Social Media project

     Here is the link to the McDonald's wiki site: https://ism3004.wikispaces.com/McDonald%27s

       Probably the most interesting thing about the project was setting up a Google Alert for McDonald's. By going to google.com/alerts, you can ask google to send you news related to a particular subject by email. As someone who aspires to be a sports journalist I can use Google Alert to give me the most up to date news regarding my favorite teams. It can also be used for long-term research projects, just enter your subject then have the results sent to your email that way you don't have to do multiple searches through the search engine.
      Another thing I learned from this project was how to work in groups through internet only means. I have worked on countless group projects in a physical classroom, but this is the first time I have not been able to work physically with group member. The only issue I had with the group part of the project, was that once Michael decided to use McDonald's for out company he already posted almost the entire project. There was no discussion amongst the group over who would do which part in fact we fought there were only four people in our group until Friday when our last group member finally introduced himself.
       Probably the biggest take away from this project is the overall impact social media has had on businesses and corporations. The fact that McDonald's has eight to nine people whose sole responsibility is to manage the twitter feed, is an example of how every corporation is starting to recognize the importance of social media and more importantly how to use social media to their advantage. Companies that choose to ignore social media will quickly be left in the dust and will have a difficult time generating customer service in a timely fashion. Based on this project, I would consider Twitter to be the most important social media tool.

Week 13: Clear

Here is a chart of reason why companies have resisted using social media. Photo provided by Mark Smiciklas. http://www.flickr.com/photos/intersectionconsulting/4044928113/

    This week the concept that was made clear to me was the importance of knowing about different types of social media. Facebook current has more than 750 million users and allows those users to build network with people they know. Twitter has more than 175 million user and utilizes 140 character messages called tweets to quickly establish a network with a whole bunch of people. Since most Twitter accounts are public it will allows you to establish relationship with more people and businesses than Facebook allows due to Friend requests. Linkedln is the largest professional network with 120 million users and provides an avenue to network with people in your chose profession and can even be used to land jobs within the field.
     Understanding different types of social media is very important in the business environment. Social media gives businesses and consumers a way to interact on a more personal level. Social media can also help a business keep up with its industry or in some cases even be the precedent setter within their industry. Having a social media presence just gives your business a better opportunity to be seen.
      I found an article that explains how social media is changing businesses. Businesses have gone from trying to sell to making connections with individual people. Social media has also helped businesses put out their message about good customer service right away with a simple tweet or Facebook update rather than having to do a big press release or statement about your customer service. The article also points out that businesses who don't adopt social media into their business strategy will be at a disadvantage. Here is a link to the article: http://mashable.com/2009/09/22/social-media-business/

Week 12: Clear

This is a chart from 2006 of where people spent their time online, it's interesting how things have changed over the last five years. The photo is provided by davemc500hats. Here is the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/500hats/369973827/lightbox/

  This week the concept that was made clear to me was how people spend  their time on the Internet. One apparent misconception I had before seeing the info graphic, was that the majority of Internet users spend their time viewing content online, for example, YouTube clips.  I had previously believed that people spent most of their time on social networking site, especially with the rise in popularity of Twitter and Face book. I was also surprised to learn that the country that uses social networking the most is Brazil. The United States has the highest Internet population in the world, while also having the most bloggers in the world.
   Understand how people spend their time on the Internet is vital in the business environment. Having knowledge that the majority of Internet users spend their time viewing online content, your business can create videos showcasing the strengths of your company. Instead of spending unnecessarily on advertising on website, you can create your own videos pretty inexpensively to promote your business. You can also create an App for mobile phones that can give consumers more assess to your company where ever they go.
  I found an article that claims that  it is good for teenagers to spend time online. According to a study, spending time online is important for young people so they can learn the appropriate social and technical skills for the digital age. Also contained in the article is advice on staying safe online, for example, if your doing a status update on Face book then don't put your exact location. Here is a link to the article: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/28/social-networking-benefits-validated/

Week 11: Clear

This graphic shows the difference between data and information. Photo provided by Jose C. Silva. Here is the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/josecamoessilva/5836057335/lightbox/

     This week the concept that was made clear to me was that data is not the same as information. Data is just raw facts and figures. While, information uses data to answer questions and support decisions that are made. We also learned the difference between different types of databases, structured and unstructured. Structured data is well organized and easy to work with, a database is an example of structured data. Unstructured data is more difficult to work with, video is an example of unstructured data.
     Knowing the difference between types of data and knowing the different between data and information is essential in the business environment. By knowing how to use data to your advantage you will be able to deliver better information and thereby showcasing your expertise in the business environment. Once you are able to understand the difference you can then take the next step and decide what type of data your company needs. If you decide to use structured data then you need to decide what kind of database software you need.
     I found an article that does a good job of explaining the differences between data and information. This article does find one similarity between data and information: both are types of knowledge or are used to obtain knowledge. This article provides a good example of the difference a list of the seven wonders of the world would be data, but a book providing details of each wonder would be considered knowledge. Here is the link to the article: http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-data-and-information/

Database project

   One of the things I learned in the project was how to construct a professional and sophisticated looking database. The first thing I learned was creating a form that displayed the information about the current members of my gym. As a sports journalist this can be helpful if I wanted a database that determines the statistics for current Orlando Magic players, I would want to make sure that information contained only contains information on those current player who were signed before a certain date. The report layout is really useful for a boss or potential client in that it gives them the information that is of interest to them in a clear and concise format without having them look at a glorified spreadsheet which can be hard to read.
    One of the things that could have been an interesting addition to the database is a form that determines who left before October 1, 2010. I also think that report could have been formulated to determine of the members who left how many were had Family membership and how many had an Individual membership. Even though the directions did not specify this, I did decide to include a drop-down box for both gender and membership type so that the database would look more professional and also easier to use. It also eliminates any chance of misspelling a word and having the records in the database be off.

Week 10:Clear

Here is a chart on some different types of database software in the business environment. Photo courtesy of beatak.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beatak/463648364/

    This weeks concept was focuses on teaching different aspects of database software. For my skill track I was using File Maker Pro, instead of Microsoft Access. After watching the videos and playing with some of the tools I find File Maker to be relatively easy to use. One of the best things is the validation tool, which allows you to put specific rules on a table, such as mandating that only two states like Florida and Georgia are eligible. File Maker also makes it import outside data into the program and it also is easy to manipulate the data.
      Having skills with database software is extremely important in the business environment. Database software allows you to organize information exactly the way you want it. One of the cool things you can do is when creating a form you can create a drop-down list of options, making the database look more professional. This can be incredibly helpful if you are tasked with determining FCAT scores across the state by grade year. Using reports allows you to show data in a form that is visually appealing and straight forward. You can even separate each separate part of the report on separate pages so you can make sure that the report cannot be misinterpreted.
     I found an article that helps some of the different database software programs out there. Both File Maker and Access contain the Virtual Storage Access Method, which helps accelerate access, organize, and configure data. It also contains four different types of data sets: key sequence, entry sequence, relative record, and linear. File Maker and Access are both examples of a relational database, meaning that data is broken down into different charts and columns for organizational purposes. Here is the link to the article: http://computersight.com/software/databases-and-business/

Week 9: Clear

This chart shows that Moore's Law can be applied to more than just computers. In this chart, Moore's Law is used to see cost per Genome. This photo is provided by dullhunk. Here is link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dullhunk/5473470392/

      This week the concept that was made clear to me was Moore's Law. Moore's Law stipulates that chip performance per dollar doubles every eighteen months. Meaning under Moore's Law next generation chips should be twice as fast, but cost the same as eighteen month ago. This is based on price elasticity which claims that the rate at which a product or service fluctuates when the price changes. A drop in price will result in a higher demand for a product.
      Understanding Moore's Law is important in the business environment, because it forces manager to be prepared for that next step of technology and to grab the new technology when it comes out. Also, by understanding the five waves of computing and knowing that each wave of computing goes through a ten year cycle, you can better anticipate when the next wave of technology innovation will take place. Allowing you as a manager, the opportunity to avoid staying behind the time and to move forward with your company before your competition get a handle on the ever changing wave of computing. 
      I found an article that breaks down Moore's Law in great detail. The article is pretty long, but it is divided into sections so it is easier to read about what you are interested in regarding Moore's Law. The three sections are the origins of Moore's Law, the effects of Moore's Law, and the future of Moore's Law. The most interesting section for me was the future of Moore's Law section which basically maintains that major constraints to technology would have to happen for Moore's Law to hold out. Here is the link to the article: http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2008/09/moore.ars/1

Excel Project

The excel project forced us to analyze and manipulate data in a way that can be useful in the business environment. The set of data that we were given was extremely useful, because it is the kind of data that could be as a sports journalist, which is my chosen profession. By using the simple max heart rate formula, I can see if the athlete's death was due to him over exerting himself on the field.
   The most fascinating function of excel is the logical test function, which helped me recognize whether the subject's highest heart rate was able to meet or exceed the target heart rate. Before this project, I had never heard of that particular function and it was very complex in comparison to the rest of the tasks that we were assigned. However, once I set the parameters for the logical test, it was immensely satisfying to simply look for "yes" or "no" as opposed to looking at numbers on the spreadsheet and possibly getting it wrong. I also like once you input a formula in a cell that you can drag the formula down through the rest of the rows as opposed to having to input the formula manually into every cell.
     The pivot tables were interesting to play with, in particular the Average Increase pivot table. Due to the fact that we had to group the ages, it was hard to find at first, but once found it made the data much easier to understand for the owner of the fitness center. This project was much more detailed oriented compared to the presentation project, in that you really had to follow the direction or your data would end up being skewed significantly. It was amazing seeing the when the Percent Increase column changed from a decimal to a percentage what a difference in made in the data.

Google +

I know exactly two people who are using Google plus. It is definitely a functional site especially with the introduction of the hangouts option, which  is basically Skype, but for multiple computers. I still prefer Facebook to Google plus, because the thought of having to create new circles/friends is a little hard especially if you have over a thousand friends. I also disagree with the poll, I find Facebook to be more user friendly. Also Facebook could easily create there own virtual hangout, there is not enough of a difference between the two social media sites for me to switch permanently to Google plus.

Presentation Project

Here is the link to my presentation: http://www.screencast.com/t/vlpXXo1S8W2F

          I definitely think there was a logical flow to my presentation. I started my presentation by using stats on obesity then proceeded started with what The YMCA is as a whole, followed by what a single YMCA programs does, then finishing the presentation by address potential concerns people may have by the YMCA.  If I would have had more time I would like to have dealt with the membership costs of joining the YMCA.  I think I did a good job of answering any questions that an audience member might have, but one thing that I would have address was the amount of time is required to volunteer at the YMCA.  The start of my presentation did a good job of grabbing the audience’s attention by introducing the problems with childhood obesity.

            I set up my presentation to answer questions that I would have asked if I was in the audience.  I believe that my presentation was concise and that it’s clear that I want the audience to support the YMCA either financially or by volunteering. Every claim that I made is backed up by research on the YMCA and is documented is my source page. From what I could make of my presentation I did not make any unbelievable claims, I might have misspoken once but that was about it. There is no clutter as far as my slides are concerned; I tried to make the slides look good, but not complicated. I decided to incorporate the photos into the background of the slides and use a white font to make sure the words are clear. I tried to say it then show it and I absolutely did not read from the slides.

            For my peer reviews I did Justin Contreras' presentation on how we depend too much on technology. He did a good job of using video to back up his point on our reliance on technology. If I could have used a video without violating copyright I would have, but I could not get a video without doing so. He did a really great job of telling me his point rather than me reading his point on the slides.

           

Week 7: Clear

Photo provided by: Ivan Walsh. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/3649492427/

            This week the concept that was made clear to me was “The Cloud” lecture specifically the section on cloud based computing. The Cloud can be thought of as the Internet. There are two types of cloud based computing personal and Enterprise based each with different goals. Personal cloud-based computing includes programs like Gmail, YouTube, and SpiderOak with the common characteristic being that we don’t know where the programs come from. The Enterprise cloud-based computing includes more commercial applications such as salesforce.com, which allows you to track the sales your business has made.

            Understand cloud-based computing is very important in the business environment. Especially if you are in the sales industry or are in an industry that has hot periods and cold periods. By using a cloud based computing application you can focus you resources and pay for what you actually use. When you are in a slow sales season you can reduce the amount cloud based software you need and then up your need when the busy sales season starts. This is due to the fact that cloud-based software is based on a monthly subscription, rather than an annual subscription.

            I found an article that explains the importance of cloud-based computing. In the article, it explains that if you have ever subscribed to an online newspaper that you have been participating in cloud-based computing. Cloud-based computing also allows you to get the exact technology you need. Instead of you having to manage the software the cloud-based programs does all the managing of the software for you. Here is the link: http://blogs.technet.com/b/volume-licensing/archive/2011/05/13/cloud-based-computing-next-wave-of-innovation.aspx

Week 6: Clear

Image of a EULA. Photo provided by Taran Ramparsad.http://www.flickr.com/photos/knowprose/56007551/lightbox/

            This week the concept that was made clear to me was the aspect of software licensing. There are two types of software licenses available: commercial software licenses and open source software licenses. Commercial licenses are those you have to buy, while open source licenses are free. Breaking shrink-wrap is when you buy a package of software that has a license statement on it and once you open the package you agree implicitly to the contract. Another agreement is called an End User License Agreement, which creates a contract between the program developer, and the consumer, which contains regulations on the agreements terms of use. The End User Agreement is a perpetual license, which means you can use the software as long as you want.

            Knowing about different software licenses is very important in the business environment. Based on the needs of your business it is important to differentiate between the different licenses so you no what you are getting into when you purchase software. It is also important in your business to be aware of volume licensing which is a contract between the publisher and the customer (the customer being a business). You will have to decide whether to have a per user license, a per seat license, servers based on number of CPUs, or term licensing which is subscription based which you renew on an annual basis.

            I found an article that displays the different software license types. The article differentiates between single-user license agreements and multi-user license agreements. It also lists some special channel licenses like Not for Resale software license, which means the software cannot be resold. Here is the linka: http://tulane.edu/tsweb/software/software-license-types.cfm

Week 5: Clear

Chart for presentations. Created by Jose C. Silva.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/josecamoessilva/6029395579/lightbox/

I thought the concept that was made clear this week was the effective presentation part specifically the information on duarte.com. Duarte had five key rules for making effective presentations they are treat your audience as kings, spread ideas and move people, help them see what your saying, practice design not decoration, and cultivate healthy relationships. Too often in presentations the focus is on telling the audience the information as opposed to painting a picture in the audience’s mind as to what the meaning behind your concept truly is.  Practicing design and not decoration refers to when it comes to designing your project everything that is visually a part of your presentation has to having meaning and importance to the message you are trying to convey.

Making effective presentations is very important in the business environment. No matter what field you work in, you will have to be able to convey your ideas in the a manner that better both your company and yourself. My dad who is in charge of the Southeast division of his company often listens to presentations from the Project managers that work for him. Presentations are also a good way for bosses to judge your enthusiasm for the company or to show enthusiasm for an individual idea that your think is important. A poor presentation cans signal a lack of enthusiasm and work ethic that is necessary for succeeding in the business environment.

I found an additional article online that contains more tips on effective presentations. The article contains some eighteen tips for effective presentations so I will explain some of the bigger points. The 10-20-30 rule implies that each presentation should only contain ten slides, not exceed a length of twenty minutes, and not have a font size of less than thirty. The 20-20 rule maintains that you should have twenty slides each last exactly twenty seconds. This keeps your presentation entertaining and keeps your points concise. Here is the link to the article: 

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/18-tips-for-killer-presentations.html

           

Week 4: Clear

Photo by Ralf Beuker. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ralfbeuker/3459877292/lightbox/

This week I thought the concept that was clear this week was the operational effectiveness concept. Operational effectiveness is doing the same task better than rivals do it. One of the problems with implementing this strategy is the possibility of sameness. Meaning that instead of taking a risk and coming up with something new you manufacture or create the same idea as a rival company and don’t differentiate you.

            This concept is paramount in the business environment. However, I think it is only useful for getting your foot in the door in the business environment. Once you are competitive within your business industry, then you can take a chance and develop something unique from your rivals. If your new idea fails then you can go back to what made you a success. If Bill Gates and Microsoft hadn’t focused on software as opposed to hardware like Apple then Microsoft wouldn’t be as valuable as it is today.

            I found an article that explains how operational effectiveness has to be combined with the right strategy in order to be truly effective. You have to be at least as good as your competitors, or the right strategy won’t help you. However, once you rise to the level of your competitors then you can begin to implement your strategy. Here is the link to article: http://www.realisation.com.au/site1/Articles/Operational%20effectiveness.htm

Week 3: Clear

Photo courtesy of mayhem. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayhem/2939259129/lightbox/

        This week, the concept that was made clear to me, was the lecture on server hardware. There are several different server operating systems that people use, they are Windows, Linux, and Unix. I have heard Linux mentioned quite often before and now I know why, unlike the other server operating systems Linux is free. There is also different kinds of server software you can use depending on what type of server you are running. For an email server you would use Microsoft Exchange. For a web server you can use Apache, which is an open-source web server that is free or you can pay for Microsoft IIS.  For a database server, you could use Microsoft SQL or ORACLE both of which cost money or you can go the cheap route and get MySQL for free.

           In the business environment knowing the server operating system and the server software you need is paramount to running a smooth business. Once you have your business you can make the decision whether you want to have a free operating system like Linux or pay for the services of Windows server. Then you need to decide what type or types of server software you need whether it’s database, email or a web server. Then it comes time to choose the specific server software for the type of software you chose, which is also based on your business need.

            I found an article that looks at the five best home server software on the market. This article explains the technical prowess as well as the affordability of the five server software programs. It also breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of the software programs. The software programs represented in the article are FreeNas, Ubuntu Server Edition, Apache, Debian, and Windows Home Server. Here's the link http://lifehacker.com/5162026/best-home-server-software

Week 2: Clear

This photo is courtesy of  onekell and has some rights reserved.  

This week the concept  I found that the most clear and useful concept was rom the lecture on ergonomics. Ergonomics is the study of how our body reacts to the strains brought on by our work environments. The study of Ergonomics has pointed out several ways that people can improve their health in front of the computer screen. The most helpful rule I learned was the 20/20 rule, which maintains that you should remove your eyes from the screen every twenty minutes and focus on something at least 20 feet away to avoid excessive eye strain. Another helpful tip is to keep your back straight while working at your computer this will reduce strain on your back and neck. Also be careful that when using your mouse that you move your whole are and not just your wrist to avoid pain and ailments such as carpal tunnel.

Ergonomics is very important in the  business environment because it will allow you to be productive for longer period of time. The bad habits that we develop sitting in front of our computers is preventable. Not taking the time to correct habits like slouching, excessive eye strain, and making sure your feet are on the floor is selfish. Not only are you physically hurting yourself, but the company you work for as well. Over time the ailments you suffer from these bad habits will force you to take extended absences from work for a remedy. Taking the proper precautions will allow you to perform better at your job and it will keep you physically in much better condition.

One webpage that I found helpful for improving my poor computer habits was on the OSHA (Occupational and Health Administration) website. It provides a checklist that you can use to gauge whether your work setup is ergonomically correct. The checklist ranges from your sitting posture to your computer setup. Probably the best part about this checklist is that it is from OSHA who have done research on the proper work environment. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/checklist.html.

This week I found a photo that properly illustrated ergonomics I used creative commons content from flickr. The photograph was taken by onekell. Here is the url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onekell/2570057391/lightbox/

Week 1: Clear

Photo by Sarcasmo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarcasmo/21719467/lightbox/

The concept from this week that was made clear to me was netiquette or internet etiquette. Netiquette is a list of rules and practices a person should use when they are online. Basically, the rules maintain that people should interact on the internet the same way they would interact with that person in the real life. For example, writing something in all capital letters is considered shouting online and should not be considered. Netiquette is comprised of twenty five rules that you should abide by when you are attempting to communicate online. One rule of netiquette is every time you post something whether it’s on Facebook or twitter that it is something of significance. Most important thing to take from netiquette is to really think before posting. If you are angry about something or are angry at someone do not go online and tempt yourself to do something that you would regret.

Knowing the proper way to communicate online is of great importance in the business environment. Whatever someone posts online cannot be undone, you can apologize, but once you post the original comment it cannot be undone. Recently, some employers have been known to check in on their employees Facebook page to see if the person they interviewed is authentic. When you’re online you don’t just represent yourself, you also represent the company you work and depending on your behavior could force potential customers to use another company just because of something you said online.

I found a similar article to the Facebook page that was used in the lesson. This website shorten the list of rules from twenty five to just ten basic rules, with a link for each rule and reasons why the rule is the way that it is. It also claims that netiquette is the social code of the internet. Takes the golden rule on life and reinforces in online, “Due unto others as you would have done to you.” It also mentions cyber words which are internet related words that are combined to form one particular meaning.http://www.networketiquette.net/

I found a great photogragh on flickr, that emphasizes that people should stop and think. My use of this is for people to stop and think before writing something online

           

Avatar post

This is the avatar I created. To create my avatar, I used doppelme and was struck with how easy and user friendly the creation tools were.

Even though I have lived in Florida my whole life, my favorite time of year is the winter.

Due to the fact that it is the winter, I chose the grey ski jacket and jeans setup with a baseball cap and shoes.

The eyes are the only thing that didn't turn out the way I intended, I was trying to make them blue eyes.

I chose this facial expression due to my astonishment at how cold the weather is.

The simplicity of the creation tools is the best part of the experience, especially because I'm pretty bad complex creative things.