15 minute steps to improve your home technology environment

We promised earlier this month a series on setting up you home for safe technology usage, after the technology gifting that most likely happened in your home over the festive season.

The topics we will cover are:

1. Centralise device charging
2. Know what you have

Let’s start 2012 with a series that sets up your home technology for the rest of the year.

With Christmas gone, and the New Year here. over 80% of respondents said that technology was part of their gift plan.

To start 2012 well, indicate which subject area you you like to get help on first, and we’ll set up a series of 15 minute tasks so that we can get everyone on a right path to safer home technology environment.

Limit screen time to 2 hours a day

We know this one is going to be hard over Christmas, however, our recent survey shows that over 90% of families are giving technology this Christmas.

It is a goal that you will need to set. It is also a goal that should be set up front with technology gifts. This way, any gift receiving day (birthday, or Christmas) can be an exception, and then revert to normal behaviour the day after.

This article illustrates why this is important, and gives you some tips on how to set up this environment.

Facial recognition on Facebook – Turn it off!

If we have a gripe with Facebook, it is the fact that whenever a new feature is released, it seems that the executive decision makers assume we all want the feature turned on by default…. and not tell us either by a private message, or post at log in… after all, they have the skills to do this. Why do we need to find out about these features though the media?

Facial recognition is one of these features. so here are some tips to better manage your ue of this feature.

Privacy 2: How do I protect my privacy?

As promised, here is the second article in the series on privacy.

We previously talked about why companies chose to know so much about us. We also talked very briefly about how to go about protecting your privacy online. This week, we will dig a bit deeper into what actual things you need to do to protect your privacy. here are some simple things that every web site tells you to do…

Privacy 1: Why do companies want to know so much about me?

Why do they do it?

Companies and organisations exist to do something. It is generally to sell goods (or services) for money, hopefully a profit. Marketing is a term used to identify and promote these products in such a way that will entice people to buy them. Companies regularly profile existing users of their products to see who buys them, and why. With the simple goal to then target other people who are similar in the hope that they might like to buy the products as well.

This is termed targeted marketing.

Targeted marketing is based on a profile that these companies have identified as people who like the product now – in the hope that others of the same mind will also buy the product. This article illustrates that this si not a new thing and how this has migrated into an online world.

The best modem feature? The power switch!

This week, we had a number of conversations about some basic features to have on a modem – so we thought it a good idea to talk about what features a modem should have, and why.

Dear Apple – your computers can also be affected by Malware

Dear Apple,

Your computers are vulnerable to malware, and I wish to draw your attention to the practices employed at a number of retail outlets I have visited recently.

Always on Blackberries? Turn them off automatically with Auto-off

Do you feel in control of your own technology usage? Not sure? You can take charge. Read on, and we will give you instructions on setting up your Blackberry to take charge of your time.

Representation of Women in Media

Miss Representation

Miss Representation.org is a call-to-action campaign that seeks to empower women and girls to challenge limiting labels in order to realize their potential and transform our culture for the betterment of all.

The film Miss Representation exposes how American youth are being sold the concept that women and girls’ value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality. It’s time to break that cycle of mistruths.