Technically Easy

Category: Technology

Reasons Why e-Commerce Companies Should Save Client Data on the Cloud

Cloud computing and e-commerce are two of the world’s biggest industries, and they have started intersecting. It is because of the versatile nature of cloud computing which is offering benefits to almost every industry imaginable.

Ecommerce businesses are run through the internet, so their success is based largely on the availability of the internet, and cloud computing has many things to offer.

The changing buyer behavior, increasing competition, emerging technological trends, market opportunities and challenges have made the CIOs and CFOs analyze and re-draft their digital strategies.

This holds good for both B2B and B2C clients where the IT leaders should be mindful of their organizations’ spends. The companies, also, aim to expand the geographical reach to reap more profits.

It is quite evident that cloud computing is essential for e-commerce as it provides a full suite of benefits for e-commerce industry.

The e-commerce business may be even more tightly integrated with cloud computing, in future, for sustainable development and growth.

Mentioned ahead are some more ways using cloud computing can help e-commerce companies flourish.

Flexibility

Many e- commerce retailers rely on a platform that is not very flexible for their growing work. These business owners often struggle to switch to the cloud. Change is always difficult.

With cloud computing, the worry of keeping up with the system and its maintenance is dismissed. In a growing business, data should be on the cloud so it is protected at all times and free from harm.

This provides the retailer ample time to focus on things that are most important such as the expansion of business, improving the product or service and so on.

Retailers can easily integrate their social media scheduling software, CRM pipeline management software, transaction history and client records with the cloud.

The cloud provider will take care of software upgrades and will be readily available in case of a query.

With help of cloud computing technologies, startups and small businesses now no longer need to invest $100,000 a year to set up data centers and hire an IT administrator to take care of the hardware.

E-commerce retailers can deliver a better experience to their customers by collaborating with the cloud. This improvement can lead to more sales and positive reviews.

Scalability

Clients moving to cloud-based services often think that the shift will cost them a lot of money. This myth needs to be debunked. Cloud service costs are very predictable compared to the cost of traditional storage devices and their maintenance.

The pay-as-you-go nature of cloud is one of the most attractive points an ecommerce owner notices at first.

Over time, companies save money with SaaS, as they won’t be dealing with hardware support costs or hidden fees that sometimes come with data center hosting and new site licenses.

This option is very fair because it is extremely beneficial to small and medium-sized enterprises in their growth.

Integration doesn’t need to be as complex, confusing, and costly as it has traditionally been. The point is that there are numerous solutions available for designers, developers, and consultants that should make app integration as easy as the apps themselves!

It needn’t be overly technical or expensive. It needn’t be one of those things you are afraid to offer to your clients as it would bring the quote up too much or become too much of an engineering headache.

Easy recovery

Business owners seldom believe that their venture is going to face any kind of accident. When it comes to our business, we don’t fear the unseen.

Early this year, one of the leading online retail sites faced an outage as its e-commerce site went offline for about 20 minutes.

As per a recent report release by the Poneman Institute and Emerson Network Power on the impact of data center outages, the average cost of a datacenter outage is US$ 740,357 and for e-commerce companies the average cost is even higher.

When you are dealing with ecommerce, you have to depend on technology to run your business. This means that a power failure or system interruption can become a hurdle in your workflow by completely shutting down normal operations.

It can also affect the servers that store all the sensitive data which runs your business. When your business data is lost, your business also starts to go downhill. Luckily, cloud computing is here to save the day.

You don’t have to worry about recovery when your client data is secure on the cloud. Any physical damages to your devices or business location are going to leave client data unharmed.

Your servers will be functional just like a normal day and customers will not be kept waiting. Even if the physical site is harmed, you can resume operations from a temporary location till everything is restored to normal.

Reduction of errors

E-commerce is a fast-paced industry and if you are associated with this business, you’d know the struggle of manual data entry.

It’s almost impossible at this point to hold manual records and then make arrangements to secure these records. The risky part about manual data entry is that it is always prone to human error.

Manual record-keeping also makes it difficult to fetch old records and overview past transactions.

Cloud integration is a ray of hope in this regard, because the vast variety of apps integrated with cloud can take care of record-keeping efficiently.

This means that no error is going to arise and a systematic data recording can take place with minimum resources. When you keep client records on the cloud, you can design smarter campaigns because data is available at your fingertips. This data is also secure.

Conclusion

The e-commerce industry has found powerful support in cloud computing. These integrations are going to bring forward even more intelligent solutions in the coming years.

Retailers should turn a deaf ear to myths related to cloud and adopt this new technology to grab more customers.

Client data records present on the cloud can be sent to archives or put on private cloud as a business expands further. It’s obvious that more businesses are going to move to the cloud and integrate daily tasks as this is the future.

Author bio

Erica Silva is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. Currently, she is associated with Airg Team for development work. Check out her firm’s performance reviews.

Find her on Twitter:@ericadsilva1.

July 25, 2017
Technology Tricks for a Work-Life Balance

Gone are the days when jobs ran from 9-5 and people never worked on weekends. Today’s careers demand that we stay on top of information whether at home or in the office, as well as spending time with our families and our pets. Don’t forget to hit the gym and pick up the groceries too.

Don’t forget to hit the gym and pick up the groceries too.

In such a busy world, it seems like our to-do lists can become endless, so it’s important to find ways to create a healthy work-life balance. Here are five great tech ideas to free up some time.

Create a schedule

Even people with the best of memories are bound to forget things. Apps can help fix that. For simple schedules, try Google Calendar or an MS Office to-do list. For those who need to incorporate client meetings, soccer games, and doctor appointments try a mobile scheduling app that can draw information from multiple sources. This creates a single point of contact for the busy worker on the go.

Also, companies as Agendize.com can make it easier for you because they provide an integrated suite of apps that help businesses generate higher quality leads,improve business efficiency, maximize customer engagement and increase revenues.

Remove distractions

Some of the most productive people around are also the most focused. Eliminating distractions can help you get your work done faster so that you have more time to focus on the fun stuff.

Noisli makes a customizable digital white noise machine and app that can help you tune out distracting sounds. Try the Pomodoro method to balance bursts of productivity with periods of rest.

Get moving, stay active

A spin class can provide heart-healthy cardio and weights can provide strong muscles that burn extra calories. But that’s not all. Exercise is also good for your brain. Exercise has been shown to improve cognition, enhance creativity, and promote faster learning.

Motivate yourself with apps like Map My Fitness or earn incentives for achieving fitness goals with Pact.

Eat well

When it gets busy, many of us default to grabbing food to go, or even skipping meals. If you are already tired and stressed, this can actually make your problems worse.

When it gets busy, many of us default to grabbing food to go, or even skipping meals. If you are already tired and stressed, this can actually make your problems worse. Eating well will not only keep you physically healthy, it will help you mentally and emotionally too. Eating highly processed foods has been linked to anxiety and depression, as well as lethargy..

Take the time to prepare a home-cooked meal together, or dine out at a full-service restaurant. Skip the fast and processed foods, and instead opt for nutritionally sound choices to enjoy your meals and boost your brain too.

Join app communities like Spark People or Fitbit, to stay accountable and on-target.

Schedule some fun

Not all entertainment is going to happen spontaneously, especially for those with a busy schedule. If you think you’ll be running short on free time, take a block from your week and schedule some fun.

Spend an hour at the wading pool while the kid is on summer break, or plan a date night movie. Set a reminder if needed.

Stop feeling guilty if you need to play CandyCrush on a break. Even better, schedule some time to do nothing — or everything. Free play is important to your mental health, creating a healthier, happier, and more productive you.

Life’s demands won’t get any easier, and most of us will continue to struggle to balance work, home, and happiness daily. Remember these app ideas to maximize your work time and enjoy the rest.

July 18, 2017
Enterprise Technology Continues to Grow With These 9 Trends for 2017

According to Forbes magazine, businesses can expect several enterprise technology trends in 2017, and some of them may or may not surprise you.

It’s no surprise that mobile technology continues to progress; people are addicted to their smartphones and notepads. What might surprise you, however, is how much this advancement will help you market your business and sell your goods.

Here are nine trends that will get you even more excited about enterprise technology for business.

1. More Businesses Will Jump on the Cloud

Just as many homeowners jumped onto Voice over IP (VoIP) technology to save money when Donald Burns founded magicJack, more businesses are sticking their heads in the clouds. Cloud migration is predicted to be huge in 2017.

Companies who adopt cloud-first strategies save money on equipment and hosting costs and increase their data storage capacity. Cloud computing also enhances collaboration which increases productivity and streamlines operations, reports Forbes.

2. Enhanced Cybersecurity

There’s a catchphrase in enterprise technology and that is the “internet of things”, or IoT. As more business is conducted, marketed, and branded on the internet, security becomes a more crucial piece of enterprise technology.

As discussed by Forbes, “Designers must consider IT security early in the development of applications, solutions, and enterprise architectures This means IT professionals will design security measures that are based on behavior analytics and layered across multiple enterprises.

3. Marketing and Data Centers Will Be Automated

Although many people fear losing their jobs to automation, many consider it to be an, “investment in the future,” says Forbes. Automation will create new jobs in different business sectors, and it will streamline marketing and data centers.

Open source automation tools are already in demand in data centers throughout the world, and business owners can expect to see more data centers adopting automation in 2017. Marketing centers are also predicted to jump on the automation bandwagon.

4. Rise of the Machines

Okay, not literally terminators, but apps are expected to become even more intelligent in 2017. If you use Cortana or Siri, you already know what a virtual personal assistant is. Expect an increase in intelligent apps designed to streamline the workplace and its processes.

In fact, Forbes predicts that intelligent apps will expand beyond virtual assistants, so you can expect smarter software that has artificial intelligence built into it, including your office and anti-virus applications.

5. Humanizing Data

You may have heard of humanized data but not paid attention to what it was. As evidenced by the Edward Snowden/NSA fallout, there is an unbelievable amount of data out there on every human being throughout the world. You cannot leverage all it, but you can leverage most of it, and you should.

Using what you know about the humans who solicit your business and your demographic, you can better meet their needs and market and sell to them.

6. Hyperconvergence Systems

What if you could have your computing, networking, storage, and virtualization through one vendor? This is called hyper-convergence, and Forbes is predicting 2017 to be its year.

There are a few kinks to work out of this enterprise technology, such as expense and speed, but hyper-convergence is becoming more and more mainstream. Many businesses find that having everything in one place makes resource acquisition easier.

7. Increased Mobility

It’s no surprise that mobility continues to reign supreme in enterprise technology. One exciting prediction for 2017 is ROBO, or Remote Office/Branch Office.

More companies are expected to take advantage of doing business remotely, and, as such, the tools used in mobile technology will increase. This challenges information technology experts to enhance business mobility on all levels, including business interface on mobile devices.

8. Stay in the Fog

“Fog computing” is an extension of cloud computing, and, according to Forbes, it “extend[s] cloud computing and cloud services to the edge of the network What does this mean, exactly? It means it brings your cloud storage power closer to you.

Fog computing reduces your data transport, which makes storing your data offsite more efficient. Fog computing will also be used to improved the technology behind smart buildings, cities, and grids.

9. XaaS Anything as a Service

What do trends one through eight tell you? They tell you that the biggest trend in enterprise technology for 2017 is “anything as a service Information technology experts like to call this XaaS, and it means there will be significant advancements in how businesses utilize cloud, data, hardware, and all other technology as a service.

Putting these tools to work for your business will increase your capabilities, which is why there are so many enterprise technology trends predicted for 2017.

Enterprise technology is changing the face of business. It is not only changing how businesses interact with each other and their customers, it is also changing how businesses operate.

With ever-expanding technology solutions that streamline everything, including automation, data storage, and virtual assistance, it’s a sure bet that more companies will look into what enterprise technologies can do for them and jump on board.

March 17, 2017
The Snooperscope Brings Night Vision Tech To Your Smartphone

Night vision technology has always been super cool. Who doesn’t want to be able to see clearly in the dark when you need to? Flashlights only illuminate so much.

The only problem is that, while night vision technology is now more readily available to the public than ever, it’s typically ensconced in bulky goggles and scopes that are cumbersome to carry around.

Researchers have recently been working on new nanocrystal technology to eventually make a sleeker pair of night vision glasses a reality.

But until that happens and we all become a bunch of regular James Bonds, there’s already a night vision accessory that integrates with the devices we all use every day – our smartphones.

Snooperscope is the night vision lens that is designed for use with smartphones. It’s a little surprising that there haven’t been tons of devices like this already, considering all of the other things that our phones can do.

Apparently, the Snooperscope was initially designed for military use, so that soldiers could aim their rifles with better precision in darkness. Using infrared light as a source, the Snooperscope is able to provide a clear picture (in that standard night vision green colour) and display it on your smartphone screen.

It connects to your smartphone through peer-to-peer Wi-Fi and has a built-in battery that lasts up to four hours.

Since you can control the camera directly from your smartphone (or any other device on the same internet connection), there’s no extra weight needed to use the Snooperscope.

The technical specifications of the Snooperscope are pretty impressive as well. It contains a 1.0 Megapixel ¼ CMOS camera with a fixed focus, high sensitivity lens.

It also has a built-in speaker and microphone with ADPCM Compression and Automatic Gain Control. Then, with the corresponding smartphone, you can take photos, record video in 720p, and even provide real time commentary alongside image captures.

Beyond the night vision capabilities, the Snooperscope also has unique things to offer during daylight. When using it in visible light, the device can also see things that the human eye cannot.

The manufacturer suggests professional uses like uncovering forgeries or examining plant life, meaning it must have some pretty powerful telescopic powers as well.

The Snooperscope has been available for a few years now, ever since a successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2013, but it’s starting to take off more nowadays.

With smartphones getting more advanced by the day, users are looking for cooler applications to mess around with. In this regard, the Snooperscope definitely fits the bill.

Source: Snapmunk.

Image source: Snooperscope.

February 9, 2017
10 Ways Computer Technology Can Help Business Owners Save Time

As a business owner, you’re probably used to be stretched thin and taking on several different tasks at a time. One of your most important assets is your time, and you need to figure out the how your time is used each day to make the most profit.

It’s also essential to look for ways to save time in your daily tasks. The best and most successful business owners use computer technology throughout their company to help increase productivity and save time.

Here are 10 ways your business can save time by incorporating technology into your day.

1. Manage group projects

The first place to help save time and increase effectiveness is in your project management style. Instead of managing a project in person, with various meetings at the office to check on progress, invest in a project management software app, like Asana.

With a project management app, you can take your to-do lists and work with you wherever you go and get more done each day. Your team can stay on top of each important job as the project gets closer to completion.

2. Communicate with the team

Another key to saving time in the workplace is to increase your team’s communication. Instead of relying on email or in-office memos, make sure you can communicate with your key team members via other methods as well.

Try various team text messaging apps that help keep everyone in contact and on track.

3. Track productivity

Business owners are sometimes so busy that they don’t realize that they’re wasting time. You can avoid this common problem by investing in technology to help track your workday and task completion. There are also tools available that help you keep an offline tally of your team’s working hours.

This can help you truly understand where all of your time goes. Eventually, you can identify the time wasters and look for viable solutions to help increase your own productivity.

4. Collaborate on shared documents

Collaboration is another big part of saving time in today’s effective workplace. For teams that may be working on shared documents, there’s no better tool than Google Docs to help your employees share, comment, and work together on the same item.

This eliminates the old-fashioned method of passing around a document in its paper form and making corrections or changes.

5. Schedule simple tasks

Your time can be used much more effectively if you start scheduling simple tasks. If your social media plan has you making routine daily posts across your accounts, you may want to use a scheduling app or software to help with the workload.

Write your posts ahead of time, and set them up to be posted at a specific date or time when needed.

6. Take effective notes

Note taking can also be made more effective if you take advantage of today’s technology offerings. Instead of writing your notes out by hand in a notebook, use your smartphone’s capabilities to take pictures, record videos, or type out important details.

That way, when you need to get something done, your notes are close to you and ready to be reviewed.

7. Automate payroll

Business owners must also pay attention to routine tasks that are part of being the head of a company, like payroll. Today, business owners can take the headaches out of complex processes like running payroll by investing in automated payroll solutions, which calculate, track, and deliver paychecks to your employees.

This can mean that your skills and expertise can be used for other important tasks.

8. Sign documents electronically

New technology has also made it possible to sign your important documents electronically. This helps you avoid the multiple steps that used to be required for signing a document, like printing it out, signing it, mailing it, and waiting for a response.

Today, with companies like DocuSign from business leader Keith Krach, entrepreneurs can get their big deals going with the click of a button.

9. Account for spending

Your company’s accounting procedures can also be dramatically improved with the right brand of business accounting software. You can track your expenses, spending, and payments easily without having to spend hours each week transcribing this information into your bookkeeping accounts.

This also helps you save a huge amount of time at tax time since you can usually load your data right into your tax software seamlessly.

10. Manage files effectively

Finally, with cloud-based file management systems, companies around the world are able to quickly find important files and documents without searching through a disorganized paper filing system.

With a cloud solution, your company can avoid having to manage files across numerous devices and simply house everything important in one place.

You can also solve the problem of the increasing demands for storage space since many cloud solutions allow for large amounts of data to be housed.

Today’s business owner has a lot more to manage if he or she wants to experience ultimate success.

You can achieve this lofty goal if you focus on investing in technology solutions that save your company and yourself valuable time in your day and during the year.

November 14, 2016
This is How Semiconductors are Redesigning the Future of Machines and Humans

Cars, TVs, laptops, internet routers, smartphones or any other electronic device – what’s common between all of these? Semiconductors. There are millions of semiconductors in practically any electronic equipment that you pick up.

They have revolutionized the technology and electronic landscape.

Semiconductors are materials that have electrical conductivity between conductors like metals and insulators like ceramics. The extent of electricity a semiconductor allows depends on the material and its mixture content.

Semiconductors can be insulators at low temperatures and conductors at higher temperatures. Semiconductors play an important role in our lives from the time we wake up, until we go to sleep.

Semiconductors are undoubtedly the present of machines and technology. Now they are all set to redefine machine design in the future and make our lives even more comfortable. Read on to find out how.

Image Courtesy: destinhaus.

Streamline and improve infrastructure

These microchips are the core of all electronic systems. Social infrastructure, today is heavily dependent on and propelled by technology. Semiconductors are the future of technology.

With constant research and upgrading happening in semiconductor manufacturing and functioning, we are going to see an overall improvement in all aspects of our life, and especially infrastructure.

Energy, communications, transportation, and health care sector will see massive developments. What this translates for you is a quicker, and more efficient medical network with better care and organization facilities.

Cars will be another sector where semiconductors will assume a central role. The semiconductor content in vehicles is increasing, with mid-range cars containing $350 worth of semiconductor content.

New semiconductor technology will enhance the use of trains, internet and bank ATMs. The industrial sector will adopt semiconductor technology governed logistics systems that will be more efficient, help save energy, and promote preservation of global environment.

Image Courtesy: aragee.

Create Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Semiconductors are going to enhance our driving experience. A significant aspect of this will be noticed in car-mounted semiconductors. There already exists several types of car-mounted semiconductors.

In the future, more semiconductors will be used for ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). The overall driving experience will go notches higher with ADAS applications like Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) , Automative Emergency Braking (AEB) and more.

All of these features will be driven by advancement and growth in the semiconductor segment. Ultimately the quest is to create automated, driverless vehicles on a large scale.

This will require advanced sensors, powerful processors and sophisticated connectors, all of which require semiconductors.

Image Courtesy: wearable-technologies .

Reduce dependence and usage of inorganic-based electronics

The conventional form of electronics that we know of are the inorganic-based electronics that are expensive and have heavy power consumption.

Organic electronics such as displays, photovoltaics, electronic components and circuits fare better than inorganic electronics as they are cheaper, sturdy, optically transparent, lightweight, and most importantly, have very low power consumption.

Organic displays in electronics will move into an interesting realm in the coming future. Think wide viewing angle, low operating voltage, high brightness and fast response time.

There is a lot of ongoing research in the field of Organic Field Effect Transistor (OFET) devices and Organic Light Emitting Diodes. The results can be highly exciting and foray into an absolutely diverse range of applications.

Organic Field Effect Transistors are the electrical building blocks of organic electrical circuits. They are used in displays, electronic artificial skin, smart digital gadgets and human-machine interface. Semiconductors are at the center of organic electronics. In simple terms, digital support and technological solution processing will become less expensive, and more accessible.

Image Courtesy: electronismaker.

Better, faster and cheaper electronics

As a consequence of all the research and development in semiconductors, the benefits will trickle down to the masses, and we will have more advanced and less expensive electronics.

Semiconductors are the essential component of electronic devices. Semiconductors can be insulators at low temperatures and conductors at high temperatures.

They are classified into two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic semiconductors are pure and are poor conductors. When we add small amounts of impurity to this element, it turns into an extrinsic semiconductor.

When the types of extrinsic semiconductor come together, they generate devices with special electrical properties which allow control of electric signals. We would literally have a world without smart electronics if semiconductors were not discovered.

It is true that vacuum tubes can be used to replace them, but they can never make the devices as reliable, fast, cheap and compact as semiconductors.

These microchips are what are responsible single-handedly for the miniaturization of electronic devices, higher accessibility, and affordable pricing.

After all, who can forget that the first computer was almost the size of two double-decker buses, and even as recent as 1984, we were buying phones that were 2lbs and 30 minutes talk time for as high as $4000.

The technological landscape has become way more powerful, and in the coming years, it’s only going to get better, faster, more convenient and cheaper, with more prevalent and advanced use of semiconductors.

Image Courtesy: live-defensetech.sites.thewpvalet.com.

Strengthens the defense system

Image Courtesy: live-defensetech.sites.thewpvalet.com

Semiconductors play an important role in the defense and security of the country, and they will continue to do so. This can be substantiated through USA’s example.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DAPRA) have developed a new semiconductor that gives the military an edge through advanced electronic warfare.

This particular development enables the military to execute spectrum-dependent military capabilities like communication and radar without allowing the enemy to disable or jam them.

This will be a huge strategic advantage for US military, and will help the US maintain global military leadership.

Conclusion

Besides all the above technological advancements and digital comforts, semiconductors are also important as they are an integral part of the economic growth of the company.

From global semiconductor manufacturer giants like Intel and Samsung to recent Asian market leader in semiconductor and electronic components distributor, DigSemi, the semiconductor industry generates a massive amount of jobs.

The salaries are also relatively higher than other industries and they contribute to a large chunk of the country’s exports too.

October 19, 2016
Everything You Need To Know About Screen Printing

When a layer of ink is applied over a screen in order to produce a design, it is known as screen printing. Each end result requires a specific design to be made and this method of printing has multiple uses. Screen printing has seen it’s popularity soar in recent years because it’s a cost friendly method of printing while there are an increasing number of applications for this form of printing. Essentially, any surface that is flat can be used for printing. Not only can screen printing be done on a wide variety of surfaces, but it also allows you to use a range of printing materials, which means the creative possibilities are endless.

Origins

The technique of screen printing was first invented by the Chinese approximately 2000 years ago. They stretched human hair across a wooden frame, forming a screen. On this, a stencil made of leaves was attached, stuck on in different shapes. In later years, the Japanese used the same process, but using woven silk to make the mesh while lacquer replaced leaves to make the stencil. In fact, the silk screen printing machine gets it’s name from the Japanese use of silk in screen printing all those years ago!

In 1907 Samuel Simon was the first man to patent the first industrial screen printing process. Today, thanks to technology, the process of screen printing has become far more advanced than the original methods and screen printing is commonly used for printing a wide range of objects including CD covers, tee shirts, advertisements on buses, printed fabrics, signs and advertisements on flyers. Even the dial on your watch has been screen printed.

Screen printing in the mid-20th century.
Source: Fast Codesign

Growing business

According to IBIS World’s research, the custom screen printing market is a growing one and since 2012 especially, it has been booming. Most firms in this sector tend to be small, regional operators which means that there is no one company that is the leader in this particular market. In fact, the research suggests that in 2015, the top companies in the custom screen printing industry accounted for less than 5% of total revenue.

Uses of screen printing

Fabric

One of the biggest applications of screen printing is in the textile industry, printing tee shirts with designs on them, for example. Screen printing can be used to print graphics and designs on fabrics such as silk, polyester, cotton and organza. Once printed, the fabric is then converted into the final product such as shirts, dresses, skirts or children’s clothes. Any form of fabric that requires some form of printing on it can be used in screen printing. Many small scale startups often use screen printers to produce their clothing.

The process in fabric screen printing requires the design to be created and then used on screen printing. Other fabrics that can be used for screen printing include curtains, linen, cushion covers, bed sheets and upholstery.

Paper

Another industry which makes extensive use of screen printing is marketing and advertising. These sectors make use of posters, flyers and other forms of advertising that require graphics. Since advertising requires limited edition printing, it makes use of screen printing because printing electronically or digitally on a small scale are much higher than screen printing.

Souvenirs

In the sports industry, when souvenirs and collectibles are manufactured, screen printing is used. Tee shirts with the logos of sports teams are especially popular products as are key chains, caps, mouse pads and sweatshirts with graphics or team logos.

Healthcare

The strips that monitor blood sugar levels (glucose) are made using the screen printing process. The strips contain electrochemical biosensors that helps with personal glucose testing at home. Since these strips help diabetics avoid potentially life threatening sugar conditions on a daily basis, the electrode strips have to be of an extremely high quality. These single-use electrode strips are made using screen printing technology where printing is done on simple thick-film and is also called a or vapor deposition process. The process involves printing patterns onto the surface of the strip.

It only takes a quick look around you to realize several items that you come across in everyday life are made using screen printing.

Advantages

There are several advantages of using screen printing over traditional forms of printing. Firstly, because a greater thickness of ink can be used in screen printing, it allows the possibility of creating a variety of interesting printing techniques which would not be otherwise possible. Since the process of screen printing is fairly simple, a wider range of inks as well as dyes are available as compared to other printing methods. Apart from traditional inks, screen printing also allows you to use adhesive, lacquer and conductive silver. An easily adaptable printing method is always a plus for a manufacturer.

Another advantage of using screen printing is that because manufacturers can control various parameters of the process, it enables large quantities of the end result at a low cost.

Screen printing is a widely used form of printing by several industries and continues to be a popular method used by manufacturers. The process, materials required and low cost are part of the reason for its success, while the creative license that it allows is an attractive factor for many users. When it comes to bringing unique designs to life, you can’t go wrong with screen printing.

Author bio

Ann Neal is a writer with a keen interest in career, business, tech and lifestyle topics. She is passionate about music and loves to play guitar in her free time with her cute pooch listening quietly ;). Tweet her: @Ann_G_Neal

September 19, 2016
Are Computers and the Internet Helping People With Dementia in Any Way?

Dementia is referred to as a chronic disease that causes a decline in a person’s cognitive and mental abilities. These changes are way more than just forgetting why you entered a room or not being able to recall a certain word in a conversation.

But instead are severe enough to impact a person’s day to day life, preventing him or her from leading a normal life.

According to stats, it was estimated that by 2015 the number of people suffering from dementia will be 850,000 in the UK alone, moreover, only 44% of those people will ever receive a diagnosis.

While it may be true that dementia is on the rise, and the cure for this disease has not yet been found, different measures have been taken to overcome or prevent the symptoms of dementia by professionals in different industries.

However the technology sector takes the lead when it comes to figuring out ways to combat this disease. This is where different apps and innovations are devised to aid the care taking and other processes associated with dementia patients. Mentioned below are ways computers and internet are helping people with dementia.

1. Reducing memory problems

Since we are all well aware that decline in memory persists in most dementia patients and is one of the main syptoms when it comes to dementia. Specilists came up with different usues of computers to overcome that problem.

According to a recent study by the Mayo Clinic, using computer can actually reduce memory problems in the older population way more than knitting or socializing can. 1,929 people, above 70 were reported to be involved in the study.

At the beginning of the process, they were classified as having ‘normal memory and thinking’ skills. The study followed those people until they developed mild cognitive impairment or remained problem free on average. This was usually four years per person.

Mild cognitive impairment was said to be found in 193 out of 1,077 people which is 17.9% in the group who used a computer. It was also found that 263 out of 852 people, which totals up to 30.9% in the group, did not report computer use.

2. Different apps are designed to tackle different symptoms of dementia

As mentioned above, dementia consists of wide variety of symptoms, which further varies within different patients. Hence, different apps have been introduced for that very reason such as Living map of ageing population by Nesta, gives a quick guide to some of the most exciting things going on in the world of senior citizens.

This is so that dementia patients can keep in touch with their surroundings.

3. Convenient solutions to complex problems

Tablets are said to be much more intuitive to use than conventional computers, and avoid the complexity associated with a keyboard, mouse and operating system which may stop older adults from using technology.

Tablets give people with dementia the opportunity to remain connected with their family and friends and sharpen their various mental skills through games and puzzles.

Tablets can be used for a wide range of activities such as gaining access to the internet, conversing with family and friends online, using apps to paint pictures, create music using simple touch controls and much more.

4. Helping caretakers understand the disease better

Applications such as ‘House of Memories’ has been devised to help caregivers understand dementia better.

Although this app is mainly aimed at dementia patients, it can still be used by anyone. Designed by National Museums Liverpool, this application helps people with dementia revisit memories from the past, bringing them back to life virtually.

The exciting feature where elders can create their own memory tree can be very beneficial for dementia patients. They can save their favorite memories in different media forms such as videos and pictures, these can also be revisited any time in the future.

This helps them keep a firm grip on their memory. Furthermore, the privacy policy of this application only lets the user share their memories with specific people only if they wish to. This digital reminiscence therapy gives a new dynamic to traditional way of recalling memories.

It may encourage people with dementia to talk about their memories and stimulate conversations with their loved ones or caretakers, allowing them to understand the disease better.

There is quite a lot of evidence to bolster the benefits associated with reminiscence for older people, not just for those living with dementia but people around them as well.

Research shows that using reminiscence therapy creates a stronger bond between caretakers and their loved ones within a care home setting. Through this therapy, caregivers report a reduction in stress and improved knowledge of their loved ones along with helping them to relive family moments and events.

5. Applications to give confidence to caretakers

Another application called Alzheimer’s and other Dementias Daily Companion – an extension of the book: Confidence to care is created by Home Instead Senior Care for the sole purpose of giving ease and confidence to dementia care takers.

This application includes tips and advises on how to take care of dementia patients, in relation to their behavior and other situations they would normally have to go through on day to day basis. This application also gives 24/7 care giving help via phone or email.

6. Improve cognitive skills

Another study suggests that placing a computer screen in the living room can help people with dementia keep a track of the time and date and remember appointments. This helps them delay the effects of dementia for longer.

Lumosity is another application used to help dementia patients. Used by 60 million people worldwide, this app offers a numerous variety of cognitive and scientific games to stimulate the brain.

This application is used by people with dementia to strengthen their ability to pay attention to the right information in a given setting and ignore other irrelevant things in the game as well as in their everyday life.

We are all well aware that dementia is a challenging problem, and one of the most difficult things about dementia is that patients often require care 24/7 along with frequent appointments with specialists. Technology can help meet all these needs.

A group of researchers at the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center has developed something they call a “care ecosystem,” which uses the Internet of Things along with machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, as tools to provide care that’s “more continuous and personalized” than what people with dementia commonly get today, said Dr. Kate Possin, one of the study directors.

August 26, 2016