technology · Page 9 of 15

Self-Driving Vehicles? Not for Another 10 Years

A year or two ago, it looked like self-driving vehicles might be just around the corner. However, don’t get rid of your driver’s license just yet. After the buzz that erupted after multiple deaths were reported from the use of self-driving vehicles, the public remains skeptical about the level of safety regarding this type of travel. A 2018 Gallup poll shows that 59% of Americans would be uncomfortable riding in a self-driving vehicle. When asked about sharing the road with self-driving trucks, the negative responses go even higher.

Self-Driving vs. Driver-Assisted

Part of the problem may stem from a lack of true understanding regarding the difference between the concepts of “self-driving” vs. “driver-assisted”. Several years ago, a man was killed when a semi-truck made a left turn in front of him while he was in a driver-assisted Tesla vehicle. Neither the driver or the Tesla vehicle applied the brakes, and the roof of the vehicle was completely sheared off. According to Tesla, their Autopilot system is an assist feature and drivers are expected to keep both hands on the wheel even when the vehicle is in Autopilot mode. Unfortunately in the case of the Tesla driver, he either misunderstood how the Autopilot worked or he was inattentive. In addition, the vehicle itself did not see the semi-truck because of the high ride height of the trailer.

Maybe in 10 Years

It is more likely that auto manufacturers (and technology companies) will need to gradually add driver-assisted features to vehicles over time, rather than expecting everyone in the general public to understand precisely how the new technologies will function in all the situations that occur while driving. Of course, as the Tesla example points out, technology companies still have some distance to go before they are capable of addressing every possible scenario that invariably occurs on the road. Still, the trend is moving ever closer to a self-driving society, as even now high-end vehicles have self-driving features such as self-parallel parking, warning drivers when they drift over to other lanes, and automatically braking when the vehicle “sees” a potential collision.

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Using Old Computer Operating Systems

Most people who use computers on a regular basis are familiar with the term “operating system”. Any computer built has some way to utilize the hardware that makes up the computer — to carry out the work needed for which the computer was built. For decades, operating systems have been changed and upgraded to meet the needs of many changing industries.

In decades long past, operating systems were not user-friendly and were generally the playing field of scientists and hobbyists. However, more recently, particularly in the past 10 years, computer operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Android have evolved to the point where not only are they user-friendly, but can do a great many different tasks and for a relatively inexpensive monetary cost.

But does the existence of new operating systems mean that those preceding them are useless? Do old computers with older operating systems have to be thrown out or hauled away to the recycling center? Not necessarily and not if one is willing to do a little research. For example, a computer running Microsoft Windows XP, though Microsoft has mostly stopped supporting it, can be configured as a file server where several employees connected to the same network can access company files on the server.

Furthermore, where internet-based backup solutions are not desired, backup routines can work fine within the said type of setup. Storing office files on one computer locally (a server), makes it easy to backup company files since only the server would need to be backed up — if company files are stored on an array of several different employees’ computers, that can make backing up company files tedious.

It should be noted that the administrator of any file server should carefully consider security risks revolving around the use of it, if connected to the internet. This is especially true if the operating system in use is no longer supported by its manufacturer.

This is only one in a bunch of ways to utilize outdated computer operating systems. Please contact us so that we may assist in utilizing old computers that might be stored away in a closet.

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Choosing the Right Computers

With the growing options, colors, and flavors of computers on the market in the past decade, ubiquity is a no-brainer. The only question is which computer/s will appropriately serve the needs of a business. There are two points that must be considered when deciding the right computers to purchase for a business.

Usage and Budget

First one must ask, “What tasks must be done within the business infrastructure using a computer”. Then, “which computer/s are generally capable of performing those tasks?”. Secondly, one must consider the monetary cost of the computer equipment being purchased.

For example, you find a computer for sale and it performs all the tasks for which it is needed. However, you have insufficient monetary resources for purchasing it. You should consider carefully what it is about the computer that gives it the value placed on it by the seller. It could be that the seller installed some valuable software on it which ramps up the value. The point is that one could purchase a similar computer without the valued software on it. Then install the same type of software onto the computer without monetary cost, making it free. For any given type of software that costs money, there is usually a free version of it that can be downloaded from the internet.

Brand

Another selling point that can ramp up the cost of a computer is the brand. For instance, while Apple tends to produce smartphones that look very nice, the reality is that there are several other well-built brands that can be purchased new and are a small fraction of the cost of Apple devices.

If one would only take some time to research the details and features of computer products whose brand names are not as popular as Apple, it would be found that a lot of money can be saved in obtaining computing devices that accomplish the tasks within a business for which they are needed.

Please contact us for assistance in making informed purchasing decisions.

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5 Computer Time-Saving Hacks For Your Business

When you need to get work done before a specific deadline, you can’t afford a slow computer that wastes your time and interferes with your productivity. Here are five computer tips and hacks for saving time.

Use the Spacebar

If you are scrolling through a long article, you can quickly skip a whole screen’s worth of it by clicking on the space bar. This is especially useful when using your mouse or the arrow buttons to scroll is taking a painfully long time.

Use Grammarly

Grammarly is an app that can be added to your browser. It checks your spelling, and it also corrects simple grammar mistakes. It is free to use, though there is a paid version for more advanced grammar mistakes. This will save you a lot of time when writing an email or something online where there is no spell checker.

Use a Password Manager

Instead of constantly having to remember each password and wasting time trying different passwords out, just use a password manager. Not only will it save you time, but it will also help protect you from identity theft and hackers.

Use Autofill

Many browsers have an autofill feature that will automatically fill out your information such as your name, address, phone number, state, zip code, and so on when you are filling out online forms. This will save you a lot of time. Remember to double-check each form, however, and tweak your autofill settings when necessary.

Don’t Overburden Your Computer

Computers slow down when they have a lot of tasks to do. Shut down unnecessary apps in the background. Use the task manager to figure out which apps are using up the most CPU. Keep your computer cool by cleaning the fan area often.

For more computer tips and hacks, contact us today.

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How to Use Automation the Protection of Your Business

Due to the constantly evolving nature of business technology, it can become difficult to protect every single portion of your network from becoming compromised in the event of a disaster scenario. That’s where automation comes in.

This might make information technology in the business environment a liability, but the benefits that it provides are unquestionable. Therefore, you need to take measures to secure your network as needed.

The Current Situation

There can be no doubt that there is a ridiculous amount of cyberthreats on the Internet, all of which could sneak through to your infrastructure if you’re not careful. Even if you are careful, threats can still make their way to your network under the right circumstances. All it takes is one weakness to let a threat into your network.

What’s worse is that these threats are always changing and evolving so that they aren’t always caught by existing security programs and algorithms. It’s difficult at best to combat such a dynamic threat without the full support and understanding of your entire staff, particularly in regard to following cybersecurity best practices.

An Alternative Solution

If you want other options to ensure your organization stays secure from online threats, the monitoring services of a managed service provider like 4 Corner IT can go a long way. We can equip your business with the tools to protect your network in a comprehensive and efficient manner.

How Automation Helps

Automation tools are typically used with the intention of limiting user error, as well as eliminating the need to address routine maintenance that is either repetitive or simply too time-consuming to do on a daily basis.

It helps to keep your organization from tying its hands up with mindless tasks that take away from your daily workload more than they contribute to operations. In particular, this is great for security updates and patching, as these can be scheduled, remotely applied, and automated so that you and your staff don’t need to think about them.

Want to learn more about how we help businesses manage their technology and turn it into a profit center (as opposed to a money pit)? Reach out to 4 Corner IT at (954) 474-2204.

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