Cars

I’m a typical girl when it comes to cars.  I know nothing about cars and engines.  All I look for in a car is the exterior design.  With that being said, I love how technology has influence the design and icons in my car.  I remember my first car in the 90s had no power steerling, no air condition and no power windows.  Yes, very sad!!!  Now, most car if not all new car offer all these features and an oil change icon.

Bluetooth/wireless

Times have changed with respect to bluetooth/wireless devices.  I remember, when everything had a cord and need to be attached to the computer.  I have multiple cords attached to my computer for my mouse, keyboard, internet connection, and printer.  Now its all wireless.  My desktop computer is completely wireless along with my internet connection and printer.  This new setup makes my desk look organized, aside from all the paperwork.

Working with Webex

Webex is a very cool tool.  Webex is a meeting place tool that allows people from different locations to share there screens.  I used this tool on a daily basics and if it wasn’t for this tool I wouldn’t be able to telecommute and companies would spend a lot of money on travel expenses.  Webex has changed the way companies host meetings.

Instant Messenger

Instant messenger is awesome…right?  Not anymore!!!!  It was awesome, until I had to use it for work.  As a telecommuter, my job requires me to have instant messenger on all the time.  This advancement gives my co-workers visibility to my where abouts.  My IM status changes depending on my outlook calendar, which is a really cool feature.  The only problem is that I still get IMs when I’m in a meeting, or when I’m sharing my screen.  The con’s of Instant Messenger no one respects your status and you cant hide.

My crazy sister....

Every year she plans the Black Friday event with my sisters and our sister in laws.  Then on thanksgiving night she would run out to the news stand and pick up the ads for Black Friday.  She didn’t do that this year, instead she printed all the ads in color.  Thanks to the internet, she was able to get additional coupons and review all the ads days before Black Friday.  Like every year, I opted out from the craziness of Black Friday.

Thanksgiving with technology

This year thanksgiving was slightly different, thanks to technology.  We did our normal routine, we talked, we ate, and we drank.  Around 7pm the room got quite, I looked up and realized everyone was either on their laptop, iPad, Kindle Fire, or cell phone.  Technology has made my family anti social.

Crazy capabilities with the iPad

The iPad has a variety of applications you can purchase in the app store.  My brother-in-law found an application that will allow him to link his  iPad to his car.   This application will troubleshoot any of his problems and they will become visible in the  iPad.   This application will help him identify any issues quickly and save valuable time!!  Who needs a mechanic?

I should have used the internet

I went to Newpark Mall over the weekend to look for a specific store.  This particular store has been in Newpark Mall since 1999, and the last time I shopped there was back in 2005. So, I ASSUMED it was still in business.  Boy, was I wrong.  The store went out of business.  I could have saved some time and gas if I used the Internet to look up the store.    I’m a dork!!!

Im about to kill Flash

What the hell is wrong with this program?  Adobe needs to get there shit together.  Flash crashed three times on me.  Luckily, I saved all my work so no data was lost.   Am I doing something wrong?  It seems like I’m prone to Flash crashing.

Audacity

What the hell is audacity?  That’s what I said, when I first heard about it in my animation class.  Audacity is a FREE audio tool giving you the capability to alter and record your voice.  I used it for the first time last week and it’s great.  I was a bit confused by the layout, so I watched a youtube video on 'How to use Audacity’. Then, I was able to record my voice and change the pitch and speed.  I’m too embarrassed; otherwise I would post the recording.  

Multitasking with my ipad

I am a mobile worker, meaning I work from home.    There are many pros and cons to being a mobile worker.  The Pros:  I’m close to the fridge, no commute and I save money on gas.  The cons:  long hours, all day meetings, late lunches, and occasionally no breaks.

As a mobile worker, I make the best of it with the help of my ipad.  Let me explain.  People at my work like to host meetings, sometimes we have meetings to plan for other meetings.  Yes, I know… really productive!!!  I had a few of those meetings this week.  These types of meetings use to bother me, but not so much now thanks to my ipad.  When a meeting becomes boring or the host has a monotone voice I usually play with my ipad.  My ipad makes the meeting go by fast and helps me stay awake.  I usually play games and surf the web.  Welcome to Corporate America…for Real!!!

Watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTsehSp6Gws&feature=related

We are all suckers!!

We all know technology improves every year with updated models, yet we spend hundreds of dollars on getting it now.  Take for instance, the iPhone 4s currently priced at 399.99.  Everyone bought it, now we’re hearing news about the iPhone 5.  Eventually we will purchase the iPhone5 when it comes out.  It’s impossible to resist temptation on things that we think help make our lives easier and things that make us feel connected to the rest of the world. 

Google to the result

When you’re surrounded by PC users, who do you turn to for help?  My suggestion is to use Google.

I spent my weekend creating my webpage and ran into some issues.   So, I turned to Google.  Google saved me.  Google provided so many results and it helped resolve my div questions in Adobe Dreamweaver.  It’s no wonder their stock price continues to climb.     

I also found out about Google docs.  Yes, I know…I’m slow!!!

Lily embracing change… 

5 external hard drives please!!!

Yep, I said five external hard drives!!!  Why would a person need five external hard drives?  It’s to backup your backup, to backup that backup and to backup all those backups.   You hear it all the time, especially from teachers, friends, or coworkers who have lost data.  You can add me to that list.  

I lost my data twice.  Yes, twice…I’m slow.  First experience:  I was working on my Stop-Motion animation.  I imported 800 pictures into flash with success.  I named it and saved it in two different locations.    To cut the story short, the Flash drive crashed and I lost a day worth of work.  It sucked!!! 

Second experience:  Again with the Flash drive.  I started my creature project.  I drew my creature and didn’t save.  Drive crashed again.  My creature was lost.  All because I put my trust into a single little flash drive.   I should have saved it to another hard drive.

My tip:  Buy five external hard drives, label them, and save your work every two minutes.  This way, you spend more time saving your work then actually doing your work.  Productive…NO, but at least your data is saved.

    Lily embracing change at a cost of 5 external hard drives!!!

Ipad

What does my 2-year old nephew say to me when he sees me?  He’s definitely not saying hi, or yelling my name.  He is, however, happy to see me. Not because I have candy or because he wants to play, it’s because of my iPad.  As soon as he hears my keys rattling and see’s my face he yells “IPAD AUNTIE, IPAD, AUNTIE!”  I created a little monster.  I am only forced to give him my ipad.  You might wonder what a 2-year old does with an Ipad.  Well….he plays games, watches Youtube and, you guessed it, deletes all, or most of my games and changes my interface. 

 That’s the price I’m willing to pay for him to learn.  I know...I’m an awesome aunt. 

Bill Joy

Bill Joy wrote a very long article cleverly titled, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us.”  This is a WONDERFUL article! I even read it twice!!! Boy, did I have fun.  Despite my enthusiasm, the article had some interesting points about advanced technology and the risk it brings. 

There are two main quotes I liked.  The first one is, “In our time, how much danger do we face, not only from nuclear weapons, but from all of technologies?  How high are the extinction risks?”

The second quote I liked is, “I have always believed that making software more reliable, given its many uses, will make the world a safer place and better place; if I were to come to believe the opposite, then I would be morally obligated to stop this work.”

This got me thinking about my growing nieces.  They’re young, but very knowledgeable about surfing the web and playing games.  I’m proud that they are explaining their knowledge, but at the same time I’m scared of the potential dirty old men (DOM’s) on the other end.  It will still be a couple more years before they open email accounts, Facebook, or begin chatting over the web.  As a caring and awesome aunt I worry about predators, especially since I’ve watched Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator.”   It’s one thing to monitor what they do over the web, but what technology doesn’t prevent are the DOMs that are ready to strike. 

As technology enhances year by year, the more creative DOMs become.  I can’t even imagine where the web will be when my nieces turn into aunts themselves.  I won’t deprive them of knowledge and learning the benefits of the web.  I know I won’t always be there to protect them, but I can only teach them about the potential risks the web can bring, just as Joy talks about with advanced technology and the risk it brings. 

Lily embracing change....

CRAZINESS

System overload…. I’m learning to use my MAC book pro at the same time, trying to learn Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Flash and Photoshop.  Study group anyone?  Lily embracing change…

I purchased.....

Out with the old and in with the new, I purchased a MAC book pro this weekend.  It's sooooo sexy!!! I also spent an hour with apple care because my 'new' laptop locked up.  Lily embracing change....

today's question...

I'm torn....PC or Mac?  I need to purchase a new laptop.  Buying a PC would be safe and buying a Mac would be unsafe.  Should I just dive in and purchase a MAC?   Lily, embracing change…

Lily embracing change....

Never thought I would ever have a blog. I’m not a tech savvy person; no one contacts me for tech advice because it’s not what I do or know.   Don’t get me wrong, I depend on technology, but not as much as others.  I can go days without checking my personal emails and when I surf the web I’m in and out.  My excuse… I work between 40-60 hours a week behind a computer.  Once I leave my office, getting behind a computer is the last thing on my mind.  End result…me with an empty brain with respect to advance technology.  Well that’s all about to change.  I am currently enrolled at California State University, East Bay and taking web design and animation classes.  These are two awesome classes that are going to pave my path with learning new tools and technology.  Stay tuned as I uncover what everyone already knows and try to stay involved with our ever-so-changing world of technology.  Lily, embracing change…