NFC mobile chips - what they are and how you can use them

How we pay for things appears to keep getting easier and easier. The trend is continuing with NFC, or Near Field Communication, mobile chips. NFC technology lets you wirelessly transfer data from one gadget to another at close ranges.


How will we use it?

NFC mobile chips will soon be integrated into all smartphones, making it easier than ever to pay for your coffee. Instead of looking around in your purse or pocket to find your wallet, you simply use your phone – something most of us have at hand at all times.

NFC mobile chips allow users to store their credit card information in their phones. Then, when they are at a store or retailer that is equipped with mobile payment technology, they can simply scan their phones at the register to pay for their purchases.


Google Wallet

Google is the first technology giant to launch a mobile payment system. Google Wallet is currently available on the Android Nexus S and may possibly work with other smartphones through an NFC-enabled sticker. Several retailers have signed on to work with Google Wallet.


Apple, which is rumored to be working on a mobile payment system as well, will most likely not willingly open up their devices to the Google Wallet technology. Instead, they will most likely be releasing their own NFC systems very soon.


Other potential uses

NFC mobile chips will likely soon be doing much more than just helping you pay for your coffee. Some of those future uses include:

  • Replace passports and boarding passes
  • Products may contain RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags on them that you can scan in order to gather information.
  • Pet tags may soon have RFID tags attached that you can scan if you find a lost puppy.
  • Replace keys – no more clunky key chains!

NFC technology is one of the biggest advancements in payments we have seen in a long time.


For more information on NFC mobile chips and how they work, take a look at this article.

Why you should use a workflow chart

Your daily workflow can be tough to get in check. Sometimes we don’t know what the next logical step is off the top of our heads. Luckily, workflow charts are simple to create and can make certain processes much easier to understand.

What are they?

A flowchart is basically a diagram that outlines processes with differently shaped boxes (steps in the process are usually square while decisions are usually indicated with a diamond) and arrows that connect those boxes. They are great tools when it comes to managing or outlining processes. For an example of a flowchart, click here.

Pros

  • Very straightforward way of conveying a process as the symbols are generally universally understood
  • Once it has been made, the process will often take less time than before
  • Helps users understand how each step impacts an entire process

Cons

  • Can be difficult to create, especially when the processes are more complicated
  • If you don’t have the proper software, this can be a very long process

How to create one


Creating a workflow chart is less complicated than it may seem. It can be rather simple when done on the computer, thanks to software designed exclusively for that purpose. If you are using computer software to build your flowchart, it is always ideal to outline it first so as to prevent the chart from getting too messy.


Workflow software enables you to choose the type of box you’d like to use (to indicate a step or a decision) and then you fill in the information and connect the boxes as you see fit. If a certain step has several courses of action, you should indicate those with multiple arrows leading to those options. To see what different flowchart icons mean, take a look at this eHow article.

Workflow charts can be incredibly helpful when it comes to nailing down a process. They can also be excellent tools if you have to hand off a process to a colleague as they provide detailed, step-by-step instructions.


If you would like more information on how to create a workflow chart, check out this eHow article.

Tech terms you ought to know

For nearly all of us, technology is an integral part of our everyday lives. Many of us, however, still are hazy on a number of common technology terms. Fortunately, for those that are unclear, we have created a mini glossary of common tech terms you should be familiar with.


Cookies

Cookies allow websites to recognize you when you revisit them. By allowing cookies, you are letting your browser store your information, such as username, password and preferences, and provide it for the site you are visiting. They are a time-saver that can be very convenient for avid Internet users.


Cookies are also seen by some as a privacy issue. Since they store your information and track your activity, somebody could easily obtain your data. You can protect yourself, however, by using cookies sparingly.

URL

A URL, or uniform resource letter, is the web address for a certain site. It is what you type into the address bar at the top of your web browser which brings you to the website you want to visit.


Cloud


Cloud is one of the most used terms in tech these days yet it still has quite a few people scratching their heads. The cloud is made up of web-based services that you can use on any computer without buying hardware or installing software. Google Docs and Facebook are among the most common cloud services today.

Flash

Flash is an Adobe Systems-owned platform that allows for great web interactivity. Installing a Flash plug-in on your browser makes it possible for you to view animations, certain displays and videos. Although Flash has been the longtime standard, HTML5 is surfacing as a valid competitor.


Knowing the basics of tech terminology is a great way to better understand the technology we interact with.


For more tech terms and their definitions, check out this glossary.

Fuzzy about social media terms? Check out this guide

Social media is something that exists in most of our lives, whether we like it or not. Unfortunately, many of us still have no idea what most of the terms associated with social media mean. This simple guide can reduce some of that confusion by explaining some of the more common social media terms.


1. Tag


A tag can refer to a number of things, depending on how it is used. When referring to blogs, tags usually refer to the keywords that were used in the post. Tagging keywords in blogs allows search engines to recognize your post as relating to certain topics, and helps the post rank higher.


Tag might also be used in reference to tagging someone in, or linking someone to, photos. Facebook photo tagging now utilizes facial recognition software to help you tag friends in photos.


You may also tag your friends in posts and status updates so they are alerted to your post. Depending on your friend’s privacy settings, the post will also show up on their wall for their other friends to see.


2. Troll

A troll is a person who contributes to social networks with the goal of provoking others.  They are the people that become fans of pages or join groups and then make comments that they know will anger other group members.


3. Friend

We all know what a friend is in the conventional sense, but in social media it can be used as a verb. When you add a person as a friend over a social network, many users refer to this as “friending” someone.


4. Stream

Stream, like tag, can have a few different meanings. When it’s used as a verb it pertains to a constant streaming of information, like a webcast. In the form of a noun it typically refers to the information and updates that show up on someone’s Twitter or Facebook home page.

5. At mention

An at mention, or @ mention, is when you mention someone on Twitter. It’s similar to Facebook tagging in that it will show up on the person’s Twitter stream if you mention them, and alert them to your post.

Although social media terms can often be confusing, this guide can surely help clear up some of the confusion. If you’d like even more social media definitions, take a look at this article.

Tips for avoiding employee burnout

Employee burnout is something that most of us have seen in others or experienced ourselves. Repetitive tasks and overwhelming workloads can easily get the best of us. Thankfully, there are plenty of simple ways to both combat and stop employee burnout before anybody reaches his or her breaking point.


Avoiding burnout

  • Have fun – Making room for fun can alleviate some stress and help to keep employees inspired when they are on the brink of burnout.

  • Switch it up – Let employees focus on new projects or teams when they’ve been concentrating on one thing for a long time, like Facebook is doing with Hackamonth.

  • Encourage breaks – It’s great to have employees that don’t want to stop working until they get things finished. Unfortunately, those are the people that are certain to burn out fastest. If you have employees like this, encourage them to take walks or go on a coffee run – anything to keep them from going stir crazy.

For those occasions when burnout can’t be prevented, there are a couple of things you can do to help make sure that your employees don’t become fed up.


How to cope with burnout

  • Accept it – Burnout isn’t always avoidable so it’s important to be aware of the signs such as lethargy, decreased socializing or irritability.

  • Communicate – Growing businesses often go through transformations that leave employees frustrated. Making sure your employees know that they can talk to you is a terrific way to stop burnout before it gets out of hand.

Employee burnout can’t always be prevented but there are many ways to deal with it when it happens. Implementing these suggestions can help keep burnout under control and help your employees cope with it.

If you’d like to check out more burnout prevention tips take a look at this article.

3 tips for better online searches

Often, when we conduct online searches we end up getting hundreds of thousands of results – many of them irrelevant. Thankfully, there are a number of simple steps you can take to help generate more accurate results.


Keep it simple


When you’re performing online searches it is usually best to use as few words and phrases as possible, while still communicating what you’re searching for. If you’re looking for a bookstore in your area, simply type in “bookstore” and add the name of your town or your zip code. This should provide you with accurate results that will likely be quite relevant.

Learn about Boolean

Boolean searches are something many of us are familiar with, whether we realize it or not. Essentially, Boolean searches center around using the terms “and,” “not” and “or” in your searches. It enables you to include or exclude several words and phrases from your search results.


This concept also is effective when you use pluses or minuses in your searches. If you want to include a phrase in your search results, simply type a “ ” before it in your search. If you want to exclude something, precede it with a “-“ when you search.


Be precise

Preciseness is one of the most basic ways to ensure better search results. Using broad phrases can often leave you with thousands of results that have little to nothing to do with what you’re searching for.

Quotation marks are typically very useful when performing an online search. Most search engines recognize it as meaning “search for this exact phrase.” So, when you know the business or idea you’re searching for, it may be best to search for it in quotes.


These three strategies can make quite the difference when it comes to relevance of search results. Implementing them can almost guarantee that you will spend much less time sorting through results you don’t want.


If you’d like even more tips on performing online searches, take a look at this article.

3 office adjustments that can boost productivity

There are always a number of reasons for being unproductive. Every season brings a new problem or distraction. In the winter, energy dwindles and in the summer, all people can think about is being outside. While there is no solution for those distractions, there are several things you can do to help keep your employees focused and boost productivity.


Keep a clean office

Clutter and disorganization can easily distract people from the things they should be focusing on. Cleaning the office and encouraging your employees to keep their workspaces clean can instantly eliminate one of the biggest distractions out there.


Increase the temperature

In one study, a cooler office was shown to have quite a negative effect on employee productivity. In a slightly warmer office, employees made 44% less typing errors and their typing output improved by an incredible 150%. Based on those figures, a bigger heating bill may be well worth it.


Lighten up

Another study demonstrated that a brighter, better-lit office can help employees stay on task. Employees who worked in offices with windows spent 15% more time concentrated on their work than those in windowless offices.


Not only does this change help to improve productivity, it also can help you save money on your electricity bill by lighting up the office naturally. Because it’s so easy to do, it’s surely in your best interest to open blinds and move employees into offices with windows whenever possible.


These office adjustments are incredibly easy to make and can really make a substantial difference in daily output from your employees.

For a few more simple tips on boosting productivity, take a look at this article.

5 gift ideas that are perfect for Mom

With Mother’s Day approaching, you may be scrambling to find a present for the mom in your life. Luckily for you, we have a few awesome tech-inspired gift ideas that are sure to please. Keep reading for some fantastic ideas.


Digital picture frame

Each and every mom loves to relive family memories through pictures. That’s why digital picture frames are so great. They allow your mom to relive a new memory whenever she chooses. If you help her set it up, she can sit back and start admiring the gift right away.


Tech time

Your mom may love technology, but she still may not know just how to use it. With this gift, you can offer her your expertise and show her how to do things so she can watch her DVD or program her DVR even when you’re not around to help.

Digital magazine or Netflix subscription

Does your mom have a TV show or magazine that she can’t get enough of? If so, a digital magazine or Netflix subscription might be perfect. Digital magazines provide her with all of the articles without all of the clutter.


A Netflix subscription gives your mom the chance to catch up on her favorite TV shows on her own time. She can also use this to watch that movie that her friends have been talking about for months now. Either way, it’s sure to be a big hit.


Tablet

A tablet could be a great gift for Mom. Tablets are incredibly popular, instantly making your mom one of the coolest on the block, and are also very portable. Your mom can do practically anything she’d like with the iPad or PlayBook and carry it with her wherever she goes.


If a standard tablet is a little out of your price range, the Nook Color may work better for you. It still boasts the portability of the iPad and has plenty of games and apps available.


Quality time

Most moms feel as if they don’t get to see their kids enough, especially if they live far away. In these cases, simply giving your mom a coupon for video chat sessions would likely be the perfect gift.


We all know our moms will love whatever present we get for them. These gifts, however, will show you care and you put thought into it. Try surprising your mom this year with a great gift that she can actually use.


If you’d like more gift ideas, take a look at this article.

Is Prezi the best tool for you?

Prezi is a presentation application that has been receiving a great deal of recognition lately for its alternative approach to presentations. It has a great deal of fans due to its versatility. What else makes it so great? Read on!

Flash-based

Because Prezi is flash-based, your presentation doesn’t need to be entirely linear, like most presentations. Instead, you can create a visual map containing anything from words to links.


You can zoom in and out of that map to view various parts of the presentation, and can move between areas. This eliminates the need to have identical slides throughout the presentation. It also prevents you from having to revisit a previous slide if you need to reference it again.

Intuitive

Prezi presentations are built differently than most, which can make it hard to get accustomed to at first. Once you have become comfortable with the program, however, it is like second nature. You can create presentations like you would a thought map, which is fantastic for those non-linear thinkers.


If you are having any trouble getting used to the user interface, simply take a look at one of the many tutorials on Prezi’s website.

While Prezi is web-based, it lets you download your presentation once it is complete. This is especially convenient for anyone who worries about the stability of his or her Internet connection during the presentation. The tool can be used for free or purchased for $59/year for additional storage and privacy.


Prezi is an incredible tool. While not everyone is looking to ditch PowerPoint, this is a great alternative.

Ensure your online security with these tips

In light of the recent Playstation security breach, many people are growing more concerned over the privacy of their online identities. If your information falls into the wrong hands, the results can be damaging. Fortunately, there are a lot of steps you can take to ensure that your online identity is safe.

Use an encrypted connection

Encrypted connections are fairly easy to find on many of the most popular sites including Facebook and Twitter. Sometimes, you need to change the privacy settings in order to gain encrypted access. Once that is done, however, it can make your information far more secure.


You can determine whether or not you have an encrypted connection merely by checking the URL. If it begins with “https” instead of “http” you have an encrypted connection. If it does not, you can try to change the settings, although it is possible that that specific site does not allow for encrypted connections.


Use strong passwords

Strong passwords are unbelievably easy to create and can make a great difference in online security. Using a combination of numbers, symbols, spaces and upper- and lowercase letters can help to create a strong password. If you can’t see yourself using a ton of different characters, at least be sure to use a password that can’t easily be guessed.


Also, you'll want to use a unique password for each site. If one site is hacked into, your password to that site may become vulnerable. Having the same password for several other sites will make the information stored on those sites vulnerable as well.

Look out for phishing

Phishing is basically when a hacker poses as a reliable company, like a bank, in order to attain sensitive information from people. It is fairly common due to its relative ease, since all the hackers need is your name and email address.


The recent data breach suffered by Epsilon is a perfect example of how phishing can occur. The people that hacked Epsilon’s network immediately gained access to thousands of email addresses and therefore had the opportunity to get sensitive, personal information from people.


These three tips are unbelievably easy to follow through with and instantly increase your online security. If you’d like more information on protecting your online identity, check out this article.