kahnoodle | Technology Tips

Using a Help Desk for Your Computer Problems

Oct 18, 2018kahcomputer problems

A help desk can be an invaluable part of any company. It can answer the basic questions that would be covered in a frequently asked questions guide and any other basic questions an employee might have. That is at the basic level. The next level addresses problems employees are having with time cards or computers. IT support can come through a help desk. Help desks may be comprised of several people with specialized knowledge or a number of people with general knowledge. It is usually best to have experts on various topics on your help desk. Especially important is a computer technician. Someone who can deal with the inevitable problems that come up with computers.

First level computer problems involve easy to fix things like forgetting caps lock. That can be handled in a few seconds. Second level computer problems may be a program not loading. This may or may not be easy to handle. Third level computer problems involve the computer crashing or instances of the Blue Screen of Death. This may require the technician to take the whole computer to their office and run some programs to check to see what the problem is. It could be something simple or it could be something that requires a complete reformat of your computer. Often viruses cause problems to your computer. It is a good idea to have a reputable anti-virus software on your machine.

The more layers your help desk has, the easier it will be for your employees to find the answers to their questions. The easier it is to get an answer, the easier it is for the employee to get back to work. Knowledgeable help desk employees are invaluable. They make everything run more smoothly. Getting computer problems fixed quickly saves down time and helps belay the frustration of the user.

Using managed it services is the best thing you can do for your employees. IT support is crucial in a business. Most businesses use computers and when they go down, business comes to a screeching halt. Having a good IT person or service can prevent that from happening or quickly fix it if it can’t prevent it.

Stretching Your Data Plan

Oct 18, 2018kahData

These days, most everyone has a fixed data plan with their cell phone. You may have an “unlimited” data plan, but you really only get a certain amount of high-speed data. You may have switched to a plan that allows you a mere 500 MB per month. Maybe you have a plan that allows you to pay for your actual data usage.

Whatever plan you have, there are lots of reasons to see what you can do in order to stretch your data or even to get more than you’re actually paying for.

After all, who wouldn’t love to get 1 GB while paying for 500 MB, or even to lower their monthly charge by switching to a lower plan? This is possible- and not simply by using Wi-Fi when possible.

There are some tips and tricks that you can use to get more data for your bucks.

1) Monitor Your Data Usage

You should first take some time to monitor your data usage. It is very important to understand how much data you’re using each month and what apps are using it.

You can find this information on your bill, or if you get paperless billing- on your account page. If you’re on a 2.5 GB plan, but only using 750 MB, it may be beneficial to downgrade to a 1 GB or even 500 MB to save money. Of course, you probably can’t downgrade if you’re on an “unlimited” plan, but it’s still wise to know what your usage is.

This is basically to identify those apps that are using the most of your data. Maybe there are some that you never use, or rarely use, and you can get rid of them- saving your data.

2) Some Apps Can Help

One great way to stretch your data plan is by letting apps help. Onavo Extend is an app that works in the background. It routes all of your data through its servers and due to data compression technology, you’ll end up using much less data and there are no performance or other issues to note. Onavo Extend is free, so it’s worth looking into.

Opera Max and Opera Mini are also great apps for data compression. Opera Mini is a browser that actually promises that you will save up to 90 percent of your data and is known as one of the best browsers for mobile phones.

If you still see that you need more data than your plan offers- or more data than you can afford- consider earning more with an app called Kickbit. It’s a free app that gives you data for watching videos, signing up for trial offers, or completing surveys. However, it is not compatible with AT & T subscribers.

All About Technology

Oct 18, 2018kahTechnology

These days, most people live in a life dominated by technology. Our houses are centrally heated and cooled and use lots of different high-tech materials. We eat food that has been scientifically engineered. We travel at high speeds both in the air and on land. We communicate with electronic devices such as computers and cell phones. Technology has had a significant impact on our natural environment, on our interpersonal dynamics, and even on our minds. As it continues to take over, it is becoming vital that we consider the effects it is having on us and our society as well as understand its advantages and disadvantages.

Beginning of Modern Technology

Though humans have always utilized technology in some way or another, “modern technology” actually began with the Industrial Revolution, which occurred in the mid-18th century. The Industrial Revolution saw a cultural shift away from methods of production such as hand, craft, and community-based. The second shift occurred when the transistor and computer were invented in the mid-20th century.

Culture and Technology

The effect that technology has had on culture is so widespread that for the most part, people are not really consciously aware of it. Since it is so prevalent in every aspect of our lives, we live in a sort of “technological matrix” and don’t really consider the effect it is having on our society and even ourselves. However, modern technology allows easy and rapid transportation, communication, food, and even medical intervention- all of which has some effect on our personal lives.

Benefits of Technology

Modern technology has helped to reduce many human difficulties. For example, the invention of penicillin has prevented loss of life from infections and diseases. Machines do the work that required the work of many people before the Industrial Revolution. Through printing, electronic, and distribution, books and other printed materials have been able to reach all levels of society. Additionally, society has opened up a world of opportunities for many that in previous times would not have happened.

Dangers of Technology

Of course, you should know that though it has many benefits, technology also has many dangers. It has had a detrimental effect on the natural world, contributing to climate change and more. Additionally, food that has been excessively processed is not healthy for us to consume, so our health is suffering. However, there are also some dangers that are not quite as obvious such as burnout and stress caused by the pace of modern life. Additionally, the whirlwind of negative information can cause despair and depression.

Modern Technology and Relationships

Oct 18, 2018kahTechnology

Modern technology has had a significant effect on the way that people communicate with each other. Technology has offered new and innovative ways to communicate with each other, such as email, text, social networking, and chat. Communication is much faster and much more efficient and can help to build relationships, according to a Surrey IT Support company. On the other hand, technology can also have some negative effects on relationships, such as straining relationships and limiting personal contact. Of course, the effect of technology on a relationship has a lot to do with the relationship.

Effect of Technology on Family Relationships
Modern technology actually limits the separation between work life and home life. With the advent of the internet, computers, and even cell phones, people are able to and, are sometimes expected to deal with work issues from home. This can cause problems between family members and limit the amount of interaction between family members. Additionally, television and the internet can also limit the amount of quality time spent with family members and can cause conflicts between parents and children- especially when children watch too much.

Effect of Technology on Youth Friendships
Today, most young people use technology to communicate with their friends. The preferred method for youth communication is texting and communicating through online chat rooms. One study stated that young people actually prefer to not have to deal with face-to-face interactions, and instead would prefer to communicate through technology. This could be due to the fact that they are unable to form lasting friendships and can’t understand social cues. However, other studies have shown that technology can actually increase communication levels and strengthen relationships.

Effect of Technology on New Relationships
New relationships can be quite difficult. Modern technology allows new connections to be made without the fears that accompany face-to-face contact, and these technologies are marketing to us all the time (Check out the current trends of digital marketing 2015). The low risk level and anonymity make it a popular way to meet new people. However, this can also be very dangerous. In 2011, a woman actually sued an online dating site when she was raped by a man she met on their website.

Effect of Technology on Romantic Relationships
Modern technology helps couples to be on constant contact with one another, which can lead to increased conflict and an increase in expectations. Since technology makes communication so convenient, people often expect an instant reply. A reply that is delayed or not sent at all can cause anger and suspicion. Additionally, social networks can have an effect on relationships because things that were once private, such as conflict, are now being aired to everyone.

Support Solutions for Small Software Makers

Oct 18, 2018kahSoftware makers

Every product that a user has to actively operate results in support calls or tickets, but for small companies, providing the necessary help can become overwhelming. This is especially true for IT support because some digital products can be made by a single person or a small team, but go on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies or more. The question of how to cope with the crush of support tickets soon looms large for these small producers.

Fortunately, a Winnipeg SEO Company provide an easy solution to this question. An outsourced help desk can be provided with a sheet of the most common questions, and when support tickets come in, can match the problems up with their solutions. As long as the 80/20 rule holds true, the one sheet should be able to cover 80% of the questions that come in. This, of course, still leaves 20% of the questions unanswered by the quick sheet. Therefore, a backup plan needs to be in place to handle these outlying queries.

One thing that companies need to be careful of is the urge to try to answer every single question with a cut-and-paste response. This practice is the source of much aggravation among customers, who soon become former customers if they can’t get real solutions to their problems. The most common way of resolving this is to add at least one layer of escalation to the process. In this system, questions that aren’t on the quick sheet are sent up to a higher level, which is staffed by employees who will actually read and think about the problem in order to provide a customized solution. For software makers who have smaller distribution numbers, the hard questions may be sent on to the company itself to be directly answered. Larger companies, however, usually have at least one tier of support personnel who take care of this.

Another thing to consider is the method of contact. Most software makers handle IT support via a ticket system, which is basically a pumped-up email system that keeps track of everything as well as relaying messages. For those who sell expensive software, however, a phone-based support system is usually added in. This allows customers to get a more personal touch and faster answers.