Changes in IT Delivery to Achieve Better Results

Facing change and accepting change was one of the most difficult challenges in the past year in the IT division. Changing the way of working was like transforming the common practice of the past two decades into an unfamiliar model which was not easily accepted and digested by many. The main challenge and resistance to changes was the fear of change and how it will affect individuals.

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. - H. P. Lovecraft

Many in the IT division desperately wanted change at work, and yet they were uncomfortable and worried when it occurred. But change in the IT division was inevitable and necessary for the division thrive and to move to the next level of effective information technology delivery

In order to successfully execute organizational transformations or other enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, companies must align five process capabilities, which are referred to as the 5-M's: meaning, mind-set, mobilization, measurement, and mechanisms for renewal.

The Ten Steps to Leading Enterprise-Wide Change Initiatives: 1. Communicate Urgency; 2. Clarify the Change Process; 3. Act Quickly and Decisively; 4. Focus Energy; 5. Commit Resources; 6. Develop Capabilities; 7. Realign Measures; 8. Reward New Behaviors; 9. Share Successes Broadly; 10. Embed Transformation. [Source: Douglas A. Ready -Leading Enterprise-Wide Change Initiatives]

In this article I will highlight a few of the changes that took place in 2015 to achieve better results in IT delivery.

Separation of Operations from development:

Bimodal IT (also known as "two-speed IT") describes an approach that answers an enterprise's need for both stable and agile IT systems. The term was created by IT consultancy Gartner Inc, which defines the two tiers as follows: "Mode 1 is traditional and sequential, emphasizing safety and accuracy. Mode 2 is exploratory and nonlinear, emphasizing agility and speed."

The CIO role is changing and is being affected by the need for two-speed IT. The IT division recognizes that using IT to compete in the digital domain may call for a different kind of expert; a "Digital CIO", from the person running day-to-day IT operations. Indeed, enterprises appear to be moving rapidly to a bimodal version of the top IT job. According to Gartner's 2015 CIO survey of about 2,800 IT leaders, 47% said they have a deputy CIO under them.

The separation of Operations from Projects activities was probably the most difficult change to accept during this year. The IT division had two aspects of work that existed, namely on-going operations and projects (including development initiatives). The philosophy behind the separation of Operations from development proposes that agile, innovative IT initiatives should be allows to move forward quickly without being hampered by the checks and balances that are needed to maintain business-critical IT operations. All work and/or efforts performed within the division was characterized as either operations or projects, and all of the costs of the division must be distributed to either operations or projects.

While CIOs might not be able to transform their existing IT department into a digital startup, they could turn it into a bi-modal IT organization. "Forty-five percent of CIOs state they currently have a fast mode of operation," said Sondergaard, "and we predict that 75 percent of IT organizations will be bi-modal in some way by 2017."[Source: Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president at Gartner and global head of research]

This change has managed to empower both areas in order to effectively focus on issues required to maintain the highest level of operations and allowed the Projects and development initiatives to deliver the highest level of quality deliverables. The maturity level of this change is still in its initial stages but it is in the process of progressively evolving.

Meeting business unit's expectations:

In order to meet the business unit's expectations, the IT division needed to set limits and avoid to promise what cannot be delivered. Formalizing the delivery model of IT initiatives by introducing defined quarterly work plans that are approved and prioritized by the business unit representatives (what is internally called the steering committee) based on their needs and the capacity of the IT division. The required outputs proved to be successful as it delivered what the client expects and wants. This model worked more effectively than the previous process that took place in preceding years where the flow of requests from the business units was higher than the IT division's capacity to deliver the outputs.

The latest IT division reports have shown that 90% of successful delivery was achieved during the last quarter of 2015 with a high level of overall customer satisfaction.

Matrix management model:

The division historically operated in a very hierarchical, "Silo" based structure which resulted in lack of information flow between groups or parts of the division and limited the interactions between members of different branches of the division, thus leading to reduced productivity.

The IT division introduced a Matrix management model to provide a flexible management structure that allows the division to be more adaptive to change and uncertainty. It encouraged innovation and fast action through expediting information to the employees who need the information and know how to use it. Furthermore, matrix management allowed the IT division to leverage vast resources while remaining task/delivery orientated. The division gave the responsibility for the upper management level to work in a horizontal manner to ensure effective IT Operations; IT Project/development; IT Architecture; IT Service management; and IT Contracts management. In addition Quality assurance and Budget and Planning was included in the IT division's responsibility in a horizontal manner to be able to maximize the zero defect delivery through independent QA, and report on budget and planning through a horizontal non silo based vertical model.

The matrix structure broke the "silo" effect and lead to a high sense of personal empowerment. Managers of project groups and managers of functional groups have roughly equal authority within the division. Team leaders are now more likely to be involved in solving complex problems, meeting ambitious goals, and making key decisions.

Continuous Communication:

In order to avoid lack of information to be filled by rumours during a period of change, communication, communication, and communication was key to alleviate the fear of change. The management of the division setup bi-weekly meetings with all team leaders, staff and non-staff on a regular frequency to promote a continuous flow of two way communications. If employees are effectively communicating their fears to co-workers and leaders within the division the concerns can be addressed and calmed through more communications.

On a final note, the above was a small subset of the changes that took place during 2015 and there is much more work to be done in the near future. The change and progress introduced to date has been welcomed by many in the organization and should show more measurable results in the near future.

[References: http://www.cio.com/article/2947863/leadership-management/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-bi-modal-it.html http://www.cio.com/article/2875803/cio-role/what-gartner-s-bimodal-it-model-means-to-enterprise-cios.html ]

Author: Omar Hajjar (Senior IT officer)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Omar_Hajjar/2049716

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Survival of the Fittest Vs Surviving On-Demand

The colloquially known principle "Survival of the Fittest" proposed by Charles Darwin is a very noted theory based on natural selection, which states that species that acquire adaptations favourable for their environment will pass down those adaptations to the next generations. Only such species will survive and evolve through speciation. On the contrary, Leon C. Megginson, a Professor of Management and Marketing at Louisiana State University, beautifully quoted this theory in his own words.

"It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage the change."

Fast Growing On-Demand Movement

With the evolution in the cyber space and the ever-growing advancements, the theory of "Survival of the Fittest" has mutated itself to "Survival On-Demand". Today, organizations and online businesses are quickly adapting to the changing customer needs for their survival and ultimately massive success. But still many of them lose the game and declare their death. Why is it so? Well, the answer lies behind the fast growing on-demand movement.

According to a latest article posted by Simon Lee, iteration cycles have become so fast that there is no time to compete in the market. Something new and strong will come and you will have to adapt to it as soon as you can. This is so true.

The Journey of a Bookselling Store to the Best Bookseller

A bookselling store, located in Chelmsford, soon realized that its customer experience dropped drastically, because of its absence in the online market. So, the owner decided to have a website, where he can introduce his online library. After launching the website, he realized that market was already full of competitors who have been offering bestselling books online, at competitive rates.

So, he decided to release an open offer by providing books at discounted rates, assuming that it would help him attract more customers. However, the customers were already buying books at competitive rates. The owner finally decided to conduct a survey to realize, what actually his customers are looking for. After a successful survey, he launched some new features on the website including events, signed copies, staff picks, blogs, featured authors and other stuff. These features not only facilitated him to stay ahead of the competition, but also helped him in identifying the changing demands of the customers.

Today, providing a service or a product to customers with 100 percent customer satisfaction is not sufficient, you need an X-factor to survive the competition and achieve massive success. There were some crucial elements that separated Facebook from Orkut and Amazon from any local online book store. And the answer lies in how they choose to respond to the forthcoming challenges. An early mover always chooses to respond rapidly in the on-demand space and that is what decides its duration of survival.

If you have some suggestions to share about this article, please feel free to write @ charu.freelancer@gmail.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Charu_Mehta/629624

Can Your Car Get Hacked?

That's a question that most of us don't think about. Today hacking your car is possible, though it hasn't happened in the real world very often if ever. It has happened when researchers tested the electronics and communications in an auto.

When you sit back and think about this, the newer cars are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capable. Most modern cars have key fobs that remotely lock and unlock the car; some even have a remote start. Some auto manufacturers install Telematics that will collect and transmit data from your vehicle to a central computer server. This transmission or in car data storage can be hacked. Let's list some of the items that might be hacked:

Telematics: As stated above this is the collection and transmission of your car data.

Door Locks: These are usually operated by using a key fob using an encrypted code that matches a code in your vehicle.

Smartphones: Most modern vehicles provide a way for you to connect your smartphone to your vehicle's entertainment system. This would be a way to introduce a virus by a contaminated App or a hacked MP3 audio file; a video file can also be hacked to transmit a virus.

Key Fob: As discussed above these are used to lock and unlock the vehicle; they can also be used to remotely start a vehicle. It sends an encrypted code that would be difficult for someone to hack and de-encrypt. However, this code could be intercepted as it goes from the fob to the vehicle.

Wi-Fi: Some autos have a built in W-Fi system. I think by now most people realize that a W-Fi system is susceptible to hacking.

Ignition: When we get into our new vehicles we push a button to start it. The key fob is usually in our pocket or purse which we rarely take out. The communication between the key fob and the vehicle is usually a Bluetooth communication. This would be an area that hackers might be able to control.

At each new model year auto manufacturers add more features to their vehicles, these features are usually additional electronics or computer controlled items. Both Apple and Microsoft are working hard to try and get into vehicles at the manufacturer's level.

The good news is that the auto manufacturers know all of this and are building in anti-hacking defenses. The manufacturers are building defenses into their auto computers and communications and so far it seems to be working.

George Uliano is a security professional with years of law enforcement and security experience. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and Business graduating with honors. George holds three U.S. patents on different locking principles. This combination gives George and His Company Locking Systems International Inc the unique ability to provide its customers with the correct security at an affordable price.

For additional information or to purchase Locks go to http://www.lsidepot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/George_Uliano/1500014

Machine to Machine - The Foundation of Internet of Things

Introduction

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) is a communication network built with several machines interconnected together. Machines not necessarily be computers, it could be any electronic device with rudimentary communication features. The established communication is either wired or wireless - not much emphasis is laid upon the medium of communication. M2M is the foundation for Internet-of-things (IoT), the next big thing that has arrived in the IT sector. Several applications are developed based on the M2M infrastructure in various domains such as logistics, inventory management, robotics, traffic control, supply chain management, fleet management, and healthcare. The success of M2M, or its derived technology IoT, is based on the successful adoption of IPv6 in the technological world, which brings in lot of IP addresses enough for all the devices present now and the ones coming in the future.

How does it Work?

Machines have been communicating with each other for quite some time now, but the scale of communication was limited between three or more machines (read computers) to achieve a certain specified task. M2M architecture takes this concept of communication, brings sensors that collect specific information into the picture, which in turn are connected to a remote management center. The communication present in M2M infrastructure is usually referred as "telemetric communication" which was developed way back in the 70s. Theodore G. Paraskevakos was the first person, who conceptualized the communication system and patented it in the US in 1973. The information is collected from the sensors associated with the devices and the data is fed to a remote management center for more analysis. The analysis reports help the grid to optimal utilization of the resources. For illustration, a wind power station is implemented with M2M setup, wherein each fan stores the vital information such as wind speed, rpm, and power generation per rotation. Alongside, it stores the vital information of its neighboring fans as well. M2M communication aids in communicating between the fans, through which they are aware of each other's state of health, power-generating capacity, scheduled maintenance etc. Now, all the data is fed to the remote monitoring center for monitoring and analysis. Imagine a situation wherein, a fan fails or is due for maintenance, it is quickly communicated to the neighboring fans. The other fans bump up the production by a slight amount and collectively help achieve the demand. Also, the technical team is well aware of the scheduled maintenance of the fans and preventive steps are taken, so as to avoid fluctuation in power production.

Application of M2M

M2M applications are spread across various industries and domains such as production, operations, logistics, supply chain, healthcare, robotics and more. Several large industries are implementing the M2M infrastructure to build a robust IoT setup, which is the currently most, sought after technology. Conglomerates like GE, BP, and Shell are reportedly investing massive amount in M2M and IoT. Wireless carriers are the natural market for M2M and Big Data solutions, as the business is data intensive primarily because of calling and data usage tracking. Also, healthcare is yet another industry that can be reliant on M2M and IoT services. Energy management as mentioned earlier is the biggest beneficiary of M2M infrastructure. It helps in building smart power grids that delivers key information such as peak demand and assists in creating actionable decisions that are carried

Auto Insurance is also the biggest beneficiary of M2M communication network as these sensors are pre-installed in each automobile that is insured. It will provide boundless information such as driving habit of the customer, the status of parts, fuel consumption etc. are fed to the remote management center that analyzes the behavior of individual automobile performance and help the insurance companies plan well ahead.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Praveen_Patil/2211084

Top Tips on Aligning IT With Business Objectives

IT has emerged as a central business function for many organisations in the recent years, and this holds true regardless of the industry that an organization caters to. Having said that, irrespective of the huge part that IT plays in reducing costs, standardizing processes, enhancing productivity and improving workflow and communications, its role in business planning is subservient to a large extent.

It is high time that establishments stop looking at IT as a mere implementation tool which does not have any role in shaping an organisation's business strategy. Today, technological developments pave the way for many business opportunities and IT can play a proactive and larger role in developing the long term business strategy of organizations.

Given below are some tips that would help your organization align its IT with its business objectives:

Understand your business and the nature of your organisation

Unless you understand the nature of your business and how it fits into the sector and economy, it is very difficult to come up with a serious IT plan that would actually work. You can start by gathering important information such as organization charts, roles and responsibilities and associated markets and products. Needless to mention, you must also possess a crystal clear understanding of your customers and their persona. Also, you must take time to analyse the structure and cultural ethos of your organization. Once you have a map of your corporate model and how it fits into the larger picture, you can start planning for the future. At this stage, it is also crucial that you start documenting all IT assets and applications.

Identify and understand the relationship between your core business and your IT assets

Understand your business' value chain and analyse its major components. You must have an in depth understanding of the factors that drive your business as these key scaling factors play a crucial role in planning IT strategy and alignment. At this stage, you must also duly collate information about internal as well as external factors.

Determine and set the change agenda

While setting the agenda, you must research and analyse your strategy several times; not only that, you must also ensure that there is a perfect balance between the cost, value and precedence of the IT estate and then identify the impact and implications of the IT alignment plan. Of course, you must also identify requirements, prioritise time frames and functionality, model and test the strategy well in advance to ensure that the final outcome is lucrative.

Once you have all the necessary information, chart out an IT plan that has business drive and is not extremely technology-centric

The most difficult hurdle that many organisations face while aligning IT with its business objectives is that most IT strategies lack business drive and are too technology-centric. This strategic variance can be counter-productive and can lead to overtly intricate IT infrastructures that are difficult to sustain and modify. In order to avoid such obstacles, it is recommended that organisations invest in strategic partnerships with IT Managed Service Providers who specialize in aligning IT with business objectives.

Allied Worldwide is global IT Outsourcing Company specializing in IT Managed Services, Remote IT support and IT consulting services. Our unique partnership approach can result in improved customer satisfaction, reduced costs and better ROIs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ramy_Krish/1328308

HP LTO 5: Sometimes Your Data Storage Priorities Don't Matter

Each and every business has a certain set of priorities when setting up various operations. This also applies in data storage. However, such priorities might actually be in contravention or incompatible with existing regulatory requirements, at which point you would definitely have to revise your priorities.

Just as with many other business-related issues, such as building construction and financial management, most business environments have certain legal data management requirements that must be followed. In Australia, you would have to comply with the Privacy Amendment Act, which features several Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)

If you have a business with $3 million or more annual turnover, you need to be particularly keen on the APPs; otherwise, you face some steep penalties. These could be fines of as much as $1.7 million per infringement.

Sometimes Less Storage Capacity Is More

If you're thinking of the best data storage media, either for personal use or for your business/organization, you must consider a wide variety of aspects beyond the storage capacity. In fact, you might actually settle for a bit less storage capacity.

One of the most critical aspects that may actually override storage capacity is security. This aspect is particularly essential for information storage in organizations and involving highly sensitive material. Only a storage platform featuring strong encryption of data would be useful in securing your information. Without this, the integrity of your business operations might be at risk.

Fortunately LTO tapes, such as the HP LTO 5, do provide high level encryption capabilities for maximum security. Moreover, using such media, you would have the opportunity to store data offline; hence, making it less accessible to systemic attacks.

Efficiency in use of the storage media is also another critical factor. If you find that you're using up too much time and energy in setting up and maintaining your storage system, you would definitely have to reconsider your options. The cost of keeping such storage may end up being unsustainable.

In this regard, quite a number of organizations that have implemented LTO-based data storage systems have reported significant cost savings in maintaining such systems. This is definitely beneficial in curbing escalating costs of doing business.

No Single Data Storage Option Is Best For Everything

You might actually come across various storage media that some people claim to be the best option for all your data storage needs. However, the reality is that there isn't really a single data storage option for all types of data.

Apart from considering the dynamics of the type of data you want to store, you must also consider diversity in the storage systems you apply.

You might have some type of data that requires much more regular access, rather than having it stored for extended periods of time. Perhaps, it might also be data stored mainly for the purposes of backup. The LTO tape is uniquely suited to such backup storage.

On the aspect of diversity of data storage options, the security of your stored data would be greatly enhanced if you use different platforms. You might actually decide to complement your LTO storage platform with cloud storage. Such diversity in data storage is akin to backing up your back-up.

You would have the benefit for being guided by Richard Stutchbury, an expert in data storage media, who will help you in selecting the most suitable medium for your organization. Kindly just click this link for more details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Stutchbury/2167479

Implications of Patents on Emerging Technologies Adoption

1. INTRODUCTION

As the U.S. market is maturing and competition is intensifying, IT service providers are adopting new measures to find additional sources of revenue. They have invested heavily in next generation technologies for developing digital platforms. Some of these are using SMC (Social, Mobile and Cloud) technologies, Analytics, IoT (Internet of Things), and Composite interfaces (combining gesture, movement, facial and voice recognition). The offerings using emerging technologies are highly commoditized and aggressively marketed. Therefore, these are accessible to competitive scrutiny. As few leaders are holding high amount of patents, other service providers are vulnerable to potential litigations. Most of the IT service providers seem to be oblivious to the impending threat looming due to strategic lacuna in intellectual property protection.

2. Patents, Hype and Adoption

The development and adoption of an emerging technology follows a hype cycle. First generation products build-on laboratory experiments. They create huge expectations and media hype. Currently, most of the patenting activities are focused on this stage of life-cycle. Service providers are rushing to secure IPs, without any significant initiative for commercial success. So, when the second and third-generation products are launched, they have to deal with a large number of existing patents awarded in their product domains.

3. Software Intellectual Property

Competitors can quickly launch an imitation, by copying the innovative design, technology, or application. There are various strategies adopted by early innovators to safeguard inventions. Currently some players in technology ecosystem have been trying to increase the entry-barrier for competition by resorting to IP protection with patenting.

In the following sections, we will examine patents issued in two emerging technologies domain. These patents are not only overlapping between themselves, but covering a wide genre of technology applications. In future, any commercial application leveraging these technologies can invite IP-violation legal notices.

4. Virtual Dressing Room

The concept relates to ability to try-on garments and other accessories, like jewelry, glasses, watches, purses, etc. without actually having them physically with the user. This application has high utility value for multi-store retail stores, where users can try a lot of options without store executives removing the items from shelves, helping in efficient inventory management, and enhanced customer experience. As first generation products are being launched, there are only a few examples of product adoption (mostly in pilot implementation stage). However, the patent activity is buzzing, with various vendors claiming to own IPs to multiple applications, across a wide range of business processes.

One of the earliest patents was assigned to Imaginarix Ltd., for virtual dressing over the internet. It is a method and a system for displaying garments over the Internet as though the garments were being draped over the body of a user. As media hype focused on novelty and utility aspect of technology, more vendors started exploring the virtual dressing skills in their technology innovation labs, and many of them have sought protection for their IPs of ideas or, first generation products related to a wide genre of applications, with little variations among them.

5. GEO-FENCING

The Geo-fencing concept relates to location tracking of individuals leveraging their mobile devices. When they are detected to be within a certain distance of a point-of-sale location, alerts are sent to their mobile devices. This feature is primarily used for digital marketing, to capitalize on human impulse to purchase for availing discount coupons.

Major vendors have availed following patents:

Where, Inc. can claim that all the above patents are building on its patent on location-based services.

The first patents in vehicle tracking, where the concept of geo-fencing originated, were filed during the earlier decade.

Passtime has secured a series of geo-fencing patents for GPS tracking and automated collection.

6. CONCLUSION

Clearly, competitive activity around emerging technologies has increased tremendously. In this scenario, the IP protection tactics has been used by few vendors to serve their short-term motives. But, this is detrimental to the growth of technology industry. Regulatory uncertainty has contributed to more confusion in this domain. In the collective interest, various players should come together and form an industry body to manage these issues. They can mutually agree to trade licenses for acquired patents, and ease of dealing in the IPs can reduce the cost of acquiring them substantially. This can reduce bottlenecks in product development, resulting in faster time-to-market. Additionally, the stakeholders across the value-chain can agree to stop filing patents for abstract ideas, at the early stages of development. Instead they can focus on developing the ideas with relevant applications in verticals, and seek protection for applications in specific usage scenarios, once the idea is development for implementation.

We recommend industry players to debate and come together as an industry body to frame common standards and have a congenial atmosphere for developing new service lines using emerging technologies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Chandan_Agarwala/1657337

Essentiality of Picking an Efficient AIDC Remedy Provider

What is AIDC?

Automatic identification and data capture largely known as AIDC refers to the procedures of automatically identifying various technical objects, gathering data about those objects, and entering them directly into more than one particular computer systems. This procedure requires no human involvement and can run in an absolutely automatic way. Technologies which are usually considered as segments of AIDC are bar codes, biometrics, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), magnetic stripes, voice recognition, smart cards etc. AIDC is also known as "Automatic Data Capture", "Auto-ID", "Automatic Identification" etc. With the increasing popularity of AIDC services, the demand of AIDC experts and solutions providers is also escalating.

Functions of These Services:

The fundamental functions served by AIDC devices are mainly to validate, identify, track, evaluate targets, monitor and interface with multiple other systems applying numerous application methodologies. Establishing frameworks for receiving solutions in an AIDC environment do vary and also depend a lot on the platforms that are meant for implementation. Solutions for bar codes, biometrics, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), magnetic stripes, voice recognition, smart cards etc. may not at all be interchangeable. Each of these above-mentioned platforms can be made stand-alone or can easily function in combination of other technologies seamlessly.

Benefits of Applying AIDC:

There is more than just one benefit that a business owner receives when he decides to take help of AIDC. Those benefits include:

This method is automatic and the efforts of neither you nor any other human being are required for the functioning of this process.
The clumsiness of the data entry process through human beings is absent in this matter.
AIDC is the least error prone when it is compared to manual work.
It can largely be applied in various inventory management procedures.
The productivity and overall growth of your business are taken to another level when you consider using this technology.
Security, logistics, access control, asset management and document retrieval turns much easier.

Benefitted Domains:

The AIDC technology is so beneficial that all sorts of business nowadays have accepted it to make their tasks easier and bring more prosperity to them. Starting from health care centers and medicinal enterprises to manufacturing and retail firms, all have owned this technology to keep a hassle-free record. Even governmental organizations have also been benefitted using this. Amongst the mostly benefitted sectors, transport firms are one major domain. They have been applying this technology for keeping huge track records of the goods which are transported regularly and also the people who rely on those transports for moving to different places.

The accuracy of AIDC technology has made it much more popular. With this people are relying on more on this technology. So, quite naturally, the popularity of AIDC experts and solutions providers is also going higher. If you are a businessman and wish to bring more ease and effectiveness to your business you can surely get in touch with such an expert. He will show you the applications and will be there in your needs related to troubleshooting and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bagus_S_Anggana/2198558

6 Things to Know Before Buying a Hoverboard

When buying a self-balancing scooter, commonly known as a Hoverboard, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the many options, vendors, and brands on the market. Not all hoverboards are equal. Just because they look similar on the outside, doesn't mean they are the same on the inside. Hoverboards can be awesomely different when it comes to the components "under-the-hood." There are many options to choose from, and special considerations for each. So how do you know if you are getting a deal or getting robbed?

1: Find a Specialist. First and most importantly, hedge your bet by buying from a reputable vendor. When you buy from Amazon, eBay, or Craigslist, you might get a quality product, or you might not. These companies just provide a way for individuals to sell their products to large audiences, so it can be a risky purchase, depending on the nature of the seller. Even if the listing specifies all of the best components, you are relying on the seller's honesty to get a quality product. In these cases, we strongly recommend you remove the cover upon receipt and at a minimum, inspect the battery. It should have a sticker on it that states the cell-brand and the country of manufacture. If you discover a discrepancy, you may be limited in your ability to get a compensation or replacement from the vendor, as you will be working through a third party and have to deal with the red-tape associated with that. If you buy directly from a store that specializes in hoverboards, however, there is much more accountability, and you can contact the seller directly if there is a problem. As an added bonus, without all those listing fees, the prices are often lower at independent stores as well.

2: Find out about the Return Policy. A company with solid products will be proud of it, and offer a beefy return policy. 30 days is standard. Any less than that, and buyer beware - you may be at risk of buying a lemon.

3: Get a Good Battery. Require that your hoverboard contains a Samsung or LG battery. The battery is the heart of a hoverboard, and more-so than any other option, you need to make sure you are getting a good one. Lithium Ion batteries are very powerful, and more volatile than other kinds of rechargeable batteries. They do not charge well in extreme heat or cold, and when discharged too much, or overcharged, they can get hot and catch on fire. Samsung has been in the battery and consumer electronics business for decades, and they make a good hoverboard battery with proper circuitry to cut off charging at the proper time and ensure an even charge across all cells. LG batteries are similar in this regard. They are safer batteries, and will stand up to more charge cycles than a generic battery made by a factory that doesn't have the same quality control guidelines.

4: Wheel size matters. If you use your hoverboard mostly indoors, any of them will suffice, but if you are outdoors, think about how many cracks or bumps you will encounter. The 6.5 inch hub will handle up to quarter inch bumps pretty well, but if they are frequent or larger than that, the larger 8 inch wheels help. If you are using your hoverboard to go larger distances, a 10 inch hub will be even more comfortable yet. So this decision becomes a balance between comfort and portability. For most users, we think the 8 inch wheels are just about perfect.

5: Consider your replacement parts. If something breaks, it helps to have a company with factory connections, that can talk to the engineers to help you troubleshoot the problem. Once the problem is diagnosed, you will probably need replacement parts. If you work with a company that can provide them, you will not have not wasted all of your money on a lemon that can't be repaired.

6: Know the motor wattage. Typically, the smaller the hoverboard wheel, the smaller the motor inside. This does not affect performance, speed, weight limit, or longevity; it is simply that you want it to be paired properly, or you may have too much or too little torque for your wheels, making it harder to ride. We find that for a responsive, yet easy to control ride, 500 total watts is a good target for the 6.5 inch wheel, 600 is good for the 8 inch, and 700 is ideal for the 10 inch. Divide these numbers by two to get the ideal wattage per wheel. If the seller doesn't know the answers to these questions, you might want to shop around a bit.

That's about it! Consider the store's reputation, their return policy, the battery type, the wheel size, whether or not they have replacement parts, and the hoverboard's wattage. These 6 considerations will help you buy a high quality hoverboard that provides many years of enjoyment and convenience. Happy hoverboarding!

One hoverboard store with an excellent reputation is http://USCOOT.CO. Uscoot has been in business in the USA for almost one year, and in China for over 3 years. They have connections to 3 of the best factories in China, they speak English, Spanish, and Mandarin, and they have over 15 years of combined import/export experience. They are experts in the field, with 20/20 vision on Eastern and Western culture... a must-have when doing business overseas. They have a 30 day return policy, use Samsung batteries, carry a variety of wheel sizes to suit any rider, stock a range of replacement parts, and properly pair the wattages on all of their products. Add to this their excellent customer service, and interest-free 6-month financing, and you will start to see why so many satisfied customers buy their hoverboards from http://USCOOT.CO.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ben_B/2207579

DVD Printing - Choosing the Right Printing Method for Your Project

Digital DVD Printing

This method of DVD printing utilises pre-manufactured printable DVDRs. The discs will either have a white or a silver printable surface which is receptive to an inkjet printer. Printable DVDRs are widely available in high street stores or online and even high quality discs are inexpensive.

A Digital DVD printer works on the same principle as a desktop inkjet printer. The cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink cartridges are loaded into the printer and a printer head makes a series of passes over the printable disc surface depositing the ink according to the artwork file. It is possible to print extremely detailed high resolution images using this printing method but it does have a couple of drawbacks:

• The digital DVD printing process is slow compared to other printing processes - Commercial digital DVD printers are only capable of printing up to 200 DVDs unattended and each print can take up to a minute depending upon the complexity of the artwork.


• Each disc needs to be finished with a layer of clear lacquer - this is to protect the printed surface from potential moisture damage when handled. This adds more delay to the process.

However, this DVD printing process does not have any fixed set up cost which makes it ideal for short runs of less than 100 DVDs which is a service that is very much in demand with the advance of the digital download.

DVD Screen Printing

Screen printing is a tried and tested printing method that has been used in the commercial printing industry for decades. DVD screen printing is an adaptation of this process, modified to allow printing onto a disc. This process is great for printing areas of solid colour using vibrantly coloured inks mixed from various proportions of base cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink. There are also fluorescent and metallic inks available for use with this process.

A screen printing machine has a large rotating platform. The platform is split into 5 printing stations with a UV lamp between each station and the next. DVDs with a base coat of any colour can be printed on, which allows for a maximum of 6 different colours in the artwork design.

The printing screen, from which the process gets its name, is a very fine mesh screen which is initially covered with a thermally reactive emulsion. A separate screen is required for each of the colours featured in the final artwork and a celluloid film is also made for each colour. The film is black in the areas where the colour is required on the disc, and clear where it is not required. The film is attached on top of a screen and placed into an exposure unit. A hot, bright light is then briefly switched on over the top of the film. Where the light and heat go through the clear portions of the film to the screen beneath, the thermal emulsion on the screen is hardened. Where the film is black, the heat and light do not pass through the film and so the emulsion remains unchanged.

The screen is then transferred to a spray booth where it is sprayed with a fine water jet. The water washes away the emulsion which has not hardened leaving a screen where ink can pass through the mesh only in certain areas where that colour is required according to the design. The screen is then fitted to its station on the DVD screen printing machine. The other 4 screens are prepared in the same way and the machine is then ready to print.

The DVDs are loaded onto the printing machine automatically. They are presented on spindles and each disc is lifted by a robotic arm with soft rubber vacuum cups. The DVD is placed into a metal jig which holds the disc securely to prevent any movement whilst it is being printed. The metal jigs are lined up around the machine and the DVDs are loaded, printed and then removed once printing is complete. A DVD that has been printed and then removed is replaced at the next machine rotation with a fresh unprinted disc. This process continues until the production run is complete.

At each station a different coloured ink is applied to the disc when a rubber squeegee blade passes over the screen. The screen is pressed down onto the disc surface and the ink is forced through the mesh by the blade. Once the ink has been applied the blade returns to its starting position ready for the next disc. The machine platen rotates one position and the freshly printed disc passes under a UV lamp. The UV light from the lamp cures the ink instantly and the disc moves to the next station where the next coloured ink can be applied without any possibility of smearing of the previously applied ink. The printing and curing process is very fast and a modern DVD screen printer is capable of printing more than 3,500 DVDs in an hour.

The requirement for screens and films for each different ink colour in the design to be printed onto the DVD, means that there are fixed costs associated with this process. These costs can be minimised by limiting the number of colours involved in the DVD print design. It is perfectly possible to design an attractive disc using just a single colour print onto a printable silver DVD. The fixed cost, however, does make it a less viable process for very small orders of less than 100 DVDs.

Lithographic DVD Printing (Offset printing)

This process, as with DVD screen printing, is a popular printing method for producing high resolution images on paper or card stock and has been adapted to suit DVDs. Lithographic printing is the best process for producing DVDs with a photographic print or artwork involving a subtle colour gradient but is not great for printing artwork that has large areas of solid colour due to potential coverage issues which may result in a "patchy" print.

The lithographic DVD printing process involves making a metal printing plate which is curved around a roller. The basic principle at work with this process is that printing ink and water do not mix. The printing plate surface is treated in some areas so that it attracts ink, the remaining areas are treated to attract water and not ink. The result is a printing plate that can be introduced to ink which only adheres to it where required. The ink on the printing plate is transferred or "offset" to another roller which has a rubber blanket wrapped around it. The rubber blanket roller applies the ink to the DVD which is held firmly in place in a metal jig on the machine bed.

This process is equally as fast as the screen printing process and so many thousands of DVDs can be printed every hour that the machine is running. Once again, there are fixed set up costs involved here and so the cost to print orders of less than 100 DVDs is high.

DVD Printing Process Summary

In a nutshell, if your project is only for a small run of discs then digital DVD printing is the way to go. There is certainly no print quality compromise with digital printing over the other 2 processes and even though it is the slowest process, this is not really relevant if you're only having 50 discs printed. There are many companies specialising in 24 to 48 hour turnarounds on short runs of discs who use this printing method exclusively and have it down to a fine art.

For projects where the amount of discs required is more than 100 and the artwork features bold, solid colours, then the DVD printing process of choice has to be screen printing. The metallic and fluorescent inks available for this process make for some truly eye-catching and distinctive designs. If the artwork for the discs is a photographic image or contains a subtle colour gradient, then the printing process best suited to this type of artwork would be Lithographic printing. For screen and lithographic printing, the more units ordered, the cheaper the unit cost becomes.

For more information on DVD printing and to speak to an industry expert, call the team at Alpha Duplication or visit their website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lee_E_Brannon/2049518

Guide On How To Make Optic Cable

An optic cable is made of optical fibers and it's used in a wide range of applications such as telephone, internet and cable TV. The cables are made from different materials such as plastic, glass or both. The material used depends on the intended us.

How to make the cables

To make the cables you need to have the necessary raw materials. For example, you need to have plastic or glass. You also need to have the cable making machine. To make the cable you should start by heating your raw materials (glass or plastic) at ultra high temperatures and then draw fibers at very high speeds (66 feet per second).

When drawing out the fibers you should monitor them using mirometer. This is to ensure that the diameter is uniform from the start to finish.

For the fibers to transmit data over long distances you need to ensure that they are highly reflective. You can easily do this by creating a mirror effect within the fiber. You do this by passing the fibers through ultraviolet ovens and coating cups.

Once you have your reflective fiber with you, you should subject it to a number of tests to ensure that it's in perfect condition. Some of the tests that you should subject it to include: refractive index profile, tensile strength, bandwidth, fiber geometry, attenuation, temperature dependence, operating temperature, and ability to conduct light underwater.

It's only after the fibers have passed these tests should you package ensemble them in a cable. You can make a cable with one fiber strand or with a number of strands. It all depends on the application.

To assemble the cable you need to surround the fibers with a loose tube of PVC. This is to ensure that there is enough room for the cable to bend when being routed around corners.

You should then cover the loose PVC with a layer of aramid yarn. The main function of the layer is to absorb shock. Finally, you should seal out moisture by installing an outer PVC jacket.

For the optic cable to transmit data you need to connect it to optical transmitter and receiver. The transmitter converts analog and electrical signals into linear modulating light signals.

The optical receiver on the other hand accepts the light signal and reformats the data into the original form.

Conclusion

To produce high quality and marketable optic cables you should have a high quality optic cable machine.

We sell a wide range of Optic fiber cable equipment such as fiber optic machine that helps you to make high quality fibers. We also have a machine that will help you to make great quality SZ stranding line

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Idd_Aziz/2148367

ABS or PLA: Which 3D Printing Filament Should You Use?

Both ABS and PLA are thermoplastics. Thermoplastics become malleable when superheated, thus allowing you to mould them into different shapes prior to cooling. 3D printing uses both PLA and ABS filament via similar processes, but they differ in as much as some printers will only utilise ABS or PLA.

Unlike inkjet and laser printers which use printer ink cartridges and toner cartridges to dispense a print medium. 3D Printers use thermoplastics which are dispensed from a reel through a heated nozzle to form a 3D printed object. This plastic is called filament.

ABS Filament

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS, is an oil-based plastic. Used for constructing things such as car parts, musical instruments, and Lego building blocks it is a strong, sturdy material. With a high melting point, ABS filament can warp if it is allowed to cool while printing. Therefore ABS prints should be carried out on a heated surface, which many home use printers do not have. ABS also gives off fumes when in use requiring adequate ventilation.

Examples of 3D Printers that use ABS filament are the Colido 2 0 High Resolution FDM 3D Printer and the Ultimaker 2 Go High Resolution FFF 3D Printer both printers can use ABS and PLA Filament.

PLA Filament

Made from organic material, cornstarch and sugarcane, Poly Lactic Acid, PLA, is both easier and safer to use than ABS. PLA gives a smoother and shinier appearance that's more aesthetically pleasing on the eye, it also has a slightly sweet odour when heated opposed to the harsh smell often associated with ABS. But, whilst PLA filament might seem like a better overall choice at first glance, it has a far lower melting point than ABS. Printed parts made from PLA that are intended for use in mechanical operations, or parts that are stored in high temperatures can become warped cracked or even melt. Although weaker than ABS, PLA can achieve a superior level of print detail and is less prone to errors while printing.

Examples of 3D Printers that use PLA filament are the Colido Compact 3D Printer High Resolution FDM 3D Printer and the Da Vinci 1 1 Plus 3D Printer Wi-Fi, Standalone 3D Printer which use both ABS and PLA Filament.

To summarise

ABS filament will give your printed objects better structural integrity and will be more suited to mechanical use, but it also requires specific types of printers and printing surfaces such as a heated bed.

PLA filament gives you more precise prints with a better aesthetic quality, as well as more flexibility with printing conditions. Simply put, PLA is for hobbyist 3D printers while ABS filament is more suited to commercial grade products that need to endure more rigorous wear and tear.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ian__Wilson/1480286

Estate Planning For Your Computer: 10 Key Concepts To Guide You Thru the Process

Many people prefer "black and white" answers to their questions. When preparing for someone's digital afterlife, however, it's just not that easy. The following 10 concepts are meant to get you thinking about estate planning for your computer, as well as providing you with suggestions on how to get started.

1. What's Mine is Mine and What's Yours Is Mine

With computer software and the Internet, we've entered the world of esoteric assets and non- traditional property. Digital information is reclassifying terms such as "mine" and "property." Often times when opening an on-line account or downloading software, you don't own the actual content. Rather, you're receiving the right to access that content (called a limited license).

That license is granted to you-and generally you and no one else-when you click "I agree" to the service provider's contract. It's that lengthy legalese in tiny text that pops up on our screens whenever we open a new on-line account.

Example: Over the years, an individual spends $10,000 building an extensive iTunes collection. He doesn't own the songs like a traditional record, cassette or CD, but he (and he alone) has the right to listen to those songs. When he dies, what happens to that collection? He never "owned" it to begin with; therefore, "it" (which is really just access to the songs) can't be sold or transferred.

2. Clash of the Titans

In the growing debate between the dissemination of information (end users freely sharing their access) and wanting to keep it private (companies determined to protect their assets and safeguard their customers), no-one has yet come up with an easy solution to this complicated issue. Sans a King Solomon, "no-one" in this case means federal and state legislation. Currently there are few states with appropriate legislation, so that leaves the federal government.

3. Federal Anti-Piracy Laws - A Good Idea to Know They Exist

Ever share passwords with family, friends and colleagues? What about business partners or the executor of your will? Then you (along with millions of others) may be violating the terms of your on-line agreement (the contract mentioned earlier), and some federal anti-piracy laws (the only thing we've got right now pertaining to digital data).

4. Back to the Future

It has been said that two thousand years ago, civilization's knowledge base was doubling about every one thousand years. Today we're doubling that base every 2 weeks. With the law generally 2-1/2 steps behind society, imagine the catching up it has to do with digital information. Until test cases are heard and more and different laws are passed, what's a person to do?

5. You've Taken the First Step

Feel good about that. Just reading articles such as this and mulling over the concepts is to become aware. Knowing is one-half the battle.

6. What Next? It Doesn't Include Obsessing.

No need to obsess about protecting your digital data. No need to make hard copy back-ups of everything. Instead, when you next have a bit of free time, take stock of your accounts and, along with their passwords, list them somewhere safe (there are apps for this, by the way).

7. The Catch-22 That Will Be Straightened Out Someday

Notwithstanding the potential violation of anti-piracy laws, it would be a good idea to give someone that list. (The caveat in the previous sentence is a good indicator of the conundrum we're facing.) Monitor your data and, as accounts are added and deleted and as passwords are changed and new ones are acquired, revise your list and give the update to the appropriate person(s).

8. When They Die, We Delete

Nope, not that simple. Considering social media alone, every platform has its own terms dealing with the death of an account holder. Rarely are those terms as simple as deletion upon 6 months of inactivity.

Wikipedia maintains a page entitled "Death and the Internet" where they list the terms of service that certain providers follow when it comes to sharing information and dormant accounts. It's worth noting which of these providers you may use and then take stock of the applicable policy. One thing that's immediately apparent is that there is no such thing as an industry standard.

9. Power to Manage Digital Media

Yes, there is such a thing. In fact, law firms are beginning to include Power to Manage Digital Media in their clients' trusts and durable powers of attorney. While this will not solve every problem, it is certainly a step in the right direction.

10. "Do The Best You Can"

That's one attorney's answer to people's general query about their digital data. "Sometimes they're frustrated with that answer," he added. In this rapidly-evolving Information Age, it's understandable that some people might feel that way. Yet, "do your best" is his reassurance that, instead of fretting ceaselessly about digital data, time could be better spent overseeing on-line accounts. Use the steps below to do just that:

a. prepare and maintain a list of your accounts and passwords,

b. continue to let people know how to get that information (while keeping the anti-piracy laws in the back of your mind),

c. consider how you'd eventually like your digital life handled, and

d. when creating or revising your will and estate documents, add the digital data into your asset category.

Kimberly A. Hughes / Kimmunitee Creator/ http://www.kimmunitee.com/

I'm a writer who has the gift of curiosity. Meeting people and sharing their expertise with the world around me is great fun. Many thanks to Attorney Eido M. Walny for letting me do just that with this article. ( http://www.walnylegal.com/ )

Social Media, Merchandise Retailing, Client Support and Special Projects are also a part of kimmunitee, llc. Please visit my site at the link shown above.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kimberly_A_Hughes/2191817

Integration Management - Collection of Processes

The word integrated means combined. Integration Management is a part of project management that coordinates all aspects of a project. It is a collection of several processes which are required to ensure that the various key elements of the projects are properly synchronized. It is the effective direction of every aspect of an organization so that the expectations of all stakeholders are satisfied by the best use of all resources available. In other words it combines the efforts of individuals and groups in ways that achieve unity.

Why is Integration Management required?

Below are a few reasons why integration Management plays a key role in any organization

- It helps reduce duplication of work of the various resources and therefore also plays an important part in cost reduction.

- It helps reduce the risk and therefore increase the profitability.

- It helps create consistency among all the resources and teams.

- Improves the communication between all the resources and teams.

- Shifting the focus towards the business goals set by the organization.

- Resolution of any conflicts in objectives.

- Helps in training and development of the team and all its resources.

- It diffuses the power system.

- Helps in unity and teamwork.

- It formalizes the informal system.

Steps involved in Project Integration Management

1. Developing a project charter - This document initiates and authorizes the project. It is normally a one page document which consists of the name and objectives of the project.

2. Developing the scope statement - This defines the scope of the project and what exactly is the work which has to be carried out in the project.

3. Developing the project plan - The project plan consists of project charter, project objectives, the definition of the project, the project budget, the resources required for the project, the project schedule, the approach which needs to be followed, initial risk assessment and plans of the management

4. Managing project execution - This is the part where the actual working on the project is done and the final deliverables are prepared and worked upon.

5. Monitoring and controlling project work - During the work cycle the project needs regular monitoring to check if it is being done according to the objectives set. Also the timelines provided for the project completion need to be met and therefore controlling form an important part of the project to insure timelines are met and work is carried accordingly.

6. Control of integrated change - After the reviewing initial work there are always changes which need to be done on a regular basis as per requirements. Insuring that all the changes proposed have been incorporated is important for management.

7. Closing the project - The final deliverables needed are handed over and the entire lifecycle of the project is revisited to review the successes, deficits and the lessons learnt to increase the efficiency and productivity for further projects.

Greater the number of systems present in an organization the tougher it is to integrate all of them. Challenges in achieving integration are basically due to the linking of a series of diverse existing systems, an awkward framework of multiple different support systems and lack of coherent data structure linking all of the different systems. All these need to be kept in mind while any organization sorts to integration.

Siconsult.com is well-known IT Consultant Company in Dubai. We offer the following service develop sites, install software, document recovery and so forth. Our prices are very competitive so as to attract a good number of clients. We have experts who are always standby to help you in all your system shortcomings.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Andy_Gabriel/2142040