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Category: Technology

Why Digital Wallets Are the Future of Payment
Posted by : admin Business Services, Technology ,

Article by Total Merchants.
Summary: The rise of digital wallets has provided consumers with a trusted alternate payment method. 

Since their birth, digital wallets have exponentially worked there way into becoming a global trend, as well as one of the most convenient ways to pay for goods or services.

What are Digital Wallets?

First of all, if you’re unfamiliar with digital wallets, they are essentially software-engineered platforms that assist in the transfer of money from one account to another – usually vendor or a retailer. They are typically used to pay for goods or services from anywhere in the world and allow for much more flexibility than traditional payment methods. And, with the rise of smartphone usage, expect there to be a substantial rise in digital wallets over wireless credit card processing methods in the future.

High-Tech Security Measures – Slow to Develop or Quick to Act?

With the implementation of microchips on credit cards and debit cards, high-tech security measures are being adopted to prevent thieves and criminals from stealing personal information. However, they also take a notable amount of time for the transaction to complete due to this security wall. This slowdown effectively hurts businesses and consumers in the long run, which is why  merchant account providers are becoming more favorable for retailers.

Digital wallets on the other hand, utilize Near Field Communication (NFC), which transfers data using a wireless protocol. Additionally, smartphones are now capable of storing passwords via fingerprint, making the transaction run much smoother and quicker – without compromising security.

Owning a digital wallet comes with a plethora of benefits. For one, you can link the digital wallet to other bank accounts to provide you with a wide array of payment options without having to use a checkbook. You can also designate this as your primary payment method if you prefer.

When it comes to financial technology, digital wallets have taken a giant leap towards becoming the preferred payment method of the future. And, it’s only a matter of time before they start replacing other methods due to their enhanced security, encryption and smartphone capability, and versatility.

Small Details That Will Create a More Productive Environment
Posted by : admin Technology, Uncategorized , ,

Summary: There are small details you can look into to make your working environment much more comfortable, which will ultimately boost employee productivity.

 

Creating a solid product or service that people will find helpful is crucial for any company hoping to attract loyal customers and expand operations. In order to create things people want, however, you need to have hard-working employees who are ready to put in the effort to make it a reality. Hiring good employees is important for any business in any industry, but knowing how to create an environment where your team can thrive is just as important. There are several small details you should look into to create a productive environment.

 

Room Temperature

 

In most offices employees could spend multiple hours either at their desk or in conference rooms, on a daily basis. How warm or cool it is in the office is one of those aspects managers may not think much about but comfort is one area that should not be ignored.

 

Keep the temperature indoors at a nice temperature that employees will feel comfortable at. Keeping the air on throughout the day will lead to a higher electricity bill, but people simply need to feel physically comfortable to do their best work.

 

Sound Treatment

 

Offices with lots of employees can get pretty noisy. Coworkers talking to one another, employees talking on the phone, and general office noises can ultimately create a fairly loud environment. All of these loud noises could easily make it tough for an individual to concentrate. Find out how you can have your office treated to prevent noises from being amplified off the walls.

 

 

Why Hiring a GPU Technician Might Be a Good Idea
Posted by : admin Technology ,

Summary: Repairing your GPU without extensive knowledge on how everything works could end up with you losing the entire unit itself. 

If you’re an aviation enthusiast, chances are you own at least one ground power unit. Now, while these units are durable, long-lasting, and efficient, they’re also prone to voltage drops, short circuiting, and other detrimental mechanical effects. This is where hiring a GPU specialists may come in handy.

First off, you have to understand that there are numerous companies that have GPU technicians. Mainly, you’ll find companies that perform a variety of maintenance services, with GPU repairs obviously being one. Be sure that you’re selecting the right company that knows what they’re doing. For instance, if you’re looking to repair a lithium twin pack battery, you’ll obviously want a technician that can handle the exact specifications and perform the right type of maintenance without causing any more harm than what’s already been done.

Step 1: Contact the Company

Be sure that you contact the company beforehand and ask them about their services. It’s always best to inquire based on the GPU model that you own. Be sure to provide them with the exact model type and name so you can verify whether or not they’re fundamentally sound when it comes to the repair process. The last thing you’ll want is to find out that your GPU is permanently damaged beyond repair because of some silly mistake that the technician made. Start Pac, one of the leading ground power unit manufacturers, can repair and inspect any ground power units that you might have and get it done the right way.

Furthermore, you’ll also want to look at prices. Does the company offer to drive out to you? Do you have to take it into a shop? What labor charges are they throwing at you? All of these things add up, so it’s necessary to only accept what you truly need out of the company so you don’t run up a high repair bill.

Step 2: Check the Reviews 

With the Internet being a leader in online reviews, you’ll find any type of review that you want just by simply searching in the popular search engines. Additionally, there are various sites that rate the company with a star system and also have a separate section that showcases popular reviews from users that have used the company’s services before. It’s important that you check these reviews out so you have an idea of what you’re getting. If they don’t look too promising, you’d best keep searching for a different company as there could be a chance that you’ll kiss your GPU goodbye.

How Security Centers Are Beefing Up Online Security
Posted by : admin Technology, Uncategorized

Summary: Security centers can help defend organizations from cyberattacks and patch up vulnerabilities in their systems.

The internet has made sending and receiving information incredibly easy to do. Most communication occurs online, such as friends talking to one another or coworkers sending each other the latest reports on their company’s operations. One of the dangers that comes with this degree of freedom is the possibility of unwanted groups gaining access to your information. There are hackers and businesses that are dedicated to collecting data, which they can then sell to others.

If an unwanted party gained access to a company’s private information, said company could be at risk of competitors obtaining sensitive data or assets getting tampered with. Security operations center desks can work with a company to keep a close eye on its security and analyze any potentially vulnerabilities that could harm the business.

Constant Improvement

One key way that security centers can make a company more secure is through the strategic detection and analysis of cyberattacks. Instead of setting up a line of defense for the client, a security center will actively work alongside the company to make sure that it is always secure. Companies like ConstantTech.com can implement cyber security operations centers that can constantly monitor. Whenever an attack is made, the centers can be used to detect it, prevent it from gaining information, and figure out how to patch the weak spot up. This is done to help prevent future intrusions.

Human Involvement

Computers are capable of performing extremely complex operations much quicker, and with much more accuracy, than many humans. However, a one-approach-fits-all kind of reaction is not always best. Having humans there to use the security systems and analyze issues as they come up has proven to be an effective method of beefing up security.

Do Major Airports Have a Central Security Station?
Posted by : admin Technology ,

Summary: The airport security team monitors every aspect of the property with high-tech equipment and accessories. Here’s a breakdown of what’s necessary for sound functionality.

Airports rely on a central security center to keep thousands of travelers safe and sound. This involves a series of efforts made by the airport to hire companies like Constant Technologies, Inc. and other A/V integrators to ensure the security team has a 360-degree angle of what’s occurring at every second.

Operational Efficiency

Airport operators must monitor all systems on a 24/7 basks. Furthermore, they’re also expected to take on a variety of missions and cases as well. With hundreds of operators on staff working on various operations center workstations, these systems require ease-of-use, flexibility, and efficiency when being used. In a nutshell, they need to be able to adapt to various operational requirements that depend on the type of situation.

Services like map-centric applications, task forwarding and voice communication, and a task-based interface allow for better situational awareness.

Downtime

Another crucial factor of a security center is system availability. The security system must be on at all times. Any downtime means a significant financial impact, liability and security issues, and operational interruptions – which could wreak havoc at any moment, especially when you consider the amount of foot traffic alone. Additional features must also be implemented such as: real-time management of events, continuous recording of system events, and a backup system that will automatically turn on in the case of a power outage.

No matter how robust and effective the system is, there will always be maintenance. Airport management must be on top of this at all times and schedule maintenance tasks that will be performed on scheduled days. Neglecting this could be a huge mistake.

The Role of Video Walls in Modern Command Centers
Posted by : admin Technology

Summary: Video walls provide an effective solution to monitoring critical tasks and data.

Command centers exist to provide an efficient solution to critical infrastructures. The control room supports a team of experts who are constantly monitoring a specially-designed video wall 24/7 in order to record the data coming from their networks to ensure the system’s uptime is maximized. Here are some requirements a control room would have if a monitoring system would be implemented.

Flexibility

The ability to integrate multiple content sources is a crucial factor for command centers. Control rooms and command center staff must monitor data from a wide range of sources – which could be anything from a live camera feed to miniscule dots from a sensor. The staff ideally needs to visualize the picture with ease, speed, and accuracy.

Reliability

Monitoring critical systems requires a designated system in place that is not going to crash or fail easily. If it does, there needs to be a quick responding failover capacity so a backup system can take over the main system. This is an integral part of a command center that needs to be incorporated during the building stage of the center itself. For instance, say you’re working with Constant Technologies, Inc. and are in the midst of planning out the structure. Be sure that you oversee the project and ensure that there is a designated area where the backup systems can operate and function.

Scalability

A video wall controller in the past used to incorporate a fixed number of inputs and outputs. As technology advanced, control room now found ways to expand their visualization data. For example, they would add more cameras to a network, add more screens to accommodate a larger number of input sources, etc.

The Costs of Implementing a Command Center
Posted by : admin Technology

Summary: Adding a command center for any organization can come with a variety of benefits. Here are some of the basics to get you started.

Are you considering adding a command center to your current organization? If so, you’ll have to consider the costs of all the equipment, furniture, and staffing. Needless to say, this may turn out to be quite a significant investment – depending on the type of technology you use and the size of your company.

The Basics

The first thing you’ll want to consider is whether you want to construct a separate command center or convert a large-scaled room within your business for the command center. If you choose either route, you’ll want to have a contractor build it based on your specifications.

For instance, let’s say you go with ConstantTech.com for your A/V integration, you’ll want to work closely with them to determine how your command center will turn out when it’s all completed. It’s important to work with your preferred contractor and integrator so that everything is exactly where it needs to be when you start staffing your center.

Furnishing Your Center

Before you throw in a couple of desks and chairs and call it a day, you’ll want to ensure that you properly place everything in an organized fashion so each team can work together and be exactly where they need to be when an unknown event or emergency occurs. For instance, let’s say there’s a security breach and your NOC build isn’t set up in a way where everyone can see the video wall, what do you do then? First off, you’ll have your staff scrambling amongst each other and it’ll essentially cause more mayhem and panic, causing the entire process to be a giant mess. Be sure that you coordinate this and plan the entire structure out before you give the “okay” to the contractor that you’ve hire to work on your command center.

 

 

Power and Cooling in a Server Room
Posted by : admin Technology ,

Many companies, especially small businesses, will host their servers and other IT infrastructure in a server room. This space may contain web servers, email servers, and database servers, along with storage devices and various pieces of networking equipment.

In order to ensure that these IT resources remain stable and available, the server room must contain a consistent power supply. Appropriate voltage and outlets should be installed so that all devices can be connected to a grounded power strip, without risk of an electrical fault. In addition, a company be use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide battery power to servers in case of an extended outage. Read More “Power and Cooling in a Server Room”

Understanding Digital Signage in Video Wall Displays
Posted by : admin Business Services, Digital Advertising, Technology ,

Summary: There are various technical aspects that play a diverse role in today’s video wall designs.

Technology has come extremely far in terms of providing versatile equipment for organizations and companies. One of the focal points, literally and figuratively, is video walls. These visual wonders are can be built in nearly any size or configuration that you can imagine.

The Intriguing Designs of Video Walls

Most video wall designs are built around a rectangular structure and comprised of LCD or LED screens. However, a growing number of uniquely-shaped video walls are now emerging in all types of command centers. Beyond these screens, each project will require a video wall processor, which functions by directing the content to the right screens at the appropriate time to display a variety of images and videos.

Video wall processors are available at a variety of different price points, all with versatile feature sets. It’s important that when you purchase a video wall to complement your command center desks that you opt for a processor that can handle a wide variety of screens in each installation.

Bezel Width

One of the biggest considerations with video walls these days is bezel width, which in layman’s terms means the width of each display frame. Most modern video wall displays have narrow bezels, which create a smaller gap between the areas of display. This results in a more fluid and seamless video wall display. Furthermore, the content for these video walls is much different than that of smaller-scale digital signage. It’s important that you take the large scale into account when designing video, text and audio.

Why Aircraft Equipment Calibration is Crucial
Posted by : admin Safety, Technology

Summary: Calibrating your maintenance equipment is a critical process that minimizes accuracy flaws. 

In order to ensure that all aircraft maintenance equipment that you own runs efficiently, and safely, it’s essential that you and your team utilize various precision tools and inspection methods to ensure that each component conforms to the manufacturer’s specifications.

These tools must be periodically calibrated, as recommended by the operator, to safely handle each component independently. In various aerospace organizations, there has been a long-standing practice of permitting the use of workshop equipment that is not subjected to calibration if there are test data needs – including waveform monitoring, troubleshooting, or null indication measurement. In cases like these, it’s important to clearly identify the item as “not for calibrated testing” and be removed from the rotation of maintenance equipment.

Why You Should Calibrate 

Calibration ensures that the tools remain at peak accuracy, and that the inspection, measuring, and test equipment utilized for maintenance are performing adequately. The core purpose of calibration is to minimize measurement errors to acceptable levels. Acceptable levels of uncertainty are typically defined by the tolerance limits of the equipment’s parameters – which are normally established via the manufacturer. Through calibration, the equipment will fall within the defined accuracy levels and perform efficiently, which is especially important if you are working within the aerospace industry where accuracy is prioritized above all else.

Who Performs the Calibration? 

A calibration facility or laboratory is tasked with handling major calibration processes. Any person or organization that has specialized in handling the calibration process can typically run the establishment. Additionally, you can supply them with aircraft maintenance equipment from Start Pac for example, and depending on their controlled environment, you can expect each component to be properly analyzed, monitored, and ultimately calibrated to the manufacturer’s extent.

Documented calibration procedures must be used and documented evidence of the traceability of the standards utilized must be provided to you as well. This is especially important in the case of faulty work performed by the establishment. When it comes down to it, the most important aspect you must look out for when dealing with a third-party calibration lab is their standard of practice and how they perform when it comes to the equipment. Needless to say, you want your equipment at peak levels of efficiency, which is why picking and choosing the appropriate company will not only benefit you but your work as well.

 

Tip of the Day

We recommend joining a few Facebook groups and checking out developer-oriented Twitter lists from Twitter users you already follow and respect.