Studies Show: "Going Green" Is Better For Your Business

You've probably noticed that environmentalism has become a sweeping trend in America today. It seems like just about everyone is "going green." But it's more than just popular alternative lifestyle. Have you ever considered how "going green" can benefit your business? What if it had the power to increase sales and decrease costs?

According to a recent study by the Office Depot Small Business Index, 61 percent of small businesses are trying to go green. If you still haven't actively thought about making your business more environmentally friendly, you are quickly falling behind. It is important to keep your business up-to-date so that it can continue to grow and expand.

The Office Depot Small Business Index also found that 39% of small businesses were hesitant about going green due to concerns about cost. Many people are under the false impression that environmentalism is costly. This assumption, however, is not the case at all.

Here are some of the facts:

1. Switching to energy-efficient lights, changing equipment, and conserving water will help to make your utility bills lighter.

2. Reducing waste will shrink disposal costs and ultimately force you to find innovative ways to recycle or reuse the supplies that you already have.

3. Refilling printer cartridges will be much cheaper than purchasing new ones each time your ink and toner runs out.

4. Utilizing social media outlets instead of traditional paper advertisement choices will help to save you paper, ink, and time.

If you advertise your business as one that is Eco-friendly, perspective customers will view your business as honest, responsible, and reliable. This is due to your effort to take your part in making our world a better place. Plus, people who are trying to be more environmentally conscious may see hiring you as an opportunity for them to contribute to a greener society.

Swapping paper flyers for social media options will also allow you to reach a broader audience and add a personalized touch to your business. You can stay easily stay connected to your customers with emails and blogs. Most importantly, you have the power to promote your business with networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. These social media outlets are a fast growing trend in today's society. They are the newest and easiest way to connect with your customers. Communication is essential, and these social media outlets make for the easiest and most efficient form of communication.

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Laser Projection Keyboards: Replacing Large And Heavy Wired Keyboards

In the age of tablet computers and smart phones, virtual keyboards are indeed important in typing fast and easy. Because most displays are delicate and most of the time small, having a keyboard that you can carry all the time will make it much easier for you to type normally just about anywhere.

A laser projection keyboard is a new projection technological innovation that features a virtual keyboard outlining on a flat plane. This keyboard will permit you to type whenever, anywhere without cables or even heavy devices. A little device projects the keyboard on non refractive and flat areas like tables, reading stands, and surfaces.

Benefits of Laser Projection Keyboards

With this technology, keyboards are now portable and can be carried just about anywhere without having carrying huge bulks of tools. Virtual laser keyboards can be used with iPhones, Androids, Blackberries, and many other types of smart phones that are already out in the market.

The virtual keyboard reflects complete QWERTY keys on the area using a red diode laser. This type of laser doesn't make use of switches or any type of physical moving components to function. It stands on a square bottom connected to a smart phone or PDA through USB cables or Bluetooth technology.

Each letter you type on the laser keyboard will be registered on your word processor, e-mail, or any kind of programs which require typing. It operates like a normal computer keyboard that you utilize. It is just lightweight, smaller in size, and most of the time, more sensitive. Actually, it can also produce real taping sounds like you commonly hear on usual keyboards.

Utilizing a virtual keyboard, you can take full advantage of the room for typing. Smart phones, tablets, and PDAs usually come with small touch screen keyboards. That's why, individuals with fat digits find it difficult to type. Projected keyboards offer larger keys that are almost the same with the typical pc keyboard dimension.

Laser keyboards are also easier to keep because you really don't have to clean anything! These keyboards do not have wires and other movable parts to manage and clean as well. Virtual keyboards are never influenced with spilled fluid and other factors that might affect a typical computer keyboard.

Disadvantages of Laser Projection Keywords

These keyboards have their downsides too. Virtual keyboards are very hard to bring outdoors because it's tough to have a flat surface outside. In addition to that, excessive lumination specifically the UV light from the sun's light makes it hard for you to see the keyboard. At times, reflection also affects your typing because most surfaces have some level of reflection.

In general, utilizing a laser projection keyboard is beneficial in numerous ways. It may have a few downfalls but like in other devices, you have to handle these disadvantages especially if it can make your life much simpler in return.

Laser projection keyboards are one of the leading modern gadgets for computers today. To know more about these keyboards, please check out http://www.laserkeyboard.com/.

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The Technology Myth

A common misconception about technology is that young adults and teenagers are more proficient users than those over 35. The technology age, it would appear, had bypassed the Baby Boomers and Generation X.

As a technology educator I have great pleasure dispelling this myth. In particular, working with teenagers gives me an insight into how they use technology and why. I've found there are some aspects of technology where teens and young adults excel whilst in other key skills their knowledge is sadly lacking.

Undoubtedly teens and young adults are amazing texters. I simply can't text like they do and am all fingers and thumbs. This can be explained, in part, by a research study that found texting has altered the teenage brain so that their fingers have more dexterity than an adults. They can text a message via satellite in the time I'm dithering about trying to insert a full stop.

Also, their mobile phone relationship is a highly personalised one. The phone is their lifeline and they use them as watches, calenders, communicating and organising their daily lives. The installed apps can guide, amuse or entertain them non-stop so that their attachment to the device becomes all consuming. This mobile phone obsession rarely extends to those over 40, who have difficulty understanding the key role a mobile phone plays with the younger generation.

The phone is also hugely popular as a means of social networking. Teenagers are not necessarily engaging online by using superior technology skills - most of them are watching videos or sending messages which requires little skill. The more challenging aspects of technology - using software still needs to be taught.

I believe technology efficiency requires three key skills regardless of age:

Interest
Aptitude
Practice

Interest: If you have an interest in something then you tend to pursue it. To understand how to use software you need to read books, watch tutorials, join a class or find some other means of tuition. If you are keen to enhance your technology skills then nothing can prevent the joy of learning.

Aptitude: Having taught many people to use various software I've concluded that some people have more aptitude than others. Why are some people better basketball players than others? Why are others superior cooks to their peers? What makes a better driver, cyclist, swimmer, writer? It is aptitude. We cannot be good at everything but we can excel at some. People who enjoy using technology generally have an aptitude for it. They will take risks, experiment with software, tinker when they get the chance and most importantly they rarely panic if something unexpected occurs.

Practice: I've taught software for years but if I don't keep practising then I forget it. For example, I teach a lot of Adobe software like Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Indesign and Premiere. However, if I go too long without teaching software I start to forget things - quickly. The only way to stay on top is to practice. The more you practice the better you get. The better you get the more you practice.

It is never too late to enhance your technology skills. You may find you have an aptitude for it. What you won't find though is that age makes the slightest bit of difference.

You can find more articles by Sue Bell at http://midlifexpress.com/

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The Upside of Getting a Second Hand Smartphone

Smartphones are the most sought-after phone nowadays. People who are looking to buy a new phone will most likely purchase any of the units that are considered to be in the smartphone category. So what makes this line of phones popular in the mass market? It's simple; you can do more with it than just make calls and send text messages.

People have become more conscious of not just their immediate environs but also to what is happening halfway around the globe. Everyone has become aware of world events that there is that need to be connected online all the time or as much as possible. When your old phone had limited capabilities when it comes to connecting to the Internet, a smartphone can easily do that with just a few adjustments to the phone's settings.

The only downside about this great gadget is the price. It is a lot more expensive compared to the lower and older phone models with limited capabilities. You would have to shell out a fairly large amount of money in order to get a hold of the latest smartphone available on the market.

But if you are not that choosy and are willing to get a second hand or refurbished unit, then you do not have to fret. There are places that you can go to sell used smartphones. Maybe you have a friend that is thinking of getting a new phone so you can ask him or her to sell his or her old unit to you at a low price. The money from the transaction can be used to buy the new phone that he wants.

Other places where you can check that are asking to pay me for my smartphone are free classified ads websites and eBay. Visiting these websites will give you the option to choose which mobile phone you would want to buy. For sure there are a lot of people who are looking for people just like you who are willing to pay me for my smartphone. You just have to be cautious when dealing with people you meet in here because you are not really sure about the quality of the product that they are selling. It is best to check first if they are a legitimate seller before dealing with them and parting with your hard earned money.

Getting a second hand smartphone is not a bad idea especially when you are not really decided on which unit to get. With the many brands available like HTC, BlackBerry, Apple iPhone and Samsung, for sure you will be at a loss as to what to model and brand to choose especially when you do not really have a background on how these things work. Purchasing second hand phones will allow you to try out different brands without spending too much. If you finally decided which model to get after trying out the different brands of second hand smartphones, then you can go ahead and purchase a brand new one.

This way, you will know how to maximize your smartphone and get your money's worth from it. Visit cashforsmartphones.com for upgrade.

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