Tech – Phat Daddy Tech

A quick guide of useful software types and how they apply to business.

What is software as a service (SaaS)?

This is software that a consumer pays a subscription for use online. For instance, Office 365 would be a SaaS. With the subscription, the software owner makes sure the application is available to appropriate end users.

https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/Software-as-a-Service
https://www.cmswire.com/cms/information-management/cloud-service-models-iaas-saas-paas-how-microsoft-office-365-azure-fit-in-021672.php

What are the benefits of SaaS over traditional software?

SaaS acts more like a rental than original software. The developer does all the heavy lifting since you do not have to install and configure. Saas also works very well with cloud computing and integration, and updates are always current. It can also be cheaper for smaller businesses since they will not have to purchase a license like with traditional software.

https://www.ibm.com/blogs/cloud-computing/2013/09/18/top-five-advantages-of-software-as-a-service-saas/
https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/advantages-and-disadvantages-software-service-saas

What is productivity software?

An application used for creating or producing information. Can create or change text or media. Example of productivity software would be Microsoft Office.
https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/49780/productivity-software

An application used for creating or producing information. Can create or change text or media. Example of productivity software would be Microsoft Office.

https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/49780/productivity-software

Word processing

Word processing allows a use to create, modify, store, print, or otherwise manipulate text documents. This can be useful when creating memos or letters to clients. A good example of this is Microsoft Word.

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/word-processing.html

Spreadsheet

A program with a series of rows and columns that can arrange and sort data. Although this can handle both words and numbers, spreadsheets are useful for their ability to contain formulas. These formulas can manipulate and combine data as needed. As well as organize it. A good example of this is Microsoft Excel.

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/spreadsheet.htm

Presentation

Presentation software is a program used to organize and present slides with information and graphics for educational uses. Whether it’s a sales pitch, business meeting, or even for new employee orientation, presentation software is a very useful application for presenting information and multimedia in an organized fashion. Prezi is a good example of presentation software.

https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/presentation-software-presentation-graphics

Database

Database productivity software, such as Microsoft Access, is used to manage data. It organizes data with fields, files, and records. This can work with data entry, queries, and reporting. This is an important tool for in IT infrastructure of a business.

https://www.pcmag.com/g00/encyclopedia/term/40883/database-program?i10c.ua=1&i10c.encReferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8%3d&i10c.dv=24

Note Taking

Note taking software, like OneNote, are incredibly helpful. This allows for multidimensional filing system for notes, images, saved, emails, spreadsheets, almost anything other productivity software can produce. This is helpful in creating help documents or taking meeting notes for later. This service can also sync over the internet so that you can access your notes everywhere you have a connection.
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/The_Computer_Revolution/Software/Note_Taking_Software

What is personal information management (PIM) software?

PIM software can act like an electronic Rolodex. It can store client, employee, family, vendors, and other parties’ information. This information can be order notes, contact information, addresses, etc. Generally, once a party is added, this can be exported to other applications to save time and improve accuracy when filling out their information.

https://www.business.com/articles/personal-information-management-pim-software-basics/

Will it be useful for my employees?

PIM Software will be very useful to employees as this will make sure they have a streamlined ware of managing their clients and contacts. Being able to pull this information for correspondence or data entry will be more accurate and faster than reentering the information each task.

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24752/personal-information-manager-pim

What types of software are helpful for small businesses?

The type of software beneficial to small businesses can very. Should a business not want, or cannot afford, to purchase large licenses for proprietary software, a business could use Free Open Source Software (FOSS). For example, should your company not have the funds for Office 365, which is an SaaS with productivity software, the business could apt for using LibreOffice and Thunderbird. LibreOffice is a free productivity suite and Thunderbird is an alternate email client. Both are free and open source. However, with the more frugal route, you will lack the formal support and publications of the proprietary software. If willing to research for support and create documentation, FOSS would be a helpful type of software for small businesses.

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-decide-if-open-source-or-proprietary-software-solutions-are-best-for-your-business/

What types of software are helpful for large businesses?

Similar problems arise with the argument between FOSS and proprietary for large businesses. Should the business be large enough and with enough capital, it would be wise to purchase or subscribe to proprietary software. There would be support and documentation as well as not being a complex as FOSS; however, should the firm have the IT firepower, FOSS would be an acceptable route as well. If internal staff can support and manipulate FOSS to work for the company’s needs, this could end up creating a more tailored software for the business. However, this runs the danger of increasing overhead in a way difficult to predict due to not having real time support and documentation causes IT to work overtime to fix issues.

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-decide-if-open-source-or-proprietary-software-solutions-are-best-for-your-business/

What do I need to know about Software Licenses?

It is important to have an understanding of the software license. You will need to take note who can use the licenses, how the software can be distributed, and what limitations your agreement contains. Without a license, or without the correct license, you would be using the software illegally.

https://www.etoptechnology.com/blog/business-software-licensing-compliance/

How do I determine which version of software will work on the computers in our business?

To determine if the software needs will work on your business devices, you will need to know the system requirements. If the computer does not meet the systems requirements, this could cause the software to not work. However, should this be a cloud based SaaS, the storage requirements wouldn’t need to be as much since the software will not be installed locally. Then again, if the device has no internet connection, it will require a local install on the hard drive. Which will require significantly more space allocation. So if you have computers with robust computing power but low storage, I would recommend cloud computing.

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4371/system-requirements

History of the Internet

No, we’re not going to talk about Al Gore. I know, I know. I’m just as disappointed as you are. However, don’t take lightly how awesome the creation of the internet is.

It all started in the Cold War. That’s right, the 1950’s. Poodle skirts, Elvis, and the good ole Red Scare (Everyone loves McCarthyism. If you don’t, you’re a communist.) The United States Government needed a network that would not be easily interfered with should we begin a nuclear winter with Russia. At the same time, the Department of Defense was looking for a way for computers to communicate with each other. We will call this the conception of the internet.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/16454814597

Later, the U.S. was pouring out its wallet for ARPANET. You mean you don’t know what ARPANET means? Well, it mean Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. Nice concise name. This network was linked in four different places. Those locations were UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, and University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

‘sIn 1969, the first communication was successful! It was three letters (L-O-G) and then it crashed, but hey, it was a start! The world first, and probably shortest, tweet! From here, the rest is history (Ctrl H).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/splorp/8544662113

Let’s fast forward a little to the 90s. 1991, to be exact. Tim Berners-Lee decided he wanted to share his research with everyone who cared to look at it. He partnered with Robert Cailliau and built the basic framework of the web with access to text documents. Later, the Mosaic browser was introduced in 1993 and brought the ability to have images as well. Now we have our funny cat memes.

Security. SECURITY!!

Now, we’ve had our fun learning where the internet came from. It was probably not the Nyan Cat Epic Journey you thought it would be, but it’s still pretty awesome.It’s important to know, even as developed as our internet is, there is still lots of threats. Ransomware, malware, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, keylogging, phishing, and all sorts of fun stuff is waiting for you. However, there are some ways some of these issues can be resolved.

First step is common sense. Oh, you’ve won a million dollars for being the billionth site visitor? Unlikely. You click that and you’ll be buying a new computer. Don’t click on suspicious popup ups or ads. In fact, it’s good practice to only visit sites you trust. Make sure the site is secure. Check the URL, if it has HTTPS, you’re secure. A lot of modern browsers also have indicators in the address bar that are easier to spot. Also, that Nigerian prince is still waiting for your wire transfer.

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/hacking-cybercrime-cybersecurity-3112539

Invest in solid virus protection. It’s worth every penny. Even trusted sites can sometimes harbor infected links. Additionally, you’ll have the miscreants who attempt social engineering to make you comfortable and take your information. Get your virus protection and stay alert.

Hello? Anyone out there?

Communication on the web is an awe inspiring and diverse thing. There are so many different ways, and so many people, we can communicate with! Lets break these down and discuss them.

Social Networking

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/social-networks-network-3746768/

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Snapchat, and for the ‘old school folk’, MySpace. These are just a few of the larger social networking platforms. They all vary yet have the same endgame: communication. Whether its pictures, microblogs, status updates, disappearing pictures, or even sharing audio, social networking keeps us all connected in a major way. Not only do they document our lives, they consume it.

Email

Old reliable. One of the first ways of communicating, yet still one of the most used. The days of paper are fading. You can write the equivalent of a letter and have it delivered to anyone in the world in a matter of seconds. Then that information in there waiting for the other party. Whether they respond immediately, later, or sometimes never! We can also keep these filed away neatly and it take no physical space! What a time to be alive.

Wikis and Blogs

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/celebrity-caricature-al-gore-986833/

Do you wish you had the opportunity to work collaboratively on a document about the anteater? Or maybe you could write a big mess above technology? Well, Wikis and blogs are your thing then! Wikis are a collaborative effort from multiple users on the same document. A good instance of this is Wikipedia. If you don’t know what Wikipedia is, you’ve never had a research paper returned to you then. As for blogs, I hate to tell you this, but you’re in one. A blog, or web log, is just a place where you can write. It can be about something you enjoy or a celebrity you are obsessed with. Celebrities like the would-be inventor of the internet, Al Gore.

Podcasts and Webcasts

https://www.flickr.com/photos/abletoven/3223086466

Enjoy books but hate reading? Like seeing Elon Musk hang out with Joe Rogan and loose so many millions of dollars and his job at Tesla? Podcasts and Webcasts are where it’s at then. Podcasts can be anything from audio-books to lectures, but they are all sent over the internet. Webcasts are similar; however, they are more real-time while podcasts are prerecorded. Either way, they are a good way to waste an absurd amount of time! Maybe even learn something.

Streaming Media

Okay so this is a big one as well. Soundcloud and YouTube are good examples here. Soundcloud is used a lot for amateur musicians trying to get their music out there. They record, upload, and share. Other then can stream it and enjoy. YouTube is similar; however, it mainly focuses on video rather than audio alone. I’m sure just about anyone you know has a favorite YouTube video. Mine is the piano cat.

Tag: Tech

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