Video Chat Opens Doors for Families

in Technology

In the past, talking to someone far away and being able to see their face on a screen while doing so was the stuff of science fiction. Today, video chatting online is more popular than ever before, both in people’s personal lives and in business settings. Several benefits come with using vidoe chat and making the most of them can be fun and entertaining.

Video Conferencing and the Military

War has always taken away loved ones for months and years at a time. Soldiers being able to connect with their families using video has allowed men and women to see the faces of their loved ones. Many men stationed far from home have had the benefit of seeing their first born child thanks to the technology providing video chat.

Video Helps Dispersed Families

Many families lose contact with one another due to living in far away areas. Video software has made it possible for these families to talk face to face on a daily basis. The greatest benefit is the affordability of chatting in this way. Today, the cost of keeping up with someone you love across the miles is cheaper than ever before. You should know this same affordability applies to international video chats as well.

Video and Online Dating

Online dating has become a popular way to meet people. In fact, more people meet online these days than they do in clubs and other public settings. The greatest benefit of using video chat when you meet someone online is actually being able to see them. A lot of times men and women on dating websites lie to others in their profiles about how they look. Talking to someone on video before you meet in person allows you to make better choices about that person. When you stop to consider the number of people that have had bad experiences because of online dating, you might also think about the safety factor that video chat promotes.

Video in Business

Business meetings have become more advanced than ever because of video conferencing software. Saving time and money traveling back and forth is easy when you can meet all your business associates in an online conference room. The only downside to this benefit is making sure everyone invited to the meeting has the correct software on their computers.

In most every business meeting, documents need to be viewed and edited. When using video conferencing, documents can shared by everyone in the meeting, no matter what corner of the world those people may be in. Indeed, this is a huge benefit for businesses around the globe. The only down side to document viewing is if someone in the meeting loses power or has a computer issue. Saving documents as soon as you get them is best to avoid the loss of important information.

By making the most of today’s advanced technology, you can enjoy the benefits of vidoe chat. The days of expensive long distance and international phone calls are over, making it much easier for you to reach the ones you love while also being to see the smiles on their faces. The software is available online and you can download most of it in free trials. During a free trial, you can learn whether or not you would like to make a purchase. Bear mind in mind that purchased legal copies of video software allows you many more features and the benefits those features provide.

Photo credit: futurestreet via photopin cc

Dear Bloggers: User Experience (UX) Isn’t Just For Big Business

in Blogging, Technology

Below is a cross-post from my Alpha Tree Marketing website. While it’s intended for a small business audience, I strongly believe everything in this piece also applies to bloggers as well. All bloggers have “customers”, even if not in the traditional sense. Our customers are readers and potentially brands that are looking to work with us. As a blogger (like a small business), if you’re not thinking about UX, you’re missing out as well.

What do you think of when you hear the term “user experience” (abbreviated as “UX”)? I see a lot of small business owners’ eyes glaze over when I start to talk about the importance of user experience when it comes to their site or app. I get it – many small business owners don’t feel you have the time (or budget) to focus too much on UX, but that assumption really could be costing you customers.

What Does User Experience Encompass?

For this, I default to good ‘ole Wikipedia for a definition:

User experience (UX or UE) involves a person’s emotions about using a particular product, system or service. User experience highlights the experiential, affective, meaningful and valuable aspects of human-computer interaction and product ownership. Additionally, it includes a person’s perceptions of the practical aspects such as utility, ease of use and efficiency of the system. User experience is subjective in nature because it is about individual perception and thought with respect to the system. User experience is dynamic as it is constantly modified over time due to changing circumstances and new innovations.

Woah, wait a minute. What’s all that mean? Emotions? Human-computer interaction?

User Experience Doesn’t Have to Be Mystical

Intelligent UX design doesn’t have to be some mystical term that really doesn’t make much sense to you as a business. What user experience really comes down to at its core is that the user visiting your website should be considered in all aspects of your site’s design and build.

“What would a user think about this?” should run through your mind at all times.

As small business owners, we often focus on the sale as the primary goal – which it often is. But, as many of us have discovered, there are less short cuts available to sales, especially online, than we’d like and a poorly executed experience can mean the death of the sale. The best way to make a sale is to make it easy on the user. Provide the user of your site or app with a pleasant experience and you’re already half way there. Provide the user with a confusing, convoluted or frustrating experience and you’ve just lost yourself a customer.

So How Do I Improve My Site’s User Experience?

Simple: discovery.

Huh?

Let me explain: discovery is one of the first phases of a successful project (any project, not just websites and apps). Discovery is the part of the project where research is conducted to determine what the project is all about. What should the final product accomplish? Who is the intended audience? Who are typical users of the product? What are key tasks they will want to perform? What will we use to measure success and how those measurements (key performance indicators – KPI’s) align with business goals. In my humble opinion, discovery should account for a solid 30% of a project’s time and budget. The idea is to know what you’re going to build before you build it so that you have a clearly defined goal in front of you.

Again, this may sound like stuff meant just for big businesses, but it’s not. Discovery should happen even on the smallest of projects – just on a smaller scale.

“What if I already have a completed site? Do I have to start over?”

The short answer: “Maybe”. A good first step would be to have a comprehensive site audit performed by a UX professional. Determine what is positive about the website or app and what needs improvement. Compare those aspects against your business goals and prioritize any changes based on your goals and budget. It’s ok to make incremental changes if that’s all you have the budget for. Of course, if funds allow, a complete site re-design may be in order as well.

Summing It All Up

Website or mobile app user experience (UX) isn’t just for big business. Even small businesses should consider it when building or re-designing their site.

User Experience design is all about putting yourself in the shoes of your visitor (customer). What would their impression of your site be? Is your site easy to navigate? Can they readily find what they’re looking for? Is your site overly-aggressive in pushing them into your calls to action (CTA)? On the flip side, are your calls to action nonexistent or difficult to find?

Consulting with a UX professional may be necessary in order to truly capture and define what your site or app’s desired experience should be. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s far better to get it right the first time because we only get one chance to make a first impression!

A Fiverr.com Review – Check Out My Video + INFOGRAPHIC!

in Reviews, Technology

I’ve been pretty busy lately, with adjusting to the new(ish) job, the holidays…

Blah, blah. We’re all busy, right?

One of my hobbies as of late has been perusing the website Fiverr.com. Fiverr is known for its five dollar gigs in graphic design, marketing and other online services. That’s right, “gigs”, as they’re known, start at only $5 and you get get a wide range of services for your money. Sellers that have been on Fiverr for a while and have a good selling history are able to add gig extras that allow them to provide additional services for a few extra bucks.

What I Like About Fiverr

I like a LOT of things about Fiverr, actually.

You can get some pretty awesome stuff for just a few bucks. I love browsing around looking for hidden gems. I found a gig where an artist would hand draw and color a logo while doing a fast-motion video in high definition. I figured I’d give it a shot. I think it came out pretty well, what do you think?

Edit: YouTube is acting wonky – not starting where I want it to. Go to the 2nd video in the playlist to view.

Another Edit: I fixed it! Looks like I know what I’m going to be posting about next on my Tech Blog!

There are a lot of similarly awesome gigs available. I find a new one I’d like to try almost every day. Of course, even $5 adds up quick so I have to pace myself. Actually, I’ve started selling my own gigs to offset the costs of my spending as well. That leads me to more about what I don’t like about Fiverr…

What I Don’t Like About Fiverr

I’ve been a member of the site for a little over a year now. I started off exclusively purchasing gigs but eventually decided to try my hand at selling as well. I have a few gigs of my own posted up, mostly centered about my websites and my professional and technical skills. I’ve met some really great people through my gigs and hope to meet many more.

What don’t I like? I don’t like that for every five dollar gig I only make four dollars. Fiverr’s cut is twenty percent! That’s a bit steep, if you ask me. There are actually people that make a decent amount of money on the website, but I don’t think the site will ever replace their full-time jobs the way selling on sites like eBay has for some.

I like the value and service the website provides but I feel that a twenty percent cut is just too much. Other similar sites, like oDesk.com, provide the “marketplace” for labor and services charge less. In the case of oDesk, they only charge a ten percent fee and their fee is very clearly known by both buyer and seller. Fiverr is a bit sneaky about their fee – most buyers don’t find out about the fee until they become sellers themselves.

Overall, I really like the site and will continue to use it for both buying and selling online services. I hope they’re able to revamp their pricing structure in the future to put more money in the hands of the sellers on their site. I think doing so would only strengthen their online Fiverr-conomy in the long-run.

Fiverr-conomy: The Road to Financial Freedom?

I’m not so sure about that, but the INFOGRAPHIC they produced is pretty interesting, anyway. Have a look (click for a larger view):

Five Things You Should Consider When Buying an LCD TV

in Technology

With the prices of LCD TVs going down, this is the best time to shop for your next big screen TV. It is not unusual to see LCD TV deals on the market that offers big discounts on different brands and screen sizes.

It is best to know what you are getting when shopping for LCD TV as there are a lot of different brands out there and all of them are claiming to be the best.

Here are five things that you should look at closely before you purchase one:

Contrast Ratio

Photo by LGEPR via Flickr

Contrast ratio refers to the difference between the whitest white and the blackest black in LCD screen. Higher contrast ratio means clearer and better picture quality. But be aware that it is not uncommon for manufacturer to inflate the contrast ratio of their products, so make sure that you compare different brands before buying.

Color Depth

LCD can create millions of color combinations, and how the screen displays these colors can affect your viewing experience. Generally, deeper color is good. But don’t buy a set just because it is advertised to produce the most color combinations because in reality, too vivid and overwhelming color can be hard to look at.

Viewing Angles

I’m sure you’ve experienced this problem. You’re not sitting straight on to the TV and you can’t quite make out what’s going on. The highest quality sets offer 120 degrees of viewing angle, while lesser models offer considerably less. This means that you can see the picture on the screen clearly even if you are a little off to the side of the TV set. But don’t just believe the salesman when it comes to this; test the TV yourself. Some unit will give you significantly lower viewing angle, but if your room only allow you to stay in front of the TV, then why will it matter to you?

Lifespan

This is the part where you don’t have to sweat a lot and stop worrying when the LCD is going to go blank on you. Most LCDs are rated to last 60,000 hours or 20 years at 8 hours daily use. But if you’re really worried, just go for the set with the longest warranty period.

Cost

The cost of LCD TV depends on its size and of course, the manufacturer. Expect to pay more for LCD from the most popular brands. But there are LCD TV deals from lesser brands that will give you the same performance but at a lower price. The trick is to shop at more than one store and compare different brands.

Are Smartphones a Dumb Idea for Kids?

in Guest Posts, Technology

Not only are we seeing children younger and younger talking on their own cell phones, but today’s kids are also having the luxury of smartphones. Some people choose to give their kids a smartphone because their kid wants it, while others choose a smartphone because of its features, but how early is too early for a child to have a smart phone?

It’s true that the Droid and iPhone have apps ranging from toddler to adult, but just because there is a flashcard app for toddlers doesn’t mean you should run out and buy your two-year-old an iPhone, does it? No.

1x1.trans technology guest posts Are Smartphones a Dumb Idea for Kids?

Image: by Rab's Da on Flickr

Due to the advances of technology and the ease of finding it at our fingertips, children today will be more technologically advanced than any of their ancestors. Children are learning to type before they’re learning to write and small children know how to work an iPhone before they know how to tie their own shoes.

Unfortunately today we live in a world of predators. Many parents give their child a cell phone around the age of 12 (usually around the age when a child becomes more independent and wants to do more without a parent tagging along). This way, the parent can get a hold of their child whenever they want. Some cell phones also allow GPS systems to be placed on them, giving parents that extra sense of security knowing they can track their child’s every move. If this is all you’re looking for, than a regular phone is all you need.

While smartphones give your child added luxury (more games, easier access to the Internet), they also open them up to more danger. If your child has easy, unmonitored access to the Internet, they may be interacting with child predators or watching inappropriate movies on YouTube.

The cost of smartphones is also something to consider. Children are not very responsible. Is it a smart move to spend $300 on a phone plus $80 per month on a plan for a phone that your child can lose or break?

Along with the monetary costs of losing a smartphone, there is also the cost of safety. A smartphone contains a great deal of personal information. Simply opening an app on a phone (if not password protected) allows anyone who finds it to have access to your child’s contact list, email account, social media accounts, and any other personal information.

Today’s children are also being raised in a world of instant gratification. Instead of giving trophies to the winning basketball team, everybody gets a participation trophy and there are no winners. Society is so afraid of teaching our children how to lose that we set them up to deal with failure at an older age. Giving your child a smartphone simply because they want one is the same thing. Rather than give in to your child’s demands, make them earn it. Tell your child he or she can have a smartphone when they can afford it themselves.

Purchasing a smartphone for your child is a topic you really need to think about. Is it really the smartest move, or are there better options? You definitely need to weigh the pros and cons before making (or not making) the smartphone purchase.

About the Author:

Lisa Smith writes for tru, a provider of international wireless phones.

Study: Women More Likely To Unfriend Than Men

in Technology

Publisher’s Note: We’ve all been there at some point, right? That ‘friend’ of yours has really just turned into a nuisance more than anything. You’re tired of hearing about his or her daily routines, new stuff or noises their new-born baby is making. So, you decide to un-friend them. Well, one study shows women are far more likely to un-friend than men. Check it out.

Click, unfriend: women more likely to do it than men (via AFP)

US iPad Owners – Raise Your Pinkies With Pride

in Technology

Publisher’s Note: I thought this was sorta a funny story/study. Studying demographics can be pretty interesting sometimes. Of course, if you’re looking for a particular outcome you can almost always come to that conclusion. NFP’s study mentioned below indicates iPad owners in the US are generally more wealthy than owners of competitive products. What do you think? Fact or fiction?

US iPad owners tend to be older, have money (via AFP)

Quality & Technology – How GMC Intends to Redefine “Professional Grade”

in Cars, Technology

Over the past few months I’ve had the privilege to see, first hand, how General Motors has taken steps to improve the overall vehicle quality across every line they offered. But let’s take just a half-step back from that thought and start with my own personal initial skepticism.

I’m a German car kinda guy – I have been for years. I’ve owned more Deutscher autos than I can count and have always had great luck with them over the years. Want to know what kept me going back to German manufacturers? Very simple – quality. Their fit and finish from the exterior body panels right down to the knobs on the radio SCREAMED quality to me. I like the way the vehicle felt. It gave me peace of mind from owning one. I was a complete American auto manufacturer skeptic. My memories of American-made cars stemmed from the 80′s and early 90′s mostly when my family didn’t own a single American-made vehicle for nearly 20 years.

Fast-forward a few decades, a major recession and the mult-billion dollar bail-out of two of the “Big 3″ domestic auto companies and where do those companies stand now? I think GM heard the call. They saw the writing on the wall before it was too late and KNEW they had to change something or they were going out of business. Period. End of story. They knew that if they didn’t start competing on a global scale, they weren’t going to sell any cars. American auto consumers are simply too savvy and have too many choices to settle for something less than what they deserved. GM had to make some big changes, and fast – and not just to one vehicle or even one line of vehicles but to EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Like, yesterday.

GMC Technology Stands Out in 2012 Lineup

Last month I drove the 2012 GMC Terrain during the GMC Winter Driving Event in Colorado. It was a total blast, but I also learned a lot about that vehicle. Truth be told, I had already driven a 2011 model because I was actually considering purchasing one myself last year. I learned that GMC has made great strides in the quality of their vehicles in just a few short years. One of those strides comes in the form of revolutionary technology improvements – especially in safety. GMC has introduced a system that they call their “Collision Alert” system. Here’s a little blurb from their press release on the technology (but this isn’t even the best part):

The 2012 GMC Terrain smaller SUV features the industry’s first crash avoidance system that exclusively uses a single camera to help drivers avoid front-end and unsignalled lane departure crashes.

Terrain’s new active safety system uses a high-resolution digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror that looks for shapes of vehicles and lane markings. The system uses audible warnings and a high-mounted visual display to warn the driver if he or she is following another vehicle too closely, when a collision is imminent, or when departing a lane without signaling first.

The camera is mounted, facing forward, right above the rear view mirror. Other automakers offer similar technology that attempts to prevent collisions and lane ‘drift’, usually in the THOUSANDS of dollars range. GMC is offering their Crash Avoidance Camera system on Terrain models for $299. No, that’s not a typo. Under $300. The feature is available in the top-end models until the end of Q1, 2012, but will be available on all models after Q1. A $299 crash avoidance system is almost a no-brainer option if you ask me.

GMC Quality – Global Quality Fit and Finish

I was surprised by one thing during my recent test drive of the 2012 GMC Terrain – the fit and finish reminded me of my favorite German cars. The styling also appeared to have ‘borrowed’ queues from some of the manufacturers as well, which I was very pleased to see. Gone appear to be the days of big, bulky, plastic-key (is that a word?), cheap interiors of GM vehicles that present only a few short years ago. Today’s GMC Terrain has a brilliant finish, wonderful layout and the aesthetics to match the perceived quality it exudes. Basically, everything you’d EXPECT to see in a vehicle meant to compete in the global automotive market today.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I also recommend you check out the article I wrote about my visit to the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan where I saw with my own eyes some of the rigorous test that are done to ensure GM vehicle meet or beat quality standards.

Photos from the GMC Winter Driving Event, 2011

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GMC Winter Driving Movie Trailer

in Cars, Technology, Travel, Videos

Earlier this month I had the privilege to attend the GMC Winter Driving Event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We had a lot of fun and we learned a thing or two about how to stay safe in hazardous driving scenarios. I’ll have more information about everything I learned, but in the meantime, here’s a teaser trailer to show you some of what’s coming up!

Chevy Traverse Quality – Inside the GM Proving Grounds [VIDEO]

in Technology, Videos

Last month I was invited by General Motors to participate in a media program at their world headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. Part of that program was the ability to see, first-hand how their Chevrolet Traverse is designed, built and tested at their Milford, Michigan proving ground. Their proving grounds is one of the largest in the entire world and is a small city itself with hundreds of miles of roads simulating almost every driving condition imaginable. Almost.

Their test facilities allow their engineers to road test their vehicles without even having to be on the road. The video below shows a test being run simulating a road condition pre-programmed into the computer. They can simulate a cobble stone road or a bumpy dirt road or any condition they want. They use this indoor testing facility to help them pinpoint the source of issues they discover while testing by isolating noises, vibrations, rattles and other problem areas in a controlled environment. GM has taken great strides in its attempt to improve overall global quality of its vehicles and I got to witness first-hand one of those steps.

Chevrolet Traverse Designers Seek to Prevent Storage Wars

in Technology

Designers, engineers canvass Chevrolet customers to develop elegant storage.

DETROIT – Using the latest 3D virtual reality technology and customer feedback, General Motors designers and engineers created sleek, functional and durable storage solutions for the Chevrolet Traverse crossover.

In a family vehicle like Traverse, an abundance of storage can help keep the peace among young rear-seat passengers, avoiding storage wars on long drives. The Traverse offers the most storage capacity of any vehicle in its segment. Seating for up to eight with a maximum 116.4 cubic feet of cargo space makes for a spacious ride. An optional family-friendly second-row armrest unfolds into a tray table while leaving ample storage space for rear-seat passengers.

Parents Magazine’s parents.com website rated Traverse among its best family cars in 2010. According to the report, “You can get a week’s-vacation worth of luggage into the rear cargo well, and with the seats folded down this vehicle could almost double as a delivery van. Still, the sure handling will make you forget all about its size.”

General Motors Director of Design Quality Matthew Davis experiences the Chevrolet Traverse interior in the Cave Automated Virtual Environment (CAVE). (Photo by Jeffrey Sauger for Chevrolet)

GM director of Design Quality Matthew Davis says the key lies in understanding where a customer wants certain features to be located. Customers were asked very early in the Traverse’s development what they want to store in their car and where they want to store it. A decade ago, customers wanted places to store CDs and Gameboys ®, now Chevrolet customers are looking for convenient places to store smartphones, MP3 players and electronic tablets.

“My job is to act as the voice of the customer, so getting customer input early is essential,” Davis says.

Designers and engineers used a high-powered 3D virtual reality system called Cave Automated Virtual Environment,or CAVE, to develop interior dimensions and design ideas.

“We’re looking for ideas on where we can store items inside the vehicle while maintaining a clean, uncluttered interior with fresh industry leading design appeal,” said Davis. The CAVE allows his team to explore ideas and make changes to the vehicle’s interior in virtual reality, well before production.

The fruit of the exhaustive work is a Traverse interior that blends refined styling, technology and attention to detail. Davis draws inspiration from his 9-month-old son. “It’s exciting to watch him grow and as he gets a little older to see a budding love of cars, which makes his dad proud,” Davis says. “As a dad, I’m keenly tuned in to what kinds of storage features are needed in a vehicle. A crossover like Traverse needs to be able to accommodate and store anything from a sippy cup to a portable video gaming device.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended gasoline range, according to EPA estimates. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Traverse Quality Image Gallery

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Video Conferencing and the Military

Video Helps Dispersed Families

Video and Online Dating

Video in Business

What Does User Experience Encompass?

User Experience Doesn’t Have to Be Mystical

So How Do I Improve My Site’s User Experience?

Summing It All Up

What I Like About Fiverr

What I Don’t Like About Fiverr

Fiverr-conomy: The Road to Financial Freedom?

Contrast Ratio

Color Depth

Viewing Angles

Lifespan

Cost

GMC Technology Stands Out in 2012 Lineup

GMC Quality – Global Quality Fit and Finish

Photos from the GMC Winter Driving Event, 2011

Traverse Quality Image Gallery

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