Small businesses spend an average of $192,000 a year on technology, according to Spiceworks’ State of SMB IT survey. While that figure is a drop in the bucket for most large corporations, for smaller businesses it represents a huge investment. Small-business owners continue to seek ways to get the most value for every dollar they spend on technology.Savvy small-business owners (SBOs) know that doing more with less is key to their success. An aspect of this is strategically spending money on technology that can meet a multitude of requirements. Many are choosing tablet technology that allows them to quickly and…
Author: Brandpoint
(BPT) – It is no secret that kids love video games – they’re exciting, fun and engrossing. As a parent, you worry about the negative effects of screen time. Nevertheless, many video games are not only fun, but also build and strengthen cognitive development – skills in problem solving, reasoning, math and science. So how can a parent choose?’In past decades, educational video games were known for poor design and cheap production,’ says Jason Wiser, faculty in the Media Arts & Animation program at The New England Institute of Art, ‘with wonderful exceptions like Zoombinis and Oregon Trail putting all…
(BPT) – Four hundred gallons – that’s how much water the average American home uses in a day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Is it any wonder? You turn on the tap to get a drink and run the water until it feels cool, or let the shower pour until the water is hot enough. The toilet or irrigation system runs a bit too long, and your dishwasher dates to the Clinton administration.The good news is that Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the need to conserve water, both for the good of the environment and to save money.…
(BPT) – If you think water damage isn’t a real threat for millions of Americans, consider this: water damage caused $9.1 billion in annual homeowner property losses over a three-year period, according to a 2011 ACE Insurance Underwriters study. Despite that, many people don’t worry about protecting their home against water damage because they believe their home is safe so long as it isn’t located on a flood plain.This couldn’t be further from the truth.In fact, flooding grabs the headlines, but the majority of water damage home insurance claims actually come from leaky or burst pipes.The primary cause for concern…
(BPT) – With the warm weather putting beach and barbecue plans in full swing, it can be tough to stay productive during the summer months. The key to getting it all done lies in finding the right device that makes work portable, so you can enjoy the sun without needing to be glued to your office. The following tips can help you ensure that the technology you have makes it easy to make more happen in less time.* Do some quick research: With the amount of choices available, it can feel overwhelming to start looking for the right tablet or…
(BPT) – Due to the explosion of online transactions, social media and mobile technology, cybercrime can happen almost anywhere at any time. The good news is that it doesn’t take a computer genius to protect yourself and your family from the proliferation of cyber criminals who are running scams or seeking to steal your identity.Cybercriminals victimized 71 million people in the United States in 2012, according to a recent report by the electronic security company Symantec. The problem has become so bad that FBI Director Robert Muller expects cybercrime to eventually overtake both terrorism and counter intelligence as his agency’s…
(BPT) – A peculiar corkscrew sensation goes up one’s spine when a tornado siren goes off in the dead of night. It means a tornado is on the ground. You know it’s coming. You can hear it and you can feel it. You just can’t see it and don’t know where it is until it might be right on top of you, literally.Tornado season has arrived for many areas of the United States, and unfortunately, hundreds if not thousands of Americans will experience that sensation this spring and summer. For many, those sirens in the middle of the night might…
(BPT) – A lot has changed since you were in school. Your children don’t listen to the same types of music you enjoyed, and they certainly dress differently despite your protests.They learn differently as well.Today’s classrooms are no longer focused on chalkboards and lectures. Digital devices tied to curriculum leveraging big data technology are becoming more central to learning and are key to creating dynamic classrooms that support personalizing learning for every student. This new approach is helping students to learn at their own pace and aids educators to deeply engage with students in their learning process. These new technologies…
(BPT) – Every day, millions of Americans turn to the Internet for news and entertainment and to shop. Over the years, Americans have come to trust the Internet so much, that they regularly share information about their daily lives through social media sites and with online retailers.But what many may not realize is that within just a few clicks, there’s an unregulated digital frontier where people, including criminals, buy and sell illegal drugs, guns and pornography, as well as personal and financial details about ordinary individuals. Fueled by software that conceals the identity of people, and digital currency, it’s a…
(BPT) – Reduce, reuse, recycle – it’s a mantra we’ve known for decades. While Americans understand the benefits of recycling bottles, cans and paper, they aren’t as savvy when it comes to recycling electronics. Between cellphones, tablets, computers and other consumer electronic devices, the average U.S. house has 24 electronic devices – making for a lot of e-waste when that technology becomes dated.While it may be tempting to put electronic devices and batteries in the trash, it’s critical to understand how to properly dispose of and recycle electronics because each contains contaminants that are harmful to the environment. Here are…
(BPT) – Solving math problems, earning some money and doing it all while you sleep – sounds like a good deal right? Crypto-miners are doing just that, and you can join the club. All you need is a computer, some hardware and electricity.Bitcoin mining has been around since 2009. It involves the process of confirming crypto currency transactions by solving math problems. Initially, the math problems were easy to solve. But because there are a finite number of problems, the solutions become more complicated as more Bitcoins are mined. At today’s rate, proving a transaction earns you 25 Bitcoins. The…
(BPT) – Every day, more than 1 million people become victims of cyber crime, according to the 2013 Norton Cyber Crime Report. The Heartbleed bug, which attacked vulnerable versions of the OpenSSL software, put even more people at risk of hackers accessing their personal information shared on many websites. In 2013, the Target Corporation data breach affected 110 million customers. Yet, according to Norton, nearly 50 percent of tablet and smartphone users continue to neglect basic precautions such as passwords, security software or back-up files to secure their mobile devices.It is only a matter of time until the next digital…
(BPT) – These days parents are expected to be everywhere at once. If you’re a parent, you know how stressful it can be to try and make the soccer game, the dance recital, prepare dinner for your family and work an eight-hour day. Just keeping track of your family’s schedules feels like another full time job.With this in mind, Digital Lifestyle Expert Jennifer Jolly offers her tips on how you can use technology to do it all – remember your obligations, keep your appointments in order and continue being the superparent you’re expected to be – easier than ever before.*…
(BPT) – Graduation season is here with high school and college grads eagerly awaiting commencement so they can start the next big chapter of life. This also means a lot of graduation celebrations for friends and family near and far. This year, show your support and go beyond the typical gift of a card and money. Instead, give graduates something they’re guaranteed to use every day: technology.Nearly $5 billion is spent on gifts to grads every year, according to a National Retail Federation Graduation Survey. Make your graduation gift stand out among the rest by choosing must-have technologies that will…
(BPT) – Your morning probably starts off in a routine. You might watch the weather report on your flatscreen TV before jumping into the shower, answer an email on your tablet shortly after getting dressed, or text a friend while eating breakfast.We use our eyes much differently than any generation before us, and dramatic shifts in digital tool usage and media consumption are exposing eyes to blue light from electronic devices, which could adversely affect your vision in the future.Studies show denizens of the digital world are significantly increasing time spent in front of their computers, smartphones, and other blue…
(BPT) – Each week, the average person spends between 10 and 20 hours doing yard work and other tasks around the home, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While necessary, these routine tasks don’t exactly fit neatly into today’s busy, on-the-go lifestyles, which is why technology is stepping in.Here are three high-tech features to look for when shopping for a way to make household chores faster, easier, and even labor-free.1. Cordless without compromiseLithium ion has changed the way we communicate, entertain and work and now it’s changing the way we maintain our yards. To give homeowners what they want…
(BPT) – During the first 43 days of 2014, the Identity Theft Resource Center said 91 data breaches were reported by companies across the country, and the full list doesn’t just show household names of big brand retailers – many of these companies were small businesses, family medical practices or local restaurants that never thought they’d be cybercrime victims. For instance, the most high profile breach of 2013 – Target – was actually set into motion when one of its much smaller regional contractors was hacked.Undoubtedly, businesses of all sizes are potential targets for cyber criminals, but while the ‘big…
(BPT) – Thirteen year-old Vincent Zhou is the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Junior Men’s National Champion. He dreams of one day representing the United States in the Olympics. Zhou, of Southern California, is a ninth-grader at Capistrano Connections Academy, where, despite his rigorous training schedule, he also excels off the ice, earning straight A’s in all subject areas and earning the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence.Zhou has a training secret weapon, one he shares with many of the country’s most promising young Olympic hopefuls: online learning. Schools that leverage online learning, such as Connections Academy, full-time virtual schools, and new…
(BPT) – Imagine the ideal shopping experience: what you need is always in stock, the price is right and there is never a wait at checkout. New technology is quickly making this a reality and taking the shopping experience even one step further. From digital mirrors that allow you to virtually try on outfits to technology that lets you hand-gesture through a virtual brochure, new retail technologies are about to change the way you shop forever. ‘The retail landscape is expected to change more in the next 10 years than it has in the past 50 years due largely to…
(BPT) – If your furnace, air conditioner or water heater is not working properly, you probably notice it long before you actually inspect the appliance itself. You know because those winter mornings are a little too cold, those July days are a little too hot or your morning showers are chillier than normal. All three are signs that these crucial systems are not running as efficiently as they once did.You know you need to make a fast decision to either repair or replace, but how do you know which is the right choice? Follow these tips from the professionals at…