Tech Archives - Page 4 of 5

How to Take an Idea and Make it Work

April 29, 2017 by admin

There is a lot of information out there on how to use crowdsource software to generate new ideas. This information is all highly valuable and really important. However, what this information often doesn’t get into, is what to do once ideas have been generated.

Why You Must Plan for Idea Selection

When you crowdsource for ideas, there is the possibility that you will get thousands of replies. This is why it is very important that you plan how ideas are selected, which happens twice. The first time is once they are presented, and the second is when they have been tested. By having a process and plan in place for this, you will be far more likely to end up with an idea that can actually be implemented and made to work. Let’s take a look at some important tips.

Build and Expand on Ideas

First of all, when you crowdsource for ideas, they aren’t complete yet. They must be properly reviewed, clustered into categories, and then expanded upon. An affinity diagram can be a very useful tool for this, as it helps you to identify whether there are any underlying themes. You should also make sure that as many people as possible are involved in this stage, for instance by leaving the crowdsource or idea management software platform fully open.

Meet the Objectives of Your Company

Once you have completed the first step and have various categories of ideas, you need to determine which of those categories actually meet the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of your company. Ideas can be very good, but simply not relevant. Those can be shelved rather than discarded. Other ideas will never be relevant, in which case they should be removed immediately. At this point, internal stakeholders have to be involved, as they understand the company culture and its mission and vision.

Understand that Good Ideas Don’t Have to Be Great Ideas

Many of those who look through ideas only pay attention to those that could really be “the next big thing”. But a small improvement on a relatively insignificant process can have far-reaching positive benefits. In fact, really big, company-changing ideas should be reviewed completely separately (they should be in a different category at step 1, in fact).

Test Whether Any Assumptions Are Right

As human beings, we make assumptions. For instance, we assume we know the customer. While this cannot be helped, what can be helped is taking those assumptions as gospel. Instead, you have to test them. This is absolutely fundamental, as directing a new idea towards a demographic that doesn’t actually exist will lead to instant failure.

Be Ready for Resistance

Last but not least, you have to be ready for some resistance. People do not like change, whether they are your employees, your customers, or your board members. There will always be a nay-sayer who believes things will go completely wrong. You need to channel that into a learning process that delivers something positive.

Cool Innovations in Gaming Industry of 2017

April 21, 2017 by admin

The gaming industry has been moving gradually in different directions this year while there are some aspects that remain in the same position. Some of the impressive innovations include fresh approaches, latest hardware, and innovative directions.

All the innovations that are yet to occur and those that we are experiencing at the moment form the shape of the gaming industry, which is why most of us find them interesting to keep up to date with. A lot of them can be seen as the reason why casino game players find murka scatter slots irresistible. For this reason, we will take a brief look at how these three sectors affect the gaming industry and what changes they might bring along.

Changes to look out for in the gaming industry of 2017

– Virtual Reality (VR): The year of 2016 is kind of synonymous to VR because we experienced a lot of innovative changes in this technology. These changes include multiple headsets, computer models, smartphones, and the likes of Sony PlayStation VR. Even if VR presently does not meet the hopes of many, what do we have to say about the launch of Resident Evil 7? Well, as the game industry seems to be turning away its focus from the consumer VR, there is some disappointment occurring among developers here and there. However, the experience and skills of the developers and studios working with VR seem not to be wasted as we see a lot of platforms where their skills can be applied commercially outside of video games. Look out for simulations used in different fields like medicine, training, engineering, real estate, and lots more.

– Mobile Gaming: The steady increase in the popularity of mobile gaming could be associated with the constant spreading of the Internet among consumers. However, the development of mobile gaming has reached a particular point and now it is obviously slow. Look at the games topping the charts in 2016 – they are the same games that topped the charts during two previous years, 2015 and 2014. We can easily say that this field is experiencing a consumer burnout due to the lack of new high profile titles. This, in order words, is leading this sector to its first decline.

– New Consoles: All of the previously made predictions about the hardware consoles did not come true. The consoles that seemed to be the hot cakes of the sector are being made irrelevant by smart devices. Examples are the Xbox One and PS4. As if it isn’t enough that consoles are no longer being paid attention to, we are now excited for the news about two major hardware – Microsoft Scorpio and Nintendo Switch.

The Switch is presumed to take the place of floundering Wii U in addition to its ability to merge the capabilities of Nintendo’s handheld console with its line of home consoles. The Scorpio is expected to present a new hardware that will continue the line of Xbox One. Let’s wait and see how these new launches will try to impress us.

These cool innovations in the gaming industry are making some interesting positive changes. Let’s just stay tuned and enjoy all that we can with the improvements and changes occurring in the gaming industry.

Ways in which You Can Earn From Your Love of Photography

March 24, 2017 by admin

It’s always nice to make money doing something that you love and if photography is your passion then there are lots of ways in which you can make a little cash on the side or even a career from your photography skills. Turning your hobby into a way of earning will mean that you have to work hard and really perfect your skills, you will also need to be professional and try to get hold of the finest equipment possible. Providing you can take great photographs like Radha Singh NJ resident and friend of mine who works professionally as a photographer, then you could make some nice earnings and here is how.

Take Great Shots

The key to making money through photography will obviously rely on the fact that you have a high skill level. The better shots that you can take, the more money you are likely to earn. In order to gain a reputation then you will also need to be able to add something a little different to your photography, a calling card so to speak.

Enter Competitions

There are regular competitions held in magazines and websites which offer cash prizes for the best photographs. If you have taken shot that you are particularly proud of and think that it could win then enter as many competitions as you can. Competitions are usually held around a particular them such as nature, action, sport etc. If you think that you have snapped a winner and it falls into the right category then you could stand to win some cash.

Work Weddings and Events

Wedding photography might not be the most fun way to take photos but it can earn you a very healthy income. Couples play an awful lot of money for photographers to capture their happy day and as most weddings take place on a weekend, you could turn wedding photography in to a great weekend earner whilst you pass the rest of your week taking the shots that you want. Contact event companies and offer your services, they will be able to approach whoever is putting an event on and suggest your name. Snapping events can be a lot of fun and gain you exclusive access to exciting events.

Work With Schools and Colleges

Another good side earner which you could look at is to contact schools and colleges and offer your services for professional shots. Year books and class photos are taken every year and if you can make some good contacts then you could make great money each year from working with schools and colleges, capturing the students and teachers. You will need to be able to develop a large amount of prints if you work with schools and you should ensure that you have the capability and tools to be able to do this.

The key to gaining a reputation as a photographer is to take great shots of high quality, be likable and more importantly be prompt with your prints.

Choosing your Photographer is Like Choosing your Dress

November 14, 2016 by admin

The big day is approaching, things are being arranged, the cake is on order, the live music is arranged, and the reception venue is booked. For the bride and groom, perhaps the most important person, is the one who will capture the day’s events, the photographer. These days, with video so widely used, the term videographer is a more accurate description of the services provided at a wedding. The videographer will be experienced in all aspects of photography, and would prepare for the event by meeting the happy couple a few days prior to the wedding.

Don’t take chances

The person you select to undertake this role must be someone with experience. Asking a friend who happens to own a DSLR camera is not advised, as it is putting a lot of pressure on someone who may not relish the challenge, not only that, there is so much at stake, and no chance of a second bite at the cherry. If the wedding happens to be in Western Australia, Dream Day Productions amazing wedding videos clearly show how professional the service is, and with a range of packages, there is something to suit every budget.

Experience counts

Like anything else, the more often a person does something, the better they become at it, and if the wedding videographer has a few hundred notches on their belt, one can relax. A person’s wedding day is not the time for trying new settings or cameras, and certainly not for amateurs who are trying to polish their technique.

Planning the still images

The wedding videographer would want to know how many guests are invited, and also would need to visit the marriage and reception venues, an essential step, as he or she can decide the angles and positions for some of the more important shots. The complete schedule should be given to the videographer as soon as possible, as this is essential for the photographer to make their plan complete.

The package

If someone wanted a Perth wedding video commissioned, there are reputable online wedding videographers, and with a range of packages, to suit every taste. Typically, a wedding video is a compilation of the highlights of the day, and might include,

The bride and groom arriving at the wedding venue.
The guests arriving.
The wedding ceremony.
Outside the venue, including one large shot of all the congregation with the newlyweds.
The couple with selected guests.
The reception (including all the speeches and the cutting of the cake).

The still images would include the traditional pictures, and any that the bride and groom specifically require.

Time to relax

For the lucky young couple, once they have chosen the videographer, they can relax, knowing the entire day will be professionally captured and produced. For the lucky couple, the honeymoon should begin when they arrive at the reception venue, and with everything taken care of, they can mingle with the guests and enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

How to Spend Less Time With Tech and More Time With Your Kids

October 12, 2016 by admin

Your handheld technology is an every day tool that helps you engage with friends, work and connect with the rest of the world. Your smartphone is used so often that it feels like an extension of your body. However, when you’re a mom, it is important that your attention isn’t consumed by your technology. While in the presence of your kids, you must make sure that you don’t rely too heavily on your tech devices for entertainment, work projects or communication. Your kids need your attention, as it is an opportunity for them to engage with their number one role model. Here are some tips for how you can steer away from the never-ending distractions of technology and focus more on your children:

Tech Breaks

Take a look at your daily schedule and assess when you can take breaks from all of your devices. These tech-free time frames will allow you and your family uninterrupted face-to-face interaction. Rather than only having half of your attention focused on one another, you can engage in meaningful conversation or bond through a group activity. This sounds easy enough, but you must keep in mind that notifications on your phone won’t desist during these family times. You may receive emails from the school, text messages from friends or social media updates that will pull your attention away from your family. It is best that you put your phone away in a drawer or your bag while you’re on your tech break. Waiting an hour to respond to an email or text isn’t a big deal. Instead, your availability and attention should be dedicated to your kids during the time you spend together. Put up a family calendar where you can mark your tech-free time periods so everyone in the house can see.

Good Habits

Develop good habits that help you balance your interactions with your tech and your kids. Before you engage on your phone while with your child, let them know why your attention will be shortly drawn away from them. It is important they have an expectation that you will be engaged in a quick task, rather than feeling ignored. However, if you are constantly diverting your attention from them to your phone, they will feel like they aren’t as deserving of acknowledgement and interaction. If your child seems to need your attention while you’re on your phone, you should give it to them. You don’t have to completely shift gears, but at least provide acknowledgement such as, “I would love to give you my full attention in a moment. I have to finish this one task and then I can focus on you.” This will let your kid know that you care and also teach them how they can exercise patience and expectation management.

Fewer Notifications

Choose phones that offer settings allowing you to not be constantly interrupted during your time with your family. Your phone should be able to let you receive texts and updates silently, with a small vibration alert. If you have your phone volume on high for notifications and calls, the sound will be a terrible distraction. You can also arrange how you’d like to visually see your notifications. They can be a small banner that pops up then disappears, versus a list of trivial updates that will crowd your phone screen and pull your interest. The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge allows you to designate notifications to the edge of the phone to decrease distractions. It also has a specific Do Not Disturb setting that will let you program which notifications can come through and which ones to silence. This customizable option is more nuanced that muting your phone and is a great tool for staying in the moment with your kids, without missing out on any important calls or messages.