Ecommerce is the way to go

In a world where the Web is driving the consumer and the market, it is only logical to realize that ecommerce is the way to go. Small business owners everywhere are catching on to the trend of ecommerce. There are many reasons ecommerce is so incredibly popular. Take a look at these reasons and decide for yourself if ecommerce is what you want to take on. Don’t be the last one to get involved in this great thing. The first reason ecommerce is so popular is because it has opened up a whole new way for consumers to shop. For the first time, consumers are literally able to sit at their home computers and shop. They can do this at any time of day, any day of the week. Even on holidays where every shop in their town is closed, they can shop online with no problem. Giving the consumer this type of freedom is a great thing. With this freedom, consumers will shop more and spend more. Another reason ecommerce is so popular is because it allows consumers to access items from all over the world. So, they don’t have to travel to Japan to get authentic Japanese products. They can buy anything, from anywhere, without having to leave the comfort of their home or office. Consumers can access the best deals and you can make more money with a wider consumer base that allows you to reach the entire world. So, if you are a business owner, you might want to take a few pointers and start getting your business into the world of ecommerce soon. It will likely bring your sales up quite a bit. In addition, you will be taking your business to a worldwide level. You can reach consumers from thousands of miles away, which can only help your business grow.

Great features of garmin gps systems

Surely if I keep on driving I’m bound to reach my destination, and yes we did need to pass through those ten other towns on the way. It’s a mode of thinking that has often got men into trouble. We are renowned for not taking instructions and heaven forbid we should take advice from our wives or partners. What we men desire is a way of getting from point A to point B without having to put too much thought into it and without looking like a fool. We put the expectation on ourselves to be all knowing even though those around us know better. In this age of technology help is at hand. There are some great electronic systems available that can ensure you experience a stress free journey. One such system is the Garmin GPS system. These units are interactive, so much so that they can do just about everything for you except drive the car. While there are other systems that are inbuilt into vehicles these systems are removable. This offers a clear advantage because the unit can be moved from car to car. The unit itself can be attached to the windshield, which is great because it makes viewing the screen easier and allows unrestricted access to the unit. There can be no real benefit if you need to look towards the floor to see where you are and not focus on the road ahead. One of the other great attributes of this system is that it comes with voice software. This means that you don’t even have to look at the screen to see where you are. The system is designed to tell you new directions so you can focus on driving. This is beneficial to all passengers because there is no need for manual navigation. There are many additional features to this system as well. For example, this system has specific locations programmed into it. If you’re hungry and looking for a coffee shop the solution is easy. The garmin gps systems will inform you of every coffee shop that lies ahead. You can even see exactly where any store, shopping center, or restaurant is located. It will also tell you how far away they are and whether you need to veer from your current path to get to it. When it comes to traveling on the road there are some things that you just can’t get away from like traffic. Why then wouldn’t you want to make life easier for yourself and use a system such as to Garmin GPS? There really is no excuse for getting lost these days. You can even get to your destination with little prior route planning.

Hp printer cartridge buying tips

HP has been a leader in printer industry for a long time. HP printers come in a wide selection, including the deskjet ink printers, laserjet printers, business inkjet printers, photo printers and designjet printers. Despite keen competition from other printer manufacturers, HP printers remain the most popular choice for home and business users. The popularity of HP printers means that there is a huge aftermarket for HP printers. Indeed, consumers have many choices when they want to replace their HP printer cartridges. Here are some useful tips that can help you maximize your savings. 1) Remanufactured and compatible cartridges – HP has recently made a deal with Staples to remove all compatible HP cartridges from Staples retail stores. The move is considered as a victory for HP in the battle for printer aftermarket but this battle is far from over. Remanufactured and compatible cartridges are still readily available from major computer stores, office supply stores and hundreds of online ink / toner cartridge stores. These cartridges are in great demand because they offer a savings up to 30-50% compared to OEM cartridges. 2) Ink refill kits and ink recycling programs are another alternative for bargain hunters. Although it is a bit less convenient than buying a brand new cartridge, refilling ink cartridges is environmentally friendly and helps you save even more than compatible cartridges. 3) Combo pack – no matter whether you are purchasing compatible cartridges or OEM cartridges, you can usually get a discount buying the bulk pack or combo pack. If you are shopping from online stores, you can also enjoy free shipping when you buy several packs at the same time. 4) Online shopping – HP online store sells their OEM cartridges with free shipping. You can sign up for their MyPrint Rewards Club to get exclusive discount on ink and toner. Other online vendors also have OEM, remanufactured or compatible HP cartridges available at discount prices. 5) Coupon codes – many online vendors selling compatible cartridges provide coupon codes which give an additional 10-15% off on top of the original discount. 6) Warranty period – check the warranty period of your cartridges before purchase, especially if you are buying in bulk. A long warranty period means that you don’t need to open the packages and use the cartridges immediately but can return them at a later date if you are not satisfied with the quality. 7) Compare price and service – compare the price at different vendors, their shipping policy, warranty period and shopper’s satisfaction rating. Buying from reliable vendors can save you lot of money and hassles in the end.

Many types of various voip equipment

As VOIP phone service and technology becomes more and more popular among both individuals and businesses, the demand for VOIP equipment rises as well. To individuals who aren't familiar with VOIP or how VOIP works, and especially those who aren't especially familiar with technology in general, VOIP can sound intimidating. Using a computer as a phone? Downloading software? How does this all work? Don’t worry: it is much simpler than easier than it may first sound, since it is in the interest of VOIP service providers to make it that way. While businesses may be another matter, getting the right VOIP equipment for a residential switch is simple and painless, so relax and prepare to enjoy the benefits of VOIP phone service. For home VOIP phone service, you have a few options as to what equipment you want and/or need. Starting with the computer, you will want a more modern computer that has the ability to run broadband Internet. This is very important. You do not want to use VOIP with dial up because the quality will be terrible, and it just doesn’t make a lot of sense. You want a solid broadband connection, and a computer that can handle it. Second, you will want to make sure your computer has a sound card. Since most VOIP systems go through a computer, then you will want a good sound card to clearly hear what people are saying. While an IP phone or phone adapter is also an option, it's still a good idea to have a good sound card to insure maximum sound quality. Most newer computers will already come with a good one. In addition to this, you will want a microphone. VOIP phone service doesn't need an actual phone to work: your microphone can work to dial and talk. Third, you will want to decide who you want as your VOIP provider. The software that allows VOIP phone service to work is usually downloaded from the Internet, and is very easy to install, but you want to make sure that you are installing the software of the company that you feel most comfortable with. Once you make that decision, you can usually just download the technology off of a web site from the comfort and security of your own home. If you still want the comfort of a regular phone, and IP phone is a consideration. An IP phone is a regular phone, but it hooks directly up to the computer instead of a telephone jack for a land based line. You can also look at buying an adapter. An adapter is a piece of equipment that allows you to take a regular phone that is normally used with a land line, and to connect it to your computer so that same phone still functions, but it uses the VOIP phone services from the computer instead of the landline, making it, in effect, a VOIP phone without any need of buying a new model. There are several options for the interested consumers, and something to make everyone happy. Don’t feel intimidated; VOIP phone service is a quality way for many people to save money, and managing a VOIP phone is no problem at all.

Uses for a telescope camera

You can find many uses for a telescope camera, if you look far enough. Indeed, telescopes themselves have been around for a long time, shedding light on the mysteries that are above us. For years and years, people have been using telescopes to record the night sky. In the past, this recording was done with a pen and paper, and people would draw what they saw and compare with others. Now, of course, we have telescope cameras which allow us to do much better. With telescope cameras you are going to be able to not only look at what you are seeing in the sky, but also take a picture of it. This is very important, because you can take photos of the night sky and you can use a computer to save those files and checked against what has been seen in the past. You can upload the photos that you have taken of the night sky and put them into a grid where the usual stars are shown, and by this you can find out when the picture was taken and from where. Uses One of the main uses of a telescope camera is simply to learn. By taking photos of what we can see in the night sky, we can go back and study these at a later time. There is only so much studying you can do when you are looking through a lens at the stars. There is often not very much light where you are, and it is hard to interpret what you are seeing. Also, if you have a question about something, it is hard to ask because your lens is going to be full of different things, and the person you are asking might not know to what you are referring when you ask them. So, you can take a telescope camera and use it to take a picture that you can use later. When you have this picture, you can study it to your heart’s content, and you can also find people to ask questions to about what is in your picture. You can check it against many things and figure out what it is that you are looking at. Having a camera on your telescope is going to be a feature that you find most enjoyable, and something that you can use for many years to come.

How to capture and download flash

When you find some Flash files on the web page are displayed which you will be interested in. and you want to save these on your computer or send to your friends, Some useful tools which will capture and download Flash files from web pages makes your download process easier and faster. I recommend three tools, Flash Saver 6.0, Flash Capture 1.72 and Easy Save Flash 1.41. Flash Saver is a flash dowload tool that can help you download Flash files from the Web easily and quickly. Flash Saver provides many search and download modes. The easiest way to search and download Flash files is by a right click on the web page, Flash Saver will show all the Flash files on the current page. It can automatically check if it has installed the Flash plug-in. Flash Saver 6.0 enables you to save all Flash animations from web pages, including Flash Websites, Flash games, Flash MTV, Flash Movies, Flash advertisements, or what ever Flash files you find in the web by using the shortcut bar and hanging windows. You need just click once! Flash saver is a fantastic "What You See Is What You Get" flash saver making tool! The another useful tool is Flash Capture, Flash Capture is a program to download Flash files (*.swf) from the web pages you are browsing. It analyses the HTML code in the web pages and find out the Flash files. Features include: download flash files from the url you type; search flashs file in your cache files; preview flash files. The third useful tool is Easy Save Flash, This Internet Explorer plugin adds a new toolbar that allows you to save Flash, IMG, music and others files embedded in Web pages to a local drive. Save Web pages to BMP or JPEG files. Repair your start page and unlock registertools. Clear IE listboxcache, cookies and history. View source of Web page.

Buying your first astronomy telescope

When we were children we were often taught that we could wish upon the first star that we saw in the evening sky. After that wish was made and if we believed hard enough our wish would come true. Eventually, our childhood fantasies gave way to fact as we became more educated. This education was accomplished through astronomy classes, space exploration and other educational means. The word astronomy is comprised of two Greek words. The Greek word astro means star shaped or star and pertains to outer space. The word onomy literally means the study of. Therefore, astronomy is the study of the stars. One of the major tools that assists amateur and professional astronomers in understanding and respecting the galaxy is the astronomy telescope. When looking to purchase a good astronomy telescope there are a number of factors that you can keep in mind. First, of all consider some practical suggestions, remember it is about the diameter of the lens, and make sure your telescope has a solid stand. Practical Suggestions Before you purchase your astronomy telescope it is important to conduct your research. One way of conducting this research can be accomplished by accessing the Internet and learning more about telescopes. Some of the questions that you should endeavor to answer surround what features to look for in a telescope, approximate cost, recommended brands, etc. Another practical suggestion, before you purchase your astronomy telescope, is to "test drive" a telescope. This can be accomplished by joining an astronomy club. Often these clubs will have a stargazing event which will allow you to peer through the telescopes owned by the various members. Another way of conducting research, prior to purchasing an astronomy telescope, is to ask the members in the club as to what telescope they would recommend. The key is education. Listen for the features they recommend, brand names, the diameter of the lens, price, etc. Also, you may come across a member of the club who is considering the purchase of a new telescope. If so, you may be able to purchase their used telescope. Diameter Of The Lens When considering the purchase of an astronomy telescope it is important to remember what is the key feature surrounding your purchase. That key feature should focus on the diameter of the lens of the telescope and not its advertised magnification. This is because the diameter of the lens equates to the amount of light that can be received by the telescope. Therefore, the larger the diameter of the lens the more light that is captured. This in turn allows for the image that you are viewing to become more visible. Solid Base Another very important feature when considering the purchase of your astronomy telescope is to ensure that it has a solid base. Generally, these bases or mounts are tripods. It is important that when the telescope is mounted on these bases that the telescope does not shake or move. Obviously, any movement by the telescope, when peering into space, will distort the image being viewed and provide a negative experience.

Video camera

There are video camera varieties that have been used by multi-million dollar television networks, and filtered through television stations that are spread throughout the United States. These video camera presentations are meant to bring the latest news of the world climate into your living room in exact rolling imaging form, complete with quality sound. These video cameras are portable, lightweight and powerful enough to force you to view violence and gore through the news casts that are filmed clear across the world in war zones that bring the reality of war into your life full force, and most of the time without prior warning. These video camera devices have recorded death, mayhem and turned full tilt to record the miracle of birth in hospitals around the country. As the technology to produce these video camera devices progressed to smaller and more elegant models, these video camera manufacturers thought to offer more portable models for the American public to enjoy in their everyday life in their hometowns through America. Americans now have the opportunity to use highly technical and technologically advanced video camera to film birthday parties, Nascar races, and any other memorable recordable event that can be imagined. The use of video camera devices has spread to every facet of peoples lives. Law enforcement officers have been outfitted with video camera models in their patrol cars to record each traffic stop. These video camera devices are used by security companies to record various locations in a multi-story corporate headquarters office building. There are video camera devices that serve as a “Big Brother” type of recording device, are installed on busy intersections traffic light poles and light receptacles, and are meant to aid the police departments in identifying people that routinely speed through the yellow traffic lights that have a touch of red, that are stationed there and sending them a large fine in the mail system. There are video camera devices that have been observing people as they make withdrawals of cash at automatic teller machines for a very long time. Bank robbers normally consider the video camera devices that are installed at every angle inside a bank. These video camera devices are the first thing that is stopped when they enter the bank to make their own type of personal cash withdrawal. Each store you shop at has the probability of surprising customers, by the hidden video camera devices that are installed to catch someone shoplifting or damaging their merchandise. These video camera devices are capable of bringing extreme pain into your life, or they can be used to record all of the pleasures in life too.

Image processing bar codes selecting the right bar code with image binarization

Documents that are scanned for image processing or storage are often captured at 8 bits per pixel. These are referred to as grayscale images in that 256 levels of gray are able to be represented in the image. The capability to represent shades of gray is required to faithfully capture photographs and graphics but is not normally needed for text. Consequently, scanned images are often binarized. This process involves the selection of a threshold value and then changing all pixel values below that threshold to black and all pixel values above the threshold to white. This compresses the image by only requiring 1 bit per pixel instead of 8 bits per pixel. For example, an 8.5 inch by 11 inch document scanned at 200 samples per inch, has its storage requirement drop from 3.6 megabytes to 450 kilobytes. Binarization also occurs when documents are transmitted by fax as images are created that are represented with 1 bit per pixel as well. Given a proper threshold, binarized images that contain text can normally still be read by either human eye or OCR algorithms. Indeed, some OCR algorithms begin the OCR process by binarizing the image as the text is typically dark against a lighter background. However, if bar codes are present within the binarized image, they can by altered enough by the binarization process to cause difficulty for a decode algorithm. The image to the left ( omniplanar/_upload/CodePics/Code39-GreyscaleWeb. gif) shows part of the start pattern of a Code 39 linear bar code. The top portion shows the image represented as 8 bits per pixel, while the lower portion shows a binarized version using a threshold of 100. Note that the smooth transitions from white to black in the grayscale image have been transformed into ragged edges that have plus or minus one pixel variability. As a result, the width of each bar or space can vary by plus or minus 2 pixels. Given that the information in linear bar codes is contained in the widths of the bars and spaces, decode problems can result depending on the size and type of the original bar code symbol. The remainder of this article will focus on two issues that should be considered to improve the read rate of binarized bar codes: sample density and symbology type. Sample Density Sample density is the number of samples per unit area that an image is captured. Typical sample densities used for document processing range from 200 to 300 samples per inch (dots per inch or DPI). Fax transmission can vary from 100 up to 400 DPI. In bar code decoding, a more important parameter to consider is the samples per module, where the module size is the size of the smallest feature of the bar code. This distance is also referred to as the X dimension. This parameter includes both the sample density of the image capture device along with the size of the bar code being scanned. If a bar code decoding software toolkit requires a minimum of 1.6 pixels per module for linear bar codes in a grayscale image. From above, if the width of a bar or space can vary by 2 pixels after binarization, one can see that problems can exist in the short widths at this low sample density. Consequently, it is recommended that a typical value of 4 pixels per module for bar codes that will be binarized. For a document scanned at 200 DPI, this requires a minimum module size in the printed bar code of .020 inchs or 20 mils. Increasing the samples per module beyond 4 is also recommended for images that will go through multiple binarization processes such as documents that will be faxed multiple times. Symbology Type The choice of symbology used to encode data should also be considered carefully. Linear (or 1D) bar codes can be broadly classified into two distinct groups: wide/narrow codes and multiple width codes. In a wide/narrow code, each bar or space can only be either narrow or wide. The wide to narrow ratio, which gives the size ratio between the two widths, typically ranges from 2 to 3. Popular symbologies that use only 2 widths include Code 39 and Interleaved 2 of 5. Multiple width codes have more than 2 possible choices for the widths of bars and spaces. Popular symbologies that employ more than two possible widths include UPC and Code 128, both of which allow a bar or space to be either 1, 2, 3, or 4 modules. Given the same samples per module, wide/narrow symbologies typically survive the binarization process with higher read rate performance than their multiple width counterparts. This is simply due to the fact that in the presence of edge variation due to binarization, it is easier to determine if a run is X or 3X wide (where X is the length of a module and an assumed wide to narrow ratio of 3) or if it is 1X, 2X, 3X or 4X as is the case with multiple width symbologies. The table below classifies some popular linear symbologies into the two classes mentioned above. Wide/Narrow Codabar Code 39 Interleaved 2 of 5 Patch Code Multiple Width Code 128 Code 93 RSS UPC While wide/narrow symbologies are preferred in applications where binarization will occur, they do not normally have as high a data density (data stored per unit width) compared to multiple width symbologies with the same X dimension. This can be an issue where limited space on the document is provided for the bar code symbol. 2D Symbologies 2D (or two-dimensional) matrix symbologies are typically presence/absence codes. They use a regular grid of possible cell positions, and the presence or absence of a cell in a grid location encodes the data. Two-dimensional symbols have much higher data density than 1D codes as information is stored in both dimensions of the symbol. In addition, they normally provide error correction to provide redundancy in case some cell data values can not be determined. When a 2D symbol is binarized with sufficient samples per module (the size of a grid position), they tend to do better than linear codes as the edge information is not as critical: it is the position of the center of the cell that is more important. Decoding software may require a minimum of 2.75 pixels per module in a grayscale image for reliable operation. If additional samples per module beyond 2.75 is provided, performance continues to improve and is a good choice for images that will undergo multiple binarizations. A sample density of 5 pixels or more for 2D matrix symbologies gives good read performance after binarization. Popular 2D Matrix codes include Data Matrix, QR Code, and Aztec Code. PDF417 is often referred to as a 2D symbology. However, it is not a true matrix code. It is a stacked linear code, consisting of multiple rows of short linear codewords. It allows bars and spaces to have up to 6 different widths and as such it can be adversely affected by binarization at lower samples per module. Summary In applications where scanned documents containing bar codes are to be binarized, read rate performance can be improved by using linear symbologies that employ only wide/narrow choices for bars and spaces along with at least 4 or more pixels per module. Two-dimensional matrix codes are a good choice when binarization is used with a minimumof 5 pixels per module, and they provide the added benefit of increasing data density of the bar code symbol.

Wat is mdi media delivery index

MDI - Media Delivery Index Media Delivery Index is an open standard for use in quality assurance of IP video systems. MDI is designed to address the problem of monitoring IP-encapsulated video signals in a live system. The RFC (RFC 4445) for MDI details the technicalities of this in depth, but the issue of how this applies to real systems is more useful for many people, and that is the aim of this article. The problem: The fundamental problem when delivering IP encapsulated video across a network is that losing one IP packet results in multiple media packet loss. UDP (User Datagram Protocol) based systems tend to encapsulate up to 7 188 (or 204) Byte Mpeg Transport Stream packets per udp packet. This means that losing one udp packet could result in 7 media packets being lost. Loss of the media packets means that content is lost and the STB (set top box) or other end device must handle this as well as it can. Depending on the actual content of the packets (video, voice, data, stuffing) at the time, the impact will be different. In an ideal world – NO packets (IP or otherwise) would be lost across the network. The biggest contributing factor to packet loss on a network is Jitter. Jitter is a increased packet delivery time caused by buffering on the video flows by network equipment across the IP infrastructure. If jitter is added to the flows, each network device will need to have an accordingly increased buffer size in order to store the ip packets and forward them along the network (while aggregating or removing flows which are going to or from that section of the network). MDI therefore has 2 main components – MDI-MLR (Media Loss Rate), and MDI – DF (delay factor – or cumulative jitter). MDI - MLR relates to the mpeg packets being lost and their rate. MDI – DF relates to the current buffer size required for a flow at that point in the network. This component is a number in Milliseconds (mS) and is dependant on the bitrate of the stream being monitored. Since DF relates to stream bitrates and network jitter, this value changes (gets lower) as streams of higher bitrates are used. This is an important consideration as it can be a great indicator of impending problems, and also alludes to the fact that your network jitter will have a different impact of streams of different bitrates. This issue also means that just because your network can deliver Standard Definition Mpeg streams, you cannot make the assumption that High Definition streams will also be ok. (they tend to be higher bitrate and thus the network jitter will affect them more). MDI was co-authored by Cisco (World dominating network hardware providers) and Ineoquest (World leading video monitoring solutions company) and is used my most proficient solutions providers and in most Quality Of Service (QOS) equipment. Since MDI caters for both the IP layer and the Mpeg layer of monitoring, it is a very scalable and robust metric to use.

5 New communication technologies to supplement email

Every business relies on effective communication with its customersmunication doesn't just convey information, it inspires trust, builds credibility, stimulates involvement and generates loyalty. But in today's global, hi-tech, rapidly changing business environment, how do you ensure you're communicating effectively? THE BENCHMARK - FACE-TO-FACE There's no doubt that face-to-face communication is the most effective method for most people. Why? Because of its two-way nature. It's about dialogue. Listeners are not passive participants. When someone talks to us, we send a continuous stream of responses back to them. Some are verbal, but many/most are not. These responses have the power to actually change the message being disseminated by the talker. What's more, they have the power to change how other listeners' interpret that message. (Similarly, other listeners have the power to change your interpretation.) Unfortunately, however, the global nature of business makes it impossible to conduct face-to-face meetings for every communication. So what are the alternatives? Specifically, what are the alternatives offered by technology? EMAIL - THE STARTING POINT The benefits of email are numerous and well known, and include (but are not limited to): •Email is an excellent mechanism for distributing information to people. It is fast and cost effective. •It is incredibly convenient - you can readily communicate across time zones. •It provides a useful electronic paper trail. •It can save a great deal of time because most of the fluff surrounding a phone call (the social niceties) are seen as unnecessary in email. •It allows recipients to read and respond to messages in their own time. •The wording, grammar and punctuation in an email can be considered and edited before finally sending. But email does have its limitations: •Its lack of social niceties is a double-edged sword. Without the benefit of other communication cues, it's sometimes hard to interpret the tone of an email, and this can make some messages ambiguous. •It isn't ideal for critical communication. For many people, emails are not 'real-time' communication. We all have that unaddressed email sitting at the bottom of the list. Because emails are so easy to ignore, they're also easy to forget. •Ironically, email's dissemination effectiveness has been one of the major impediments to its communication effectiveness. It's so easy to send emails - and they're so anonymous - that our inboxes are now flooded with SPAM. Consequently, emails are viewed with some suspicion. It's sometimes hard to identify legitimate emails, but it's very easy to just hit Delete. •Because email senders are typically geographically (and often culturally) distant from their recipients, they have no immediate visual and aural cues to help them tailor the message as they type. But there's no need to 'throw out the baby with the bathwater'. Email is an excellent solution to many communication needs. And for those it is ill-equipped to handle, there are newer, more appropriate technologies that are built for the job... WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES - THE PERFECT SUPPLEMENT Web 2.0, a term coined by O'Reilly Media (an American media company) in 2004 refers, to a second-generation of internet-based services that let people collaborate and share information online in new ways. Web 2.0 technologies are well defined in wikipaedia. org, which suggests that these sites allow the users of the sites (members) to create and share content, including exploring and discussing ideas, opinions, initiatives and issues. Web 2.0 is all about communication. It is the evolution of the internet from an endless library of static pages to an endless world of conversations. These pages can be restricted to particular individuals (eg the executive), or open to all members. The only difference is that the interaction takes place in cyberspace, and those taking part can be sitting behind a keyboard just about anywhere on the planet. Importantly, a reader's understanding of the message in a Web 2.0 communication is determined, not just by the publisher, but also by the responses (e. gments) of the audience. What's more, the publisher's actual message tends to be far more fluid as it, too, is informed by the responses of the audience. In other words, Web 2.0 services are far more like face-to-face conversations than any communication technology before them. So what are these emerging technologies that we should be keeping an eye on? The two most notable are 'Wikis' and 'Blogs'. The following definitions are from wikipedia. org, an online encyclopaedia developed as a wiki. •Wikis - A wiki is a type of website that allows users to easily add, remove or otherwise edit and change content. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative authoring. Examples include Wikipedia (wikipedia) and wikiwikiweb ( wikiwikiweb). •Blogs - A weblog, which is usually shortened to blog, is a type of online diary or journal which allows one to voice their opinion on something. Blogs often provide commentary or news and information on a particular subject. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media. Blogs are usually text based, but they can include photographs, videos or audio (podcasting). Blogs can be presented in a way that creates a conversation between users. As an example, see the Sydney Morning Herald travel blog (blogs. smh. au/lostintransit/). THE USES OF WEB 2.0 As with face-to-face social gatherings and forums, online get togethers attract a broad spectrum of participants eager to engage, entertain, befriend, advise and lecture. It was reported in The Australian (Tuesday 8 August 2006) that the social computing element of Web 2.0 has recently been embraced by the US Government. The US State Department has started including blogs and other Web 2.0 concepts to deliver public information to citizens. It is also using wiki style services to improve information by permitting small expert communities to improve advisory services. The same article advised that Australia’s leading information advisory body, the Australian Government Information Management Office, had begun experimenting with the use of blogs, wikis and other Web 2.0 technologies. As new online social networks mushroom, they are becoming increasingly focused on niches, ideally suited to membership based organizations and the NFP sector. Examples of general public social networks include My Space ( myspace), Classmates ( classmates) and Bikely (bikely). OTHER USEFUL TECHNOLOGIES •SMS - Short Message Service (SMS) is a service available on most digital mobile phones (and other mobile devices, e. g. a Pocket PC, or occasionally even desktop computers) that permits the sending of short messages between mobile phones, other handheld devices and even landline telephones. •Podcast - Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio or video programs, over the internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. •Webinars - Web conferencing is used to hold group meetings or live presentations over the internet. In the early years of the internet, the terms "web conferencing" and "computer conferencing" were often used to refer to group discussions conducted within a message board (via posted text messages), but the term has evolved to refer specifically to "live" or "synchronous" meetings, while the posted message variety of discussion is called a "forum", "message board", or "bulletin board". A webinar is a seminar which is conducted over the World Wide Web. It is a type of web conferencing. In contrast to a Webcast, which is transmission of information in one direction only, a webinar is designed to be interactive between the presenter and audience. A webinar is 'live' in the sense that information is conveyed according to an agenda, with a starting and ending time. In most cases, the presenter may speak over a standard telephone line, pointing out information being presented on screen, and the audience can respond over their own telephones, preferably a speakerphone. Whilst not necessarily considered Web 2.0, Webinars can also be a useful mechanism for information distribution and discussion amongst membership based organizations and SMS can provide important or urgent confirmations. CONCLUSION Email is - and will continue to be - an incredibly useful and convenient communication tool. In fact, with the emergence of new technologies that are either more direct, more immediate, or more like face-to-face communication, email is improved. As businesses supplement their email usage with other communication technologies, email will be increasingly reserved for those communications to which it is ideally suited.