Tech Blog

Darker Skies Anyone?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:23:03 GMT

In Barrington Hills they're looking at legislation to limit outdoor lighting. Some folks are very upset. The town would like to be the first city east of the Mississippi to be named a dark sky city for their efforts to protect the night sky. The International Dark-Sky Association gives that honor. Even if you don't support a law, there is a lot to learn at their web site www.darksky.org. Our resident astronomer, Bob Gadbois, introduced us to a great way to locate dark skies, using Google Maps.

Cyber Bullies & Other Threats

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:48:33 GMT

There's been a lot of talk about cyberbullying. An organization in Great Britain would like to see Facebook and MySpace put a "PANIC" button on their sites that kids can hit if they feel threatened or bullied. Not sure how that would work on a wolrdwide basis. As we know, new technology can open a world of problems and dangers to children. Communicating with strangers, cyber bullies, sexting, online pornography, are all areas need to be concerned about. The Illinois Attroney General, Lisa Madigan, is looking into the problem with a special summit held today in Naperville. A survey by her office finds that schoolkids are using technology in a big way, from cell phones to social networking sites. The survey included 4,200 school kids and was conducted to understand use of cyber technologies including cell phones and the Internet. Startling survey results of children 14 and over demonstrate the pervasive dangers facing children online. More than 27 percent of those surveyed said they have been threatened by someone online. Nearly 30 percent have felt uncomfortable with a conversation they have had on the Internet. Almost 40 percent of respondents said they have received an inappropriate picture of someone online. More than 43 percent indicated they have said something inappropriate to someone online. Nearly 90 percent have cameras on their cell phones and can send text messages.The Attorney General has set up a new web site to combat cyber bullies. Visit www.ebully411.com. It also features an E-Info Hotline, which is a phone- and Web-based resource staffed by the Attorney General’s Internet Safety Specialists, who can help victims and teach bullies to understand the impact of their actions.

The High Tech Wish List

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:45:12 GMT

On our tech segment this morning, we talked about some hot items for the holidays. The Consumer Electronics Association does a survey each year and their Jim Barry had some tips for us. According to the trade group that brings us the annual Consumer Electronics Show, "Consumer electronics comprise four of the top 10 items on adults' holiday gift wish list, with computers and video games ranking two and three respectively behind clothes. Televisions and digital cameras also made the list. Several emerging technologies, such as Blu-ray players, eReaders and netbooks, are among the most wanted and hottest gifts this season. These products are in adults top ten CE wish list for the first time, joining mainstays such as notebooks, portable MP3 players and flat-panel TVs. Netbooks are another hot category, especially among teens, ranking in the top ten CE gift wish list of that age group for the first time. Portable MP3 players, video game consoles, and digital cameras are among the most popular gifts consumers are planning on giving their friends and family this year." See the short video below:

Roll-Up eBook Fits In Your Pocket

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:55:49 GMT

This the the year eBooks will really get hot. The fire for electronic books has already been kindled by Amazon, but we have to remember that it was Sony that started the ball rolling years ago. Their latest Sony Reader is a great device but I'm really intrigued by the capabilities of the Nook from Barnes and Noble. Those are just a few of the electronic books out there and I'm still waiting for the large flexible pages that can become your daily newspaper, collecting data each morning and allowing you to leaf through it. The Readius already uses a flexible display, and now the latest announcement is that we may see this format coming next year from another manufacturer. An eBook that fits in your pocket! One of many eBook choices now available.

New Hand Sanitizer Protects 6 Hours

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:57:09 GMT

When choosing a hand sanitizer, make sure it's at least 60% alcohol. It's been shown that percentages above that don't clean all that much better. So when I heard about a new hand sanitizer that was better, I was skeptical. Sure, it's 70% alcohol, but there has to be more to it than that...and there is. Ultracept is the first hand sanitizer being sold to consumers that has a special ingredient, Viacydin, that keeps your hands protected AFTER you use it! They say this is similar to what surgeons use. Regular sanitizers clean your hands but the minute you touch a contaminated surface, you're recontaminated. But it's said that this product can keep protecting you for up to six hours, with repeated use (huh?). All the grimy details are here.

Disinfect That Flu-Harboring Keyboard!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:40:31 GMT

Keyboards are filthy places to put your fingers. Especially keyboards that are shared by a lot of people. When it comes to the flu, the Centers For Disease Control has stated, "the virus can live on hard objects up to 8 hours. Flu viruses may be spread when a person touches a hard surface (such as a desk or doorknob) or an object (such as a keyboard or pen) where the virus has landed and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Routine cleaning of surfaces will help stop the virus from spreading in this way." That's why you should wipe down your keyboard with a disinfectant, from time to time, to keep bacteria minimized. Experts suggest your personal keyboard could stand to be wiped down weekly, while a shared keyboard should get a daily dose of disinfectant. First, I'll warn you that all experts recommend that you first shut down your computer, then unplug the keyboard, before you launch your mission. I think they're just covering their butts and, if you use only dampened cloths, all your cleaning solution will stay on the keys. I'll give my own disclaimer...use any of these methods at your own risk! If your keyboard needs more than disinfecting, if there's a lot of particulate between the keys because you're always eating your morning croissant over your keyboard, you may want to clean between the keys. Small vacuums are made for keyboards and can remove debris, but you may want to just use a can of compressed air to blow away the grunge instead of sucking it up. A new product has been developed just for cleaning the debris out of your keyboard and disinfecting it at the same time. We found Cyber Clean at Radio Shack for 5 bucks. It's like a cross between Silly Putty and Slime. It smooshes between the keys and encapsulates the gunk it pulls out. It also contains a disinfectant. Cyber Clean was invented for electronics, like TV remote controls, phones, and similar devices with little buttons. Just push it on and pull it off. I don't know how effective it is but it's kind of fun to use! The $5 package can be used more than once and the substance changes color when it's at the end of its usefulness. For really dirty jobs you can pull all the keys off your keyboard, starting with the biggest ones, and wash them in water with dish detergent. You may want to take a photo of the keyboard first to make it easier to replace all the keys. When the keys are off you have great access to the base of the keyboard for more efficient cleaning. Now, lets try to get rid of some of the nasty bacteria or viruses lurking across your QWERTY keyboard! For years, I've sprayed my shared keyboard with Lysol spray. Just a light spray on the board and mouse, and it's never damaged anything over all that time. But, a direct spray is NOT RECOMMENDED! If you want to clean the keyboard with a spray like Lysol you should first spray a cloth with the Lysol and then wipe down the keyboard. Tests have been done on pre-moistened disinfectant wipes and the results were very good. They're probably the easiest way to quickly wipe down your keyboard and, if not sopping wet, can also be used on your laptop keyboard. The rule here is to NEVER use wipes that contain bleach! Wipes I've used are made by Clorox but specifically state that they contain NO BLEACH. It's right on the front of the container. Apple likes using Lysol or Clorox wipes. The other effective way to clean some keyboards is by using 70% isopropyl alcohol, the bottle you're so familiar with at the drug store. In fact, it's how Microsoft recommends you clean their keyboard and mouse devices. Finally, people ask me quite frequently if you can put your keyboard in the dishwasher to clean it. The answer is, probably, but you have to air dry it several days before using it. It's a practice that's not necessary for the average keyboard but, if you really want to do it you can find directions here...(and you're on your own!) After you use one of the above methods to disinfect, remember to plug your clean keyboard into your computer before turning it back on. Finally, if you mess up doing anything with your keyboard the good news is that a basic one is pretty inexpensive to replace. Stay clean, and use your computer in good health. If you're really paranoid about bacteria, you may want to buy the world's first self-sanitizing keyboard. The Vioguard sells for $899 and, in some environments, makes all the sense in the world.

What Google Knows About You

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:01:13 GMT

It's amazing all the stuff you do while logged onto a computer that's logged into your Google account. I just looked at my past Google searches, broken out into categories like News, Images, Products, Video, and even the Google Maps I searched for. I really looked at all that? Whose address was that I searched for....and why? This nifty little page also shows me what I looked for in Google Reader and what items I starred as favorites. I can also look at sites I joined, Google Calendar, and anything else run by Google that I've delved into. But, along with the attention-getting log of all my business, is a chance to clean it up and erase some of my footprints across the web. You have access as well, and I suggest you take a look if you do anything tied into Google. The site is www.google.com/dashboard. Here's a bit more from mashable.com explaining that if you use a whole lot of Google, then Google knows a whole lot about you! Here's a little video about Google Dashboard.

Fear Of Flying?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:10:20 GMT

For all you white-knuckle fliers. For those who won't even get on an airplane. Virgin Atlantic has a course to cure you of your phlight phobia. They boast a 98% success rate, but it takes a whole day and about $325. But now, there's an app for that. They've put their course into an iPhone app that can fly right with you, instructing you, relaxing you, reassuring you, and all for just $4.99. It even has a button you can hit in case you get an in-flight panic attack. I played with it a bit today and I liked it. Knowledge of what's happening in the plane gives you comfort and the relaxation doctor is so good, you might want to use this app on the Kennedy expressway! It's sooooo relaxing, however, that I hope no pilots are using it! Here's a link to the actual course. Here's more info on the app. I like Sir Richard Branson. He's an aviator who's working hard to put you and me into space! He loves aviation and I'm sure he wants to see everyone love aviation. Whoopi Goldberg is a graduate of the course, "I was a sceptic. I hadn't flown in 13 years but after doing their program, I understood that while my fear was real, there were many things I didn't know or had misinformation about, which they were able to clear up. So what happened? The program works. I now fly. It's that simple."

Twitter Peek

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:36:46 GMT

It's the first Twitter-dedicated device in the world. Twitter Peek allows you to view Twitter anytime you want. Send tweets, read tweets, retweet, all on a handheld Blackberry-looking device. Twitter Peek became available today at a price of $99 with six months of service. After that, service is $7.95. You can also buy the unit with lifetime service for $199. It makes sense if you don't use a smartphone and want a small device to tweet with. Think about it, the data plan on your smart phone may be $360 dollars a year. Twitter Peek is available on Amazon and at the Twitter Peek site.

Windows 7- Do You Have What It Takes?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:27:30 GMT

Windows 7 have a lot of neat features, but before to shove it into your computer you have to make sure you have what it takes. Many Windows XP users may not want to try at all - and Vista users have to decide between 32 and 64 bit versions. Then there's the question of whether to just upgrade...or do a clean install. When Windows 7 launched we did an interview with our favorite computer tech guy, Mike DiMichele. His site, www.savemybutt.com is a great resource for computer fixes and his blog has Windows 7 advice. The Tribune ran an article with some good information about making the switch. You'll find it here. But be sure to run the free Microsoft tool that'll analyze your computer and tell you if you have the right stuff!