Copeland Data News

January 2008

Microsoft is currently developing a new type of computer that will change the way we interact with information.

Microsoft Surface, which is essentially a table-top computer, was recently unveiled.  Unlike table-top "video games" that appeared in the late 80's, Microsoft Surface offers a highly interactive experience by simultaneously interfacing with multiple hardware devices and input points for a truly dynamic experience.

Surface computing features four key benefits:

• Direct user interaction.  Users can actually "grab" digital information with their hands, interacting with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.
  
  
• Multi-touch.  Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously - not just from one finger like a typical touch-screen, but from dozens of devices and contact points at a time.
  
  
• Multi-user.  The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around a surface computer together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.
  
  
• Object recognition.  Users can place supported hardware devices on the surface and seamless communication will take place.  Examples include transferring photos from digital cameras and mobile phones, synchronizing email and contacts between mobile devices, etc.

To see a demonstration of surface computing in action, see the following video:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html.

More information on Microsoft Surface can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/surfacecomputing/default.mspx.
 
Surface computing will likely first appear in public venues like hotels and restaurants.  As prices drop over the next five years, these systems will likely make their way into more and more homes.

Managed Print Services provide everything an organization needs to control printing costs.  This includes an initial output assessment, hardware redeployment or acquisition and pay-per-use output that includes supplies, service, ongoing assessment and as-needed optimization.

The key benefits of Managed Print Services are:

• The identification of cost so management is possible
• Insures proper utilization of printing assets
• Proactive monitoring of output devices
• In-time supply replenishment
• Timely service dispatch and preventive maintenance
• Optimization and re-deployment
• Reduces support requirements
• Reduces quantity of vendors
• Single invoice for all services
• Reduces cost!

Many organizations have moved over to Managed Print Services to manage their printing needs.  You can learn more about Managed Print Services from TC Technologies at www.e-tct.com.

In the past, accessing different screens and functions within your business system has been done with a traditional menu of options illustrated in the screenshots below:

or

Now, we can implement a Menu Tree, which looks something like this:

or

The Menu Tree is a great navigational enhancement with the following benefits:

• From one screen, you can access the entire system simply by clicking on the expand (+) or hide (-) indicators in the left-hand pane.
  
  
• Because of this navigation, you can have more than one screen open at a time within the same session.  As an example, a user may have the Inventory Card and Customer Information screens up simultaneously.

The Menu Tree is available in all our new systems today and can also be integrated with most current systems that have been updated to the latest version of CQCS.  Traditional "drill thru" menus are still available with the Menu Tree, but users who frequently jump between screens and functions will appreciate the simplified navigation a Menu Tree can provide.

Mobile phones continue to become more and more computer-like every day.  We have discussed in past issues of Copeland Data News that "direct push" email technology is built into Microsoft Exchange Server for many Windows Mobile and Palm-based phones.  We also suggested that "direct push" technology is the best and safest way to have messaging synchronization occur between your company's Exchange Server and users' mobile phones.

Blackberry, a competitor to Windows-based phones, also has direct push technology available, but only when the Exchange Server is coupled with another piece of software called Blackberry Server.  Blackberry Server can be installed on any server that is currently running Exchange Server 2003 or newer.  The free version of Blackberry Server supports up to 15 phones and includes synchronization for one phone free-of-charge.  Additional phones (up to 15) may be added for $100 each.

Blackberry Server is a welcome addition to any messaging enterprise. This software seamlessly synchronizes your Blackberry with mailboxes, calendars and contacts from your Outlook/Exchange account the same way ActiveSync does with Windows Mobile or Palm-based phones.

If you would like to learn more about Blackberry Server as it relates to your organization, just let us know.

Disc Defragmenter is a Windows utility that allows you to speed up file access on your hard drive by automatically realigning files into contiguous pieces.

Many years ago, Defrag was routinely used to keep hard drives quick and clean, but with the speed of today's hardware the need to defragment a hard drive has not appeared on anyone's Top Ten list of things to do on a regular basis.

Environments are changing, however, and Defrag once again makes sense.  With so much malicious software appearing daily, anti-virus, adware, and spyware utilities generate a lot of disk activity in their scheduled scans and real-time monitoring.  Various reports show that these utilities run much more efficiently on a defragmented hard drive.  Testing results show a drastic 30 - 50% decrease in run time on a defragmented system for these types of applications that access and scan your entire file system.

Please make it a point to run Disk Defragmenter on a monthly basis.  By default, it can be found under "Programs...Accessories...System Tools" or by right-clicking "My Computer" and selecting "Manage"

Email has become a standard communication method of business.  While issues like spam and viruses make email less than perfect, it is still undeniably effective, especially when used properly.

Here are some things to keep in mind when sending a new message or replying to someone else's email that will make communication as effective as possible.

If you are sending an email and are asking for a response, it is recommended that you try to send the email to only one recipient.  For other recipients, add them to the CC: (carbon copy) line.  If this message is sent to many recipients on the To: line, it can be unclear as to who should be responding and many times results in duplicate responses that waste time or even worse, you will receive no response at all.

Users typically reach for the "Reply" button to respond to the sender's email.  This only sends your response to the sender and none of the CC: line recipients are notified of your reply.

It is best to get in the habit of using the "Reply to All"  button.  This ensures that everyone on the list sees your response, keeping all parties on the same page.  Good communication always moves things along more smoothly.

Thermal Foams has been proudly serving the Eastern United States and Canada since 1959 with locations in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

Thermal Foams building products division carries a complete line of rigid insulation and Engineered Insulated Panel Systems.  They also offer a wide range of exterior insulation finishing products to complement their Dryvit line of finishes as well as supplying specialized architectural products to the commercial construction industry.  

Thermal Foams, Inc. packaging division offers a wide selection of materials to choose from, all geared toward extending product life and enhancing the presentation of your product.  Whether commercial, consumer or food application, their design team is available to create a cost effective solution to all your packaging needs.  Their design team will help you carefully analyze your foam requirements to be sure you select the best possible material for your particular application.

Thermal Foams, Inc., has been a partner of Copeland Data Systems since 1984.  Ed deGrasse, Project Manager for Thermal Foams adds:

"Our dependence on technology has increased considerably over the years and Copeland Data’s quick response to our ever-changing needs has proven invaluable.  Their ability to customize our business software and tailor it to our specific requirements has allowed our system to expand along with our company.   Again and again, Copeland’s wide range of expertise and their well thought out approach to Information Technology has proven to not only save us time and money but also the frustration of having to figure things out on our own."

You can learn more about Thermal Foams, Inc. by going to their website at www.thermalfoams.com.