Posts Tagged Cutting Edge

The Cutting-Edge Physics of a Crumpled Paper Ball

Posted by on Monday, 22 August, 2011

Take a piece of paper. Crumple it. Before you sink a three-pointer in the corner wastebasket, consider that you’ve just created an object of extraordinary mathematical and structural complexity, filled with mysteries that physicists are just starting to unfold.



Wired Top Stories


Workaholism: an occupational hazard for web workers?

Posted by on Thursday, 16 June, 2011

Among the joys of web work is the freedom to create a more porous boundary between your personal and working life. Need to pop out to take your kids to swim lessons in the middle of the day? If you’re a web worker, that’s not a problem. Or conversely, if you have a huge deadline looming, you can say goodnight to your better half and pop open your laptop to get an extra hour of work in.

The benefits of the blurring of these boundaries are obvious, but less discussed are the downsides, and several experts feel that there is at least one serious one: increased workaholism and the potential for burnout. Does being on the cutting edge of connectivity and evolving workstyles make web workers more vulnerable to becoming workaholics? Paul Miller, the founder of the Internet Benchmarking Forum, definitely believes so. He told WebWorkerDaily:

One of the downsides of the digital workplace is addiction to work. Companies are actually facing the opposite problem of the one they thought they’d have, which is that people would essentially not work hard enough. They actually overwork. You’ve seen it all around — people are working on holiday, working in the evening, working at the weekends. People are working much longer hours and seeing this blurring of work-life as being a positive thing, where I actually don’t think it is. I think it’s really important to know when you’re working and to know when you’re not working. If you’re using the same device for work as for talking to your mom, you start to forget which bits are work and which bits are the rest of your life. And actually I think people are becoming addicted to being connected.

Miller isn’t the only one with this worry. Contacts organizer Gist has been promoting the concept of a new workstyle that blurs the boundaries between the personal and the professional, but it’s not a change that comes without pitfalls, according to Gist’s VP of Marketing, Robert Pease. Technology and the workstyle it enables provide great benefits, but they also put significant demands on our maturity and self-control. He told us:

Web workers are very innovative people and they’re very into new stuff. You can get an activity stream of your friends, your favorite brands and your customers, and everything becomes almost overwhelming. It’ll be interesting how the web worker on the front edge of this is going to evolve to have a true on/off switch — to know that it’s OK not to be watching everything every second of every minute of every day.

You can very easily sit online 24 hours a day. As much as you’re willing to consume can be delivered. You can always pick up your phone and you can always see your messages. But you also have the ability to not pick up your phone. What that requires is a level of self-awareness and a level of maturity, for lack of a better word, to know that work is always going to be available to you, but you need to balance fulfilling things in your life than are not related to being online — running or hiking or time with your children or throwing a ball with your dog.

Of course, correlation is not causation. So perhaps rather than web work turning people into workaholics, it’s simply that ambitious, workaholic types are more drawn to web-work-style jobs in the first place.

What do you you think: Are web workers more likely to struggle with work addiction? Is this because of their basic character or the nature of their workstyle?

Image courtesy Flickr user Joye~

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

  • The Future of Workplaces
  • The Future of Work Platforms: An Overview
  • The state of the e-book lending market: Business models and challenges



alt=''
border='0'
/>


GigaOM — Tech News, Analysis and Trends


Digital Home Piano: What To Consider Before Acquiring Your Own Electric Piano

Posted by on Saturday, 9 April, 2011

If you are a music lover, a digital home piano would be a great tool to start with. Besides, you can’t completely understand the beauty of music without at the very least attempting your hand with a particular instrument once. Creating a wonderful piece is a lot better than just hearing it. However, before getting yourself one, you should think of various reasons which could have an impact on your interest.

Very first thing to consider is the kind of music you want to play. The right minimum quantity of keys is 61 but for classical or maybe jazz pieces, 88 keys will be the recommended quantity of keys.

If you wish to have a look on the digital home piano available in your neighborhood, it could be best if you carry with you a headphone. The sound may differ between the stores loudspeakers and the ones which you get.

In investing in a digital piano, it would be far more convenient that the model includes a shielding case if it is required to be brought around for occasions and also storage when cleaning your house.

It would also help if the digital piano you decide on possesses easy to use keys that could simply be comprehended for use.

You can like making use of it also if it offers a lot of sounds to select from. That way you may use your creativeness and be imaginative and also exhibit your creativity in more ways than one.

And an additional vital thing could be the sound quality. In the event the sound alters once you adjust the volume, that wouldn’t be well suited for use.

You may likewise look at the cutting edge names in digital home piano. Carrying out a bit of research by yourself may definitely assist you in finding the right one for you. At http://digitalhomepiano.com you can get a great deal of info and assist to decide for the ideal electric powered piano well suited for your purpose.

If you are opting for the top quality electric piano, you have to prepare yourself to pay a lot more for it. Although this will likely cause a significant dent in the budget, you’d be likely satisfied with your purchase. One need to be aware that the top items don’t come inexpensive and a low cost product doesn’t ensure you permanent savings. Therefore just before setting out for the best digital home piano, take into consideration these kind of points.


Take Iron On Transfers For T-Shirts To The Next Level

Posted by on Wednesday, 22 December, 2010

Those on the cutting edge of fashion know that iron on transfers for t-shirts are on a roll. You’d love these fashion options too considering that they can make you look attractive and unique at the same time. There are some service providers that you can call to have designs made or ironed on shirt selections. Before you get right down to it, consider following these tips.

#1- Use crystals to look more original.

Traditional transfer designs take on the form of colored designs that stick on fabric. These are actually quite attractive in themselves but if you want to look even flashier, crystal designs are the best way to go. You definitely can’t fail to get some heads to turn on the street with a loud, sparkly design that reflects your personality. You can even announce your personal style even more by going for full custom iron on transfers.

#2- Choose Swarovski for a handful of shirts.

You should preferably set your sights on Swarovski crystals. The reason for this is because they look the closest to diamonds as anything else. You can’t fail to dazzle wearing them. Some people may not even be able to tell immediately what the outward difference is between Swarovski and diamonds.

Depending on the ironing service you choose, color options can include gold, amethyst, ruby, peridot and emerald. The most popular however, is still the clear crystal option.

Because Swarovski crystals look a lot like diamonds, they are a bit expensive. They are therefore really best choices if you only plan to order a handful of iron on transfers for t-shirts.

#3- Rhinestones are best for huge orders.

In some cases, you may need to get a design on a hundred or more shirts. This is if you’re organizing an event or a campaign to promote a product or concern. In these instances, you should try to get your hands on rhinestones instead of Swarovski crystals. Although rhinestones can look a bit toned down in the glitter factor, they are more affordable if you want to get more than one shirt designed.

#4- Go for custom selections.

If you’re in a hurry, you can quickly pick from the default designs provided by service companies. Ideally though, you should take a look at and select some custom features for your design. These can include options for customizing font and colors. You might also be able to find providers that let you customize entire designs. You only have to send your specifications to get them done.

#5- Take a look at fabric selections.

There are a number of service providers that go well beyond designing. They can also complete the task of ironing out the shirt designs. You should look for this option if you are putting together a big event. When there’s so much for you to consider, you’d want to just trust someone else with the task of getting all the shirts completely done. Preferably a service provider should also take charge of the fabric options as well.

There is no doubt that iron on transfers for t-shirts can give you that extra attractive look. This is if you make sure you’ve selected the appropriate design and ironing service features. Keep these tips handy the next time you go looking for iron on transfer services.


Ways To Use Great Used Equipment To Upgrade Current Computers

Posted by on Thursday, 2 December, 2010

With the way that the world is going, there are few people in the first world who does not even have any knowledge of a used computer. A refurbished computer is a good and economical way for those who have some financial difficulties to have cutting edge equipment at low cost. Of course, if they cannot afford one, there are many facilities where they can be hired to access the internet like cyber cafes and the like. Of course, there are some people who will certainly be a little wary of machines which they do not know how they work. But these days, there are many PCs and laptops which have been traded in so that the user can access something more appropriate to his speed or talent. There is nothing wrong with the equipment to begin with so selling it on to those who cannot afford brand new equipment seems logical.

The outlet which has taken in the equipment in part exchange will certainly make sure that all the workings of it are doing what they should. Once any minor faults have been corrected, they are sold on as ‘refreshed’ machines which certainly have a lot of life left in them. On the casing there may some small marks due to usage but these are certainly not enough to interfere with the working of the equipment as long as looks are not important.

Once new models of this kind of equipment come onto the market, many companies will certainly move out the older stock in sales and special offers to make some room. They normally sell these at rock bottom prices, much like any other sale, and those with cash in hand will certainly make a killing for sure.

If a company is about to bring in a whole new range of equipment, they often just discard anything that is a little outdated for sure. However, if the company does not want to get into selling this equipment, they can often donate these older machines to very worthy causes which can sometimes help third world countries. For example, many colleges have technical departments which need these older machines for dismantling and rebuilding for practice. Once the work is complete, and the majority of the machines are working well, they are often sent off to third world countries to help those people who would otherwise have no chance of using this kind of equipment.

This is recycling at its very best and the machines will be used right up until the last minute. However, since they often have a much longer life than normal because of the work that has been done on them, this is a great way to save resources while helping out those less fortunate than ourselves. Surely, there is no need to discard any kind of machinery simply because it has some marks on it or it simply is not as ultra fast as others. However, if they are discarded, those who do not have plenty of resources should not be hesitant in buying any kind of machine that has been ‘refreshed’.


HP’s Color LaserJet 1020 Printer – For Cutting-Edge Capabilities That Exceed Your Expectations

Posted by on Sunday, 28 November, 2010

Getting quality print results without having to use a professional printer can be possible with the use of the HP LaserJet 1020 Printer and LaserJet 1020 cartridges. This printer has a variety of features and may even offer you some options that you wouldn’t expect. The main points listed here are some examples of what you can expect with this printer.

Generally, people approve of this printer because it is able to provide a great amount of noteworthy print results within a short amount of time. The printer is most useful in situations where you would be printing in your own home with light projects. Though many people complain that they wish a USB cord was included with the printer itself, it is otherwise easy to set up.

Even if you are printing large projects, it is able to handle the volume of your work. Some people have been known to print projects that are up to 3000 pages long and still have great results with this printer. This is not to say that the printer should always be subjected to high volume usage such as this, however, it is a great example of what it is capable of handling when it has to.

It also is a popular choice due to how affordable it is. With the quality of prints that you receive from this printer, you would expect it to have a higher expense. Yet, this model seems to remain at an affordable price and if you are in the market for a new printer, you may even be able to find this option at a discount.

It is perhaps most noteworthy for how reliable that it is known to be. There are not really many, if any, user complaints associated with this printer about troubleshooting or any other issue. The printer is known to be able to remain working well throughout a number of years and if you give it the maintenance it needs, you will likely not have to replace your toner cartridges as much as you might imagine.

In regards to toner, the printer will even notify you when you are starting to run low on your amounts of toner inside. This is a great help for ensuring that you don’t reach a point where you are completely without toner at all. Likewise, the toner is easy to install into the printer and if you have any concerns about this, there are instructions provided in the guide that comes with the printer.

Although the printer is most adequate in home printing situations, you will likely be surprised by the quality amount of tasks that it is able to handle. If you care for the printer properly, you will see that you will be able to enjoy and rely on this printer for many years without problems. It is well known for being reliable, versatile, and providing continued quality prints.

Those who need a printer will find a value with the HP LaserJet 1020 Printer and HP 1020 cartridges. When coupled with HP laser toner, it provides quality work with only a fraction of printing time in comparison to other printers. If you are curious about all that this printer is capable of, you may want to try it out for yourself.