Some Good Computer Habits to have

You've always been taught to cultivate good habits and avoid bad ones. The same applies to your computer use, where habits are good, bad or ugly. Good habits can maximise your IT investment and optimise your operational efficiency, while bad ones can cost you money and slow you down. The ugly ones can lead to disaster and an ugly mess. Here’s a list of computer habits you should kick start into your regular routine to keep you going – in the right direction!

1. Save frequently: To avoid any data loss in case of software or system freezing, regularly save your changes to documents. Doing so only takes a second and won’t interrupt your productivity groove. Use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + S”, or click on the “Save” icon – the old floppy disk in the toolbar. Don’t rely on “ Auto Save”, as it’s not a feature on every program.
2. Backup: Don’t risk losing your files by not having them backed up. With damage, loss and theft all possible, no hard drive is guaranteed to be functional forever. Recovering data is often impossible and more costly and time consuming than people think. Tireless efforts on work-related documents can be preserved by simply copying files to a few DVDs, USB drive or portable hard drive, at regular intervals.
3. Think before you print: A hard copy is required sometimes, but not every time. So before clicking “Print”, determine if you really need to hold a copy of the document in your hand. And if you do, do you really need the entire thing? Use “Print Preview” and the option of selecting a “Page range” to print only the pages you actually need. And use the double-sided printing feature where available – to print multiple pages onto only one sheet of paper. It would also be helpful to set your printer to print in black and white by default, manually choosing colour prints only when necessary. All of these printing habits will have a positive impact on your environmental initiatives and can save you money by using less ink and paper.
4. Structure folders: Where do you save your files? Is everything scattered all over the desktop or stuffed into the “My Documents” folder? Maintain some order by creating folders and subfolders while giving your files appropriate names. It will only take a few extra seconds to do so, but will save you much more time in the future by being able to easily find and sort through files.
5. Store software keys: Make a note of software licence keys and store them safely. In the event of your needing to re-install or activate a program, having its corresponding licence key handy can be the difference between completing a simple re-installation and having to go out and purchase a new one.
6. Invest in security software: Protect your IT investment, your hard work and yourself! Viruses, spyware, adware and other malicious software are topics in the news for a reason. These threats can infect your computer without your even realising it. But do you know what kind of damage they can cause? They can delete or damage files, track your online activity, steal personal information and just outright annoy you by having a poorly performing computer. Take action before they do by investing in sufficient security software. When you do, keep the software up to date and scan your computer regularly to maintain optimum performance and productivity.
7. Blink. Yes, with your eyes: Staring at a computer screen for extended periods of time can have a negative effect on your precious eyesight. Computer users tend to blink less frequently, so make it a habit to blink more often. Why? Blinking produces tears that coat the eyes, keeping them lubricated and moist. Other habits to preserve and protect your eyesight include focusing on distant objects every 15 minutes to relax your eye muscles, and to just take a break every hour or two to reduce eyestrain. Your eyes will thank you.

3D printing: the future of manufacturing at home?

What is 3D printing?

Imagine designing a component on a computer and having a prototype emerge from your printer. 3D printers and desktop manufacturing technology are making this an affordable reality.

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three-dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies; they offer both product developers and hobbyists the ability to print parts and assemblies made of several materials with different mechanical and physical properties in a single build process. Advanced 3D printing technologies yield models that can serve as product prototypes.

These printers can build incredibly complex things, from finely detailed art, to devices with moving parts. Traditional prototyping methods tend to use epoxy or quick-hardening plastic to make solid objects, while 3D printers work with a greater variety of materials. For example, even relatively simple devices can use plaster, Play-Doh, silicone, wax (to make forms for casting), low-melting point metals and various other materials (although this can become expensive).

The power of production

The real power of 3D printing is that consumers can have just about anything they want – especially if they have the skills themselves to create 3D models. But even if they don’t, they can pay a company to create the digital files, describe what they want and, within a matter of weeks, the printed object, or objects, will arrive in the post. Some companies even offer a next-day service: send in a design request and receive your prototype by courier the very next day.

Right now, 3D printing is at the stage where personal colour printers and laser printers were twenty years ago. But the technology is evolving rapidly, and costs are plummeting. You can find small, affordable 3D printers online, although these are hobby machines that require assembly and some technical knowledge.

Quality at home

Of course, at the moment, the build quality of today's 3D printers (at least the semi-affordable ones) is not quite equivalent to mainstream manufacturers. Objects that have been professionally designed are tested and certified for safety, but a homebrewed object probably has not. The build chamber of many 3D printers is smaller than the object someone would want to print, therefore parts must be printed and then assembled. In some cases, this could be difficult.

The holy grail for some of the small 3D printing start-up companies is to create a 3D printer that can print itself, allowing anyone to give the power of production to anyone else.

In the future, you’ll probably be able to print out consumer goods immediately. Imagine printing out a brand new coffee table (some assembly required), a mug, a set of cutlery, or even a pair of trousers. Eventually, 3D printers might be able to create electrical circuitry, meaning that consumers could download a design for a toaster or perhaps a new cellular phone. This could change the way we look at copyright, counterfeiting and even the concept of authenticity – we may see a revolution in consumer goods similar to the digital revolution of recorded music and film.

The world is being turned upside down: imagine recycling plastic at home so that you can print out new products? We're almost there.

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Advantages & Disadvantages of Computer Networking.

Advantages

• Resource Sharing : We can share software resources as well as hardwares such as printer, fax machine etc.
• Centralized Data Management : Data can be stored and managed on a special computer(Called a File Server). Users can access it anytime from their computers through the network.
• Centralized Administration : A group of computers in a network can be administered from a singe machine.
• The Internet : The evolution of Internet is the most significant advantage of networking. It is highly influenced in the day to day activities of us nowadays. Email, Social Networks, Chat, Online Business are some of the major usages of Internet.

Disadvantages

• Most networks requires additional Hardwares and Softwares which are costly.
• Network or Server faults may lead the users to loss their resources.
• Need Administrator(s) or sometimes Experts to manage and maintain a network.
• Virus affection and spreading chances are very high when computers are connected in a networks.
• Computers connected to a public network is open to Hackers. We need to implement explicit security measures to protect our computers which are costly.