Technology and Writinghttp://blog.academic-writing-services.comQuick BlogcastBlog Has Movedhttp://blog.academic-writing-services.com/2008/04/20/blog-has-moved.aspx?ref=rssMy Blog Has Moved to a New Location -   WordPress.com



]]>dwetzel@academic-writing-services.com (Word Solutions)2008-04-20T10:27:25ZScanners are a Writer's Time Saverhttp://blog.academic-writing-services.com/2008/04/18/scanners-are-a-writers-time-saver.aspx?ref=rssIn the writing market there are many times when you need to send samples of work and/or copies of work in progress to a client. Scanners are very handy for fulfilling this requirement, especially when working with non-compatible software. The question that always comes up is what type of scanner do I need?  There are a lot of types of scanners on the market today from which to choose. The most popular type of scanner is the flat bed and approximately 90% of all scanners sold are flatbed. Other types of scanners are handheld, pass through, film, and finger print. 

Scanner Brands and Types

There are many brands of scanners to choose from and they include: HP, Visioneer, Fujitsu, Cannon, Epson, and several more. Scanner types include:

  • Flat Bed:  versatile for most home and business applications, text, graphics, film
  • Handheld:  good for anyone conducting research in archives
  • Finger Print:  security uses
  • Pass Through:  paper or film is fed into scanner, portable
  • Film:  transparences, slides, adapter for standard scanner, special light in lid

Considerations and Features

The major consideration when choosing a scanner is the intended purpose of the scanner; this will help you select the features you need. Considerations include:

  • Text Only:  low resolution, 100 dpi, 300 dpi best
  • Quality:  photos and color graphics
  • Optical Resolution:  3x5 and 4x6 photos 300dpi, 8x10 photo 2400 dpi – 7200 dpi
  • Connectors:  USB, Parallel - slowest, SCSI-3, Cable
  • Wireless:  firewire, high end models
  • Automatic Feeder:  large volume of work
  • Software:  comes with scanner
  • Multifunction:  printer, copier, scanner all in one, home and small office use

Scanner Optical Resolution

If your primary reason for scanning is text only documents, then low resolution scanners will work fine. If you are scanning images, especially color images, then you want a higher resolution. Other considerations for optical resolution include:

  • Basic Documents: 300 dots per inch (dpi)
  • Quality Basic Documents:  1200 dpi
  • Transparent materials:  2400 dpi or more
  • Color Bits:  depth of color,  differentiate between color gradients,  digital bits per pixel, 24 bit, 32 bit, 48 bit is best for color images

Selecting a Scanner

Once you have narrowed your scanner choice(s) visit your local store and check out the specific features for the scanner:

  • Controls:  ease of use
  • Weight:  hand held scanners
  • Size:  foot print - amount of space it takes up on desk or stand, hand held scanners, legal size for large documents and books
  • Options:  make sure the options meet you demands
  • Optical Resolution:  higher resolutions provide ability to edit images, text only use, resolution options are 50 dpi to 7200 dpi
  • Speed:  based text, size of image, varies 11 to 30 seconds
  • Inputs:  wireless or hard wired, network capable
  • Sound:  how noisy is the scanner in operation
  • Automatic Feeder:  ease of operation

]]>dwetzel@academic-writing-services.com (Word Solutions)2008-04-18T01:02:10ZTalk about being wrong!http://blog.academic-writing-services.com/2008/04/17/talk-about-being-wrong.aspx?ref=rss"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers!"

IBM Chairman Thomas Watson -  1953


]]>dwetzel@academic-writing-services.com (Word Solutions)2008-04-17T01:39:25ZVideo E-Mail for Improving Your Writer Service Markethttp://blog.academic-writing-services.com/2008/04/16/video-for-improving-your-writer-service-market.aspx?ref=rssCheck out the following link for 6 ways to improve the marketing of your Writing Service by using Video E-mail.


Sales and Video E-Mail Marketing---6 Ways To Improve Your Companys Sales



]]>dwetzel@academic-writing-services.com (Word Solutions)2008-04-16T17:35:13ZProblem when using technology for Freelance Writinghttp://blog.academic-writing-services.com/2008/04/14/problem-when-using-technology-for-freelance-writing.aspx?ref=rssTechnology is a great tool for working in a global economy. You have the opportuntiy to work with clients in all 50 states and other countries, such as: England, Germany, South Africa, Canada, and more.

However, every now and then you encounter the intellectual thief. Someone who hires you and to produce a written product for them. When you have completed the written product and submit it to them, all you get is the run around hoping that you give up requesting payment.

These people are no different than those who go into a store and shop lift or write a bad check. Except they have complete privacy, you only know who they are by what is provided on the Internet and then you take the risk. Unfortunately you do not have video camera recording their shop lifting activity or a bad check to try and trace them.

This is one of the downsides related to technology and writing.

]]>dwetzel@academic-writing-services.com (Word Solutions)2008-04-14T15:15:00ZHow has Technology Impacted Writinghttp://blog.academic-writing-services.com/2008/04/13/how-has-technology-impacted-writing.aspx?ref=rssUnlike many people today, I remember using typewriters to do all of my writing. This manual process was considered to be a great technological leap from pencil and paper. Try finding a typewriter today, good luck! 

When I used a type writer my completed work rate was slow in coming, because of the way corrections needed to be made: back spacing uses a correction ribbon and/or using correction fluid. I imagine there are those that have no clue what I am talking about.

Today we use computer based word processors that allow us to complete written tasks quickly and efficiently. These word processors have spell checkers, grammar checkers, the ability to change fonts quickly, use bold techniques, italicize letters, and more.

Using typewriters there was no such thing as bold font, everything was the same. Until later technological advances in typewriters you could not change the font, they were the early version of WYSIWYG.

Technological advances allowed you to change the letter ball on the typewriter to get different letter styles - fonts. Now you just make different font selections from your key board and you can easily have a different font and style quickly.

You may think that I am wishing for the old days to return, you could not be more wrong. The only way I would go back is kicking and screaming all the way.]]>dwetzel@academic-writing-services.com (Word Solutions)2008-04-13T11:47:57ZVideo E-Mail Marketinghttp://blog.academic-writing-services.com/2008/04/11/video-email-marketing.aspx?ref=rssVideo E-mail Software provides the ability to embed videos into e-mails or provide a hyperlink for access by compressing the video file. This avoids the problem of sending video messages as attachments. Video attachments are typically too large for most people to receive or send. Also, most people will not open attachments to avoid the possibility of infecting their computer with a virus. This method of sending video e-mails means that they are more likely to be seen by those intended to view the videos.

There are several Video E-mail Software programs on the market and one of them is Videogram Creator. This program allows someone to create a video from previously recorded video files and compress them into an HTML format that is easy to send and receive. When the embedded video E-mail is opened it appears like any webpage. This is computer friendly and user friendly as well.

Another Video E-mail Software program is called VMDirect. It allows the sender to upload the video to their server. When the person receives the Video E-mail, they are provided with a link that takes them to the video message on the VMDirect server. This avoids having to compress the video to embed in e-mails to be able to be received by those that are targeted for receipt. This is especially useful if the video is still too large even after being compressed.

Video E-mail Software can be used by an individual to send video e-mail to clients or potential customers. There are many people who want the ability to send videos by e-mail, especially those that want to control access to their videos. The big advantage with this software is that compresses the video into a small packet of data that allows most everyone to open it. Business uses of Video E-mail software include:

  • Announcements of new products
  • Announcements of new benefit programs and how to apply for the programs
  • Announcements of newly acquired business ventures to employees
  • Human Relations internal position announcements
  • Announcements of employee promotions
  • Holiday greetings from CEO to employees
  • Happy Birthday greetings to employees from company president

Video E-mails are becoming a very popular method of sending direct mail marketing over the Internet.  This software program is primarily used by the marketing industry to send videos to people for what ever they are trying to sell. Basically this is a new twist on telemarketing that relied on the telephones. The advent of National and State Do-Not-Call Lists caused the marketing industry to seek alternatives ways of getting their message out.

]]>dwetzel@academic-writing-services.com (Word Solutions)2008-04-11T13:39:17Z