Final Blog Post

I feel like this class has been very beneficial to me, as it has taught me a lot of information about the basics of computers and how they work. This class was not like any other computer class I have taken and because of that, I feel like I learned a lot of useful information that can be used as I go on with career.

                The main thing that I feel like I learned from this class, was how to be proficient on Microsoft Excel and Access. Before this class, I had never even heard of the Microsoft Access program, and now I can fill out forms and reports using the program. The weekly tutorials I found to be a big help, as it was easy to follow along in the book and that each week it built on what we learned the previous week. Also having the case studies assigned each week along the tutorial allowed the steps to become more of second nature instead of learning it for the first time. The ways I learned to organize and display data graphically in Microsoft Excel is going to be something very useful after college when making presentations. While I may not be using Access frequently after I graduate, it was neat learning and seeing how it streamlined some things a lot better than Excel. If Access does become more frequently used in the business world I feel like the tutorials and assessments from this class will allow me to use it sufficiently.

                In addition to all the knowledge I gained on how to operate programs on Microsoft Office, I learned a decent amount of information on the basics of computers. Using the Digital World book and the almost weekly chapter quizzes I learned about the hardware of the computer and how to properly maintain one. In the future, this knowledge will help whenever my computer starts to act up, or even if I can’t fix it, it will be useful in shopping for a new computer. The weekly blogs were also a nice changeup to the work on Access or Excel, in that it wasn’t at as time consuming. The blogs also added a dose of currency to the information we were learning in the Digital World book, and the blogs we had to do research on internet hoaxes and new technologies were really interesting.

                Overall, I feel like this class was very helpful to me and I will be able to use the majority of information I learned in real world scenarios. I feel like there is nothing missing from this class and that it was excellently planned out in advance.

Week 13

As the internet keeps becoming more popular and continues to be present on devices we have never thought of before, the risk of viruses are also going to present on more and more devices. This idea was recently discussed in an article, where Eugene Kaspersky, a chief-executive in one of the largest anti-viruses companies in the world prophesized that viruses were going to spread to TVs and mobile devices. He discussed how even though computers have gotten better and smarter, viruses have also done the same. He was also worried that as of right now, there is not any anti-virus software out there to prevent the spread of viruses on TVs, and it is only a matter of time before a massive spread. But at the same time, he remains fairly optimistic that there will be an antivirus software developed soon, as his company is starting to develop a prototype to test out.

                The potential outbreak of a virus on TVs and other mobile devices such as cell phones is a very important thing to consider as internet connections in our house become more frequently used. With the added technology of having “smart” TVs, it brings the risk of a virus directly to our TV screens, something we have never had to deal with previously. The importance of understanding this risk is huge, as since the technology is still so new, there are no preventive measures yet to secure these new devices. It is also only going to become more important, as the technology starts to age and become a much more reasonable price for the average consumer, it is going to become much more widely used making it an even bigger target if no preventive measures are found soon.

                The relevancy of this article may not be too high right now as the prices of smart TVs are still too high for widespread use, but it is only going to become more and more relevant. Not only does it make you think about whether your TV or mobile devices are safe, but also your computers and laptops. From this article, we can learn that while these new TVs and devices seem really cool to have, there are also risks attached since they are new.  Another thing that can be learned, is before you buy a product that uses internet connections, check the internet to see whether it can be prevented through anti-virus software or in other ways.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2609251/Now-TV-infected-computer-viruses-Technology-security-expert-warns-cyber-criminals-infect-millions-devices.html

Week 12

For my project, I have focused on how-to conduct research for papers and projects in what would be considered the “scholarly” and correct way. While doing my research for this project, I have come across a few things that I thought were either interesting or things that I just had previously been oblivious to.

Wikipedia has always been my go to website in order to collect background information for a topic or even just somewhere to read about things that are of interest to me. But unfortunately for me, my teachers have always disallowed the use of Wikipedia as a credible source in papers or projects. I understood that they didn’t want it used because simply anyone could get on there and post a bunch of nonsense that could be inaccurate, so I just thought nothing else of it and didn’t even use the site at all for research. After researching for this project, I found out that Wikipedia could be used almost like a database for a topic. Since the contributors cite their sources usually at the bottom using footnotes, those footnotes could just be used as the source instead of the Wikipedia article. Going forward, this useful piece of advice I found from my research will come in really handy when teachers assign papers that need scholarly sources.

Like most teenagers and college students, I am frequently on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to follow friends and interact with others, but I did not realize that these sites could actually be cited in a research paper. I had thought that all those sites would fall in the Wikipedia category, since it is always active and constantly changing, but it’s actually different since one person is all that has access to a specific account and not just an open-ended platform like Wikipedia. These sites may not be much of a use in historical aspects, but in events that are current, it could be an important aspect that could be added to a paper. Personally, I think I will find it very useful as my college career continues on, as more and more people get on social media sites and treat them almost like personal press releases.

While I have been conducting my research for our class project, I have learned several new things that could be useful in the future as I conduct my own academic research. While I have learned some now, I will probably continue to gain more pointers before I finish the project.

Week 11 Blog

               As the internet keeps growing daily and becomes one of the most popular avenues of communication and entertainment, it is just natural for businesses to catch on so they stump for some more business. Using the internet and specifically multiple forms of social media, businesses can reach millions and millions of people without having to spend a dime. The company I’m focusing this blog on, Verizon Wireless, has about every form of social media imaginable including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

                The layout of their different social media accounts are pretty similar to what any other company would be, as the main goal of their company is to sell phones and phone contracts so their pages and feeds are going to be commercially based. A common thread between their 4 different tools of social advertising is that they are constantly advertising the next big thing and other new gadgets that are sure to be eye-appealing. Another thing that they do on their Instagram and Facebook accounts are contests where is you “follow” or “like” them, you will have a chance to win a phone or something else. Their YouTube account on the other hand is a lot less active and interactive. The majority of their videos on Verizon’s channels are commercials that are already show on TV, or are celebrity endorsements.

                There are several misconceptions I had about companies advertising on social media especially Verizon Wireless. For instance, I would have never of thought that Verizon would have a YouTube channel in order to reach potential customers or to regain old ones. Another item that I was shocked to notice, was actually how interactive Verizon’s pages were with their customers. On their Facebook page I saw where angry customers had complained about their phone’s service and they had actually responded saying how they were sorry for the inconvenience and were more than happy to help. Also on Twitter and Instagram how they would use hashtags to have trivia contests or to ask followers how they liked their new phones or phone services.

                The use of social media sites has given businesses a chance to expand their commercials and products even further into our lives at a much cheaper price. Following or “liking” these businesses gives them the opportunity to constantly push their products to us at all times of the day by blending it smoothly with our entertainment and social environment.

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNe2bEwZk5Jvn6wK7kToR0g

https://www.facebook.com/Verizon

http://instagram.com/Verizon

https://twitter.com/verizonwireless

 

 

Google Drive

Working collaboratively online is something that is very new to me, as I’ve never used Google Drive or anything similar to it. I had previously heard of Google Drive but I was unaware of the networking capabilities it had, instead of just being a place for cloud storage. Looking back at high school where doing group power points were like a weekly thing, Google Drive could have been useful. Instead of each individual having to do a section of the power point then sending it to one person to put all together, Google Drive could have cut out the extra work for someone. Using Google Drive the way we used it this week in order for a whole class to collaborate, would have made high school much easier.

            I can see how Google Drive could be a valuable tool for me to utilize in my other classes just because it makes it easier for groups to get work done. Instead of having to plan a set time to get together to work on a project, everyone could just do their portion of the work on Google Drive whenever is convenient for them and their schedules. Another way I could see Google Drive being useful is by using its cloud storage feature to save important documents and power points. Instead of having to carry around a flash drive and having to worry about losing it, it can just be stored in “clouds” on Google Drive and be accessed on any computer at any time.

            I’m sure that there are other sites that allow users to collaborate similar to the way that Google Drive does, but I’m unaware of them. Before having to use Google Drive this week I didn’t know it could allow people to collaborate in small groups or even large classes such as ours. I have heard of other websites that offer cloud storage online, but I’m not sure that they allow others to collaborate like Google Drive.

            In addition to use in the class setting, I can see many other uses for Google Drive. Since Google Drive allows many people to have access to the same document, it could be used for people to sign up for events or times for appointments. Another way Google Drive could be useful is by using it as a bypass for email, where employees could all have access to the same spreadsheet and just add to it and then it would be visible to everyone instead of having to email it after adding their changes. Regardless of its uses, I can see networking sites like Google Drive becoming an important tool to be used in the business world soon.

Being able to edit and manipulate digital photos has really become an ordinary thing in our generation due to the easy access to editing programs such as Photoshop. But like everything, editing and photo shopping pictures has gradually shifted from just fixing minor awkward nuances of a picture to drastically changing what the picture was meant to portray.

                For the most part, being able to edit or altar a photo can be a very useful in many different situations. I’m sure all of us have had the most perfect picture ever only for it to be ruined by everyone having red eyes, or just one person having their eyes closed. Being able to make everyone’s eyes a normal color again by editing may seem like just a simple thing, but it is really practical that instead of having to retake the picture, it is just an easy fix on the computer. Another good and ethical use for digital photo editing is to be able to enhance and make old black and white photos look new again. For instance, my grandpa had some old photos of his grandparents and his parents that he had found, but they were in such terrible shape they were almost unrecognizable. After me and my sister scanned them and edited them, they were probably much better quality than when they were first made.

                While there are many good times and situations to edit photos, there are also some times that it is used to manipulate people by changing the whole meaning of a photo. For example, in this photo below, a college student posted a picture where she had photo shopped a tornado into a picture behind her apartment in order for people to believe there was a tornado nearby.

 

This picture pretty much sums up why editing photos gets such a bad reputation and when editing photos is not appropriate. Just by seeing this woman post this on her Facebook page could cause panic throughout her neighborhood for no reason at all. This picture gained such a reaction, it was shared 250 times and even showed on the local news before it was found out to be fake. After many different people saw this photo and found out it was edited, I’m sure it ruined their ability to automatically see a photo and believe it’s real.

                Tampering with and drastically changing a picture gives photo editing a bad reputation, but its benefits and usefulness for fixing minor things is why it’s considered a piece of productivity software.

Before the start of this semester, my use and understanding of the Microsoft Excel program was at a very limited level. Between this class and a couple of my other classes this semester, I have really began to understand how to use Excel and how it can be such a useful resource. Excel can be used for many important things in life, such as creating a budget for a family or businesses and even to show statistics in graphs.

                While I don’t really have a big use for Excel right now in my life outside of school, I can see a few ways how it could be useful to plan my finances. I could see myself using Excel to create a budget to show the amount of money I’m earning for my income as well as for expenses such as gas clothes, and school. I could also use some of the formulas we have earned to budget, for instance I could say that I want to save 10% of my income for the future and created a separate column just for that data. Another way I could Excel in my daily life could be to create a schedule of when I have to be at school and work. By entering this data in to Excel I could easily be able to find time frames where I have extra time available to do homework or spend time with my family and friends. Even though my use of Excel right now is limited to school, I can see how it could be used to organize and plan my finances and allow to save money for the future.

                Even though I don’t use Excel much right now, it is going to be a very important and frequently used tool for me in the future. I am an Accounting major, so as I continue in school to get my degree it is going to be something I use frequently in order to learn the nuances of accounting and finance. After I get out of school, Excel will be even more useful to me in order to create budgets and do taxes for clients using different styles and formats to make it easier to read. It is very important that I am able to retain my knowledge of the Excel program in order to be able to use it in my career field. But I am fairly sure by the time I graduate from Lenior-Rhyne, I will be using excel pretty frequently.

Operating System failure

                Even though most of the time we only think of Computers consisting of a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor and tower, there are many numerous other aspects of a computer that can go wrong and be harmed. Some of these less thought of computer parts are what makes up the computers operating system. Whether it is just due to a part failing or a virus attacking the operating system, it becomes a real hassle when it occurs. This problems can sometimes be easily fixed by a computer professional, but in my personal experience, it can also put the computer beyond repair.

                Whenever I was younger, my family had a HP computer that we ended up using for probably about 5 years, but it wasn’t without a few issues with the operating system. I don’t remember what website or download that caused it, but after about 2 or 3 years the computer got a virus and it slowly ate away at the speed of the computer until it finally came up with an error code saying it was unusable. Before this happened, we had McAfee antivirus-software which we thought would prevent a virus, but obviously it didn’t. In order to fix the computer to get it back to being operational, we took it to a computer repair shop and had them erase the virus (along with all our files and photos). After we got it fixed, we purchased a different antivirus software from Norton, and we didn’t have any problems for a few years. Whenever the computer had operating system issues for the second time, it had nothing to do with a virus getting past an antivirus software. A couple of years later, the computer didn’t show any warning and just quit and wouldn’t even turn on. Once again we took it to the computer repair man and hoped for an easy fix just like the last time, but instead he said it wasn’t a virus and we would have to get a new computer.

                After encountering these issues, I’ve found that not just any antivirus software is capable of keeping a computer virus-free, and it takes some research and sometimes a little more money to make your computer less likely to get a virus. But even if your computer stays virus-free, it is still prone to just completely failing for no good reason at all and sometimes even the best computer repair shop can’t fix everything.

New Input Devices

                As increases in technology become more rampant and more frequent, the range of options for input and output devices for computers becomes much greater. Rather than just simply using a keyboard and a mouse for input and a printer for output, there are now much more complex devices such as voice recognition, touch screen tablets, and 3D printers. The most interesting new input device I have seen is the Tobii PCEye Go which allows the gaze of an eye to replace the function of using a mouse.

                This piece of technology works very similar to motion recognition software that is used in videogames such as a Wii or Xbox Kinect except it focuses on just the eyes. The PCEye Go allows the items on the screen to be moved and opened based on the gaze of your eyes as an input device, instead of having to use the mouse. The product is easy to be set up, as it only requires a connection to a USB port (like a mouse), and then it only needs to calibrated on the screen before use. This input device is not a product that the general public would probably find to be of much use, but it does have its intended audience. This eye gaze technology is extremely beneficial to people who suffer from spinal cord injuries and ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) that don’t have the physical capabilities to operate a computer with the standard input devices. For example, Steve Gleason a former NFL player who suffers from Lou Gehrig Disease uses the built-in keyboard feature on his PCEye Go to tweet and do other daily operations on the computer and was recently featured in a Microsoft commercial during the Super Bowl highlighting technology. While it may not be practical for everyone I think it is a really cool idea that opens the door for many people to continue to communicate despite physical difficulties. This idea is something that I can see be put in to wider use in the future, as it can help people who suffer from strokes and that are paralyzed to use a computer for personal use or even for work.

                As technology continues to improve and become more sophisticated it is refreshing to see it be used for purposes that improve the quality of lives for people. The use of the Tobii PCEye Go is just one example of an input device that has made it capable for people with disabilities to be able to connect to and use the Web.

   Here are the sources I used:

http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/global/products/hardware/pceye/

http://mashable.com/2013/02/15/steve-gleason-tweets-with-eyes-als/

Internet Hoaxes

As technology has greatly improved throughout our generation, the internet has become a mega hub for information. With access to information so easy that just a key word ran through a search engine can result in thousands and even millions of hits. This way of getting information has become one of the most popular ways to gain information for a topic whether it be academic related or just for useless trivia. But unfortunately, reading something on the internet doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s accurate.

            While the vast majority of the internet is used for good reliable information, there are a small percentage of sites that just specialize in providing false content. Just recently as I scrolled through my newsfeed I noticed an article that said the Super Bowl was rigged and the Broncos got paid to lose. Personally, as soon I saw it I was like that’s got to be fake, but it soon became apparent that more and more people actually believed it and was sharing them to their walls. This websites are to look official just like any other accurate media outlet so I can see how someone could just automatically think that it’s a real news story. In that specific article, it had a quote from the Commissioner of the NFL and false facts which made it seem even more like a real credible news story. After I read that article I decided to go to the website’s homepage to see what the deal was and what kind of website it was. On its homepage it stated that huzlers.com is a combination of real shocking news and satire news to keep its visitors in a state of disbelief. While to some, this could be looked at as a website to just get a good laugh from, others could view it as 100% factual.

            Websites such as Huzlers.com are the reason why a site’s credibility has to be put in question before it can be used in an academic manner. It’s really sad that a few bad eggs have to spoil the whole bunch, as there are numerous factual websites out there that have good information but are times not allowed because of the internet’s bad reputation. If the internet didn’t have a credibility issue, it would be much easier for the public to be fully informed about what is going on throughout the world and the country without wondering if what they’re reading is really true.

http://huzlers.com/
http://huzlers.com/superbowl-xlviii-believed-to-have-been-rigged-and-currently-under-investigation-by-nfl/

Targeted Advertising

The use of targeted advertising by companies and search engines is a result of our lives becoming more centered on the internet than other advertising mediums. Being able to track and advertise to a consumer specifically is much more economical and efficient for companies than spending money on billboards and TV commercials that people may not see, but it is dangerous for the consumer.

            While it is just “business as usual” for companies, targeted advertising can be a very disturbing thing for consumers to be involved in. The scariest thing about being tracked online is its unbelievable accuracy, such as on YouTube during election campaigns there are advertisements specifically for your congressional districts. Regardless of the intent, it’s not a good feeling to know that there are databases out there that have information about your online viewing history, which could also be very personal. If the information from these companies gets hacked or sold to the wrong person, a person’s privacy could easily be compromised. Situations and potential mistakes such as these are why targeted advertising is dangerous to the everyday consumer. It’s not easy to be able to avoid being targeted, as just about everything that is sold in stores can be found cheaper online which makes the audience at risk even greater.

            Being targeted by online advertisers and potentially losing our sense of privacy is just a price that we as a society have paid in order to become more connected and more efficient. Buying products from Amazon and online just in general has become much cheaper and convenient as those packages can just be sent to our houses instead of having to go physically buy them. With technology also advancing to the stages where more and more people spend time online reading newspapers and watching TV shows instead of paying outrageous bills, it just makes it that much more appealing to spend time online. With fewer people watching TV and reading newspapers it just makes sense for companies to advertise more online through targeting consumers. By targeting and tracking people online it allows companies to get almost a sure thing by advertising only to people that are actually interested rather than just advertising to everyone like they do TV. While it’s just good business for them, it is a dangerous habit that really runs the risk of invading people’s privacy.    

            Targeted advertising is an evil that we as a society have brought on ourselves by spending more time online. Having our information tracked and saved puts our privacy at great risk without us even knowing.

           

Computers: For better or worse?

Whether we like it or not, computers make up a huge part of our everyday lives. Our use of computers are not only limited to laptops or desktop computers, but also in our smartphones and televisions. All of these forms of computers are so widely used; they can either made our lives better or even worse.

            There are numerous different aspects of our society that have been made significantly better due to the use of technology and more specifically computers. With the use of computers and its ability to have access to such a high volume of information through the internet, it has made it easier for the general public to search for information they previously wouldn’t have been exposed to. With people being able to gain accurate information on a topic so quickly, it has made our society as a whole more educated and more open to new ideas. Computers have also made it easier to get a formal education by creating access to online classes such as this one, and also being able to get degrees from online universities such as the University of Phoenix that can be earned while still working a job or raising a family. The use of computers has made our lives significantly better by allowing us to become better educated individuals through easily accessible means.

            While there are many good aspects of using technology and computers, there are also a few downsides to its use. One of the greatest results of increased technology has been the smartphone, which allows users to text, call, surf the web, play games and just about anything you can think of. The downside to this technology is that it has become such an important part of our lives, we feel like we have to check it periodically at all times, even if that means while we are driving down the highway. The use of cell phones behind the wheel has become such a big problem, that at least 23% of traffic accidents involve the use of a cell phone. While we as a society have become so enamored with the benefits of technology, sometimes we just need to think about the possible consequences.

            The impact that technology has had on our lives has become so enormous, that there is now literally no where we can go to escape it. Wherever we go we always have our cell phones, TVs, and computers so naturally our lives have become centered around it.

Link: http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com/texting-and-driving-stats/

Hi my name is Nick Clark, I’m from here in Hickory and I have lived here my entire life. I’m currently a sophomore and this is actually my third semester here at Lenoir-Rhyne. I am currently majoring in Accounting, which is actually the third different major I’ve declared. My experience with computers beyond using the internet and word processors is pretty basic as I’ve only just taken the required computer classes I’ve needed to graduate high school and now college. Based on my light dose of using different computer programs, I feel like my comfort level using programs like Excel will be good at first, but as we get more complicated I will have to focus more to learn the more specifics. The most recent computer class I took focusing mainly on programs such as Microsoft Excel was my freshman or sophomore year of high school. The most recent computer class I took was CSC 115 online here at Lenoir-Rhyne in the fall semester, where we just covered the basic computer operations since it was only a Mini-term course. In CSC 115 we covered the basic parts of computers, threats to computer systems, and how to write an APA style paper. Although that class didn’t deal with Microsoft programs I feel like it will help me some in this course because it gave me a chance to get used to an online course. My main goals for this course are to become proficient in Microsoft programs and also to be able to make an A while learning how I can use these programs in a variety of different work environments to illustrate many different ideas. While I am really only taking this class because it is required, I realize being proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access are valuable skills I need to have in order to enter the real world. In my free time outside of going to school, I really enjoy being outdoors any time of the year. Some of favorite hobbies include hiking, hunting, and watching or playing any type of sport. In the spring and the summer months I mow grass and do landscaping work for several clients but that shouldn’t affect my ability to find time to do assignments for this class. I am really looking forward to this semester and particularly this course because it gives me the opportunity to learn and master a skill that I’m really not good at.