Eugene Computer Geeks Blog

The newest electronic fax systems are an innovative and dependable way to send documents quickly and securely. It combines the method of faxing with the modern email system, having advantages over both traditional faxing and email.

Advantages of Electronic Faxes

The core advantage of using an electronic Fax over traditional faxing is its capability for privacy and security. In a world where the security of documents is of paramount importance, an electronic Fax delivers a tested solution to the problem of confidential documents left lying in fax machines for any passing observer to see. Documents can also be securely stored online for free.

It’s also an ideal system for those working on the move. There is no need to wait to get to the office to send faxes when they can simply be sent and received via email. Depending on the service you use, you will be able to send your electronic fax from your iPhone, iPad and Android apps.

While it seems relatively simple, it’s best to pick from the bigger companies in the field, to ensure that you have a reliable, easy-to-use system. Getting a dependable system is a must and I have been looking at one of the biggest, eFax, used by around 11 million customers in 46 countries per day. This kind of consistent delivery is what I am looking for in the service, if it isn’t something I can rely on, I would want to find something that I can.

Electronic faxes are a low cost method compared to traditional faxing, eliminating the need for bulky and expensive fax machinery as well as paper, toner and a devoted telephone line . It is the perfect system for paperless offices and for any business, whether it is small, medium or large, wanting to cut back on unnecessary overheads.  If you are reluctant to cut the cord, make sure that you take advantage of any free trial offers so that you can try the system for a month before you consign the old fax machine to the bin.

Using an electronic fax

Electronic fax systems are easy to use. Any device that can be connected to the internet, such as a PC, laptop or smart phone, can send and receive faxes to and from fax machines. You can access your faxes as PDF or TIF attachments via a designated email account and they can be accessed away from the office anywhere an internet connection is available .

Sending faxes is just as simple and, if you pick the right service, you might also have the option to select your fax number from a wide range of local, non-geographic and freephone numbers based in cities worldwide. You get a number that is yours to keep and it can follow you anywhere that there is an internet connection. A basic account might provide up to 10 fax numbers assigned to your business, with the larger corporate accounts providing additional numbers for larger businesses. It is possible to port your existing fax number to your new electronic fax system, so that people sending and receiving faxes to your number can simply continue sending documents as they would to a traditional fax machine.

Nathan Morgan has been an IT professional for 14 years.

When it comes to web design, there are two major factors to consider; usability and style.

There are hundreds of websites with fancy links, animations, and heaps of style and colour. Many people use these techniques to make their website unique and recognizable, but too much gadgetry can make a website difficult to use.

If the user is confused or annoyed by the fiddling graphics, they’re going to leave. Other designs have the opposite problem; they’re too simple. These websites are perfectly usable, but look (at best) dull and so put users off. That’s why it’s crucial to get that balance of style and functionality just right.

1. Is Your Design Compatible with Mobile Devices?

Over the past few years, mobile browsing has exploded and now accounts for 20% of all web traffic. Mobile phones are a major internet platform. When targeting mobile users, it is more important than ever to ensure the website is easy to use. Users are usually looking for something specific when they’re on the go. Website designers should know the audience inside out, be aware of what they’re looking for and ensure they can access it quickly and easily.

In 2002, the Consumer Electronics Association discovered that simplicity and ease of use was the most important factor when it came to new technology. Incorporate a ‘less is more’ approach; by using fewer links there is a higher chance the user will select one of your options.

2. Is Your Content Interesting and Relevant?

This may sound straightforward, but so many companies upload heaps of content onto one page. The result is large chunks of daunting text which put many users off.

Some websites feature content with far too much waffle. Creative and compelling copy writing is all well and good, but it’s important must remain firmly within the appropriate topic, know the target audience, and ensure all content is easy to follow and straight to the point.

Make all pages aesthetically pleasing and break content up with sub-headings, bullet points and images.

3. Use Images Effectively

Images are ideal for maintaining viewer interest and making the page visually appealing. Try to avoid using graphics and flash animations with large file sizes, as these can slow the site down. Whilst images and animations should be eye-catching, it’s important not to use graphics which are too bright. The dancing tortoise may be unique and witty at first, but it could potentially become annoying and drive users away.

Images work beautifully when used as a navigation tool. Relevant images will guide users around the site and add value to the brand. Text links should also be clear and eye-catching; this can be done by highlighting the text or changing the background colour when a user scrolls over it.

Simple and Stylish Wins the Race

Try to avoid using forms and other user text entries. A long form can be daunting and particularly difficult for mobile users. Drop down menus are perfect and enable users to select the appropriate option with ease.
Your website’s design should be both compelling and usable. Know what the audience is looking for and give it to them in just one click.

Author Bio: This article was writer by Hannah Keane on behalf of Open Water.
Open Water are a branding, marketing and web design company based in Kent. Find out more and take a look at their website.

Ever since the introduction of the telephone in the late 19th century, technology has gradually made it easier and more affordable than ever to communicate with one another. In the early 90s, however, the game changed entirely with the introduction of the Internet.

Now that millions of computers were interconnected, mankind could communicate in a brand new way that was not only more efficient, but far more affordable. Today, advances in both online and phone technology continue to make communication easy and affordable. Needless to say, Alexander Graham Bell would be proud!

E-MAIL

One of the first ways the Internet allowed people to communicate was through e-mail. For the first time ever, we were able to send completely digital correspondence in a way that could be easily read, stored, indexed, and even printed. Although it came at a heavy loss to the postal service, it completely revolutionized the way we communicate. No longer did we have to manual delivery mail, spreadsheets, or files! They could all be sent and received virtually.

To this day, e-mail is one of the most affordable methods of communication for anyone with an Internet connection. With many websites offering free web-based mail, it’s never been easier to use!

INSTANT MESSAGING

Now that mail and documents could be sent through the wires, the next big step was to digitize conversation. This was achieved with instant messaging that originally involved downloading some form of software and communicating with people on a list of contacts. Although many forms of instant messaging still use this format, it’s evolved into other forms: With live online chat rooms and instant messaging features built into many major web services, we’re now able to communicate online almost as efficiently as we do in real life; and it’s usually free!

INTERNET PHONE

Unlike traditional telecommunications that necessitate telephone lines or devoted wireless networks, the Internet is able to provide a connection in a multitude of ways. In fact, today we can even use cellular networks to get online, making the Internet more accessible than ever before. With the affordable functionality of the Internet alongside the ability to record and send voices through the computer, Internet-based phone services soon became exceeding popular. Unlike normal phone plans that usually require contracts and impose location and minute-based limitations, the Internet allows us to connect with people from all over the world for one low price: The cost to connect.

As many people find talking online far cheaper than paying hundreds of dollars a month for pricey international calls, Internet phone services are becoming increasingly popular.

VIDEO CHAT

With the advanced inter-connectivity and features of the Internet coupled with the ability to send both sound and video in real time between computers, it was online a matter of time until video chat was developed. Today, Internet users have access to a wide range of free video chat programs. These have the same affordable benefits as Internet phone services do, but with the added bonus of being able to communicate virtually face-to-face.

CELL PHONES

Although often not quite as cheap as Internet-based services, cell phones are still the leaders of modern telecommunication. With many smart phones offering phone, text messaging, Internet access, and much more, we’re now able to use and access all of the previously mentioned technologies – e-mail, instant messaging, etc. – through convenient and sleek devices.

However, not all cell phones have these features; for the time being, those that do can be expensive. The cell phone itself, however, is still an incredible technological advancement that allows us to communicate from almost anywhere. With some prepaid cell phones going for as little as $10, they continue to be one of the most convenient and affordable ways to keep in touch.

As technology continues to develop, new and cheaper ways of communicating become available to billions of people all over the world. While technology has at times hindered communication, with new advances, communication technology can bring people closer than ever before.

With the rise of the technological revolution, the world is seeing more people glued to their high-tech gadgets. From creating important documents or spreadsheets to writing a task list, every task is now performed with the use of a computer or tablet. Since the space on such gadgets is limited, we need a medium to store our information. Portable external hard disks, DVDs and CDs are common methods for saving data, but they are not reliable. They can become corrupt or perhaps be misplaced. Due to their small size, the chances of the latter case become inevitable.

Keeping these issues in mind, many companies have bought data servers from Dell and other makers to meet their data storage needs, and now the free data storage service is available for personal uses. The latest company to join the bandwagon is Apple with its iCloud service. Most people are hesitant to try this medium of data storage because they are not very confident in regards to its data safety. Let us take a look at some methods to ensure the safety of data.

File encryption – Before a file is uploaded on the server, it is encrypted by an algorithm at the client machine. This algorithm is based on a key that is derived from the password entered by the file owner. Once the file is encrypted, it is uploaded on the server. This file can be accessed from anywhere via Internet, provided that you have the correct password, ultimately ensuring the safety of the data.

SSL encryption – One major data concern is the safety of data transfer between the client machine and the server. Most hackers are on the lookout for original and insecure data. So data server providers have created a SSL encryption that safeguards such data transfers. All that is required is software installed on both the client and the server machine. Once the data flow starts, the encryption scheme forms a secure connection and facilitates the uninterrupted flow of data.

File encryption on servers – Many times the encrypted files are directly stored on the server. The original file is sent to the server where encryption takes place before being uploaded on the server. The only catch in this method is if the service provider leaks the password, then your data will not remain secure, hence the failure of the system.

Data Centers – These centers are warehouses for data servers kept secure under lock and key. Even the data administrator needs a password to access the lock, or they can open it with the use of fingerprints or hand impression. This is one of the most secure ways to store the data.

Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) – This method incorporates the mirroring of data at the data center. In this method there is a set of hard disks with data written on them, and there is a separate set of disks holding a copy of the data. When a hard disk fails, the corresponding mirror image hard disk is retrieved to find the data. This way the data is never lost, and even its safety is ensured.

You need not worry about natural calamities or a fire breakout because the data centers have such problems covered. Although none of the methods ensure 100 percent safety, storing data on servers is a far better option than using disks.