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Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Truth Window Hardware: A High Quality Window Hardware Company
Truth Window Hardware has been a leader in manufacturing of residential, and light commercial window and doors since 1955. With its beginnings in a 1900's blacksmith shop, it grew into a tool manufacturing operation with a reputation for producing only the best tools. That same dedication and craftsmanship was carried into producing push bar operators for awning windows. That single product has grown into a complete line of window hardware products. Truth is a company built upon a history of quality workmanship, which continues to build with quality.
Truth Windows has a full line of window, skylight and patio hardware that will meet any need you may have as a homeowner, homebuilder or window manufacturer. An extensive line of hinges, locks, and sliders can provide solutions to virtually any window hardware need. Their award-winning website features an intuitive online catalog, will allow you to find hardware, quickly and easily. If you are looking for a replacement item, or in the process of planning for new hardware, you will love the ease and usability of this site. The assortment of styles, colors and options will meet even the most discriminating buyer's needs, and with the reputation of Truth, you know the hardware is not only good-looking, but also high quality.
Truth Windows a North American leader in the design and manufacture of operating systems for windows, patio doors and skylights with two facilities in Owatonna, MN and operations in Pennsylvania and Ontario employs approximately 800 workers. This work force is one of the most dependable and flexible in the industry. They are able to meet the design and manufacturing needs of their customers with speed and efficiency. These talented workers can provide solutions to window hardware problems with innovation and creativity. The team at Truth listens to you and your needs, and then mobilizes to get your hardware solution to you quickly and efficiently.
Truth Window Hardware: A High Quality Window Hardware Company
Truth is a company that cares not only for their customers, but also for the environment. They have an aggressive policy of reducing waste, reusing materials, whenever possible, and recycling. With a great collection of window, skylight and patio hardware and a flexible, responsive work force with concern for both their customers and the environment, it is easy to see why Truth Window Hardware is a leader in their industry. If you are a homeowner, builder, or a window manufacturer, you should consider products from Truth Window Hardware.
Truth Window Hardware: A High Quality Window Hardware Company Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
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To learn more about Truth Window Hardware and to request a free catalog please visit WindowRepairSystems.com
Monday, February 25, 2013
Ten Ways Companies Leak Their Secrets and How to Stop Them (Without Hardware or Software)
Companies willingly or unknowingly give away 10 times more confidential information than could ever be hacked from a network or stolen from a file cabinet. Employees, from golfing CEO's to helpful admins, cost their companies millions in lost business and fizzled strategies every day because trained business intelligence collectors and analysts take the bits gathered not only from employees, but suppliers, regulators, customers, the media, and even total strangers, and assemble them into accurate hypotheses about a company's future actions. Then they can decide how neutralize each possible initiative.
Fortunately, the most practical and cost effective solutions to curb leakage of confidential information is essentially free, simply by implementing an awareness raising campaign and some information protection policies. No new hardware, software or headcount. Being proactive about safeguarding your sensitive information and understanding how competitive intelligence specialists operate, can save your company a ton of money and grief. Here are 10 vulnerabilities and solutions to get you started.
Know what your secrets really are. This is absolutely Number One. Most companies don't know what information they can or should protect, or for how long. Even senior officers at most firms won't often agree on what their company's secrets are. As a result, employees at all levels make their own decisions "on the fly" about what information they can share with acquaintances, at the trade show or on the 'Net. This makes a company vulnerable to an intelligence attack by rivals who interview as many of their target's employees as possible to get the whole story.
Ten Ways Companies Leak Their Secrets and How to Stop Them (Without Hardware or Software)
Sensitive information is not limited to formulas and customer lists. The formula for Coca-Cola is one of the most closely guarded trade secrets, yet who would buy Fred's Cola? But travel itineraries, for example, are almost bragged about. The extraction an exploitation works something like this: While waiting behind The Lunch Company's sales person in the registration line at a trade show, The Shark Company's intelligence collector simply starts complaining about business travel and his hectic schedule after the show. This elicits a macho one-upsmanship of Lunch's post-show itinerary. That evening Shark's collector sends a Flash-Urgent email warning his field staff in those cities of Lunch's planned visit. There's plenty of time for the Shark team to give their customers fresh objections to the Lunch's product. Two weeks later, Lunch's sales person has no recollection of the conversation, but also can't figure out why all his customers got so difficult.
Solution: Management has to determine exactly what the company's secrets are, and to safeguard them by insuring every employee is either aware the information is confidential, or has no knowledge of it. Guidelines and training sessions sensitize employees to all the opportunities there are for leaking information.
Compartment information. This means implementing a "need to know" policy for your company's future plans and major projects. An engineering "team member" at Gillette was prosecuted a few years ago for delivering the complete plans for the Mach III razor to American Home Products prior to the razor's launch. American Home didn't bite on the offer and cooperated with Gillette on a sting operation. A nice piece of corporate responsibility, but why did an engineer have access to marketing plans in the first place?
Solution: Compartmenting information can be difficult to implement in today's open door and open cubicle workplace, and remote workers make the situation worse. Nevertheless, employees can be made to understand that need-to-know has nothing to do being trustworthy and everything to do with limiting the number of people possessing the company's complete plan. The fewer targets, the less likely one will be found and possibly exploited by a rival's intelligence workers.
Track requests for information. Competition drives companies to be generous with information without much regard as to who is asking for it. As a result sensitive information may be too easily released. Few companies catalog information requests beyond calling them sales leads and passing them along.
For example, once a high tech software company began tracking domain names of website visitors they learned the domains of the top seven most frequent visitors were all owned by one of their largest competitors. Yet they anonymously visited the web site up to 400 times in the 24 hours after every new press release looking for the slightest snippet of useful information.
Solution: Analyzing inquiries for information, including print, electronic and interpersonal, reveals patterns that signal which competitor watches your every move, and what subjects are of interest. Inquiry analysis also provides an early warning of new competitors sizing up your company. Having a central point for information requests and a hot line for the real strange ones sensitizes employees that the company is an information target. Done correctly, vigilance has no impact on the flow of information to genuine prospects.
See your Web site as the competition does. Is your Web content too revealing? A wireless company offered enough information through white papers on their site and a shopping cart for other documents sufficient for a competitor on the other side of the world to copy its latest technology. In another example, entering a wildcard with a spreadsheet extension, *.xls, in the Search window of a home page caused a number of sensitive spreadsheets with past performance and future marketing budgets to fall out.
Solution: Forming a "red team" of employees with customer and competitor experience to review new Website material is very worthwhile. Projecting how competitors might interpret the new content can be a real product saver at no additional cost and very little investment in time. And never distribute internal information through your Website no matter how protected you think it may be. It isn't.
Monitor blogs, chats and resume sites. No one can fault an employee for seeking greater opportunities by putting their resume on an employment site, or enhancing their professional reputation with discussions or publications on the internet. But a great deal can be learned from an over-detailed resume. Just the fact that lots of resumes from your company pop up on an employment sites can indicate employee insecurities within your company, attracting the interest of you rival's intelligence officer. Compulsive chattering by employees on blogs may or may not leak confidential information, but more importantly such activity flags your employee as a willing talker who can be steered by an intelligence interviewer to confidential subjects.
Solution: Again, a high awareness projected throughout the company that every employee is an information target, and that the company's success and their personal stock holdings can be seriously impacted with too much exposure.
Make employees feel genuinely valued. Hundreds of interviews with people convicted of leaking or selling government or commercial secrets reveal one motivation they all have in common. It was not money, revenge, or ideology that drove them to leak information, but feeling their work and loyalty was unappreciated.
Solution: Simple expressions of recognition make a powerful tool for reinforcing loyalty, and emphasizing the importance of adhering to information protection rules. After all, no one wants a company that values them to be hurt by competitors.
Follow the money, and then hide it. There are lots of leaks in your supply chain. A competitor doesn't have to know how many widgets you make if the company supplying items like the cardboard boxes or training CD's brags to a "prospect" about how much he sells to you.
Solution: Every link in your supply chain must agree that transactions with you are confidential and your company cannot be given as a reference. Other "cloaking" techniques can include patenting five things that don't work for every one that does; creating shell companies to buy land parcels or other large, divisible purchases; or using an intermediary to file public documents such as environmental forms on behalf of the true company.
Everyone signs the non-disclosure. Too often managers sign non-disclosure agreements with customers, contractors or vendors but few people below management level are aware of what the agreement covers or that it even exists. An employee who is unaware of an NDA or what it protects can reveal a great deal to a trained interviewer and it will be very difficult to prove either party guilty of wrongdoing. This is doubly problematic considering today's heavy use of outsourcing. Today's contractor could work for tomorrow's competitor. An engineering firm once hired temporary engineers to complete a new product on time. The temp firm got their engineers from another firm owned by the archrival of the original client. The new product line was dead on the drawing board.
Solution: Joint ventures should be started with bulletproof non-disclosures, due diligence and security briefings for all the employees involved. A control function should recover shared documents, disks, software, presentations, samples, or prototypes at the conclusion of the project. Again, not much investment in cash, just some changes in culture.
Over reliance on technology. Wireless networks at coffee shops are not the place to do business regardless of what type of encryption or password protection your files have. Wireless hot spots are designed to be as open and simple as possible, and there are plenty of tools available to sniff out your login. Actually wireless anything is risky. Perhaps you have booked a major sales meeting at an offsite location with all the multimedia bells and whistles. Unbeknownst to you, a competitor is sitting in her room at the hotel, sipping coffee in her bunny slippers, listening to your entire conference because the presenters at the "closed" meeting are using wireless microphones. Signal can carry 100 to 300 yards. Illegal? Absolutely. Done every day? Absolutely.
Solution: Again, awareness. The decision to use anything wireless needs to be balanced for convenience, leakage potential, and the value of information being sent over the connection. Also, keep camera phones and keychain hard drives out of sensitive areas. And unless you encrypt them, "smart" access cards and RFID chips are a really dumb idea. They can be downloaded with equipment available on Ebay, and a simple "brush by" in a crowd. You want the world at your doorstep but not in your laboratory.
Innocence. Everyone wants to believe the world is a nice place. And like most nice places the world has bad neighborhoods. Territory and ideology were long ago replaced by market share as the top interest of nation-states. A country that can't compete for markets has little influence on the world stage, and a country that can't support a healthy population with food, and infrastructure is very vulnerable to internal strife. Since the end of the Cold War thousands of government trained intelligence officers switched their focus from political success to the economic success of their countries. If your products involve high tech, construction, health care, natural resources, biotech, utilities of all kinds or food production, to name a few, they are "national interests." You are on their radar.
Solution: Getting tired of hearing this? Awareness. There is a whole set of precautions that should be taken by business people traveling abroad where local companies often work hand in glove with their state intelligence services for the national good. From pulling hard drives out of your laptop left in a hotel, to being just a little skeptical of "new best friends," at the fancy embassy cocktail party, the biggest information leaks start and stop with people, not hardware or software.
Ten Ways Companies Leak Their Secrets and How to Stop Them (Without Hardware or Software) Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection
This is material is extracted from the training programs of George Dennis Associates, a competitive intelligence training, consulting and services firm. Our work focus on training, intelligence organization development, trade show intelligence, Win/Loss Reviews, Psychological and management style profiling of opposition or customer executives and full competitor analyses. Please visit us at [http://www.geodennisassociates.com] for more information.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The Top 10 Model Train Shops in Pennsylvania
There are fantastic model railroading hobby shops all across the United States. These shops all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most popular? Here is a list for the great state of Pennsylvania.
The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in the state of Pennsylvania are:
10. Strasburg Train Shop in Strasburg
The Top 10 Model Train Shops in Pennsylvania
9. Cappelli Hobbies in Philadelphia
8. Neely's Train Shop in Altoona
7. Modelers' Depot in Hopwood
6. Action Hobbies in Langhorne
5. Hobby Express in Cranberry Township
4. Esther's Hobby Shop in Pittsburgh
3. Len's Train Shop in Irwin
2. A. B. Charles Hobby Shop in Pittsburgh
...and the most popular shop for model trains in Pennsylvania is...
1. Bill and Walt's Hobby Shop in Pittsburgh
Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Brentwood Station in Pittsburgh, Bussinger Trains in Ambler, C. T. McCormick Hardware in Zelienople, Central Keystone Hobbies in Avis, CoolTrains Toys and Hobbies in Salunga, English's Model Railroad Supply in Montoursville, Gene's Trains and Hobbies in Duncansville, Grzyboski's Train Store in Moosic, Henning Scale Models in Lansdale, Hobby Headquarters in Meadville, Imperial Train in Imperial, Jerry Quinn Classic Trains and Toys in Coatesville, Jim's Train Shop in Homer City, Ken's Trains in Glassport, Main Line Hobbies in East Norriton, Modellbahn Ott Hobbies in Gilbertsville, Nicholas Smith Trains in Broomall, Niedzalkoski's Train Shop in Jeannette, R and B Hobby Center in Tunkhannock, Singers Hobbies and Crafts in Wellsboro, T and J Train Junction in Danville, The Train Gallery in Pittsburgh, The Train Shoppe and Hobby Center in Wilkes Barre, The Underground Railroad Shoppe in New Castle, Tommy Gilbert's Hobby Shop in Gettysburg, Toys On The Square in Hummelstown, Winkie's Toy and Hobby in Lititz, and Ye Olde Train and Christmas Shoppe in Boyertown.
So lots of great model railroading shops from all over Pennsylvania in the top ten, but the Pittsburgh area had all of the top five. As usual, the top spot went to a store with both a fantastic local shop and a thriving website.
When in Pennsylvania be sure to visit some of the excellent railroading museums including National Toy Train Museum in Paradise, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, and Western Pennsylvania Model Rail Road Museum in Gibsonia. Also in Pennsylvania are some terrific model railroad displays, including the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg and National Christmas Center in Paradise.
I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online. I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.
The Top 10 Model Train Shops in Pennsylvania Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
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Larry Truett is a freelance computer programmer living in San Diego, California with his wife and their three cats. He enjoys hiking, reading, gardening, watching too much television, and other nerdy activities.
See a complete list of Model Train Shops in Pennsylvania at http://www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Decorative Cabinet Hardware (i.e. Handles And Knobs For The Rest Of Us)
Adding or replacing decorative cabinet hardware is one of the easiest facelifts you could possibly do for your cabinets.
If your cabinets are in pretty good shape, and not too dated, changing pulls or knobs is an easy thing to do. You'll need to invest 0 to 0 on average to replace all the pulls and knobs in your kitchen (figuring 25-30 or so pulls or knobs).
If you cabinets look really old, brand new decorative cabinet hardware might stand out like a sore thumb. Depending on the situation, though, you could add rustic pulls or knobs to your cabinets, and they'd still look good (and would fit right in).
Decorative Cabinet Hardware (i.e. Handles And Knobs For The Rest Of Us)
Your cabinets might also just need a good cleaning to get them sparkling again.
If you are starting fresh, and don't already have pull or knob holes in your doors or drawer fronts (good for you!), the choices are almost endless. You can get 3" center pulls, or knobs, or 96mm, or 128mm, or just about anything you want.
Keep in mind though, that handles with 3" centers are the most common decorative cabinet hardware that there is. If you ever want to change handles in the future, there will certainly be tons of choices. If you go with, say 128mm handles, your future choices for handles will be limited, because you'll have to get 128mm handles again. Also, these handles are larger (longer) than normal, so cost more. For example, a 128mm handle in stainless steel could cost or more, where the same handle with a 3" center could be or less. Finish is also a factor in your cost. Stainless steel will cost much more than a nickel finish, but will look almost identical.
Replacing What You've Got
If you already have pulls, knobs (or both) then you must keep that in mind when choosing hardware. You have some alternatives, but you may be limited.
If you have pulls, measure the distance from mid-point to mid-point of each hole. This will give you the size pull you will need. You will often find they are 3" centers.
If they are 3" centers, you are in luck, because you will find most styles of decorative cabinet hardware are available with 3" centers.
If you have a measurement other than 3", you can look for that size. It may be difficult to find pulls that fit those holes. If you do find something in that measurement, it might not be the style you like.
What You Can Do if You Have Odd Sized Holes or Need to Cover the Holes Left by Previous Handles
Add a back-plate to your door or drawer front before you put your pull or knob on. You can simply drill new holds that work for your new handles (usually 3/8" holes are what you need to drill, sometimes 1/4"). In this way, no one will see the old holes because they will be covered up by the back-plate.
Another easy alternative is to put two knobs where the pull holes were. With this option, you are only limited in the knob's diameter. You will want to make sure the knobs aren't so big that they will be touching each other when you put them on.
STYLE! What's available in Decorative Cabinet Hardware?
Recent years have seen a surge in sleek, new styling. There are literally thousands of styles of pulls, knobs, and back-plates to choose from.
Anything from contemporary to rustic, colored or clear glass to solid brass.
You will also find several choices in theme-based hardware. There are several choices for children's rooms, hunting themes, fishing, bugs, butterflies, frogs, and stones to name a few.
There are even pulls out there (from Amerock) that look like knives, forks, and spoons.
Popular Finishes to Choose from Include:
Oil Rubbed Bronze
Polished Brass or Chrome
Brushed, Satin, or Sterling Nickel
Brushed Brass
Flat Black
Antique English (a bronze looking finish)
Wrought Iron
Weathered Nickel
Rustic Bronze
Burnished Bronze
Copper
Pewter
Stainless Steel
Champagne
Anodized Aluminum
Ceramic and Ceramic Crackle Finishes (be careful - ceramic looks nice, but will crack very easily)
There are several other decorative cabinet hardware finishes to choose from too, including solid colors and several actual woods, finished and unfinished.
Some brand names that manufacture good and reasonably priced hardware include:
Amerock
Belwith-Keeler
Epco
Stanley
Wood Technology
What's This Going to Cost?
The cost will vary as much as how many styles are out there.
You might find small knobs for as little as .00 or less a piece.
Several pulls fall into the .00 to .00 range for each pull.
If you are going for a contemporary, sleek European style, where the pulls can be as long as 12" or more, you may pay .00 or more for each pull.
Some glass knobs and pulls can also run you into some money, from the low teens to as high as .00 each.
Pulls for appliances (appliance pulls - that are used if you have a wooden insert over your appliance and basically need a handle for it) can be quite costly as well, over .00 on up (but they are very large and long).
Reminder
Be sure to count each door and drawer front you have, twice. You'd be upset with yourself if you ordered your pulls or knobs online or made a special trip to the hardware store, just to find you are short one pull or knob! It's been done!!
Where to Get Decorative Cabinet Hardware
Online is a very convenient place to get hardware. Home improvement stores carry decorative cabinet hardware, but it may actually cost you more to get hardware there, and they won't have as big of a selection as online stores.
You may even be lucky enough to find just what you're looking for at your local thrift store. If you can, you'll no doubt save money, but most likely won't get good quality products.
Amerock hardware (and almost every good company has this guarantee for many of their hardware products), has several handles and knobs that have what they call their Guardian Finish. It is a lifetime guarantee on your hardware finish to never tarnish, or they replace the hardware free of charge.
If you enjoy garage-saling or auctions, you may find something there. Usually though, when you use those types of venues, you will be very limited in your choices and only find a few of what you need.
In my experience, the best place to purchase hardware is either online or at your local home-center. If you really want to see and feel your handles before you purchase them, go to your home-center and pick something out. If you have the time, write down who manufactures the hardware, its product number, and then check out prices on the internet. You'll no doubt find the same product for less over the internet.
Bottom Line: Get what you Love
The possibilities for decorate cabinet hardware are endless. Look for hardware that is not only practical and will last a long time, but that you also fall in love with and enjoy!!
And remember - HAVE A HAPPY KITCHEN!!
Decorative Cabinet Hardware (i.e. Handles And Knobs For The Rest Of Us) Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection
Crystal co-owned a custom cabinet shop for 14 years (1992-2006). She is now a stay-at-home mom who writes on the web, sharing all that she's learned from her years building and installing kitchen cabinets.
For more free information check out the websites: http://www.kitchen-cabinets-and-hardware.com and http://www.thewoodworkersdepot.com (an online kitchen hardware store).
You can also check out a great lawn care site: http://www.easy-lawn-care-help.com
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
How To Watch Satellite TV On Computer Through Internet
It should not come as a surprise to those interested to watch satellite TV on computers that there are already millions doing so. Billions of video streams are watched every single day and people are getting used to watching entertainment media using their PCs online. Basically, the easiest way around it is to power up your computer with a special satellite TV software. We will find out more in this article about this unique software that can enable you to watch satellite TV on computer through the internet and how it compares with the services you are using today.
The software can be downloaded from retailers online and installed quickly. There are clear instruction manuals that take you through a step-by-step approach. Even the most technically challenged can install software in a few steps. The usage is simple since the navigation is user-friendly. Once you are done with the installation, you can instantly check out the TV channels they offer and find the desired TV program you can watch.
If you have been a satellite TV subscriber for the longest time, you would be glad that there are no monthly costs involved at all. The only cost ever is the one time payment for the software which works out to less than for most software versions and brands. When new programs are added, you also need not top up or pay anything extra. These are all included in the software package.
How To Watch Satellite TV On Computer Through Internet
Since the software is receiving free to air TV feeds from FTA TV stations, the TV channels you can watch on computer are entirely free. A quick comparison between satellite and cable TV versus PC satellite TV would reveal that you are catching maybe 700 channels at max with the monthly services but getting access to over 2000 TV channels with the software. This is the one main reason why people love to use the PC satellite TV software.
Other than the software, you do not need extra equipment or hardware, just a good internet connection will do, be it broadband or dial up. Ideally, you should use broadband for faster speeds of TV feed transmission. You also need to have Macromedia Flash and Windows Media Player installed before you can watch satellite TV on computer.
The software has an intelligent user interface that makes it a breeze to use to search and find TV shows to watch. Once you watched it, click to save the TV channel so that you can come back another day to watch. The whole process is as hassle-free as it can get.
Looking at the software side by side with monthly TV services, it outshines services in terms of affordability, the number of TV channels available and the userability. This probably is the reason why more TV viewers, especially the younger folks now watch TV in this way. Learn more about this new technology and how you can make use of PC satellite TV software to watch satellite TV on computer at home from my TV blog.
How To Watch Satellite TV On Computer Through Internet Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection
Davion is a self-proclaimed TV fanatic. Read more on how you can instantly watch satellite TV on PC [http://watch-satellite-tv-on-pc.blogspot.com], tuning into hundreds of LIVE sports channels, news channels and movies for zilch dollar. Also read his wildly popular article on how to watch satellite TV on PC instantly for pennies.
Monday, February 4, 2013
History of the Camera
Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able to project images onto paper or glass but the study of capturing, processing and printing the images took many more years. Up until the 17th century, scientists believed that light was composed basically of the 'white' that is perceived by the human eye. It took the research done by famous physicist Isaac Newton to discover that light is actually composed of a spectrum of colors. While he made a big contribution to the study of optics (that is at the core of camera advances) with this discovery, Newton did not actually have anything to do with camera development per se.
The early camera that first became a phenomenon was a little more than a pinhole camera and can be traced back to 1558. It was called the Camera Obscura. The Camera Obscura was seen as a drawing tool for a clearer and realistic portrayal of objects. It was in the early 19th century that an invention named the Camera Lucida was introduced by Cambridge scientist William Hyde Wollaston that consisted of an optical device that could help an artist view a distant scene or person or object on a paper surface that he or she was using to draw. In other words the artist gets to view a superimposed image of a subject on paper and this image could be effectively used to attempt to draw, trace or paint it. Both the Camera Obscura and the Camera Lucida provided an image that was temporary, which could not be lastingly captured on to paper for later reference.
Studies however continued well into the 1800's on how to actually capture the image onto material. It was during this time, around 1822 that French researcher Joseph Nicephore Niepce, created the first photograph by using paper that was coated with a chemical. The image would not stay permanently on the paper and would disappear after a short while. Even so, despite the short-lived nature of the image, the concept of photography was born with this experiment and paved the way for further study and development in this field.
History of the Camera
Capturing images to retain them longer and permanently became the next big quest for researchers. Another Frenchman Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre partnered with Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1829, to develop the process of creating permanent photographs. Joseph Niépce died in 1833 but Daguerre continued with the work and succeeded in 1837 after many long years of experimentation. The process of capturing photographic images that would not fade away, introduced by Daguerre came to be known as the 'daguerreotype'.
The word 'photography' was coined by scientist Sir John F.W. Herschel in 1839 and it is actually is derived from two Greek words 'photos' meaning light and 'graphein' meaning draw.
A slightly more advanced version of the daguerreotype called the Calotype process that makes multiple copies possible using the negative and positive method became available very soon after. In fact, it was during the 1840's that the use of photographic images in advertisements first started and cameras made their mark on the power of visual communication. It was not much later, in the 1850's that photographers first started experimenting with underwater photography of seascapes.
Up until 1850, the process of capturing images was cumbersome requiring upto half an hour of light exposure. The discovery made in 1851 by Frederick Scott Archer was a blessing since the new method termed the Collodion process called for just 2-3 seconds of light exposure to capture an image.
Prior to 1871, photographers went through a development process where they had to coat the plate with wet chemical each and every time and process the image immediately. With the invention the gelatin dry plate silver bromide process by Richard Leach Maddox, negatives did not have to be developed immediately. This was an important discovery since up until then the captured image had to be processed instantly.
Kodak created in 1888 by George Eastman has been a modern day pioneer of sorts in cameras and photography for the masses. George Eastman and the scientists who worked with him at Kodak developed the photographic film in 1889 and made it available in rolls for the mass use of consumers. An important milestone in our entertainment and communication history was the development of transparent roll film by Eastman. This development led to another key invention - the motion picture camera by Thomas Edison's in 1891.
-->Modern Times
During the 20th century the pace of technology development in cameras and photography continued at an accelerated pace much like many other key technology developments. While several key inventions like car, telephone and the gramophone record happened in the later half of the 19th century, it is the last 100 years that saw major developmental work in many areas of communications technology and as well as in other fields - TV, aircrafts, PCs, digital technology, digital cameras, mobile phones, fax machines and the internet, to name a few.
In the case of the camera, the developments simplified the whole process of photography, making it accessible to one and all at affordable prices and the camera industry denizens of our times made it into a mass phenomenon. The first mass use camera became available at the turn of the 20th century and can be traced back to the year 1900. There are hundreds of models of cameras available today both for the amateur as well as the professional and the camera is an important part of any family's repertoire of must have gadgets.
-->20th century chronology in the history of the camera:
1913: 35 mm still-camera created
1927: The flash bulb introduced by General Electric Co. (The concept of camera flash existed much before but was based on the use of a flash light powder that was invented by German researchers)
1935- 1941: Kodak starts marketing Kodachrome film and subsequently launches Kodacolor negative film. Canon released the Hansa Canon in 1936, the first 35mm focal-plane shutter camera.
1948: The concept of the Polaroid camera is introduced in the market. American scientist Edwin Land developed the process for instant photography. Later Polaroid Corporation developed the 'instant color' film around 1963.
1957: Frenchman Jaques Yves Cousteau invented the first waterproof 35mm camera for underwater photography named the Calypso Phot. The actual camera was developed by the Belgian airplane technical designer Jean de Wouters based on the blueprint and suggestions given to him by Cousteau.
1972: The electronic camera that does not require film was created and patented by Texas Instruments. This is however not the same as a digital camera though you don't require film in digital cameras as well. The launch of the digital camera is still many years away.
1975: Kodak's experiments with digital imaging kicked off around the mid seventies but it will take another 20 years before a digital camera for the home consumer market is launched.
1978 - 1980: Asian players like Konica and Sony begin to make their mark. The 'point and shoot' automatic focus camera is launched by Konica while Sony starts talking about the camcorder and demonstrates a prototype.
1981: Sony launches a commercially available electronic still camera. Similar to the 1972 invention by Texas Instruments, the Sony electronic camera came with a mini disc on which images were recorded and stored. The recorded images could be later printed or viewed on a monitor using a reader device.
1985: Digital processing technology makes its entry. Digital imaging and processing is introduced by Pixar.
1986: The camera industry becomes even more consumer focused and taps the fun and travel connotations behind camera usage, with the launch of the concept of the disposable single use cameras. Fuji is credited with the development of this concept.
Also in 1986 - 1987, Kodak started taking giant strides in digital development. Digital means, the photographic image is divided into tiny units of dots or squares known as pixels. Pixels are the programmable units of an image that can be processed by computers. Each image could be made up of millions of pixels. The use of pixels in digital technology allows storing large volumes of pixels to deliver high definition print quality.
1990: Kodak introduces Photo CD's. It is a system of storing photographic images on CD and then viewing them on a computer. With this development the user-friendly approach of the camera industry began to take concrete shape.
1991: Kodak introduces a digital camera targeted at professionals and journalists. Kodak is credited with the invention of a pixel based camera technology known to us as the digital camera. Digital cameras don't use film similar to their predecessor electronic cameras but the storage method is entirely different and the final photograph is of much higher resolution. In a digital camera photos are recorded and stored in digital form. This digital data can be transferred to a computer and processed for printing. Kodak and Canon are well known digital camera manufacturers and there are also several other key brands as well.
1994: The Apple QuickTake camera, a home use digital camera is launched. This is followed by the launch of a clutch of home use digital cameras by Casio, Kodak and others in quick succession during 1995 -'96.
-->The digital era:
The development of digital camera technology is considered to be linked to the development of TV and Video technology. The principles of transmission and recording of audio-visual images using digital electrical impulses finds use in camera imaging as well.
Through the 1990's the developments continued in camera technology, the focus now shifting to the field of digital imaging which is where the future lies. Use-friendly features like software that can download digital images directly from camera onto home computers for storing and sharing on the internet is the new norm in the market place.
The camera, the computer, the software industry and the worldwide web are today irrevocably interlinked to empower the user in experiencing the benefits of camera usage to full potential. The innovation that sparked many an invention in the camera industry found its way into the digital world as well and continued among digital camera manufacturers. During 2001, the Kodak and Microsoft partnership ensured that digital camera manufacturers could use the power of Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) standard through Windows. The digital photo experience is a key visual driver in the Internet era. Many of Kodak digital camera models with EasyShare capabilities are compatible with Windows XP. The Kodak EasyShare software enables users to transfer digital camera pictures directly from camera to their computers and then print the pictures or even email them.
Manufacturers in a related industry like the printing industry have adapted their products to be in sync with the images created by digital cameras. Cell phone manufacturers have tied up with digital camera manufacturers to develop new age camera phones in recent years. These camera phones can capture images and share the images through the cell phone.
Among the 21st century digital developments are the advanced product offerings from digital cameras manufacturers and these are sure to occupy an important place in the ensuing history of camera development. For instance, the Kodak Professional DCS Pro SLR/c is a high-end digital camera and the Kodak website calls the DCS Pro SLR models the most feature-rich digital cameras on the market. It has an image sensor that can handle 13.89 million pixels and this makes it the highest resolution digital camera available. High resolution determines the sharpness or level of detail in photographic images. This is just a glimpse of the capabilities that digital technology places in a user's hands. Digital camera sales figures for 2003 show that the two key players Kodak and Canon have recorded impressive growth.
-->What does the future holds for camera users?
The features offered by digital cameras can be quite mind-boggling for the average user and pretty exciting for most pros. Four key ongoing camera developments that are likely to further improve the process of photography:
1. Greater resolution from even the simplest, low cost camera models
2. Usage in any type of lighting conditions,
3. Compatibility across a range of software, hardware and image types
4. Rich colors and tone
While the higher-end digital evolution continues, the prices of the simple camera have crashed to such an extent that even children and teens are proud owners of uncomplicated cameras. The camera and photography interest starts young and this creates a truly large audience base for the camera industry.
And throughout history, it is evident that the endeavor of researchers and developers has been to make the camera available to a wide section of society. Without camera technology and photography, the other key developments of cinema and TV would have been delayed and what a boring place the world would have been without TV and films!!
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Importance of Technology in Business
Technology plays a vital role in business. Over the years businesses have become dependent on technology so much so that if we were to take away that technology virtually all business operations around the globe would come to a grinding halt. Almost all businesses and industries around the world are using computers ranging from the most basic to the most complex of operations.
Technology played a key role in the growth of commerce and trade around the world. It is true that we have been doing business since time immemorial, long before there were computers; starting from the simple concept of barter trade when the concept of a currency was not yet introduced but trade and commerce was still slow up until the point when the computer revolution changed everything. Almost all businesses are dependent on technology on all levels from research and development, production and all the way to delivery. Small to large scale enterprises depend on computers to help them with their business needs ranging from Point of Sales systems, information management systems capable of handling all kinds of information such as employee profile, client profile, accounting and tracking, automation systems for use in large scale production of commodities, package sorting, assembly lines, all the way to marketing and communications. It doesn't end there, all these commodities also need to be transported by sea, land, and air. Just to transport your commodities by land already requires the use of multiple systems to allow for fast, efficient and safe transportation of commodities.
Without this technology the idea of globalization wouldn't have become a reality. Now all enterprises have the potential to go international through the use of the internet. If your business has a website, that marketing tool will allow your business to reach clients across thousands of miles with just a click of a button. This would not be possible without the internet. Technology allowed businesses to grow and expand in ways never thought possible.
Importance of Technology in Business
The role that technology plays for the business sector cannot be taken for granted. If we were to take away that technology trade and commerce around the world will come to a standstill and the global economy would collapse. It is nearly impossible for one to conduct business without the aid of technology in one form or another. Almost every aspect of business is heavily influenced by technology. Technology has become very important that it has become a huge industry itself from computer hardware manufacturing, to software design and development, and robotics. Technology has become a billion dollar industry for a number of individuals.
The next time you browse a website to purchase or swipe a credit card to pay for something you just bought, try to imagine how that particular purchase would have happened if it were to take place without the aid of modern technology. That could prove to be a bit difficult to imagine. Without all the technology that we are enjoying now it would be like living in the 60's again. No computers, no cellular phones, no internet. That is how important technology is in business.
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Neoko Cortwell is a freelance writer and web designer. If you want to start your own creative journey to becoming a freelance designer yourself, see these video tutorials.
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Saturday, January 26, 2013
Cat Repellent or How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden
Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from using garden as litterbox? Tell me how to keep cats out of my garden. These are common questions of concern to all gardeners but is there a real answer?
The first line of defence is to ensure that your yard boundaries are secure. Any gaps in your fence should be blocked to deny low level access. But cats can jump so fix a taut wire or string some six inches above the top of your fence to deter this approach.
Once inside your garden many people say that the best cat repellent is a dog who will soon see off any feline invader. If you are not a dog lover then you will have to resort to more passive methods. Since cats like to lie on freshly dug soil you should lay mulch on your borders so that no bare soil is left exposed. Seed beds should be covered with wire netting or twigs arranged as a barrier.
Cat Repellent or How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden
Young trees should have plastic guards fitted around their trunks to protect them against use as a scratching pole.
Your garden pond should be covered with netting to keep your fish safe.
Cats are generally known to dislike water so a well aimed bucketful or a squirt with the hose will certainly make an intruder run. After one or two dousings it may learn the lesson and stay away.
To protect plants and borders both mothballs and citrus are said to be effective deterrents. Place the mothballs, orange peel or lemon rind in the borders. Alternatively spray cloths with orange scented air freshener and place the cloths around the plants you wish to protect. Other known cat repellents are cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and mustard oil.
Certain herbs are said to deter cats. In particular rue but not catmint which has the opposite effect. Coleus canina is another plant which is marketed by one merchant as a cat repellent.
The broadcaster Jerry Baker has suggested treating your yard with a tonic made from chewing tobacco, urine, birth control pills, mouthwash, molasses, detergent and beer. A smallholder has reported success using dried rabbit blood but you may feel that the ingredients listed in the previous paragraph should be tried first.
If you visit your local garden center or hardware store you will find several cat repellent products on sale. These range from electric water sprinklers and ultrasonic devices to sprays and granules.
Motion activated sprinklers act in the same way as a burglar alarm using an infra red detector. When the cat enters the area covered by the detector the sprinkler shoots out a jet of water to scare the animal away. It is claimed that, after one or two encounters with the jet, the cat will learn to avoid the area.
Ultrasonic devices emit a high frequency sound which is annoying to cats (and dogs) but is not audible to humans. There are various different models some of which operate continuously and others which have an infra red detector and only emit a pulse of sound when the cat triggers the device. To be successful you need to ensure that the model is powerful enough to cover the area you wish to protect. In addition make sure that the sound frequency is designed for larger animals since some models are intended to deter insects and so would be no use for cats.
There are also commercial scent cat repellents. Those that use chemicals should be kept away from any food crops but the essential oil based granule varieties act in the same way as orange and lemon peel mentioned above. Another way to keep a cat out if the garden is a repellent evaporator which consists of a container holding puffed rice which has been impregnated with essential oils. These are effective for three to four weeks and can then be refilled for a further period. Another natural product which many people claim really keeps a cat out of the garden is lion's dung. You may need to visit your local zoo to obtain this although some stores do stock zoo poo.
In Ontario, Canada the local township provides a cat trap service. Once the animal enters the cage it cannot escape but is completely unharmed. The owner has to pay to recover his pet and so should be encouraged not to let the cat stray in future. Apparently few owners bother to reclaim their cats but just obtain another kitten. However this sounds like a good way of dealing with a cat that cannot be deterred by any other method. If there is no such scheme in your area, just buy your own trap.
So, to recap, the first priority is to secure your boundary fences. Then you have the whole selection of suggested cat repellents ranging from homemade recipes to expensive commercial gadgets. I would suggest that you try the orange peel and prickly twigs for a start. If you are around when the intruder appears, try the bucket of water or hose. Even if you miss, the shock may be a sufficient deterrent. If these do not do the trick, then you may have to consider the commercial alternatives.
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Hugh Harris-Evans is the owner of The Garden Supplies Advisor where you will find further articles, gardening tips and product reviews.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Functions of Device Drivers For the Hardware and Software Components
However, device drivers are coded differently for conforming to the requests of the application and the features of the hardware component.
Device drivers act as programs tasked to translate application or user requests into a form comprehensible to the hardware. Despite the diversity of features coded directly into an application, it does not contain the necessary procedures that can allow it to directly relay its requests to a hardware device.
They are programmed to receive related software requests for using the features and functions of the corresponding hardware device. These requests usually take the form of high-level codes from a programming language used in the creation of the software.
Functions of Device Drivers For the Hardware and Software Components
Device drivers subsequently convert such related application or user requests into machine language or codes comprehensible to the hardware component after it receives the requests. The result would be the implementation by the hardware device of the related application or user requests.
A programming language called Assembly has the capability to directly tap into the functionality of a device. However, it is not compatible with the design and complexity required by user's for high-end applications.
A simple example of such device driver activity is when a user tries to view a music file using a third-party application such as Windows Media Player. The media application then relays the user's instructions to the sound device through the use of the audio device driver. The user can subsequently view the audio data contained in the music file through the speakers or headphones attached to the sound card of the machine.
Hardware devices also require the capability of device drivers to provide users with the ability to directly manipulate its functionality. Aside from using a third-party program to achieve this, a user may change the settings and configurations of a hardware device using its respective drivers. This is usually the case of display and sound devices installed in the computer.
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However, the correct device drivers need to be installed before a related application or a user can manipulate a hardware device and use its bundled functions or features. One should always consider these factors when installing the correct drivers for a particular hardware device: the version of the operating system used; manufacturer of the device and the model or make of the hardware component.
For more related technical articles, one can visit online hubpages too.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Computer Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software
Computers often break down at the worst of all times. These problems can be averted, or at least minimized with preventive maintenance. Several methods of keeping computer hardware in good working order deal with the external components of the computer, such as the keyboard and monitor. For example, it is important to keep the processor away from excess heat and moisture. There are also computer hardware preventive maintenance software programs that can help with the upkeep of other internal aspects of a computer.
While it is rare to find a CMMS that works on all of a computer's hardware, many different programs can be utilized simultaneously. Some computers have periodic automatic updates available that can be downloaded and used to improve the computer's performance. Other software programs, known as disk defragmenters, manage hard drive space so that software programs take less time to access. Programs known as hardware diagnostic utilities can check the computer's hardware components and alert the user about any potential failures. Since some new hardware will not always work on all computers and could cause existing hardware to malfunction, it is important to have a CMMS program to ensure that the new hardware is compatible with existing hardware.
Antivirus programs are another important component of computer hardware preventive maintenance software. Computer viruses have become increasingly common in recent years and can render a good computer useless. While computer viruses mainly attack software programs, they can ruin hardware as well. Several manufacturers make reliable antivirus software. A couple of well-known companies are Norton and McAfee. As with much preventive maintenance software, these programs are usually available for a free trial period before the user must pay a subscription fee.
Computer Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software
Computer hardware preventive maintenance software is necessary to keep computers in good working order. This software manages aspects of computer hardware that would be difficult and time-consuming for even the most computer savvy users.
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Preventive Maintenance Software Info features detailed information on preventive maintenance software for health care and correctional institutions, computer hardware, and personal assets, as well as reviews of preventive maintenance software companies. Preventive Maintenance Software Info is the sister site of Fleet Maintenance Software Web.
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