Take another lap around the Password Track

While we strongly recommend that you manage your passwords, we do not envision that you would organize the post-its scattered about your desk. Is that insulting? OK. So you have a notebook? Still not good. An Excel spreadsheet? Not bad. But where do you keep the spreadsheet? How do you protect your password list? That’s the question! The answer? Not just an answer, but 8 great benefits and an entire psycho-analysis. Without the doctor’s notebook.  Read more →

Ancient tools, technologically speaking, are not that ancient chronologically considered. Five years ago Reliable Tech News featured an article, “Seeing is Believing,” which presented several tools to help you see better what was on the screen. Do you remember that ancient day when “the screen” was a 15″ CRT that took up 50% of your desk space? Now you have a 22″ flat screen that fits neatly at the back of the desk. But, you still need help to see what is actually on the screen. And you don’t turn to your smart phone.

During the time frame of September 2013, there was very little concern or interest in what could be seen on your smart phone. Now, however, more people are using their smart phones than their PCs. At least, they do when they are out on the street. In the office, however, the percent of people who work from a PC and flat screen monitor is still predominant. So with the demise of Windows 7 and the uptick of Windows 10 users imminent, it will be very valuable to remind you of ancient tools still viable. But on Windows 10 OS. We provide worthwhile tools specific to Windows 10 and some really helpful keyboard tips. Read more →

Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 support will end on January 14, 2020, a little over 16 months away – the clock is ticking!

That does not mean that the Windows 7 operating system on your laptop or PC will cease to work. It means that there will be no support. Which support is actually a pretty big deal.

After January 2020, there will be no more regular security updates for systems running Windows 7. Your system will continue to operate, but you will be more vulnerable to security hacks like Ransomware. Also, customer service for technical support will not be available for any problems that may occur after January 2020.

Microsoft released Windows 7, October of 2009. It has been well received as a strong and robust operating system favored by many. Microsoft’s 10 year commitment to provide support for Windows 7 is what is at issue, ending January 2020.

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The high cost of security

Throughout my simple July travels, I was frequently required to demonstrate by Passport who I was. When traveling, one is constantly aware of tools of security and surveillance, especially in airports. And for the most part, I was not troubled, but pleased at the great effort put forth to make my travel more secure. I am registered with TSA Pre-check and Global Entry, both of which make travel check points less burdensome.

However, how many of us are at the comfort level where we unreservedly welcome the use of AI to scan faces and scenes on behalf of law enforcement? We’ve seen the scenario too often in Sci-Fi movies with Minority Report being but one. Crime predicting is not at a place where human intelligence is unneeded. Rather it is aided by the technology. But the entire concept of the extreme need for security is like a vortex drawing humanity into the realm of less freedom and more control. Read more →

Doctors inject lab-grown genes coupled with viruses to good result

The equipment pictured here is likely more elaborate than that which the doctor used to treat me upon my return from Belarus. As I was preparing to travel to the Minsk airport, Wednesday morning August 1st, I had what turned out to be an irregularity of some kind with my appendix. Laid on the table Thursday evening after 14 hours of flight, laparoscopic equipment enabled the surgeon to go on a search and rescue mission which ended with a healthier Ray. What is pictured here is more complex because at the microscopic level of gene therapy, used to treat the blindness of a thirteen year old boy.

This gene therapy, called gene-replacement therapy, is designed to replace the mutated genes with genes that work, and accordingly, improve the patient’s degenerating eyesight. Synthetic genes are first grown in a lab and then inserted into viruses commonly found in the human eye. These are viruses which naturally live in our eyes and are harmless. The mission of the implanted viruses is to invade eye cells and infuse genetic material into them. To accomplish the beneficent mission, the viruses are carefully placed in the patient’s retina. Read more →

International Travel – Many Security Points

Consider the security of Lufthansa, the German Airline, who began biometric boarding at LAX, in April 2018.  After standing in line to board a long time, I find it fascinating that Lufthansa boarded 350 people into their A380 in just about 20 minutes. We should all be so fortunate. With such quick boarding, the concept of “boarding zones” will die the death it deserves. Or is that wishful thinking?

So how do they go about getting so many people aboard in so little time? The boarding pass was the key. Read more →

Scientists develop material that could regenerate dental enamel

People with a low pain thresh-hold will welcome this new technology. They’ve developed a material that would regenerate dental enamel. Rebuilding your teeth on the spot.

“Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed a new way to grow mineralised materials which could regenerate hard tissues such as dental enamel and bone.” Quoted from a ScienceDaily article.

Creating both the enamel and bone would be a lot better than paying for fillings. I doubt it will do much to take root canals off the dental menu. We’re talking exterior matters. So roots and missing teeth might be excepted. Until the next level of development comes about. Read more →

Cell Phones Got Smaller

Not that long ago, the size of a mobile phone determined its value. The smaller, the better! That’s because the first mobile phones were so large.

Cell phones have reduced. No longer the 2.5 pound original. We measure in 4-6 ounce range. No longer 10 inches long and very thick. We measure in screen size of 4-6 inches and extremely thin. Even bendable. No longer a 20 minute battery. We measure, if you’re careful, in days, although 4-6 days may be pushing it. Unless you have a dumbphone.

Computers Got Smaller

In the meantime, computers have also reduced. Their dietetic reduction started with room-sized, down to desk-sized. Thin clients have carried the game further, losing a lot of weight as well as desk space. The name says it all!

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Mental activity makes you known

Branding your business is a technology of the human mind. As computer users, we don’t consider the mind a technology. Mental synapse still responds in fascinating ways far surpassing the biggest agglomeration of computer intelligence. In spite of the computing power available in the machine, we are aware that it is the human mind that creates computers and feeds data to them. So let’s do some thinking! Read more →

Six ways to deal with negative reviews

Many business stay offline because they fear the negative review. Is there a case to be made for the benefit of a negative review? There is. Consider the following six concepts regarding negative reviews.

Freedom

Allowing consumers to give a negative review is a statement of our belief that within certain parameters freedom of speech is a healthy thing. As we know, that can be misused or legally thwarted. For example: Should a company be allowed to threaten a consumer with disparagement for a negative review? As recently as 2015, this was a common practice. Read more →