Is It Important To Learn Basic Computer Skills Before Starting a Business?

Of course it is, and this is a resounding, “Yes.” Basic computer skills or computer literacy refers to the ability to use computer programs in an effective manner in order to improve any small business. Basic computer skills have become increasingly important as even small businesses have started to depend upon computerized technology to get the work done. Computer skills can mean that you can perform tasks that others may not be able to, and you are familiar with and able to work with programs that businesses use. You will have a better chance of being successful in business if you are able to navigate computers and use common or specialized computer programs. Thus, here are some of the reasons why learning basic computer skills before starting a business may spell the difference between breaking out or just breaking even.

It’s More Profitable

The ability to use more common programs such as Microsoft Word or Excel or even specialized programs can mean that you have the computer skills to greatly start up and eventually improve the business. You could make more money because you get the work done faster. Basic computer literacy can be easily learned by taking short-course classes in school or college or get training from seasonal workshops in your city or from a tech company.

Improved Work Performance

Knowing basic computer skills allows you to get work done in a more organized, efficient and timely manner, especially if you run a business that requires you to use a computer on a frequent or regular basis. Computers feature programs such spreadsheet, word-processing or presentation programs that help you to organize your thoughts. If you work with a database in your business, you won’t be able to complete important tasks without computer knowledge. Even if you have a manual labor business such as in construction or food service, you may need to use a computer to conduct research on industry or company trends, regulations or news; run a cash register or complete training before starting work.

Communication

Knowledge of how to access the Internet and basic computer skills opens up many different possibilities for you to communicate with employees and customers. Within the workplace, you can use instant messaging programs, social media websites or e-mail to communicate about work and tasks. Computer skills means that you can communicate with customers using multimedia, such as sound or video presentations, as well as answering their queries. If you have a business that requires you to travel, it is important for you to know for you to communicate with employees and customers from another location, as well as being able to remotely access data in your office even from a distance.

These Science Fiction Scenarios Could Become a Reality in the Next 20 Years

Everyone must know by now that many inventions today in many fields were once just stories or predictions in science fiction. For instance, the debit card predicted by Edward Bellamy in 1887, the battle tank by H.G. Wells in 1903, and the electric car and cell phone is credited to Star Trek.


So, today, are there science fiction scenarios that may become reality in the next 20 years or so? You bet, and some are even beginning to become reality slowly. Some may even be used in real life predictably in the next 5 years or even less. Here's a rundown of some of the common ones:

Star Trek Replicators
It can be somewhat scary to see that the replicators in Star Trek resemble real 3D printers today, and the job they're supposed to do is exactly the same: To replicate or print out anything using certain materials on hand. 3D printers today can replicate jewelry, replacement body parts, spare parts, and even weapons.

Star Trek PADD
The Personal Access Display Device (PADD) looks and functions exactly like iPads and tablets of today, although the ones on Star Trek use a stylus. But some tablets today have optional styluses for writing or drawing options.

The Virtual Display Device
First used in Star Trek, this is now the common staple for most space pilots driving hyperspace ships. The simplest on seen in movies is the VDD used by the TIE fighter pilots in Star Wars. In about 5 to 10 years, the Google glass and other such devices will be perfected so the tiny screen just outside your direct vision can plug into everything from e-mailing to internet browsing, and more.

Minority Report Air Touch Technology

While touch-screen display has already been perfected and even improving ever since it came out in sci-fi films, a headset is being created to mimic the air touch technology seen in the film, Minority Report, though it may take some more years to make it as smooth as Tom Cruise makes of it in the film.

Hoverbikes and Hoverboards
Hoverbikes were first seen in Star Wars while the hoverboards was first seen in Back to the Future. By 2017, a hoverbike could start flying, though not as deft as the one used by the Stormtroopers. The hoverboards now being sold commercially took their cue from Back to the Future, though a more realistic one using four disc-shaped magnetic engines that pushed against each other could also make a commercial appearance by 2017.

Driverless Cars
Logan's Run in 1975 is credited with the first concept of a driverless vehicle, though these also came out in films like Total Recall, Judge Dredd, and Minority Report. Google is the first to attempt the concept, with Audi and Ford also attempting the reality, though the technology is a bit awkward.

5 Credit Card Reader Apps That Are Perfect for Small Businesses

For small business owners, investing in a mobile credit card reader is considered a smart decision nowadays because it gives your customers more payment options, especially if you are travelling and are usually involved in outside sales. Businesses are rarely cash-only and it can frustrate your customers if your business only accepts limited forms of payment. There are apps designed to make it easier for customers to pay how they want, even for small purchases, and will help boost customer satisfaction and retention. When comparing mobile credit card reader apps, there are several factors that a small business owner must consider, like ease of use and compatibility with a wide range of mobile devices and phones.

Check out some popular mobile credit card reader apps on the market now.

ROAMpay

The ROAMpay app is unique among its competitors because it is one of the few on the market that offers a combination card swiper that works with Android phones, iPhone, and BlackBerry. It is also compatible with some flip phones and older mobile phones. The app provides end-to-end encryption when transactions are made as well as a secure PIN-based user authentication, ensuring the highest level of data security possible. ROAMpay is a great option for small business owners because of its ability to work with so many types of devices. For this reason, having this app will surely provide convenience to your customers and higher possibility of sales increase.

Square

Square is currently one of the most acknowledged and popular apps. It charges 2.75 percent per swipe, but you can get both the device and app for free. It doesn't require any contract, and the money will be deposited directly to your bank account right after a transaction. What makes the app attractive is its ease of use, as well as the sleekness and the small size of the app. Simply plug it into the audio jack of your mobile device. The only downside of the Square app is that it is only compatible with Android and iPhones.

PayAnywhere

One of the least expensive you can get for a mobile credit card reader app is PayAnywhere. The reader is free and accepts most major credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. It charges a low rate of 2.69 percent per card swipe. With its basic features and free from any setup costs, hidden fees, or minimum monthly payments, the PayAnywhere app is one of the best solutions you can get.

Intuit GoPayment

Intuit GoPayment is somehow similar to Square because it works with Android, iPhone and other Apple products, as well as BlackBerry devices. It's startup is free and simple -- all you need to do is sign up and install the free app. Enjoy rates as low as 1.7% per swipe, with no setup fees, no commitment and the ability to cancel anytime. With Intuit GoPayment, you can have safe and secure payments because it has two levels of security to ensure that all of your transactions are safe and secure with the encrypted card reader. Intuit GoPayment is compatible with major credit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express with authorization in seconds.

PayPal Here

This mobile payment solution is part of the overall PayPal package and connects with your PayPal debit card and online account. One cool feature of the PayPal Here app is that you can use your GPS signal to attract buyers, who can search for local businesses that accept PayPal or use PayPal Here. This also means you can simultaneously accept payments by credit card or online through PayPal's payment service. However, just like Square, it only works with Apple and Android devices. PayPal Here offers different types of payment plans, so you can choose a package depending on how advanced your business is or you can tailor a package that will perfectly fit to your needs.

What are the Coming Technology Trends in User Experience for 2015?

Technology trends today are always evolving, and 2015 will undoubtedly be another year filled with cutting-edge innovations and standout technology. And if you look at the past years, each year was always a big year for new technology trends. This coming 2015 will be no different when the user experience face new developments, surprises, and shakeups.

Staying “Always Connected”

The biggest factor that will make headway in 2015 for user experience is Internet connectivity. This isn't just about computers, tablets, or smartphones, but rather, all types of products that can be connected to the Internet at all times. New devices will have the ability to send and receive data, display graphs on smartphones, and store it all on the cloud. Experts call this latest phenomenon the “Internet of things (IoT).”

The blurring between hardware and software

With the Internet now becoming more ubiquitous, a lot of software is now converting into web applications. Many can be downloaded for free through any mobile device or PC. For businesses, however, it makes it harder to appeal to customers because even competitors may be using the same apps. Thus, the true user experience for customer value may now boil down on who can create the better apps without the competition getting to it. Take the example of Apple and what they did with iPod and iTunes package using Device+Software+Internet+Content for their customers.

The rise of the smartwatches

This is one product that the user experience will see rise in 2015. The smartwatch is a device that features not only time and date, but also many other functions including web browsing, social media, and the ability to track user data by staying connected to the Internet and any user smartphone.

The coming of text-less communication

The biggest reason for the popularity of chat apps in mobile devices and even computers is the function that enables users to communicate just by sending icons or stickers. It has been noted that Asians, in general, love text-less communication. It is not because it is faster and simpler, but because it makes it easier to express their true feelings by showing the icon or sticker. This also is a new form of user experience that many users appreciate as it is slowly replacing costly texting and phone call bills. Of course, aside from being able to continuously chat without texting comes the ease of exchanging photos and videos without resorting to costly MMS.

Online services that can provide real experiences

If you think about some of the new and popular online services like Uber and Airbnb, you should realize that they provide a new type of real life experience. Just by using their services online, you can experience a new way to ride a taxi or stay at different places around the world. It feels like the technology has finally started serving its original role of helping people’s lives instead of taking them over.

Taking a closer look at these trends, most of these concepts are actually nothing new. Rather, most of these technologies were well developed almost a decade ago. However, by combining different technologies and platforms, these new trends are also providing new user experiences that may just make a great impact in 2015 or beyond.

Important 'Must Have' Skills that Every Tech Enthusiast Should be Familiar With

You're a technology enthusiast, and you know that there are some so-called “must-have” skills that you need to possess. Of course, the skills required for technology may vary widely from one situation to the next. However, there are some skills that are worth acquiring no matter what your area of expertise is.

Do these skills involve web development coding because it’s in demand globally? Is it perhaps cloud computing since this may be the “hybrid development of the future?” Could it be data for mobile apps? Or perhaps all you need are soft skills such as the skill of being resilient, having adaptability, and having awesome problem solving skills.

However, the first three above may be too technical for some people, while soft skills are basic work ethic skills that everyone needs whether working in IT or on a factory assembly line. Instead here are some “must-have” tech skills that all techie enthusiasts can relate to.

Quality Assurance
The quality assurance (QA) process is central to almost everything from developing software to systems and apps. While QA can be a job in itself, many organizations rely on developers, support professionals, and others to handle QA. If you don’t know anything about it, you’re shortchanging your career prospects. It is, therefore, important for every techie to have a sound QA background in whatever IT field they have.

Documentation
Producing documentation isn’t just for content and technical writers. Support professionals, coders, and other IT workers must often document their processes and products for other technology professionals, customers, and even their non-techie colleagues. Techies with sharp documentation skills have an edge.

Databases
The database is at the foundation of most software projects. The more you learn about databases, the more you’ll be able to contribute to projects with databases at their center. Support professionals often field calls from non-technical users about databases, while developers must often design software to work with databases.

Networks
Even in this age of Wi-Fi and mobile gadgets, everything is still connected especially in offices. If you don’t know the basics of networking, and if you can’t even set up and troubleshoot your own Wi-Fi network, then you need to familiarize yourself with the essentials of networking. Lacking knowledge about networks can be a red flag to potential employers. There have been numerous experiences by hiring managers and company proprietors who have complained about programmers who know everything about coding, but nothing about networks.

Microsoft Office
If you don’t know how to use Excel, let alone how to import an Excel worksheet, then that could spell real trouble for your hiring chances. Too often, too many techies don’t have a broad enough knowledge of Microsoft Office. MS Office – and at least the three basic programs in it, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint – is so pervasive that it makes sense to learn enough so that it’s not a barrier in the workplace. After all, you never know when you’ll need to write technical specifications in Word or prepare a presentation in PowerPoint.