Next Wave of 100 ITIL Service Level Management and SLA Management Articles Released

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The next wave of Service Level Management and SLA management with ITIL is here. Don't miss this range of articles which cover how ITIL Service Level Management is helping organizations reduce the costs, risks, and time Managing their IT environments.

Brisbane, Australia (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 — The Art of Service, the leading provider IT Management Education solutions today announced a range of articles to explain the ins and outs of SLA management, the next wave of best practices for managing IT planning, deployment, and operations. The over 100 articles are freely available from today, and provide an in-depth look at ITIL Service Level Management. The full range of freely accessible articles can be found here:

http://theartofservice.com/Service-Level-Management/Service-Level-Management/

The range of articles is the result of over 20 years of industry expertise, research, and innovation. It will give a complete insight in all the burning questions surrounding SLA's and Service Level Management.

The Articles cover:

  • Service level agreement
  • Service level agreement sample
  • Co location service level agreement
  • What is an internal service level agreement
  • Service level agreement for applications
  • Example of a service level agreements
  • Service level agreement templates
  • Consultancy service level agreement
  • Service level agreement recruiting sample
  • IT service level agreement
  • What is a service level agreement
  • Database administration service level agreement
  • Service level agreement for applications internal it

and over 100 more subjects

About The Art of Service
The Art of Service's products and services help companies achieve IT Service Management Excellence by being their (ITIL) Framework Educator of choice.

The company's deep understanding of educational and service management best practices has made it the solution provider of choice for government and commercial clients. We serve over 3000 active International clients with a growing team of A-playing professionals. Our 2007 revenues will exceed a 50%+ annual growth rate. For more information, visit http://theartofservice.com

 

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Upcoming Webinar Examines How to “Unleash the Power of Grid Computing”

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Grid enablement experts from IBM and Objectivity, Inc. build the business case for Grid technology.

Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 — A new webinar hosted by Objectivity, Inc., the leading provider of object-oriented real-time data management platforms for software applications with complex data management challenges, will examine how businesses can use the power of Grid computing to drive competitive advantage.

The webinar, "Unleashing the Power of Grid," will focus on the challenges faced by organizations using constrained technology to manage ever-increasing amounts of complex information. Presenters will discuss how Grid's distributed architecture and scalability can resolve these challenges. They will also discuss:

  • The business case for adopting Grid technology
  • The technical aspects of migrating an application to Grid technology
  • The use of data management technologies in a Grid environment

Leon Guzenda, CTO of Objectivity, Inc., and Clifford Spinac, a senior enablement architect at IBM, are the featured presenters.

Guzenda, who co-founded Objectivity in 1988, has helped the company achieve IBM certification for all Six Grid Strategies, ensuring that Objectivity/DB can run in a grid-enabled, service-oriented architecture environment. Objectivity/DB is a high-performance, distributed object database solution that stores and manages very large volumes of complex data for event and relationship processing within mission-critical applications.

"Most grid initiatives focus on the virtualization of processing or storage resources," Guzenda said. "In this webinar, we want to show system architects fresh, new ways to look at accessing complex datasets and existing data sources via a single, logical, object-oriented view."

Spinac helps developers and IBM's business partners understand technologies such as Linux, Virtualization, Grid computing, and System p exploitation. He has 98 patent filings, 31 U.S. patents issued, 14 published articles, and is an IBM Master Inventor.

The webinar will take place Thursday, September 27 at 9 a.m. PST. Participants can register at www.objectivity.com/gridwebinar .

For questions about webinar content or registration, please visit the registration page.

A note on Objectivity/DB
Objectivity/DB is a fully scalable, distributed processing architecture that manages localized, centralized or distributed databases by synthesizing large, complicated streams of data into a single logical view.

About Objectivity, Inc.
Objectivity, Inc. is the leading provider of complex data management solutions for sophisticated software applications. The company's flagship product, Objectivity/DB, is the leading object-oriented database management system (OODBMS) for the real-time management of complex interrelated data. It is used by government, security, complex manufacturing, commercial services, science, and engineering organizations to increase speed, precision and productivity. Objectivity remains on the leading edge of innovation by working directly with clients to build customized programs, find solutions to complicated challenges and seamlessly integrate technology across multiple platforms and languages.

Objectivity, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA. Please contact us by visiting www.objectivity.com or calling (408) 992-7100. A 60-day free trial of Objectivity/DB is available at download.objectivity.com.

Note to editors: Objectivity/DB is a registered trademark of Objectivity, Inc. All other company, organization, product or alliance names mentioned herein remain the property of their respective owners.

 

Toshiba Announces Widescreen Projector with

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Features 2,600 ANSI Lumens, Windows Vista®, Wireless Network Capabilities and ‘PC-Free’ Presentations for $1,899

 

IRVINE, Calif. (BusinessWire EON) September 25, 2007 — Toshiba’s Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the TDP-EW25U projector. This new DLP® BrilliantColor™ widescreen projector is one of the industry’s first wireless1 network projectors compatible with Microsoft Vista® Ultimate’s “Meeting Space2” functionality for remote sharing of presentation files.

  Designed for education, mobile professionals, corporate customers, small-to-medium sized businesses, consumers for home digital entertainment and Pro AV installations, the TDP-EW25U projector’s “extreme short projection” technology can produce a 60-inch image from just 2.4 feet away and allows the projector to be placed or mounted closer to the screen so that the amount of ambient light that can degrade the image quality is reduced, resulting in a more luminous image.

The projector also features Windows Vista® networking capabilities integrated wireless1 functionality for remarkably quick and easy presentation set up, as well as remote network management and extensive multimedia connectivity, all for $1,8993 (ESUP).

“The TDP-EW25U projector is simply the best-equipped widescreen presentation solution on the market today,” said Sam Malik, director of projector sales and marketing, Toshiba Digital Products Division. “Attractively priced, this incredibly flexible next-generation presentation device gives professionals and consumers everything they need and want in a projector, wider viewing space, easy set up, wireless networking, unbelievable brightness and accurate, lifelike color reproduction.”

“Notebook computers are shifting to a wider format meaning conference room, sales and presentation applications will require a wider format to avoid compression and resizing,” said Sanju Khatri, principal analyst, projection & large screen displays at iSuppli Corporation, a global leader in electronics industry intelligence. “Business and education sectors will choose wide format projectors to future proof their purchase but they are not ready to pay the premium price of up to 50-percent as some projector manufacturers are thinking of charging.”

When ceiling mounted, the TDP-EW25U projector’s “extreme short projection” technology eliminates eye glare and screen shadowing when the presenter is close to the screen. When used as a portable projector, the “extreme short projection” and 100-percent optical offset lens projects the image up and out, allowing for placement of the unit at various table heights, such as on a credenza, at the end of a desk, conference table or even a low coffee table. The TDP-EW25U projector can also be used with an interactive whiteboard.

The TDP-EW25U projects fine text and images with an impressive 2,600 ANSI lumens and a rich, vibrant DLP® BrilliantColor™ display. The DLP® BrilliantColor™ technology utilizes up to six separate colors: red, blue, green, cyan, yellow and magenta for a wider variety of accurate, vibrant colors that won’t fade over time. BrilliantColor™ technology enables up to a 50 percent increase in the brightness of colors. The projector also features a WXGA 1280 x 800 native resolution, razor sharp contrast ratio of 2000:1 and offers on-the-go professionals the option to deliver “PC-free” presentations with a USB thumb drive by simply storing the presentation in JPEG format and connecting to the USB port.

Users can also expect seamless presentations with remote network management from this projector. The TDP-EW25U can be networked and controlled remotely via a wired LAN connection, which is password protected for increased security. The Toshiba TDP-EW25U projector’s network capability also allows IT administrators to remotely control the projector over a network and receive e-mail notification via SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for issues related to temperature, fan and lamp status.

HDTV/DTV compatible, Toshiba’s TDP-EW25U integrates data, video and audio features necessary for today’s high-end multimedia presentations. The projector comes packaged in a sleek, high-tech casing with multiple computer inputs (two RGB 15-pin), two video inputs for composite and S-video, two components (shared with computer inputs), one-watt stereo speaker, type A USB port and both wired and wireless connectivity options. Other features unique to the TDP-EW25U include variable audio out, digital zoom and auto set, which allows users to automatically synchronize the settings between their PCs and the projector.

The Toshiba TDP-EW25U projector also includes the following leading-edge features:

  • Windows Vista® network capabilities allows presenters to wirelessly transfer JPEG files from a notebook with ease, for slide show presentations or images embedded in documents;
  • Built-in IEEE 802.11g wireless1 functionality delivers fast set-up time and enables presenters to easily connect their wireless notebooks to the projector from anywhere in the room, and deliver sequential presentations without the need for cables;
  • Toshiba’s unique Natural Color Enhancer4 color correction circuitry, delivering exceptionally sharp and vivid images that more closely match original presentation colors;
  • “Blackboard” function with wall color adjustment. Simply select a wall color, such as green, black, brown, blue or beige, for a clearer display on non-screen surfaces;
  • One-touch auto setup on a fully-loaded presentation remote to ensure worry-free, professional presentations even in the most unforgiving environments;
  • Digital zoom function on the remote control allows the presenter to zoom in on a specific image or presentation element, such as spreadsheet numbers or other important details;
  • Password protection and key-lock function to help prevent unauthorized use;
  • Instant power shut down capability that enables the projector to power off instantly once disconnected from the power outlet with no cool-down time required;
  • Automatic digital keystone correction system, allowing presenters to adjust errors quickly and easily for a proportional, squared display;
  • Whisper-quiet operation of only 28 decibels (dB) (in low mode) – quieter than a soft conversation;
  • In addition, the projector features convenient lamp access on the top panel for easy lamp replacement, even when the projector is ceiling mounted.

The Toshiba TDP-EW25U is currently available through Toshiba’s authorized distributors, VARs, mail-order outlets and www.toshibadirect.com.

Toshiba TDP-EW25U projector specifications:

Model

 

TDP-EW25U

Display Technology

Shape

0.65" DMD DLP®

No. of Pixels

1280 x 800

Projection Lens Standard Lens Fixed Zoom / Manual Focus
F/f (mm) F = 2.6, f = 8.37
Throw Ratio   0.59
Aspect Ratio   16:10 (4:3 switchable)
Light Source   275W (220W in low mode)
Brightness   2600 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution   WXGA 1280 x 800
Built-in Wireless Technology   IEEE 802.11b/g
Color Reproduction   Full 16.7 Million Colors
Contrast Ratio   2000:1
Projection Screen Size (Diagonal)   41 – 120 inches
Projection Distance   1.6 ft – 5.0 ft
Optical Offset   100 percent
Compatible Scanning Frequency Horizontal (kHZ) 15 – 120kHz
Vertical (Hz) 50 – 150Hz
Input Terminal RGB 2 x D-sub 15 (dual use for Computer 1/2 input and Component Video)
Video 1x S-video; 1x RCA for Composite Video
RGB Audio 1 x stereo mini-jack
Video Audio 2x RCA (L/R)
Input Signal Format Video NTSC, PAL, SECAM
Color Difference HDTV/DTV (480p/480i/576i/576p/720p/1080i), DVD
RGB VGA, SVGA, XGA, WXGA (native), SXGA/UXGA (compressed)
Output Terminal Audio 1x stereo mini-jack (variable output level)
RGB 1x D-sub 15 terminal
Other Terminal RS-232 1x D-sub 9-pin
RJ-45 1x RJ-45 networking terminal (Windows® Vista network capable)
USB 1x USB port
Picture Color Enhancer  

DLP® Brilliant Color™ and Toshiba Natural Color Enhancer4

Keystone Correction   Auto Vertical +/- 18˚
Auto Set   Yes
Noise Level   33dB (28dB in low mode)
Internal Speaker   1-Watt Monaural
External Dimensions (W x H x D)   13.3” x 5.2” x 10.5”
Weight   9.2 lbs.
Power Consumption   385W
Power Source   100-240V, 50/60Hz
Replacement Lamp   TLP-LW15
Limited Warranty   Two years parts and labor, 90-days on lamp
Box Contents   Mouse remote control with laser pointer
    Mouse IR receiver
    Power cord
    RGB cable
    CD-ROM
    User's Manual
    Soft Carrying Bag

Green Statement

Toshiba strongly believes in corporate social responsibility and is committed to taking certain actions to help protect the environment. Toshiba has set an environmental goal to double its ecological efficiency by 2010, while currently manufacturing its products to meet the Restriction on Hazardous Substances4 standard (RoHS). All Toshiba projectors are RoHS-compatible, reducing harmful environmental effects by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of four business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, Storage Device Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together, these divisions provide mobile products and solutions, including industry leading portable computers; projectors; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for automotive, computer and consumer electronics applications; and telephony equipment and associated applications.

TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which is a global leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems, as well as major infrastructure systems. Toshiba has more than 191,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over US $60 billion (FY2006). For more information on Toshiba’s leading innovations, visit the company’s Web site at www.toshiba.com.

1 Wireless. May require purchase of additional software, external hardware, or services. Transmission speeds may vary. See Wireless Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com

2 Microsoft Vista Ultimate®Meeting Space. May require purchase of additional software, external hardware, or services.

3 Reseller prices may vary. ESUP means “Estimated Single Unit Price.”

4 RoHS. This product is compatible with European Union Directive 2002/95/EC, Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS), which restricts use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE. Toshiba requires its projector component suppliers to meet RoHS requirements and verifies its suppliers' commitment to meeting RoHS requirements by conducting component sampling inspections during the product design approval process.

© 2007 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. DLP® the DLP logo and BrilliantColor™are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. While Toshiba has made every effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, prices, system/component/options availability are all subject to change without notice.

Internet Uses 9.4% of U.S. Electricity, According to Uclue Research

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Equipment powering the internet accounts for 9.4% of electricity demand in the U.S., and 5.3% of global demand, according to new research from Uclue.com.

(PRWEB) September 25, 2007 — Equipment powering the internet accounts for 9.4% of electricity demand in the U.S., and 5.3% of global demand, according to new research from Uclue.com.

The annual energy demand of computers, monitors, networking, and transmission equipment for the internet amount to 350 billion kWh in the US — 9.4% of the 3.7 trillion kWh used in total. Similarly, world demand for the internet is 868 billion kWh, or 5.3% of total global electricity consumption of 16.33 trillion kWh.

The largest demand for internet-related energy use comes from desktop computers and monitors, which account for two-thirds of total use. Networking equipment such as modems and routers are another sizable draw, as are the substantial power demands for data processing and equipment cooling at data centers. Actual data transmission, on the other hand, chiefly over telephone lines, is a small component — approximately 0.1% — of overall energy demand.

"As far as we know, this is the first estimate of total internet electricity use," said David Sarokin, the Uclue researcher who compiled the data. "The raw numbers were all out there, but they hadn't been assembled in this way before."

The full presentation and analysis of the data, Energy Use of the Internet, can be seen at Uclue's website at: http://uclue.com/index.php?xq=724.

About Uclue.com:
Uclue is a professional, online research service handling a wide variety of business, academic, health, engineering, legal and personal research needs.

 

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Linux as an alternative to Windows

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    If you are anything more than a very casual computer user,  you've probably heard someone talking about Linux recently. Perhaps you're wondering exactly what Linux is and what all the fuss is about?  Well, read on and we'll attempt to answer some of the questions you may have and hopefully dispel a few myths and misconceptions along the way.

    Linux is an operating system much like Windows XP or Vista, Mac OSX, etc. An operating system is basically just a bunch of instructions that manage the software and hardware on your computer. Software refers to all of the applications that you use, such as word processing programs, web browsers, email clients, etc. Hardware is the physical parts of your computer such as the processor, memory, CD drives and the like.

    Why would I want to try Linux? I would have to say that the main reason for using Linux is that it's free. Yes, FREE! Linux is an “open source” operating system. The definition of open source is software that has been developed by a community of folks and provided to the general public, free of cost.  A second reason is that it runs very well on an older computer that may not be capable of running the newest version of Windows. Thirdly, there are literally tens of thousands of open source applications (software) that are available for download. Lastly, there is security.  Linux was developed from the start with security in mind. The Linux operating system is not as susceptible as Windows is to a majority of the threats that are common on the internet today.

    OK, so what's the catch? Well, there is a new user interface to learn. The Linux desktop doesn't “look” like a Windows desktop. Of course, a Vista desktop doesn't look like an XP desktop and a Mac desktop doesn't look like a Windows desktop, so there is a bit of a learning curve going from one operating system to another, regardless of which one you choose.  Linux also has a reputation of being a “techie's” operating system, requiring a bit more knowledge to set up and use than the typical user may possess but this has been largely eliminated as of late. Another issue is that Linux may not work with the latest cutting edge hardware, although as the use of Linux becomes more widespread this is less of a problem that it has been in the past.

    Who is Linux good for? This operating system works very well for those of us that simply need the basics: browsing the web, checking email, writing documents, working with spreadsheets, etc. Linux is a great choice for those Windows 98/2000/XP users whose old computers are running really slow and are considering upgrading but have to buy a new PC just to run Vista. It's also good for those power users that like to dig around and play “under the hood” so to speak. Linux will not work for those users that need to run Windows only software such as QuickBooks, or “gamers” who play games written exclusively for Windows.

    Alright, so you've decided that you want to try Linux, now what? My suggestion is to download a copy from the internet and see how you like it. Linux comes in many varieties called “distributions” (or “distros”). There are several distros that I can recommend for a new user; these are listed at the end of this article. All of these are available in what is referred to as a “live” format, meaning that they can be run from a CD without actually having to install them on the hard drive of your computer. You simply download and burn the CD, put it in your CD player, and reboot your computer. (Keep in mind that they will run a bit slower than they would if they were actually installed). This allows you to get a feel for Linux and how it works, as well as testing whether a particular distribution can detect and correctly configure all of your hardware. If you decide that you like one of these, there is usually an “install to hard drive” option right on the desktop. You can even install Linux in parallel to Windows and choose which operating system to load when your computer boots up!

    What if I have problems, where can I get help? There is a fantastic community of Linux users on the internet that are more than happy to help new users. Google is your friend. Most communities have a local Linux User's Group (LUG) that holds open meetings on a regular basis; new members are always welcome. These LUG's usually have occasional “Install Fests” where you can bring you computer and they will help you install Linux and answer any questions you may have. Check you local computer magazines for information on these type activities and groups.  Again, Google is your friend.

    I hope this article has answered some of your questions about Linux and maybe even made you consider giving it a try. Below is a list of resources you will find helpful if you decide to pursue this further.

Todd Hughes is a Network Security Analyst and long time Linux fan in the Upstate New York area. Send your Questions, comments or feedback to: thughes@fwpm.com.

Copyright  Todd Hughes  2007. Printed by permission.
   

Resources:

Recommended Distributions:

http://www.pclinuxos.com/index.php?option=com_ionfiles&Itemid=28
http://www.xpresslinux.com/download.php
http://www.kubuntu.org/download.php
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
http://www.mepis.org/mirrors
http://www.mandriva.com/en/download/free

Other Distributions:

http://distrowatch.com/

How to “burn” a disk properly:

-using Windows XP
http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm
-using Nero
http://www.wizardskeep.org/mainhall/tutor/neroiso.html

-using Roxio
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/burning_iso.html

 

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Do You Think Like a Millionaire? Give Yourself a 25 Year Head Start

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You wanted to see this article again. Here it is. 1) What you habitually say to yourself all day creates your Habits of Thought 2) Your habits of thought create your Desires 3) Your desires create what you Do 4) What you do creates your Life

(PRWEB) September 24, 2007 — Acquire the habits of thought of people who are healthy, wealthy and happy – and you eventually become more healthy, wealthy and happy.

Why? Because you eventually do what they do and your similar actions produce similar rewards. In other words:

1) What you habitually say to yourself all day creates your Habits of Thought
2) Your habits of thought create your Desires
3) Your desires create what you Do
4) What you do creates your Life – wealth or poverty, health or illness, joy or despair. Your actions make your world a better place or make your world a worse place.

All day long you say things to yourself. You have done so your entire life: "I'm stupid; I'll always be poor; I'll never lose weight; no one likes me; I'm worthless."

If you want more out of life – change those statements. How do you do that?

What you repeat to yourself you eventually believe – whether it's helpful or harmful, accurate or inaccurate, honest or dishonest.

Individuals or organizations that want to implant harmful beliefs into their victims use this process all the time. By the way, to rid yourself of harmful beliefs, just question those beliefs and they begin to weaken.

Through the centuries, this process has been called many things: autosuggestion, goal statements, self-talk, affirmations, self-suggestion, conditioning. Now it's time you use it on purpose instead of accidentally. Here's how.

Example:
You want financial independence. How do you find out what millionaires say to themselves about making money? You could spend decades finding out for yourself – or take the following shortcut and save yourself 25 years of time and money.

The habits of thought of 500 millionaires are in Napoleon Hill's timeless book "Think and Grow Rich" in the chapters on "Faith" and "Autosuggestion."

So, to think like a millionaire and to earn the income you want, do the following two steps:

1) As often as possible each day for the rest of your life read silently or aloud the "Self-Confidence Formula" Napoleon Hill's suggests in the chapter on "Faith" and

2) As often as possible each day for the rest of your life read silently or aloud the "How to Stimulate Your Subconscious Mind" section in the chapter on "Autosuggestion."

As you read the above, see, hear, and feel yourself doing what you read. Soon, you begin to get ideas on what you need to do to make those thoughts become real. The same principle works for other areas of life: physical – spiritual, social – emotional, financial – intellectual as well as achievement in business, art, science, and sports.

One last point. You are 100 percent responsible for your thoughts, desires, actions, and results. If you don't like the results you are getting in life, begin with your thoughts.

And don't use the "victim" mentality of "Oh, I tried this and it didn't work" or "This is stupid. I'm not doing this." Replace unwanted thoughts by saying to yourself 'Next!' and take charge of your life by managing your mind FIRST – your actions and your rewards follow.

Copyright 2004-2007 Lonni Erickson. All Rights Reserved. You now have permission to reprint this article as long as it is not edited and the below resource information is included.

Lonni Erickson is a writer in Washington state. Other articles by the author include "Was Jesus an Allegory or a Real Person?" at www.prweb.com.

Free yourself from individuals who use force, threats, fraud, guilt, or fear to steal your time, money, and energy. See www.neo-tech.com

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Open Source Innovation Named One Of ’50 Maverick Minds’

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Open Source Innovation, a blog devoted to the practices of innovation, creating thinking and collaboration, has been named one of "50 Maverick Minds" by Mavericks at Work. Authors Bill Taylor and Polly LaBarre have placed Open Source Innovation in a list of 50 innovators that includes such visionaries as Tom Peters, Mark Cuban and Fast Company Magazine.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) September 24, 2007 — Open Source Innovation, a blog devoted to the practices of innovation, creating thinking, and collaboration, has been named one of "50 Maverick Minds" by Mavericks at Work. Authors Bill Taylor and Polly LaBarre have placed Open Source Innovation in a list of 50 innovators that includes such visionaries as Tom Peters, Mark Cuban and Fast Company Magazine.

Sandy Cormack, change facilitator and owner of the Open Source Innovation website, created the blog to help people learn to think like innovators. His blog places a wealth of information on innovation effectiveness, creative thinking techniques and innovation books/videos at the world's fingertips.

"The main thing I have in common with the other 'Maverick Minds' is the desire to effect change," says Mr. Cormack. "The best way to do this is to make the tools, philosophies and sciences of innovation available for everyone."

Aside from running the Open Source Innovation blog, Mr. Cormack also teaches innovation and creative thinking techniques, and facilitates creative problem solving sessions.

http://opensourceinnovation.wordpress.com

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Computerworld Honors Program Recognizes AmigoLatino As Laureate Finalist

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AmigoLatino (www.amigolatino.com), a company that connects immigrants in the United States with their families in Latin America live and in real-time using video conferencing technology for face-to-face virtual family reunions, has been recognized as a Laureate Finalist by IDG's Computerworld Honors Program.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 24, 2007 — AmigoLatino (www.amigolatino.com), a company that connects immigrants in the United States with their families in Latin America live and in real-time using video conferencing technology for face-to-face virtual family reunions, has been recognized as a Laureate Finalist by IDG's Computerworld Honors Program. For almost two decades, Computerworld Honors has acknowledged those individuals and organizations that have used information technology to benefit society. This year's honorees were commemorated during the 19th Annual Laureates Medal Ceremony & Gala Awards Evening on June 4, 2007 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

"We are honored to have been nominated by Polycom for the award and selected as a 2007 Laureate Finalist by the Computerworld Honors Program." said Gabriel Biguria, Founder and CEO of AmigoLatino. AmigoLatino, through the Amigo Live communications channel, is a pioneer in addressing the needs of the migrant community in the United States. What makes Amigo Live exceptional is the premise behind it. Biguria's goal is the democratization of access to advanced technology, specifically bringing video conferencing and the benefits it holds for people separated by such great distances, to the masses.

From the beginning, Biguria's focus has been providing the highest quality of service, both in terms of technology and the customer experience. All of the AmigoLatino offices are set up to resemble living rooms and provide a relaxed, comfortable environment. Scheduling a video call is simple, once the participants in the United States have decided on a date and time, AmigoLatino makes all of the arrangements with the family in Latin America.

"All the families need to think about is enjoying their relatives," says Biguria. "Although I've been told that participants don't sleep for days in advance of a conference due to the anticipation."

At the cost of only $40 per half hour conference, AmigoLatino's Amigo Live service has connected more than 10,000 families. The video reunions have included everything from birthday celebrations – complete with cake and flowers arranged by AmigoLatino beforehand – to brides who go to an AmigoLatino office in Latin America on their wedding days so their fathers in the US can see them in their wedding dresses and give their blessings.

"Each Laureate selected for this honor understands the importance of using one's resources and technical prowess to benefit one's fellow man.", said Bob Carrigan, Chairman of the Computerworld Honors Program Chairmen's Committee and President, IDG Communications.

About AmigoLatino
AmigoLatino was launched by a passionate team of entrepreneurs with the goal of helping to democratize access to innovative channels that enhance cross-border communications and e-commerce initiatives in under-served markets. Our main channel, "AMIGO LIVE", leverages business quality video conferencing to help reunite distant families, community groups and organizations, in real-time and at a low cost, between the US and Latin America. Another channel, "AMIGO COMPRAS", provides families with new and efficient alternatives to the traditional cash remittance transfers, while allowing for control towards the final utilization of the funds. Very soon we will be expanding the depth and breadth of our services to the rest of the world! For more information visit www.amigolatino.com or call: (213) 380-4761

About Computerworld
Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's award-winning weekly publication, Computerworld.com Web site (www.computerworld.com), focused conference series and custom research form the hub of the world's largest (40 edition) global IT media network. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards, including Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the best technology/computing magazine, the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year Award, and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). Computerworld leads the industry with a print audience of 1,252,000 readers each week (IntelliQuest CIMS Spring 2006) and an online audience of over 2 million unique monthly visitors (Omniture).

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Cyber Security: Physical Security Do’s and Don’ts

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Dr. Robert Schmid, Cyber Security Analyst for the New Media Institute provides guidelines designed to keep individuals conscious of computer security and help secure computer data.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 24, 2007 — New Media Institute and CyberSecure Technologies have developed a list of security fundamentals to help you protect your computer, your workplace network, and your personal data.

"These guidelines are designed to keep you conscious of computer security in the broadest possible sense. They are by no means the only practices and procedures you should follow, but they are certainly among the most important," advised Dr. Robert Schmid, cyber security analyst for the New York-based New Media Institute.

  All computers, from your desktop in the den to the laptop you use on the road, have become more and more vulnerable to intrusion and attack. From January 2005 to the present an estimated 165 million data records of US residents have been exposed according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Viruses, worms, malware and spyware are rampant throughout the Internet. Entities as diverse as the federal government and the City of New York pension system to companies like SAIC, AT&T and numerous banks have had laptops with supposedly secure information either lost or stolen.

Physical Security Fundamentals

There is danger posed by the loss of physical control of your computer. The most extensive breaches of computer data in the past six months have been the lost laptops and unsecured workstations at companies like SAIC and a host of government agencies. Physical security is paramount.

To deal with these physical aspects of computer and data security, NMI recommends the following:

 

  • Protect your computer from physical damage. Simple as it may sound, the first line of defense against losing your data is to make sure your computer is safe from actual physical damage. There are horror stories about irreplaceable data being lost because a laptop fell into a pool or out the back of a poorly packed SUV.

  • Protect your computer from electrical damage. Electrical shutoffs, power failures, and electrical surges are all part of modern life. Your computer requires a steady "clean" source of power in order to operate properly. Turn it off in a storm. Use a power surge protector. Do not run motors or other heavy duty equipment (copiers, fans, air conditioners, etc.) on the same circuit as your computer! If possible, install an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that will maintain enough power for your computer to complete a normal shutdown even if the power fails.

  • Protect your computer when you are not using it. If you only step away from your computer for a few minutes, there is enough time for a casual passerby to use your equipment. Securing your work area, at home or the office prevents even friendly users, the kids or your co-workers, from accidentally corrupting your system or deleting your information. After all, it is simple to sit down at an unoccupied computer access either the Internet or email. Your personal information is at risk when your computer equipment is unsecured! If possible, turn your workstation or laptop off when it is not being used.

  • Disconnect your computer from the Internet when you are not using it. We have all left our computers connected to the Internet and walked away from them. Permanent connections, either through a business network or DSL are commonplace. The risk, however, is becoming more and more serious. IM sessions, automatic program updates, email, and scripting all have risks based on their continued connection to the Internet and the unattended nature of their activities. If another person using IM (Instant Messenger) has an infection, you run the risk of unwanted intrusions yourself just by being on their chat list!

  • Carefully consider your security settings. Programs and data are only as secure as your passwords and security settings. Operating systems, browsers, and most commercially available software have put in place a series of options that give the user the ability to require identification and passwords for everything from logging on to opening a specific file. Use what your system offers! It can be tailored to meet your needs and requirements. If the choice is ease of use or security, opt for security. Enabling program options that increase convenience may leave you more vulnerable. Examine all system settings, particularly the security settings, and select options that decrease your risk of data loss or intrusion.

  • Back up your data. Files and data are lost by users all the time. We have all accidentally erased a file. No matter how much you protect your data and the machine that houses it, it can be lost. The hard drives we all depend on to store our data have a fixed life expectancy. A low but significant percentage of them fail within months of production but all of them eventually crash. In addition, files can be damaged or destroyed by a virus or worm, a natural event, or a problem with your equipment. A simple disruption of transmission from the hard drive through the CPU can render a file useless. Regularly backing up your data is a no-brainer. Using a CD, DVD, network drive, tapes, or an external memory device will mitigate any problems created when your data is corrupted or destroyed.

  • Protect your backups. When you make your data backups, make sure they are kept in a safe, secure location. It does no good to secure your PC and leave the backups where anyone might find them!

  • Guard your peripherals. With the spread of flash drives, portable computer memory, memory cards and mini hard drives many users store valuable data in multiple places. Many of the devices are so small they are easily misplaced or lost. Users also use these devices to transfer files between machines without realizing a copy of the file could be left on the device itself. Encrypt important data files on these devices. Keep close track of miniature memory devices. Wipe them clean when a transfer has been completed. Do not leave them in computer chip slots or USB pots. Be careful. Your data is easily accessed if the device falls into the wrong hands.

About New Media Institute

The New Media Institute (NMI) is a research and fact finding organization whose mission is to improve public understanding of issues surrounding the Internet and other forms new media communications. Register now for the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Workshop

 

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Visionary Installs Metro Ethernet in Town of 4,000

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Visionary Communications has installed Metro Ethernet in rural Buffalo Wyoming, providing Ethernet Internet connectivity to businesses in the town of 4,000 people.

Casper, WY (PRWEB) September 24, 2007 — Visionary Communications (www.vcn.com) has installed Metro Ethernet in Buffalo Wyoming, providing Ethernet Internet connectivity over copper telephone lines. With a population of 4,000 people, Buffalo benefits from Visionary's aggressive expansion of business data services. The company's Metro Ethernet platform will provide service to their large business customers in the rural Wyoming town.

Visionary uses bonded synchronous Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs) to deliver the Metro Ethernet connection to their customers over copper phone lines. The company embraces this technology because of the availability of copper connectivity to businesses, and the fact that fiber requires lengthy install periods. Metro Ethernet is capable of delivering up to 40Mbps of synchronous data to Visionary's business customers at a fraction of the cost for DS3 services.

"Folks overlook small towns like Buffalo when installing these types of services," said Preston Schilling, who oversees Visionary's Metro Ethernet plant. "We have large business customers there – we're happy to be the first and only to provide them with this class of service."

The company's first install feeds it's wireless plant in Buffalo, expanding the wireless backbone from 2Mbps to 20Mbps. The first customer on the service is scheduled to be installed next week, and will replace a legacy T1 with the new Metro Ethernet service. T1s for large customers have become noticeably slower in the last couple of years with the sheer volume of data flowing to and from businesses.

Visionary's Buffalo Metro Ethernet Plant services an area of three miles from the center of town, covering almost all of the businesses in the area that would be interested in the service.

Visionary Communications is Wyoming's pioneering broadband provider, offering DSL in 18 Wyoming communities, and wireless broadband in 11 Wyoming communities. The company provides Internet services in more than 90 towns and cities, and operates its own DSL and fixed-wireless plants throughout Wyoming and Montana. The company is headquartered in Gillette, Wyoming.

 

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