Security in Your Home Office

Tech

Security is a legitimate concern in today’s world, and being digitally and physically secure in your home office space should be the priority of anybody paying attention. Borrowing some ideas from the security gurus who implement security measures in cloud computing, you can bolster your home network’s strength. You can rest a bit easier knowing that you are matching some of the latest measures deployed to keep the ultra-sensitive and private information they host safe.

Physical Security

Your first step is to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe while being home for most of the day. Do this by securing doors, windows, skylights, and any external entrances to your house with simple locks. Save some time and hassle by hiring a home security provider to lend their expertise, or even do the installation of a home security system for you. 

Secure Your Router – Encryption and Firewalls

Paying a little extra for a router with a decent firewall and beefed-up encryption and security features is a good step. Updating it to the latest firmware available and changing the default access settings is normally a simple matter of following the prompts of a wizard. VPN’s will play a role in securing any sensitive data that you may transmit or receive online by adding layers of encryption to all your traveling data. 

Antivirus

Opting for a competent antivirus is always advisable, as cybersecurity threats are rife these days. Leaking information, or more devastatingly, having your identity stolen, can have far-reaching consequences for you, your business, and your family.  Secure yourself and your data before you have to learn what ransomware is.

Password Protect Yourself

Correct password protocols can go a long way in mitigating a hacker’s ability to breach your security, should they penetrate that far. Ensuring you password protect your accounts, logins, and networking equipment, as well as use complex and frequently changing passwords, will be one of the most cost-effective ways to add essential layers of security.

Backups

Losing any data can be catastrophic, but should you happen to be working from home for an employer and you suffer a hard drive crash, then the consequences would be far-reaching. Protect yourself from this by doing simple backups, either to external physical media, the cloud, or preferably, both. Bear in mind that it is always recommended to have some form of offsite backup, should a large event like a fire or natural disaster occur.

Due Diligence 

Crooks today are clever, and constantly evolving their methods to trick you out of money, information, or both. Some of the effective defenses against this are to employ constant vigilance and skepticism. Educate yourself on popular methods that these con-artists deploy so that you know when someone is trying one of the tricks in their book. Employing functional email filtering tools is an easy step to weed out many of these attempts.

Your security begins with you, and with some careful thought, adequate precautions, and a fair bit of common sense, you can avoid disaster and catastrophe.

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Top 6 Major Technology Conferences in the US and Europe in 2020

Tech

We are currently halfway through 2020 and to say it has been an eventful year so far would be a bit of an understatement. With the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing on both sides of the Atlantic, the normal order of things has been altered quite dramatically, and nowhere is this truer than in the tech world. Many of the most eagerly anticipated tech conferences that were scheduled for this spring and summer have either been postponed, cancelled or are now taking place online for the first time.

While we all hope that the world gets back to normal sooner rather than later, all is not lost when it comes to the tech event calendar for this year. To help you keep your finger on the pulse of what is hot and what is not in the tech world this year, we have put together this list of the best conferences in the US and Europe that are still set to go ahead in what remains of this year.

  1. Enterprise Data World, Chicago, IL (October 18-23, 2020)

Originally scheduled to go ahead at the end of March in San Diego, California, the 24th annual Enterprise Data World (EDW) Conference has moved location and been postponed until October. EDW is renowned as one of the premier educational conferences on data management in the world. Here, you will find over 1,000 data professionals from around the world, all of whom have come to learn from experts and peers. You will learn a wide range of practical, actionable solutions that you can take back with you to the office.

  1. UXDX Conference, Dublin (October 7-9, 2020)

The annual UXDX Conference taking place in Dublin, Ireland is a place where you can come to listen to the brightest minds in tech. This year’s event will feature actionable talks from high-profile speakers from some of the biggest names in tech, such as eBay, BuzzFeed, Verizon, GitHub and Shopify. UXDX is one of the fastest-growing conferences in Europe, with over 2000 attendees, 50 speakers, 40 talks and 15 workshops.

  1. Black Hat, Las Vegas, NV (August 1-6, 2020)

Attracting an attendance of more than 2000 delegates every year, the Black Hat conference is one of the most important events on the cybersecurity event circuit. Attendees are treated to a host of top names from across the tech industry who come to discuss the newest strategies on how to avoid data breaches. It delves into novel approaches that those at the top of the industry are taking to combat the hacker onslaught.

  1. AI & Big Data EXPO Europe 2020, Amsterdam (November 24-25, 2020)

As one of the leading tech conferences in Europe, AI & Big Data EXPO Europe 2020 is a hotbed for the latest technologies and strategies from the world of artificial intelligence and big data. Attended by over 8,000 industry experts, the expo showcases the most high-tech technologies from over 350 exhibitors and a chance to listen to talks from over 500 speakers sharing their real-life experiences and unrivalled industry knowledge.

  1. CSO50 Conference, Scottsdale, AR (7-9 December, 2020)

The CSO50 Conference in Scottsdale is an event that provides a space for security industry experts to exhibit world-class security strategies. It explores developments in the business risk landscape and how enterprise technology is rapidly advancing and exposing new threats posed by the Internet-of-Things (IoT). This is a great event to attend if you are curious about the level of cyber threat that affects your business. 

  1. UX and Digital Design Week, London (August 10-14, 2020)

Taking place at various locations across London, England, UX and Digital Design Week is one of the smaller events on this list. But while it may be low-key, it is still one of the best places to get inspiration for your current design projects. It provides an immersive experience that gives a chance to get a glimpse of the hottest design trends and latest inventions out there as well as the opportunity to meet the teams behind them.

If you are from the United States but plan to attend one of these great conferences next year when things on the public health front have calmed down a bit, do not forget that the visa process for US citizens coming to Europe is set to change from January 2021 with the ETIAS visa exemption. It works in much the same way as the ESTA visa that EU citizens currently have to apply for before travelling to the United States. For more information on the ESTA visa, check out this excellent ESTA guide.

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How Tech Is Changing Investment

Money Tech

The nature of how we invest has changed an incredible amount in a very short time. Today, it seems incredible that there was once a time in the not so distant past where placing an order for stock required calling up your stockbroker and explaining exactly what you wanted them to do. Instead of going through the rigmarole of going through a human third party, the digital revolution changed the world of investment so that it is barely recognizable from the past. Much of investment is now done through handheld smartphones via online brokerage apps like the FXTM mobile app, which allows people to trade stocks and shares in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, South Africa, and Mauritius. This has democratized the world of investment, making it accessible to the many and not just the few.

If there is one thing that is for certain, it is that the inexorable pace of technological change will bring even more revolutionary advances to how we invest in the future. Here are just a few groundbreaking developments that we might see in the near future.

1. Blockchain

Blockchain is the name for the sophisticated coding which allows cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to run. While blockchain is mainly used for cryptocurrencies at the moment, developers are only just waking up to its vast potential for use in a wide array of other arenas, one of which is investment.

The incorporation of blockchain into the stock exchange in the near future is set to revolutionize the nature of how transactions are realized. A stock exchange which runs using blockchain will majorly cut down on costs and the time it takes to complete a transaction. Lower running costs will likely have a positive knock-on effect for investors in the form of lower fees.

2. AI Wealth Managers

One of the biggest changes that is already upon us has to do with artificial intelligence. Algorithms used in technology that has come to be known as “fintech” is now sophisticated enough to compete with traditional methods of delivering financial services.

Data from recent studies show that an increasing number of investors now consider the advice given by AI financial advisors as more useful and accurate than that given by their human counterparts. These opinions have been borne out in evidence that shows that AI has helped to save investor returns in the 2020 market crash.

As AI technology moves even further into the realm of science fiction, the door has been left open to the possibility that human investment experts could realistically be supplanted by AI and super-intelligent algorithms in a few years.

3. Next-Gen Financial Instruments

Since the advent of the modern financial markets, the proliferation of new financial instruments has been simply breathtaking. New financial innovations appear every year, and this trend is only set to accelerate as we move into a new age of technology. Indeed, keeping up with the bewildering array of new tools at our disposal is something that even investment experts struggle with. There seems to be literally no end to the number of new ways that we can speculate using advances in technology.

4. Increased Personalization

One of the great things about the tech revolution is that it has allowed people who would previously have had no access to the stock market to participate. At just the click of a button, anybody with an account with an online brokerage account can now invest and make money on any asset class using any financial instrument they choose. As mobile technology improves, so will the access that people have to investment opportunities. This could theoretically have the effect of leveling the economic playing field, reducing the inequality that exists among people in different geographic regions of the globe.

The world of investment has always been at the cutting edge of technology. Where money is concerned, investors are prepared to use any advantage that they can derive from technology that they can to maximize profits and minimize risk. While it is hard to predict the future, we can be certain that technology will continue to play a massive role in how markets run and how we make the decisions that inform our investment choices. We can only hope that these advances will help to bring the potential of investing closer to more people.

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History of Computers

Tech

Computers

Computers

Many inventions have taken several centuries to develop and evolve into their modern forms we see before us today. Modern inventions are rarely the result of a single inventor’s efforts. Computers are no exception to this. The bits and pieces of a computer, both hardware and software, have each come together over thousands of years with contributions from a large number of different people and groups. 

Around 3000 BC – The Abacus 

The birth of the computer can originally be traced back to China over 5000 years ago. The Abacus was the first known machine-human beings ever created that assisted in counting and calculation. The Chinese were to provide the important groundwork of what was to follow many years later. 

1642 AD – Blaise Pascal 

Invented by French Mathematician and Scientist Blaise Pascal, this first mechanical calculator was known as the Pascaline. The Pascaline was a game-changer. So much so, other mathematicians could even sense it. Where it was to cause uproar and received much debate as Pascal’s fellow mathematicians feared their skills were now obsolete, their jobs and long term futures under threat due to progress. Resulting in the first known occurrence of technophobia in society. 

1660 – 1700s – Gottfried Leibniz 

Inspired by Pascal, Leibniz was to build his own mechanical calculator capable of all four types of arithmetic. He was to become a pioneer in the field of computing and is considered to be the world’s first computer scientist. Lebanese was a true expert in many fields but is best known for inventing the concept of binary arithmetic, which is still used by machines all over the world in the present day. 

The 1800s – Charles Babbage 

Charles Babbage considered the father of computing, also designed mechanical calculating engines. After learning that many computations consisted of repetitive operations, he was the first to theorize that it would be possible for these operations to be carried out automatically. 

This was to lead to designs he named The Difference Engine, before also creating The analytical engine. Using the latter, he was able to automatically carry out non-numeric orders through the addition of conditional control, store memory and read instructions from punch cards. Essentially, making it a programmable mechanical computer. However, progress was slowed due to lack of funding and these designs never made it to the outside world. Resulting in no more scientific break-throughs for almost a century. 

1890 – Herman Hollerith 

Taking inspiration from Babbage, American inventor Herman Hollerith what’s thought to be the world’s first successful electromechanical machine. It was known as The Census Tabulator and was designed to read US census data from punched cards. This machine was able to recompute 65 cards at a time and immediately calculate the results. Progress was not stalled here however as in Babbage’s case, Hollerith’s invention was immediately well received and this led to him starting his own company to market the design. This organisation would later be known as IBM. 

1942 – Konrad Zuse 

Just 60 years later, after vast progress and competition from around the globe, the first ever commercial computer was released for sale by German scientist and inventor Konrad Zuse. Using binary and boolean logic, it was able to make decisions throughout the use of relays. Enabling the features of memory and data storage for the first time. This is still the framework we see in modern day computers. 

Present Day 

We live in a very unique time where it almost impossible to even imagine what life would have been like before computer technology entered into our every-day lives less than a century ago. Never mind the fact it took almost 5000 years to evolve to computer science we see today. It is also impossible to grasp how much effort, intelligence and innovative skills which have made our current convenience lifestyle possible

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Search Marketing Should be a Top Online Marketing Priority for Your Company

Business Entrepreneurship Tech

Because the competition for customers is so fierce today companies need to do all they can to get themselves in front of perspective clients. The Internet has created great opportunities to do this but there are so many choices it can get confusing and difficult to determine which option to select. Leading options include email marketing, social media marketing and search marketing. Each can be effective when used properly, and companies with tight budgets must often select one in which to place their efforts. A case can certainly be made for each option but there is little doubt that search engine marketing should be the first choice.

What is Search Marketing?

Search marketing is an umbrella term for Search Engine Optimization and (SEO) which creates traffic to your website utilizing unpaid or free listings and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) which consists of purchasing traffic utilizing paid search listing. The combination of the two create a powerful marketing strategy for attracting customers to your website.

SEO

SEO is the process of utilizing a set of constantly evolving strategies that help a company position its website high on the top internet search engines. The goal of every company is to be on the first page of a Google search. SEO is the right way to do it.

SEM

Search Engine Marketing refers to using paid search to position your company on a search engine. A company can purchase paid listings that will appear at the top and in other strategic places on a search page. SEM will include: the following:

  • Paid Search Advertising
  • Pay Per Click (PPC)
  • Pay Per Call
  • Cost Per Click (CPC)
  • Cost per Thousand (CPM) SEM For Beginners

Combining SEO and SEM provides companies with a complete strategy for optimizing search marketing. Too often companies will only invest time and resources in SEO and bypass SEM, however top Search Marketing firms like Click Consult can demonstrate why a strategy that includes the two disciplines is the smartest way to go. .

When done correctly search marketing is extremely effective, sending a steady stream of customers to a company’s website and providing the company with data that is key to making its online marketing more effective.

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Data and Analytics Play an Important Role in Digital Transformation. Here’s Why.

Business Entrepreneurship Home Business Wiz Tech Tips

 

The world is forever evolving and changing. New technologies are being developed, behavioural patterns are changing, and businesses with the desire to avoid extinction have to evolve along with everything around them. As a result of modern technology, access to information is easier than it has ever been. Through digital innovations like artificial intelligence, cloud computing and many others, customers now have access to a wealth of information about whatever business or service they’re searching for. This raises the bar for existing businesses (adapt or lose everything).

Digital transformation involves restructuring existing business models, strategies, processes and so on, to suit consumer needs using current technology. The important thing to note about digital transformation is that it is consumer-focused, aimed at giving the consumer the best experience possible, while also making managing operations easier for business owners (CIO from IDG).

Consumer behaviour is constantly changing, and, as a result, organisations have recognised the need to shift from data generation to being data powered. Today, data and analytics are used to identify behavioural patterns through extracted data, analyse said data and use the results to improve business processes (Techopedia). Qualitative and quantitative data are gathered simply through using web analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Open Web Analytics, Clicktale and many others.

Data and analytics are important to digital transformation, as they are key aspects of strategy development. Different aspects of every business produce data, and some aspects provide a larger amount of data than others. As your business produces data, your competitor’s business also does the same. The difference in both cases lies in the goals of each organisation, how data is interpreted, and how the results acquired are developed into strategies that can help improve business processes and operations (Centric Digital).

One of the beneficial aspects of data and analytics, relating to digital transformation, is machine learning. Machine learning involves getting computers to learn and act like humans, by feeding them data and information in the form of real-life observations and interactions. This helps in making more intelligent and informed decisions. For example, selecting alternate routes to avoid traffic, in turn preventing the late delivery of goods or products.

Analytics help companies understand the data at their disposal and help them make better business decisions, resulting in decisions with benefits such as cutting down maintenance costs and improving business operations (Search Business Analytics).

Cloud platforms are also agents of digital transformation, which do not make access to information easier for just the customer, but also for the organisation and its employees. Cloud computing is built around hardware and software that can be accessed through any web browser. They store information and programs for businesses, which can be accessed through a secure connection (iomart).

Analytics in cloud computing involve activities such as tracking social media engagement and statistics.  Analytics deal with a large amount of data which requires plenty of processing power and storage space. Cloud computing thus possesses the space to hold large amounts of data, while also making data accessible from remote locations. This is what makes cloud computing and data analytics a great fit (Forbes).

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Everything You Need to Know About Amazon Web Services

Business Entrepreneurship Tech

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a division of Amazon best known for serving up a massive online marketplace for just about everything. In a Forbes article, Jason Bloomberg noted that “AWS is reinventing what it means to be a software vendor for all the markets it serves, including consumer, developer, SMB, and enterprise.” If you’re looking for a powerful cloud service provider, you’ll find that AWS is one of the most innovative and expansive options available with a growing suite of web tools that go above and beyond the standard offerings.

The Basics of AWS

Image via Flickr by magerleagues

At its core, AWS is a cloud computing service that gives business owners the computing power they need with remote storage and maintenance. AWS delivers powerful functionality that’s designed for flexibility and scalability. This service offers all the benefits of any cloud storage provider along with a host of other perks. AWS offers a serverless reference architecture for everything from the Internet of Things to web apps to image recognition. AWS has also announced services that will expand into artificial intelligence, databases, and more.

Helpful Training and Certification Services

Amazon supplies a comprehensive suite of digital training services to help users understand all the features of AWS. You can enroll in free courses, develop new technical skills, and validate what you’ve learned for AWS certification. This is an outstanding offering as the full functionality of AWS is far too expansive for a new user to grasp without seriously studying some of the innovative new technologies that have rolled out with this service.

Reliable Security

Cloud security has long been a major concern for business owners as they transition to this business approach. AWS secures its data centers with network firewalls and uses in-transit transcription across all services. Using the service’s provided tools, users can trace the who, what, and where of calls for maximum visibility. Businesses can also incorporate their own security layers and mobile threat defence within AWS for additional protection on top of what’s already available.

Powerful Scalability for Computing

AWS Lambda is a computing service that enhances the capabilities of AWS, allowing you to run code without provisioning your own server space for the activity. AWS Lambda responds to user requests and provides the necessary capacity and infrastructure to run your code on a per-use basis. This means that you don’t have to supply an abundance of servers for prospective users who may not begin using your code immediately.

AWS Lambda scales seamlessly, so you’re prepared for anything from a slow start to a sudden rush of activity. You pay only for the compute time that you consume and pay nothing when your code isn’t running. This functionality is a key example of how Amazon’s web services are structured to streamline your business activities in the most efficient way possible.

Whether you’re looking for convenient cloud storage or access to a serverless application repository, you can find the features and functionality that you’re looking for with AWS. Designed to serve as a catch-all for all your cloud needs, this solution is meeting its goal admirably.

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Are Your Products Flowing Smoothly? : Supply Chain Management is Important to Your Business

Business Entrepreneurship Tech

Most people in business recognize that supply chain management is crucial to their success, profitability and customer satisfaction. There are numerous benefits to ensuring your supply chain is properly managed and serves to provide a structure to your business that is efficient, productive and progressive. There is also the fact that as business has become more competitive in recent years; it’s now harder than ever to stand out from the crowd. Supply chain management is integral to achieving this as it provides a solid structure from which to offer a high-quality service to your buyers.

Here we take a closer look at the distinct advantages of good supply chain management:

Improves Customer Service

Everyone knows that the customer is king when it comes to business and delivering good quality products, goods or services in an efficient and cost-effective way, ensures repeat business going forward. Customers want to know their orders will be delivered to the right location at a time that is convenient to them and without having to wait too long. Ensuring your operation is streamlined to deal effectively with individual orders will keep your customers happy and more importantly, make them come back for more.

Reduces Operating Costs

Your supply chain is as important to your retailers and suppliers as it is to your business. Keeping a close eye on product inventory in terms of stock and distribution should be well managed as part of your supply chain strategy to ensure consistent and smooth flowing fulfillment of orders. If you have a product that is particularly popular at any given time, your supply chain should be set up to make sure there’s enough stock at outlets to meet demand. If your supply chain is efficiently managed, you can significantly reduce your operating costs.

Improves your Financial Position

An efficient supply chain is often a good way to streamline costs and boost cost-effectiveness of your operation. Naturally, it goes without saying that if you are making savings in one area of your business, you’ll notice a corresponding increase in revenue. Good supply chain management protects your business from overstocking and wastage and consequently boosts your bottom line.

Increases your Cash Flow

A good supply chain is responsive to orders as they arrive, so that they are fulfilled within the quickest time. Obviously, if you can get your goods to your customers in ten days rather than twenty-eight days, you can invoice them sooner and benefit your cash flow.

How to Achieve Good Supply Chain Management?

You understand how your business works better than anyone and also the buying behavior of your customers too. In order to understand how to best organize your supply chain, you need to undertake some supply chain analytics, to help you create a clearer picture of how you can best serve your customers by improving your supply chain. The difference between good and bad supply chain management can mean the success or failure of a business and so this is an aspect that requires closer attention.

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3 Ways O-rings Revolutionized the World

Tech

O-rings are tiny, but their importance is immense. The global gasket and seals market, worth $59.73 billion in 2016, will be worth $97.16 billion by 2023, with demand driven by growing automobile use and electrical and electronics applications, according to Stratistics MRC. As this illustrates, o-rings wield significance out of proportion to their size. Here’s a look at three ways the o-ring has revolutionized the world.

Empowering Aircraft

Early prototypes for the o-ring involved round, rigid rings used for purposes such as sealing sliding telescope tubes and pistons, says TheInventors.org. Today’s o-ring design was invented in 1933 by Danish-American inventor Niels Christensen, who had previously invented an airbrake system for electric streetcars. Christensen discovered that he could create a tight piston for a seal sliding in a cylinder by using a rubber ring set in a groove one-and-a-half times the length of the ring’s minor radius. After several years of perfecting his invention, Christensen applied for a patent in 1937, and received one in 1939.

In 1941, Christensen licensed his patent to United Aircraft, which planned to use it to seal off hydraulic cylinders used for controlling airplane components. But following Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government seized the rights to patents deemed critical to the war effort. Christensen received a lump sum payment of $75,000, later supplemented by an additional $100,000 payout to his heirs. His invention was shared with other military contractors, and the o-ring passed into widespread use in the aircraft industry and other industries.

Today the aircraft industry continues to use o-rings for hydraulic systems that control plane components such as brakes, landing gear, and wing flaps. Manufacturers such as Apple Rubber make specialized o-rings in over 8,000 different sizes and a wide range of materials for use in the aerospace industry and other applications.

Improving Automobiles

After World War II, o-rings came to assume an important role in automotive design. One of the most important functions of automotive o-rings is sealing fluid in braking systems. Braking systems use synthetic oil and operate under temperature conditions that can range from -40 degrees F to over 300 degrees F. O-ring materials used for braking must be able to resist temperature and chemical changes under these conditions and retain their shape and stiffness. For this reason, o-ring manufacturers use innovative types of synthetic rubber to ensure that automotive o-rings retain their properties during vehicle performance.

O-rings are also used to seal fluids in automobile lubrication circuit and air conditioning systems. As with o-rings used for braking systems, choosing the right material is essential for seals used for lubrication and air conditioning. The most common cause of air conditioning refrigerant leak in air conditioners is o-ring failure, which can hurt system performance, ice up evaporator coils and cause compressors to overheat, which can require expensive replacements. Choosing proper o-ring materials can help avoid these issues.

Allowing Undersea Exploration

O-rings have also helped make undersea exploration possible through SCUBA diving. Prior to the invention of the SCUBA tank, divers were limited by their ability to hold their breath or by the need to remain connected to air hoses linked to air pumps on the surface. In 1925, French naval officer Yves Le Prieur conceived the idea of omitting surface air pumps by equipping divers with a portable oxygen cylinders borrowed from tire manufacturer Michelin. Le Prieur’s invention represented the first self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA). However, Le Prier’s SCUBA supplied oxygen constantly, so tanks became empty quickly.

To allow more diving time, French naval officer Jacques Cousteau hit upon the idea of combining Le Prieur’s SCUBA tank with a breathing regulator that would only supply air on demand. In 1943, Cousteau tried out his invention, which he called the Aqua-Lung. The Aqua-Lung became the first practical, commercially-successful SCUBA tank, opening the way for modern diving and undersea exploration.

To keep air contained and supply oxygen on demand, today’s SCUBA tanks rely on o-rings in three key locations. One o-ring is placed in the neck of the tank, helping maintain a seal as air flows in and out of the tank. A second o-ring is placed in a valve called a pillar valve, which controls air flow in and out of the tank. The pillar valve connects the tank to the regulator that supplies oxygen to the diver’s mouth, which also has an o-ring. These o-rings allow divers to stay underwater longer and go deeper, enabling us to learn more about the ocean.

 

 

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Electronics for Beginners: Launching a Lucrative Hobby at Home

Home/DIY Tech

Electronics makes for a fascinating hobby. It’s not difficult to get started, nor is it too expensive, and you can soon find yourself creating all kinds of things either for fun or to use around the home. You could even turn it into a lucrative hobby by making a side business out of it.

So how should you get started?

Here’s a quick guide to the basics you need in place to get your electronics hobby off the ground and start making fun and useful things at home.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

You’ll need to get a lot of equipment and tools before you can start making anything interesting, but these are all easy to get and relatively affordable.

A soldering iron is one of the most basic tools you’ll need. You will use the soldering iron to solder parts onto the PCB or solder parts together. Start with getting just one, but if you get more serious in your hobby, you might want to invest in a couple, such as one for thicker wires and one all-purpose solder. And you’ll also want a de-soldering tool as well so you can remove components.

A prefabricated PCB is a necessity. This is easier than making one yourself and they are not expensive. You can use them for creating simple circuits up to about 100 components, which is perfect for getting started.

A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device made of Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs). This allows you to change a design after the device has been soldered onto the PCB, and you can find a wide variety of these online at sites like RS.

A wire stripper is another essential tool. You’ll be stripping a lot of wires, so you’ll want to get yourself a good one. You’ll also want to get a set of pliers for cutting wires.

A VOM/DMM (which stands for Voltmeter Ohmmeter and Milliampere Meter and Digital Multimeter) is essential for any hobbyist. It is used to measures thinks like the ampere, voltage, and resistance.

You’ll also want to get a sharp knife, either a penknife or a cutter, which you will use regularly.

Take Your Safety Seriously

Before you start, always make sure you take safety precautions and learn about the risks. These can range from burning yourself with a glue gun to electrocuting yourself with a capacitator, so be careful. Also remember to turn off all your devices before you work on them.

Learn About Components

You will also need to learn about components to enjoy a successful electronics hobby. You can do this on a course, from books, or just from practice. The most common include capacitors, resistors, inductors, transistors, and diodes. Learn the basics, find out what they all do, and then start practicing with them.

Learn Some Useful Techniques

You will also want to learn a variety of basic techniques that you will use on a regular basis, and using a soldering iron is one of these. Read up about it, go on a course, or watch YouTube videos to find out how to do it properly.

Other techniques like using a breadboard (which involves constructing a circuit without soldering), how to use a glue gun, and how to use a multimeter are also essential skills.

Start Up Your Hobby from Home

These are some of the basics that you will need to know to start up a fun and rewarding electronics hobby. As long as you have an interest in making things and finding out how things work, you will love playing around with electronics. So find a suitable space to work, invest in the basic equipment, learn some techniques, and have fun.

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