Week 5 - Clear

Who knew Excel could be so interesting! I am so glad for this week's mini lectures. I am grateful to those students who requested this section to be a part of the course. I felt so much smarter after watching the lectures. The arrangement of rows and columns helps the data to be organized and the formatting helps with the appeal and design of the workbook. I learned how to print excel sheets because I always wondered how to fit all the information on the page. I also found the way words and percentages and currency is inputted to be interesting. I think it is so advanced that the document just does everything and reads the data automatically. The spreadsheet helps you analyze data, calculate formulas, and display summarized data in a pivot table.

I think having knowledge regarding Excel can be so useful in the business setting. It's great for accounting and even just keeping a record of transactions. I think this is some of the most practical information I can learn. Oftentimes students feel like classes are a drag because the information is not going to be used later in life but I feel more equipped with skills to use Excel when I used to just push it away and say "I don't know how to do that". I found a helpful YouTube video (click the link) for us "slow" people that describes Excel in a great way just like the lectures from class.

Week 4: Clear

This is so strange to me to say that I actually understood the material that was presented this week. I consider myself to be quite computer illiterate but I actually got most of the concepts presented. I understood application software and other types of application software including, business software and graphics and multimedia software. I understand the basic idea of application software being that it relates to various programs that help people excel in their field of work and even their personal lives by helping people become more efficient and effective with everyday tasks. There are different types of software including: educational, video and editing, word processing, and presentation software. I read an article online to learn more about application software.

I found it interesting to learn about the decision making process for analyzing software and also terms such as horizontal and vertical applications as well as software suite. I also found it interesting and practical to learn about software licensing. This is important because I know myself like many others tend to just check the box when the agreement comes up and just pretend we read it. No one wants to read all the fine print when they are trying to install or download something. This opened my eyes to the fact that this is a serious matter. I realized I have to be careful when downloading or installing because I could potentially be fined, kicked off a network or possibly engage in copyright infringement. I also learned that people have the capability to acquire source codes and potentially modify how a program works and then sell it as a different product. I didn't realize that there were different license agreements either, such as site license, per-seat and free licenses. Prior to watching lectures I had no idea what or how to interpret software version numbers. Now I understand what the first through fourth numbers mean. I feel so educated after this week. I feel like I am constantly examining my computer and trying to understand and fully grasp what I learned.

Week 3 - Clear: Ergonomics

I definitely can appreciate and understand Ergonomics. It is the importance of position and posture of the body while at work. It strives to prevent strain injuries and make people feel more comfortable while using equipment and working on the job. It's goals are health and productivity. I came across a short description of ergonomics that stated some opportunity for ergonomic risks such as: jobs requiring repetitive, forceful use of the hand as well as frequent lifting or pulling of heavy objects. I also found it interesting that vibration and cold conditions can also play a part in ergonomic risk.

I think this is an interesting topic because people often joke about Workers Compensation and getting hurt on the job wishing they could blame it on their company. But it actually isn't a joke. My mom is constantly on the phone everyday and she holds it on the top of her shoulder with her face to the receiver and she has had rotator cuff surgery on her shoulder which has been the most pain she has had to endure aside from child birth.

I find this topic to be particularly interesting because I know if I spend too long in front of the computer my eyes, back and head start to hurt...so clearly I am doing something wrong. And that is the problem according to a web site devoted to this science. I don't have the "training" to particularly notice that my body is strained and I should change my position immediately. Instead I type away and continue to do my work. That is so crazy. After looking over the site, I will work on being more conscious and take care of my body...I only have one after all and I would hate to lose it to technology.

Week 2: Muddy

Interface, CPU, platter, SSD, HHD, RAM…all these computer terms that are so muddy to me. I am definitely not the most computer savvy person and after watching this week’s lectures, I have realized that this statement still holds true. I often found myself going back and replaying lectures to get the wording correct and make sure I actually understood what I was writing down.

As I went back multiple times, from what I understand the organization of hard drive uses a platter, binary data, tracks and interface. It starts with a metal platter with magnetic material then the hard drive reads magnetic signals they are transmitted to the computer with binary data. The surface of the platter has concentric circles (tracks) of information. Information is written on the top and bottom of the platter and the track is divided into sectors that hold a certain amount of information. A knob goes over the track and the as platter spins with revolutions, data is read off of platter and transferred through the interface to CPU.

I had to first understand this in order to grasp the function of the RAM and motherboard. I read articles found at http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4572119_hard-drive-work.html and http://www.datarecoverynj.com/how.html about how hard drives work. I also watched a video to further grasp the concept.

Week 1: Clear

It is said that one cannot not communicate. This is important because verbal and nonverbal communication are both essential in everyday life. We have been taught since a young age about using our manners and being polite to others and the proper way to be respectful to someone when speaking. In the business realm shaking hands, making eye contact and dressing conservatively and professionally are all important aspects of etiquette. What can sometimes be forgotten when communicating electronically is that there is another person on the other end of the computer and all of those behaviors cannot be easily seen or noticed. However, there are specific guidelines to follow to ensure that your message gets across in the most comprehensible and polite way. Netiquette basically means having good conduct and using ones manners while communicating via the internet.

Netiquette is important in the business world because transactions need to be made and relationships need to be formed in order to get work done. An e-mail, chat room message or other form of online communication could possibly be the first form of interaction between two or more people. This is important because first impressions are crucial and can oftentimes make or break a deal or create a bad feeling in a person’s head about someone else. In the readings and web pages that were assigned last week, we learned important tips and protocol for communicating via email. For example you should ask before sending an attachments because it can slow down a person’s e-mail, refrain from using ALL CAPS because it can come across as yelling and also you should refrain from trolling which means posting a controversial message that is off-topic simply to create a flaming war.

There are many great web sites that give some helpful tips on how to conduct business over the internet such as, http://www.learnthenet.com/learn-about/netiquette/index.php that discuss the use of smiley’s called emoticons, advice for watching what you say via email because it can come back to you and also to research before asking questions. I also found the terms trolling and flaming to be interesting. They are terms that I had never heard of and behaviors that I had no idea people participated in. However, now I am aware and understand them and will look out for people who sabotage messages to illicit certain responses from others to create heated discussions that can sometimes be offensive.