Data Doctors Tech Tips

There was a time when anyone over the age of 25 thought that text messaging was for those that simply had no interest in having an in-person conversation. We've all come to realize how incredibly efficient and useful text messaging is, so learning more about the tools is helpful. Apple has done something different with their form of messaging known as iMessage when both parties are using an iPhone. It automatically secures your communications and unlike traditional text messaging, it's usable even when you don't have a cell signal. As long as you have a wifi connection, you can still message your friends and family on their iPhones, which can be critical when you are traveling. Beyond these important benefits, there are a whole host of other tips and tricks many of you may not know about, so today's tip is to help you learn more! There is an extensive list of the features of iMessage posted at: https://bit.ly/3gJ6DTZ

You've probably heard about the Google Earth website and may even have played around with it form time to time. But you may not have known about the time-lapse project that they've been compiling since 1984. What's great about this project is that id allows you to easily watch the incredible changes to any part of our globe over the last 30 plus years. Some of the more compelling time-lapses include the development of cities like Las Vegas and Dubai or the disappearing lakes from various parts of the world. It's not limited to the presets on the site; you can type the location anywhere in the world to see how things have changed in places you are personally familiar with. You can also pause on any year while zooming in and out of the area for even more perspective of the changes. If you haven't ever experience the world through this awesome time-lapse project, check it out at: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse

There's been a constant emphasis on our physical fitness since we were in grade school, but very little about our mental fitness. Our mental focus tends to diminish as we age, which is glaringly obvious for most of us. If you've got your physical fitness routine down, but not your mental fitness, check out an app designed to be your brain's personal trainer! It's called Elevate and based on lots of real scientific research in cognitive processes, it uses games to exercise your brain. You can choose to improve your speaking skills, processing speed, understanding of what you are hearing which the app uses to present you with daily challenges. Once you've set your course, the app will keep track of your advances for you. This is a free app for basic use with options to pay for more extensive options if you find it helpful. Games, in general, have been shown to be an effective way to exercise your mind, but you might be able to take it to another level with the Elevate app: https://www.elevateapp.com

Do you remember when Snapchat was all the rage because the messages disappeared once the recipient saw it? and#8232; It was popular with younger users with all of its filters and crazy add-ons, but that was about it. Most of us can think of times when they want to send something very confidential or very personal that they want to make sure never gets out. If you find yourself in that situation, there's an app called Confide that you may want to look into. Those working as confidential sources or when in sensitive discussions know that keeping the messages secure is a must. The way that the app protects against screenshots is that it requires the persons viewing the message to run their finger over each line to see the text underneath. It's certainly a possibility that someone could use video to try and capture the entire message, so it's possible to recreate the message. Learn more about the various options for this app at: https://getconfide.com

There is a critical task that every computer user knows about, regardless of how tech-savvy they are, but they still don't get around to it and that is creating a consistent backup process.and#8232;and#8232; More than ever, having your data backed up is incredibly important because of all the threats to hold your computer hostage through the use of ransomware.and#8232;and#8232; If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of this sneaky attack, you'll be locked out of your own files until you pay a ransom that can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. This is such a lucrative type of cybercrime that the thieves continue to evolve their tactics to thwart traditional forms of protection, such as anti-virus programs and firewalls. The encryption used by the thieves would take today's most powerful computers decades to crack, so your best form of protection is a protected off-site backup. and#8232; We install Carbonite for all of our clients and do so, because it's automatic, can't be touched by ransomware on your computer and bugs you if it's not able to perform its daily tasks. Home: http://partners.carbonite.com/datadoctors?product=Home and#160; Office: http://partners.carbonite.com/datadoctors?product=Office

We carry something with us every day that is constantly trying to make us sick... our smartphones! The data suggests that there's exponentially more bacteria living on your phone's surfaces than that of the door handle at a public restroom. Warm devices that get stored in dark places, like a purse or back pocket serve to enhance the chances of viral growth. Wiping your device regularly is a big help, but you need to be careful with what chemicals you use as they may cloud screen protectors or damage some touch screens. For another option that has proven to be effective, check out the devices available from a company called Phone Soap. Instead of using chemicals to disinfect the surfaces, they use power UV light while your smartphone is charging at night. How effective is this approach? Check out the lap results from this Discovery Channel video: https://bit.ly/3ekv9bQ Ready to soap up your smartphone? Learn more at: https://www.phonesoap.com

If you're the most tech-savvy person in your family or circle of friends, you'll likely be the one that most of them come to for virtually any type of tech question. It's not always so obvious to those that feel intimidated by technology that most often, the question that they are asking you could have been answered in seconds by doing a simple Google search. The problem is that they simply don't know what they should type to get the results that would provide the information they seek. Thankfully, there's a simple website that can both provide them with the information that they are looking and provide them with a subtle message on what they can do for themselves in the future. It's located atand#160; https://LetMeGoogleThatForYou.comand#160;orand#160;https://lmgtfy.comand#160;for short and it's simply fantastic and fun. You start by typing the search condition you'd like them to understand and the site will create an animation that shows them how they could have done it themselves. It's the old saying of 'teach a man to fish... .'

There are generally pros and cons with virtually any type of technology, but once in a while something really amazing is created. Today's tip is one of those incredible creations called 'Be My Eyes' because of what it does to help other people. An app developer in Europe created this app to help those that are either blind or have low vision navigate the physical world with the help of the app and volunteers on the other end. When someone needs the help of a sighted person, they simply use the app to find a volunteer that can use the camera on their phone to help them see things, like expiration dates or street signs. If you'd like to do something that makes you feel good, download this app and get set up as a volunteer. The system has a rating system for volunteers so the best ones get the most opportunities too. This simple but incredibly helpful task is such a great gift to your fellow man, so if you're ready to help, go to: https://bemyeyes.org

It's no secret that kids aren't afraid of technology and take to it at a very early age, which could lead to much bigger things if they are given structured ways to learn. Teaching any child programming skills will have a dramatic impact on their future potential and you can get them started before they can even type! There is a free iPad app made specifically for children ages 9-15 that will get them started by creating games and animations. Typing skills aren't needed because Hopscotch is a visual programming language that they'll take to right away. The drag and drop interface allows your child to build programs with blocks of pre-written programming code. Developing a tech-savvy child in today's digital economy will result in so many more options as they enter the workforce. This may be aimed at children but any adult that wants to learn the basics can use it too. The best part is that mom and dad don't need to be computer geeks to raise a computer geek any more! Download this free app at: https://www.gethopscotch.com

It's nearly impossible to be in business today without spending time on social media as it's become just as important as answering the phone or responding to emails. The challenge for so many time-strapped businesses is that they just don't have the basic processes down but there is a way to learn how; taking a course! I'm not suggesting that you sign for some class that requires you to drive somewhere, I'm suggesting a free course that's designed to help in with just a few minutes each day. A social media management tool called Buffer has created a simple to follow course for learning more because each lesson gets emailed to you every day. This isn't designed to make you some kind of social guru, but it will take you to new levels of understanding that could benefit your business. It's just not something you can bury your head in the sand over, so if you know anyone that could use some help, send them here: https://buffer.com/email-courses/social-media-101