Seniors OK With Online Healthcare</h1> <article> <h1>Seniors OK With Online Healthcare</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:53:30 GMT</p> <p><b>But caregivers worry whether their charges are ready.</b></p> <p>Three-quarters of US consumers ages 65 and over are generally comfortable with telemedicine, telepharmacies and other online tools that extend doctors' reach. But more than 80% of seniors' caregivers still think it will be a struggle to get their charges used to the technology. </p> <p>Those are the main findings of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.aarp.org/">American Association of Retired Persons' </a>"Healthy@Home" study, conducted in December 2007 by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.knowledgenetworks.com/">Knowledge Networks</a>.</p> <p>More than 90% of responding seniors said they would support the use of telepharmacies to let doctors monitor their medications and send prescriptions to the pharmacy. Nearly as many respondents said they would be willing to search for health information online. </p> <p align="left"></p> <p>The findings agree with a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.burstmedia.com/">BurstMedia</a> study conducted last August. <br />Among male respondents to this survey, there was a direct correlation between age and the percentage of people using the Internet for health information, with the 55 to 64 and 65-plus age groups scoring the highest. More than three-quarters of female respondents in all age groups said that they used the Internet for health information. </p> <p align="left"></p> <p>Users over the age of 60 also make up a large and growing segment of the US Internet audience. In 2006 there were 17.7 million Internet users age 62 or older. This group will swell to 25.3 million by 2011. eMarketer projects that this will represent 45.9% of all US citizens age 62 and older, up from 35% in 2006. </p> <p align="left"></p> <p>Learn more about how to reach older consumers through the Internet. Read eMarketer's <a target="_blank" href="http://totalaccess.emarketer.com/Report.aspx?2000418">Baby Boomers and Silver Surfers: Two Generations Online</a> report.</p> <p><b>Article Source</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.emarketer.com">www.emarketer.com</a></p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Healthcare Info Searching Levels Off</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:13:08 GMT</p> <p><b>The Web has been a success as a health information repository.</b></p> <p>The number of Websites with health information from insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and patient and doctor communities has grown for years. Now it appears the number of adult Internet </p> <table align="top" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td>users in the US who look for that health information has plateaued. <br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.harrisinteractive.com/">Harris Interactive</a>, which has tracked online health information research for years, reported a slight dip in the number of Internet users who said they had made such searches this year. The polling company said that 150 million US adults (81% of Internet users) looked online for health info in 2008, down from 160 million who did so in 2007. <br /><br /> Harris said that changes in its survey methodology could account for the dip, but its overall finding was that growth in the percentage of adult Internet users who looked for health information online had leveled off. </td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table align="top" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>Respondents were largely credulous about the health information they found online: 86% of online health searchers said the information they located on the Internet was reliable. <br /><br />Online health searchers visit a mix of community and professional medical sites for their information, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hitwise.com/">Hitwise</a>. <br /><br />The Web traffic measurement company said that WebMD led the way with searchers, accounting for nearly 11% of all visits to health information sites in March 2008.<br /><br /> Agencies and brands from all verticals rely on eMarketer Total Access for analysis and data. </td> </tr> </table> <p>Daily articles are just the tip of the iceberg. Find out what you are missing. <a target="_blank" href="http://totalaccess.emarketer.com/Products/Subscriptions.aspx?src=subs_blue_home">Learn more</a> about Total Access today.</p> <p><b>Article Source</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.emarketer.com">www.emarketer.com</a></p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Social Media</h1> <p>Philip Ramsey — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:14:57 GMT</p> <p>Lately I've been researching social media, trying to figure out what good it is outside of kids wanting to show pictures of their latest parties, people showing what they are doing on trips or everyone trying to find a "friend". As I'm sure you know there are several social media sites out there, sites like: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">MySpace</span>, Twitter, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plaxo</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swurl</span>, Blogger, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">VisualCV</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">YouTube</span>, etc... Most do the same thing, some do a bit more. I'll breakdown the sites as I see them:</p> <div class="post-body entry-content"><ol> <li><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span></strong> - This seems to be fairly well put together, it doesn't have a strong search interface, you can't change the look and feel of the product, which is fine by me (you can do this on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">MySpace</span> and most of the sites people build are unusable). <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> is purely for family and friends, you shouldn't be using this to build a business network. You can hook <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> up to items such as blogger, though it doesn't give you the ability to do things like sort your posts, and it seems like you can have only one blog. </li> <li><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">MySpace</span></strong> - The search with this is great, but I think everything else is second rate. The advertisements on the pages overtake the screen. The ability to tweak the look and feel of the screen has made most of the sites unreadable (things like white text on pink background). You can also associate music with your site, which is awful, everyone seems to have some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">junky</span> background music playing </li> <li><strong>Twitter</strong> - I need to play with twitter some more, I'd love to find a business use for it, but outside being able to twit with all my friends, this doesn't make much sense to me. Now if you could develop streams that were business friendly, that would be fantastic for remote development teams who need to be alerted to something ASAP. </li> <li><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span></strong> - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> is great I think, but it's for business only. Odd thing about linked in are the people who want to be ranked high by having hundreds or thousands of connections. I think it's useless to link in with these people, since you are then connected with everyone through them (and they don't know most of their connections). If you can manage your <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> site properly, it can be a very valuable tool for you, try not to get into the "I've got more connections than you game", it should be the quality of connections that matter, not the quantity. I believe every professional should be using <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> to keep contacts. The plus for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> is that in theory as people change jobs, they update their contact information in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> so you can contact them. </li> <li><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plaxo</span></strong> - This is an interesting tool, it seems to be a combination of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>. You can segment your content to friends, family, or business. This is great, but it's still another social site to maintain (phew it's getting tyring maintaining all of my sites). </li> <li><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swurl</span></strong> - This site is supposed to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">aggregate</span> of all your other sites, though I'm not sure if it's working that way. I've hooked up blogger, twitter, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">picasa</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">youtube</span>. My concern with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swurl</span> is that there isn't much security, if there's anything I want to have private, well with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swurl</span>, it's out there. </li> <li><strong>Blogger</strong> - I think Blogger is pretty decent, it's got a good editor (not great, but it works), it saves regularly and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">automatically</span> (which is good for any work on the web were items such as browsers crash). You can modify the background HTML, use custom built templates or build your own (build your own is bad in some hands). What it doesn't have is a way to push your information to the world, that would be nice. I've got a couple of ideas about how to do this, but I'm keeping them secret for now ;). </li> <li><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">VisualCV</span></strong> - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">VisualCV</span> allows you to build a visual resume. It's not really a social site, but I think it's the wave of the future. It has some limitations, such as you can't modify the HTML behind the scenes, but overall it's a great site. Everyone should have a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">VisualCV</span> ready to hand out. </li> <li><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">YouTube</span></strong> - For me (actually my daughter) this site is purely for fun, take a funky video and post it up there. In the real world it's been gaining grounds as a place to start your viral marketing. It's been very well <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">received</span> in that world.</li> </ol> <p>My take on Social Sites are that they are great tools for both play and work, and everyone should have something up and remain active, but you need to be careful about what you put up. One example is a coworker called in sick, seems she wasn't feeling good, if you checked her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> page you would see pictures of the wild party she was attending the night before.</p> <p>Security is a big issue, you should lock down all of your sites to only friends, there really isn't need for people to know all this information about you. Be careful in linking sites, I think tools like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swurl</span> are cool, but they could cause issues with security. Be aware that in order to contact everyone, you'll most likely need multiple social sites, which means that unless you use something like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swurl</span>, you'll need to update them all (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">swurl</span> has an excellent timeline feature). </p> <p>Are there any big winners, I don't think so, there isn't a simple and excellent tool like Google Search for the social media world. Biggest issues are security and having to maintain multiple sites. Great advantages, you can update most sites via an email, so if I go on vacation I can email my blogs in from my phone, I can even include a picture with that (of course I'm a geek, so I have a phone that can send emails and take pictures).</p> <p>Who should be using these sites? EVERYONE! In my family all my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error">neices</span>/nephews and two of my brothers are on either <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" class="blsp-spelling-error">MySpace</span> (I think my 3rd brother should be, but I'm not sure if he'll do it or not).</p> </div><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Traveling</h1> <p>Philip Ramsey — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:19:24 GMT</p> <p><strong>Traveling</strong></p> <div class="post-header-line-1"></div> <div class="post-body entry-content">I've been off traveling for the past two weeks, viewing the country by road, if you want more details go visit my other <a href="http://blog.pramsey.com/2008/08/15-days-12-different-beds.html"><span style="color:#336699;">blog</span></a>. While driving (and I spent many hours driving), I started to think of better ways to design my navigation screen on the computer.<br /><br />Right now I can tell it that I want to go from Point-A to Point-B, but what would be great is to have the car suggest towns where they have fuel and hotels where I need them (or let me set a range of something like every 300 miles for fuel and a hotel by 6pm local time). The car also kept routing me towards Chicago, it would be nice to also tell the computer to avoid major cities or let you easily pick an alternate route by dragging the route marker, like Google does, but better (80 miles outside of Chicago was congested, my own re-routing of me around Chicago and through Indianapolis saved me at least an hour, even though I drove 50 miles out of my way).<br /><br />I would also like to have the car show me the time/distance to my next way-point as well as to my destination (actually three way-points would be best, so I could have my re-fueling point, my destination for the day and my final destination, I'm a numbers geek).<br /><br />Finally it would be great to have all this tied into the internet via my cell phone or some other method. What I could do then is to tell the car to book a room for me via the internet, I found that it's sometimes difficult to get a room when you just show up, but if I could book it online that would be great, allow me to select from brands, let's say I liked Comfort Inns, but not Days Inns or I wanted Best Western or Marriott (Marriott's kind of expensive for cross country traveling, plus they don't offer free wi-fi, I'm going to be holding a grudge on that for a while).<br /><br />For my 2004 Acura TL I would give the navagation a C+, I'm not sure if there's anything that would get an A or even a B from me. For those it would need to have the options mentioned above, plus real-time traffic and weather. My suggestion to those building these devices is that they require their designers take a 2-week road trip and test the system out (or just hire me to do it ;)).<br /><br />Overall it was fantastic to be on the open road, and I'll have memories that will last me a life-time (which seems to be getting shorter every day). If you can take the time, I'd definitely suggest you get on the open road. </div><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>High Definition Video is Communications Resource for Business</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:43 GMT</p> <p>High definition video is not just for consumers and home theater. It is an important and available resource for business communications. Your company may already be equipped to use it, with the equipment already in the conference room. HD is digital video with a resolution of at least 1280 x 720 pixels. Although your conference room projector may be less than that, making use of HD production will make for sharper presentations and much more readable text. We recommend use of a PC, either Mac or Windows, as the playback source. DVD or Blu-ray players are not involved in this process. This is very easy to implement for videos involving lots of graphics, captions, and still photos. Even if the live action or speaker's video is not HD, the use of HD for editing will make the photos and graphics much sharper and easier to read. This is particularly well suited to large meetings and conventions where large screen display is involved. The trick is to edit and render the video to a computer playable digital format, such as Windows Media Video, MP4*, DivX, or Quicktime, using a resolution of 1280x720 or higher. It is important that the playback computer have enough power and resolution to do this, and most made after 2003 will do the job. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.wmvhd.com">www.wmvhd.com</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>How You and Your Printers Save With Cheap, Easy Printing</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:24 GMT</p> <p> </p> <p>Online printing has opened doors and windows to affordable printing services for small businesses. You can now have your advertising paraphernalia printed with online convenience. And with the ease and savings these printing companies can offer you, not only is it hassle-free but it is efficient and ultimately, satisfying.</p> <p> </p> <p>But if you're dubious about online printing companies with their cheap prices paired with professional services, then it pays to know a little more about how they can afford cheap print. Before you start frowning on the word cheap, remember that pertains to nothing but high-quality print job done efficiently, so you can afford to print more.</p> <p> </p> <p>Cheap and Easy Online Printing</p> <p> </p> <p>• Online Accessibility: With online offices, printing companies can offer 24/7 service at very little cost. This means they can offer you service even after office hours without you having to pay any overtime fee.</p> <p> </p> <p>You on the other hand can visit their virtual office even with your pajamas on. You can place your order and upload your files before you got to bed and have it the transaction run and ready as you wake up.</p> <p> </p> <p>• Easy Order System: You can get your price quotations real-time online with the price calculator or instant price generator. It can save you a lot of trouble discussing specifications with a printing company. And because you make your decisions at the comfort of your home, you can study your options as long as you like without anyone waiting on you.</p> <p> </p> <p>You can spend as much time as you please with the price calculator making as many variations in the specifications. And because you are already in front of the computer, you can google up the specifications to get the ones you really need. If on the other hand you prefer to talk to a real person, you may do so with the online chat or simply make a call.</p> <p> </p> <p>• Streamlined Efficiency: Transactions done online are easier to track, monitor, and produce. Because everything is written, backed up, and transparent, there is little room for misunderstanding or trouble. Any person can work on multiple accounts and simply manage it online. You can also monitor and follow up on the progress of your print job online.</p> <p> </p> <p>• Direct Sales: Even small businesses with minimum orders can deal directly with the printing company without having to go through ad agencies and middle men. By working directly with the printing company, you can get a more accurate printing cost.</p> <p> </p> <p>• Business Solutions Provider: There are also professional help offered by printing companies to complement your needs. You can get help from a graphic designer with their customer assistance or their online feature design tool. Other than this, you avail yourself of services that are attuned to your needs like Mailing services, List services, Shipping and more. You save more by acquiring all the services you need under one roof.</p> <p> </p> <p>Working with an online printing company, you save yourself a lot of money and trouble. All you have to do is access the website, and from there you can design, order your prints, and simply wait at your doorstep for the delivery. It can't get easier than that.</p> <p>By Icar Cadavicio</p> <p>More tips on online printing services can be found at Full Color Printing Company - U Printing</p> <p> </p> <p>Article Source: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Icar_Cadavicio">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Icar_Cadavicio</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Improve Customer Service With GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:22 GMT</p> <p>Use GPS vehicle tracking systems to improve customer service and bring your business into the Information Age.</p> <p>The Information Age allows us to read breaking news, review up-to-the-minute stock-market information and check on the status of our bank account, all on demand. We take for granted the ability to find what we want to know when we want to know it.</p> <p>The concept of a constant flow of information through precise, up-to-the-minute notification is accepted by a majority of society. Having our email forwarded to our cell phones is another example of how 'connected' we are today.</p> <p>So, why do we ask our customers to put up with delivery estimates of 'sometime between 9 a.m. and noon?' Do we put our customers on hold while we call our service technician to find out when they'll be at the customer's site?</p> <p>Are you providing your customers with outstanding service? Are you taking advantage of every tool available? Or is your competition?</p> <p>Consider using GPS vehicle tracking systems to bring your business into the Information Age.</p> <p>Who should consider GPS vehicle tracking systems? Any business using vehicles, who has demanding customers and faces competition in selling a product available from several sources.</p> <p>A broad spectrum of business types use GPS vehicle tracking systems. Florists, HVAC contractors, limousine companies, food and beverage distributors and many other businesses have all improved customer service through GPS tracking.</p> <p>Why? GPS vehicle tracking systems provide up-to-the-minute information you can use to answer your customers' questions. Improving customer service equates to more satisfied customers, resulting in more business and more profits.</p> <p>With the real-time data provided by GPS vehicle tracking systems, you can tell your customer where your employee is right now and estimate more accurately when your employee will be arriving. WOW your customers with precise delivery estimates.</p> <p>The historical data from GPS vehicle tracking systems will tell you and your customer when your employee last visited their site and how long they were there. You can also analyze visits to their location for the last 30 days or longer with data downloaded from your tracking system.</p> <p>Using GPS vehicle tracking systems requires devices installed in each vehicle and a PC connected to the Internet. The system provider operates a secure server which displays data: speed, direction of travel, location. After logging into the server, you view the data using a web browser.</p> <p>Some systems allow you to add a specific location, such as a customer's building, to the map. This simplifies determining which vehicle is closest or visited that location last.</p> <p>Where do GPS vehicle tracking systems work? Some GPS systems are limited to cellular system coverage areas; others use low-earth orbit communications satellites for coverage everywhere.</p> <p>Now, before your competition realizes how to use GPS vehicle tracking to their advantage, research your options, pick your system and lease/buy it. Do it today.</p> <p>Welcome to the Information Age.</p> <p><br />About the Author:</p> <p>Ken Sink, owner of My Vehicle WatchDog, is a veteran with 20+ years of transportation experience, including fleet management of over 800 vehicles. Visit <a href="http://www.MyVehicleWatchDog.Info">www.MyVehicleWatchDog.Info</a> for more information about GPS vehicle tracking systems from Fleet Management Solutions, Networkfleet and Sprint/Nextel.</p> <p> </p> <p>Article Distribution by <a href="http://www.reprint-content.com">www.reprint-content.com</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Electronic World - Expanding Technology is Shrinking the Globe</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:22 GMT</p> <p>Story after news story is focused on new technology and how it impacts the world today. The new developments in technology affect every field of business and recreation and they are not just steadily growing--the development of new technological advances is growing at an exponential rate. Some people grumble about the new electronics gadgets and wish for a less complicated society, while others take the opposite approached and criticize those who are not willing to jump on the bandwagon of new products. In truth, the best philosophy is somewhere in between. The new products that make life easier, that save lives, that aid in preventing war or that make better utilization of the earth's resources are positive. Products which take lives, increase hostility or warfare, or waste resources are to be shunned. Probably the vast majority of new electronics products fall somewhere in between the two ends of the spectrum of usefulness. </p> <p> </p> <p>One way in which technology is shrinking the world is in the field of business. Today, even a small home business with access to the internet can market to literally billions of people around the globe. In years past, establishing a market in another city was difficult. Companies large enough to expand their markets often had salespeople driving a route or territory. A regional office might be added or if the company grew even larger, the establishment of an international office might be considered. This required recruiting people in the opening areas and bringing them to headquarters periodically to train. Alternatively, home office personnel might be moved overseas for a time to supervise the establishment and training of new offices or plants. </p> <p> </p> <p>Today, much of the marketing for products is done over the internet. Many businesses are eliminating the retail outlet and selling directly to customers from an online shopping cart. Even very specialized niche market entrepreneurs can make a living because so many more people can be reached. Shoppers no longer have to make a major excursion to a large urban area in order to obtain the best prices for a hard to find item. Chances are excellent that it can be located on the internet, ordered through a secure site and paid for electronically 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Questions about the products can often be resolved through a customer service live chat feature found on many web sites. </p> <p> </p> <p>One other area of note in the field of electronic technology and its capacity to shrink the world is the use of cell or mobile phones by millions of people worldwide. Within 50 years, telephone usage has gone from party lines where call connections were made by an operator plugging wires into a switchboard to teenagers listening to music, sending pictures and chatting both with text messages and endless conversations on color coordinated hand held cell phones. Cell phones can bring in FM stations, play songs to announce which friend is calling and provide hours of entertainment through games and puzzles. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.surveillancetechnology.com">http://www.surveillancetechnology.com</a> can help you protect yourself and others by electronic spy cameras. </p> <p> </p> <p>Visit; <a href="http://www.surveillancetechnology.com/electronic-know-how.htm">http://www.surveillancetechnology.com/electronic-know-how.htm</a></p> <p>Article Source: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton</a></p> </article> </main></body></html>