It was my son-in-law who pointed me towards a web site that asks for the use of idle time on your computer to help find a cure for diseases like cancer and aids, study global warming, discover pulsars, and do many other types of scientific research.
The software - called Bionic - works on Windows, MAC and Linux systems and can be set to run only when your system is idle. It's like thousands of computers each doing a small bit to help find cures and solutions, so enabling scientific research that couldn't be done otherwise.
I have it running on both my MAC desktop and MACBOOK, with no problems at all. Individually, it may not be much but added together, it's helping to make a difference.
Why not take a few moments to find out more. Working together, we can all help: http://boinc.berkeley.edu/
Monday, 26 July 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
The Benefits of Co-operation
In an age of what often seems like continuous change, it's not uncommon to hear some people refer to the good old days where everything, it seems, was better!
In many cases, this may hold some truth but I never cease to appreciate how much things have changed for the better in relation to location photography.
In the 'Old Days', it was not uncommon to be taken to the shop floor - or wherever the location was - and be told to 'take some pictures!' You were then left to your own devices and inevitably, no one knew what was wanted or needed - and sometimes didn't even know you were coming.
This usually resulted in photographs that were below the expectation of all concerned and although this didn't happen on every occasion, it was the scenario more times that not. It also highlights the dread of having a client who has no idea of what they want.
Fast forward to today's environment where, almost without exception, the customer knows exactly what he or she wants in terms of photographic content and works with you - and often beside you - to produce the required result.
When co-operation comes from every level of the business, there is almost never any hassle, the job is usually finished faster, the photographs are spot on and everyone is happy!!
This is one area where I'm happy to forget the not-so-good-old-days from the past!!
In many cases, this may hold some truth but I never cease to appreciate how much things have changed for the better in relation to location photography.
In the 'Old Days', it was not uncommon to be taken to the shop floor - or wherever the location was - and be told to 'take some pictures!' You were then left to your own devices and inevitably, no one knew what was wanted or needed - and sometimes didn't even know you were coming.
This usually resulted in photographs that were below the expectation of all concerned and although this didn't happen on every occasion, it was the scenario more times that not. It also highlights the dread of having a client who has no idea of what they want.
Fast forward to today's environment where, almost without exception, the customer knows exactly what he or she wants in terms of photographic content and works with you - and often beside you - to produce the required result.
When co-operation comes from every level of the business, there is almost never any hassle, the job is usually finished faster, the photographs are spot on and everyone is happy!!
This is one area where I'm happy to forget the not-so-good-old-days from the past!!
Monday, 12 July 2010
Advertising - but not as we know it.
I've been feeling more than a bit guilty of late as I haven't been updating my blog as planned. However, my excuse is that I've been working on a few business projects, mainly in the form of three new web sites for the business.
Over the the years, we have never had any real success as a result of advertising of any kind. We are very methodical when it comes to noting the source of any new business and advertising is always at the bottom of the list. I've no idea why this is but, nevertheless, it is a mysterious fact of our business life!
However, at the end of our last financial year, we decided to take a few active promotional steps by way of three new web sites.
Over the years our business has developed in a way that responded to the requests of our clients. It all started with photography of course but, after after a few years, customers began asking for additional services. It's no surprise that these were 'complimentary' to photography and they can be categorised as Graphic Design and Printing.
Trading as 194media, these, along with some 'spin-off' services, were - and still are - featured on our web site: www.194media.com
However, we realised that the word 'media' covers a wide range of products and services and that perhaps we should be a bit more direct in our approach. The result was a decision to set up three new web sites, all with names relating to the products and services we provide and the first of these is now live.
As the name suggests, PrintingWestLothian.com highlights an expanded range of printing services including: Leaflets & Brochures, Business Stationery, Carbonless Forms, Posters and more. Although the site is live, we haven't yet began any active promotion, but this will kick in, hopefully, within the next 14 days at which time customers and potential customers will be able to consider what Printing West Lothian has to offer.
The other two sites will be started very soon and we look forward to working on these exciting new developments!
Over the the years, we have never had any real success as a result of advertising of any kind. We are very methodical when it comes to noting the source of any new business and advertising is always at the bottom of the list. I've no idea why this is but, nevertheless, it is a mysterious fact of our business life!
However, at the end of our last financial year, we decided to take a few active promotional steps by way of three new web sites.
Over the years our business has developed in a way that responded to the requests of our clients. It all started with photography of course but, after after a few years, customers began asking for additional services. It's no surprise that these were 'complimentary' to photography and they can be categorised as Graphic Design and Printing.
Trading as 194media, these, along with some 'spin-off' services, were - and still are - featured on our web site: www.194media.com
However, we realised that the word 'media' covers a wide range of products and services and that perhaps we should be a bit more direct in our approach. The result was a decision to set up three new web sites, all with names relating to the products and services we provide and the first of these is now live.
As the name suggests, PrintingWestLothian.com highlights an expanded range of printing services including: Leaflets & Brochures, Business Stationery, Carbonless Forms, Posters and more. Although the site is live, we haven't yet began any active promotion, but this will kick in, hopefully, within the next 14 days at which time customers and potential customers will be able to consider what Printing West Lothian has to offer.
The other two sites will be started very soon and we look forward to working on these exciting new developments!
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