WEEK 6: CLEAR

This week in ISM3004 we learned about images, audio and video. With everything becoming more intertwined with multimedia, having the basic knowledge and skills to use image, audio and video files is very important as I look into my future career. Many job listing I see require skills with Photoshop - how to crop jpeg images and other tools.

There are a variety of easy to use programs to help you learn and use these various technologies. You can learn how to edit raw audio to get the perfect soundbite or cut a video into the perfect scenes. One of the programs I have used in the past is Animoto. This software program is free and allows you to create video slide shows from your images and add audio as well. It makes the presentation way more exciting.

Every summer, my two older brothers and I go to Southern California for a week and spend time with one of our older cousins who lives there and owns some great restaurants. If you'd like to see the video slide show of my California trip in 2009, click here.

Using these variety of platforms - images, audio and video - together can really make an exciting presentation.

Excel Project

When I first opened the Excel page "Raw Data" I was overwhelmed. There were so many rows and columns filled with numbers. At a first glance, there is no telling what it all could possibly mean. However, I really learned during this project that Microsoft Excel can take such a large amount of data and truly make it manageable - in other words - simply make sense.

I was able to really dissect the data in a real world scenario. I created a formula for the highest heart rate achieved from the data using the MAX formula. In addition, in order to create a target heart rate using the number specified, 80 percent, I had to use absolute addressing in the formula to create the target heart rates for all the subjects. The pivot tables were an excellent way to show the data to the fitness center's owner is a visible fashion. I dissected the data according to who achieved and did not achieve their target heart rate, specifying between male and female.

Overall, the project was a great learning experience, and I definitely see all the real world application Excel has.

WEEK 5: CLEAR

This week in ISM3004 we learned several of the innovative function of Microsoft Excel. Excel has millions and millions of capabilities, but one of its best features is the ability to take large amount of data and form clear, concise pivot tables displaying that exact data.

Although this feature has a variety of uses in the workforce, it also was one of the main portions of my final project for my Fact Finding class with professor Wayne Garcia. It was a Florida Legislature research project where I had to research and compile data on Representative Maria Sachs. Using Excel pivot tables I was able to show a information about Sachs' campaign in an organized manner. I documented her campaign contributions and expenditures, listing them in separate pivot tables according to city, state and zip and by occupation.

There are many ways to express the information in a pivot table. You can use an exploding pie chart like the picture above. There are generic ways to easily use pivot tables for your information, but there are also many tricks.

WEEK 4: CLEAR

This past summer I had a lot of experience with vertical software. Vertical software aims at addressing the needs of any given business but has specific components for a particular industry or business type. I worked for the WTA Tour, women's professional tennis, and some of tasks I had were preparing preview notes and match statistics for tournaments. I did all of this on specific software program for the WTA that kept a database of player rankings, seeds, player bios, etc. This software was made for this type of industry, or sport.

In addition, I also used horizontal software for the WTA. Horizontal software are applications that are useful in a wide range of industries. Microsoft Excel is a great example of a software program that has far reaching capabilities for all kinds of businesses. I had to use Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets which monitored player coaching and other statistics. These programs are great because of their universal qualities, and they are very helpful in keeping business organized.

These types of software are very different, but both share a purpose of helping business and industries stay organized and productive. Sometimes, the general program (horizontal) is not always enough, and a more specific program (vertical) is needed to achieve the goals of the organization.

WEEK 3: CLEAR

In ISM3004 this week I learned about the complexities of of system software, applications and various user interfaces. Each part of the computer has many fragments (unless we're talking about Macs that do not need to defragment.

However, all of this complexity and burying more information on top of more information makes it imperative to have a highly sophisticated search option. For Windows XP and Vista the search bar is there. Macs have Spotlight, and each program can you find files and programs easily on your computer.

Search options are staying ahead of the curve and adapting to the evolution of more highly sophisticated computers. Recently, another option like Google Desktop which allows you to search through the Google network created "Instant Search." This new innovation gives you search options as you type into the search bar, making searching faster and easier. Google says it will also create even more searching.

It is great to see that searching options in computers and on the Internet are keeping pace with the innovations and changing computers. This relationship will allow us to have the most user-friendly experience.

Week 2: CLEAR

This week in ISM3004 we learned about various computer parts on the personal computer. One of the parts I love to use is the graphics processing unit, or GPU. The GPU is a specialized microprocessor that offloads and accelerates 3D or 2D graphics and can be found on most computers. In addition, mobile phones and game consoles have a GPU as well.

This is one of my favorite features because it allows me to watch videos. The GPU is different in every system. The video quality is worse in my HP Mini than it is in my Dell. I even watch videos on my Blackberry.

Part of the video components of a computer is the resolution. If your system has more pixels, it has a clearer picture. These components are ideal for video watching. To view a history and learn more about the GPU click here.

Week 1: CLEAR

For ALL my blog followers out, my blog will now be taking a new direction away from health/fitness and into computing in the business environment - ISM3004.

In week 1 we learned about copyright, and watched a very thrilling video with Disney characters to help educate the average person on copyright laws. Someone who successfully files a copyright will have that idea copyrighted for their lifetime plus 70 years. This is very clear and makes person sense.

A great example is Ron Popiel, the famous kitchen appliance inventor. In Malcolm Gladwell's book "What the Dog Saw," Gladwell discusses great inventors of ideas how these people thought of them and became successful. Popiel is no exception. He revolutionized kitchen appliances with inventions like the Chop-O-Matic. Popiel put tireless effort and energy in making this product which has benefited so many people. He should get credit and own the rights to the design he thought of, even 70 years after he has passed. His family should be entitled to that success because there should be great incentive for inventions like Popiel's that improve society.