Technology & Communication

A study a couple of years ago found that 63% of executives were making fewer business trips because of technology.

Instead of a plane trip, face-to-face meetings and a plane trip back, they used email, videoconferencing, or online meetings, according to the Accountemps study.

If you're a manager who's spending less time with a suitcase and more with a mouse, you'll want to pay attention to the nature of the media we use, and especially when sending important messages.

A few years ago we heard a lot about etiquette in electronic messaging (netiquette) on the Internet, about needing to be conscious of how messages might be misconstrued by receivers. One of the ideas to come out of that effort was emoticons, little text symbols that aimed to make up for the loss of facial expressions and body language.

Emoticons and netiquette have pretty much disappeared, but the world of electronic communication still can be a dangerous place.

And especially dangerous if the stakes are high, as they're likely to be when managers communicate this way.

So, let's further explore some issues that arise when we communicate electronically, rather than face-to-face.

In my limited experience with videoconferencing, for example, I found I had to work harder just catch the words, which reduced the amount facial expression information I took in. And, if the camera adjusted to take in more facial expressions, then some body language was lost.

Think, too, about the differences in messages sent by email versus those sent as conventional printed letters. Email certainly leads to faster responses and greater efficiency. However, when sending a printed letter we proofread it both on the screen and in print.

And, the time between our initial thoughts and sending the letter is longer. That provides time for second thoughts, sober or otherwise, thoughts that might be wiser or better expressed.

Here's one more challenge: I recently looked at the idea of being an online seminars facilitator. Participants would take part through their computers. In addition to getting a voice feed, they would also watch the screen, which would be divided into three active sections. One portion would carry my notes, another would show reader questions, and a third would show something else.

As the presenter, I think I could handle the sending. But, how would receivers handle these flows of information? In person, it's easy to watch a speaker, see her slides on screen, and listen to her at the same time. But, is it the same taking in all this information when it comes through a computer screen and speakers?

Don't get me wrong. I like new technologies, not because they're replacing something else, but because they offer new options. Whether through access, price, or interactivity level, new technology opens doors to communicators.

But, we need to think about the implications for receivers when we communicate through new media. Come to think of it, didn't Marshall McLuhan write the book on this a generation ago?

In summary: With more managers communicating through new technologies, rather than travel and face-to-face meetings, we need to consider what can happen to important messages when they are transmitted through the new media.

Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Learn how you can use communication to help achieve your goals, by reading articles or subscribing to this ad-supported newsletter. An excellent resource for leaders and managers, at: http://www.communication-newsletter.com

What Is Information Technology?

Information technology define as an industry that uses computers, networking, software programming, and other equipment and processes to store, process, retrieve, transmit, and protect information. It also refers to the employment of computer hardware and software applications to manage data. Any medium or channel that stores and processes information. Anything that renders data, information or perceived knowledge in any visual format whatsoever, via any multimedia distribution mechanism, is considered part of Information Technology. From computer hardware to software applications, information technology is part of our world.


DUTIES

Installing applications
Computer Networks
Information Database
Data Management
Networking
Engineering
Computer hardware
Database Design
Software Design
System management


JOBS

Network Engineer - is involved in the design and maintenance of both the hardware and software necessary for a computer network. They are high level technical analysts with a specialty in Local Area Networks (LANs) or Wide Area Networks (WANs).

Network Administrator - is a professional in charge of the maintenance of the computer hardware and software systems that make up a computer network.

System Administrator - are responsible for maintaining the computer systems of a company. Server management is a primary responsibility, and a System Administrator would be responsible for installing, maintaining and upgrading servers.

Database Administrator - is the one that use database software to store and manage information. They will often set up database systems and are responsible for making sure those systems operate efficiently.

Chief Information Officer - (CIO) is a job title for the head of information technology within an organization.

IT Project Manager - is responsible for managing the resources of large projects. For Tech Careers, can mean managing large Software Development projects, Networking projects, IT installations or conversions, or any other function where business and technology needs have to be managed and resources have to be coordinated.


IT SKILLS

Computer Networking
Information Security
IT Governance
ITIL
Business Intelligence
Linux
Unix
Project Management


Information Technology Certifications

Information Security Certifications
Oracle DBA Certifications
Microsoft Certifications
PMP Certification
Cisco Certifications
Highest Paying Certifications

Computer Games; the Next Technological Generation is Evolving Fast

Have you ever considered where innovation comes from? It comes from a number of places and perhaps we need to look at Maslow's "hierarchy of needs" to fully understand this. For instance, self preservation is a really high on the Maslow's hierarchy pyramid, people don't want to die so they will pay lots of money for technologies which keep them alive. This is why there's so much research and development money going to the healthcare, and medical devices, pharmaceuticals and new procedures and equipment.

Military technology is another place where lots of money is spent. No one wants their civilization to be crushed by another group of people who come in and kill everyone in the population. Further, people want to live free, and they will spend lots of money to ensure that they have a strong military so they can live in freedom.

For those that reached Maslow's hierarchy of needs in the upper echelon of the pyramid, they have reached self-actualization and they will spend lots of money being entertained and having a good feeling.

Therefore, you can expect lots of money in the entertainment business.

Perhaps, it is for this reason that so much money is spent on the development of computer games. And the next technological breakthroughs for computer games is evolving fast. There are now games that can incite brain waves based on what is happening inside the game. For instance, if there is a conflict it will increase your heart rate, make you scared. There are also new developments of holographic imagery so you will be immersed in a virtual reality environment.

The video games of the future will be so real you won't be able to tell you're in a video game.

That's how fast things are evolving and why many hard-core computer gamers can't wait. The future looks very bright and interesting for the industry. Please consider all this.

Computer Preservation

In recent years, the world has grow to be technology driven and something critical tool behind all this that we no longer can do without is the computer. It is the basis of most of the operations that people have in business, in training, in communication and entertainment, and it went way past only the storage of information. The computer has created plenty of our work easier, and once it comes to be integrated with the internet, the range of applications that exist are just unbelievable. This is just what draws many of us to purchase this device.

However, just as it is with other electronic devices, the computer needs to be properly maintained so that it performs at its peak, and for quite a while, because these things do not come cheap. You should ensure that as you buy the computer, especially if it is a desktop computer, that you get dust covers for the electronic device. This is so as to prevent the dust from building up on the monitor or into the hardware of the computer that could ruin its proper working.
The computer should also be kept clean so that it is able to perform the duties you want it to as you expect. Dust is one thing that could be quite damaging to the parts of the computer, especially the CPU. Do not just clean the outside, but the more valuable inside. There are tools available in the market that is just appropriate for this. If you are still not sure about how to go about this process, you could hire a qualified technician who would be happy to doo this and you would not have to fear about getting the computer damaged in the process.
When it comes to the software of the computer, proper file management is essential to the great performance of a computer. One thing that you could do is to delete files that you no longer use, especially if they are two years old or more. Such files are said to reduce the processing speed of the computer which is one of the important aspects of the computer. You should also install a great anti-virus program. Viruses are really dangerous to the proper working if a computer and you should not even think twice about the antivirus, and as long as you are using your computer, especially the internet you should invest in a proper antivirus.