The post The Beauty of Gaming – Portal appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>The game begins in an abandoned research facility, seemingly controlled by an AI-powered robot. GLaDOS introduces itself and starts giving you a series of tests to monitor your physical and on-the-spot problem-solving abilities. Naturally playing as Chell, your objective is to get out by any means necessary.
So… you’re basically a guinea pig working to navigate the dangerous laser-ridden obstacles for the amusement of a lonely robot. Wouldn’t sound like an ideal vacation destination, but it makes for an excellent gaming experience – especially if you enjoy science fiction and puzzles.
Well, you’re handed a portal gun that can be used to navigate these courses – many of which are impossible without it. Eventually, your portal gun is upgraded, allowing the player to create two portals that connect to each other – this makes for so many more possibilities, which, in turn, calls for more difficult puzzles to solve.
Throughout the game, GLaDOS makes promises of cake if you can complete the series of tests in its entirety. This is seen as some sort of incentive, similar to how scientists use cheese for experiments with rats.
As you may have guessed, there was no cake. This led to the popular internet meme “The Cake is a Lie“, which people would often use when someone offers a reward for something that they have no intention of following through with.
The eeriness of the robot promising cake still sticks with us… it’s as if that’s one of the few things the robot knows about humans, so it thinks it’s doing an amazing job motivating you. When in reality, you’re a person fearing for your life… something a psychopathic robot would never be able to feel or understand in the first place. GLaDOS also makes grim (sometimes humorous) remarks throughout the game that acts as comic relief and a device to convey the player’s anxiety.
With Portal being a smash hit, Valve eventually blessed us with a sequel. In this story, you aren’t a human trapped in the facility, but another robot trying to escape. You’re guided by Wheatley, another robot who can fly around the facility – he always has the best intentions, but always seems to misunderstand the situation or just flat out drop the ball. The biggest case being when he awakens GLaDOS.
Once awakened, you’re given even more dangerous tasks to satisfy her boredom, fully equipped with passive-aggressive (and sometimes hilarious) comments to keep you company. Wheatley comes in and out in an attempt to help, but let’s face it – he’s mainly comic relief… or is he?
Sadly, no. At least, probably not. We’ve yet to see a true 3rd installment of any Valve game to date, including their most popular titles like Team Fortress, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead and so on. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but we certainly aren’t getting our hopes up.
Portal and Portal 2 are still loads of fun and even after years of release, they still prove themselves to be replayable. If you just wait enough time in between sessions, part of the game almost feels like you’re playing it for the first time!
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]]>The post How To Boost Network Security For Your Business appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>The following applications and measures will help you keep out cyber attackers and breachers. It will also help you protect your data and your customers’ information.
You or your co-workers will inevitably browse external web links on your computers at work. Web security comes in handy as a basic precaution against external threats. It helps you block threats by denying access to a wide range of unsecured websites and ads.
As a small organization, it is usually best to outsource web security to firms that constantly update their database of blocked sites. This ensures that new threats are immediately blacklisted, and your data remains secure.
Keeping web security measures up to date is easy and recommended:
In recent times, work from home has become a norm. Especially in this scenario, it has become even harder for companies to securely transmit data between their users; if intercepted, data can be accessed by hackers. VPNs (virtual private networks) are a way of encrypting data from point to point. All data that travels through this secure network is authenticated and, even if intercepted, cannot be deciphered by external users.
Large organizations rely heavily on VPNs. In fact, some businesses only allow access to their internal systems and applications through authenticated VPN networks.
Interactions on the web are usually two-way. If you click on a link, you are accepting whatever it is you clicked on. Therefore, firewalls are important for basic protection; you could click on something harmless that could be a virus in disguise. Firewalls only let trusted or authorized traffic flow into your network.
Setting up defined rules for specific traffic to enter your systems is what firewalls are all about. However, firewalls need to be updated regularly to allow or block traffic from specific apps or websites.
While your basic hardware (such as routers) and software (such as Windows) have decent firewalls, it might be a good idea to have external aid with a firewall. It is good practice to have an IT firm check your systems and advise accordingly.
One of the oldest ways of limiting chances of attacks or breaches is to allow access only to specific personnel. Like the signs say ‘authorized personnel only’. This ensures that anyone without authorized usernames, passwords, or even specified computing machines, cannot access your data.
This zero-trust strategy is robust and widely used. Even so, alone, it cannot withhold a sophisticated attack; one infected user could jeopardize the entire security system.
If your data is sensitive – for example, has customer credit card details – opt to work with an IT firm to help establish dynamic and automated access control systems for your business.
Emails are essentially the fastest and easiest ways for attackers to breach your security. From attachments to links, emails are a leading way for hackers to install malware or viruses in your systems.
Fortunately, protection against harmless and phishing emails is relatively simple if you go with the right email security tools or IT Service Provider. Simple applications also help in this regard; most anti-viruses have email protection software as a service. This also encrypts outbound email messages, thus securing information sent out through emails against unauthorized receipts.
If you run a simple and smaller network, good anti-virus software will provide basic protection. Avoid free software as they usually skimp on important features such as automatic real-time responses against new threats and optimizing network settings for better flow of secure data.
If you are unsure of which anti-virus software to get, ask a professional networking firm for advice. Keep anti-virus auto-updates on as well; malware is always evolving to get one step ahead of anti-virus.
Pro-tip: Run anti-virus software alongside Windows basic protection to have an additional layer of security.
For extensive protection, partner with or outsource incident response operations to a network security company. Incident response systems help in establishing responses to ‘what-if’ scenarios. In case of a cyber-attack, they prepare the system to immediately respond accordingly.
Incident response services help contain attacks, provide remedies instantly, and even restore lost data.
Whether it is your source of income or your online presence, being connected to the web means you are connected to customers as well as attackers. While most ways of protecting yourself and your systems can be handled individually, the degree of aid will vary based on the size and scale of your network. Do not skimp on protecting your valuable assets, make sure you have the right cybersecurity in place to protect your networks. Employing these solutions could save you time and money.
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]]>The post Best Computer Repair Shops In Kansas City appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>FEATURED REVIEW: Our selection process is based on five different attributes, including the experts’ reputation, qualifications, availability, expertise, and professionalism. Therefore, if you’re looking for computer repair shops in Kansas City with exceptional testimonials and reputations, this article is for you.
Direct Computer Outlet is one of the top-rated computer repair shops to extend its services to the entire Kansas City. This store is a one-stop shop for repair jobs and parts replacement. They’ll be able to fix your Macs, PCs, iPhones, and Androids facing any hardware issues, software issues, system upgrade problems, etc. They can also fix broken screens, defective audio jacks, and liquid damage.
FEATURED REVIEW: The best thing about Direct Computer Outlet is that besides fixing your broken gadgets properly, they also have a reputation for letting you in on their process. This way, if there’s a chance you encounter the same problem with your device and requires only a quick fix, you’ll already know how to fix it by yourself. Therefore, if you want the kind of customer service that has your best interests at heart, this is the place to go without a second thought.
Lastly, the shop offers a range of laptops and computers to clients with a 90-day in-store warranty. You can even find pop sockets and durable gadget cases for all your devices, making this store the top choice for many customers.
If you’re looking for an official Apple-authorized service provider in Kansas City to get your gadgets fixed, visit TechGrove. You are guaranteed to receive quality service that focuses on customer satisfaction. The best part about these computer repair experts is that they provide same-day service to clients, so you don’t have to wait for long days before getting your Apple devices back. From glass repair and liquid damage to battery replacement or system upgrade problems, you can have your Apple products repaired here in no time at all.
Several online customer reviews show that TechGrove was suggested to them by the experts working at the Apple Store. This is all the reassurance you need about your gadgets being in good hands.
FEATURED REVIEW: Additionally, when the experienced team is working on your damaged Apple gadget, they ensure to check whether everything is working as it should, so you don’t have to make another visit to the shop to get that problem fixed. This is one of their customer service qualities that has gotten them a large customer base.
If you’re facing issues with your computers, tablets, mobile phones, printers, televisions, or anything remotely falling into the tech-gadget category, Micro Center is the place to be! The services offered in this Kansas City shop, both online and in-store, are beyond one’s expectations. If we have to summarize their offerings in a sentence, we’ll call it an all-in-one destination for people looking to get their gadgets repaired or buy an unmatched selection of products from their 25,000+ in-stock inventory. Not to mention, you can also come by for a do-it-yourself experience to design your personal computers. As their motto says, this is the place to discover, learn, solve, and evolve!
FEATURED REVIEW: Furthermore, their online customer service is one of the best in Kansas City, as reviewed by a trail of happy customers. The considerate team working at the shop takes all the necessary steps to make sure their clients are being helped. Case in point, not only do they keep you updated at all times via calls. They also make it a priority to keep everything in writing through emails.
Having said all that, it’s no wonder why Micro Center has such a thriving customer base in Kansas City, where many of their clients approach them from outside the city at times.
Located in Kansas City since 1993, B.E. Tek Computers has been known for repairing and selling quality tech gadgets for many decades. With tons of experience under their belts, the technicians working here can help you deal with any desktop, laptops, printers, and mobile-related repairs with a quick turn-around service. The shop also offers everything from new and used laptops, desktops, and mobile phones to second-hand printers, for both homes and businesses. However, they’re best reviewed for making various product repairs, installing unique hardware and software upgrades, and providing data migration and protection.
FEATURED REVIEW: B.E. Tek’s repeat clients can’t stop complimenting the shop’s high-quality service and how they always deliver a one-on-one experience to their customers, even people with no technical background. After all, when a company that’s mostly known to take on business-based clients manages to show the same care and attentiveness to their individual clients, even during busy hours, it’s worth praising.
With such an exceptional range of computer repair shops in Kansas City spread throughout the area, you don’t have to worry about getting your electronics fixed or getting scammed in the process! The next time you’re faced with any problem with your gadgets, head out to the stores we have mentioned in this article for a guaranteed and quick fix!
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]]>The post The 10 Best Action-Adventure Games For Sega Genesis appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>It acted as a bridge that connected older generations of media with a new era that expressed new waves of creativity and interactiveness, with early introductions of what later became modern technology. At the forefront, we had gaming systems like the Sega Genesis, which paved the way for some of the most popular games over 20 years later. So let’s rewind to 10 of the most loved and admired action-adventure games for the Sega Genesis.
What boy growing up in the 90s didn’t love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? From the cartoon to video games and the live-action movie, you couldn’t (and didn’t want to) escape turtlemania. But one game seems to stand out. The platform, “beat ‘em up’ adventure game, brought players through the streets, parks and sewers of New York City to fight their way to the Hyperstone and prevent Shredder from world takeover. The overall playstyle was reminiscent of the original TMNT arcade game, but with an ambiance that brought the experience to a whole new level.
Shinobi 3 brought a lot of the fun from its original titles, but with a twist. Players now had options for moves, weapons, techniques, even some combo opportunities that gave them a truly unique game. The only drawback? Shinobi 3 was super difficult to beat, just like its other titles. So if you have patience and an appetite for fun, give it a shot!
Playthrough the animated lower layers of the earth as “Earthworm Jim”. The unique platform design and boss fights made this game innovative and the cartoon-y design made it fun for the whole family. When you talk about family-fun adventure games for the Sega Genesis, there’s a reason why Earthworm Jim comes to mind.
Everyone loved Rocket Knight Adventures because it was one of the earlier Sega games that were able to compete with the likes of Super Mario, Sonic and Mega Man. Speaking of Mega Man, this was like a unique twist without as many gadgets, allowing users to get a little more ‘up close and personal’ with their enemies.
Da na na na na na na na… BATMAN!!!
Loosely based on the hit animated series, The Adventures of Batman & Robin tales the user through the streets of Gotham City to take on two-face, the riddler and many more notorious villains. It played like a platform game, but offered additional features that gave people hours of entertainment… all with the DC aesthetic that everyone loves about the caped crusader.
Imagine a fantasy land mixed with awesome rockets and lasers… that’s Gunstar Heroes. This action-adventure meets RPG kind of set the bar for a lot of games to follow. The huge array of mini villains, boss battles and adventure maps gave people a truly unique adventure. As a matter of fact, it still has something of a cult following even today.
I feel like I can count on one or two hands how many Sega Genesis series are still around today and Streets of Rage is one of them. The perfect mix of beat em’ up mixed with platform-adventure made this game so much fun and in a unique way.
Who can forget one of the best retro gaming sequels ever? This game took off from the original legendary Sonic the Hedgehog, allowing users to play as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles to fight Eggman and his minions. Legend says some players are still stuck in the nuclear power plant…
If you like fantasies and horror, then Castlevania is certainly for you. Here you play as Simon and Richter Belmont as you fight through various stages, including Dracula’s castle to end his tyrannous reign. Like many other Castlevania games, Bloodlines was able to stand out with its state-of-the-art graphics, excellent storytelling and advanced gameplay.
Can you honestly say you’re surprised? Sonic the Hedgehog was the game that put Sega on the map in an act to compete with Nintendo’s Super Mario and it did just that. The unique, ring-filled adventures brought users a new perspective on adventure games as it clashed between science and fantasy. The only real drawback is that it’s very hard to beat. With all his abilities, why can’t Sonic do a little better underwater?!?!?
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]]>The post 5 Ways Businesses Have Adapted to COVID-19 appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>While it may not be urgent at this time, increased technology use and virtual conferencing has become “the new normal” allowing businesses, coworkers and recruiters to collaborate from anywhere. As you’d expect, popular communication software companies have taken advantage of this climate, adding special features to accommodate people and businesses.
More distance means more opportunities for productivity. As a result, businesses have been capitalizing on their ability to outsource IT services, marketing, accounting and everything in between. Not only has this allowed businesses to safely social distance, but it has also enabled them to cut costs in many areas. Not to mention how many opportunities this has created for businesses that depend on being outsourced.
There was a time (early 2020) where face-to-face or in-person was seen as imperative for many jobs. This number has since drastically decreased thanks to COVID-19. Employers and business owners saw in-person positions as advantageous for certain reasons, not giving remote options a second thought until they were out of options. In many cases, it turns out that not only are these positions possible but in some cases more productive with autonomy. Many positions in business, accounting, legal services and many more have made the transition with little sign of going back.
This may come as a surprise to some, but customer service practices saw a shift following the COVID-19 pandemic. So many customer service procedures have shifted from in-person social media and chatbots. This has drastically helped businesses cut costs and save time.
Automating these processes has also created new jobs in the space, from coding to strategy and policy all in the name of safety and efficiency.
As certain tasks and services found themselves in less demand, many businesses felt the need to diversify their services to compensate. As an example, the restaurant space now needs less wait staff and indoor space and more delivery services to accommodate social distancing regulations. To compensate for lack of certain demands, businesses looked to bolster and/or replace less desirable services for others. That way they could make up lost revenue while possibly capitalizing on newfound opportunities.
Any sticky situation, in any climate calls for change. The challenge is whether businesses are ready to make such changes, especially when they are as drastic as what was required during COVID-19. All in all, it looks like entrepreneurs and businesses alike now see the importance of being creative and dynamic because, in a blink of an eye, the world can be put on its head. So whether it’s a matter of regulating communications, outsourcing work, or diversifying your services, the ability to adjust is what will enable businesses to survive anything – and that’s what’s important.
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]]>The post Best Smart Upgrades for New Homeowners appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>KEYLESS ENTRY: The concept is simple- enter a (usually) 4-digit code and voila, no need for keys. The convenience of keyless entry includes your morning run when keys would pose a nuisance, visitors, contractors, delivery personnel, or tenants who can have a code of their own which can be wiped upon their departure. For those who live alone losing your keys and not having entry to your home is one less thing to worry about.
SMART HOME SECURITY: We will not mention brand names but there are a wealth of options for every size home and budget. No one should be without a home security system, if only for the 15% (sometimes higher) rebate on our annual home insurance policy. In addition to cameras that can be monitored remotely by the homeowner or by a subscription service, full-featured home security systems offer the option to control thermostats and lighting on every floor to lower energy costs. Some even warn against fire, carbon monoxide, leaks, and potential flood hazards. As previously stated, while most can be controlled remotely, some offer voice control as well.
SMART VACUUMS AND MORE: We have all seen the disc-shaped vacuums that sense boundaries and challenges to clean an entire floor on a single charge, then return to their home base. All one needs to do is empty them. While this is just grand, there are limitations including steps and thick rugs. Still, for interim tidying between deep cleanings, many homeowners swear by them.
Following this concept, weekend warriors who detest pushing the lawnmower will rejoice at the cordless robotic mowers that take on hills and tree roots with ease. Several major brands now offer models so while today these paragons are ideal for small lawns only, within a few years, there is the potential to swap one green (your yard), with another (the golf course). BTW: Robotics are also available to clean pools and control your sprinklers more effectively than ever before. And you’re welcome!
PERSONAL ASSISTANTS: The residential, voice-activated, AI-driven personal assistant is like having another family member. One that actually performs the chores you task it with! Beyond providing information, orchestrating online ‘visits’, and complying with home security systems, these devices now work in tandem with specialized light bulbs, wall switches, televisions, and even draperies and window coverings to make our lives more convenient. If one had to select one Smart Home upgrade for convenience and another for safety, the Voice-Activated Personal Assistant and the Smart Home Security System would be top of the list.
SMART MIRROR/BODY SCANNER: Unless one works in an industry where appearance is everything, the smart mirror/body scanner delves too far into the realm of pseudo-science and extreme vanity. The facial version informs users of facial blemishes, etc. (And their eyes don’t?) Additionally, it can be used to note changes in skin tone over time so one can determine if that expensive anti-wrinkle cream is worth the expense. The body version will let you know if your workouts have been effective or not based on your changing contours. (Your newly baggy clothes will not?)
METABOLISM STIMULATORS: This falls under the ‘now we have heard everything’ category. The unit is a headset that “allows” wearers to eat whatever they want and still lose weight. The machine is said to stimulate the brain so that it metabolizes faster leading to quick weight loss regardless of what the wearer has ingested. Uh, if that is the case, I’ll have the Lobster Thermador, heavy on the butter and cream, please! Dream on!
SMART MATTRESS: This is a sleep aid that does more than just support the spine- or does it? It monitors one’s resting heart rate, notes the bedroom temperature and noise rate, offers LED light therapy, and allegedly stops snoring. Sounds like an amusement park for insomniacs and any MD can tell you that adjusting one’s sleeping position will not realign one’s septum, the usual cause of nocturnal wood sawing, anyway.
WIFI-ENABLED APPLIANCES: We are not talking about coffee makers that know when you rise and have a piping hot pot of fresh java waiting. No! These innovations range from ‘cookie pods’ and an appliance whose sole purpose is to bake four cookies at a time and signal when it is finished (in my house our noses do the signaling for us), a fork that vibrates to let users know that they are eating too fast, an automatic dental flosser that sees one approach the sink and immediately dispenses floss (what if you only want to wash your hands?), and a pet food dispenser that ejects doggie treats by remote control from your mobile device. The good news is that they don’t work when your WiFi is down. Yes, that is the only good news.
As with most new technology, those who welcome it will take to new ways of doing daily tasks with ease. Those who are not, such as this author who has reservations about having a new ride with keyless entry and ignition, the best advice is to read the instructions and have a back-up plan- such as an entry system with keyless or keyed entry options. Sooner than later these innovations will become commonplace and ‘can’t live withouts’. If getting in on the ground floor of new technology is too much, just opt for one feature at a time, such as a personal assistant which is scalable and will allow even the most skittish to add on as needed. The “Brave New World” that Huxley wrote about is happening now, but that is not just cause to break the bank in the name of home improvement. After all, innovation and technology are meant to improve the quality of our lives, if only we’ll allow it!
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]]>The post Phone Scams and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>Following a well-publicized event, con artists will to risk exposure will attempt to cash in. They will script their scam around a catastrophic event such as an earthquake, or hurricane, and create a name that sounds authoritative, such as an association with law enforcement or the military. How do they obtain your number? Anyone can buy a phone list that focuses on a specific demographic. While the companies that sell them are legitimate and they do keep records such as the name of the buyer, the veracity of the seller is not questioned.
Another way to obtain numbers is by creating a random programming script that simply dials a range of presets while the scammer sits phone in hand waiting for a potential victim to answer. Either way, when someone answers, the caller springs into action. Their voice is commanding, fast, and the message is quickly transmitted: “We are the American Benevolent Whatever Association, and we need your help. Your contribution will help the families of those who have been impacted by A Recent Catastrophic Event. You have been selected because we know you care about others. Here is your chance to help hundreds of people with a one-time contribution of…”
Yet another popular scam is perpetuated by those who claim to be from the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare. Persons over 55 are generally the targets. The caller will claim that their future checks –usually the target person’s livelihood– are being withheld pending an investigation and to open a remediation ticket the caller needs their Social Security Number and/or a credit card to cover handling costs. The Government does not approach people in that manner and everyone is warned to be wary of any caller who identifies themselves as being from any Governmental organization. The Government advises that if approached in this manner, by a phone call, to simply hang up, and call their local agency office and report the call and provide the number, if possible.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), every year 11% of Americans or over 26 million of us fall victim to someone either calling or approaching targeted persons online. A proliferation of online and phone frauds have sprung up since the economic downturn of 2008 and seem to impact those who have lost their jobs or have incurred debt over the past two years. Also the demographics are slanted heavily towards non-Caucasians being approached, possibly due to the higher incidence of recent immigrants who might be more open to listening and complying with authoritative callers and messaging.
In case you’re interested, the FTC notes that while phone scams seem to follow a pattern of persons posing as government agency representatives, most online scams approach those seeking life changes. That’s why there is a proliferation of worthless products that tout their value as weight loss facilitators, sexual health rejuvenators, by claiming that the target has won a cash prize, or by someone posing as an authorized billing agent for buyer’s clubs or internet services, and let’s not forget those ‘get rich quick’ work at home programs.
The best advice is to be wary. There are legitimate work from home options, usually associated with major brands. Just approach any solicitation with a grain of salt and be wary. So if you answer the phone and do not recognize the caller, ask them to send you the information or just hang up. And as for online offers, remember that while hope springs eternal for all of us that there is no magic bullet nor overnight cure. That old adage was never more true: if it appears too good to be true, it probably is!
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]]>The post 8 Ways to Promote Your Local Business appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>When people want information, they ‘Google it’. Get your business in front of potential customers, boost your SEO profile by setting up your free Google My Business profile. This is equipped with your website, address, phone number, pictures, store hours and reviews that people can reference.
People generally love when businesses give back, especially to their communities. Partnering up with local charities and donating to good causes is a great way to put your local business in a positive light. Not only will your brand get local recognition, but they will be received in a positive light.
Consumers tend to prefer brands that are interactive. Social media algorithms tend to limit the reach of business pages and prioritize reach for personal pages. Run contests that encourage fans to post about your business. These posts tend to yield high engagement, which is ideal for local businesses.
Yelp is one of the top platforms for customers to leave reviews, especially restaurants. In the world of reputation management, you can see this as a liability or an opportunity. Insufficient or negative reviews will deter new customers from giving your business a chance. The trick is accruing positive reviews. Not only will accruing positive reviews not deter potential business, it will actually bring you more customers than none at all! We recommend providing loyalty customers incentives, such as future discounts for leaving positive feedback on your review pages such as Yelp, Google and Facebook!
Local news has one thing that national news doesn’t and that’s the relevance of proximity! One thing that makes them appealing is their ability to feel more personalized. Businesses can utilize that by hosting events and asking the press if they want to cover it. TV, radio or social media coverage is a great way to get free exposure among the right publics.
There’s one obvious thing you have in common with your neighbors… your location. With that said, you’re serving the same community, and while you might not have all of the same customers, word-of-mouth can be a vital part of your local marketing strategy.
Partnering with local businesses helps you reach each others’ customers, allowing you both to win. It’s even better if you can think of something that relates to both industries, that way you can bring the whole group together!
Piggybacking off of the idea of partnering up, network events are a great avenue for gaining exposure among potential business partners. Remember, it’s also about getting to know you and your brand, which can help create some great ideas. At the end of the day, your goal is to forge alliances, and that’s what you can do!
Running ads on search engines and social networks can be a cost-effective way to reach your ideal customers and you can target them by location, too! Set targeted campaigns that promote local sales to increase brand awareness and foot traffic.
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]]>The post Why AI? Why Now? appeared first on Newton Search.
]]>What exactly is AI? Funny you should ask…Loosely defined, all living creatures have the ability to think, they have an INTELLIGENCE. This intellect is juxtaposed with a machine, which may be designed and built to perform a function, such as a dispense a Lotto ticket when money is inserted into its slot. The machine does not voluntarily think its own thoughts. (If it did it would likely keep all the winning lottery tickets for itself!) Therefore, just as in the saying, ‘art follows life’, artificial intelligence is the ability for a machine or thing to be programmed to function as a person thinks. For some this means developing a program that anticipates our needs then fulfills them.
Unlike early AI, thanks to vastly improved infrastructure speeds, their worldwide accessibility, and efficiencies of scale, today’s AI outcomes allow for more nimble algorithms to deftly solve far more advanced problems. Accordingly, over the past couple of years the ‘Coming of Age of AI’ stories have resurged. Basically, there is a lot of technological coat tailing in an attempt to hitch a ride on the AI bandwagon. Not every technological innovation is even remotely connected to AI but you cannot blame start-ups and entrepreneurs for trying to grab some free publicity, can you? Soon, if not already, AI is expected to permeate every aspect of our lives, and, hopefully for the better. So where can you expect to find ‘authentic’ AI working behind the scenes to make all of our lives better?
These paragons of technology have already surfaced in our homes and offices, such as smart assistants (Siri on our phones and Personal Assistants like Amazon’s Echo, Facebook Portal, Sonos One, Apple HomePod, and Google Home). Existing new and old technologies such as the automobile are utilizing AI to attain ‘next level’ status as seen in driverless cars. We already have models that can park themselves so…ready or not, here they come!
A primary source has and will likely remain the online retail experience. If you found it easy to locate and purchase an obscure product you have enhanced browsing, courtesy of AI, to thank. As mentioned above, if you and your family already love Siri to order pizza and make sure your house is locked-up tight, you are just gonna worship her after her face lift. The future of personal assistants will make them indispensable to every member of the family 24/7/365. (No, she will not be allowed to take your Regents exams for you!) Thanks to AI, in the field of medical diagnostics beneficial and potentially lifesaving advances are being made. It is projected that earlier detection of many diseases will reduce their high mortality rates. Another field that will likely benefit from advanced artificial intelligence technologies is fraud detection and its abatement.
There are also so many ways in which AI can be utilized for profit. Nearly every business is sitting on data that it can harvest to possibly benefit another industry. This cash crop of metrics can be sold to provide information vital to another company’s growth. For example, statistics that are captured by a supplier relative to a vendor/customer’s distribution chain could lead to more cost-effective (therefore money-saving) procedural updates and upgrades. For many firms, reducing the cost of doing business is as good as a revenue increase anyday!
If all this putting ideas into action via machines is starting to sound a little too, “Big Brother is watching you” to you, well, yes, yes, it is. That is why AI’s global adoption is already being legislated towards its transparency. The General Data Protection Regulation of 2019 has already been adopted in Europe and the U.S. will likely join the party soon. Artificial Intelligence transparency means we must be allowed full access and knowledge to whatever AI is using our personal data for, connections it makes utilizing that data, and avoidance of biased decisions. Ethics will play a pivotal role in how AI is used by certain influencers such as governments here and abroad, to cover a wide range of concerns from ensuring protection for the rights of individuals to trade alliance negotiations.
An additional concern regarding the use of AI is the fear that jobs will be lost. Since a major aspect of AI is process automation, yes this is certainly true. One industry that is taking a hit is Finance. Given the rise of online banking even wholly online banks, the need for front and back office personnel is decreasing. However, all is not bleak as it seems. According to Gartner, the world’s leading business advisory firm, (as noted in a recent Forbes article) that in 2019 some 1.8 million jobs will be lost to automation (evidenced by the recent layoffs at major automotive plants and factories) some 2.3 million new positions will be available. The difference here is that the manufacturing jobs lost are unskilled labor while the new openings are for skilled labor, said to be in healthcare, education, and positions with the national, state, and local government.
To summarize: AI’s scope is extremely broad. If you think about it, there are few, if any industries or processes where artificial intelligence cannot be applied to improve its functionality or increase its benefits. One thing is certain: for software developers and designers, their current and next wave of innovation is AI-based. For the rest of us, our lives are about to be bombarded with new conveniences we never thought possible until one day they were! So to answer the question, “Why AI, why now?” -Why not!
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]]>So our first question is a pretty simple one. Do you know what a reverse phone number lookup is? In short, it’s when a person goes online to search a phone number in an act to learn more about a certain phone number (and its owner) that originally called them. This is especially helpful for people receiving spam calls, or feel somewhat threatened by an unknown source.
Believe it or not, there are companies that offer their services, which include searching their extensive databases and public records for any information they can find pertaining to the number that was reverse searched. It can actually be done pretty quickly, too! Just keep in mind your report results might vary by the source since they’re basing their findings off of different sets of information.
There are a number of services that will help you learn more about that mysterious phone number, but we’ll just use Kiwi Searches, which offers a free and more detailed paid service. Read on to understand just how much you can learn from conducting one of these reverse phone number lookups.
First, we’ll break down the differences between a free and paid phone number lookup.
Free phone number searches likely have things like:
Paid phone number searches will also have these kinds of details:
Obviously, your specific needs will dictate whether you decide to pay or not. If you’re specifically interested in the person calling (the phone owner), you can try conducting a background search to learn more about their arrest records/education/finances, etc. Traditionally, paid searches are normally reserved for more “serious” situations.
Once you get the information – what’s next, you may ask. Here are the next steps you can take:
If you were just curious (maybe even slightly concerned), you can just do nothing. Sometimes just knowing is enough, after all, you’re in no way obligated to act on your newly acquired information!
With proper context, you can take what you know and contact (call or text) the number. It could be someone you know like a friend, a spam caller, or just a stubborn person who has the wrong number.
If the caller simply doesn’t stop, for whatever reason, or if you feel threatened in any way, you can always block them. This can be achieved through the settings on your cell phone. If you’d like to take it to the next step and report them, you can contact your local authorities and inform them of everything going on. Just be prepared to follow through if its a formal complaint.
That’s what you need to know. Everything you can (and can’t) get from doing a reverse phone number lookup. We only suggest that you use this information responsibly!
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