Health Tips: Safe Computer Use...

It is not uncommon for individuals to experience eye problems and discomfort such as headache, backache and fatigue from extensive computer use.

Many of the ill-effects of computer use can be lessened or avoided altogether by utilising correct typing technique and posture, ensuring correct set up of equipment and good work habits.

Place computer monitor and keyboard directly in front of you so as to avoid twisting your neck.

Monitor should be 20-24 inches away from eyes and the height of the monitor should be 5-15 inches below horizontal line of sight.

The mouse and keyboard should be at the same height.

Use an adjustable chair that provides firm, comfortable support. Adjust chair height so that thighs are horizontal, and feet are flat on the floor (use a footrest if necessary).

Do not slouch. Chair should be with a backrest for lumbar support.

Ensure that frequently used materials are within easy reach.

Block excessive sunlight with drapes or blinds and use indirect room lighting.

Give your eyes a rest every 15 to 20 minutes by focusing on a distant object for 10 to 15 seconds and blink often to prevent dry eyes.        

Internet - Password Security Tips

Password Security

With most websites requiring you to create an account, do you find yourself in a bit of a pickle when it comes to inventing passwords? Many people use the same password for all their online accounts and often forget the password they came up with months ago. Hands up who doesn’t feel like banging your head against the wall trying to remember the password you created months ago?

Let’s face it - everyone has problems with creating and remembering secure passwords. That’s why we decided to help.

Tips on how to create and remember your passwords:

•Use the first letters of a sentence that you will remember,e.g. "I have 3 cats: Fluffy, Furry and Shaggy" gives: Ih3c:FF&S, or “Bouncing tigers have every right to ice-cream” becomes: Bther2I-C.

•Take the name of the website and then add your personal twist, like your height or your friend’s home address (e.g. “AmazonOceanRd6’ 2”). Avoid using your own contact details like your phone number or house number.

•Remove the vowels from a word or phrase e.g. "I like eating pancakes” becomes: Ilktngpncks”.

•Use a phrase from your favourite book and then add the page, paragraph or chapter number.

The Do’s and Don'ts of creating passwords

Do:

•Mix letters, numbers and symbols, and use case sensitivity (upper and lower case letters)

•The longer the better. Use passwords that are longer than 6 characters.

•Change your passwords at least every 60 days, cycling the numeric values up or down makes the new password easy to remember.

•Try copying and pasting at least some of the characters in your password that way keyloggers won’t be able to track your keystrokes.

Don't:

•Don’t use words or phrases or numbers that have personal significance. It is very easy for someone to guess or identify your personal details like date of birth.

•Avoid writing your password down, use a reputable password manager to manage all your passwords.

•Don’t use the same password for several logins, especially if they involve sensitive financial or other personal information.

•Don’t tell anybody your password.

•When registering on websites that ask for your email address, never use the same password as your email account.

A Day in the Internet

What is Twitter and How Does it Work?

A Social Networking Tool for Busy People

Twitter is becoming the fatest growing social networking tool available. Find out exactly what it is and how to use it. Send a "tweet" in minutes.

The Internet is all a-buzz about Twitter. What is Twitter? It's a way to keep family, friends, and coworkers up-to-date with what an individual is doing by using an instant messenger service, the web, as well as with mobile texting, plus other venues.

Messages sent out by Twitter users are limited to 140 characters, which is just enough for a quick update.

How Twitter was Created

Twitter is an interesting concept that was created by Jack Dorsey and became an incorporated company in May of 2007. Since then, it has grown to be an Internet phenomenon, often featured on news channels on the web [Twitter Breaking News Video, Chris Pirillo, CNN News, April 17, 2008]. It is also call microblogging. It works much the same way as a blog, only with the character limit. Once a Twitter is posted on the website, people are able to easily see what other people are doing. Individuals can, in turn, let others know what is going on with them as well.

The concept of Twitter relies on messaging services, whether it uses a cell phone, instant messager, such as Yahoo Messenger or MSN Messenger, or through specific websites. It allows the user to send messages to friends and family quickly and easily. Twitter only asks one question, “What are you doing?” As long as an answer is 140 characters or less, it is possible for thousands of people to see the answer immediately.

Using a Twitter Account

One must create an account, but it only takes minutes. It is free to join. Simply complete a profile, including uploading a picture. Link the newly created account to a cell phone, web page, or instant messenger program, which allows the user to receive and send messages to and from others. An update that is sent to friends is called a “tweet."

Twitter can be linked to other social networks, blogs, and websites. For instance, post a blog update and use the Twitter button. The blog entry will be sent to the people specified by the sender. This only works when logged into the Twitter account.

A user can also follow other users as well. It's easy to have conversations with other people, and before long, many people will be watching updates from many different people. Twitter is a really unique social media tool that helps individuals with:

·                       Article marketing

·                       Social networking

·                       Promoting website traffic to specific websites

·                       Staying in touch with people

The website is user-friendly and walks a new user through the entire setup process. There is also a frequently asked questions page to help those with questions about how to use Twitter for the first time or on different devices.

Twitter Advice

Don't overdo it with the updates. Keep them to a minimum to avoid annoying people. By sending too many messages in a day (or week or month), it runs the risk of individuals beginning to remove people from their list. Consider sending one message a day or setting up different groups, so as to target specific updates to those who are really interested in the messages sent. By setting up groups, personal messages will go to only those it is intended for as well.

Unfortunately, Twitter has also become very popular with Internet marketers that are realizing that most people will open a message from Twitter. There are many spammers that are using it to exploit their business. Twitter is working to correct this issue.

Twitter is a terrific tool for today's busy individual. The company is growing very quickly and expects to offer a way for people to access groups, much like Yahoo has now. This is in response to so many people asking for this type of service. Twitter is committed to providing a terrific social media for many years to come.

As a few of you will know I have been “tweeting” on Twitter over the last few weeks (Follow me here).  Several people have asked me what is Twitter or how can I use it so I thought I would write an explanation.

What is ?

Twitter is a Micro-Blogging tool which allows you to send and read user updates – known as Tweets (limited to 140 characters a Tweet).

Following People

To get the most out of Twitter you need to follow people.  Then everytime they Tweet it will appear on your twitter homepage as an RSS feed.  Many people and companies are on Twitter.  Here are a couple that I am currently following and enjoy their updates

Stephen Fry – http://twitter.com/stephenfry - Stephen Fry’s Tweets are always worth reading, he always has insightful and unusual things to say.

Retail Week – http://twitter.com/retailweek – Retail Week – The Trade publication Retail Week uses its Twitter account to Tweet breaking news.  This is often the first place I hear the news as they Tweet it as soon as they get it!

How to read Tweets

You can of course log into the Twitter website to read Tweets.  However the best way to use Twitter (IMHO) is to use a Twitter client of which their are several.  A twitter client will keep checking your twitter account for new updates so they will just pop up on your desktop (or mobile device) also you have more functionality all on one place.  My favourite Twitter Client is Tweetdeck.

A guide to Tweetdeck and Twitter Etiquette.

Tweetdeck can be downloaded here http://www.tweetdeck.com

Above is picture of Tweetdeck.  As you can see it allows you to see several types of Tweets all at once in several columns.

As default it will show

All Tweets – Every Tweet you send, or someone you’re following writes

Replies - When you Tweet you can use the @ symbol to reply – eg @Charlesbarsley means that you have read one of CharlesBarsley’s Tweets and you are replying to him.  A reply will only appear on their Feed, eg if you reply to me it will show on my feed but people who are following either of us will not see it unless they go directly to our Twitter page.  Tweetdeck shows replies as their own feed which helps you to easily follow conversations.

Directs - A direct message is sent with the d symbol at the start of the message eg d Charlesbarsley.  A direct message can only be read by the recipient.

Retweet – If you enjoy someone else’s Tweet and want to share it with your followers you can Retweet it with the RT command eg RT @Charlesbarsley – (or just click the Retweet button in Tweetdeck) – By retweeting you can share the post while allowing your followers to see the original poster incase they want to follow them.

Those are the main twitter commands, you can write your own tweet, reply to someone elses, send a direct tweet just to someone or retweet someone elses tweet.

Other Tweetdeck  / Twitter functions

Shorten URL’s – Often you’ll want to include a URL in your post.  Tweetdeck has a function to automatically shorten it as it will be included in your character limit.

Favourites - If you want to save a post favourite it.  Twitter has its own favourite feed.

Groups – If you follow so many people that it’s hard to follow the messages or you want to group the people you follow you can create groups.  Then you can see a separate feed for each group of the people you follow.

Twitter Search - You can search the whole of Twitter for a word and see an updating feed on Tweetdeck of posts which include that word.  If you’re following a news story or subject this could be a great way to keep up to date.

Summary

So hopefully this post has helped you as an introduction to Twitter, I’m two week’s into Twitter and I am still not sure quite how I want to use it, I am very picky about who I follow as I want to read and enjoy every post but I am not sure what I should Tweet about myself.  At the moment some of my Tweets are quite random, I think I want to tweet more about retail / Computing News, and what I’m doing.  I also want to Tweet less about completely random things which people don’t want to hear about.

Protect your eyes !

Blind computer programmer aims high

By Alia Al Theeb, Deputy UAE Editor

At a first glance, nobody would notice that a woman sitting behind a computer - totally engrossed in her work - is actually blind.

Najat Saeed Hussain is a woman of substance who takes her duties seriously and has never allowed the fact that she is both blind and deaf to stand in her way.

Najat uses a hearing aid to communicate. Gulf News caught up with Najat at her workplace at Dubai Health Authority premises to get an insight into her unique and determined personality.

"I was not born blind, but I totally lost my sight after two accidents. One accident was when I was hit by a ball in my eyes as I was playing with some children. Few years later, I lost sight in my other eye in a similar incident," she said.

She recalled her painful endeavours to regain her sight through a series of treatments, which turned out to be unsuccessful.

"I used to get injections for my eyes, but then there was bleeding and I felt pain in my entire face. I had to undergo several treatments, but at the end, I lost my hearing ability and today I hear using [a] hearing aid," Najat said.

Najat's studies specialised in operational research, which, according to her, is a broad field based on dealing with numbers.

Najat graduated from Hertfordshire University in the United Kingdom with a bachelor's degree in 1999. She lived in London for 10 years during which she learnt Braille and walking with the use of cane. Najat also learned to do some craftwork.

She also learnt to type on a typewriter before the proliferation of computers.

Najat went to the Royal National College for the Blind in the United Kingdom, which is a rehabilitation centre for blind people. It was there that she developed her skills and learnt how to use a computer, while being instructed by a Libyan man at the college.

"I came back to the UAE in 1985 and worked in the health department after I worked as a computer programmer for one year in the United Kingdom and did some basic language there," Najat said.

She said her dilemma she faced on coming back was on what she was going to do for living.

"I was appointed as a computer programmer at the health department, but I did not really get the chance to excel, as I had learnt sophisticated computer programming in the United Kingdom," she said.

This was because many people could not look beyond the fact that she was blind, she said.

After all the struggle, Najat says the place she is working at currently at, as a computer programmer, is what she was looking for.

"Here, I found my identity because my work involves dealing and communicating with people directly. This way I benefit others and I also learn from them," she said.

Her daily tasks also include answering emails and processing online requests through emails.

"My colleagues often ask me how can I deal with the computer and carry out this kind of job while being blind. I have one answer for them - which is [that] a blind person can do whatever he or she wants if they really wanted to and had the will to do it," Najat said.

Despite going through a lot in life, Najat is ambitious and is intent on realising her dreams.

"My wish is to see more attention given to blind people here, even by commercial companies.

"There needs to be more awareness and guidance for blind people so they can reach to top levels."

Special needs: Appeal for computer

Najat Saeed Hussain appealed to concerned authorities and centres for people with special needs to provide her with a computer equipped with the Braille system and talking programmes so that she can continue her studies and perfect her skills at home.

"In the United Kingdom, we could rent the computer along with other equipment to use at home and then return it to the centre when we finish. I wish I could get those equipment to continue my studies," she said.

HOW TO AVOID VIRUS, SPREADING THROUGH USB DRIVE ?

 

Caution when using Public PCs

LEASE BE CAREFUL WHENEVER YOU'RE USING A PC AT A PUBLIC PLACE (Like INTERNET CAFES OR ANY OTHER PLACES..ETC).

CHECK THE BACK OF THE PC AND SEE IF THE above shown DEVICE IS THERE.IF SO..DO NOT USE IT!!!!

Be careful especially the people who use the internet in these places to enter their bank accounts online or any other important sites.

After you enter the bank account and leave the PC it will be easy to open your account again as all what you have typed has been saved in the Black device.

Therefore, you should check the PC for any suspicious piece behind it before using the net in public places for important sites.

Windows Tips Complete Chapter

Read this doc on Scribd: Computer user tips

Computer Usage Tips

Here are some correct postures which should be used while using a computer to reduce stress and other ill effects.

*(Click on picture for larger view)









Please take good care of your wrist while using the keyboard and mouse of your computer.






Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Manual therapy
Exercises for relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

While you are receiving treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome regular exercise sessions can help your rapid recovery. I have included some photos and explanations of recommended exercises.
The following exercises may be prescribed by your healthcare provider in conjunction with Low Level Laser therapy. In the photos you will see below, the right wrist is the one being exercised. If your left wrist is affected, do the same exercises with the left hand.

When doing each of these exercises, the hand should be flexed until a sensation of stretching is felt in the arm. The position should be held for 10 to 15 seconds for each of 10 repetitions. Try to this set of exercises three times a day.
Exercises 1 and 2 flex and extend the hand and stretch the wrist. Bend the hand as shown in the photos and apply moderate pressure to it with the other hand.

Exercise 1 - Wrist Flexion Bend the hand being exercised backward (palm away from you ), as shown in the photos. With the fingers of the other hand, apply pressure.
(Click on photo for larger view)



Exercise 2 - Wrist Extension Bend the hand being exercised forward ( palm toward you ), as shown in the photos. With the fingers of the other hand, apply pressure.




*Exercises 3 and 4 are similar to 1 and 2 except that an object, such as a pad provides the resistance to the hand, instead of your other hand.

Exercise 3 - Wrist Flexion against surface With your arm held vertically, press your hand, palm down, on a firm surface, as shown in the photo.



Exercise 4 - Wrist Extension against surface With your arm held vertically, press your hand, palm up, on a firm surface, as shown in the photo.



*Exercises 5 and 6 involve the side to side range of motion of the hand.

Exercise 5 - (Radial Deviation) Place your hand palm downward. Grasp the fingers of the hand to be exercised with your other hand (as shown in the photo) and twist the hand toward you. Keep the hand horizontal.



Exercise 6 - (Ulnar Deviation) Place your hand palm downward. Grasp the fingers of the hand to be exercised with your other hand (as shown in the photo) and twist the hand away from you. Keep the hand horizontal.