You’re driving, so you can’t use your phone. But you really need to know when the next Marvel movie is coming out. What do you (and 52% of people) do? You use voice search! Voice search, or voice-to-text search is supposedly the next big thing. Let’s find out if that’s true, and if it’s good or bad news.
A Guide to Integrating AI Tools in Your Marketing Processes
Marketers, such as Martina Bretous, editor of our Next in AI Blog, use AI to better understand complex topics.
“I will often go to ChatGPT and ask, ‘Explain X to me in layman’s terms,’ or ‘as if I were 5 years old.’ Usually when you read something online, you can’t always reach out to the author and get clarity. ChatGPT’s like my friend who helps me make sense of information in a language I can understand,” she said.
Caution: SmartPhones May Be Hazardous to Your Health
Smartphone use isn’t formally recognized as an addiction – yet. But we have all caught ourselves in addictive behavior. Not long ago, I headed to my bank which is a mere 3 miles from my house. About halfway there I realized I had forgotten my phone. I started to turn around to go get it! REALLY?!?! I used to make cross-country trips without a phone. Now I can’t drive 3 miles to the bank? In town on a sunny day?
The addiction is bad enough in adults but children, teens and young adults are even more susceptible as they have grown up with a phone in their hands.
Why is it hazardous?
- Constant notifications and activity interfere with concentration.
- People become less social when they focus on their phone instead of the people around them. Technology can never replace a friendly face and a smile.
- Children and young adults are particularly damaged as they are still developing social skills and miss experiences that help them grow.
- Scrolling through news feeds can be huge time sucks lowering productivity, happiness and even the amount of sleep you get.
- We literally get a hit of happy hormones (dopamine) from some phone activity. We are training ourselves to want more and more.
- Multiple studies have shown increases in depression, anxiety and other mental health issues are directly related to phone usage time.
- Even communities, cities and social groups lose opportunities when people sit in public spaces using their phones instead of interacting with others.
How do you disconnect?
No, don’t throw away the phone! Small adjustments in your behaviors can have big results. Our lives will become more and more connected to our phones with SmartOvens, Informed Mail Delivery, integrated calendars, etc. etc. etc. So there is no better time than TODAY to start intentionally disconnecting from your phone.
Research recommends these actions:
Notifications
Set notifications from social media platforms, your emails, services to come in a one time once a day instead of separate notifications from each one at each little action. (This will also make you more productive as you get into “email mode” and answer several emails at once.) Not having all those dings and blips on your screen will also lower your stress level.
Hide your social media and email apps
Drag the icons for your social media platforms, email apps, service providers to your 2nd or 3rd screen so you don’t see them all the time. You can even put them into a “Once A Day” folder. Or delete the apps from your phone completely and only access the apps from your laptop.
Hide the phone
There really is some truth in “out of sight, out of mind.” During meals, put everyone’s cell phones in another room. In the office, put the phone behind you and on silent for a set period of time to let you focus on a project.
Make access a little inconvenient
Don’t use biometrics or Facebook ID or other shortcuts for logging in. Make logging in a little bit harder to give yourself time to think “Do I really need to do this right now?” Science shows this small pause reduces phone and app usage!
Gray your screen
We are attracted to colors and images. Set a time – maybe 2 hours behind bedtime – to gray out your screen. It will reduce usage. It will reduce anxiety by making the screen less attractive therefore easier to turn off.
Make a list of tasks or set time limits
Before you pick up the phone, make a list of the tasks you need to do. Don’t just pick it up and “walkabout!” Mindless wondering eats up a lot of time. Setting time limits will also help you focus on what you need to do.
Your support team from Building Bridges Business Solutions and Your Computer Lady want you to be happy, healthy and productive with all of your technology! Call us if you need further assistance!
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The Importance of Passwords
I’m back on my soapbox to encourage you to use good, strong passwords. Check out this list of the most common passwords and how long it takes hackers to break them.
Now go change your password!!
Texting
13 Things You Should (Almost) Never Put in a Text Here are some good reminders of do’s and don’ts about texting. It’s a tool. Be sure you are in control of the tool!
What is the Difference Between Antivirus and Antimalware?
There are some simple steps you can take to protect your computer from viruses and malware. Malware is short for malicious software and a virus is just one type of malware. They are a constant threat to every internet user. They attack your system and stop it from running. The best way to protect your computer against viruses and malware is to install an antivirus program or an antimalware program, for that matter.
How and When To Back Up Your Data
Simply put, the more important the data
the more often you should back up
the more back up copies you should have.
EXAMPLES:
Pictures of my daily Wordle results
Back up once a quarter
One copy on a thumb drive is enough.
QuickBooks back ups for my company
Back up every 2 times I close the program
Keep a copy on my external hard drive and a copy on Dropbox
Payroll records
Back up after each payroll period
Keep a copy on my external hard drive and a copy on Dropbox
Not only can your hard drive go bad, your external hard drive, thumb drive or DVD can also go bad. So important data needs to be backed up in multiple places. For years, when the standard back up method was to a DVD, I kept one copy in my office and another copy in the trunk of my car. I figured the office and the car wouldn’t be destroyed at the same time!!
Now with online options, it’s even easier.
Thumb Drive
Large thumb drives allow you to back up all of your files or a major project quickly. The process is manual which means you have to discipline yourself to do the back ups.
External Hard Drive
BBBS can assist you with purchasing and configuring an external hard drive that sits in your office and automatically backs up your entire hard drive. If the computer hard drive goes, you can download everything you need from the external hard drive.
Online Back Up Services
There are multiple options for you. BBBS can assist you in choosing the best service and help you configure the settings.
- One Drive is part of your Microsoft 365 account.
- Drive is part of your Google account.
- Dropbox is my favorite but there are many Software-As-A-Service (Saas) companies.
Surviving the Scam Surge
Yes, you are getting hit with more spam emails and calls — and now spam texts — than at any point in the history of these devices. These messages are frequently dangerous! They often try to steal your data, identity and/or money — and the crooks are getting better and better.
Here with some tips from security experts on how to protect yourself:
Simply do not answer calls or respond to texts from numbers you don’t recognize. If it’s a legitimate call/text, they’ll leave a message and you can call right back. Even if the area code indicates the number is local, don’t answer.
Likewise, don’t respond to emails from people you don’t recognize. That’s the easiest way for the spammer to verify your email so they can share it with their buddies and hit you with more junk mail. Just delete the message.
Only report as spam if you recognize the sender. For example, if I suddenly get an email from ABC manufacturing and I am sure I didn’t sign up to get their emails, I would report it as spam. I would know they grabbed my email from a membership list somewhere.
Don’t have your actual email show on your website. Instead of Pamela@YourComputerLady.com put “Email Pamela” and make the words a link to the email address. The link opens an email on the visitor’s computer so they can easily email you. But it’s harder for a spammer to grab the link. They’re too lazy to make the extra step.
Verify everything. If you get what looks like a request for information or a bill from a government office or retailer, call that agency or company to verify that it’s real. Scammers try to hit your hot buttons to suck you in. Offers to pay off your student loans or telling you there’s an issue with your online shopping order.
Pay attention even to emails from people you know. I recently received an email from a client. But the subject line was odd and the attachment was a file type she typically wouldn’t send me. Sure enough, when I texted to confirm it was legit, she told me her email had been hacked.
I absolutely, with no reservation, promise you Dell, Microsoft, Apple – hardware and software retailers of that level – will never call you to tell you there is a problem with their computer or with their software. Hang up!
Never click a link in a text from a number you don’t know.
Don’t even respond if you get a robocall that tells you to press a certain key on your phone to stop getting calls. Getting you to click on something is one of the quickest ways for scammers to get your personal information or at least verify that what they have is correct.
You can quickly forward spam text messages to 7726 to report them.
Put your landlines and cell phones on the FTC’s Do Not Call list to avoid telemarketers. Or better yet, do not answer calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
Want more info? Here are some guides on avoiding spam calls and texts and emails.
Source Data: Robokiller. Chart: Baidi Wang/Axios
Home printer buying guide
This DigitalTrends article goes point by point on printer features and options to help you decide which printer is best for your home / home office. There’s even mention at the end of the portable printers that becoming more common.
Tech Tip
Sometimes printer software just gets corrupted and the printer stops working properly.
- Turn off the printer. Turn off your computer. Wait 10-15 seconds. Turn on the printer. Turn on the computer. This will clear 80% of the problems!
- Delete the printer (Settings / Bluetooth & devices / Printers & scanners.) Turn off the printer. Turn off your computer. Wait 10-15 seconds. Turn on the printer. Turn on the computer. Your computer should “recognize” the printer, re-load the driver and possibly clear the corruption.
- Call BBBS for support.
Digital Assistants
Digital assistants are still trending, and many of your customers are using them to make their lives easier. Features like Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Google’s digital assistant let people search the internet without even picking up their phones. In 2021, 20% of internet searches were voice-based.