Common Examples of how we use SaaS

You are probably using cloud computing more than you realise. A number of reports have stated that many who aren’t aware of cloud computing are, in fact, using it. Using one such example, a Citrix survey concluded that 54 percent of online users say they never use the cloud, whereas 95 percent of those who think they’re not using it actually are. In the majority of cases these people are using SaaS offerings.

The term SaaS, or Software as a Service to give it its full name, refers to any cloud service which user’s access over the internet. This includes software accessed via the internet rather than being purchased by buying a hard copy. Many such services are paid for via a monthly or annual subscription, although some are free of charge.

Now we’ll look at some examples of how you might be using Software as a Service.

Google

Google has many products that can be accessed via the internet because of cloud computing. If you are using a Google product you are almost certainly using SaaS. Google Docs is a good example of this, whereby users have the ability to use and save documents that can then be accessed via the internet. Documents can be shared between users with authorised users able to make edits. Other Google products such as Blogger, Calendar, Gmail (see email section), Bookmarks and much more also rely on cloud computing.

Email

Popular email clients, with Gmail and Hotmail being examples, are SaaS products. Users access their account via the internet, with them being accessible from any internet enabled device. This is done by simply visiting the appropriate website and users log in by using their email address or username and password. All emails can then be accessed. These are all saved, via the cloud, so they can be viewed unless they have been deleted by the user. Emails can be sent and newly received ones can be read.

Computer Games

These days computer games can be available via the cloud, which is another example of software as a service. Users access the games via the internet rather than purchasing a disk. If a game has been saved it can be restored from this stage of the game. There can be the negative of them not being available without an internet connection which has led to it not being as positively received as some computer games and console manufactures would have liked. Games for smartphones and tablets are possible because of cloud computing.

Social Media

Most social media is possible because of cloud computing. Users access their own account via the internet and wherever they access the account from their experience is the same – such as what they can view and what they can do with the site.  

Spotify

Spotify, the music streaming service, is another example of how many are using the cloud without being aware of it. Users download the application onto their computer from the internet. Apps are also available for smartphones and tablets. Access is gained by logging in using a username and password, allowing users to access the available music and any playlists they have set up.

Business Software

The above widely used examples of SaaS tend to be used for personal use. However, there are numerous business software offerings that are also accessed via the cloud, which are therefore examples of software as a service. Examples of the type of things people use such services for at work include planning software, systems for tracking work, services to book and manage holiday and online calendars. 

As you can see, there are many SaaS products that are used by the general public on a regular basis. Not everyone is aware of the impact cloud computing is having on their lives but most of us are using this technology in one form or another.

Andrew Marshall ©

Signs and Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia is a loss of cognitive ability that is best known for leading to memory loss, particularly short term memory loss. It is often confused with Alzheimer’s but Alzheimer’s is, in fact, a cause of dementia. Dementia is where impairment of the brain impacts the memory and how one thinks. It is most common in older people and is where someone’s cognitive ability deteriorates at a quicker rate than is expected from normal aging. The probability of developing dementia is increased when there is a family history of it.

Dementia, then, is not a decease as such, but rather a collection of symptoms.  The condition can impact every aspect of someone’s life, meaning that getting the right dementia care is crucial. Ideally the signs and symptoms should be spotted early. Some of these are outlined below.

The best known and easiest to spot sign of dementia is memory loss. Short term memory loss and problems remembering recent events is particularly common, with long term memory sometime unaffected. In some patients memory fades gradually, sometimes over a period of several years, while in other cases it can deteriorate significantly over a short period. Memory loss in a dementia patient can be as extreme as not remembering where they live, leading then to feel unfamiliar in their own home, and not recognising loved ones. This can even include their spouse or children. Regression to an earlier stage of life is another common symptom. This leads some to remember things as they did at this earlier stage in their life. This can result in them believing they are still at school or long-gone parents are still alive. This often causes much confusion in certain circumstances and there can be a time when someone has a very clear memory of sixty years earlier, for example, but has very little memory, or even no memory, of what happened a week previous or a few hours ago.

Issues with organisation and planning can be another problem. This is because the brain can have trouble with attention to detail and piecing things together. It also affects the ability to be able to think on a number of different levels. Handling numbers can be particularly troublesome for dementia sufferers. This can be an early sign of memory loss that may, ultimately, be the early stages of dementia. Problems processing numbers and making calculations can lead to having difficulty with simple Maths and paying for items in a shop.

Dementia can lead to mood swings and depression. Sufferers can lose control of their life and be unable to cope on their own and perform tasks that would have been natural in the past. Many find this difficult to accept, which therefore results in depression.

Muscle memory can become a problem and is more common in later stages of dementia. This can impact movement and lead to clumsiness and being unable to perform simple tasks, such as pouring a drink. Muscle memory issues can also result in difficulty with speech. Incontinence is another symptom that increases in likelihood in the later stages of dementia. Bladder incontinence is most common but bowel incontinence can also affect patients.

There are many signs and symptoms of dementia. The above isn’t an exhaustive list but some of those that are more common.

Andrew Marshall ©

Types of websites that may require dedicated hosting

Often there is a difficult decision to be made as to the type of web hosting required for a website. The main decision here is whether to opt for shared hosting or dedicated hosting. This articles looks into some of the factors and type of websites that make dedicated hosting a requirement.

So, what is dedicated hosting and how does if differ from shared hosting? The easiest way to explain this is to start by looking at what shared hosting is. Essentially, with shared hosting you are sharing a web server with various websites. A shared hosting provider will dedicate a portion of a server to each website sharing that server. Dedicated hosting, on the other hand, is where an entire web server is dedicated to your website; your website or your group of websites is all that is hosted on the server. There are a number of benefits to this and it is preferable to those who want control over their server and their hosting. It allows webmasters to configure their server how they wish and manage it themselves.  So, for who is dedicated hosting required?

High Traffic Websites

Being the only website hosted on a server means a site is better able to cope with a high volume of traffic, something that isn’t always the case with shared hosting. High traffic websites hosted on a shared platform can result in slow load times, thus frustrating visitors. During particularly busy periods this can lead to a site being unavailable.

Organisations with Multiple Websites

Depending on the size of the sites and the traffic being received, you can host a number of sites on the same server. If you run a number of sites, though, it makes more sense to host them all on your own dedicated server rather than opting for shared hosting for each of them. This will allow you to have control over your server, something you wouldn’t have with shared hosting, meaning you can manage it according to your needs. Using a server, or a number of servers, for just your own websites means that you cannot be impacted by what is happening with sites run by someone else, something that can be an issue with shared hosting.

Sites with Multimedia

Having multimedia files on your website means that more bandwidth is required. Therefore, if you have a site that contains a lot of video and audio files then dedicated hosting may be required. Shared hosting is not as likely to be able to cope with these.

A Business that is Expected to Grow

Some websites may not require dedicated hosting now but might in the future. The website of a business that is expected to grow is an example of this. The volume of traffic may not be particularly significant at present, but if expected growth is realised this volume is likely to increase. It is important this is considered prior to deciding on the type of hosting required.

E-commerce Sites

There are a number of issues with e-commerce sites that can make dedicated hosting a necessity rather than a want. Security is one of these; e-commerce sites will deal with customer’s payment details and keeping these details secure is of utmost importance. Security is much easier to maintain if you have a dedicated server, as there are fewer external factors that can influence it. Typically, e-commerce sites have periods of particularly high traffic. Christmas is a good example of this; in the lead up to Christmas many people may wish to purchase products from a website. Dedicated hosting may be required to cope with this.

Andrew Marshall ©

How Call Centres are making use of VoIP

The number of businesses who use VoIP systems has increased rapidly over recent years. Due to the very nature of what they do call centres can particularly benefit from VoIP because of the cost savings on offer. This article looks into how VoIP usage has increased and why call centres, in particular, are opting for VoIP.

In most cases the aims of a business comes down to two things; offering the best service possible to their customers while making the biggest profit they can. An important part of making a profit is not over spending and saving money wherever possible. For call centres saving money on calls can make a big different to their profit margins.

What are Call Centres?

A call centre is essentially a centralised office used for making and receiving calls. Amongst other things companies use call centres for marketing calls, contacting customers, sales and receiving calls from customers and potential customers. The main overheads are rent, wages/salaries, utility bills and, of course, the cost of calls. While paying the bills and paying staff, like any other business, cannot be avoided, money can be saved on calls. VoIP has made these potential savings more significant.

VoIP and Cost Savings

In many instances cost savings has been the primary reason for both people and businesses using VoIP services. Individuals have made use of this technology by making personal calls over a VoIP platform, with Skype being the best know example. International call and video calls via such a platform have become extremely common. These are significantly cheaper with VoIP than with a traditional phone system and can even be free.

Businesses have also been making use of these cost savings, but by using very different services. The free services individuals use to call relatives abroad, for example, are cheap but quality can be an issue (although it has improved). While this may not be a major issue when making personal calls it is not acceptable for a business. Businesses will generally use more advanced, integrated business VoIP systems. They are more expensive but still offer cost savings compared to traditional phone systems. Due to the cost savings and improving quality the number of businesses using VoIP as their main business phone system is continually increasing.

Call Centres & VoIP

Call centres have been able to make particularly good use of VoIP services. Due to the sheer number of calls that go through a call centre, any cost savings in this area make a huge difference to their overheads and, therefore, to their profits.

VoIP has been used by call centres in one form or another for some time. In the past there were certain criticisms for this due to quality issues. A good internet connection is required, which in the past wasn’t always something that could be relied upon. Any internet inference leads to call interference, which was deemed unacceptable by many, leading to criticisms of call centres. This limited the numbers wishing to adopt VoIP; while they could save money the services they were offering was being negatively impacted.

As quality has improved this has become less of a factor. Call centres can still save money but it doesn’t have to lead to a lesser service. As a result more and more call centres are using VoIP with this trend likely to continue in the future. It is no longer seen as a risk and call centres can be confident it will help them deliver a good quality service.

Andrew Marshall ©

Humorous Excuses For Not Paying a TV Licence

The BBC has reported that 400,000 people were caught watching television without a TV licence in 2012. The reasons given for them not being paid include genuine errors, but also some humorous excuses.

There are a number of reasons for genuine errors that lead people to believe they don’t have to pay for a TV licence when, in fact, they do. Students who are living in halls of residence are one such example. They may believe that having a TV licence in an entire hall or flat is all that is required, whereas in reality they require one for each apartment. Each apartment/room has their own lock and they are numbered as separate flats, meaning they count as one flat and require a television licence each.

When a TV licence is and isn’t required can be another area of confusion. For example, people can or cannot watch different types of television through the BBC iPlayer without paying the licence fee. If live TV is viewed through the BBC iPlayer then a TV licence is required by law. If it is only used for on-demand television, however, then a TV licence is not required meaning people can watch programmes that were viewed the previous day, for example, without paying the licence fee.

The fees gathered from people paying a TV licence fee go towards funding the BBC and has to be paid by all television viewers even if they don’t watch any BBC channels. Bizarrely, those who only watch satellite TV have to pay a licence fee while those who watch on-demand programmes on the BBC iPlayer don’t have to pay.

As mentioned earlier in this article, there have been some humorous excuses used by some caught not paying their licence fee. Some of these are below:

Someone claimed that their dog is related to the Queen’s Corgi’s so they didn’t think they had to pay. Not sure this would make a difference even if they were related to the Queen’s Corgi’s… or even the Queen herself.

Another queried why they would have to pay for a TV licence for a TV they stole as no-one knew they had it. Two points here; firstly, you are not paying for a licence for a particular TV but to watch television, and secondly, confessing to the offense of not paying the licence fee is probably preferable to admitting to the crime of theft as well.

Somebody said their three year old son should pay as he is the only one who watches the television. I’m not sure a three year olds allowance would stretch that far and even if it did whether he could be expected to be aware of this particular law.

Losing weight was another excuse, with one guilty partly claiming that they had had to spend all their money on new clothes. Not wishing to pay for a full year because they might die in six months’ time and only paying for a black and white TV licence because they don’t watch much TV were two other attempts at excuses that were never likely to work.

There is constant debate regarding the TV licence. Some don’t believe they should be “funding the BBC”, as they see it, especially if they don’t watch their channels. Others believe it is worth the cost for the lack of adverts and the quality programming, such as documentaries, other broadcasters cannot afford to make.

Written by Lester Aldridge ©

The Importance of Branding

Getting the branding of a business right is crucial. Creating a positive reputation in the eyes of the public can play a large part in the growth of a business while a negative reputation can be extremely damaging.

The reputation a business gains may be based on a variety of factors. A major one, of course, is the work that a business has done and whether this is to their customer’s satisfaction. A positive reputation partly comes from pleasing customers and offering value for money. If a business is constantly upsetting customers their reputation will suffer. A reputation can, though, also be gained through the right marketing and branding; presenting a brand in a positive light.

Means of Enhancing a Brand

There are a number of avenues that can be utilised to get a company’s brand into the public consciousness. Having a memorable logo is one of these. Many brands become known due to their logo, or at least partly due to it. It can help a company to become better known and stand-out. It is usually part of a more holistic marketing approach, but an important part, and something that many businesses use to become more recognised. Advertising also plays an important role in branding; after all if people aren’t aware of a company they cannot purchase their products or services. How a business presents themselves in their advertising - whether it is through television adverts, online marketing, or other forms of advertising – will influence their reputation. It can help them appear modern, exciting or trustworthy. One of the other tools businesses use for branding is their website, something that is gaining in importance. Websites have become a great means of organisations being able to inform customers and potential customers and influence their reputation. It can be used to accentuate their positives. There are now social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, which can also be used to enhance a brand.

Impact of Branding

Good branding can play a large part in gaining the trust of the general public. It can be used to inform what a company does, how they do it and what they do well; how customers can benefit from using them. The right branding can be utilised to not only make the public aware of a business but to give them a positive reputation. Poor branding, on the other hand, can be disastrous. A negative reputation will have a major impact on the amount of business that is generated. A reputation can play on the subconscious mind of the public. As soon as a brand is mentioned many will have an instinctive picture in their mind based on their reputation and their branding.

The most successful brands are able to position themselves in a positive light to the public, or at least in the mind of those they see as their target audience. Therefore, deciding on branding is not a task that should be taken lightly. It is important to get it right and a small mistake can have troubling consequences for their reputation.

Andrew Marshall ©

Impact of Legal Aid Changes

There has been a lot of talk across the UK legal sector recently about the legal aid changes that have now come into force. As part of their cost saving strategy, the government is aiming to significantly reduce the amount spent on legal aid each year. Their target is to reduce the previous figure of around £2.2 billion a year by £350 million.

The government’s stated aim is to safeguard legal aid for those who really need it by ensuring there isn’t wastage elsewhere. They have therefore made reforms to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO).

There will be a number of areas of law that will be hit the most, namely family law, employment law, clinical negligence law and immigration law. Those going through divorce or separation are no longer able to claim legal aid in most cases. This includes separations that impact children, something that has been highly criticised. Those taking legal action against a former employer, for example those claiming unfair dismissal, will also be impacted. An area of law which is often referred to when discussing wastage is negligence and these changes will make it more difficult for many to gain compensation in situations of clinical negligence. Another area where there will be an impact is immigration where a person is not detained.

There will be some areas where legal aid will still be available within family law and immigration law. Some involved in family law cases where domestic violence can be proven, child abduction has occurred or someone has been forced into marriage will still be entitled to legal aid. It will also still be available in asylum cases.

There are fears amongst many in the legal sector that these cuts could have a major negative impact on certain areas of law. According to the Guardian, research has suggested that 25 percent of lawyers and advisors fear the knock-on effect will lose them their jobs. Another concern is that many will be unable to afford good legal advice and will take the law into their own hands as a result; that more people will attempt to represent themselves.

A general consensus is that vulnerable people will suffer, with some claiming it is an attack on the poor. While wealthier members of society will always be able to afford legal representation, some cannot, and this could mean that those without the necessary funds will not be able to carry out justifiable legal action in certain circumstances. For example, those impacted by medical negligence might not be able to begin proceedings for compensation which they may be fully entitled to. There has clearly been wastage in this sector, and it is right that this is looked at, but the danger is that it will lead to people not getting the compensation they are entitled to. These changes could lead to people remaining in unhappy marriages, and children remaining in unhappy households, as divorce becomes unaffordable to some. There are suggestions that there will be instances where one party in a separation will be able to afford legal representation while the other will not be able to, meaning the wealthier party is more likely to come out of a divorce better placed.

There certainly is the opportunity to save costs within the legal sector, but is ending legal aid in certain legal sectors really the best way of saving money? When looking to save on costs it is difficult to get the balance right. The reality is that money can be saved in legal aid and there are circumstances where legal aid isn’t required. Rather than targeting whole areas of legislation, though, would it not make more sense to reduce the amount people are entitled to or the number of people who qualify? For example, the threshold of those who can receive financial assistance could be changed. It is important to support those who need it, while not using tax payer’s money unnecessarily. If the government is attempting to safeguard legal aid for those who really need it, why are they taking its availability completely away from certain sectors?   

Andrew Marshall ©