Technology

History of mobile app development

Don’t we just love mobile apps? Well, these applications that have become a part of our daily lives have an interesting history and may not be known by many. For many of you, the development of mobile applications dates back to a few years ago with the iphone app development. However, app development can go back a few years earlier, when Blackberry first delivered wireless email in 2002 by RIM. Since then, the world of application development has advanced by leaps and bounds as you will see below.

The app development journey

We cannot ignore the great push that Apple has given with its iTunes marketplace. We can say that this was really the first time that mobile phone users were able to take full advantage of mobile applications. A year after Apple released its first iPhone that had pre-loaded apps, they launched their App Store in 2008 and this wowed smartphone users. The same year, in October, Google launched its Android Market with HTC Dream, which was the first commercially available Android smartphone.

By April 2009, the number of apps downloaded from Apple’s app store had surpassed one billion, which was incredible considering the app store had only been around for eight months. As of September 2011, this number had increased tenfold with over 10 billion downloads. Android has also proven to be a major competitor in application development, and as of April 2010, the total number of applications downloaded from the Android Market exceeded one billion. Just one year later, in January 2011, total app downloads also passed the 10 billion mark. As of March 2012, the App Store enjoyed over 25 billion downloads and although Android Market was later switched to Google Play, it also did very well with over 15 billion downloads as of May of last year.

Most popular apps

We cannot talk about the history of mobile applications and fail to recognize some of the most downloaded applications in the history of apps.

The first paid Android app to hit the 1 billion mark was ‘beautiful widgets’ and this was in 2011. In 2012, we saw ‘drawsomething’ receive 50 million downloads in just 50 days after it was released. ‘Instagram’ also received 38 million new downloads in just 3 months from its 12 million downloads in January 2012 to more than 50 million in April of that same year. ‘Angry birds’, the most popular mobile game, also had more than one billion global downloads in May last year.

The future of apps

Currently, around 70% of iPhone users have downloaded apps from popular brands, while 60% say they are interested in doing the same. According to research by Indiana University, people are more interested in downloading apps from a brand they recognize, and this could mean good news for your business.

Both smartphone and tablet users have different needs when it comes to apps and it is easy to see why the app development industry has a great future. What many of you don’t know is that app usage is actually higher than mobile web usage and while initially the business world took more advantage of mobile apps, things have changed and apps have revolutionized the how our needs are met. Internet access is now easy and statistics indicate that half of the cell phone market is dominated by smartphones. So this means that there is a growing demand for apps and app development is now found on virtually every operating system. You, too, could tap into the enormous potential that mobile apps bring to us by talking to a mobile app development company.

Technology

Intellectual Property: The Underdog of the Business World

Today’s world is a knowledge economy. Ignoring the strategic potential of intellectual property and its use for business would be the biggest corporate mistake. Intellectual Property or IP is the term used to describe something original or new conceived by the mind. Anything new or original can be intellectual property, be it a brand, an invention or art. For companies, the protection and management of their own IP assets are crucial when establishing the services or products in the market. Intellectual property includes trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc. that apply to trademarks or logos, written content, art and design, or innovative products. Many companies are becoming more and more aware of the contribution of intellectual property protection to the success of a business and thus the need for intellectual property (IP) services arises.

Use of IP for companies

Intellectual property is often one of the main reasons for the growth of economies and companies. Companies seldom realize that they have several intangible assets that hold more value than their tangible assets. A company’s IP rights prevent other companies from duplicating its services or products. They also help develop a strong identity for a brand by ensuring that it remains unique and exclusive. They help companies earn revenue through intellectual property transactions, such as licensing. They also help companies raise risk capital through legally protected IP assets. In addition to these, there are countless other benefits of IP rights for businesses. Intellectual property rights give companies a competitive advantage. Companies should consult IP service providers to find out what types of IP protection apply to their assets and products, how they can generate revenue by protecting their IP, which assets require IP protection, and how they can protect their IP from infringement.

IP is the property of the business owner or stakeholders of a business. Any intellectual property-related contracts made with subcontractors and employees must clearly indicate the owner of the intellectual property they will create for the company. That way, any product developed or used by employees or contractors remains under intellectual property protection and steps can be taken to prevent intellectual property infringement. There are various types of IP protection and the type of IP protection depends on the type of intellectual property developed or created. More than one type of protection may also be applicable for a specific asset. IP services are often sought out to find out what different types of IP protection can be applied to the individual assets of a company. This requires a review of all tangible and intangible assets of the business. In order to use IP to their advantage, companies need to know what it is, how they can use it, why they should use it, who owns the IP, and how it can be traded to generate revenue. Integrating business plans with IP strategy is essential to give a company a competitive advantage. Registered and unregistered IP rights can be combined to enhance IP protection of assets.

Keeping Secrets – Improving Market Value and Earnings

To obtain a design or patent, the asset must be novel and not disclosed to anyone outside the organization. Companies should keep in mind that they must keep their inventions or designs secret and out of public view until they apply for a patent. Furthermore, one has to choose between different types of intellectual property protection for the same asset. For example, if a patent is applied for on a potato chip recipe, everything has to be disclosed in the patent. If a company does not want to reveal a secret recipe, it can opt for trade secret protection. With the right approach, companies can increase their profits and their market value. When a company has a service or product protected by IP, its demand in the market increases. Investors and financiers also value products that are legally protected. More revenue can be generated by licensing or franchising the product, which translates into increased profit margin and market share. When selling a company or during a merger, the value of a company is high if it has assets protected by intellectual property. Therefore, it is always advisable to seek intellectual property services to ensure the strategic utilization of a company’s assets. Through patents, companies can earn revenue through licenses and royalties. A great advantage of this is that a small or medium-sized company can have a patented invention but not have the capital to commercialize it, in which case it can license it to another company that has the capacity to commercialize the invention. In this way, the company continues to earn revenue from its invention without the need to market the invention on its own.

Developing an IP Strategy

Companies can develop their IP strategies in consultation with IP service providers. To develop a good IP strategy, companies must first identify the different ways they can integrate their business plans with their IP. They should search available trademark, patent and design databases to ensure that their ideas, designs or concepts are new and do not infringe the intellectual property rights of others. The benefits and risks associated with registered and unregistered IP rights must be weighed. It is imperative to raise awareness among employees and staff of their obligations regarding the maintenance of confidentiality. IP audits should be carried out to ensure that the company owns IP, especially when the asset is prepared or used by contractors or third parties. Companies should also be aware of IP insurance and IP infringement. Assets related to intellectual property are domain names, trademarks, patents, designs, copyrights, franchises, licenses, headers, distribution agreements, publishing rights, secret formulas, core technology, secret processes, software and databases. of information. All of these are generally covered through IP services.

Whatever a company’s niche product or service, the entire process invariably results in the production and application of IP. If companies do not realize the importance of a good IP strategy for the success of their business, they will miss out on a great opportunity, or sometimes the only opportunity, to ensure business growth and success. Not only must a company’s intellectual property be identified, it must also be properly managed and protected. At the same time, companies must ensure that they do not infringe the intellectual property rights of other companies or individuals. Not realizing it can result in large amounts of unforeseen losses for the business. Many companies have reported large losses due to litigation and disputes that may have resulted from innocently ignorant infringement of other companies’ intellectual property rights. Therefore, most companies offering IP services offer advice and counsel on their clients’ IP strategy, but also review existing assets to ensure they do not infringe on other IP rights. It is also important to monitor other products and services to ensure that other companies are not infringing on your intellectual property. Make the right choice of IP protection, be it patent, trademark or copyright, etc. it is essential to ensure that the maximum benefits are obtained from the intellectual property. Legally protected assets are the most prized assets of any company and therefore directly influence its revenue, market value and brand identity strength.

For more details visit here http://www.accuprosys.com/ip-services/

Technology

The Palma Interzonal – 1970 – Fischer’s crushing comeback

Since after World War II, interzonal tournaments have been used to find contenders for the world chess championship. Find the top six players and add two players who are pre-qualified to play. These eight players play against each other until they find the best player, who will be the official challenger to the world champion. In the three years it takes to find the challenger, the champion doesn’t need to play. He can only wait for the challenger.

Boris Spassky was the world champion at the time. And before the world champion can be challenged, you must win the ranking: you must be among the top six players out of 24 in a so-called “interzonal tournament”. However, the best Western player, Bobby Fischer, was not present at the 1970 interzonal. He had not participated in the American tournament that gave Mallorca the ticket.

But a few days before the tournament began, the Spanish organizer received a telegram: the American player Paul Benkö could not come and gave up his place. The American federation gave his place to Robert Fischer. Everyone remembered how Fischer had shocked and left the Tunis interzonal three years earlier, and few were comfortable with it. However, the American federation had spoken. It was legal, so FIDE accepted Fischer as one of the American challengers instead of Benkö and the tournament began. Very quickly, Fischer let his talent speak for him on the board.

Except Fischer, all the favorite players were from the USSR. Fischer hated them and kept repeating that they conspired against him and banded together so as not to fight each other. Former world champion Vasily Smyslov was in attendance, so was Lev Polugaevsky, Mark Taimanov and especially the very talented Efim Geller. Geller was a great opening specialist and had beaten Fischer three times before.

When the match started, Geller was leading the tournament with a half point advantage over Fischer. Fischer had surprised everyone by losing to Denmark’s Bent Larsen and had a few draws against lower-ranked players.

Geller began his game slowly and cautiously, and from move seven he proposed a draw. Bobby Fischer laughed and whispered an answer (a no) in a way that made Geller blush.

The game went on and very quickly, the Russian had to go into a defensive game. He resisted quite well, but totally worn out, he lost in the eighth hour of the game. Now, Fischer was leading and he drove it, so it went from win to win. He won the tournament with 18.5 points out of a possible 23. The six challengers were:

1. Bobby Fischer (USA) – 18.5/23
2. Bent Larsen (Denmark) – Efim Geller (USSR) – Robert Hübner (FRG) – 23/15
3. Mark Taimanov (USSR) – Wolfgang Uhlmann (GDR) – 23/14

After beating the other challengers, Bobby Fischer became the challenger to world champion Boris Spassky and ended up becoming the world champion himself.

Technology

Fisher-Price Tickle Me Elmo – 19 Fun Facts About The Elmo Phenomenon

Who would have imagined in 1996 that Tickle Me Elmo, a newly released plush toy, would become the new sales sensation that Christmas? It was “just” a funny little bundle of red fur that laughed hysterically when you tickled it. And yet since then Tickle Me Elmo and its successors have topped the sales charts for several holiday seasons.

This year promises to be another big sales year for the Elmo line of plush dolls with the introduction of Elmo Live! from Fisher-Price. Some stores are currently limiting the amount you can buy in anticipation of hot sales numbers. Here are 19 fun facts about the sales sensation started by the laughing little red man.

1. Tyco introduced Tickle Me Elmo to US markets in 1996. By Christmas, Elmo had become a bestseller.

2. Elmo experienced a surge in sales after Rosie O’Donnell featured the doll on an episode of her show in October 1996. Every time a guest said the word “wall,” Rosie would throw a doll into the audience.

3. That same year saw a similar jump in sales after Bryant Gumbel held a doll for most of an episode of the Today Show.

4. The day after Thanksgiving 1996, Tickle Me Elmo sold out in 2 hours at most stores across the country.

5. Tyco originally expected to sell 400,000 Elmos that first year. They easily sold out that amount and were unable to meet demand over Christmas even though they continued to rush manufacture the doll.

6. Supply shortages prompted some parents in North America to take extreme measures. In reality, the parents fought each other in the stores over the doll.

7. Prices skyrocketed with classified ads in some newspapers advertising the toy for hundreds of dollars. One report claims that the $28.99 toy sold for up to $1,500.

8. Various injury stories were reported across the country. For example, on December 14, 1996 at a Wal-mart in Fredericton, New Brunswick, an employee was injured by a crowd when they saw him holding one of the last dolls in stock.

9. The New York Daily News reported an unusual story. John Gotti, Jr., son of the alleged mob boss, bought a box of Tickle Me Elmos from a store in Queens, New York, several weeks after the doll sold out. Store officials said Gotti was “lucky to be in the right place at the right time.”

10. Elmo’s rumble feature uses a larger version of the rumble motor found in cell phones and game controllers.

11. In 1997, three new Tickle Me dolls were released: Tickle Me Ernie, Tickle Me Big Bird, and Tickle Me Cookie Monster. None of them have matched the mysterious success of Elmo.

12. In 2001, a “surprise edition” of Tickle Me Elmo was released as part of a contest. On January 9, 2002, five of the dolls stopped laughing. They then announced to their owners that they had won a prize, the largest of which was a staggering $200,000.

13. The TMX, which stands for Tickle Me Extreme or Tickle Me Ten (where “X” is the Roman numeral 10), was released as part of the 10th anniversary commemoration of the first doll. TMX Elmo expanded Elmo’s laughing behaviors to include rolling on the ground and pounding his fist on the ground.

14. In a well-executed marketing promotion, the manufacturer created excitement for the TMX by hiding TMX Elmo before its release. People who reviewed the product before it was released were required to sign confidentiality agreements that prevented them from revealing details about the doll ahead of time.

15. TMX Elmo’s marketing promotion included pre-release sales of the doll. Amazon took more pre-orders than it could fulfill.

16. The full look of the TMX doll was first revealed on ABC’s Good Morning America.

17. TMX Elmo’s box hid the doll until he bought it. A “preview flap” on the box only lets you see Elmo’s eyes, and he said, “Ah, ah, ah, ah! Don’t peek!”

18. A 2007 version of the doll featured hidden messages that Elmo would only say if you did the right thing to the doll. Rhyming clues on the manufacturer’s website helped consumers figure out how to trigger the special messages.

19. The 2008 version of the doll is called elmo live! It features a whole new set of actions and sounds, making it the most advanced version of the popular Elmo dolls. Sales of elmo live! it is expected to be vigorous for the 2008 holiday season. With the economic difficulties we are having this year it will be interesting to see how well Elmo lives! sells

Technology

Why Cheap Dependent Company Insurance May Not Be Cheaper

Learn about the auto insurance companies that brag about their low premiums on national TV, radio, and social media. They really want you to internalize their messages.

However, the truth of the matter is that there may be a misconception about what they mean.

“Replace your current coverage with ours,” they proclaim, “and you’ll find savings on your auto insurance!” Or “Give us ten minutes and we’ll present you with a cheaper rate than others.”

The real facts indicate that most vehicle drivers will not realize any savings by switching to a direct insurance company. This is because no dependent company has the means to offer coverage other than its own. The gloss of a cheap quote can actually be the mask that covers a higher insurance deductible and less liability coverage.

To underscore this important lesson, we bring you this true story involving someone who decided to go with the ability of an independent agency to find personalized auto insurance for him.

A motorist who had previously been insured through one of these highly publicized dependent companies promoting ‘cheaper rates’ decided to go with an independent agency known for its impeccable customer service.

Following a review of this man’s ‘affordable’ auto policy, the insurance specialist discovered some serious gaps in coverage. Realizing that this could cause serious problems if the policyholder is ever involved in a car accident, he went to work reviewing the many policies offered through his company’s network of providers. She identified an excellent plan that covered the gaps and had a competitive low rate attached.

The client was pleased with the find and left with a new peace of mind due to his newly purchased policy.

By a twist of fate, it wasn’t long after this policyholder was involved in a car accident that left his vehicle in total disrepair. Since the other driver was at fault in this collision, it was assumed that the other driver’s insurance company would pay for the damages.

But there was a major downside to this. The other insurance company offered to pay well below the full value of the car.

That’s when the new policyholder whose car had been totaled decided to call his new company. The insurance company gave him no trouble, no problems. Instead, they sent him a check for the amount that was actually worth his car—three thousand dollars above what the at-fault driver’s insurance company was offering!

Guaranteed: The happy ending to this true story would have been very different if that ‘cheap premium’ policy with gaps in coverage had been in force.

Now, be the judge, is that ‘cheap’ policy really ‘cheap’?

Technology

PlayStation 4 release date: sooner than you think?

People have been raving about the PlayStation 3, the stunning graphics, the cellular chip processor, the blue ray, and its amazing capabilities.

Flashback 15 years ago. Capcom released Street Fighter II for arcades. Tecmo released Tecmo Super Bowl for the NES and Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog. Nintendo launches the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

The release of the 16-bit Sega Genesis in ’89 created competition with Nintendo, which previously dominated the Internet gaming market for home consoles. However, in ’91, the SNES led Nintendo once again.

At the time, Sony was nowhere to be found in the games industry. However, by this time, Sony had seen the power of video game consoles and quietly began working on a console that would rival Nintendo and Sega as the best game console on the market at the time. The Sony PlayStation became the first game console to sell over 100 million game units in March 2005. Sony also had the ability to play audio CDs, as Sony refused to say that it was strictly a gaming console. games. This trend continued when PlayStation 2 launched and became the fastest selling console, selling over 105 million copies between October 26, 2000 and March 31, 2006. The PS2 had the ability to not only be compatible with earlier versions on PlayStation 1 games, but also played music and DVD movies.

Fast forward to the present and Microsoft has now entered as a major player by introducing its second gaming console, the Xbox360, which followed the Xbox. And even though Nintendo had no outside revenue from such things as stereos, computer software, home appliances, and entertainment systems, they refused to be a major player in the game console market. They released the Nintendo Wii which will compete not only with the Xbox360 but it was released in time for the Christmas holidays to compete with the new PlayStation 3.

The PlayStation 3 is nothing short of amazing. The Blu-ray drive enables playback of ultra-high-density optical discs capable of storing digital media, including high-definition video, for some of the most stunning graphics you’ll ever see. It also comes with a bluetooth wireless controller and, more importantly, the cellular processing chip, the same chip used in some supercomputers.

According to wikipedia, during the launch in Japan on November 11, 2006, PlayStation3 sold 81,639 copies in the first 24 hours. It remains out of print and was found selling for up to $15,000 on Ebay. If the built-in 20GB hard drive isn’t enough, the PS3 also comes in a premium version that contains not only a 60GB hard drive, but also multiple flash card readers.

Will we see a PlayStation 4? Not only is the answer earlier than many people think, but according to Sony’s Ken Kutaragi, they plan to release it within the next decade.

“My dream, and the dream of my whole team, is not over,” Kutaragi recently told the BBC. “In fact, we haven’t accomplished half of what we’re going to do.”

“We want to lead with PlayStation 3, and beyond that, with PlayStation 4 in the next decade.”

One can only speculate on what the future of PlayStation will bring. It’s hard to imagine it getting much better, but still, each release manages to innovate and exceed expectations. But one thing is for sure, they will always seek to bring more to their hungry consumers and will continue to look for ways to improve technology beyond current capabilities.

Technology

The main advantages of video conferencing

Video conferencing is rapidly gaining in popularity and it’s no wonder. Basically, video conferencing allows people to communicate in real time, no matter where they are. They can be as few as two people, or they can be thousands. Participants can hold a meeting or conference, compare charts, and generally do anything they could if they were all in the same room together. All of this is done through the transmission of audio and video through the wonders of the Internet.

The list of advantages obtained from the use of video conferencing is long, but these are some of the main advantages. The most obvious advantage is the enormous savings that are involved when people do not need to travel. An average business trip typically involves at least one night elsewhere, and the costs incurred include flights, transportation, meals, lodging, entertainment, and the list goes on. If you need ten people in a meeting and add up all the costs involved, the total is staggering.

Remember, too, that travel is not only expensive, it takes time. So those ten executives have to take two days out of their busy schedule, for example, to attend a mid-day meeting at the head office. With video conferencing, they can spend half a day and spend the other day and a half doing productive work in their office. The use of video conferencing provides great savings in both money and time.

If the video conference involves a person or team giving a presentation, they are in your home environment. So they can’t accidentally leave the most important chart on their desk at the office – they have everything available. It also means that questions can be fully answered, rather than the presenter having to return to their office before the required information can be accessed.

Video conferencing also makes it easier for companies to access external experts. In a medical setting, for example, researchers from around the world can meet regularly and compare notes, making it easier to share their findings and speeding up the process of finding answers. This kind of collaboration would never happen if experts had to constantly travel to stay up to date, because they would never have time to do their research. Cooperation at this level is not only beneficial to the medical profession; it can be used in just about any profession you can think of.

A slightly less direct benefit, but an equal benefit, is that employees will need to learn the basics of presentation and research skills in order to participate productively in video conferences. This encourages the employee to stay up-to-date with information related to her field, so she has confidence that he can answer questions during a video conference if needed.

Video conferencing is also much more personal than a conference call. A high percentage of our communication is done through non-verbal cues, so seeing the person making a presentation can give us much more information. It also means that visual aids can be used, which speeds up the process of explaining certain types of information. No need to wait while a set of charts is posted, faxed, or even emailed and printed—you can view them instantly. And if additional information is required, it can be pulled from the file and displayed, without any delay. If you’re using video conferencing to deal with a potential client, it becomes much easier to develop a personal relationship, which is an important element in any business relationship.

Video conferencing also means that all the required people can be present at the meeting. Previously, expense considerations may have meant that only one employee could attend a given meeting and, upon his return, they would inform everyone else about what happened. This inevitably left gaps in feedback, as no one person would catch every single thing that happened, or even know that a particular piece of information was of particular importance to another staff member. Video conferencing means that everyone hears and sees everything, and can extract the information that is most relevant to them. They also get a personal feel for the other people involved in the conference.

There is no doubt that companies will quickly use video conferencing, once the many benefits become clearer. The potential for business is enormous, and as technology improves and prices drop, video conferencing will become as standard in business as the fax machine or personal computer.

Technology

Renting toys Vs buying toys

Renting toys for children is a trend that is not very popular at the moment, but may become more and more popular in the future. How many parents have ever thought about renting toys? Well, at least one parent did, which is why we have sites like BabyPlays, BrickRental, Rent-A-Toy, ToyBox, etc.

BabyPlays is a website where parents can choose from over 200 different toys for children up to 5 years old. The company stocks up to 30 models of each toy.

Subscribers to this service generate a list online and a box of toys is sent to their home. When they are done with the current set of toys, they send the toys back and wait for the next shipment. This process is similar to the system used by the popular Netflix DVD rental service. BabyPlays currently offers four plans with prices ranging from $34.99 to $64.99 per month. These plans require a three-month commitment and include four to 10 toys per month.

Parents understandably want their children to experience a variety of educational toys, as well as toys just for fun. BabyPlays also understands that there is no need to invest money in a variety of toys that your child will outgrow or get bored of in a short period of time. This makes toy rental a good alternative for many parents.

This idea of ​​renting toys is good for parents who feel they are wasting money buying toys they don’t need to keep. They may also feel that they don’t want to clutter their home with things they don’t need. However, this show is certainly not intended to replace classic toys that kids will want to keep forever. Instead, it provides the opportunity to have a continual stream of stimulating toys that children will want to play with.

BrickRental offers Lego toys for rent. They have two schemes, one allowing the rental of six toys and the other 12 toys in a year. They ship and pick up toys through the USPS at no charge.

At a time, they send only one toy. You can keep the toy as long as you want. (Of course, knowing what kids are like, you can be sure the games won’t be around your home for long.) However, they will not ship the next toy until you return the first toy.

Rent-a-toy is another popular site. The best part about this site is that they allow you to bring up to 8 toys at a time! And just like the other sites, you can keep the toys for as long as you want. Another nice feature is that you can even buy the toy if your child never wants to part with the toy, kind of a “try before you buy” thing.

One problem that has arisen is cleanliness. How clean are the toys? As parents, you will definitely be concerned about the germs and diseases that could be transmitted through these toys. However, most of these stores claim that their toys are cleaned with a sanitary product that is used in some hospitals and nurseries. After cleaning, the toys are shrink-wrapped so they stay clean during storage and shipping.

So the question is: Are the major toy retailers concerned that this new company will catch on and rise? So far, major retailers such as KB Toys and Toy’s R US seem unfazed by this new trend. Even if it gains a slightly larger consumer base, the toy industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, so major toy retailers probably won’t be affected by this new trend.

Technology

Document imaging: what are the benefits?

Document Imaging Solutions
Every day, more and more companies are moving towards the paperless society through document imaging solutions. Document imaging solutions can transform the way you do business today. You can manage your business within a secure environment and have access from anywhere in the world, at any time of the day or night. There are numerous benefits associated with utilizing document imaging solutions. These benefits can help you make the decision to take your document management into the digital age.

Cost savings
One of the main costs of a company is the time it takes to work with paper files. Your employees have to make copies, file the paperwork, and then search through cumbersome filing systems to locate the filed paperwork. With document imaging solutions, employees can access files without leaving their desk. With an easy-to-use search engine, it eliminates a lot of time wasted searching for and filing documents. Another benefit is that you no longer have to maintain bulky storage cabinets or rent storage space to hold copies of old files. Everything can be done electronically, saving your business money.

Security
The security of your files is essential and document imaging solutions protect your files in several ways. First, your files are password protected so that only authorized users can access them. The content of each document is then encrypted to provide an additional level of security. Lastly, each document has a detailed audit trail showing all users who have accessed a file or made changes to a file.

Disaster recovery
Unfortunately, disasters can sometimes be unavoidable. With a paper filing system, if your business experiences a flood or fire, your files are likely to be destroyed. Document imaging solutions give you peace of mind by creating electronic copies of your files that are backed up in a variety of ways. You can also choose to have your data backed up off-site.

Where do I start?
There are now many options in companies that offer online document management for individuals, small businesses, and large corporations. Many of these companies can convert all your paper documents to digital format and allow you to access them from anywhere in the world. Many offer a wide range of service options and can help you take your document management needs to the next level. From document imaging, scanning, hosting and secure remote backup.

Technology

Five simple health tips to jumpstart a new you

Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated, but does it require commitment. It takes 21 days to create a new habit and 6 months for that habit to become ingrained in your routine. Since life can get in the way, I recommend small changes one step at a time. The following list represents five simple health tips that you can incorporate into your life and have a big impact on your health, energy, and vitality. Pick one item at a time and do it for at least 3 weeks before adding another component to your lifestyle. When you’re doing it without having to constantly be reminded, you’re ready to move on to the next item.

1) drink half of your “idealweight in ounces of water per day. If your goal weight (not your actual weight) is 120 pounds, you should drink 60 ounces of water per day. Even mild dehydration will cause a 3% drop in your metabolism from baseline. That means you’ll gain 1 pound of fat every 6 months! Drinking water minimizes bloating and water retention in women. These symptoms are often the result of a lack of hydration. Drinking plenty of water is how you flush out fat and toxins stored in your fat cells, and it can also prevent muscle cramps. When muscle cells don’t have adequate fluids, they don’t work as well and performance can suffer. When you exercise, you should try to drink 3 to 5 ounces of water every 20 minutes. Drinking your 8-10 glasses of water in one sitting is not enough. For maximum effectiveness, staying “evenly” hydrated throughout the day is our body’s way of metabolizing fat. In addition, adequate hydration maintains healthy kidney and intestinal function. Getting adequate hydration also gives your skin a more youthful appearance. Symptoms associated with mild dehydration are weakness, muscle cramps, headaches, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, palpitations, and anxiety.

two) Check your vitamin D levels. More than 80% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. This is especially prevalent during the winter months. Research shows that adequate levels of vitamin D can boost your immune system and lower your risk of cancer. You can buy vitamin D3 in supplement form or you can spend some time in the sun, although your body can only make vitamin D from UVB rays and during certain times of the day. There is a smartphone app called Dbodyguard. This app will let you know at what time of day, based on your geographic location, the sun is at the right angle and generates UVB rays so your body can create vitamin D. In some geographic areas there will be times of the year when you won’t be able to generate vitamin D from sun exposure and will need to get it from supplements or special tanning beds. This app takes into account all scientific data as well as your personal profile, which includes skin pigmentation, weight and age. When you’re ready to start getting out in the sun, enter the type of clothing you’re wearing and start the timer. When you have maximized your vitamin D production for the day, an alarm will sound to end your session. For those of you who don’t enjoy the outdoors or live in a place where you can’t make vitamin D, there are plenty of vitamin D supplements. Look for vitamin D in the form of D3. The recommended daily amount is controversial, but 1000-5000 mg is generally recommended. For more information on this topic, visit mercola.com

3) Go to bed before 10 at night. Since I know this is going to be a challenge, start by going to bed a little earlier each night and work your way up to 10pm over a three week period. The latest sleep studies indicate that the deepest, most regenerative sleep occurs between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. If your body is chronically deprived of “regenerative sleep” between 10 p.m. Morning. At 10 p.m., your body goes through a series of transformations following the increased production of melatonin. Melatonin not only helps regulate your sleep/wake cycle, it is also responsible for the repair and restoration of your body. A reduction in your mental and physical activity is necessary for this 10 pm shift to occur. Watching TV, reading from an electronic device, or bright LED watches affect melatonin production and the subsequent chain reaction that puts your body into a deep sleep. This is a good reason to buy paperbacks and a book lamp! You can also listen to relaxing music. Getting a good night’s sleep can create longevity and health. Getting a sound night’s sleep helps you fight stress, maintain a healthy weight, and keep your energy levels high. A simple health tip for those who want to lose weight: sleep a minimum of 5 hours a night.

4) Eat more fruits and vegetables. When we eat a diet rich in whole foods, we feed our bodies thousands of micronutrients that stabilize blood sugar and cholesterol, decrease weight, boost the immune system, reverse heart disease and prevent cancer. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a mushroom a day will help keep cancer away! The micronutrients found in fruits and vegetables are very powerful antioxidants. Micronutrients create many cell-protecting compounds. Many of these compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and phytoestrogens, have significant health benefits and are an essential component for optimal health. Carotenoid-rich micronutrients are found in carrots, tomatoes, squash, broccoli, and spinach. Deep red, purple, or black vegetables provide rich sources of polyphenols. Flavonoids are found in nuts, seeds, grains, green tea, red wine, kale, and lemons. Phytoestrogens are found in soybeans and flaxseeds. If you don’t have access to a variety of fresh produce, supplement your diet with a good whole food concentrate formula. It is important to incorporate raw and cooked vegetables into your diet. A simple health tip is that grilling vegetables is easy, fast and delicious! Cut the vegetables into small pieces, drizzle with olive oil, add salt, pepper and a little cayenne pepper. Grill at 420 degrees for about 20 minutes. To change it up, add raw walnuts or dried cranberries in the last five minutes of cooking. You can squeeze fresh lemon juice or shake some Parmesan cheese on top for extra flavor.

5) Exercise for 20 minutes a day.. No need to kill yourself in the gym for hours at a time. You can reap huge benefits with just 20 minutes of activity a day, and even walking the dog counts! If you can think of exercise as a play date, then it can be something to look forward to instead of something to do! Find something you enjoy doing and do it. It can be tennis, swimming, walking, jogging, weightlifting, Zumba aerobics, dancing, pole dancing, kickboxing, boxing, cardio barre, Nia, yoga, cycling, jumping rope, hula hooping, climbing stairs, or just shooting sneakers. Think of something you loved to do and then do it again! If you can commit to something physical for 20 minutes a day, you can have a huge impact on your health and really boost your metabolism! Running on a treadmill for 20 minutes a day at 4 mph will take 26 days to lose 1 pound of fat. That’s a total of 14 pounds of fat in a year with this simple health tip. That’s a lot of pant sizes! There are so many fun ways to lose weight and get fit while improving heart health, reducing stress, increasing endorphins, and building muscle.

None of these simple health tips are rocket science. In fact, I bet you already knew most of this stuff, you just don’t do it. I spent years searching for complicated diets and supplements to get me in optimal shape. The best medicine I had, I already knew, I just didn’t do it. Make your New Year’s Resolution a lifestyle change to incorporate healthy habits three weeks at a time!