QR Codes: A Great New Marketing Technology

If you are always looking for creative ways to promote your business, there is a great new technology called QR codes that you need to know about! A QR code is a barcode that you can scan with an app on your Smartphone. The scanned barcode contains some sort of hidden content, either a text message, website URL or phone number. The QR actually stands for “quick response”, as it enables someone to access and execute the content stored in the barcode on the fly. Using QR codes is a fun way to engage your audience and it shows that your business is cutting edge.

A Few Simple Ways To Use QR codes:

Add them to your business cards with more information that won’t fit on such a small space.

Add them to product packaging to promote your website or direct them to product support.

Help people find your business by using a one with a link to your location on Google maps.

Use a them as a coupon. The user can scan it to reveal a discount code.

Place a them on your website with your email address or phone number.

Put them on all your business paraphernalia and swag.

How do I create a QR Code?

Creating a QR Code is very simple. There are several websites that allow you to very easily generate one. I used Kaywa. It provides a form where you choose the type of content (either a website URL, text, phone number or SMS) then enter the corresponding information and click generate. Literally there is nothing to it. Your newly generated QR code magically appears to the left, where you can then left click or ctrl click (Mac) to save it to your computer. From there the possibilities are only limited to your imagination!

How Do I Read A QR Code On My Smartphone?

You need to add an application on your phone in order scan QR codes. Just access your app store and search “QR code.” I have an iPhone and I had several apps to choose from. Some were free but I decided to pay the whole $1.99 for quiQR because it received higher ratings. The quiQR app will both scan and generate QR codes. To scan a new QR code just click “scan QR code” then center it in the box, when it is lined up properly it will scan the code automatically. If a website URL is stored in the code, it will bring up your browser and go to the website entered. If it’s a phone number is stored in the code it will dial the number. Obviously there will be differences depending on the app you choose and the operating system on your phone, but this basically shows how easy they are to use.…

Four Mobile Apps That Use Face Recognition Technology Innovatively

Over the past few decades, face recognition is gaining popularity among mobile app users. Using a set of algorithms face recognition is proving highly beneficial due to its cost-effectiveness. There are a variety of applications both for individuals and professionals that use face and image recognition technologies to increase security, enhance interactivity and provide entertainment.
With a recent boom in technology, mobile developers are taking advantage of face recognition and creating fun apps that improve human social communication and provide security. It has a wide acceptance on both online and offline set ups. There will come a time when face recognition will become a must-have and not remain a choice anymore. For now, let’s take a look at 4 incredible mobile apps that use face recognition to provide a number of capabilities to the users.
1. GotYa! Face trap!
Have you ever wondered how to catch the person who uses your computer or phone when you are away? GotYa! Facetrap! does exactly that for you. With a front-facing camera it captures the picture of the person accessing your computer or phone and pinpoints his exact location through Google Maps. The information is then emailed to you. It is a great app for cops, corporations, individuals and even those who have a habit of misplacing things. With a user rating of five, we can say that it is the best security mobile face app in the market.
2. FACE-Smart
This is a face recognition app for video conferencing that offers clear audio and video communication. It is easy to install in any device like a phone or a tablet and is simple to operate. Additional interactive features let you take pictures and develop contact networks. It is a smart app for people on-the-go and those who wish to keep in touch with family and friends. This app is simply loved by users who have rated it as 4.8 out of 5.0 in the Android market.
3. FaceLock Pro
This app allows you to use your face as a password to lock and unlock your phone or computer. You can even set an even more complicated lock using Pattern lock with an alternate pin and password lock. A small tutorial guide lets you cleverly use all face lock features. It comes with adjustable security levels and has different settings for different purposes. With a user rating of 4.4 makes, FaceLock Pro is a reliable app for anyone and everyone.
4. Hold Screen ON: Face detection
This is a highly useful face app that does not affect battery too much. Front camera of the phone is used for face detection. The camera feature of the app is quite sensitive as it can easily detect eyes, even if the mobile camera has low resolution. The app is compatible with almost all Android devices. During intervals when the phone scans your face you are free to use any other application which can also lock and use the camera. The app provides full value for money and has a user rating of 4.3.
Future of Mobile Face Apps
Face and image recognition apps function as a great tool to streamline personal and professional life. Continued research and innovation in face apps might also eliminate the need of traditional security measures like CCTV cameras and bring the world closer. It won’t be wrong to say that this trend is certainly here to stay and change the way we think, connect and share. More such apps will be launched in the future, but for now, the above four are the best you can find on any app store.…

Technology and the Future of Work

Technological proficiency is essential for most business positions in the modern work climate. Internet-based faxing, laser printers, networked computers and advanced phone systems are common devices in businesses of all sizes and have become the standard norm in all modern day business operations. Moreover, the industrial sector has become the foundation of technological progression as the majority of tasks can now be automated. With the industrial workplace being revolutionized by technology, as humans we simply can’t compete with machines, they beat us on nearly all fronts. Rifkin, a well known activist on such matters, addresses the issues that may be faced within future of our jobs. He maintains that machines and computers have taken over nowadays, ergo, the end of work is near. Due to the speed and efficiency of technology, Rifkin maintains that productivity is rising over time, yet the value of labour is depreciating. Thus, this devaluation of work is problematic. That being said, this brings light to the discussion topic of technological unemployment, often referred to as the Luddite Fallacy.
The adoption of labor displacing technologies as mentioned above can generally be classified under mechanization, automation, and process improvement. Mechanization and automation involve transferring tasks from humans to machines. Process improvement involves the elimination of tasks altogether. In essence, with the combination of all three elements a task is removed from a workforce in turn decreasing employment. This brings rise to many arguments with opposing views which states that there is a negative correlation with technological change and unemployment. Many like Jeremy Rifkin believe that the road to a near-workerless economy is within sight. However when assessing Rifkin’s arguments, I find a few points troubling and many factors are not being taken into account. Although convincing to people who have suffered job loss due to automation and computers, I contend that there is more hope than Rifkin sees. What I see is that our era is becoming extremely competitive and is causing more people to return to school or to pursue higher education in order to keep up with the competition. Although this short-term occurrence of pursuing one`s education is not supplying much to our economy, once these people graduate, many countries will have a higher rate of people that are tapped into the innovations of the Information Age. The education that people are pursuing and the new grounds that they are entering in their fields of IT, software and sciences, to name a few, will inevitably lead to new ideas and new ways of working. When entering anything new, it is scary and it looks bleak, but there have been many jobs that have been created due to technological advancement and due to the competitive edge in technology, where a person’s IPAD is out of date on the day of purchase. Rifkin does not consider that this new age technology has allowed people to open up their own businesses and to be more financially independent. For instance, the invention of the internet has produced self-made millionaires and has made people come up with innovative ideas using new technologies. Moreover, the internet has also allowed people who are bound at home or stay at home parents, to consider an income from home. The internet and technologies that facilitate communications, like Blackberries and IPhones, have allowed for the economic independence and for people to work from home accordingly.
Additionally, no one tends to spend too much time talking about how the decrease in the workweek for some. The professionals that we have nowadays are currently experiencing shorter workweeks because they are getting their business matters done more quickly due to technology. Laptops, digital cameras and notebooks work quickly and produce high quality work. As a result, people are not spending too much time on menial tasks, because the quality of pictures, the innovations included for writers and research, to name a few industries, are all facilitated by technology and having innovations come through the door on a daily basis. Furthermore, shorter workweeks have already resulted for internet entrepreneurs who make money more easily and not on an hourly basis. The Information Age has brought about some positive changes and has empowered many people to either be independent of companies, or by making money on their own, and by maximizing their time, through earning money without working on an hourly rate. This new era has shown that people are not needed in assembly lines and in factories. When automation takes over, people are almost forced to find new ways of making money and earning a living. The internet and technology has facilitated this process and it has encouraged people to be more creative and innovative. The new era looks positive because it is removing people from mindless and unskilled labour, to a more inventive and entrepreneurial position in their …

Sydney Technology Industry With HP Links Lifts Workers Rights

A computer packing company in New South Wales, that was informing employees only the night before whether they had work for the next day and shift time, has agreed that permanent employment for it’s employees should be offered and that the state of the working factory should be lifted to with in industry and OH&S guidelines.
The company is Foxteq factory in Rydalmere which was outed last year as an extremely poor employer history that gave little notice to workers of when or if they would have work. Most of the workers are from disadvantaged backgrounds and had little choice but to put up with this de-facto arrangement.
The labour hiring to the company is performed by an external labour sourcing agency and has sourced almost, if not the whole, work force at the factory as casual employees. The main function of the factory is to prepare for delivery a number of Hewlett-Packard branded computer systems, who are destined for such high profile clients as Department of Defence, NSW Fire Brigades and also various banks to name a few.
Sources from some of the workers mention that some messages were not received until even after 8pm before the next day’s shift started. Not knowing how long their shifts were to be, some workers attended and only worked for 4 hours or under, then leaving them in a state of limbo about when, if, and how long they would be needed for the next day.
In a positive change though the new labour hire company Resco, having being contracted by Foxteq have negotiated an agreement with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union to the benefit of the employees in the factories workforce. The workers now have options to choose from such as permanent full-time or part time status, and improvement to working conditions at the factory, and also union delegates which employees can elect themselves.
It is believed some high level pressuring direct from HP assisted with the change. Particularly damaging to HP were revelations that Foxteq is the sister company of manufacturer Foxconn which has been chided before for it’s reported poor employee relations though in roads to improvements have been laid.…

Industrial Automation Technology

Industrial Automation Technology refers to the control of industrial machinery and its various processes thus reducing the need for human intervention. Industrial automation technology makes use of various control systems such as programmable logic control, industrial control and numerical control systems. These applications are usually used in concert with information technology systems such as computer technologies that control the automated machinery.
Automation is a step up from mechanization because it greatly reduces the human mental and sensory requirements, whereas mechanization assists human operators with the muscular requirements for the work.
Industrial automation plays a large part in the global economy, and engineers work hard to combine mathematical tools with automated devices to produce better and more complex systems for the expanding applications and range of human activities.
The automation of machines and other technologies has a big impact on a wide range of industries, for example; telephone operators have been mostly replaced by automated switchboards and answering machines, and automated teller machines now make money transactions much easier and help cut down visits to the bank.
Industrial automation is used in a wide range of industries for many different types of application and some of these can include:
o Mechanical engineering
o Industrial controls
o Electronic engineering
o Integrated circuit design
o Motion control and fluid control
o Data acquisition software
There are many advantages and disadvantages in the scope of industrialization and some of these advantages are:
o Economy improvement
o Can be used to carry out dangerous tasks
o Can replace tedious human tasks
Some of the main disadvantages are:
o Automation has its limits and at present is unable to replace all human tasks
o Development costs can be unpredictable
o Initial set-up costs are usually high
It is thought by some critics that automation will lead to higher unemployment, yet others argue that the opposite is true and that automation has led to higher employment.…

A Great Technology – Keyless Ignition Systems Have Their Dangers

The psychology behind the problems with keyless ignitions lie in the deep-seated behaviors we have with our cars. We rely on our habits and everyday motions for entering our cars, starting the engine, fastening the seatbelt or adjusting the mirrors. With keyless entry and keyless ignition some of our old habits don’t apply any more. Those long-standing habits are causing some people problems with their vehicles. Problems that are on the rise as more car manufactures switch to this type of technology. The NTHSA is looking into ways to curb the problem and provide a stronger measure of safety.
A keyless ignition system is a device that is carried by the driver to gain access to the vehicle and the ability to start the engine. Instead of a key a small chip inside the key fob sends a signal to the car’s computer allowing access to the starting system without physical contact. The driver can then push a button or turn a switch to start the vehicle. Keyless ignitions are becoming mainstream today as car manufacturers are seeing the potential for adding them into their fleet.
Recent incidents in the news, resulting in death or injuries have focused more attention on the problems drivers are having with these new systems.
In Florida the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office is investigating last week’s carbon monoxide poisoning deaths of a couple suspected to have succumbed to a build-up of carbon monoxide emanating from their Mercedes with a keyless ignition, parked in an attached garage. The sheriff’s office declined comment pending the outcome of their investigation.
This week Miami-Dade Police and fire rescue responded to a home in Miami Lakes. According to neighbors, a car was left running in the garage of the home, and two elderly women were inside the home. When police arrived on the scene, a woman was found dead from carbon monoxide that apparently had leaked from the garage into the home. The other woman was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Palm Beach because of it has a special hyperbaric chamber used to treat victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. She is in stable conditions.
It is still unclear as to whether this most recent incident was a keyless ignition problem. The cause of this accident is still under investigation, the age and model of the vehicle have not been released, however it points out the dangers that can occur from simply forgetting to turn off the ignition.
In addition to carbon monoxide poisoning, keyless systems also create the problem of rollways. Under current Federal Manufacturer Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 114) a driver cannot remove a vehicle’s key without the engine off and the vehicle’s automatic transmission in the Park position. With many keyless entry systems, this protection has all but vanished. While some warn the drivers that the key has been removed and the transmission is not in Park, the warnings have varied effectiveness, leading to complaints to NHTSA like this one involving a 2006 Audi A6:
During the extensive investigation conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they received many personal accounts of accidents or injuries that were experience by people who possessed this technology.
One driver had the vehicle knock him down and then catch hold of his foot and then dragging him over a curb. The vehicle ended up on his left foot trapping him. Several men came to assist and lifted the car off. Although he had shut the engine down, he had failed to place the transmission in park before exiting the vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has purposed new standards for the operation and controls used to stop the engine in systems that do not require a physical key. They are proposing an audible warning be given to any driver who attempts to shut down the propulsion system without first moving the gear selection control to the park position. The alarm would also sound if a driver attempts to exits a vehicle without first turning off the engine system.
The proposed change would also standardize the amount of time a driver would have to hold down the button in order to start and stop the engine. It would require that the switch that turns off the vehicle work whether the vehicle is running at speed or not.
Currently in order to shut down the engine at speeds the driver is required to hold down the button for three seconds, for an emergency procedure is something most drivers are less than accomplished in. Indeed, many owners are not even aware of this hold the button requirement.
The proposed rule seeks to change this control activation for all stops regardless of whether the vehicle is moving or stationary.
The proposed rule change would implement the creation of a …

About Biometric Technology

In fact, biometric technology has been known since ancient Egyptian times. The recordings of countenance and size of recognizable body parts are normally used to ensure that the person is the truly him/ her.
It was the beginning of the system security work-flow. Logically, no one has access without being trusted. Access control technology tries to automate the process of answering two basic questions before offering various types of access.
The first question is “Who are you?” and the second question is “Are you really as you say?” The first question represents the function of identification and the second question represents the function of verification (proof).
The common approach to gain the access is through the use of signs and assumptions that the owner of the sign and the proof identity will match. This kind of model is called as single-factor security. For example is the key of house or password.
This kind of approach has a risk if the sign is lost or stolen. Once the key falls into the hands of others, they could freely enter the house. It also happens with a password. It will not be a secret anymore and someone else can use it.
To overcome this problem, two-factor security is made. This method is more resilient to risks. The most common example is the card of automated teller machine (ATM). With a card that shows who you are and PIN which is the mark you as the rightful owner of the card, you can access your bank account. The weakness of this security is that both signs should be at the requester of access. Thus, the card only or PIN only will not work.
Problems arise when you are forgetful person. Also, you often do not realize that the PIN is very personal thing. Basically, family or close friends may not know. The more sophisticated crime is to steal the PIN data from the source directly.…

Benefits of Green Building Technology

When building a new home it is important to consider the environment. These days many corporations are under watch for their sustainability and carbon footprint but people who plan on having custom homes built also need to think about cost efficient designs and energy efficient systems that will help reduce heating and cooling prices. Many common building practices that were used even ten years ago are now under scrutiny for potentially hazardous materials and the more you invest in green building technology the safer and cheaper your new home will be in the long run.
Once the trendy catchphrase of new age scientists and conservationists, green technology is quickly becoming adopted by more people who recognize the importance of cutting energy costs and building homes that are eco-friendly. With advanced building materials and recycled materials new homes and renovations can be done at an affordable price without sacrificing design or personal taste. The misconception is that environmentally friendly materials and systems will be of a lesser quality than standard building materials but there is no evidence to support these claims and in many cases homes that feature passive solar design, air infiltration and insulation systems and recycled materials hold up just as well as dwellings with traditional materials.
By using green technology you do more than just feel good about helping to sustain the environment. With geothermal systems and effective landscape design you can actually save money on energy costs such as heating and electricity. With the proper materials, well designed systems and careful planning general contractors can make your home both cost and energy efficient by employing green technology. Promoting environmental consciousness is always a good thing but now it’s no longer just a fad. Architecture and construction businesses are realizing that how they structure new homes and buildings is having a significant impact on the surrounding area and the more sustainable a new home is the better it is for the environment.
While there is a lot involved with eco-friendly construction, green building is essentially about taking a systematic approach that encompasses every step of design and construction from land use and site planning to natural resource management, materials selection, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and overall longevity of your home.
With advanced green building technology you can greatly improve the air infiltration and insulation of your home to avoid expensive energy costs and also the headache of having to upgrade a traditional heating or cooling system. By going green you not only help the environment but also do yourself a favor by cutting costs.…

Blogging Technology and Blogging Tools

Blogging tools combine all the basic functions of a simple CMS: content creation, content management, and content delivery are processed through a blogging tool. Other functions such as workflow and personalization mechanisms are missing. Like a CMS system, it can be easily connected even with additional features such as a blog search, discussion forums, and shop applications. To that extent, as a blogging tool, the mini-CMS are spoken.
The content creation can be inserted for each server-or client-based tool. Server-based tools such as , and are platforms available from anywhere. However, it must consist of an online access to the server to create content. For client-based tools such as for the creation of content, are available offline on your own computer.
Meanwhile, websites like , provide client-based tools through the entries for different server or client-based blogging tools and simultaneously prepare for an existing Internet connection that can be made online. These tools offer a number of additional features that make blogging. Basically, all tools give the author the possibility to insert images and links and carry out simple HTML text formatting. The GUI, in particular the client-based blogging tools, now look very similar to those of traditional CMS. HTML knowledge is needed only for the design of the website templates. Many providers, however, are supplied with a set of standard templates.
Again and again, bloggers and writers are unilateral, and this is reflected in the articles of the blog. There is nothing worse than boredom when reading. The mix makes it hot or simply not article. By changing representations and also encouraging to pack something else in the article, we derive again to remain constant readers and also browse through the article. Again and again, the emphasis is that we want to entertain our readers, such as entertainers and in words and pictures. A mix is not a guarantee, but a cross section through the possibilities of the range of articles we must start today.
Due to the vast multitude of spellings and the blog topics, I will just start times with the first 5 types of items that you should invite to the experiment. I’m sure you have used some types and you will again. What successes have you had with the individual methods? Did you notice a difference, for example in the comment section? I’ll be glad, if you let us participate.
Tip Article
A variant is often used to share your knowledge with others. The issue of searchers “How can I make something” very often refers to such items and it aims to achieve a knowledge-sharing. Addressing such issues, the bloggers take up a long time and they have solid knowledge of the applied subject.…