Joomla! site syndication http://universalinfo.us 2010-09-06T21:28:07+01:00 http://universalinfo.us http://universalinfo.us/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2010-08-20T22:54:44+01:00 http://universalinfo.us http://universalinfo.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26 Mobile Computing Solutions using cell phonesCellular phones were not a necessity until a few decades ago. Only few people around the world own the bulky and big mobile phones, which have networks with limited coverage and average reception. Today, you will see everyone with their own cellular phones. The cell phones of the early days and the newer models of today have basically the same function, to receive and make calls. But the thing is flashy, sophisticated advancement of cellular technology progressed in so short a time that cellular phones are now one of the most used devices for mobile computing. What does it mean? It means that the newer cellular phone models are now capable of getting access or connected to the wireless world of the internet. Added to that is using your phones anywhere will get you connected wirelessly. This is because most of the newer phone models are now packed with full navigational and computing features, most of which were what laptops, Pocket PCs and personal digital assistants can provide to the user. The rise of cellular phones' technology has obviously impacted the lives of the majority. Everywhere around the world, smart phones with wireless capabilities are the addiction not only by the younger but even the older generations. So, what are the reasons of this addiction? Take a look at the following mobile computing technology for the cellular phones.Wi-Fi Enabled Cellular PhonesThe Wi-Fi cell phones enable you to seamlessly connect and not get dropped easily off the network. This is the problem that older cell phones used to experience especially when the user is making the connection in a location where there is a limited repeater's range or some structures block the network's radio frequencies. Now, there are many Wi-Fi hotspots which wi-fi enabled cellular phone users can get connected automatically. Global Positioning System- or GPS-Enabled Cellular PhonesWireless companies have been offering GPS navigation technology, which has the capability to give you verbal directions in answer to the address entered into your handset. This technology has vast benefits both for personal and business uses with tracking locations are concerned. The Personal HandyphoneThere are cellular phones now that can function as both landline and wireless device. This is particularly available in Asia and comes as portable wireless telephone, looks like a cordless device. Developed in Japan, the device has the capability to fax, handle voice and video signals. The Screaming Cellular PhoneCellular phones that have this capability allows the user to set it to a screaming technology handset, which gives out a human scream noise and particularly helpful when the device is being stolen or lost. A kill switch is operated, wherein as the noise begins, the handset becomes inoperable while stored data is erased. The technology does not guarantee return or stop the act of theft itself; however, sensitive and confidential data stored in the handset will be prevented from getting into the hands of the delinquent. The Breathalyzer-Enabled HandsetsThere is a built-in ethyl alcohol vapor in the cellular phone. It is a wireless device that is particularly used by the Koreans and is ideal to business individuals and college groups. It is introduced with the entertainment feature being able to save live because of the capability to allow one to learn if they've had one too many to drink. All these highly-advanced cellular phone devices are truly incredible technology that impacted the daily lifestyle of the majority of the population. The mobile computing capabilities that they impose on one's life make it extremely overly functional, efficient and sophisticated that many can now never live without. text/html 2010-07-23T12:47:00+01:00 http://universalinfo.us http://universalinfo.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25 Conventional learning means that the youth would have to attend regular classes in schools and universities. It means that they receive their learning from persons inside those institutions, such as teachers, administrators and counselors. Conventional learning means that students, on a regular hour to hour discussion of lessons, do have a limit as to where the learning can take place.Doing Away With The Traditional Approach Of LearningMoreover, the conventional way for these students to gather needed information is to go to libraries and consult encyclopedias, reference books and journals. Having such a tedious process for information gathering can at times actually be a hindrance to the students' learning. Since the thought of tiresome researching can be painful, students may feel unenthusiastic of fulfilling their duties, and eventually of learning. However, the introduction of mobile computing suddenly poses a fresh and innovative way for these students to learn. Without the walls of the classroom restricting them, students may actually learn from mobile computing. Through wireless connection to the World Wide Web, students find themselves in a limitless opportunity of learning and experience. Mobile Learning Commits Faster EducationThe most important aspect of mobile computing for students is its capability to deliver information quickly. There is no more need for long hours in the library or monotonous turning of the pages. Students only have to type in the keyword of their needed information and in an instant they have numerous websites to choose from. Such a brilliant feature of the mobile computing device redefines the conventional way of learning, upgrading it to a term called m-learning or mobile learning. M-learning, consequently introduces distant learning wherein students and teachers can interact with one another through the use of the internet. It is an innovative way of bringing education to the students, rather than the students coming to the education. Furthermore, it strips cultural diversity off these individuals, making learning much more productive and optimistic.Mobile Computing Equals Multi-Tasking In StudentsMobile computing devices also help individuals to multi-task their duties and responsibilities. One mobile computing gadget may possibly be a student's partner in organizing al tasks, having a ready connection to the internet, and providing him with occasional entertainment. On the other hand, with so many possible advantages of the mobile computing device to learning, it also creates negative implications.While information is easily accessed and retrieved by students, this information may not necessarily be reliable and accurate. There are many instances when wrong data can be transacted over websites, making them less credible. In turn, such occurrences may lead to plagiarism and violation of property rights which are highly discouraged in schools. The risk of m-learning is that students may forget in time how challenging learning is in reality. In the turn of years, they may apply it to their lives, picking easier tasks than more challenging roles. Having such threat to the society is a major concern that students must be aware of while using the mobile computing device. It is true that they may be one's ally through learning, but it can also defeat him in the long run. text/html 2010-06-24T23:48:17+01:00 http://universalinfo.us http://universalinfo.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24 In today's world of high-technology, mobile computing has become the most omnipresent medium for so many different applications. From the simple downloading of the mp3s of the youth to downloading business application/software of the professionals, or from simply carrying out transactions to videoconferencing by the career people to simply having fun with a number of social networking sites, it is simply a part of the lives of the majority using any internet-connected computers or mobile handsets. Many Enjoy Its Features and FunctionalityIn many aspects, it is no doubt that it has become the most reliable means of transaction reaching various vertical sectors like the healthcare industry. For instance, inside the hospital or clinic, a doctor or a nurse can have a great use of PDA (palm digital assistant), an iphone, or a pocket pc with applications that can help them measure, record patient's condition, or what to do with their symptoms, and similar applications.In other industry, mobile computing is the significant way that lets colleagues, employees, and bosses interact with each other. In companies where POS (point of sale) applications are used, it makes checking the pricing, scanning the bar codes, on the table credit card transactions, and lessening check-out lines during peak moments a fast, convenient, and reliable tasks. Reaching Out To People Instantly and SpeedilyEven offers and coupons of these companies are sent out directly to the customers' handheld sets like PDA devices and mobile phones, hoping to attract them to participate with the promotion and urge to redeem at the specified point of sale system. And this is likewise done via mobile marketing. It makes the whole transaction instant and speedy, without the need of the regular, lengthy hassles of the entire procedure. Connecting, Interacting, and Updating Consumers' DemandsIn today's every business, there is the growing pressure to look for ways on how to efficiently deliver their respective solutions to the consumers and the public. The mobile option is undoubtedly the one choice that makes it all possible for the consumers to keep updated, connected, and interacted with while the companies provide the demands and meet most of their expectations. But with the growing number of choices, it is a challenge for every business to keep updated and competitive with each other. The challenge will be tough if one does not keep abreast with the growing trend of the mobile marketing. As it is, mobile computing is a thing that keeps on getting larger, and more high technology that if one does not see to it to be in the current wave one will get lost in the competition. Mobile computing is indeed a fast-growing technology that everybody seems to take advantage of. It has been around the 1990s and for the decades that passed since, it has grown large that now countless devices and gadgets have been created to take over the wide and instant wireless business. The mobile industry has paved a way towards giving powerful tool to everybody, both for personal and businesses use. text/html 2010-02-16T21:47:22+01:00 http://universalinfo.us http://universalinfo.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23 Today’s biggest cyber security concern is Identity Theft. Cyber thieves use all kinds of methods (hacking, use of spyware for intercepting information, etc.) in stealing personal or financial information from their victims, mostly from the computers. The latest of these nefarious activities even sports a name: phishing (pronounced like ‘‘fishing”). The thief sends a simple e-mail that looks like it came from a genuine site (mostly from financial institutions as Citibank, eBay, PayPal, Best Buy and others), telling you there is a problem with your account. They would then ask you to click on a certain link in the e-mail, and you are taken to a site that looks exactly like that of your bank. Here, they will ask you to fill out again your Social Security or credit card numbers, and/or other confidential numbers.The following are some ways to minimize the risk of your identity being stolen:Do business with reputable companiesSome attackers may try to trick you by creating web sites that appear to be legitimate. Don’t visit any site that is using third party links. Open a new browser and type the address yourself if you want to visit a site. You can also check privacy policies to see how the company in question use and distribute information. Many companies allow customers to request that their information not be shared with other companies.Maintain a security mindset – always be skeptical of unfamiliar sites and links, suspicious e-mails and IM messages.Anti-virus software and firewallAs standard practice, use and maintenance of an anti-virus software and firewall will protect your computer from attacks that may steal or modify data in your computer.Make sure to keep your anti-virus program and firewall up to date. As precautionary steps, regularly check your credit reports for strange transactions or transactions you don’t recall, unusual charges on your bills, bills for products and services you don’t have, or worse, unexpected denial of your credit card.Once the identity robbery has been confirmed, calls to appropriate companies and agencies have to be done immediately. Have your credit card accounts closed right away so future charges will be denied. Contact the Social Security Administration if your SSS card number has been accessed or the DMV if your driver’s license or car registration papers were stolen. This is to warn these agencies for possible unauthorized use of your personal ID information. Of course, you need to file a criminal report with the local police. For U.S. citizens, you need to contact the main credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to see if there had been any unexpected or unauthorized activity. Have fraud alerts placed on your credit reports to prevent new accounts from being opened without verification. File a complaint with the FTC and IFCC. A website, IdentityTheftActionPlan.com, had been created to help citizens prevent, detect, and respond to identity theft and fraud. Within the site is information on how identity theft occurs, the latest prevention tips, what to do in case you are victimized and pertinent information of law enforcement agencies that investigate these crimes. Two other sites to learn more about phishing and ID theft are the following: consumer.gov/idtheft/ and idtheftcenter.orgVigilance, information and actionCyber security dictates that every cyber citizen (those using computers and the Internet in most of their activities) needs to be vigilant at all times.Everyone is enjoined to keep up with the latest information, so that they can do the appropriate action by themselves. text/html 2010-01-14T23:00:29+01:00 http://universalinfo.us http://universalinfo.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22 We all know the cyber security is important. Having a good password is important to keep confidential information protected. We know that having an anti-virus, anti-malware and spyware application do wonders especially when you’re connected into a network or the web. Having all those applications is a good thing but we also know that having a correct firewall setting is quite important as well.However, what most of us don’t know and what we are forced to believe is that having these precautionary measures are just enough. Well they are not. It is time that you know the truth and expose some of the myths cyber security that we have believed for years. Let’s start of with anti-virus software and your system firewall. Despite what manufacturers say, despite what the advertisements say, despite what some of your friends tell you, no anti-virus software or firewalls for that matter are 100% effective. You need to understand that for one virus creators make malicious codes that are so advanced that an anti-virus application is not yet capable of handling an attack from it.Despite the regular updates released by anti-virus software companies, they cannot foresee what kinds of virus will come out next month or the month after that. They can only provide their customers with protection based on the virus that they know off and the potential virus that could come out. As mentioned or implied earlier, the best way to have a degree of protection is combine the technologies together. Have separate virus software installed and keep a strong firewall active. Although, there might be a problem with some applications not working well together but conduct your won research and see which software works well together. It is also important to know that not because you have installed an application that’s the end of it. You see you will need to get the patches or updates that manufacturers release. These patches or updates are fixes on some little or sometimes big inconsistencies or bugs in the application. This is very important for anti-virus applications especially.Look into your installed application and see it there is a n automatic updating option, which there usually is, that allows you to automatically receive updates whenever manufacturers release a new version or an upgrade of the system. Also, don’t believe that just because you have mainly personal and insignificant information in your computer that it’s not worth protecting at all. Please bear in mind that what you think is not important can turn out be quite useful for hackers. Every bit of information you have in your computer, email or any other system can be manipulated and used by hackers to access more of your confidential information or use it to gain some profit. Even if you keep your files in a computer not connected to any network, the one that a hacker gains access to can be used to attack other computers or cause problems with other systems. Not being rich is not a good enough reason of being attacked as well. Hackers and identity thieves will grab any opportunity that they come across with. If they can get you personal information easily, they will do so and think about how they can use it for their personal gain and believe me, they will think of a way.After we exposed some of these myths and now you know the truth cyber security, I hope you get a renewed conviction regarding cyber security.