How Do Battery Electric Cars Work?

Battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, use electricity stored in a battery pack to power an electric motor and turn the wheels. When depleted, the batteries are recharged using grid electricity, either from a wall socket or a dedicated charging unit. Since they don’t run on gasoline or diesel and are powered entirely by electricity, battery electric cars and trucks are considered “all-electric” vehicles.

Emissions from electric vehicles depend on where the vehicle is charged.When driven, BEVs don’t produce tailpipe pollution—they don’t even have a tailpipe. However, the electricity they use may produce heat-trapping gases and other pollution at the source of its generation or in the extraction of fossil fuels. The amount of pollution produced depends on how the electricity is made. In the United States, battery electric cars charged off the dirtiest coal-dominated grid still produce less pollution than their gasoline-powered counterparts. BEVs powered by renewable energy sources like wind or solar are virtually emission-free.

Not using gasoline or diesel also means that battery electric cars are significantly cheaper to fuel than conventional vehicles. Exact comparisons depend on the vehicle model and fuel prices, but driving a BEV can save drivers over $1,000 annually in gasoline money.

Battery electric vehicle features

Like other electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, BEVs minimize wasted energy by turning the car off when stopped (“idle-off”) and by charging the battery when braking (“regenerative braking”). Electric motors are also inherently more energy-efficient than gasoline or diesel engines.

How battery-electric cars work

Battery electric cars have the added benefit of home recharging. A 240-volt outlet, similar to those used for clothes dryers, can charge a vehicle overnight. Fully-charged, most battery electric cars have a driving range of between 70 to 100 miles, well within the day-to-day range requirements of most Americans, though some BEVs can go up to 265 miles on a single charge. An increasing number of public and workplace charging stations provide added charging capacity.

More subjectively, many drivers appreciate the driving experience provided by all-electric cars. Electric motors generate near-instant torque, or turning-force, while the torque of internal combustion engines increases in tandem with the engine’s revolutions (RPM). This means that BEVs have extremely fast acceleration and a “light” or “zippy” feel compared to conventional cars and trucks.

Differences between battery electric cars and other EVs

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have both an electric motor and a conventional gasoline or diesel engine. Compared to a battery electric vehicle, this extends the total driving range but lowers the all-electric range. Conventional hybrids, which can’t be plugged in, aren’t considered electric vehicles.

Fuel cell electric vehicles convert hydrogen gas into electricity to power an electric motor and battery. Fuel cell vehicles are a relatively new technology in passenger vehicles, but have a substantial carbon-cutting role to play alongside other all-electric vehicles.

Health apps, new tech continue to help users live a healthy lifestyle

Smartphones and wearable technologies have made living a healthy lifestyle and reaching your fitness goals easier than ever.

Training for a marathon or simply increasing your physical activity level is all about motivation, and now it can be as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone or putting on a wearable device like a fitness tracker.  With these integrated technologies, you can learn your heart rate, track your daily steps, log your food intake and more – all while staying in stride with your regular routine.

According to mobile analytics platform Localytics, which monitors more than 20,000 apps, there was a 19 percent increase in new health and fitness apps in 2013 (compared to 2012).

“What we see is that more and more people are interested in having little, effortless influence on their activity,” Raphael Auphan, project manager at Withings, told Withings’ new Withings Aura sleep system (available Spring 2014) uses a bedside device and an under-mattress sleep sensor to track sleep patterns and control bedroom noise pollution and light levels.  The invention won the 2014 CES Innovation Award in the health and fitness category.

“Users are now used to the seamless experience,” Auphan said.  “Even compared to five to six years ago… it’s definitely a trend.”

For developers, it’s all about making the technology part of users’ everyday lives – without being unnatural. For people who use a scale every day, stepping on a device that seamlessly uploads your weight, body mass index and body fat percentage to an app makes it more likely that you’ll pay attention to these measurements.

 “We found that [as we] streamline the experience and make it really simple and intuitive for users, the more effective it can become,” Jason Jacobs, founder and CEO of Runkeeper, told

The popular Runkeeper app tracks users’ fitness activity, but also collects data to make the experience more personal for each user. Not only can users see their running routes and mileage, they can also find and set a fitness goal and follow a specific training plan – such as preparing for a marathon.

“The ultimate goal of most of these apps is to change behavior,” Scott Snyder, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Mobiquity, a mobile engagement provider, told  “To do that, we have to treat each user differently to see what moves them. Mobile devices are the most transformative to be able to do that.”

As developers push toward more personalized programs that use complex data, they’re simultaneously trying to make the user experience simpler.

Jacobs likens the experience to owning a car.  Everyone can look under the hood to check out the systems, but most people just want to see an alert system on the dashboard to tell them when the mechanic needs to check it out. It’s about getting people to analyze their data and take action toward their goals, he said.

“When you wear an activity tracker, [it becomes] interesting  when it stops influencing your behavior,” Snyder said. Initially, users check their data frequently, but taper off as healthier habits becomes part of their routine.

Crowdfunded Music Tech Is Creating Whole New Instruments

Musical instruments have been honed over hundreds of years, and there’s long been tension between the old and the new—from crowds of purists booing a newly electrified Bob Dylan to DJs rallying against digital mixing desks over traditional vinyl.

As technology in this area is empowered further by the crowdfunding model, the scope of music tech has expanded to not only augment instruments, but potentially create new ones, altering the way something is played or consumed.

Singer-songwriter Pete Roe, designer of the crowdfunded Submarine pickup, sees musicians’ adoption of modern technology as an extension of something that’s always happened. “When buildings like cathedrals, with their incredibly long reverbs, became possible, music that took full advantage of the space appeared soon after,” he said. “It’s just the same now, only the technological advances are different. Rather than a reverberant space it’s a plugin, app or guitar pedal.”

But musician Joe Newman, a guitarist with Jessie Ware, Ghostpoet and ESKA who also works with sample triggering and electronics, is more reticent about too much reliance on new tech, arguing that “it doesn’t solve problems so much as create new ones.”Roe’s Submarine is a simple two-string pickup that fits underneath the bottom strings of a guitar, which, when run through a bass pedal, gives the effect of a bass and guitar played simultaneously. Essentially, it’s a neat way of splitting the output of the instrument—something people have done for years now. That said, he has already noticed the device opening up the idea to different genres: “Looking at our backers, there are a number of TV and film composers, some metallers, a sound installation artist and a steel pan/guitar duo, so the appeal is broad.”

Projects such as Sensory Percussion, a drum-trigger that attempts to combine the nuance of regular drumming with the scope of digital sounds, takes this idea one step further. By allowing drummers to map their own playing styles to a digital interface, it is in effect a new instrument. The sonic range is limitless. Musicians like Kiran Gandhi (MIA), Ian Chang (Son Lux), and Matt Duckworth and Nicholas Ley (The Flaming Lips) all speak gleefully in the pitch video about the potential of this bit of kit to change not only the sound of the instrument but the role it plays within a band.

Then we come to examples like the Artiphon Instrument, which is altogether more revolutionary and democratic in its aims. We believe anyone can make music, and that most people really want to,” its website states. This device synthesises guitar, piano, pedal steel, violin…whatever you want basically, and can be played in whichever way is most comfortable—plucked, padded, or bowed.

“Learning a stringed instrument hurts! You get callouses. You have to learn muscle memory… It’s not nice!”

It marks a change in music tech. Whereas Sensory Percussion and Submarine both come from a desire to address a need within their respective instruments and expand their capabilities, the Artiphon does something different altogether. By synthesizing the sounds of multiple instruments, as well as making them easier to produce, it has the ability to democratise music in the same way that things like Instagram and Picfair have launched a spate of amateur photographers.

In this, Newman sees a big problem. “Learning a stringed instrument hurts! You get callouses. You have to learn muscle memory… It’s not nice!” he said. “So the logic behind solving that is sound to a degree, but that’s also a part of learning an instrument. What worries me about the Artiphon is that I don’t think you’ll see a new spate of really creative people come out of that, especially if they aim it at beginners.”

Other examples of music tech—midi guitars, synths, Moogs—have achieved their longevity because they either have enough tactile parameters to give them a human feel, or because they have been taken on and used in a new way. The Mellotron, for example, was intended for home use—Princess Margaret was a fan. It was only when it got picked up by the Beatles that it began being used in contemporary music as a musical texture all of its own.Music technology has always developed in a way that enables new musicians to spark up their own brand of creativity—the Submarine and Sensory Percussion are two new examples. However, with the likes of the Artiphon we have something new; with the opportunities it offers to the non-traditional, non-musician, it could create a new sector of performers, even a new branch of music. But is it too easy?

According to Newman, a new, postmodern problem could present itself. “You’ve got a whole generation of kids, whose parents grew up listening to guitar or orchestral music, who can recreate that themselves using laptops and other technology… So what does the next generation do?” he said.

Samsung smart TV: Everything you need to know

Almost all of Samsung’s latest TVs are now ‘smart’, meaning they can be connected to the internet to open up a world of apps, such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Player, along with web browsing and video streaming on your TV screen.

In terms of the breadth of apps available, Samsung is a step ahead of rival brands, and its smart-TV platform is among the easiest to use. Read on for more on Samsung smart TV.

Samsung smart TV: what you get

Most Samsung smart TVs now come with built-in wi-fi, meaning you can connect them to the internet wirelessly. However, you usually also have the option to connect with a cable instead if you like.

After connecting, you’ll get access to a web browser for surfing websites, and a range of apps (see more below) either pre-loaded, or available for you to download from the app store, much like you might see on a smartphone or tablet.

Samsung smart-TV apps:

  • Facebook: Yes
  • Twitter: Yes
  • Skype: Yes
  • YouTube: Yes
  • BBC News: Yes
  • BBC Sport: Yes
  • Amazon Instant Video: Yes
  • Netflix: Yes
  • Knowhow Movies: Yes
  • NOW TV: No
  • BBC iPlayer: Yes
  • ITV Player: Yes
  • 4oD: Yes
  • Demand 5: Yes

Samsung smart TV 2014 key features

Smart hub: From here, you’ll navigate all the Samsung smart-TV features, including the apps, web browser and other services. You can access it via a dedicated button on the remote control.

On TV: This monitors your viewing habits and then recommends other programmes based on what you like to watch. If you don’t want the TV to track what you’re watching, however, you can decline the ‘recommendations privacy policy’ in the smart hub settings menu to stop it.

Remote management: This is almost like having 24/7 tech support for your TV. It enables a Samsung engineer to remotely access your TV and help troubleshoot any problems you may have with it.

Smart security: This feature is designed to protect your smart TV and any connected storage media, such as a USB memory stick or hard drive, from hackers and viruses when you’re using it online.

Samsung smart TV: how can I get one?

Samsung makes a huge range of smart TVs, and the good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to buy one.

As of 2014, Samsung smart TV models start from its 5-Series upwards, just above the entry-level 4-Series. You can buy a 32-inch smart model in the 5-Series for just over £300.

As you go up through the more expensive 6, 7, 8 and 9-Series Samsung smart TVs, you still get the same apps and software, but the hardware changes.

For example, 8-Series Samsung smart TVs released in 2014 have Quad-core Plus processors, meaning they should in theory be faster when you’re using your TV’s apps and web browser. They also come with Samsung’s ‘smart touch control’ remote (see more below).

Samsung ‘smart touch control’ remote

Samsung smart TVs always come with a standard remote control, but more premium models also either support, or come with a ‘smart touch control’ remote.

The more recent remote features an oval design that we found to be a comfortable fit in your hand. The large trackpad from previous versions has been dropped in favour of a small one in its centre, surrounded by the direction keys.

If you place light pressure on the trackpad with your thumb, a little blue cursor pops up on screen and you can use it to navigate around the smart-TV features. To open any item you want takes just a click on the trackpad.

You can search the web with your voice by saying commands into the remote’s microphone. It’s NFC-enabled, so you can pair it your smartphone by tapping them together and then share content, such as videos and photos, with the TV.

Evolution kit: Upgrade your Samsung smart TV

If you have an older Samsung smart TV and want to get the latest smart features, but without shelling out on a brand new set – the ‘smart evolution kit’ could be the answer.

Costing around £200, this gadget fits into a slot on the back of compatible Samsung 7 or 8-Series TVs. Although it doesn’t improve picture quality, you do get the latest version of Samsung’s smart TV platform, along with a hardware upgrade.

For example, the 2014 evolution kit upgrades the TV’s processing power from dual core to quad core; the CPU is boosted from 1Hz to 1.3Hz; the graphics GPU goes from 400Mhz to 500Mhz; and the memory is bumped from 1GB to 1.5GB

Everything should be quicker and slicker than before and you can – in theory at least – keep upgrading your compatible TV each year to the latest spec.

5 Best Antivirus All Time

5. Trend Micro Internet Security 2015

Trend Micro Internet Security 2015


4. Bitdefender Total Security 2015

Bitdefender Total Security 2015

Bitdefenderis consistently among the best IS suites we’ve tested and also provides the best AV protection, according to AV-Test. There are a few small chinks in its armour, though. The syncing process, by which it backs up designated files and folders is by no means clear and 2 GB of storage for a 3-PC package is downright mean. We’d want to check why the anti-theft feature places us in South Yorkshire, too.

3. Avast Free Antivirus 2015

Avast Free Antivirus 2015

Avast Free Antivirus 2015 is one of the best free security products you can install. It offers a surprising range of free goodies, including application and browser app analysis and, separately, an excellent Android suite, covering AV and anti-theft. A better than average AV-Test rating completes a very impressive picture.

2. Bitdefender Internet Security 2015

Bitdefender Internet Security 2015

This is one of the very best AV suites available, in terms of outright protection against malware. It’s also very good at not throwing up false warnings, but there are other products offering more auxiliary modules for the money.

1. Symantec Norton Security with Backup

Symantec Norton Security with Backup

Offering excellent value with 10 licences to cover all your devices, Norton Security with Backup also offers a strong feature set and very good protection from viruses and other malware. Recommended.

The Mounting Values of Neodymium Uncommon Earth Magnets

Neodymium Earth magnets are ranked as the most rarely available Earth magnet. It is valued greatly for its ample qualities quite useful in today’s machinery arena. It has been acclaimed has one of the strongest magnet equally powerful as a powerful magnet.

It came into the in the starting years of 80s. Its benefits and availability in affordable price has increased its value as an essential element in various productivity units. To know more about the magnet and its abilities, you need to understand the significance of rare Earth magnets.

What are rare Earth magnets?

There are abundant minerals present in Earth crust when combined with other metals portrays the properties of permanent magnets. The magnets have the ability to provide strong magnetic field quite needed in various industries. This man made magnet is highly utilized for its exceptional features.


  • Magnetic field strength is par excellent. Its strength is known to last for even ten years. Compare to common magnets, this character of the rare magnets help in enhancing productivity in any kind of production unit.
  • Its ability to retain magnetic power for longer period makes it the most essential element in various industries. In simple terms the magnets don’t get easily demagnetized in any circumstances.
  • Its magnetic energy helps in yielding products in heavy duty industries. Its power to maintain its properties has made it more sought after magnet then its counterparts.

Places where the magnet is commonly utilized:

  • It plays a great roll in generators to produce voltage.
  • In automobile industries and making electronic gadgets it is widely utilized.
  • It is a great favorite commodity utilized in making latches for cabinets and doors, clutches of purses and even in making jewelry.
  • It is widely used in scientific experiments and even in designing multiple inventions.
  • It is even used to locate exact location in aircrafts while high up in the sky.
  • It is even used in converting trucks to floats.

The other beneficial features of the rare magnet:

It is strongly believed that the man made magnet has healing properties. It has proven advantageous to wade off joint pains, back aches, and even cure arthritis.  The magnetic therapy helps to smooth the flow of blood. The magnets are used in making many curing products. It is even applicable in pet bedding to relieve pets from pains.  Magnetic therapy has been used in healing purposes for centuries.

The size of the magnet doesn’t matter even to utilize it in bigger projects. With the application of these Neo magnets in any kind of machineries, there is a surety that the operating of them will be quite easier. Like all other magnets, this Neo magnet needs careful handling, otherwise there is chances of it getting corroded or get broken.

Before embarking on buying such amazing magnets, it will be wise to gain more information about them. You can learn a lot about this useful invention of mankind from online sites like

Domain Name Extensions – What will Work for Your New Website

When it comes to naming your domain there are a number of tips that can be quite helpful such as keeping it short, making it as similar as possible to what you do, and keeping it easy to remember. However, when it comes to selecting the extension for your domain name it becomes a bit trickier. Sometimes you have no choice in terms of the extensions that are not available. However, what approach works best when choosing the best domain name extension for your website?

Go With .com

It may seem like every domain name extension is a .com which is not too far from the truth. In fact, over 50% of all domain name extensions are .com and is so common that many people will automatically default to using it as the extension when typing in the name of a website. So, if you can go with .com as your domain name extension if only because it is so common.

Avoid Buying All Extensions

It may seem rather practical to simply purchase all the major extensions for your domain name, but research has shown that it makes very little difference in terms of attracting visitors. In almost all cases people are wasting their money by using multiple domain name extensions, so just stick to a single one.

Go with .Net

If you cannot use .com, then .net is the second best choice. A .net is pretty good for companies in the technical field because of the tern “net” which relates it to the internet, network, or something technical. It’s why many businesses have gone with a .net as their internet address if they cannot find a .com that will work for them.

Avoid Extensions with Built-In Issues with Google

If you are purchasing a domain that uses a different or unusual extension, then check out the Google Analytics overview for the past six months to see if there is a substantial drop-off in traffic. If you see such a dip, then you’ll want to avoid purchasing the site and you may want to avoid using that type of extension for a similar business.

Find One that is Easy to Remember

If you can, find an extension that works well with your domain name. This will make it easier to remember for visitors when it comes to finding your website. A good test is to ask a young child who is around 10 or 11 years old your domain name and extension. If they start giggling, then you might not want to use that for your website.

It’s also important to remember that certain extension are tied to certain types of websites, such as the following;

  • .org – Non Profit
  • .biz – Business
  • .tv – Television

You can also have an extension customized to your industry if it is a good fit. However, there is no guarantee that it will actually help. In the end, you should try to get a .com domain name extension simply because it is so common. But if you cannot, then find one that works best for your particular site.

Article about domain extension was created by the team of Lilo .Lilo is a design and development company with offices in London, Cape Town and Perth. For information you visit us the the London Offices situated in Stukeley Street.

Free cPanel Hosting – An Industry Leader

There are such a variety of good things individuals say in regards to Web Hosting Mumbai. Picking it makes no space for second thoughts. At the point when one is wanting to manufacture a site, it is best to pick either paid or free cPanel facilitating.

A site is effortlessly dealt with cPanel. Its instinctive graphical interface makes control of all site viewpoints simple notwithstanding for tenderfoots. Providers offer this innovation as a free boundless facilitating bundle that may even accompany free area. With its colossal elements and client audits, it has racked up grants.

It is the most prominent decision among the individuals who are searching for a prevalent web facilitating supplier. With its capacity to handle a wide range of web application including WordPress creation; email administration; and programming transfers; it makes the expense of the whole bundle shabby or sensible. There are cPanel bundles offered as free web administrations or there are paid variants which offer boundless access to great components.

CPanel’s notoriety has without a doubt developed. It is said to be an Industry pioneer. A decent number of SEO Company in Mumbai facilitating affiliate likewise has faith in the nature of cPanel. The innovation’s capacities are known comprehensively to be one of the best.

Working with cPanel can be said as a drop in the bucket. Figuring out how to set up FTP records or MySQL databases, putting or lifting area names and email records is never merciless. Industry specialists even concur that this innovation adjusted how the world manages web facilitating. Nerds, non tech-clever people and business destinations advantage from it.

CPanel’s modules are likewise outstanding. It has the capacity to incorporate Fantastico. With the script auto-installer, making weblogs, for example, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal and so forth are simple. It is likewise perfect with RVSiteBuilder and SiteReptile which makes site building advantageous.

On the off chance that one loses all sense of direction during the time spent site-fabricating, one can allude to the Getting Started Wizard. It will get you back on track. For those with some experience, you’d discover the elements shockingly glorious. The innovation likewise develops with time. New elements and upgrades are consistently included the control board to make it more receptive to client’s necessities.

Another incredible thing with free cPanel facilitating is its immense client base. This makes it workable for a few bolster materials, for example, starter aides, instructional exercise features, blog entries, and others to end up accessible. This makes the innovation additionally inviting to numerous clients. There are other free boundless facilitating suppliers out there like PHP, ASP, Data Hosting, WHM AutoPilot Host, and numerous others. In any case, nothing looks at to cPanel. Should you wish to investigate surveys of web facilitating destinations, you can visit index locales.

How to Use Twonky Beam With a Samsung TV

When it comes to streaming with Twonky Beam, Samsung TVs aren’t always the most cooperative devices. Getting your Samsung TV to interact properly with Twonky Beam depends on what model television you have — some models require configuration, and some work off-the-bat. Either way, so long as your TV is a supported model you’ll be beaming in no time.

Getting Twonky Beam

  • Twonky Beam is only available for Android and iOS devices, but is free on both devices (links in Resources). Before you can begin beaming, you’ll need to download the appropriate app from your device’s respective app store. Twonky Beam used to be available for Windows, Mac and Linux as part of the MyTwonky service, but this service was discontinued in 2013, with no replacement desktop app made available as of July 2014.

Checking for Compatible TVs

  • Before you begin beaming to your TV, you need to confirm that your TV is compatible with Twonky Beam. Twonky offers a list of all compatible devices (link in Resources), including set-top boxes and televisions. When checking the list, click “Legacy DLNA,” as none of the other categories are compatible. If your TV is equipped with DLNA, and is compatible with Twonky Beam, it should appear on this list. If your TV isn’t listed, it’s unlikely Twonky Beam will work.

Configuring AllShare

  • If your TV doesn’t immediately appear on your Twonky Beam list for beaming, but it is on the list of compatible devices, then you’ll probably need to configure the TV for media sharing. Press the “Menu” button on your remote and select “Applications,” followed by “Content View” and “AllShare.” Once in the AllShare menu, select “Media” and set it to “On” using the Enter key on your remote. If prompted, select “Allow” to begin media sharing. Once AllShare is enabled, Twonky Beam should be able to discover your television on its device list.

Beaming to Your TV

  • Twonky Beam works as a kind of minimalist Web browsing app on your phone, where you can connect to different websites and browse the content as usual. The primary difference is that all non-Flash video content doesn’t immediately begin playing when you tap the Play button. Instead, a small menu appears asking what you want to do, including a button marked “Beam.” By selecting this button and your TV, your phone will stream the video to your TV, instead of playing it on your phone.

How To Buy Electric Cars Cheap

Electric cars are the new trend in the automobile industry. Hybrid cars are definitely the hot item, as the economy and environmentally conscious world is starting to favor these specific cars. Almost everyone is going through this electric car conversion, as it is more economical, but most importantly is best for the environment. While you can build you own electric car, many car manufacturers have hundreds of great, reliable electric cars at cheap prices!


  1. Go to this is one of many websites that specialize in hybrids, from which you can find the most suitable elecrtic cars for yout liking.
  2. Second, begin to select the three cheapest price for your budget, yet making sure that the quality is still there in those electric cars. Hybrids can be found used quite commonly now, and they will continue to become cheaper!
  3. Always be willing to contact your local mechanic with the details of your potential electric cars, and see if they can prepare sucessful maintenance on any of those electric cars. Hybrid cars are something that many mechanics do not know how to repair, as their is more electric knowledge needed. While newer auto mechanical training has made focus on hybrid cars, you need to make sure you have a dependable mechanic to do such repair if needed.
  4. Select the electric car you find best matches your quality, preferences, and pricing.

How to Protect a Computer From Viruses

Protect a Computer From Viruses
If you think your computer may be infected, take all necessary steps to clear your system and avoid infecting other computers.


  1. Be cautious about what disks and files you accept from other people.
  2. Don’t reuse disks that have been in other computers, don’t download files from insecure sites, and don’t open e-mail attachments unless you are expecting them. Be wary of messages and attachments, even from people you know, with vague subject lines and contents, such as ‘Check this’ or ‘See these pics!!!’
  3. Obtain an antivirus program to more safely share disks, download files from the Internet and open e-mail attachments.
  4. If your system gets a virus, visit your virus-scan software manufacturer’s Web site and install any virus updates that are available. Then run the software. The software may not be able to delete the virus, but it may be able to identify it.
  5. Search the Web for information regarding your specific virus by typing the name of the virus or its associated file into a search engine, followed by the word ‘virus.’ For example, ‘Melissa virus,’ ‘BubbleBoy virus,’ and so on.
  6. Download and install any software patches or other programs that will help you eliminate the virus. Or follow any instructions you find on deleting the virus manually.
  7. Run another virus scan to make sure the virus was dealt with properly.
  8. Employ extra caution when you receive attachments that end in the commonly used extensions .doc, .exe, .com, .xls or .ppt. Never open attachments that end in .vbs or .js, since a typical user would never have a reason to open these files.

How to: Smartphone to TV

How to: Smartphone to TV

The advancement of smart-phone technology allows for continued integration with other entertainment media such as television and computers. High-definition Multimedia Interface, also known as HDMI, was first released in 2003 and continues to be the leading high-definition tool in the premium entertainment market. Use HDMI connections with many electronics from next-generation video game consoles such as the Xbox 360 and PS3, to the Sony Bravia TV, and smart phones such as the HTC Evo 4G with its HDMI-out port for connectivity with televisions.

Step 1:Inspect your smart phone to make sure it has a Micro-D HDMI-Out port. Connect the Micro D-HDMI cable into your smart phone, and make sure the HDMI cable connection is snug and fully connected into the device.

Step 2:Place the other end of the Micro-D HDMI cable into a HDMI-in port of the television. Make sure the television is set to the correct HDMI output on the monitor so you can view the phone’s video capabilities.

Step 3:Play a presentation, video or slide show stored on your smart phone. It should appear on your television screen. Cell phone manufacturers do not allow you to show the normal phone interface on the TV screen, so when you connect your smart phone to your TV, do not expect a jumbo-sized texting screen. The output is only meant for media such as video or multimedia presentations.

The Advantages of Smart Boards Vs. Flat Screen TV

A flat-screen TV does not have touch-screen capabilities.

When deciding whether to purchase a smart board or a flat-screen TV, the deciding factor should be which of the two screens better suits your needs. In some scenarios a flat-screen TV clear display may be more desirable, while in others the smart board’s interactive touch screen is better. It’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of one against the other when making your decision.

Advantages of Smart Boards

  • There are several advantages a smart board has over any flat-screen TV. The smart board is linked to a computer and allows users to perform all the functions the computer is capable of, all by touching the screen. Due to this feature, the smart board has replaced many chalkboards in schools. You can write, draw, open applications, save documents, search the Internet, play videos, view pictures and present information in an interactive manner.

Advantages of Flat-Screen TVs

  • A major advantage of a flat-screen TVs is the price tag. Flat-screen TVs range in price from less than $400 to more than $3,000 depending on the brand and size. Additionally, flat-screen TVs don’t require a computer to operate, but most models can connect to a computer and be used as a monitor. Philips’ MediaConnect software even allows users to link their computer wireless to their flat-screen TVs.

Disadvantages of Smart Boards

  • A disadvantage of smart boards is that their price ranges from $999 to over $6,000, making them more expensive than most flat-screen TVs. The 64-inch SMART SB660i4 retails for $4,399, while the 65-inch Panasonic TC-P65GT30 starts at $3,327.95. This doesn’t include the added cost of the computer that a smart board requires to operate. The necessity of having a permanent computer, the installation of the projector and various other software upgrades are other disadvantages of the smart board.

Disadvantages of Flat-Screen TVs

  • The major difference between smart boards and flat-screen TVs is the interactive touch screen, which flat-screen TVs lack. While they are able to connect with computers and display presentations in the same manner, a user will still need to interact with the computer. The ability to change, adjust, select, open files or draw pie charts by touching the screen is unavailable on flat-screen TVs.

How to Adjust My Magnavox Smart Series TV

The Magnavox Smart Series television is a tube style, color television set. The size of these televisions may range from 20 inches up to 32 inches or larger. When the picture is too dark or does not look right, it will need to be adjusted. This is done by using the remote control for the TV. You have the option to adjust the television automatically using Smart Picture, or by using manual settings.

Smart Picture

  1. Press the “Smart Picture” button on the remote. This will display the current setting for the Smart Picture option.
  2. Press the “Smart Picture” button to scroll through the available options. You may select “Weak Signal,” “Movies,” “Sports” and “Personal.”
  3. Select “Personal” to manually change the picture options for the television.

Manual Adjustment

  1. Press the “Menu” button on the remote control to display the menu on the screen.
  2. Press the “CH-” button or channel down button to display the “Picture” sub-menu on the screen.
  3. Press the “CH-” or “Ch+” buttons to scroll through the picture adjustment options. You have the choice of “Color,” “Brightness,” “Sharpness,” “Tint,” “Blue Back” or “C. Temp.”
  4. Highlight and option you want and press the “Vol+” or “Vol-” buttons to increase or decrease the setting.
  5. Press the “Menu” button to close each sub-menu and the main menu screen.

Music Production Colleges in Georgia

Several music production colleges in Georgia prepare students for this career field.
Music producers oversee all aspects of a recording session, from the instruments to the financial matters, according to Modern music production is very dependent on computer software and digital technology. In Georgia, the music industry is huge, with the capital Atlanta even being dubbed the hub of music in the Southeast, according to Music producers can make between $37,000 and $52,000 a year. Music production colleges in Georgia give students the classroom instruction and hands-on experience they need to succeed in this competitive field.

Georgia State University

  • The Georgia State University School of Music offers a bachelor’s degree program in music technology, which includes recording and music production. The university is located in Atlanta. The program trains students aesthetically and practically to work as music technologists and audio engineers. Students in the program gain the skills they need to work in artistic, technical or producer/director roles in music and music-related media areas. In addition, the program features an internship at the end. To enter the program, candidates should have a strong background in music performance and reading, and they must complete an audition. The school features practice rooms, a recording studio, teaching studios, state-of-the-art rehearsal halls and a performance hall. In addition, members of the school’s faculty have studied nationally and internationally. The university was founded in 1913. The Georgia State University School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

    Georgia State University
    School of Music Administrative Offices
    Haas Howell Building
    75 Poplar St., 5th Floor
    Atlanta, GA 30303

Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Georgia Institute of Technology, located in Atlanta, offers a master’s degree program in music technology. Students in this program can choose to concentrate on the area of music and media production. To enroll in the program, students must already have their bachelor’s degrees and must submit past official transcripts, letters of reference/recommendation and Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test scores. The school was actually named one of the best universities in 2010 by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1885, Georgia Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Music Department
    College of Architecture
    840 McMillan St.
    Atlanta, GA 30332

Georgia Southern University

  • Georgia Southern University offers a master’s degree program in music technology. Located in Statesboro, the school teaches students how to use cutting edge digital audio tools and learn studio techniques, examining both the technical and aesthetic aspects of music technology. Students in the program complete elective courses in information technology as well as music. The capstone is a final project. Founded in 1906, Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

    Georgia Southern University
    1770 Southern Drive
    Marvin Pittman Administration Building
    Statesboro, GA 30458

The Effect of Digital Technology on Music

Digital technology has changed the way we listen to music.
Just as with words, numbers and graphic images, sound can be turned into digital data. Sound’s transformation from a mechanical and analog experience to one contained within a computer’s memory continues to expand. From the very first computers generating electrical impulses to vibrate a speaker, to today’s worldwide recording industry, digital technology affects music in many ways. Today, the compact disc, MP3 music file, synthesizer and wireless microphone connection are all part of digital technology’s complete integration with making and listening to music.


  • The most obvious illustration of digital technology and music is the synthesizer. Employing digital data to create, control, fluctuate and mimic sound, the synthesizer is used in many ways to make and enhance music. Although most widely known as a keyboard device similar to a piano, synthesizers can produce sound with input from many sources–guitar strings, drums and of course computer keyboards. Since the advent of digital circuitry with synthesizers in the 1970s, older analog instruments with vacuum tubes, knobs and dials have become very rare.


  • As digital technology has miniaturized to the point of being almost microscopic, making music is also a much less complicated effort. Whether in studio for recording a musician, or listening to an iPod personal music player, digital miniaturization makes music easier and more affordable for every aspect of the musical experience. Whole recording studios can now be contained in a personal computer. Outstanding stereo sound is available in small earplugs attached to a device the size of a pack of gum. Although traditional instruments such as trombones and tubas still need room for a performance, the microphones and recording devices saving their sounds are now smaller and more capable than machines 20 years ago that filled a whole room.


  • There can be no music industry without recording the sound for replay. Without recording, all music would need to be a live performance. Digital recording is taking sounds from any instrument and storing it as data to be retrieved later for editing, mixing and eventually copying for distribution. There are criticisms of digital recording that it is not as “warm” or realistic as older analog (tape or phonograph) recording. As research and development with musical digital recording continues, however, the differences between old and new continue to diminish.


  • Digitally processing music is now a desktop job. Whereas in years past, a producer and music editor would spend hours or days listening to tapes, cutting with razor blades, splicing pieces together and rerecording multiple sounds onto other tapes, today it’s all done with a computer. Digital processing allows a music producer to take sounds recorded months or years apart in different areas of the world, bring them to one computer platform and mix them quickly using special music processing software.

Music Files

  • One of the most pervasive aspects of digital recording seen is the way music is copied and played. MP3 files are digital music formats playable as a standard file on almost every digital musical device. MP3 (and newer MP4) files can contain long passages of grand symphonies or just a three-minute pop music hit. The format also provides for stereo sounds (bass in the left speaker, treble in the right) and easy copying and transmitting between computers.

Music Technologies of the ’80s

The 1985 Dire Straits album "Brothers In Arms" was the first CD to sell one million copies.
Audio and music recording and reproduction technologies made a significant leap during the 1980s. White music recording methods from previous decades, which provided analog reproductions of the original sound, were still in wide use during this time, the ’80s also heralded the first commercially available digital medium.

Compact Cassettes

  • Although Philips originally released the Compact Cassette in the 1960s as an audio dictation system, it became one of the dominant forms of music technology in the 1980s. Prior to the ’80s, the quality of Compact Cassette recordings was inferior to that of other magnetic tape systems. Improvements in recording and playback technology in the ’80s saw the Compact Cassette achieve comparable quality to LPs and FM radio, with the added advantage of making home recordings possible. After reaching the peak of its popularity in the 1980s, the Compact Cassette saw a rapid decline as the CD took a more dominant role in the 1990s.

LP Record

  • The long playing microgroove record, or LP, dates back to the 1940s, but was a central music recording technology in the 1980s. Advances in LP recording and playback technology culminated in the 1980s, allowing vinyl to compete with the likes of Compact Cassettes and FM radio. While tapes and CDs dominated home audio equipment in the 1980s, nightclubs, radio stations and other music venues used LP and single-playing microgroove analog records.

Compact Disks

  • In 1982, Philips and Sony launched the first commercially available digital music platform: the Compact Disc. The CD, an evolution of the failed Laserdisc technology of the 1970s, uses an optical storage system that is read by a laser. The use of an error correction code allows a CD to maintain full audio specifications, even if the disk is scratched or marked, and the disc does not degrade over time or through extended use, as magnetic tapes and microgroove records do. By the end of the 1980s, the CD had established itself as the natural successor to the cassette tape and vinyl record.

FM Radio

  • Frequency modulation, or FM, radio offers a considerably higher bandwidth than its amplitude modulation, or AM, predecessor. This allows for greatly improved sound quality and reception. Although FM radio was patented in the 1930s, it wasn’t until the end of the 1970s and beginning of the 1980s that FM listenership exceeded that of AM. During the 1980s, major radio stations begin a mass shift from AM to FM broadcasting, with many abandoning the former technology in favor of the superior sound of FM broadcasting.

How to Remove a Shutdown Virus

A shutdown virus is programmed to make your computer shut itself off. It can happen from any command the specific virus chooses, be it opening a web browser or accessing your command prompt. A shutdown virus can be a harmless prank from a friend, but it can also be from someone more sinister. A reliable, updated antivirus program is always the best way to completely remove a virus, but there are ways to remove this one manually. Deleting the files and registry keys associated with the virus can help disable it.


  1. Open the registry editor on your computer. Go to the “Run” command in the “Start” menu, type “regedit” and press “Enter.” Some shutdown viruses can deny you access to the registry editor. In this case, download and install an alternate registry editor and open it.
  2. Make a copy of your registry, especially if you are using the computer’s main registry editor. Editing anything in the registry is dangerous and can damage the computer. Go to “Start,” “Programs,” “Accessories,” “System Tools” and “System Restore.” Choose “create a Restore Point” and follow all instructions the dialogue box gives you.
  3. Search the registry keys within “HKEY_CURRENT_USER.” Look for autorun keys that include “shutdown,” “pc off” or something similar within the data name. Delete these registry keys by right-clicking on them, selecting “Modify” and clicking “Delete.”
  4. Open your computer’s “Program Files” folder. Search for EXE files that appear related to the shutdown virus–they will very likely have the same “shutdown-pc off” title. Delete these files and immediately clear your “Recycling Bin.”
  5. Open your “Task Manager” by inputting “taskmgr.exe” in the “Run” command. Go to the “Processes” tab and search for the processes with the same names as the deleted files. Right-click these processes and select “End Process” to kill them.

How to Prevent Computer Viruses

Don't Let a Virus Break Your Computer
A computer virus can wipe out everything you’ve worked hard for including your identity. While purchasing insurance for your car or home is common, many people forget to take similar steps to keep their digital life safe. Initial setup may take some time, but the results are worth it when your data is protected. Securing your computer requires several strategies including virus protection, network protection, updated software and a data backup plan.


  1. Windows 7 doesn’t include antivirus protection as part of the system. Many manufacturers include an antivirus program, but most only include a short trial. If you don’t have an antivirus, or it has expired, download Microsoft Security Essentials. This free program integrates well with Windows and provides protection against viruses and spyware.
  2. Windows includes a firewall with the base operating system. Make sure it’s turned on by going to the “Control Panel” and clicking on the “Security” section. Click the “Windows Firewall” link to access the firewall settings.
  3. Activate Windows Automatic updates to keep your system updated. Make sure to keep third-party programs, especially Web browsers, updated as well. Most programs include a feature to notify you when an update is available, be sure to activate it. Updates plug security vulnerabilities in programs and operating systems.
  4. Type “Backup and “Restore” in the search box of the “Start” menu and click on the link in the search results. Backing up your data provides an extra layer of insurance. No measures are completely secure. An undiscovered bug, clicking on the wrong link, downloading an infected program or hardware failure are just a few of the things that may compromise or delete your data.
  5. Use BitLocker, TrueCrypt or both to further secure your data. BitLocker is included with some versions of Windows 7 and lets you encrypt your entire hard drive. TrueCrypt is a free encryption program that lets you encrypt an entire drive, your system drive and create small virtual hard drives to securely lock up your files.

How to Turn Off TruMotion From an LG TV

Certain high-definition televisions manufactured by the LG Corporation may feature TruMotion video processing software. TruMotion technology attempts to smooth the displayed video on the television by processing each frame three additional times. While the added frame rates may improve video quality and naturalness in certain application scenarios, users may opt to disable the TruMotion option if the feature poorly affects the viewing experience. Turning off your television’s TruMotion feature is an easy task that tasks minutes to perform.


  1. Turn on the television and press the “Home” button, located on the supplied remote control.
  2. Navigate to the “Setup” menu option and press the center “Enter” button, located on the remote.
  3. Select “Picture” and hit the “Enter” button.
  4. Scroll down to the “TruMotion” menu option and press the “Enter” button. Use the remote’s navigational buttons to highlight the “Off” menu option. Press the “Enter” button to save the setting.
  5. Press the “Exit” button on the remote control to exit the onscreen display menu.

Smart Cycle Instructions

Smart Cycle plugs into a TV's component cable ports.

Fisher-Price Smart Cycle is a physical learning arcade system designed to look like a child-sized stationary exercise bicycle. The Smart Cycle plugs into a TV and the toy works like an arcade-style video game, involving interaction and coordination to “cycle” through the games and scenes. Smart Cycle provides three basic types of games: Drive, Race and Learn. The Smart Cycle helps teach children numbers, counting, uppercase and lowercase letters, spelling, shapes, matching, reasoning, problem-solving and motor skills.


  1. Assemble the toy according to the instructions in the box. Four “D” batteries are required for playing with the Smart Cycle, but these are not included with the packaging.
  2. Connect the Smart Cycle to a TV using the red, white and yellow component cable included with the toy. Turn on the TV. Insert a Smart Cycle game cartridge into the game cartridge slot on the side of the toy, then turn the Smart Cycle on by sliding the power switch to the “on” position.
  3. Familiarize yourself with the controls on the Smart Cycle. For example, the joystick in the middle of the handlebars is used to make menu and activity selections. Beneath the joystick are three buttons, which from left to right are used for seeing the map of all activities, exiting the activities and viewing pictures taken along the child’s game “journey.”
  4. Customize the vehicle following onscreen instructions to help the child begin his learning adventure. The on-screen instructions will prompt the user to select the type of game he wants to play, and then explain the process of game play.

How to Use Wireless Bluetooth Headphones With Your TV

How to Use Wireless Bluetooth Headphones With Your TV
If you can get everything connected and playing nicely together, Bluetooth headphones can make your TV watching more discreet and comfortable. While some televisions pack Bluetooth wireless connections inside, you can also add external adapters to get nearly any TV running with a set of wireless headphones.

Wireless WondersSmart TVs are built with wireless connection technology built-in to the set itself. Using the on-screen display, you can connect your Bluetooth accessories. Find the Accessory menu for your TV, open the Bluetooth options, and set it to Pairing mode. Put your headphones into Pairing mode as well. Often, there will be a connection button on the headphones that you must press for a few seconds. Once Pairing mode has been enabled, you will see the headphones listed on your television’s on-screen display. Select the headphones with your TV’s remote control to complete the process. Once the headphones are paired with the TV, when both of them are powered on, they will automatically connect to each other.

Connections GaloreIf you don’t have a Smart TV with a built-in Bluetooth connection, despair not. You can still plug in either a Bluetooth dongle or a Bluetooth transmitter. A dongle attaches to the USB port on your television and gives it Bluetooth capabilities. If you use a transmitter it will plug into either the headphone jack or an audio output port on your TV and connect with your Bluetooth headphones. One thing to be aware of is that, when you plug something into the headphone jack of a television, it will often mute the TV’s external speakers, so if you want to use both the Bluetooth headphones and the speakers, you will want to plug the transmitter into an audio jack, not the headphone jack. If your television does not have any external audio ports, you won’t be able to connect Bluetooth headphones to it.

Charging OnwardBluetooth headphones need to be recharged to keep pumping out sound. Typically you can plug the headphones into a microUSB cable to top up the internal batteries. A good set of Bluetooth headphones should last around 10 to 12 hours. If you plan on roaming the house while listening to your favorite TV show, you might also invest in some extra microUSB chargers, so you can recharge your headset wherever you go.

Fighting InterferenceAlthough Bluetooth technology allows for transmission up to 328 feet, interference can reduce the range of your headphones. If you’re experiencing audio dropouts or a range limitations, you might have some other wireless technology interfering with your signal. Things like microwave ovens, Wi-Fi routers, direct satellite service, cordless phones and wireless speakers can all interfere with Bluetooth transmissions. If you can switch your Wi-Fi to use only the 5GHz, instead of the 2.4GHz, wireless spectrum that will help, as will separating your Bluetooth transmitter and receiver from other wireless devices like a router, cordless phone or microwave oven. Additionally, metal and concrete walls can deflect or absorb wireless signals and reduce the range of your Bluetooth headset.

Majoring in Music Engineering

Music engineering majors learn about music recording and traditional music studies.

Undergraduate Degrees Offered






Studio Work and Experience


Grants for Band & Music Programs

All types of grant programs are available for band and music projects.


Band Uniforms


High School Band Grants

  • High school bands and music projects are in a prime position to receive financial assistance from a number of nonprofit music education organizations. Muzak offers grant awards to dozens of teen music education programs nationwide through its “Heart and Soul” Foundation and “Music Matters” grant program. In 2011, grants ranged between $1,000 and $12,000. The well-known guitar manufacturer Fender awards anywhere from $500 to $5,000 to high school music programs in 20 states. The grants can be applied toward enhancing and creating music projects, instruction or purchasing instruments.
    Teen and youth music programs are ideal candidates for grant funding.
    Teen and youth music programs are ideal candidates for grant funding.

Government Music Grants

  • No matter how poor the economy, or how large the national deficit, several government agencies still provide financial assistance to music-oriented education programs across the country. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) hosts several programs, including the “Learning in the Arts” youth music education grant program. It awards anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000 to independent school districts and higher education facilities. The U.S. Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement supports music education through its “Arts in Education” program, which distributes funds to high schools that wish to establish youth music and band programs that do not yet exist.
    Government grants typically support school music education programs.
    Government grants typically support school music education programs.

Special Music Projects

    Receive grants from the Grammy Foundation to restore historical compositions.
    Receive grants from the Grammy Foundation to restore historical compositions.

What Instruments Are Used in Techno Music?

With the increasing popularity of techno and other forms of electronic music, many have begun to inquire about the instruments that produce techno music’s distinctive sound. Electronic music and music technology have proved to be additional mediums through which modern artists can break the conventional molds of composition and representation that was started in the 20th century by modern painters, poets and thinkers.

The Facts

  • Techno music uses electronic instruments, e.g., synthesizers and software programs, to create its idiosyncratic sound. What these electronic instruments do is replicate an acoustic sound by employing what are called samples. Basically, music sampling is when a sound engineer records a brief sample or snapshot of an acoustic instrument and then plays it back and manipulates the sound to account for all subsequent pitches. Techno music, which falls under the larger genre of electronic music or electronica, is known for its repetitious drum rhythms and general instrumental nature.


  • The use of electronic instruments creates an error-free, sometimes unrealistic sound. While these electronic instruments are used to replicate real sounds, the sounds often sound uniform and detached. Adding to this effect are layers of manipulated or “wet” sound. Many techno artists will often employ the use of auto-tune software to perfect the pitches on a vocal melody, simultaneously giving the voice a more robot-like quality. At the core of every techno song is the drumbeat. The drumbeat drives the progression, which can usually be seen as the adding of layers until reaching a chorus.

Electronic Pervasiveness

  • Like many genres in music, the lines between techno music and other forms of electronic music have become somewhat blurred, and increasingly difficult for discern. With further advances in music technology, electronic music seems well positioned to take the place of more conventional acoustic instruments, and is already doing so. We hear electronic music on our television sets as the score to our favorite film, in video games and even on our cellular phones. Financial as well as practical reasons can be attributed to electronic music’s ubiquity in today’s entertainment.


  • Like many of the first DJs to produce techno music, we can all capitalize on the affordability of electronic instruments. Instead of paying thousands of dollars to hire an entire orchestra, why not just buy software with the sampled sounds of one, at a fraction of the price? If you opt to take the electronic route you sacrifice the acoustic richness of a live orchestra, but gain the practically error-proof playback on digital music software. DJs in Detroit found this to be an effective tool that inspired them to develop an entirely new genre of dance music.

Instruments in Techno Music

  • Techno music uses electronic synthesizers and drum machines to replicate acoustic sounds. The instruments replicated vary greatly. Usually at the songs base is a drum pattern, which commonly uses sounds of an electronic drum machine. Besides vocals, which are usually layered with effects, electronic music uses synthesizer-based instruments almost exclusively.

How Has Digital Technology Affected Music?

Compact discs were hugly profitable for the music industry, as people paid for music that they already owned in other formats.


    The mass manufcature of synthesizers revolutionized the sound of dance and pop music.





Compact Disc






Information Technology Jobs in the Music Industry

Mix your loves of music and technology.



Music Video Editor


Digital Marketer


Artist Website Designer


The Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology

Technology sometimes produces waste.
There is little doubt that technology impacts the world to a startling degree. For example, businesspeople around the globe use computers to perform work-related tasks. Some of the impacts of modern technology are positive, but others are not. Looking at a list of the advantages and disadvantages of technology is useful because it provides a means by which an individual may assess whether technology implementation is worth potential risks.

Efficiency and Productivity

  • An increase in technology generally means that tasks are completed faster and more efficiently. This translates to increased productivity. From the business standpoint, this is definitely an advantage, since increased productivity means better sales, services or manufacturing.

Job Loss

  • When an organization uses technology properly, the technology typically cuts the number of hours that need to be worked. This increases profit for the organization because it doesn’t need to pay workers to remain on the job site. However, if the technology cuts the number of hours drastically enough, some individuals may lose their jobs entirely because the technology essentially completes the tasks that the employee originally did. Factories are the best example of this—as more and more robots complete assembly line tasks in an automated way, there’s less of a need for physical workers. According to Small Business Bible, jobs are created by technology too, such as information technology specialist positions.


  • It is debatable whether or not technology is financially a disadvantage or advantage. On one hand, technology is cost effective, according to Small Business Bible—technology may boost revenue and profit through increased efficiency, productivity and limited man hours. However, a business may lose this revenue and profit simply because they have to support and update all of the technology they use. For example, a business may reduce the number of office employee hours with a handful of software programs, but it then may have to pay a technology consultant fees for installing and answering questions about how to use the programs.

Personal Touch

  • Norwin A. Merens, managing director of NM Marketing Communications, says that having a personal touch in business is beneficial. When an organization uses technology to an excessive degree (e.g., when most operations are automated, more machines are used than employees, the majority of employees are in tech support, or everyone is required to use phones, computers, etc.), it may lose the personal appeal it had. Others may shy away from the organization because they want to do business or communicate with a real person and not a machine.


  • Technology means that people can perform tasks with an incredibly high degree of accuracy. For example, in medicine, machines can measure the exact amount of oxygen a person is taking in or make an incision to within millimeters.


  • Technology may cause numerous health problems. For example, according to Practice, Medical News Today, PR Log and Poynton, scientists, researchers and doctors such as Darius Lakdawalla, Tomas Philipson, Amy Drescher and Charles Poynton are concerned about the links between technology, obesity/heart problems, eye strain, deafness and muscle issues. Waste from technology such as the used fuel and emissions from factory machines may pollute the environment, disturbing ecosystems and making people sick.

The Disadvantages of Modern Technology

Modern society has a staggering number of technological gizmos and mechanical gadgets at its disposal, from airplanes to iPhones. However, while these advancements have brought new aspects of health, freedom and enjoyment, there are also disadvantages to a society so completely reliant upon them.



Assembly line
Social IsolationIn “Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks Over Two Decades,” authors Miller McPherson and Lynn Smith-Lovin write that, while modern technology has made it possible to connect more frequently, email and text messaging do not lend themselves to intimate revelations or in-depth conversations. These are things that may be necessary to combat loneliness and isolation.

Text message

Behavioral ProblemsBecause of the amount of time children spend watching television, views and behaviors are affected. One example is evidenced in a study by researchers at the University of Michigan that spanned 15 years. It found a link between childhood television viewing and adult violent behavior. Other studies found links between TV viewing and smoking, drinking and risky sexual behavior.

Kid watching TV

Advantages & Disadvantages of Electric Cars

Advantages & Disadvantages of Electric Cars
The time is coming for the long-awaited, efficient all-electric car. The technology is improving rapidly and, according to some manufacturers, consumers soon will have several models to choose from. Electric cars have several advantages over gasoline-powered cars. Still, if electric automobiles want to win over consumers, they will have to overcome some hurdles down the road.

Pro: Environmentally Friendly

  • Several economic and environmental advantages stand out. Electric cars reduce dependence on foreign oil, damage to the environment and air pollution. Without the need for gasoline or diesel, electric-car owners do not suffer from higher gasoline prices. In contrast, electric car owners are spending the equivalent of around 60 cents per gallon to run their vehicles.

Pro: Efficiency

  • Electric cars are much more efficient compared to gasoline-powered cars. Electric motors use most of their stored energy to propel the car; a gasoline engine uses between 20 and 30 percent of its heat energy to move the car, while the cooling system and exhaust systems dissipate the rest.

Pro: Power Source Availability

  • Electric cars may charge their batteries through home electrical outlets. Depending on battery type, it may take from 10 minutes to four hours on average to charge with a range of between 50 and more than 100 miles.

Pro: Little Maintenance

  • With a much simpler engine design compared to internal combustion engines, electric cars require little maintenance and last much longer. As prices go down, they are becoming more accessible to the average consumer. As of January 2009, current electric car models range in price from $11,700 to $109,000.

Con: Public Road Constraints

  • In the United States, only a handful of states, including California, allow electric cars on public roads and their traffic codes vary. Anyone considering the purchase of electric vehicles should verify traffic regulations before investing in an all-electric model.

Con: Limited Service Facilities

  • The number of service facilities is limited, which makes it difficult for some electric car owners to bring their vehicles in for repairs if they bought their car out of state.

Con: Few Models

  • The number of available all-electric car models is limited. Consumers expecting to buy an electric car with the standard features and passenger capacity they expect from an average gasoline-powered car will have to spend tens of thousands of dollars.

How Does an Electric Car Work?

How Does an Electric Car Work?

The Electric Car

  • An electric car is an alternative-design automobile that uses an electric motor to power the car, with the electricity being provided by a battery. While a conventional car does have a lead-acid battery as part of its standard equipment, this battery is for operating the starter and not powering the vehicle.

How Does an Electic Car Run?

  • Electric cars have a motor just like conventional, internal combustion engine cars. The difference is that the power supply is derived from battery-stored electricity rather than the mechanical power derived from burning gasoline. The batteries used in electric cars vary in design, and include the lead-acid type familiar to all conventional car owners (albeit, much larger than in a normal car), lithium ion (similar to those used in laptops and mobile phones, but once again much larger), molten salt, zinc-air, and various nickel-based designs.

The Problems with Batteries

  • The problems with electric cars all stem from the limits of existing battery design. Simply put, it requires a huge, expensive battery to even approach matching the power performance of an internal combustion engine. Only a few of even the highway-capable electric cars are capable of reaching even 70mph, and most designs were meant exclusively for use on city streets (40mph or less). Also, few battery designs can last for as long as even a small gasoline tank, and the recharging time is substantially longer than refilling a fuel tank.

How to Fix Computer Screen Flickering Viruses

How to Fix Computer Screen Flickering Viruses

Viruses come in many different forms and flavors. While some viruses are outright malicious, looking to destroy your computer and all of the files contained therein, others are just bothersome. Computer screen flickering viruses fall into the latter category, presenting nothing more than a moderate nuisance. The easiest way to remove these viruses is to restore your computer to a state before the virus was present on the hard drive. This can be accomplished with the System Restore utility.


  1. Navigate to the “System Restore” utility by opening your computer’s “Start” menu, going to the “All Programs” list, opening the folder marked “Accessories,” and opening the folder marked “System Tools.”
  2. Select the option to “Restore my Computer,” then choose your restore point from the list that appears on-screen. Select a date prior to the first appearance of the flickering screen virus, but not too much farther back than that.
  3. Restart your computer to complete the system restore procedure. Your computer will then load all of its past files into memory during the startup procedure, so expect it to be at least five or 10 minutes before you get back to your desktop.

5 Cures for Common Computer Viruses

Viruses and malware can wipe out important data, steal vital information and incapacitate your computer. Once it is infected, it can be days or even weeks before your system is clean and safe again. The key to curing common computer viruses is to avoid them to begin with. The following five guidelines can help prevent these malicious programs from gaining a foothold on your system.

Antivirus Programs

  • The most important thing you can do to stay safe from computer viruses is to use a regularly updated antivirus program. Several different antivirus packages are on the market, ranging from free single-user systems to complex suites designed for multiple users in a business environment. Keeping your antivirus program up to date will help you avoid infection, as well as quickly isolate and remove any viruses that do make it through your defenses.

System Updates

  • Many types of malware rely on security loopholes in your operating system. Windows Update allows you to download and install security patches as they come out, and installing such fixes as quickly as possible reduces the likelihood of a virus taking advantage of one of these gaps and infecting your system. For best results, set your system to download and install these patches automatically. Otherwise, regularly check your update status to be sure you do not miss an important update.

Email Precautions

  • Email is one common way viruses can gain access to your system. You should always be wary of HTML-formatted messages, as these can contain hidden links to malicious websites designed to install viruses or keyloggers on your system. Watch for official-looking emails that contain odd misspellings or other mistakes, common signs of faked emails designed to take advantage of unwary users.

Safe Browsing

  • Using a secure browser can protect you from viruses and malware hidden in websites. Firefox, paired with the NoScript add-on, can block Java and Flash scripts from running on unknown web pages and protect you against malicious content. Internet Explorer also contains features designed to limit the ability of websites to plant programs on your computer; setting your security level to at least medium-high will prevent most web-based viruses.

Common Sense

  • Keeping your system up to date can prevent a lot of malware from finding a foothold, but many infections come from simple user error. Avoid opening email attachments unless you know what they are and why the sender included them. Download files from reputable sites, and be wary of programs from unknown sources such as peer-to-peer file sharing. A little common sense is an invaluable asset when it comes to heading off viruses and malware.

How to Run a Virus Scan on Another Infected Computer

A computer virus can block access to many websites.

Computer viruses prevent you from accessing most websites on an infected machine. If you haven’t already installed an anti-virus software program, it’s not easy to find one online while a virus redirects you to other web pages or constantly opens popup ads. To protect your computer once a virus hits, download and transfer an anti-virus software program from a clean computer to run a virus scan on the infected computer.


  1. Connect a USB flash drive to a virus-free computer. Using the same computer, visit the website of an anti-virus software manufacturer. Choose one that is well-known and reliable.
    Find an effective and reliable anti-virus software program.
  2. Find the anti-virus software that matches the system requirements of the infected computer. Download the software and save it to the USB flash drive.
  3. Move the mouse pointer over the icons on the bottom right of the computer screen. Left-click on the icon that says “Safely Remove Hardware.” Click on “Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device,” then remove the USB flash drive from the USB port. Now you can transfer the anti-virus software to another computer.
    Save the anti-virus software in the USB flash drive.
  4. Connect the flash drive to a USB port on the infected computer. When the new window pops up, left-click on “Open Folder and View Files.”
  5. Right-click on the anti-virus software; choose “Copy” and left-click it. Minimize all open windows.
    Anti-virus software can be transferred with just a few mouse clicks
  6. Right-click on any empty space on the desktop screen. Choose “Paste” and left-click it to save a copy of the software on the desktop. Double-left-click on the anti-virus software icon.
  7. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the software, then scan your infected computer for viruses.
    Regularly scan your computer for viruses.

How to Get Rid of Computer Viruses Manually

Computer viruses can delete your files.
Computer viruses are small programs designed to complete some malicious act. For example, computer viruses can delete your files or disable your disk drives. There are several reasons why you may want to remove a computer virus manually as opposed to using your antivirus program. For example, your antivirus program may not detect the specific computer virus, or the computer virus may have disabled your antivirus program. It is highly recommended that you back up your computer before attempting to remove a computer virus manually.

End Infected Processes

  1. Press “Ctrl + Alt + Delete.”
  2. Click on the “Task Manager” and then click on the “Processes” tab.
  3. End all of the processes associated with the computer virus. To determine if a process is associated with a computer virus, type the name of the process into the Process Library.

Delete Infected Files

  1. Click on the “Start” menu.
  2. Click on the “Search Files and Folders” box.
  3. Search for and delete all of the files associated with the computer virus. Generally, associated viruses will include the name of the virus. If you are unsure of whether a file is associated with a computer virus, type the name of the file into the “What Is That File” search box.

Delete Infected DLL Files

  1. Hold down the “Windows” key and press “R.” The Run box will open.
  2. Type “cmd” (without the quotation marks) into the Run box and click on “OK.” The Command prompt will open.
  3. Type “regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll” (no quotation marks) into the Command prompt and press “ENTER.” Note that “SampleDLLName.dll” should be replaced with the name of the Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file that is associated with the computer virus. To find this information, type the name of the specific computer virus into an online search box, such as 411-Spyware or 2-Spyware.

Delete Infected Registry Values

  2. Type “regedit” (without the quotation marks) into the Run box and click on “OK.” The Registry Editor will open.
  3. Locate the registry values that are associated with the computer virus and delete them. To delete a registry value, right-click on it and select “Delete.” For a list of registry values that are associated with the computer virus, type the name of the specific computer virus into an online search box, such as 411-Spyware or 2-Spyware.

How to Get Netflix on My Sanyo TV

Watching streaming video at home reduces the need to leave your home to rent videos and eliminates late fees. Netflix provides streaming video service directly to your Sanyo TV with just the push of a button. Once you’ve subscribed to the Netflix service, you’re able to activate up to six Netflix-ready devices on which to stream videos from the Netflix queue. Adding your favorite movies to watch instantly from your queue takes only moments to complete.


  3. Press “Enter” and choose “No” to sign up for a new Netflix account to receive an activation code. Otherwise, choose “Yes” and write down the activation code provided.

How to Turn Your Plasma Into a SMART Board

Plasma televisions can be converted into SMART boards with a few items.
Don Harris was looking for a creative solution for students working on group projects when the first interactive whiteboard was installed on a campus in 2007. The concept for SMART technology is to display images from a computer or projector onto an interactive surface, according to the University of Oregon. The surfaces are touch-sensitive and can be used to import documents and write notes using a pen or fingers as a stylus. Digital images can be captured and imported into Word documents or PowerPoint presentations.


  1. Install the software. Follow the set-up directions that are prompted on the computer screen. When the installation is complete, select “Launch SMART board tools.” Click “Finish.”
  2. Plug the cables into the computer. The VGA cable plugs into the blue port located in the back of the computer. On the left side of the computer is a green circle indicating where to plug in the audio cable. The USB cable can be plugged into one of two slots located on the left side of the computer.
  3. Orient the SMART board. Bring up the SMART board menu and select the “Orient” option. Use one of the pens and start in the upper-left corner, moving down, and touch the center of each highlighted section.
  4. Customize settings. Go into the SMART board menu, then the control panel and finally the “Pen Tray” tab. You can select a pen to change, and turn it into a highlighter or change the color. Restore settings by clicking the “Default” function.
  5. Create a user profile. This is where personalized options like pen color can be saved for future use. The personal profile will remain the same until it is altered, and the preferences will be saved to your computer.
  6. Familiarize yourself with the other tools and settings for the SMART board. “Floating Tools” will bring up a tool bar with items like a keyboard, eraser and templates. Use the “Control Panel” to customize your floating tools and save to your user profile.

Streaming Services for a Smart TV

Take advantage of your Smart TV's streaming services to enjoy on-demand entertainment.

Ten years ago, the idea of accessing thousands of movies and television shows with a few quick clicks of your remote would have sounded like a scenario from The Jetsons. Today it’s a reality, and a relatively inexpensive one at that. Whether you prefer your content to be an all-you-can-stream buffet or an a la carte, pay-as-you-go experience, there’s bound to be a service that suits your needs.


  • Netflix is probably the most well-known streaming service and one of the most affordable, offering thousands of hours of entertainment at the flat rate of $7.99 per month as of February 2012. The library contains a diverse collection of movies, documentaries and TV series, ranging from cult classics like “Dark Shadows” to recent hits like “Downton Abbey.” If you’re looking for the latest episodes of your favorite shows or want to watch movies the day they’re released on home video, you’re out of luck – television content is limited to past seasons and movies usually take at least a few months to show up, if they show up at all. Premium content is scarce – Netflix doesn’t carry any shows from HBO and only a few from Showtime and Starz.

Hulu Plus

  • Although most people are probably familiar with Hulu as a provider of free streaming content on the Web, the company recently extended service to mobile devices and smart TVs with the introduction of Hulu Plus. Hulu Plus is the paid version of the service and the only version that can be streamed to devices other than your computer. The $7.99 monthly subscription gives you next-day access to new episodes of your favorite shows from most major networks, including ABC, NBC, Fox and The CW. Availability of older episodes varies depending on the network; some shows, like “Grey’s Anatomy,” can be streamed from the first episode to the most recent, while others only allow a handful of recent episodes to be streamed. Content from premium cable channels is not available and some shows are Web-only, meaning that they can’t be watched through your mobile device or streamed to your TV. Films are limited to a few older releases and some made-for-TV movies.


  • Amazon offers two types of streaming content. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime at $79 per year, you have access to a streaming library of older movies and TV shows, containing many of the same options as Netflix. If you want more recent fare, you can rent or buy digital copies of newly released movies and recently aired television episodes. Prices start from $1.99 to $3.99 for movie rentals and individual television episodes. New TV episodes are usually available the day after they air. Amazon Instant Video also carries premium content from HBO, Showtime and Starz, and shows can be purchased an episode at a time or by the season.

HBO Go and Showtime Anytime

  • These services are relative newcomers to the streaming scene and, unlike Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, require a cable TV subscription to access their libraries of TV episodes and movies. Both HBO Go and Showtime Anytime are free for current HBO and Showtime subscribers, but with a catch – your cable provider has to support access to the service and not all do. Content is limited to a rotating list of old and new movies, and past and current seasons of each network’s hit shows.

How to Upgrade Software for a Smart Samsung TV

A remote is pointing at a smart TV.
Keeping the software on your TV up to date helps to ensure you’ve always got access to new features and security patches. Upgrading the software on your Samsung Smart TV is a two-stage process. First, you download the upgrade from Samsung’s website. Once you have the upgrade, you transfer it to a USB key or hard drive and upload it to your TV. Information in this article applies to computers running the Windows 8 operating system.


  1. Launch a new Web browser tab and navigate to the Samsung Support website (link in Resources). Enter the model number of your Samsung Smart TV in the “Enter Model Number or Model Name” field and press the “Search” button. Select your Smart TV model on the search results.

    If you’re not sure what your model number is, click the “TVs” link under the TV/Video heading and follow the prompts to find your TV.

  2. Click the “Downloads” button to load a list of available downloads for your Smart TV and click the “Firmware” tab to load a list of upgrades.
  3. Locate the newest available upgrade for your TV and click the download icon located under the File heading. Click “Save” if prompted to select what you want to do with the file. After the download finishes, locate the downloaded file and, if it’s a ZIP file, double-click it to extract it onto your computer.
  4. Connect a USB key or USB hard drive to an available USB port on your computer and press “Ctrl-E” on your keyboard to launch the File Explorer application, if it doesn’t launch automatically. Your USB device will appear on the list of removable storage devices listed in File Explorer.
  5. Drag-and-drop the software upgrade file on to your USB device. Alternatively, you can select the upgrade file, click “Ctrl-C” on your keyboard, double-click the USB key on the list of removable devices in File Explorer and press “Ctrl-P” to paste a copy of the upgrade on to the USB device.
  6. Eject the USB device, make sure your Samsung Smart TV is powered off and then plug the USB device into the TV. The TV must be turned off in order for the USB device to connect properly.
  7. Turn on the TV, press “Menu” on your remote, highlight “Support” and press “OK / Enter” on the remote to load the Support screen.
  8. Highlight “Software Update” and press “OK / Enter” to load the Software Update prompt. Highlight “By USB” and press “OK / Enter” to have the TV scan your USB device for the software upgrade.
  9. Select “OK” when prompted to confirm that you want to upgrade the software on the device. The TV begins the automated upgrade process and restarts when the process is complete.

Schools That Offer a Music Technology Degree in the US

Most music degree programs require basic piano proficiency for graduation.

Indiana University/Purdue University – Indianapolis


Virginia Tech


Community College of Philadelphia


Kent State University


The Advantages of Modern Technology in Kitchen Equipment

Modern kitchens have a number of technological advances.
It used to be that perishable food could not be stored in a kitchen for very long and few items could be cooked due to limited numbers of appliances and kitchen tools. However, modern kitchen technology advances more every year with new gadgets and appliances, making it easier, safer and more efficient to cook meals, clean our dishes and keep our food fresh.


  • With dishwashers now standard in kitchens able to clean all of the dishes from very large meals in just thirty minutes, much more efficiency can be had in the modern kitchen while cooking meals. This allows restaurants to serve food much more quickly, as when plates are cleared from a table, they can be washed while other plates are being used to serve food, so the cooking and serving process is not broken down by having to clean the dishes off. These dishwashers also have the capability to hold and effectively clean more dishes then ever before. This saves people in commercial kitchens and in home kitchens time and gives them the freedom to do something else while the appliance works for them.

Cooking Speed

  • Meals can also be made more quickly with our modern kitchen technology. Stoves can produce very strong flames that can boil water more quickly and ovens can preheat almost immediately, whereas in the past cooks had to wait for these types of things. Rather then having to chop a number of vegetables or pieces of fruit, other appliances like blenders or Slap Chop cooking tools can be used to make this happen in a fraction of the time. This allows meals to be cooked more quickly, giving chefs more freedom to make more food or concentrate on making their meals more complex then ever before.

Preserving Food

  • Refrigerators and deep freezers are some of the most important pieces of technology in a modern kitchen, as they allow people to buy food and hold on to it for a long period of time without forcing them to eat it immediately or at least before it spoils. The refrigerator also allows people to monitor the freshness of food, as they can be set at certain temperatures and people will know how long it takes before the food will spoil. Deep freezers allow people to freeze perishable food for extended periods of time to be eaten at a much later date, allowing them to save meals for special occasions.

The Advantages of Modern Technologies

It's difficult to imagine where technology will take us in the future.

Social Networking

    Social networking allows both old and new friends to keep in touch.

Opportunities to Work From Home

    Working from home buys you more time in your day.
    Working from home buys you more time in your day.

Convenience in Education

    Earn an online degree from the comfort of your couch.
    Earn an online degree from the comfort of your couch.

The Importance of Modern Technology


Modern technology has become so entrenched in the idea of a modern society that the two are nearly inseparable. Developing countries try to get better utilities, more vehicles, faster computers, as well as Internet and cell phone providers because that’s what makes a modern society. Modern technology must be implemented in order to accomplish the feats required of a modern society.

HealthOne of the biggest benefits of modern technology is that human longevity and health have improved because of its application. As understanding of the body and its functions improves, and as new tools to help heal it (lasers, sonograms, enhanced medication, and nonintrusive surgical tools, just to name a few) are created, life lasts longer. Not only does life extend, but people can live more comfortably, and recover from wounds and diseases that even a half a century ago would have been fatal. In many cases these people live full, productive lives.


CommunicationModern technology has revolutionized how people communicate. Since World War II, telecommunications and mass media have been growing by leaps and bounds. Radio, telephone, satellite communication, cellular technology, wireless Internet … in the modern day two people can chat via a computer when they’re on opposite sides of the planet. Communication has shrunk the world, bringing people from all cultures and backgrounds into contact with each other.


ResourcesModern technology allows resources to be expanded and for previously unused ones to be tapped into. If electricity is the lifeblood of a modern society, for instance, modern technology allows it to be harnessed in new ways. Coal-fired plants and gas-driven turbines are old, but serviceable. Wind and tidal generators use modern technology to harness forces on a scale that our ancestors would have thought impossible. Modern technology has also provided ways to grow more food, transport more people and make more products for a growing society.


KnowledgeWhat modern technology really represents is an increase in knowledge and how people can use it. Modern technology is usually the direct result of discovery and experimentation. Technology is defined as the scientific method being used to achieve a commercial or industrial goal. So to create technology, a bigger base of knowledge and understanding must be created from which to draw on. As improvements are made to technology, so too are improvements made to the pool of knowledge.


The Big PictureTechnology is also the application of knowledge, science and tools in ways that accomplish tasks more effectively. A simple look at how technology has become interwoven into modern life can show its importance. Technology allows many businesses to function properly, allows many people to work from home and helps companies around the world communicate. Modern technology builds prosthetic limbs, creates inventive surgeries and grows more food for a rapidly growing population. It creates more efficient vehicles and allows humanity to expand its knowledge even further.


How Does Technology Impact Communication?

Technology is changing the way we communicate.


A photo being posted to Instagram.


Emails can be misinterpreted.

Technology can both help and hurt family connectedness.

Technology has exploded access to news for the public.

About Modern Technology

Modern technology has revolutionized business and society worldwide.

Most people in the developed world live in an environment that is totally dominated by and interwoven with modern technology. We live in centrally heated houses that incorporate many high-tech materials, eat scientifically engineered food, travel at high speeds in motorized vehicles, and communicate to a greater and greater extent by electronic means. Technology is having a profound effect on the natural environment, on interpersonal dynamics, and on our minds. As it becomes ever more dominant, it becomes increasingly important to assess technology’s effects critically, and to understand both its benefits and its inherent dangers.


  • Although human beings have always used technology of one sort or another, “modern technology,” in the sense that the term is generally used, began with the Industrial Revolution in the mid-eighteenth century. This era saw a massive cultural shift away from hand- , community- and craft-based methods of production and toward centralized, depersonalized and automated means of manufacture. The second major shift toward the technological world that we live in today occurred with the advent of the transistor and computer technology in the mid-20th century.

Culture and Technology

  • The effect of technology on culture is so widespread that most people are not consciously aware of it. Because it is so present in every aspect of our lives, we tend to live inside of a technological matrix and give little thought to how it might be shaping our society and ourselves. Modern technology is the basis of rapid and easy transportation, global communication, preserved food and most medical intervention, all of which have a profound effect on our lives. These effects include multiculturalism, increased population, urbanization and a general shift away from family and cultural repetition toward a fast-paced, anonymous society.


  • It is difficult to overestimate the effect of computers on our world. The invention of the transistor in 1947 began a historical shift toward smaller, cheaper and more universal technology that in the coming years may transform the world beyond recognition. Today, with the ubiquity of computers, mobile telephones, pagers and satellite communications, true solitude is becoming a thing of the past. Human consciousness is networking itself ever more tightly into a global consciousness in which the smallest minutiae of a life become fodder for public discussion.


  • Modern technology has overcome many of the difficulties of human life. The invention of penicillin has prevented millions of deaths from disease and infection. Labor-saving machines do the drudgery that used to require the toil of thousands. Printing, distribution and electronic technologies have allowed books and information of all kinds to penetrate every level of society. For nearly anyone with the motivation to seek them, opportunities are present in far greater number than for most people of earlier times.


  • Every benefit has its price. The more blatant effects of technology are well known: The devastating assault on the natural world, climate change, the dangers of excessively processed food, poorly understood chemical hazards, and the social alienation that comes with huge cities and anonymous lives. In addition to these, there are the more subtle and little understood dangers that occur within the human mind. The increasing pace of contemporary life leads to stress and burnout, and the tidal wave of information that is entering people’s lives, if not properly managed, can lead to disorientation and despair.

How to Charge Electric Cars

Electric cars need to charge for several hours to regain battery strength before hitting the road. Learn how to charge your vehicle fully before commuting to work.


  1. Wear protective gear when you charge your electric car as a simple precaution. A pair of goggles and gloves can help you diminish electrical shocks from errant charges.
  2. Use high-capacity cables to charge your electric car without the possibility of a shock. These cables are lined with protective material and tested with the high electrical currents that are common in industrial environments.
  3. Establish a direct connection between your electric car and the outlet with conductive charging. Electric cars that use conductive charging have electrical sockets–behind the fuel caps–that provide outlets for charging.
  4. Store a backup battery in your garage in case your primary battery decreases performance with repeated charges. Use an online company like Electrical Vehicles USA to find batteries designed specifically for electric cars (see Resources below).
  5. Locate electric stations to help you charge your electric car during long trips. The U.S. Department of Energy has a search tool for alternative-fuel stations (see Resources below). It allows a driver to search any United States community for electric filling stations.
  6. Learn the nuances of inductive charging with new models of electric cars. Inductive charging requires the use of a broad paddle that locks into a special lot near the battery. This method is designed to cut down on electrical shocks while maximizing time for battery charging.
  7. Ask your employer for permission to use electrical outlets to charge your car during work. Companies located in rented office spaces may need to contact property owners about increased uses of electricity.

How to Clean a Virus-Infected Computer

Computer viruses are insidious, sneaky and–like their biological counterparts–constantly mutating. If you think your computer has been infected, the only safe course of action is to use a good anti-virus program.


  1. As soon as you suspect that your computer has a virus, remove your computer from any networks it might be on, as well as from the Internet, so that you don’t inadvertently spread the bug to others. Unplug your network cable if you have to.
  2. If you have virus-scanning (anti-virus) software installed, run it.
  3. If you don’t have anti-virus software, you’ll need to obtain some. If you can’t get it from a network administrator or download it from an uninfected computer, you can mail-order it from a retailer.
  4. Start your computer (still not connected to a network) and follow the instructions that came with the anti-virus software.
  5. Keep running the virus-scanning software until your computer comes up clean.
  6. Reconnect your computer to the Internet and check with the anti-virus software’s publisher to make sure you have the latest updates. If not, download them now.
  7. After updating the anti-virus software, run it again until your computer comes up clean.

How to Delete My Search History on the YouTube Widget for an LG TV

Log in to YouTube online if you want to delete viewing history instead.
The YouTube widget shown on various LG TVs is used to view YouTube much the same as it is viewed on a computer. Search history is provided as a quick way to access results from all searches previously completed using the widget. When you clear the history, no one can see what you searched for but you will have to repeat the process periodically to keep your searches private.


  1. Press “Apps” on the remote control.
  2. Highlight “Premium” on the the screen using the arrow buttons and press “Enter.”
  3. Scroll to YouTube and press “Enter.”
  4. Select “Sign In” and press “Enter.”
  5. Press the arrow keys to highlight “Settings” and press “Enter.”
  6. Select “History” and highlight the word “Clear.”
  7. Press “Enter” to confirm.

How to Hook Up a DVD Player to a Vizio Flat Screen TV


A DVD player connects with composite audio/video cables to the jacks on the back of a Vizio flat screen TV. The RCA-type plugs on both ends of the cables are color coded for fast connections between the two components.


  1. Unplug the DVD player and the Vizio flat screen TV from the electrical outlet while connecting the two components.
  2. Insert the plugs on one end of the composite A/V cables into the Video and Audio OUT jacks on the back of the DVD player. The yellow plug goes to the video jack; red and white insert in the right and left audio jacks for stereo sound.
  3. Plug the other ends of the cables into the Video and Audio IN jacks on the back of the Vizio flat screen TV, following the same color codes for the connections.
  4. Plug the DVD player and the Vizio electrical cords into a surge protector power strip, then plug the power strip into a wall outlet.

What’s the Difference Between a Smart TV and an Internet-Ready TV?

Pointing a remote at a smart TV.
If you’re shopping for a new TV and find yourself bewildered by the difference between a smart set and one that’s Internet-ready, you’re not alone. As the technology continues to develop, so do its marketing labels and descriptions. An Internet-ready TV uses your home network to connect directly to the Internet, either through Wi-Fi or with an Ethernet cable. A smart TV can connect to the Internet directly or through an Internet-enabled appliance such as a set-top box.

Change in Marketing

  • Most articles that discuss Internet-ready TVs date back to before 2012. Even as late as 2011, most uses of the term “smart TV” referred only to a TV or TV set-top box that allowed you to surf the Internet much like a computer, usually with a keyboard. If it couldn’t browse freely through any website, it wasn’t a smart TV. An Internet-ready or Internet-connectable TV described any set that used apps to stream video, play games or access specific websites, but did not allow you to browse websites outside of those apps. By 2012, however, you would have had a difficult time finding any TV described as “Internet-ready.” Nearly every TV manufactured since 2012 that can connect to your home network without an intermediary set-top box qualifies as a smart TV.

Choosing a Smart TV

  • Prices fluctuate all the time, but screen size, resolution, and whether the TV uses an LED, LCD or plasma screen determine the price of any HDTV. Expect to pay a several hundred dollars more for a smart TV than for an HD set without built-in Internet connectivity. Most smart TVs include basic services such as YouTube, Hulu and Netflix. If you plan to make video calls from your TV, verify that the set can access a service such as Skype or Google TV. A smart TV’s basic services don’t carry a cost, but you’ll pay separately for individual subscriptions, including Hulu Plus and Netflix. Whether you rent or purchase movies through iTunes or Google TV, or use a proprietary package such as Sony models offer, you’ll pay for each rental or purchase individually. If you’re looking for a particular game or video service, verify its availability on a TV before you buy the set. You may be able to upgrade your service in the future, but you can’t guarantee that you’ll have access to specific applications.

Smart TV Set-Top Boxes

  • The prices for smart TV set-top boxes can range between $50 and $500, depending on features and capabilities. At the low end, basic boxes like the NetGear NeoTV Wireless Media Player connect to CinemaNow, Netflix, Pandora, Facebook and YouTube. At the higher end, the TiVo Premiere Elite High-Definition Digital Video Recorder accesses Netflix, YouTube and Pandora, and records up to 300 hours of high-definition videos, TV shows and movies. Between these extremes, you’ll find set-top boxes made by D-Link, Western Digital, Roku, Sony, Apple, Logitech and D-Link. Apple TV connects your Apple computer, iPhone or iPad, and other services to the TV. The Logitech Revue uses the Android operating system for use with Google TV, Android-based apps and the Logitech media player for accessing your own music, videos and photos. It includes a keyboard and touchpad, and ties in to your home network through either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It requires an HDMI port on the TV and another on your cable, satellite or telco digital receiver.

Other Devices

  • Besides set-top boxes, other devices can smarten up your regular HD TV to some extent. Game consoles like the Wii, Playstation 3 and XBox 360 give you access to Internet-based services such as HuluPlus or Netflix. Many Blu-ray players and home theater systems also access Internet-based services. Sony and Toshiba models, for example, connect to CinemaNow, Netflix, Pandora and YouTube. Toshiba also offers Picasa connectivity. Other Blu-ray player Internet services vary depending on the manufacturer. Read the fine print to see which services you can use with each brand and model. For example, to use your paid Netflix account with an Xbox, you also pay for a subscription to Xbox Live.