A Quick Aside + This Week

As I mentioned earlier, databases would be essential to the easy access and sorting of information. However, I never mentioned which database I would use. After looking over the options, I feel that a client/server database would be best suited to my company. It's an easy way for anyone to access the database and it assures that the information is all in one place.

Also, with regards to networks and their ability to help efficiency in my company, I did not talk about what type of network I would use. I would obviously have to have a fiber optic network for the fastest possible connections, but we'd have to have a mix of wireless and a router connections. We'd have to get a lot of routers to spread around the office, but for some places we could have wireless connectivity so that people could bring laptops and use our wireless services.

This week we talked about security risks that come with being connected to the internet and to other computers. The biggest problems seem to be spyware and the various types of viruses out there. We'd have to have the best virus protection software possible (either free AVG or paid Norton), to make sure we are safe from all threats.

Internet

This week's lecture was rather broad, and touched on many subjects dealing with the internet. We talked about connectivity, IP addresses, as well as web protocols and other internet details. However, I'll be focusing on the connectivity for my business.

I think, as it is pretty obvious, that every single company, no matter the size, should have some sort of a broadband connection. Whether it be a DSL or cable connections, or more desirably a fiber-optic connection, having an internet that loads quickly is the most important. It will help increase speeds at which things are done, which would increase efficiency.

Some other advantages of having a broadband connection would be faster sharing, as everyone would be able to connect to the web, and to each other quicker. It would also allow for better idea creation as more things to help boost creativity (websites, programs) would be available due to faster load times. It will also help efficiency as many things can be going on at once on the connection, without much of a disrupt in the performance of these things (videos online, or high bandwith usage programs).

Networks

This week in lecture and in the textbook we learned about how networks work. We learned about the different connections to the internet as well as the ways to make them work faster. We also learned a bit about emails and the different types of emails that are out there.

For my invention, networks would be vital, especially in the office atmosphere of my company. It would allow people to share the hardware and software that my company would be using. This would help reduce costs and heighten efficiency for buying hardware and using software.

The network would also help the overall atmosphere of my company. Having a network where people share information helps allow people to work together and collaborate on ideas. This would help the overall feeling between the workers and at work, as well as possibly add new ideas for the product/advertising etc.

Databases.

This week both in class and in the reading we learned about Databases and Privacy. We learned about the different things that the databases can do, as well as the conveniences of using them. We also learned about the privacy problems with having these databases.

For my invention, and for really any type of product, and database would be essential. It would be the most convenient way of keeping track of the production of my invention, as well as the people who are ordering the product. It would just be so much easier to be able to find a small bit of information from the database using a query then looking through a disorganized folder or word document.

However, privacy would also be an issue with the databases that my company would use. We would have to make sure that we had a reliable and hard to hack security program protecting the database. We would also need a very clear and easy to find privacy policy so that all the information is out there for the buyers to see. This is very important for the credibility of the company.

Advertising my Invention

This week's reading had a lot to do with images and other types of multimedia. We learned about the different types of images, as well as different ways of altering them. I could use programs like Photoshop to alter a picture and add text to help advertise my invention.

One of the most important parts for any business is the advertise. The only way that the general public is going to know about your product is if they see it or hear about it somewhere. So I'd use a program like Adobe Photoshop to use images that I have of my product or company name, and then use some of the options (like cropping and using different filters), to make it more appealing and ad-worthy.

We also read about Hypertext, which would be important for help guides. If a person has a question about the product, they can either go to the help guide or the site's FAQ section to find out the answer. These types of things would use Hypertext, which is basically an interactive text that allows you to click on things and follow your own pattern to get to certain information or answers. This would be a user-friendly option, although small, that would help enhance the user experience.

Managing my Invention

In this weeks reading, we learned about Productivity Applications. Basically, we learned about Microsoft Word, the other components of Microsoft Office, and other apps that come with the computer and help the user. Most importantly, we learned about programs like Excel, which are spreadsheets that help with finances.

I would definitely be using the spreadsheet tool for my business in order to help with keeping track of everything. I would be able to make formulas and functions that would give me a future look at how my sales are going. I would be able to keep all of the prices of manufacturing the product in one place, and keep them there so that they can constantly update. This would be key in running a successful business.

I could also use some of the apps mentioned (such as word, and some of the more complex Adobe Apps) to make advertisements for my product. I would have the numerous options for the font, the location of the text, the images, and the colors that I would use. Considering that advertising would be key in getting my product out there, these apps would provide me with a great source to create these ads.

My Invention and Software

In this week's lecture and reading, we learned about software and how it works with the computer. We learned about the different types of software, the different ways in which a computer acts with it, and the ways in which it can be updated. Software is relevant to my invention because I would be able to use it to help make my product better.

Say a new music game comes out, or some new instruments come out for the game, my current invention would not be able to read them and help convert them to the right signal. However, if my company were to use software, we could help remedy this problem. We could produce software updates that could be downloaded to the device that recognized the new instruments and then was able to make them compatible.

These software updates could come through the computer, where if you plugged the device in and went to the company website, you could update it. They could also be available, and probably more conveniently so, through the game system and the internet connection that all current systems provide. This software updating would help my inventions reliability and would allow it to last longer, as it would adapt to the times.