Web developer with gadgets

My reflections on IT gadgets, recent findings on the brains of over 50s and expected dementia trends: 

It seems my fetish with data analysis and all things digital may actually be good for my health. A recent study in the UK found that the brains of people over 50 are getting sharper and younger due to the use of IT gadgets. And this is good news in the light of the so-called “grey tsunami” of ageing people. Many are expected to get alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

It appears to be de rigueur to have a go at people with lots of IT gadgets. Granted, our love affair with them can have it’s social down-side. But armed with the evidence of IT gadgets keeping our brains sharper and younger don’t you think it’s worth it? I reckon we should be actively encouraging the use of modern technology amongst the elderly. Not just to keep their brains in good health, but to aid in social engagement by keeping in touch with family and friends. Continue reading →

If you’re an observer of the trend in cloud computing, you’ll find this article interesting. Xero is a cloud accounting software and has gained considerable popularity over the last couple of years. As a committed fan of cloud computing, I’m not surprised that an accounting package that that is so easily accessed and versatile should become so popular.

An interesting follow on from the previous story is this one about Windows 8.1 and Microsoft bringing back the start menu. Unless you’ve used 8.1, you won’t really get the drift of the story. But as it happens, I’ve recently installed it on my PC (actually a ‘virtual’ PC on my Mac).

I can see now why people have been so resistant to 8.1 given it’s such a radical departure from the usual Windows environment. As Adam Turner says in Windows 8 – bring back the Start menu or go with the flow?  “It’s easy to hate Windows 8. Really easy.”, but as he then says; “… if you decide to work with Windows 8 rather than fight against it, you’ll find that it does actually have a lot to offer.”

But I can also see why Microsoft took a leap of faith to release it … and that is because of the increasing use of tablets and smart phones. With 8.1, they’ve tried to create an operating environment similar to tablets and smart phones so that they can begin to close the gap between them and PCs because of the ground PCs are losing.

It’s an interesting dynamic to observer. I’d be interested to know what you think – but then maybe you’re a Mac user and it’s a non-issue or you might be 95% of the population and hanging out for Windows 9.

It took me a while to get the hang of it. Cloud storage that is. I wish I’d discovered it earlier. But then I’ve probably been like most of the general population and had a natural scepticism about something you can’t see or touch and is out of our direct control.

Cloud storage, for those newbs to this concept, is where you store your stuff on a server hosted by a company like Google or Dropbox. You access it via an internet browser or through an application that connects you to that server with a secure login. Think of it as just another drive like your C drive, only more secure.

This notion is an interesting following on from my previous post about PCs losing ground to mobile devices. Cloud storage have made this drift possible. And as I said, user convenience is a major driver.

A colleague of mine had once said “I don’t trust cloud storage” to which I said; “But you’ve been using internet banking for a while and you feel okay about that don’t you?”.

Cloud storage, to me, is the best thing since sliced bread (though I have to admit, I like cutting my own). The following articles explain the amazing benefits of using cloud storage instead of keeping your stuff on your computer.

What I love about cloud storage is I can move from device to device and my stuff moves with me. Another brilliant thing is the security of my data. I’ve set up a few measures such as 2-step authentication and now have a password management app. Gone are the days of concern about stolen or broken devices. I can retrieve my data and docs in no time at all.

Is it time to back up your life into the cloud?Computers Mobiles Digital Life News Illustration: Karl Hilzinger As cloud storage becomes all but free, is it time to rethink your online back-up regime? These days most people have turned to the cloud as an off-site back-up solution, perhaps combined with a home Network Attached Storage drive tucked away in their study.

via Smh

Here’s another great article called Why I’m Living in the Cloud and Never Coming Back by Cam Lincoln in Culture Desk, who tells us why he’s a great cloud enthusiast.