Technology

When 3D printing first began to become familiar to the public a few years ago, it seemed like something out of a sci-fi film. The idea that we could simply input designs and see them transformed into material form felt like a major technological advancement with a world of exciting implications. Since then, news and headlines about 3D printing have been surprisingly subdued, however, and consumer applications have been few and far between. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t all sorts of interesting things that have been happening surrounding this exciting technology.

Here in particular are five things you might not know about 3D printing, but which demonstrate its progress and intrigue.

1. 3D Printing Is Good For The Environment

As with most anything that stakes a claim to eco-friendliness, 3D printing has its skeptics where this point is concerned. In a few fundamental ways, however, the technology is undeniably beneficial. Perhaps most importantly, it stands to significantly reduce material waste, potentially for production efforts across entire, large industries. Even the most efficient manufacturing processes tend to result in plenty of wasted, excess material; by nature, 3D printing uses only the material it needs to create a product.

Beyond the responsible nature of its basic processes, 3D printing can also produce materials that are beneficial to the environment. The Recycler pointed out in a 2018 article that these materials can include coral reefs and seawalls used to repair underwater ecosystems. But beyond exciting concepts like those, it stands to reason that we could see innumerable 3D-printed products designed for environmental benefit.

2. 3D Printing Can Support Entire Product Lines

This may not seem like the most surprising point on this list, but a lot of people still think of 3D printing on a fairly small scale. They imagine using their own affordable 3D printers for this and that, or think of artists and design studios undergoing their own creative endeavors through the technology. However, 3D printing has also improved to the point that it can now be used by entire companies to efficiently create product lines.

Naturally, it depends somewhat on the specific product at hand, but it’s the efficiency that really marks the improvement over the last few years. According to Fictiv, high resolution prototypes and 3D-printed parts can be delivered in as fast as one day, making it easy for businesses to rely on printing services to mass-produce products. Those same services can also provide quick quotes and on-the-go quality control, ensuring the whole process goes as smoothly as possible.

3. Material Variety Enables Art & Jewelry

A lot of people hardly give a thought to what materials are actually used in 3D printing. Even if they did, they’d mostly just find lists of hybrids and specialty materials that were specifically useful in the early days of 3D printing. At the same time, however, there are always more materials being used in 3D printing, which in turn is expanding the tech’s applications. Even a few years ago, Huffington Post pointed to some astounding examples of 3D-printed art using a variety of different materials, and more recently the introduction of more metals has made it possible for high-quality jewelry to be 3D printed. So, to sum this point up, 3D printing isn’t all about carbon fiber, nylons, and hybrids. There are more materials being used, and with them more artistic designs being printed.

4. There Are Already Applications In Fitness

In October of last year, an article here covered various ways to use technology to get fit: setting up a Spotify playlist, downloading a highly rated fitness app, etc. 3D printing doesn’t make for this direct of a technological application, but it does have the potential to impact our fitness in a broader, and perhaps more important way. Already, in fact, the technology is being used to print out everything from weight racks to jump ropes. Over time, it could significantly overhaul many categories of fitness equipment, and in doing so make it cheaper for people to purchase the exercise-related products they want or need.

5. 3D Printing May Shape Our Cities

This idea is a little more “out there,” so to speak, but it’s also a very real concept that’s being discussed more and more. Several years ago in fact The Guardian speculated about the possibilities of 3D-printed architecture as a housing solution, both for slums in need of updated housing, and for disaster-stricken communities in need of relief. And since then, the technology has only grown more impressive. This is not to suggest that we’ll see gigantic 3D printers literally producing buildings. However, the idea of 3D-printed parts being used to assemble homes, public buildings, and various components of city infrastructure is no longer far-fetched at all.

Your sales team has managed to secure a contract with a major retailer which will help your business grow massively over the coming years, but what they’d failed to recognize is the IT requirements for supplying this customer. They have specific EDI needs and your current solution doesn’t comply with their system. So how can you find the best web EDI solution that will allow for integration with this and any future retailers?

What is a Web EDI Solution?

First things first, what is a web EDI solution? Well, like an internet based EDI solution it interchanges data with third parties such as supplies and customers. That’s where the comparison finishes. A web-based system is based on a web browser rather than a sperate piece of software. So the advantages are obvious, you can log into the system from any browser on any device. The software is hosted by the third party supplier and is being updated in line with retailer requirements so that it integrates with as many as possible. All the testing goes on in the background so you don’t have to do it. There’s a support team to help you integrate with your customers. And the entry cost is low as you just pay a monthly subscription fee for it.

A further factor to consider is EDI compliance. Whether you’re complying with your large retail customer’s rules on data, or its government legislation, web based EDI solutions are already compliant and are constantly being improved as legislation changes. As the fast paced e-commerce market develops your IT solutions need to adapt, and with web based software the onus is on your software provider not your organization to do this.

Does a Web EDI Solution Integrate with ERP Systems?

How will adopting a web EDI system affect your internal processes? While before you managed orders and inventory through your ERP system, will this all need to swap across to the EDI web system? These are some of the main questions people have once they realize that the web EDI software will be separate to their current systems. Well just as with your customers and suppliers, the providers of web EDI software have built integration tools for all major ERP systems so that its easy for you to connect up your inventory information, billing, and other internal functions.

What are the Alternatives to Web Based EDI Solutions?

The alternative to a web based EDI solution is an Internet EDI solution which is where the software is purchased one off and stored on your own servers. It then uses standard internet protocols to transact data. The advantage of it is that costs will be lower as you increase your volume of data transacted compared to web based EDI solutions. However, the drawback is that you are reliant on the software provider to update the software so that it continues to integrate with suppliers and customers. Usually for smaller organizations web based solutions for EDI are the best solution, whereas as the organization gets bigger, they swap to an internet based EDI software solution.

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

With the way we consume TV shows and movies forever changed, and more and more TVs being of the ‘smart TV’ variety these days, we thought it would be a good time to look at the best movies available on Netflix today.

Taken from a survey of public opinion and viewers, this list trumped critics opinions. This what we found were this year’s best movies.

10. The Highwaymen

This crime drama stars Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as Former Texas Rangers who have come out of retirement to track down Bonny and Clyde. Outstanding performances, with authentic set design and captures the feel of the times, centred around the extremes the police went through to catch the criminals.

9. I Am Mother

This is a sci fi film about a teenage girl that is raised by a robot known as Mother, with the quest to repopulate earth after the destruction of humankind. A strangers visit changes everything when the information she gives. The cast is all female, some of the graphics a little queasy with snapshots of the fetuses that will repopulate. A very ambitious view to the future. Starring Hilary Swank and Claire Rugar and Rose Byrne as the robot.

8. Private Life

Starring Paul Giovanni and Catherine Horn this is a Comedy drama about a middle aged couple struggling with infertility and the lengths they go to satisfy their need for a baby. Desperate to become parents, there are hard hitting moments mixed in with humour. A must for anyone who has ever felt this way.

7.Okja

Okja is a super pig that has led a safe and happy life in the mountains of South Korea with his caretaker, a young korean girl. When he is stolen by an american corporation and taken back to be tested and studied, she travels to seek to free him. Though parts of the movie are overacted and there are far reaching ecology statements, there is outstanding set design and cinematography.

6. The Ballad of Buster Scraggs

Produced by the Coen Brothers, the makers of Fargo and the Big Lubowski. This western Anthology of six individual stories carries the same dark humour as their previous films, and an enigmatic cast featuring Tim Blake Nelson,James Franco, and Liam Neeson. The six stories cover the lives of a Singing Gunslinger, a bank robber, an ageing impresario and his artist, an elderly prospector, a group on a wagon train and pair of bounty hunters.

5.The Fundamentals of Caring

This is a comedy drama starring Paul Rudd and Craig roberts. A retired writer becomes a caregiver to a sharp-witted disabled teenager, they embark on a journey across america to meet his father taking in as many roadside attractions as they can. The humour, the way the actors relate to the complications of the characters make it a heart wrenching must see.

4.Bright

This fantasy crime drama starring Will Smith and Joel Eggerton takes place in a parallel world where, elves, orks, fairies and humans all co-exist, they are policemen with their own problems whose job becomes to protect a young elf girl and the relic she holds, that could destroy the future. Entertaining, critics dished it,but it remains a very popular netflix tv watch.

3.Paddleton

Another comedy drama starring Ray Romano and Mark dublas. This is the story of a remarkable friendship formed between two misfit neighbours when the youngest is diagnosed with terminal cancer, a bit hard to get through it is worth sticking around for the great ending.

2.Mudbound

This historic drama takes place after world war 2 in the racially divided state of mississippi, following the life and troubles of two veterans from the war, one white, one black and the struggles they face.

1.Beasts of No Nation

Taking out number one spot, this 2015 movie, is staged in an unknown country of west africa in the grips of civil war. A young boy is recruited as a child soldier into a mercenary unit by a fierce warlord. The visuals are stunning, the cast is perfect, Idris Alba as the warlord could not have been played by any other. This was voted the most popular netflix movie.

We hope this list has been helpful to you and you’re ready to go fire up your new Samsung smart TV, or your Laptop, or whatever it is that you use to watch Netflix, and get your binge on!

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

As technology has advanced over the last two decades, advertising has shifted from something, only a few businesses did, to something everyone can do. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising agencies like Broad Place offer their services to different companies with different budgets. But what are the benefits of PPC advertising? There are four listed below:

1. PPC Advertising Can Be Measured and Tracked

In the world of traditional advertising, it is often challenging to tell exactly how much sales or consumer interest is generated by the amount spent on advertising. This makes it difficult to be sure if advertising goals are being achieved. This limitation of ignorance does not exist in the world of pay per click advertising. PPC ads placed with Google are very conveniently trackable via Google Analytics tools. Using analytics, you will be able to see all the details of your campaign’s performance, including all clicks, user impressions, and conversions.

2. Ease of Entry

Advertising was once a field of play open to a select few who had the financial resources to be in the mainstream media. However, in today’s technological world, PPC advertising is open to anyone at very affordable prices. Furthermore, a small business could hire the services of a PPC agency and start to see results in less than thirty days. This is very different from the world of SEO marketing where accumulated time is necessary to see the fruits of your work. And also unlike email marketing that requires permission, PPC advertising reaches the customer efficiently and quickly once the service fees have been paid.

3. Easily Accessible Marketing Data

Before the internet and PPC advertising, it was very difficult to get accurate data about a market set and how to attract it. However, businesses looking to advertise using PPC ads get access to a wealth of information that makes their work so much easier to do. From data on the particular keywords that get clicks and impressions, to information on the target audience to help with SEO marketing, there is so much valuable data that can be accessed. This data proves to be useful to track what is working well for your brand and what is not.

4. You Have Control

While you can hire the services of a PPC agency or consultant, you can also run a PPC campaign by yourself and have full control of all your advertising options. You will be able to choose your keywords and decide your target audience precisely. You will also be able to decide for yourself, how much you want to spend on advertising and stay within a particular budget. If you see that your campaign is yielding fruit, you can decide just how far ahead to scale your efforts. If the campaign struggles, you can choose to stop spending immediately.

The point is that when you choose to do PPC advertising, you have full control over everything that happens, unlike the world of traditional advertising.

PPC advertising has changed the entire landscape of advertising. Even if you are just a start-up, it is never too late for you to start a PPC campaign and put your business up on the internet’s map.

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

If you own a Mercedes-Benz, you’ve likely invested a hefty amount of money in driving one of the best car brands in the world. Therefore, you want to keep it operating smoothly for as long as possible. To avoid mechanical breakdown or damages, here are five Mercedes-Benz maintenance steps that you can do yourself:

1. Apply for UV protection both inside and out.

The first step that you can do is to apply UV protection to protect the paint from photodegradation. After cleaning your car, you should apply wax that provides an ample amount of protection against the sun’s harmful rays. You should also apply for UV protection inside the vehicle, especially if you have leather seats. There are leather cleaners and conditioners available in the market that coat the leather and keep the seats looking brand new for longer.

2. Check your car’s hoses and belts.

Your car has a few hoses and belts that keep it running, including the timing belt, serpentine belt, and coolant hose. If one of the belts snap or if the hose bursts, you will have a major problem on hand. Therefore, perform a regular under-the-hood inspection to see if the hose looks spongy or if the belts have cracks. If you see any issues, don’t wait for it to get worse. Schedule a Mercedes Benz service as soon as you can at the nearest Sandown-Group branch.

3. Check your car’s fluids and filters.

You already know that your car won’t run if there’s no oil. However, oil has contaminants that can ruin your engine if it is not filtered properly. This is why you need to have your car’s oil filter changed regularly. This ensures that your engine is not damaged by tiny and hard particles that are in the oil. Aside from this, you also need to check the fluids in your transmission, brake, and the steering wheel.

4. Make sure that your tire pressure is at the recommended psi.

Most car owners won’t know that their tires are under-inflated, which can lead to higher risks of collisions on the road. To prevent accidents from happening, make sure that your tire pressure is at the right psi level, as recommended by the manufacturer. Aside from tire pressure, you should also check that it is at the right alignment to tread wear.

5. Walk around your vehicle to see if external features are working.

The last maintenance step that you can do is to check if every light is working correctly. These include your headlights, taillights, brake lights, reverse lights, hazard lights, and turn signals. The last thing you want is to get a ticket while driving because one of these lights are not working. If you find a burned-out light, have it replaced immediately.

To keep your Mercedes-Benz running smoothly for years to come, make sure that you schedule inspections and servicing regularly. But don’t forget to do your part as the car owner and to perform the steps listed above as well. Check your car’s UV protection, hoses and belts, fluids and filters, tire pressure, and external features.

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

As the end of the year approaches and the new year is about to begin, gamers should reassess their current setup. While many gamers focus on hardware items like graphics cards, hard drives, and processors, there’s another component of your setup that should get a refresher – your mouse. This article will help you understand the benefits of starting the new year with a new gaming mouse.

Switching to a Gaming Mouse

The first group of people that should consider looking into a gaming mouse are those that are still playing with the default mouse they got with their computer. The standard 3-button mouse is good enough for office tasks, but is it good enough to give you the performance you deserve when you’re playing your favorite game?

There are several advantages that you can get from a new gaming mouse. Some of the best reasons to seek one out include:

• Better performance
• Function Buttons
• Sensitivity Controls
• Customized Profiles

The first reason to switch to a gaming mouse from a non-gaming mouse is better control. A new mouse will use the latest technology to make sure that you’re getting the type of performance you deserve. That includes faster response times, increased sensitivity, and more functionality than you get from a standard mouse.

Another excellent reason to switch to a gaming mouse is function buttons. Popular gaming mouse brands like Razer have function buttons on the side. These buttons make it easier to change weapons, push to talk to your teammates, cast the right spell at the right time, or trigger your ultimate move – all without needing to stretch your keyboard hand out trying to get to the right keys. As a result, you can do things faster, better, and with more precision than you can with your standard, factory-default mouse.

If you are looking for a great brand to buy your gaming mouse from, you should consider Razer. Check out their Razer Gaming Mouse here: https://www.razer.com/gaming-mice

Sensitivity controls are also an excellent reason to switch your mouse. Everyone has a different setup. That means people have different amounts of room to move their mouse around. Some people have huge mousepads and the space to use them, allowing them to lower their sensitivity to maximum arm movement. Other people have a more constrained space. Boosting the sensitivity on your mouse allows you to get more movement on screen with less hand and arm movement. That means you can stay comfortable and cool knowing that whatever you need to accomplish on screen, you’ve got the space to do it.

The final reason we’ll cover for why you should switch to a gaming mouse from a standard mouse is the customized profiles that a gaming mouse allows you to set up. You can create custom profiles for different games and applications. The function key you press to toss a grenade in the latest shooter can be the same one you press to paste into a word document. Different profiles give you the option to boost your quality of life no matter what you’re using your computer for in the moment.

Upgrade Your Current Gaming Mouse

If you’ve already made the switch from factory-default to a gaming mouse, then you already know what the advantages are. However, that doesn’t mean you should get complacent. Upgrading your current mouse is a great idea. There are a few advantages you can get from an upgrade, including:

• Improved Performance
• Reset Wear and Tear
• More Functionality

The first reason to upgrade your current gaming mouse is that it can give you improved performance. Whether that means a higher sensitivity, a better feel on the click, or a smoother ride across the mousepad, getting the best performance out of your mouse is key to delivering your best performance in-game.

Another reason to consider a new gaming mouse is that your current one might be experiencing some wear and tear. It can be anything from some sticky buttons or dust getting in the way of your sensor, to right clicks that just don’t seem to work or worn out LED lights. Having a new mouse feels good and feeling good helps you game at your best.

The final thing to consider for people that already have a gaming mouse is that a new mouse can give them more functionality. This can come in the form of more side buttons. It can also mean better firmware that can help you accomplish more with your mouse in less time. You might even find that a new mouse helps you with productivity tasks as well as gaming, which can help a new mouse pay for itself!

Get Your New Gaming Mouse Today!

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider a new gaming mouse. Whether you’ve still got the factory default mouse that came with your computer, or you need an upgrade for your current worn-out mouse, a new gaming mouse is a great way to start the new year!

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

If you’re interested in how technology is set to influence the gaming industry, it’s well worth continuing reading in order to discover a few innovative ways that technology will forever change the gaming industry.

Technology and gaming: How technology will forever change the gaming industry

Expect to see more individuals playing video games with virtual reality headsets:

While the vast majority of gamers still play video games without wearing virtual reality headsets, in the near future the vast majority of gamers will choose to immerse themselves in the worlds of the games that they play, by wearing virtual reality headsets. As not only will advances in technology mean that virtual reality headsets will decrease in price but due to new advancements in graphics technology, the experience of gaming with virtual reality headsets will be far more attractive. As some of the first virtual reality headsets offered clunky graphics.

Get ready to suit up to play your favorite games:

As well as wearing a virtual reality headset in order to get your gaming fix, in the future you’ll also put on pieces of clothing which will be wired with special sensors, which will allow you to truly immerse yourself in each game that you play. As an example, expect virtual reality vests and gloves to become more common place over the next few years. Better yet, in a decade or so, you may be able to truly immerse yourself in open world games, by wearing virtual reality headsets and clothing.

Esports will grow in popularity:

While esports are already played in large arenas around the world and are often televised on sports channels or gaming specific channels, the popularity of esports will only increase with time. One of the reasons why esports tournaments are so popular is that more individuals spend time everyday gaming, than the number of individuals who participate in real life sports on a daily basis. So it’s only natural that individuals who spend their free time playing video games will prefer watching professional gamers compete in tournaments, over watching athletes compete in traditional sports.

If you’re not convinced that esports will take the world by storm, consider the fact that some of the most popular content creators on YouTube are professional gamers who stream their games, for the world to watch. Many of who are huge fan of online games such as Fortnite.

Expect to see more gamers make a living out of gaming:

Due to the popularity of streaming sites as Youtube and Switch, expect to see more gamers making a full time living out of playing and streaming their favorite games. Also expect more online tournaments which offer lucrative prizes, pop up as a result of the reliability of modern day WiFi, which will allow gamers to compete against individuals who live in other cities and countries.

So if you love spending some of your free time playing addictive online PC games and video games, it’s well worth looking forward to the future of gaming. Especially due to the fact that the experience of gaming will only improve as a result of new break throughs in technology!

Did you know that you can take your board game nights with your friends and family members to the next level by choosing board games which are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa? To discover a few board games which are compatible Alexa, simply continue reading in order to discover a few options, which you may want to purchase to play during your next social board game night.

New Alexa games to play with your friends and family members:

St. Noire:

St. Noire was released in 2019 by X2 games which is a board game company which was founded by one of the creators of Atari, Nolan Bushnell. At it’s heart St. Noire is a detective themed board game which will challenge you to solve a murder mystery by talking to the characters that you’ll meet in various locations around the city.

As St. Noire has been designed to be used in conjunction with Amazon’s Alexa, you’ll get to hear realistic dialogue from 12 different suspects. Currently St. Noire offers over 2,500 unique lines of dialogue. So you won’t get bored of playing St. Noire after a few games. As you’ll love getting to play a detective and trying to figure out which characters are lying through their teeth and which characters are telling you the truth.

You should find that you’ll quickly get immersed into St. Noire’s seedy world and that you’ll want to play through St. Noire’s storyline again and again. Which you’ll be able to do as the game selects a random murderer each time. So each board game with Alexa that you play will offer a whole new experience.

Hey Robot:

Hey Robot is a board game which challenges players to try and use their smarts to get Alexa to say a specific word, before their opponent can get Alexa to say their specified word. Although getting Alexa to say a specific word may seem like an easy, straight forward task, the truth is that it’s a lot harder than you think and hilarity is bound to ensue when Alexa utters phrases and words that are not the word that you intended. If you’re looking to purchase a fun party game that’s compatible with Alexa, it’s well worth playing Hey Robot.

Magic Door:

Magic Door allows you to make decisions that will determine the fate of your character. At the beginning of the game, you’ll get to choose whether you’d like to explore the sea, the forest or the mountains. Depending on which option you select, you’ll be given an exciting quest to complete. Along your adventure you may encounter magical creatures such as mermaids and will be able to pick up a wide variety of magical objects. Which you’ll be able to interact with. If you enjoyed reading choose your own adventure style books as a kid, you’ll easily be able to spend several hours playing Magic Door with your Alexa powered device.

So if you’re keen to purchase a few new games to play during your next board game night, you can’t go wrong choosing to purchase any of the Alexa powered games which are listed above.

If one of your current goals is to transform your body and to increase your energy levels and fitness, you’ve come to the right place. Simply continue reading to discover how you can harness the power of technology, in order to reach your fitness goals!

How to use technology to get fit:

Invest in purchasing a smart watch or fitness band:

If you purchase a smart watch or a fitness band such as a FitBit, you’ll be able to easily and accurately track how many calories you burn during a workout session as well as how many steps which you take each day. Wearing a device that will allow you to record your daily activity will motivate you to give your workouts your all and to walk more, which will help you get fitter.

If possible opt to purchase a smart watch or a fitness tracker that boasts a built in heart rate tracker, which will give you the most accurate reading possible.

Download a highly rated fitness app:

Another way to use technology to get fit is to download a highly rated fitness app that will provide you with free workouts that you can complete at home, without having to step foot in a gym. As an example, you may want to consider downloading a HIT app which will contain a series of short yet challenging exercises that will increase your heart rate. Examples of which may include lunges, squats, jumping jacks and push ups. Alternatively, if you enjoy the endorphins which you get from running, you may want to download an app which will train you to run faster or to comfortably run longer distances.

Before downloading a new fitness app, it’s well worth reading a few reviews to ensure that the fitness app that you’re looking at offers effective, free workouts that individuals have used to obtain amazing results.

Set up an upbeat Spotify playlist to listen to during your workouts:

You may find it easier to keep up a high intensity during your workouts if you have a playlist of up tempo tracks to listen to. It’s a great idea to create a special Spotify playlist for your workouts, that you’ll be able to play each time you start a new workout. If you need some inspiration when it comes to choosing tracks, it’s well worth searching Spotify for existing workout playlists, that may contain tracks that you’d like to add to your own workout playlist.

Set an alarm an hour before each workout:

One habit which is well worth getting into is setting an alarm an hour before you’re due to workout. This will give you enough time to get changed and to drive to your local gym. If you’re the type of individual who frequently misses their workouts, you may find setting workout alarms on your smart phone, may help you become more accountable, when it comes to your workouts.

Join an online forum where you’ll be able to find the support that you’re looking for:

It’s also a wise idea to join an online forum or a Facebook group full of like minded individuals who are also looking to increase their fitness. As you’ll find a supportive community, who’ll inspire you to reach your fitness goals.

So if one of your major life goals is to increase your fitness, it’s definitely well worth using technology in order to help you reach your goals in a short space of time.