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A recent study shows that 34 percent of IT workers have gained more than ten pounds in their current jobs. When I read this article, it really wasn't surprising to me. Back when I worked as a contractor, my contracting rep picked me up for lunch in a new Cadillac. I asked him why he got a new car, and he said that he had to get a bigger car because most of the guys that worked for him couldn't fit in his old two-seater Mazda!
One of the more simple chores that most of us put off doing is vacuuming our floors. Especially for those who have carpets that easily show dirt or crumbs, vacuuming can seem like a never-ending job. Wouldn't it be great if we could just have a little robot zip around our floor when we're not there and clean up for us? Apparently so, because one company has a whole line of little robots that vacuum our floors for us.
The Roomba, from a company called iRobot, is a line of small robot vacuum cleaners. The original Roomba product was introduced in 2002. So this Tech Toy has been around for many years, but it still is not very well known among the average consumer. I'm writing about it because I recently noticed that the company has expanded their product line to include robots that handle all sorts of menial tasks. So it would seem that this company and their products have been very successful.
But I'm going to focus on the Roomba products for this article. Now on their 3rd generation of robotic vacuum cleaners, the Roomba basically works by periodically navigating your floor area, cleaning as it goes. It uses various sensors to avoid stairs, drop-offs, and areas you deem as off-limits. It is small enough to travel under furniture, clean into corners, and along walls. It automatically adjusts for hard floors or carpets, and also is smart enough to determine how dirty an area is and spend extra time on spots that need additional cleaning. Click here for a more detailed video showing how the Roomba works.
When not in use, the Roomba finds it's "home", which is where the Roomba recharges itself when not working. The newer Roomba models can run on a schedule, so you can set it to run when you're not at home, or if you don't mind, while you are sleeping. Since the Roomba runs more often than we humans tend to vacuum our floors, it tends to keep messes from building up, which should give your floor an overall cleaner look most of the time.
As I mentioned, the iRobot company now has a whole line of cleaning robots. One is even designed to clean swimming pools! So if you'd like a little help keeping your home clean, check out the iRobot line of products.
If you have come across an interesting device or emerging technology, please let me know and I may include it in a future newsletter.
- Submitted by Darell Newman, Personal Preference Landscape Care
A: The batteries in most battery backup units last between 3 - 5 years. In fact, some companies have their battery backup software warn users that the battery in their unit is over 3 years old. Given this information, obviously most people would think they need to replace their battery in about 3 to 4 years. However, my recommendation in most cases is actually for users not to replace the battery in battery backup units. Let me explain why.
The first reason is cost. Simply speaking, the cost of replacing a battery in a battery backup unit is almost always nearly the same price as just buying a new unit. Even if you are spending a little more for a brand new unit, the pace of technology improvements in the course of 3 - 5 years means that you will be getting a better overall unit by buying a new one.
Second, the purpose of a battery backup or surge protector is to absorb power problems so your computer doesn't. Over time, these devices can be damaged or wear out. It would be a shame to spend money on a new battery only to have the unit fail soon after.
Finally, some batteries can be difficult to find replacements for and difficult to physically replace. Any savings in getting a new battery will probably be lost in the time involved finding a matching battery and then actually installing it.
So basically, the answer to when to replace your battery is never! Generally, no harm comes if the battery stops working (but be sure to replace it right away), so you can wait until the battery backup indicates that it is time to replace your battery and simply buy a new one. If you want to be proactive, wait about 4 years to purchase a new unit.
As usual, please submit any technology questions you may have and your question may be featured in this newsletter!
One of the more common concerns I hear from both parents and employers is how they can keep questionable content off the computer of their kids and employees. The most common way to do this is by the use of a content filtering system. The problem with content filtering systems are that they are generally difficult to implement, difficult to manage, and often costly. However, within the last year, a new content filtering service has become available that is relatively simple to implement, nearly no work to manage, and is completely free!
The service is called OpenDNS. Once configured, the service can content filter an entire network or a single computer. It can filter out over 30 categories of content, such as adult, gambling, phishing, and weapon sites. Setting up OpenDNS utilizes the existing domain name system that is part of every computer so it does not require any software to be installed. Since the content lists are maintained by OpenDNS, you do not need to download updates or otherwise perform any maintenance yourself.
I've set up this service for several of my clients and use it in my own store. So far it has lived up to its promise. As simple as the service is to describe and setup, it really does appear to be as powerful as it claims. The reason that OpenDNS is free to use is because they generate revenue by displaying ads when a user types an incorrect address or hits a site that is blocked by the content filter. At first this sounds somewhat concerning, but I've observed this in practice and in my opinion, it is very unintrusive.
Now be aware that content filtering using OpenDNS is not infallible. A technically savvy user could easily figure out how to work around OpenDNS if a computer's settings are not locked down. There are ways to prevent savvy users from getting around OpenDNS, but be aware that those methods involve additional work or cost. These measures may certainly be worth the cost, and some computers may already be locked down, but I simply want to make people aware of the limitations.
If you are interested in content filtering one computer, a few computers, or a whole network of computers, please let me know. We can discuss OpenDNS and other content filtering systems to make sure you find a system that works best for your situation.
This page contains all entries posted to Technology Bytes in June 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.
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