Serious World Problems: Don't worry, Google is on it

There are many problems these days; Climate change, poverty, Illiteracy, debt crises, these are only a few. Google has decided to give solving these problems a try and developed the "Solve for X" initiative. This project brings together some of Google’s greatest minds and asks them to creatively tackle some of the most perplexing global issues. The hope is that the "Solve for X" brain trust will come out with radical solutions using current technologies in a way previously unthought-of.

Tackling the biggest global issues

You may question, how can a group of people at “Solve for X” find remedies for concerns that have baffled world leaders for years? The brain trust at “Solve for X” is composed of forty-six scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators from all around the world. And these individuals are excited. Google explains it as: "This combination of things—a huge problem to solve, a radical solution for solving it and the breakthrough technology to make it happen—is the essence of a moonshot."

Tackling water scarcity

Last month Mashable.com ran a story on the "Solve for X" project. Mashable cited the account of an individual who took part in a "Solve for X" retreat. He said they were focused on the problem of water scarcity. What solutions did they come up with on this retreat? One involved forward osmosis with recycled ammonium salts. It’s fine if you don't know what that means, fortuitously the people at "Solve for X" do.

The need for technology brain trusts


Whether or not "Solve for X" results in real remedies for the world’s problems, the concept definitely has value. Technology is commonly developed with a single objective in mind, usually for entertainment. That said, it’s likely that there are many ways we're able to use current technologies that we haven’t considered. With luck ,, "Solve for X" will help us take advantage of that potential.

Encouraging Creativity in the Workplace

Do you manage a workplace in which employees feel free to communicate new ideas? Do your workers come to you with new plans or solutions about how to run company meetings more efficiently? Have your employees ever introduced ideas for a new marketing plan or suggested topics for the company's blog?

If this does not sound familiar, your company may be unintentionally stifling employee creativity. A lack of creativity amongst your employees, in today’s business environment, can spell the doom for your organization and may keep you one step behind the competition.

Regardless of the industry, creativity is necessary to produce new ideas and rethink processes. Getting your employees to think creatively can mean that you have a whole team of people trying to enhance your business. Not always, but often employees will not apply their creative minds to your company unless you encourage them to do so.

One of the best ways to encourage fresh thinking is to merely listen to your employees when they present new ideas. Most employees are nervous when approaching their superiors with new concepts, particularly when it’s a concept that falls “outside of the box.” So make sure you give them an open forum to reveal their ideas and give them the respect to listen closely to them. Another way is to ask your employees, if you are trying to think of a way to improve the company’s blog, or products, send out an email asking for ideas. Not all of your employee’s ideas will impress you, but, so as not to single anyone out, pay attention to them all.

Dismissing an idea before you have heard it or not giving it your full awareness will discourage your employees and defeat your purpose. Instead of having a bunch of progressive thinkers working for you, you may end up with a group of people just going through the motions for their paychecks.

To truly stimulate creativity, reward those employees who do come up with powerful ideas. This could mean paying a small bonus to those employees whose ideas you use. It could mean praising employees in company newsletters or memos. It could even mean an in-person "thank you."

Many people want a job that allows them to be creative. It stimulates their minds and prevents boring redundancy. Many employees also have ideas on how to improve their place of business; they just haven’t voiced them to you. So encourage them to let you know what they think. It doesn’t mean that the way you have been doing things is bad; it just means that they may have ideas that you many not have thought of. Regardless, you and your business will reap the benefits of their creativity and your employees will be happier for it.

What is Pinterest, and Why You Should Care

Tired of social media? Ignoring it all together? Well, hop on the bandwagon, because it’s not going away! In fact a new site recently popped up that is rising in popularity: Pinterest. Pinterest is a bit different than sites like Facebook and Twitter, because it focuses purely on the interests of the users. This encourages creativity by allowing you to share your interests with others rather than just posting updates about your day-to-day life.

But that doesn’t explain what it is. The definition is inside the name. Pinterest is a combination of the words “pin” and “interest”. In your account you have “pinboards,” similar to bulletin boards. You can make these public or not, and then “pin” images of things you have an interest in onto these and make notes about these images.

Creating Pinterest Categories

For example, you can make the category convertibles. You can then paste any images you can find online of the new Volkswagen Beetle convertible, along with a link to the page where you found them. You can also attach any photos of convertibles that you took yourself as well as add notes to these images. Then you're able to share these pinboards with other Pinterest users.

The Social Part of Pinterest

Just like Facebook and Twitter, you can elect to follow coworkers and friends. You do not have to follow all of a friend’s collections; for example, you can choose to follow only their collection of art, while choosing not to follow the restaurants they love in their area.

Joining Pinterest

The one problem with Pinterest is that you have to get invited to obtain an account. You can visit pinterest.com and ask for an invitation but it might be a while before you receive one. The more surefire method to receive an invitation is to have a friend invite you that already has an account.

Dressing for Success Can Help Your Career More Then You Think

It’s not an easy task to find a job nowadays. So when you do get called for an interview you need to make the best impression. There's one easy method of doing this: dress for it.

That's right. What you wear to work and to job interviews still matters. Yes, a lot more people are telecommuting. More people are arriving to work in jeans and t-shirts. However, that does not mean you should dress casually for an interview.

This simple rule may help where job interviews are concerned: Far better to be overdressed then under-dressed. Even if the company you happen to be interviewing for says, “No need to dress up, we're very casual here,” it is best to still wear proper business attire to your interview. Your clothing can show how serious you are about your employment, and employers want somebody that wants to grow with a company and takes their position seriously. Should you dress for an interview in t-shirt and jeans, you have made a bad first impression, even though you may blow everyone else out of the water with your qualifications.

This applies to the office as well. Even a casual environment wants their employees looking sharp. So avoid grabbing a random t-shirt along with the jeans you've been wearing all week off the floor. Give thought to what you are wearing and try to look professional. Showing that you put effort into your appearance sets you apart in your workplace, and that can be helpful in the event the boss is looking to promote someone in your department!

It goes without saying that looking good is not a replacement for being a good worker. Actions will always speak louder than appearance. However, standing out because you are a wonderful employee AND a smart dresser isn’t a bad thing!

Make Your Twitter Feed More Interesting: 7 People

You're on Twitter, and you're simply tired of reading about what your brother-in-law ate for breakfast. You are interested in following the tweets of people who actually have something interesting to say.

Almost everybody has a Twitter account nowadays including legislators, celebrities, sports stars, scientists, and entrepreneurs as well as your next-door neighbor. To get funny, interesting, and insightful tweets you can follow any of these people.

Below is a list of 7 interesting folks who you may decide to follow to make your Twitter experience more entertaining:

  1. Conan O'Brien: This talk-show host's tweets are always entertaining, follow him @ConanOBrien. An example of the kind of wit you will see on his Twitter is: “I wonder if my car's blind spot compensates with a heightened sense of touch and smell.”
  2. Marissa Mayer: You may not know Marissa Mayer, but if you enjoy technology, she's worth a follow. Mayer is the first female engineer at Google. If you want some interesting tidbits about Google and a look into the life of a tech expert, follow @Marissamayer.
  3. Mike Massimino: Head in the clouds? Then follow @Astro_Mike, the Twitter home to NASA astronaut Mike Massimino. This astronaut can provide you with the inside scoop on life at NASA as well as a glimpse into what it is like to go into space. (He also made a recent cameo on the Television show The Big Bang Theory. And, yes, he tweeted about it.)
  4. Rainn Wilson: You probably know Rainn better from the character of Dwight Schrute for the popular Tv show The Office. What you probably don’t know is that his Twitter feed can be as entertaining as the show. Follow him @Rainnwilson.
  5. Ryan Penagos: If you are curious about Comics, Ryan Penagos Twitter feed will help keep you up to date. He is the editorial director of Marvel Comics and he recently tweeted about a new Spider-Man video game.
  6. Barack Obama: Perhaps you didn't vote for him, but Barack Obama is the president of the United States. How can you not follow his Twitter feed? Have a look at what the Commander in Chief has to say at @BarackObama.
  7. Bill Gates: The impact that this man has had around the world of technology is undeniable. If you're curious about his daily thoughts and want to get updates about the charitable causes he and his wife devote their time to, follow him @BillGates.

Will Windows Phone make Microsoft Cool

Microsoft is among the most powerful companies in the world. Its Windows and Office products power computers throughout the world. Microsoft's chief, Bill Gates, remains to be one of the more important names in the technology field. But one thing…Microsoft is not cool—at least not yet. However, there's some signs that Microsoft's new smartphone software, Windows Phone, could possibly change this.

Sure Microsoft’s products are everywhere but, in the eyes of the consumer, they have always fallen just short of ground breaking. Microsoft has had a few failed products in the past, for instance, the Zune. Remember this little mp3 player? What about the Kin phone? These products and others have led to Microsoft’s less then cool reputation.

Windows Phone software may change this, as it is a success among the technology press and consumers alike. People are saying that in general Windows Phone is one of the most effective operating systems available on the market.

Windows Phone earns approval for its vibrant on-screen typography and its mosaic of animated tiles on its home screen. This presents a visual contrast with the home screen of the iPhone. The operating system receives points, too, for making it easy for users to gain access to social networks. When friends or family members post pictures, messages, or updates to Twitter or Facebook, the tiles representing these services pop into life on Windows Phone-equipped devices.

Problem is, despite the nifty design features of Windows Phone, the operating system has not turned into a big seller. A part of the blame may go to the companies making the actual phones loaded with Windows Phone. These phones tend to be fairly bland and blunted Windows Phone sales. At the same time, wireless service providers continue marketing the iPhone and handsets running Google's Android operating system.

While sales may be lower then ideal for Windows Phone the change it is making to Microsoft’s reputation could have a very positive impact. Where the consumer is concerned, a little cool never hurt a business.

The Mouse: Good Night and Good Luck

Mouse-free computing is something we have just begun to taste. We have touchscreens on many devices including tablets, phones, and e-readers. These let us access the web; send texts, and emails all without using a mouse. So is this the shape of things to come? Will we eventually leave the mouse in the dust and move on to more advanced ways of communicating with our computers?

Gesture sensing

Consumers who play video games have been using this for a while. The Wii and the PlayStation employ gesture-sensing technology. This technology allows users to grasp a wireless remote and utilize their body movements to swing a racket, jog in place, or shoot menacing robots on screen. Even though this technology has not been perfected it’s not difficult to imagine how gesture sensing could possibly be applied to computing.

Multi-touch technology

Multi-touch technology is another interactive innovation that is being utilized in a few common devices, namely, tablets, e-readers, and smartphones. This technology allows users to tap icons to open program, pinch or extend their fingers to zoom or minimize the pictures on their screens. As this is a relatively new technology it is still being refined. How do you think this will be utilized in the future to allow us easier navigation around our computers?

Voice recognition

This technology has been around for a while but has had a lot of kinks. As these get worked out, it will continue to gain popularity. This technology allows people to simply speak commands to their computer to complete them. The most common vendor for vocal recognition software is Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Once this technology is refined the possibilities for its utilization in computing are endless.

While there are numerous ways computing can be improved through hands free navigation technologies. It’s likely we will not see the well known mouse disappear for some time.

An Analysis of Smartphone Charge Pads

If you have a smartphone it is probably a crucial part of your life. You use it to enjoy music, read, check you mail, navigate to stores, and last but not least make calls! But if your battery dies you can’t use it. And, let’s be truthful, finding your charger and a free outlet in your house can be annoying and no easy task in the modern tech-savvy homes or apartments.

But now there is an easier method to charge your device: a smartphone charging pad.

Charge your phone wirelessly

These flat pads, which resemble little mats, allow smartphone users to charge their phones wirelessly. What this means is no hunting for an available outlet and no fumbling with twisted cords. Even better, you can put many devices on your charge pads at the same time and charge all of them simultaneously. Charge pads work with everything from smartphones and electronic readers to iPods, iPads, and digital cameras.

Have you ever considered how these work? They use electro-magnetic induction charging to create a magnetic field that provides power to the batteries of your smartphones, tablets, as well as other electronic devices.

Charge pads a technology in progress


Smartphone charge pads, though, haven't really captured the imaginations of shoppers. There are a few good reasons for this: First, today's charge pads aren't inexpensive. In some instances, they cost nearly as much as the gadgets that consumers want to charge.


Additionally, charge pads are big and bulky. They take up a lot of desk or shelf space. This limits their use; considering that, many consumers rely on charge pads to get rid of the mess that comes with multiple cords. If charge pads are too large, getting rid of these cords doesn't minimize clutter.

An improving wireless world

Wireless technology is always improving; so we will almost certainly see charge pad technology improve. Ideally they'll become smaller and less expensive which might make these items a must-have for modern homes.

Be More Productive with Windows 7

Windows 7 represents a significant improvement over past Windows operating systems. However, if you do not know how to use this newest version of Windows correctly, you will miss out on a number of goodies that'll help you work more efficiently.


By mastering a few simple tricks, you can get the most out of Windows 7.

  • Coping images to a CD or DVD is easy with Windows 7. Just double click the image, and select the drive that contains your blank disk. Choose the burn option and Windows 7 takes it from there!
  • Discovering issues and repairing them is also simple with Windows 7. To do this select the “Control Panel” and select the “troubleshooting” option. This will give you usage of a number of wizards that look for and fix common OS issues. For example cleaning up adware and eliminating clutter.
  • Installing a large amount of cumbersome software will slow your system down. It is possible to prevent this by using the AppLocker feature. This allows you to pre-approve specified programs for installation. Which prevents any non-preapproved software from being downloaded.
  • Another fantastic aspect is its power efficiency service. This allows you to monitor just how much power your laptop is using. This is often helpful if you're working remotely and have no access to a power source.

7 Things to Know About WordPress

Once used primarily as a blogging platform, WordPress is now probably the most popular website publishing and content management tools on the web. According to Tech Crunch, about 22 out of every 100 new active domains in the U.S. run WordPress. What’s more, one of the most popular publishers in the world uses WordPress.

Here are 7 things you should know about WordPress:

  1. Updating your content is simpler than ever using WordPress. With its dynamic page creation you can update your site effortlessly without using a large amount of storage
  2. You can get a free website at Wordpress.com with subdomains. This is a great way to cut costs if you don’t mind .wordpress.org at the end of your domain.
  3. If you have your own domain and hosting account, WordPress can be installed in minutes (WordPress calls it their ‘famous 5-minute install’).  No coding skills necessary.
  4. For people with their own domain and hosting account, WordPress has some minimum requirements. Primarily you have to make certain you have a complying version of PHP and MySQL on your server. The benefits of meeting minimum requirements are that you'll receive precise WordPress support should there be an issue.
  5. There are countless great looking templates (known as “themes”) available from various sources on the Internet. Many are free, some are not. Either way, choosing the best design for your website is quick and easy.
  6. WordPress offers centralized management for all of your pages, posts, multimedia assets, and reader comments. It’s also very easy to manage users and user profiles.
  7. WordPress encourages e-commerce. There's an abundance of plugins that have already been created that allow you to accept payments, promote, and more on your website. The simple plugin search keeps all of these options at your fingertips.