Technology in 1993 – A View into the Future

I came upon this video on YouTube.  It is a compilation of AT&T Ads that were run in 1993.  I don’t like to post long videos, but this one is only 2 minutes long.  Watch it and glimpse into an interesting view of the future…from the past.

As you watch it, think about how many of these pieces of technology you used today.

-Loren

Organize your Internet Life with Ubernote

I did a guest blog post over at Mochaquest.com.

It even looks like I am now an “official contributor“.

I met up with the Mochaquest team through the Networked Blogs on Facebook.  Mochaquest is a Malaysian blog with eclectic content.  They don’t have a lot of “computer geek” content, so maybe I can help them out.

Stop by and give it a look.

-Loren

What do I do with this Hard Drive? – Secure Data Destruction

Another installment in Useful Computer Geek Technology.  (Sometimes I just can’t help myself)

All my friends (and even some who aren’t) know I am a computer geek.  I do not shy away from that label.  If pressed about my history I will opine about my Commodore SX-64, but I digress.

One of the most frequent questions that is asked of me is how to securely destroy computer data.  Usually this question comes up when someone has purchased a new computer and is ready to recycle or donate their old one.  People are very cautious about identify theft and want to remove all traces of personal data from the computer on the way out the door.

Yes there are commercial programs out there, but as with all the my software picks I search widely for free or open source alternatives.

In comes Darik’s Boot and Nuke (http://www.dban.org/)

About DBAN – From the the web page:
“Darik’s Boot and Nuke (“DBAN”) is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.”

The About statement above tells you everything you need to know.  The beauty of this program is that it is a self contained program that you can place on a bootable disk (CD, Floppy or Flash Drive).  Just make sure your computer will boot to the chosen device.

This is my recommendation because of the ease of use, and completeness of the deletion process.  This program will destroy all the data on your hard drive including the operating system.  It will render the computer unusable (It will NOT boot after this operation).

I do have one other suggestion.  Eraser by Heidi Computers Ltd.  This is a windows based program that does a good job at secure deletion.  It doesn’t work in the same manner as Boot and Nuke.  It is more suited for individual file deletion within the windows operating system.

Feel free to pass this article along to your friends, leave me comments on your favorite program for data deletion.  What are your experiences?  Let me know through the Comments.

-Loren

Download Link – Darik’s Boot and Nuke
Download Link – Eraser

Education and Collaboration – Why I Use Google Docs

Google is THE place to go for searches.  Is there another search engine?  I am just kidding of course.  My first exposure to Google was way back in the early days of gmail.  Even if you are not interested in a gmail account, you need to get a Google account just to experience all of the wonderful applications that Google offers.

My favorite application of late is Google Docs.  It is simply an amazing suite of programs. (http://docs.google.com/).  This short article will outline some of the great features available (the ones I like) and I hope to interest you into further exploration of this versatile web based application.

A note of caution on “Free Things” on the internet.  As one blogger said, “Google giveth, and Google taketh away.”  I did get burned on Google Notebook.  Just as I was really getting into it, they announced it’s demise.  I am thinking that Google will keep Docs around for quite a while.

What is it?

Google Docs is advertised as a Microsoft Word Replacement.  I have to admit that I really haven’t used the Presentation or Spreadsheet applications.  I don’t do many presentations or spreadsheets, but I do write a lot of documents, as well as cut and paste quite a bit from the web.  I have recently noticed that they have added “writely” which is a drawing program.  Obviously Google is marketing this as a Microsoft Office Killer App.

Features I like –

1.  Availability – I like the availability of Google docs.  When it first came out many of the critics didn’t like to use it extensively because you had to be ON LINE in order to use it.  For me that wasn’t a show stopper because I am almost always online anyways whether at home or on the go.  This need was met with the addition of Offline Access through Google Gears.  Problem solved.

2.  PDF conversion – I like to use Adobe .pdf files for documents that I send out or make available on my website.  For a long time I relied on various internet sites to convert my documents to .pdf format for free.  They worked great, but normally you have to upload the document to their server, they convert it, and e-mail you a link to download.  Now I can just download the file as a pdf.

3. Sharing and Collaborating – As an education professional I love the ability to share my documents with others easily.  This works well in the classroom whether it is traditional or virtual.

Please leave me some comments as to your favorite features, and why you like or don’t like Google Documents.

I could go on and on discussing the myriad of features offered by this online application.  This short article tells you what I like about this offering from Google.  Yes it is free, and yes maybe Google is about to take over the world, but while they are doing it I will be using Google Docs.

- Loren
http://www.theteachingbox.com

Education and Relationship Building – Conversation Skills

My “regular job” is working as a manufacturing engineer at a Biomedical Company.  The area that I support has around 30 production workers.  I have always said that for a manufacturing engineer  Support = Relationship. Building relationships with the people on the manufacturing floor is 80% of my Job.  If this task is done properly the other 20% falls into place, and life is good.

In my certification program for PostSecondary Education I had to take a class on Interpersonal Communication.  It was through this class that I was reaffirmed in my 80/20 rule stated above.  It turns out that I was performing the role of a master communicator without even knowing it.  I have always thought that when I write my book Manufacturing Engineering for Dummies, I would tell all my secrets.  Well here is the first one:

Relationship building starts with connecting.  Connecting with people happens through conversation.  I used to think conversations needed to center on topics that I wanted to talk about.  It turns out that people generally like to talk about themselves.

The best way to connect and start a conversation is to take interest in people.  Here are my three rules for success.

1.  Ask Open Ended Questions

Open ended questions cannot be answered with “yes” or “no”.  A quality conversation which will build a relationship MUST be comprised of open ended questions.  Good open ended questions will help keep a conversation going, and will help you learn more about the person you are conversing with.  You will quickly see how much people like to talk about themselves.  You just need to listen (here comes #2).

2.  After you ask a question, stop and Listen

Listening is a critical skill.  Open ended questions cause people to tell you information.  You need to be paying attention so that you know what the person just said.  This sounds quite obvious, but it doesn’t happen as much as we think it does.  It takes practice to listen.  Now is the time to start practicing.

3.  Discover something special about every person you talk to.

I have observed the effectiveness of this rule.  A former coworker used this all the time.  I saw it happen, but didn’t really understand until I took the Interpersonal Communication class.  We worked in a relatively small company, but every time she came out to the production area to talk to the workers she NEVER talked to them about work.  Her conversation with the employee always centered around some fact that she knew about the person.  Her communication style showed that she was interested in the person.  This was apparent in the relationships that she had with the employees.  Everyone loved her.

Remember that everyone has a story, and rule number 3 states that it is your goal to learn it.

These three rules can be used in all situations.  They are universal, not just to be used on the job or in the classroom.  As an education professional these relationship building skills are a must.    These relationships that are built with students will be a source of joy long after the students have moved on.

Now your assignment is to go out into the world and practice these three rules on the people you meet.  Ask open ended questions, listen to what they have to say, and make sure you learn something special about every person.

-Loren