Palm/Blackberry

While using the Palm/Blackberry's today in class, I was already somewhat familiar with them since my boss has a Blackberry for a phone that I had to program and our Associate Attorney uses a Palm as a calendar when she is out of the office. I love how you are able to keep a calendar, access the internet and be able to talk on a phone all at the same time! I also absolutely love how the Palm allows you to keep a digital calendar instead of lugging around an actual daily activities binder. It is a space saver and that is definitley something that I could use not only in my personal life, but in my career as well. Since I am graduating with an office administrative degree, I will be pursuing my career as an administrative, so the Palm would be very useful with keeping up to date with co-worker's and your bosses daily activities and prepare myself for the next day. In my personal life, it would help me stay more organized. Since I am getting married in August, I am scheduling/preparing for a wedding so having the Palm and/or Blackberry would help me stayed organized in preparing. Before the next class, I will be preparing myself to finish what is necessary for the Palm/Blackberry assignments as well as finishing my Access assignments.

Podcasting

Today, I learned how to podcast, which is really similar to dictation, which I use on a daily basis. Although I am not use to talking into a recorder, I was fairly familiar with the recorder being used today. Out of the three podcastings assigned, my group decided to have a group podcast explaining the OAD degree and the instructors within the degree. So, as a group, we recorded that podcast first. After recording the group podcasting, I recorded my other two podcasts required. I absolutely love the podcasting. It would be very useful not only in my personal life, but in my career as well. Podcasting allows you to "keep in touch" with everyone in your personal life as well as your career life. It allows you to keep an journal of things that may be useful later on in life. Before the next class, I will be working on my Access as well as preparing for our next project, which will be using the Palm/Blackberry.

PC Tablet

Today, I used the PC Tablet for something other than tutorials. I wrote out my scripts for podcasting. In the end, I really like the PC Tablet rather than typing everything out. Some days, I am just not in the mood to type and the PC Tablet fills that mood I am in. You don't have to type, you just write everything out and the computer does it for you. It is an amazing piece of technology. If only it wasn't so expensive! I would use the PC Tablet almost every day that I didn't feel like typing, which since I do it on a daily basis, is almost every day. Some days, my fingers do not want to function and the PC Tablet would come in handy. Yes, it may take me longer to complete a project, but it would give my fingers a break from typing. I would absolutely love to use the PC Tablet at work. When having to complete 3 to 5 dictation tapes a day with possibly 2 to 10 letters on each, I can really get sick of typing. So, if the tapes are short, I can just easily pull out the PC Tablet and complete the tape that way rather than typing it out. In my personal life, I would use it almost every day as well. Right now, I am planning my own wedding, so the PC Tablet would be much more easier to take notes and store things that trying to keep everything organized in a wedding planning binder. Before the next class, I would like to go over what I need to do in the rotation list. I will be preparing myself for podcasting and recording my scripts that I prepared for podcasting. I will also be attempting to complete access. This semester has been a little stressful for me and since I have until the end of semester to complete access, I could possibly complete it during the next class period after recording my podcasting scripts. Until then, toodles!

Tablet PC & Wacom Handwritting

While using the Wacom Handwritting and Tablet PC, I found that I did not like it as much as I thought I would. Even though it is very useful and interesting to use, I couldn't get the use of the pen for both to work right. I still prefer the use of a mouse rather than a pen to open, close and write/type things. Through using the Wacom Handwritting and Tablet PC, I learned how to manouver the pen over the computer and/or tablet to open, close, maximize, minimize documents as well as create new documents, emails, journals, etc. I find that the Wacom would be very useful in the workplace because it would be easier to take notes and email. Before the next class, I will be preparing my scripts for podcasting as well as using the PC Tablet with my scripts for the podcasting.

Adobe Acrobat

While working with Adobe Acrobat, I learned many new things. I learned how to convert a document into a pdf document, save/print files, manipulating pages as well as adding and changing text graphics. I find Adobe Acrobat to be very useful. I wouldn't necessarily use it in my academic life, but more in the workplace. Being that I work at an attorney's office, we convert files to pdf on a daily basis. This makes getting documents to other attorneys and/or clients easier. It makes the process of settling cases and the whole discovery process more easier to complete in a timely manner. Before the next class, I plan on going over the instruction sheet for my next project, which will be Tablet PC/Wacom Handwritting so I can get a better understanding of what I am to complete by the end of the class period.

Dragon Natrually Speaking/Voice Recognition

While working with Dragon Naturally Speaking and voice recognition was very interesting. I learned how to speak into a microphone while the computer types in Microsoft Word and various other programs what I am saying. While using Dragon Naturally Speaking, I realized that this program could be very useful in my everyday life. Not really in my personal, but in my academic life as well as in the workplace. In my academic life, I could use it to write papers and/or reports and in the workplace, I could use it since I transcribe dictation on a daily basis. I usually transcribe three to four tapes a day with about five to ten letters per tape. So, with Dragon Naturally Speaking, instead of rewinding and fast forwarding tapes, either my boss or I could use the program to help get correspondence out every day. Before the next class, I plan on going over the instruction sheet for Adobe Acrobat since that is the program/technology that I will be using next class.

Workplace Technologies - Photoshop

Today, I learned how to use Photoshop for the first time. While using Photoshop, I learned how to edit photos, create a slideshow, straighten a photo as well as take wrinkles out of photos. This is the first time that I had to ever use Photoshop. My mom owns this program for their business, so it is helpful for their business when creating trophies, plaques, shirts and/or coffee mugs for their clients. At my place of work, I really do not think this could be of any use. With working for attorneys we really do not use pictures. In the field of employment law, we never have to deal with pictures so we wouldn't have to "restore" any pictures of any kind. Now, if I were to go further with my education and go into the field of art, then this could be extremely useful in my career. Since I am still undecided on what I plan on doing after graduating, I am not sure what I would use Photoshop for. That is to be determined later on. After class today, I plan on going over what I as a team member need to go over to work on our team projects next week. Next week, my group is going to working on the Dragon Naturally Speaking and Voice Recognition. So, for next week, I will need to have read the instructions sheet provided for the group on Blackboard.

Workplace Technologies - Scanning

Scanning on day 4 of Workplace Technologies was what I couldn't wait for. We finally learned how to create forms that you can fill in on the computer without handwriting everything in. This I really liked out of all the technologies that we have learned so far. I believe this way of scanning can benefit not just me but many people. At my place of work, I feel that this could be extremely beneficial. While working in an attorneys office, we have to file many things online and in turn have to convert a word document into a pdf document. So when the forms are not able to be filled in on the computer, we have to print the forms out, use a typewriter to fill in the form and then scan the document in, save it as a pdf and then file it online. I believe this could save a lot of headache and can make filing online easier and faster. I find that this would be very helpful in my career and/or job because it would be a lot easier to fill out forms and not have to worry about writing neatly. At my place of work, I still use a typewriter that almost every day wants to crash on me and stop working so I think that this would benefit the office I work for as well as many offices in the greater Toledo area and all around the world. Before the next class, I will be completing my scanning homework and talking to not only my coworkers who would absolutely love this program, but my boss as well. I hope by the time I talk to them, that he would consider purchasing this amazing software.

Day 3 of Workplace Technologies with OneNote

Day 3 of Workplace Technologies has already come and gone. Today, we learned how to use the Microsoft program, OneNote. I really like this program. I believe it could be an essential program for my workplace. I feel it could be easy to use and everyone in the office could use it, even the attorneys. In OneNote, I learned that you can grab documents from other programs and convert them into OneNote as a page in your notes. While completing my homework, I found at one particular part, OneNote is a lot like the paint software that comes with most if not all computers. When using OneNote at work, I complete a lot of dictation on a daily basis. This would be an awesome program for my boss to use for dictation. I feel it would be a lot easier and more cost effective because instead of using a Dictaphone and a device for me to hear the tape and type what I am hearing, all I would need is to open OneNote. You wouldn't have to worry about purchasing cassette tapes every time a tape is eaten up by the Dictaphone. Everything is saved in the program on the computer and nothing can get ruined. This would also help in my career and/or job because it is easier to keep notes with OneNote. Right now, I keep notes on post-it's and if you were to look at my desk at work, it is very neat and organized, but I have a blob of yellow post-it notes all over. I believe OneNote would help me organize my notes more professionally so my workspace at work will look more neat and/or organized. Before the next class, I will be completing my OneNote homework and hopefully able to talk my boss into purchasing this program. I love it and hope that I can get the chance to use it every day.

Workpalce Technologies... Day 2

Well, it is now day 2 of Workplace Technologies and I think I am getting the hang of at least what the book has to offer. As of right now, I am learning the basics of making new folders and saving files as well as copying and pasting, stuff I do at work on a daily basis, but I guess it doesn’t hurt to have a little refresher on the basic steps so I can learn how to perform and complete the harder tasks that I have yet to learn. As far as Microsoft Word 2007, I find it a little harder to use and navigate with than the 2003 version. With posting blogs, it is easy because I know those steps already. I think with a little browsing around on my spare time, then I could eventually get used to it, I am going to have to. I just can’t wait to use all the technology that we are going to have to use in this class. I like learning with my hands. I am a visual learner and since we are going to actually learn how to use everything, I think it will be very interesting. Although we really haven’t gotten into the using of the technology used in this class, I already am getting a little taste of how it is going to be by performing the basic tasks out of the book in my homework. When I talked to my boss about the technology that I will be learning in Workplace Technologies, he was excited. Now, let’s just hope, no matter what the cost, he gives in a little and invests in what I am going to learn because I think some of the technology used in this class could benefit him and his law firm. I think it would benefit all three attorneys in our law firm and help them get up to date with the technology used in businesses. Well, I have to finish up the homework that is due next week, day 3 of Workplace Technologies. As of right now I am getting the hang of it. Yeah, it’s a lot of work for one assignment, but business and/or computer’s are me and it is what I like to do for the rest of my life!

We will be showing off the new look of the Zeek 2 at the convention. Check back soon to see another sneak peek at the Zeek 2 exclusively on this blog!

Zeek 2 Sneak Peek

This week we snuck into the lab and got a peek at the new features of the upcoming Zeek 2!

Wow! You're going to be amazed at all the cool stuff that they're packing into such a small device. From first glance, the new features include:

• Social networking
• One-touch phone home
• GPS mapping

Roz Cooper, the project manager, will be announcing the new device at this year's Technorama Expo on March 18th at a special company event.

Hint of the week: Did you know you can purchase and download music directly to your Zeek from any wireless connection? On your Zeek, go to Music > Connect > Store.

On the Street

The New Zeek is loaded with features. We went to the streest last week to see how well people liked the Zeek, and here is what one proud owner had to say:

"I take my Zeek with me everywhere. My friends think it's so cool and they keep asking to borrow it so they can check their e-mail!"

What do you like about your Zeek? Drop us a line here and let us know.

Week One Class Blog

Today in class we learned what the Workplace Technologies is going to entail. We also covered the syllabus, how to use the books and how to blog. I am a bit nervous. It is my last semester and I want to do well. We are also using Microsoft 2007 and I have never used it before so that ought to be interesting as well. I learned that we are going to use digital cameras, how to podcast, how to use PhotoShop and many other useful programs used today in many of the workplaces. With taking this class, I hope to learn how to use most of the technology that I have never used before. One thing I am familiar with is the blogging. With having a "myspace" or a "facebook" page, I blog every day and all the time as kind of a way to vent or to update past friends that I have not talk to in a while and/or only communicate with over the internet through those two websites. In my academic life, I will be obviously using the technology being used in this class for this class as well as for any presentations that I may have in the future for future classes. For example, I like art so after graduating from Owens this May, I could go on and get a degree in Art. I could go into graphic design and use some of the technology used for the photos and blogging for the graphic designing classes. I am extremely excited to learn how to use the most recent technology that is used today that I have not tried to use before. For my career, the technology that I will be learning in Workplace Technologies I feel will help me advance in the workplace. For example, right now, I work at a law firm that has three attorneys. All three attorneys are part of programs such as Toledo Employment Labor Attorneys, National Employment Labor Attorneys and Ohio Employment Labor Attorneys. When being a part of those programs, you are able to post blogs or "your opinion" on the ruling of cases that come out online that Judges have ruled on. I read blogs that have been posted daily because if there is something that strikes the attorney's "fancy", I have to print them out. Before next class, I will be finishing the required homework that is due next week. I will also be reading the book to try and understand it since it has come to my attention that it can be quite difficult to understand at first!

First Week of Class

Today is the first week of class for Workplace Technologies. Sounds interesting. Graduating this May.. CAN'T WAIT!!!!