music, movies—practically anything we want—around with us anytime. I’ll stick to pleasing my other four senses and leave my nose out of it.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
“Casual Games” have grown in popularity of late. It seems like every time we go surfing on the Internet we find a way to kill five to 10 minutes playing a mindless game. Well, if you’re the type of person who likes to be distracted, or just needs a break in your day, check out this site full of these games. Do me a favor. If your boss catches you, don’t blame me!
View Site >
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, July 07, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog July 7, 2006
Let’s Talk About Technology!!
Parents, the ball is in your court
The morning show for CBS 5 News in Phoenix recently invited me to the studio to discuss how parents can keep their kids safe on social-networking web sites such as MySpace.com. Since this piece only aired in Phoenix, I wanted to pass along a few tips that you can do to keep your kids out of harm’s way. Technology is not as overwhelming as you may think. Once you learn some basic information, keeping up to speed on potential hazards is fairly pain free. Don’t wait for these web sites to change, act now. There are many things you can do to protect your kids:
- Know what sites your kids are visiting. Learn about these sites by visiting yourself.
- Get acquainted with how they work and who frequents them.
- Talk with your children and find out who their “online” friends are.
- Learn the “lingo” that kids are using online. Below are some acronyms you may see on screen:
POS = Parent Looking Over Shoulder
PRW = Parents Are Watching
CD9 = Code 9, parents are around
ASL = Age, Sex, Location
MIRL = Let’s Meet in Real Life - Put the computer in the family room or another public place in the house so everyone can see what sites and chat rooms are being accessed.
- Limit the time that your children spend online.
- Instruct children to NEVER divulge personal information.
- If an online friend suggests a face-to-face meeting, and your child really wants to meet their friend in person, accompany your child to the meeting.
- Online predators seek kids who are lonely, have low self-esteem, or lack parental supervision. Take a good hard look at the relationships with your children and make sure that your kids don’t fit the “victim” profile.
- Video Professor offers a number of tutorials to help parents and Internet users keep themselves safe.
- Internet Security Tutorials focus on Firewalls, ID theft and virus protection
- Video Professor’s Learn the Internet Tutorial covers
- Tips on security
- Setting up parental locks in your browser
- Keeping your privacy safe
- Information on software that can help
- If you do these things, your child’s online activity will be much, much safer. Please visit our web site at http://www.videoprofessor.com/ for more information and more Internet safety tips.
An Infamous Top-10 List
Everybody loves a Top-10 list, right? We’ll take a look at this list. Informationweek.com counted down the Top-10 (I guess if you really want to call them that) computer viruses of the past 20 years. If you caught any of these nasty bugs, this list may conjure up memories that you’d otherwise like to squash.
Read More >
Only a matter of time
You knew it was only a matter of time before Microsoft took a dip in the portable media pool. Can you blame them? It’s a $4 billion a year market. Apple owns roughly 77 percent of the digital music/video market, and it looks like Billy Boy wants his cut. The new line of Microsoft portable media players, which will play music and video, should hit stores before Christmas. What sets the Microsoft players apart is a built-in wireless Internet connection that lets users download their favorite tunes without being stuck at the computer.
Read More >
Off topic:
A Million in a Month
The entrepreneurial spirit that made this country so great is definitely alive and strong in this young businessman. Armed with only a dream, a cell phone and a hundred bucks, Remi Frazier moved to New York City and hopes to capitalize on some timely networking to launch the next great product. I am obviously partial to stories like this because I too was in his place. Eighteen years ago, I had nothing more than an idea. With a lot of hard work and some luck, I can now look back and be proud that Video Professor has helped more than six million people learn how to use their computers.
Read More >
Let’s go double or nothing!
Would you make a double-or-nothing bet to reduce your credit card debt? How about making the same bet with your mortgage payment? Apparently there are a lot of people out there who are willing to take the risk.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
With The Midsummer Classic just a few days away, gear up for Major League Baseball’s 2006 All-Star Game by competing in this home-run derby.
View Site >
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
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