Launch Computer Training & Consulting Blog

Microsoft Surface

2009-11-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has developed a horizontal user interface that allows users to manipulate data on the screen using their hands. Content can be dragged from location to location on the screen. Several people can sit in front of the screen and collaborate in new ways.

Microsoft's website lists four key capabilities that make it such a unique experience

Direct interaction. Users can grab digital information with their hands and interact with content on-screen by touch and gesture – without using a mouse or keyboard.

Multi-user experience. The large, horizontal, 30 inch display makes it easy for several people to gather and interact together with Microsoft Surface - providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.

Multi-touch. Microsoft Surface responds to many points of contact simultaneously - not just from one finger, as with a typical touch screen, but from dozens of contact points at once.

Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the screen to trigger different types of digital responses – providing for a multitude of applications and the transfer of digital content to mobile devices.

You can see a video of Microsoft Surface in action at http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Pages/Product/WhatIs.aspx.

Google Maps Street View

2008-02-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

Google Maps has a new view to add to Terrain, Satellite, Map and Traffic. It's called Street View and it provides the view you would have if you walked down the street. You can turn around 360 degrees and walk from block to block. You can zoom in and out too!

Go to http://maps.google.com/ and type in an address. (Unfortunately, not all streets have been photographed yet.) Click the Search Maps button. Then, click the Street View link. Click on the arrows to move down the street.

View Turn by Turn Directions on Google Earth from the Air

2007-10-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

Google earth provides satellite imagery and maps of our planet. It can be downloaded for free at http://earth.google.com.

A new feature makes it possible to not only display turn by turn directions but to actually view satellite imagery of the route as if you were flying above it in a helicopter. Wow!

1. Download and open Google Earth.
2. Click the Directions tab of the Sidebar on the left side of the screen. If it isn't visible, press Ctrl + Alt + B.
3. Type a starting address in the From box and an ending address in the To box.
4. Click the Begin Search icon. It looks like a magnifying glass.
5. Click the Play Tour icon. It looks like the same kind of right pointing triangle you have on your CD player.
6. Enjoy the tour!

Amazing Design Software

2007-08-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

YouTube once again provides a dramatic look of where computing is heading.

Create Your Own Visited Countries/States Map

2007-05-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

Visit the link below to create a map of the countries you have visited!

Create your own visited countries map

Create your own visited states map

Watch What Can Be Done in MS Paint!

2007-04-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wondered just how much can be accomplished using MS Paint, you need to see this video.

ABYZ News Links

2005-10-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

Imagine somthing newsworthy happens in the world. You could just go to the same news sites you usually visit but you can already predict how they will react to events. Instead, consider going to news sites from other countries as well to get a more balanced account of events.

Check out ABYZ News Links at http://www.abyznewslinks.com/. You'll find everything from online versions of your town or college newspaper to news sites from around the world. ABYZ describes itself as a "portal to online news sources from around the world." In addition to newspapers you'll find broadcast stations, internet services, magazines, and press agencies. The sites have versions in the country's native language as well as several other popular languages (English is always included).

You might be surprised how media outlets in different places report the same news!

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2005-07-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/) describes itself as the free-content encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Yup, you heard right, anyone can edit it. That means you can edit it.

Wikipedia is based on the concept that collectively we know more about a subject than a few experts. So, if you happen to know a lot about fly fishing, find the page and add to or change the information you find. All you have to do is click the "edit this page" tab at the top of the page and make your changes. Click "save page" and your changes will appear to the next viewer of the article.

There are more than 1.6 million articles in 200 different languages (about 100 of which are active). There are more than 600,000 articles in the English version alone. Wikipedia even has a method for dealing with vandalism of its pages. A history tab enables users to revert a page to a previous version if obvious vanadalism has occured.

Try it youself and have fun!

Google SMS

2005-05-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here's some info from Google's own site about a product called Google SMS. It comes from Google Labs, the section of Google that allows users to try prototypes of programs that "aren't quite ready for prime time".

Go directly to their site at http://www.google.com/sms/ or continue reading below.

What is Google SMS?

Google SMS (Short Message Service) enables you to send queries as text messages over your mobile phone or device and easily get precise answers to your questions. No links. No web pages. Just text — and the information you're looking for:

Get local business listings when you're on the road and want to find a place to eat.

Obtain driving directions to get from point A to point B without having to ask for directions.

Find movie showtimes and theater locations of movies currently playing near you.

Check weather conditions and 4-day forecasts to plan your day.

Get quick answers to straightforward questions.

Study the latest stock quotes and stay on top of the market.

Compare online product prices with ones you find in retail stores.

Look up dictionary definitions to expand your vocabulary or prove a point.

How do I use it?

Enter your query as a text message. See some sample queries.

Send the message to the US shortcode 46645 (GOOGL on most phones).

Receive a text message (or messages) with your results, usually within a minute. Results may be labeled as "1/3", "2/3", etc.

To get Google SMS help info sent directly to your phone, send the word 'help' as a text message to 46645.

Library Spot

2005-05-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

Launch Software Training & Consulting Blog

Where can you find everything from film libraries to government libraries? Where can you find everything from public records to top museums? Library Spot of course! Check it out at www.libraryspot.com.

Welcome!

2005-05-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to welcome you to the Launch Software Training & Consulting Blog. This is a space where people interested in business software can share their thoughts, questions, successes and frustrations with other like minded people.

If I run into any particularly interesting websites or computer tricks, I'll be sure to pass them on. Feel free to do the same.

Jamie Storella