Being a good web designer and graphic designer can be very different things. Although there are some similarities, they are different mediums and the design considerations can vary.
With a website the design must work on a computer screen as opposed to a poster or leaflet. This needs to be taken into consideration with the design. The good thing about a webpage is that there is the option of scrolling. That said, this doesn’t mean it can be an endless size as this can frustrate visitors. One thing that designers have to be careful with is images as they cannot be larger than the screen, and should preferable be much smaller. There is more license when it comes to image size with graphic design as, in theory, they can be a large as the designer (and client) wishes.
Another thing that needs to be considered with web design that is not relevant for graphic design is the amount of time it takes to load websites. Visitors will soon leave a site if it takes too long to load, so the site cannot take more than the web servers can take. It cannot, therefore, be overloaded with graphics as this will slow the site down.
The way a website acts in different browsers needs to be thought about during its design. Although this may be more of a web development issue, the original design from the web designer has to be realistic in different browsers as they can sometimes act differently to each other.
With print a colour design costs more than a black and white design due to the cost of printing colour. This is not the case with web design. It is on a computer screen so doesn’t cost more to produce. Colour wise there may be more room for maneuver when designing a website, whereas with print the budget needs to be considered.
The functionality of a website is a major concern during its design. It is possibly even more important than the design, as a website is completely useless if it doesn’t work properly. All the features must perform as intended so the designer must think about what is and what is not possible. This is a completely redundant consideration for graphic design. While graphic design is more about just the design and message, web design also has to incorporate technical elements. Therefore it can be a good idea for designers to work with programmers who will better understand the technical limitations.
Both web designers and graphic designers need to think about the overall layout of their work, with the types of layouts that work for each not necessarily the same. What is generally acceptable for each medium needs consideration as does what works in the space. For example, the layout of the graphic design on a poster and in a leaflet will work differently to each other.
The main aim of graphic design is generally about advertising. With something like a billboard the aim is to catch the interest of a passer-by. There is more license with images and graphics and getting the right message across is the most important thing. With web design the aim is also to hook in the viewer but information might be more important than a single message. The intention is usually for a visitor to look at the site in more depth, to purchase something from the website, or to contact the company. Graphic design might be more about brand awareness that eventually leads to a sale.
Andrew Marshall ©
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
What is Video Conferencing?
Video conferencing is a way of holding meetings with people who are not in the same room. It makes it possible to have a meeting with someone in different parts of the country or even the other side of the world. Holding video conferences can save on travel time and costs and for this reason they are becoming more popular across business.
Video conferences use video and audio technology so different parties can see and hear each other. A conferencing room is set up using a computer, camera (webcam), microphone and broadband internet connection.
A typical video conference will take place between people in two difference meeting rooms, or video conferencing rooms. They will usually comprise of a group of people in each room sitting along the same side of a desk with a large screen in front of them. They will be able to see those in the other meeting room on the screen and hear them through the speakers. A camera is placed in front of each group and films them. This is then relayed to those on the other side of the video conference. Both rooms work in the same way with each group being filmed and recorded and it being instantly shown via the large video screen and heard via the speakers. The internet is used to transmit the images and voices so a fast connection is required. This means a broadband connection is needed as a break in something being recorded and relayed would not mean a smooth running meeting.
There are a number of ways that video conferencing can be set up, and the type that is most cost effective is dependent on how regularly a business will utilise it. Businesses can have their own video conferencing suits set up which is useful if they regularly have video conferences as it ends up being cost effective over a period of time. Another option is to use a professional video conferencing company, with two different options. One is for them to set up the video conferencing equipment when businesses require it, although this can be expensive. The other option is to hire a video conferencing room from a video conferencing companies premises, something that is often a better choice for those who only require them for occasions use. In this case businesses don’t have to pay for the set up costs and can just hire it when they need it.
Video conferencing allows two groups of people to have a meeting wherever in the world they are. It is therefore especially useful for international business. If they have customers abroad who they need to have meetings with or branches across the globe it can be extremely helpful. It can save a lot of money on travel costs and means better productivity due to the travel time being saved. It has many of the advantages of physical face-to-face meetings with people able to see each other’s facial expressions and see when someone is about to talk or has finished talking.
Andrew Marshall ©
Video conferences use video and audio technology so different parties can see and hear each other. A conferencing room is set up using a computer, camera (webcam), microphone and broadband internet connection.
A typical video conference will take place between people in two difference meeting rooms, or video conferencing rooms. They will usually comprise of a group of people in each room sitting along the same side of a desk with a large screen in front of them. They will be able to see those in the other meeting room on the screen and hear them through the speakers. A camera is placed in front of each group and films them. This is then relayed to those on the other side of the video conference. Both rooms work in the same way with each group being filmed and recorded and it being instantly shown via the large video screen and heard via the speakers. The internet is used to transmit the images and voices so a fast connection is required. This means a broadband connection is needed as a break in something being recorded and relayed would not mean a smooth running meeting.
There are a number of ways that video conferencing can be set up, and the type that is most cost effective is dependent on how regularly a business will utilise it. Businesses can have their own video conferencing suits set up which is useful if they regularly have video conferences as it ends up being cost effective over a period of time. Another option is to use a professional video conferencing company, with two different options. One is for them to set up the video conferencing equipment when businesses require it, although this can be expensive. The other option is to hire a video conferencing room from a video conferencing companies premises, something that is often a better choice for those who only require them for occasions use. In this case businesses don’t have to pay for the set up costs and can just hire it when they need it.
Video conferencing allows two groups of people to have a meeting wherever in the world they are. It is therefore especially useful for international business. If they have customers abroad who they need to have meetings with or branches across the globe it can be extremely helpful. It can save a lot of money on travel costs and means better productivity due to the travel time being saved. It has many of the advantages of physical face-to-face meetings with people able to see each other’s facial expressions and see when someone is about to talk or has finished talking.
Andrew Marshall ©
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Junior ISA Allowance: You Don’t Need it All to Take Advantage
The new Junior ISA scheme, also known as the JISA, will be up and running in November and will give parents a way of being able to make tax free investments on behalf of their children. This articles looks at some ways that parents could look at this opportunity to benefit their child once they turn eighteen and how you don’t need to maximise the JISA allowance for it to make a difference.
One thing some parents did when the child trust fund was in operation was to pay the child benefit they received on behalf of their child into their child trust fund. If you can afford to forego child benefit you could do this with the Junior ISA. For their first child parents currently receive £20.30 a week, with a £13.40 payment for all other children. Paying £20.30 into a Junior ISA every week over an eighteen year period will add up to £1,055.60 a year and over £19,000 in total. This is a significant amount of money that a child could have put aside for them.
A lot has been made of the £3,600 a year allowance, but you don’t need to use this full amount every year for your child to greatly benefit from the scheme. £10 a week, for example, could make a big difference over the lengthy period of eighteen years. That would be the equivalent of £520 a year, which is over £3,000 less than the allowance, but still almost £10,000 in total. And that is before interest on any investments is taken into consideration.
What about those who aren’t able to put aside £10 a week? Would £10 a month be enough to make a difference? The answer is yes – that would be over £2,000 in total. It may not enable your child to buy a home but it could pay for driving lessons, for example, which is something many teenagers struggle to find the money for.
Utilising the advantages of the Junior ISA scheme could pay for your child’s living costs while at university. The way tuition fees are paid for will be changing with parents no longer able to fund this for their children. Instead they must take a loan out (something the majority are already having to). There are, of course, also living costs that need to be paid for, something parents can help with. This will mean not having to borrow more above what they need for their fees. If you can invest £500 a year the Junior ISA should cover this. That is just under £42 a month.
The average price of a second hand car is currently around £5,000, and saving towards a Junior ISA could effectively be the equivalent of you buying your child a car when they turn eighteen. £23 a month will result in around £5,000 being paid in the JISA. Car prices will go up, but the interest on the Junior ISA investment should take care of any rises in inflation.
If you are in the position of being able to put £185 a month towards your child’s Junior ISA it could be enough to pay for the deposit on a home. With the average first-time home owner now thirty-eight years of age being able to buy one at eighteen could be a major benefit to a young adult.
As the above shows, you don’t need to be able to maximise the Junior ISA payments to significantly help your child as he or she approaches adulthood. Anything is better than nothing, and even investing a small amount per month could make a big difference over an eighteen year period.
Andrew Marshall ©
One thing some parents did when the child trust fund was in operation was to pay the child benefit they received on behalf of their child into their child trust fund. If you can afford to forego child benefit you could do this with the Junior ISA. For their first child parents currently receive £20.30 a week, with a £13.40 payment for all other children. Paying £20.30 into a Junior ISA every week over an eighteen year period will add up to £1,055.60 a year and over £19,000 in total. This is a significant amount of money that a child could have put aside for them.
A lot has been made of the £3,600 a year allowance, but you don’t need to use this full amount every year for your child to greatly benefit from the scheme. £10 a week, for example, could make a big difference over the lengthy period of eighteen years. That would be the equivalent of £520 a year, which is over £3,000 less than the allowance, but still almost £10,000 in total. And that is before interest on any investments is taken into consideration.
What about those who aren’t able to put aside £10 a week? Would £10 a month be enough to make a difference? The answer is yes – that would be over £2,000 in total. It may not enable your child to buy a home but it could pay for driving lessons, for example, which is something many teenagers struggle to find the money for.
Utilising the advantages of the Junior ISA scheme could pay for your child’s living costs while at university. The way tuition fees are paid for will be changing with parents no longer able to fund this for their children. Instead they must take a loan out (something the majority are already having to). There are, of course, also living costs that need to be paid for, something parents can help with. This will mean not having to borrow more above what they need for their fees. If you can invest £500 a year the Junior ISA should cover this. That is just under £42 a month.
The average price of a second hand car is currently around £5,000, and saving towards a Junior ISA could effectively be the equivalent of you buying your child a car when they turn eighteen. £23 a month will result in around £5,000 being paid in the JISA. Car prices will go up, but the interest on the Junior ISA investment should take care of any rises in inflation.
If you are in the position of being able to put £185 a month towards your child’s Junior ISA it could be enough to pay for the deposit on a home. With the average first-time home owner now thirty-eight years of age being able to buy one at eighteen could be a major benefit to a young adult.
As the above shows, you don’t need to be able to maximise the Junior ISA payments to significantly help your child as he or she approaches adulthood. Anything is better than nothing, and even investing a small amount per month could make a big difference over an eighteen year period.
Andrew Marshall ©
Friday, September 23, 2011
Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in Central London and Commuting
If you are working in London should you live in the City itself, or live further outside commuting to and from work every day? Much of the decision comes down to personal preference, but this article covers some of the advantages and disadvantages of both.
Advantages of Living in Central London
If you are working in central London then living in the City will mean a shorter journey to work. You might even be able to walk to work, something that is a lot easier and quicker than commuting by public transport or car.
In London everything is on your door step and there is lots to do. Whatever you need, it is not far away. Whether it is music venues, the theatre or sports events you are interested in, there is always something happening close by. These are easy to get to and do not need prior planning as it might if you weren’t living in the city. If eating out there are also lots of options.
Public transport is cheaper and more convenient that in other parts of the country, meaning less need for a car and money savings. Because everything is nearby you don’t have to travel as far even when you are using public transport. A single journey on the underground can be as little as £1.50 with an Oyster card; the equivalent journey by bus outside of the city is likely to be significantly more. Over time this can make a big difference.
Disadvantages of Living in Central London
The main reason some working in central London don’t choose to live there is the cost. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world, with house price, if renting or buying, having increased rapidly over time. This can mean having to live in an area you would otherwise choose not to. Council tax and other housing related costs can also be higher than outside of the City.
With so many people living and visiting London there is always a lot of people around. This can lead to a feeling of claustrophobia, with overcrowding and noise. It can be difficult to get away from the hustle and bustle of the City. There are also higher levels of pollution and crime.
Advantages of Commuting
With one of the main disadvantages of living in the City being the cost of housing, a major advantage of living outside can be savings in this area. If living in the suburbs of London prices are hardly cheap, but compared with central London they can be significantly less. The prices of other things, such as eating out, are also cheaper.
The suburbs are typically quieter than the City. To many people, living in a leafy suburb such as Wimbledon or Richmond is more pleasant than the noise of central London.
Depending on where you live, it can be easy to get into the countryside, something that can take several hours from central London. So if you fancy it, you can make a spur of the moment decision to go into the countryside without taking a whole day out.
Disadvantages of Commuting
A major disadvantage is the commute itself, especially if living a significant distance away from where you work. The longer it takes to get to and from work the less free time you will have. This can be tiring and expensive.
Another downside of living outside of the City is that there is comparably less to do. The options of central London are not there.
The City or Outside?
We all have different ideas of the perfect lifestyle. Some prefer the busyness of the City where there is always something happening, while others prefer the relative tranquility of living further afield.
In terms of cost, living in London is generally more expensive than living outside the City. However, some areas close to London can be very expensive too, while the costs of commuting to and from work also need to be considered.
Andrew Marshall ©
Advantages of Living in Central London
If you are working in central London then living in the City will mean a shorter journey to work. You might even be able to walk to work, something that is a lot easier and quicker than commuting by public transport or car.
In London everything is on your door step and there is lots to do. Whatever you need, it is not far away. Whether it is music venues, the theatre or sports events you are interested in, there is always something happening close by. These are easy to get to and do not need prior planning as it might if you weren’t living in the city. If eating out there are also lots of options.
Public transport is cheaper and more convenient that in other parts of the country, meaning less need for a car and money savings. Because everything is nearby you don’t have to travel as far even when you are using public transport. A single journey on the underground can be as little as £1.50 with an Oyster card; the equivalent journey by bus outside of the city is likely to be significantly more. Over time this can make a big difference.
Disadvantages of Living in Central London
The main reason some working in central London don’t choose to live there is the cost. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world, with house price, if renting or buying, having increased rapidly over time. This can mean having to live in an area you would otherwise choose not to. Council tax and other housing related costs can also be higher than outside of the City.
With so many people living and visiting London there is always a lot of people around. This can lead to a feeling of claustrophobia, with overcrowding and noise. It can be difficult to get away from the hustle and bustle of the City. There are also higher levels of pollution and crime.
Advantages of Commuting
With one of the main disadvantages of living in the City being the cost of housing, a major advantage of living outside can be savings in this area. If living in the suburbs of London prices are hardly cheap, but compared with central London they can be significantly less. The prices of other things, such as eating out, are also cheaper.
The suburbs are typically quieter than the City. To many people, living in a leafy suburb such as Wimbledon or Richmond is more pleasant than the noise of central London.
Depending on where you live, it can be easy to get into the countryside, something that can take several hours from central London. So if you fancy it, you can make a spur of the moment decision to go into the countryside without taking a whole day out.
Disadvantages of Commuting
A major disadvantage is the commute itself, especially if living a significant distance away from where you work. The longer it takes to get to and from work the less free time you will have. This can be tiring and expensive.
Another downside of living outside of the City is that there is comparably less to do. The options of central London are not there.
The City or Outside?
We all have different ideas of the perfect lifestyle. Some prefer the busyness of the City where there is always something happening, while others prefer the relative tranquility of living further afield.
In terms of cost, living in London is generally more expensive than living outside the City. However, some areas close to London can be very expensive too, while the costs of commuting to and from work also need to be considered.
Andrew Marshall ©
Food Packaging Considerations
There are many things that need thinking about when the right food packaging is being chosen. There are legal, practical, safety and cost issues to consider.
Packaging needs to offer protection, although the specific factors are dependent on the product. The product needs to be held within the packaging, for example in cannot leak. It can’t rip or break easily so needs to be strong enough, and might need to protect against temperature.
Food has to be labeled by law, although again the specific laws vary between different items. Below is the information that may need to be included on labeling:
Name of the product
Ingredients
Nutritional information
Instructions for use
Storage conditions
Place of origin
Warnings
Best before date
Use by date
Some types of food products need to be child protected so they cannot be easily opened by children. This means certain items may have safety mechanisms. Whatever the product the safety of the packaging itself must be considered; for example it can’t be too sharp so it is easy for it to cause injury. The packaging must also not impact the safety of the food negatively, so it cannot contaminate the product, for example ink leakage into the food must be avoided.
Distribution needs to be taken into consideration when packaging so products are easier to distribute. This can not only save on work but, in the long run, can save on costs.
The way that food looks in its packaging is important to retailers. They obviously want to sell as much as possible and packaging can be used as a marketing tool to make it seem appealing.
Like everything in business, cost always needs to be thought about. The cheaper packaging is the better, but all the above factors also need considering. Packaging needs to be affordable so a decent profit can be made post-sale.
Different types of food need different types of packaging. Below are some examples.
For meat and fish products contamination is an important issue. Contaminating other products can cause health issues so must be avoided at all costs, whether it is being transported, is on the shop shelves, is in the customer’s shopping basket, or in the customer’s home. Meat and fish packaging is often see-through so it looks attractive and customers can see what they are buying.
Drinks and other liquids are sold in cans or bottles. These are secure and prevent leakage. Certain drinks need to remains fresh while others might react badly with certain materials. It is also important the packaging stays in line with customer expectations. For example, you won’t find wine in a plastic bottle, while water won’t appear in a can.
The practicality of packaging for frozen foods needs thinking about. Due to where they will be placed (in the freezers) the packaging can’t be negatively affected by the cold by causing it to soak through or break in any way.
There are many things that need thinking about when choosing packaging suppliers. Different foods require different packaging, while any safety issues and cost issues need consideration.
Andrew Marshall ©
Packaging needs to offer protection, although the specific factors are dependent on the product. The product needs to be held within the packaging, for example in cannot leak. It can’t rip or break easily so needs to be strong enough, and might need to protect against temperature.
Food has to be labeled by law, although again the specific laws vary between different items. Below is the information that may need to be included on labeling:
Name of the product
Ingredients
Nutritional information
Instructions for use
Storage conditions
Place of origin
Warnings
Best before date
Use by date
Some types of food products need to be child protected so they cannot be easily opened by children. This means certain items may have safety mechanisms. Whatever the product the safety of the packaging itself must be considered; for example it can’t be too sharp so it is easy for it to cause injury. The packaging must also not impact the safety of the food negatively, so it cannot contaminate the product, for example ink leakage into the food must be avoided.
Distribution needs to be taken into consideration when packaging so products are easier to distribute. This can not only save on work but, in the long run, can save on costs.
The way that food looks in its packaging is important to retailers. They obviously want to sell as much as possible and packaging can be used as a marketing tool to make it seem appealing.
Like everything in business, cost always needs to be thought about. The cheaper packaging is the better, but all the above factors also need considering. Packaging needs to be affordable so a decent profit can be made post-sale.
Different types of food need different types of packaging. Below are some examples.
For meat and fish products contamination is an important issue. Contaminating other products can cause health issues so must be avoided at all costs, whether it is being transported, is on the shop shelves, is in the customer’s shopping basket, or in the customer’s home. Meat and fish packaging is often see-through so it looks attractive and customers can see what they are buying.
Drinks and other liquids are sold in cans or bottles. These are secure and prevent leakage. Certain drinks need to remains fresh while others might react badly with certain materials. It is also important the packaging stays in line with customer expectations. For example, you won’t find wine in a plastic bottle, while water won’t appear in a can.
The practicality of packaging for frozen foods needs thinking about. Due to where they will be placed (in the freezers) the packaging can’t be negatively affected by the cold by causing it to soak through or break in any way.
There are many things that need thinking about when choosing packaging suppliers. Different foods require different packaging, while any safety issues and cost issues need consideration.
Andrew Marshall ©
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Famous Computer Viruses
Computer viruses have bought misery to millions of computer users around the world. It is one of the negatives of the computer world we live in today. This article takes a look at ten of the world’s most famous Computer Viruses.
Morris Worm
The Morris Worm goes back to 1988. Its creator claimed the program was invented to crawl the internet (at this stage in its very early days) to investigate its size. It did, however, cause major damage to computers. It was capable of infecting computers many times over, each time causing more problems and potentially resulting in it eventually becoming unusable.
Michelangelo Virus
This was given its name due to it being programmed to attack on 6th March, the date of Michelangelo’s birthday. Once installed on a computer it lay dormant, with all infected computers being attacked on the same date. The virus caused massive data loss.
Melissa Virus
This was named after a topless dancer in Florida. It was spread via emails which contained a Microsoft Word document. Once the document was opened it infected the computer and sent the same email to the first fifty addresses in the receiver’s email address book. Large corporations and organisations were infected, including some government networks.
I Love You Virus
The I Love You virus appeared in emails titled “I love you” with an attached text file, which the email claimed was a love letter. When this was opened it would attack the computer and send it to all email addresses in the recipient’s address book. This meant it quickly spread widely. Along with millions of other computers across the world, it infected the White House and Pentagon computers.
Conficker Virus
The Conficker virus infected millions of Windows users including the British and French military computer networks. It linked infected computers and could be controlled by a central computer, run by its creators.
Bugbear
This virus copied itself to the hard drive of computers via Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer but exploiting a security hole. Once installed onto a computer it was also capable of infecting any computers it shared a network with. So, if it infected one computer within a business network it could soon infect the entire network. The virus was also sent to others in the address book of the receiver. Bugbear copied any usernames, passwords and bank details the user typed into their computer and sent this information via email.
Code Red Virus
This attacked a large number of websites and meant that instead of viewing a website, visitors would see a message stating that the website had been hacked. Amongst the websites it infected were a number of US government sites.
Nimda Virus
This first attacked exactly a week after 9/11 and was therefore thought to be connected, something that was later found not to be the case. Unlike most computer viruses, it spread in several different ways, including via email, across shared networks, and to those who had browsed infected websites. It targeted computers using Microsoft Windows.
Sasser Virus
This exploited holes in Microsoft Windows and caused computers to shut down. Some large organisations and corporations were impacted, including the European Commission, British Airways and Goldman Sachs.
Blaster Virus
Blaster attacked computers using the Microsoft Windows XP and 2000 operating systems. It caused the overuse of memory and therefore eventually resulted in computers crashing. The virus would start up again every time the computer was restarted.
Andrew Marshall ©
Morris Worm
The Morris Worm goes back to 1988. Its creator claimed the program was invented to crawl the internet (at this stage in its very early days) to investigate its size. It did, however, cause major damage to computers. It was capable of infecting computers many times over, each time causing more problems and potentially resulting in it eventually becoming unusable.
Michelangelo Virus
This was given its name due to it being programmed to attack on 6th March, the date of Michelangelo’s birthday. Once installed on a computer it lay dormant, with all infected computers being attacked on the same date. The virus caused massive data loss.
Melissa Virus
This was named after a topless dancer in Florida. It was spread via emails which contained a Microsoft Word document. Once the document was opened it infected the computer and sent the same email to the first fifty addresses in the receiver’s email address book. Large corporations and organisations were infected, including some government networks.
I Love You Virus
The I Love You virus appeared in emails titled “I love you” with an attached text file, which the email claimed was a love letter. When this was opened it would attack the computer and send it to all email addresses in the recipient’s address book. This meant it quickly spread widely. Along with millions of other computers across the world, it infected the White House and Pentagon computers.
Conficker Virus
The Conficker virus infected millions of Windows users including the British and French military computer networks. It linked infected computers and could be controlled by a central computer, run by its creators.
Bugbear
This virus copied itself to the hard drive of computers via Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer but exploiting a security hole. Once installed onto a computer it was also capable of infecting any computers it shared a network with. So, if it infected one computer within a business network it could soon infect the entire network. The virus was also sent to others in the address book of the receiver. Bugbear copied any usernames, passwords and bank details the user typed into their computer and sent this information via email.
Code Red Virus
This attacked a large number of websites and meant that instead of viewing a website, visitors would see a message stating that the website had been hacked. Amongst the websites it infected were a number of US government sites.
Nimda Virus
This first attacked exactly a week after 9/11 and was therefore thought to be connected, something that was later found not to be the case. Unlike most computer viruses, it spread in several different ways, including via email, across shared networks, and to those who had browsed infected websites. It targeted computers using Microsoft Windows.
Sasser Virus
This exploited holes in Microsoft Windows and caused computers to shut down. Some large organisations and corporations were impacted, including the European Commission, British Airways and Goldman Sachs.
Blaster Virus
Blaster attacked computers using the Microsoft Windows XP and 2000 operating systems. It caused the overuse of memory and therefore eventually resulted in computers crashing. The virus would start up again every time the computer was restarted.
Andrew Marshall ©
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Using a VPN to Work from Home
A VPN can allow employees to work from home more easily and safely. It allows them to have access to a company’s network when they are away from the office, something that enables them to be just as productive when out of the office as when in it. A VPN allows for this to be done more securely than using other methods; a safe network can be maintained and unauthorised users cannot gain access to any confidential information.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is effectively an extension of a private network. Instead of just having access to a business’s network in the office, it is also possible to have access from remote locations, such as at home. This is accessed via the internet but is still a private network so others cannot gain access.
Advantages of Virtual Networks
Virtual networks have a number of advantages over “non-virtual” networks. There is no need for leased lines, which is good for practical reasons and for cost reasons. This means that despite not needing to be physically connected to the network it is possible to gain access from a computer anywhere. Wires are not needed to connect a computer directly to the network; instead the internet is used.
How a VPN Works
A VPN is a private network using a public network. A public network, such as the internet, is used to connect to a business’s private network (the VPN), which can only be accessed by those with the relevant permissions.
With a virtual private network there is a Network Access Server (NAS) where the network’s data is held. This is essentially a hub where all data is stored, and it transfers to other computers from here. A user connects to the NAS using the internet. They can then access the data held on the NAS. Different permissions can be given to different users, meaning each can access the data they need to do their job without accessing areas not relevant to them.
VPN Client
The VPN Client is the software that each user installs on their computer to allow them to access the VPN. Once on their computer, the VPN can be accessed using a secure username and password. They will then be able to access the data that they have been authorised to view.
Why is a VPN more Secure?
When data is transferred over a VPN it is encrypted, or scrabbled. This means that should a human be able to intercept it, they will not be able to make sense of it and it will be useless to them. The data is then decrypted into its original form once it reaches its destination.
Many businesses these days utilise VPN’s so employees can work at home, especially those who are involved in dealing with secure information. A VPN is a simpler system for allowing people to work from home, as they can access a company’s network without the need for leased lines. By using encryption, it also means data travelling over the network is secure.
Andrew Marshall ©
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is effectively an extension of a private network. Instead of just having access to a business’s network in the office, it is also possible to have access from remote locations, such as at home. This is accessed via the internet but is still a private network so others cannot gain access.
Advantages of Virtual Networks
Virtual networks have a number of advantages over “non-virtual” networks. There is no need for leased lines, which is good for practical reasons and for cost reasons. This means that despite not needing to be physically connected to the network it is possible to gain access from a computer anywhere. Wires are not needed to connect a computer directly to the network; instead the internet is used.
How a VPN Works
A VPN is a private network using a public network. A public network, such as the internet, is used to connect to a business’s private network (the VPN), which can only be accessed by those with the relevant permissions.
With a virtual private network there is a Network Access Server (NAS) where the network’s data is held. This is essentially a hub where all data is stored, and it transfers to other computers from here. A user connects to the NAS using the internet. They can then access the data held on the NAS. Different permissions can be given to different users, meaning each can access the data they need to do their job without accessing areas not relevant to them.
VPN Client
The VPN Client is the software that each user installs on their computer to allow them to access the VPN. Once on their computer, the VPN can be accessed using a secure username and password. They will then be able to access the data that they have been authorised to view.
Why is a VPN more Secure?
When data is transferred over a VPN it is encrypted, or scrabbled. This means that should a human be able to intercept it, they will not be able to make sense of it and it will be useless to them. The data is then decrypted into its original form once it reaches its destination.
Many businesses these days utilise VPN’s so employees can work at home, especially those who are involved in dealing with secure information. A VPN is a simpler system for allowing people to work from home, as they can access a company’s network without the need for leased lines. By using encryption, it also means data travelling over the network is secure.
Andrew Marshall ©
Monday, September 19, 2011
The World’s Top 5 Stock Exchanges
The world’s top five largest stock exchanges in terms of market capitalization are New York, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, Tokyo, London and Shanghai. This is a brief introduction to each of these.
New York Stock Exchange
With a market capitalization of its listed companies at $13.39 trillion at the end of 2010, the New York Stock Exchange is the world’s biggest. The average trading value is over $150 billion a day. The New York Stock Exchange is located in the world famous Wall Street in Lower Manhattan and has been operated by NYSE Euronext since 2007 when there was a merger with the fully electronic stock exchange, Euronext. A stock exchange in New York goes back to 1792 when the so-called Buttonwood Agreement was signed by twenty-four stock brokers outside of 68 Wall Street under a Buttonwood Tree. This became the New York Stock and Exchange Board in 1817 and changed to its current name in 1863.
NASDAQ Stock Exchange
The NASDAQ is also based in New York. It was founded in 1871 by the National Associates of Securities Dealers. It was the world’s first electronic stock exchange and used a computer bulletin board system, but did not initially connect buyers and sellers. It helped lower the difference between the bid prices and asking prices of stock. It was eventually a successor to the OCT (over the counter) system. In the late twentieth century the NASDAQ added trade and volume reporting and automated trading systems and later became the first US stock market to trade online.
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The Tokyo Stock Exchange has over 2,000 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of almost $4 billion, the most in Asia. It was originally established in 1878. In 1943 it combined with ten other stock exchanges throughout Japan to form a single Japanese stock exchange. This was, though, soon impacted by World War II, when it was shut down. It was re-established in May 1949. The stock exchange grew massively during the 1980’s, and in 1990 accounted for 60% of the world’s stock market capitalization. However, it then crashed. It has recovered since, but is not as large as it once was.
London Stock Exchange
The trading of shares in London began due to two voyages, one to China and one to India, needing to be financed. This was in the 1680’s and proved a big success. Shares were sold to merchants in exchange for a share of any future profits. A trend had begun and other types of organisations and businesses followed suit. In 1697 it became necessary for all traders to be licensed. This idea was introduced because there had been several problems arising from insider trading. For a long time non-British citizens could not become member of the London Stock Exchange, with this eventually changed as late as the 1970’s. In 2005 and 2006 there were takeover bids from the Macquarie Bank and the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, though both were rejected. There is though, a 28% stake owned by The Borse Dubai stock exchange.
Shanghai Stock Exchange
The market for Securities trading began in Shanghai in the late 1860’s when several banks were established. In the 1890’s there was a boom in mining shares and foreign businessmen founded the Shanghai Sharebrokers Association headquarters in the City. In the early years it mostly consisted of the exchange of securities of local companies. In the 1920’s the Shanghai Securities and Commodities and the Shanghai Chinese Merchant Exchange operated separately, but were merged in 1929. This officially became the Shanghai Stock Exchange. With Shanghai occupied by the Japanese Army in 1941, the stock exchange was closed down. This was re-opened in 1946 but closed again after the Communist Revolution in 1949. A stock market was opened again in 1978, with the Shanghai Stock Exchange re-established in 1990. It has seen steady growth since and is now the fifth biggest stock exchange, and continuing to grow along with the Chinese economy.
Andrew Marshall ©
New York Stock Exchange
With a market capitalization of its listed companies at $13.39 trillion at the end of 2010, the New York Stock Exchange is the world’s biggest. The average trading value is over $150 billion a day. The New York Stock Exchange is located in the world famous Wall Street in Lower Manhattan and has been operated by NYSE Euronext since 2007 when there was a merger with the fully electronic stock exchange, Euronext. A stock exchange in New York goes back to 1792 when the so-called Buttonwood Agreement was signed by twenty-four stock brokers outside of 68 Wall Street under a Buttonwood Tree. This became the New York Stock and Exchange Board in 1817 and changed to its current name in 1863.
NASDAQ Stock Exchange
The NASDAQ is also based in New York. It was founded in 1871 by the National Associates of Securities Dealers. It was the world’s first electronic stock exchange and used a computer bulletin board system, but did not initially connect buyers and sellers. It helped lower the difference between the bid prices and asking prices of stock. It was eventually a successor to the OCT (over the counter) system. In the late twentieth century the NASDAQ added trade and volume reporting and automated trading systems and later became the first US stock market to trade online.
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The Tokyo Stock Exchange has over 2,000 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of almost $4 billion, the most in Asia. It was originally established in 1878. In 1943 it combined with ten other stock exchanges throughout Japan to form a single Japanese stock exchange. This was, though, soon impacted by World War II, when it was shut down. It was re-established in May 1949. The stock exchange grew massively during the 1980’s, and in 1990 accounted for 60% of the world’s stock market capitalization. However, it then crashed. It has recovered since, but is not as large as it once was.
London Stock Exchange
The trading of shares in London began due to two voyages, one to China and one to India, needing to be financed. This was in the 1680’s and proved a big success. Shares were sold to merchants in exchange for a share of any future profits. A trend had begun and other types of organisations and businesses followed suit. In 1697 it became necessary for all traders to be licensed. This idea was introduced because there had been several problems arising from insider trading. For a long time non-British citizens could not become member of the London Stock Exchange, with this eventually changed as late as the 1970’s. In 2005 and 2006 there were takeover bids from the Macquarie Bank and the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, though both were rejected. There is though, a 28% stake owned by The Borse Dubai stock exchange.
Shanghai Stock Exchange
The market for Securities trading began in Shanghai in the late 1860’s when several banks were established. In the 1890’s there was a boom in mining shares and foreign businessmen founded the Shanghai Sharebrokers Association headquarters in the City. In the early years it mostly consisted of the exchange of securities of local companies. In the 1920’s the Shanghai Securities and Commodities and the Shanghai Chinese Merchant Exchange operated separately, but were merged in 1929. This officially became the Shanghai Stock Exchange. With Shanghai occupied by the Japanese Army in 1941, the stock exchange was closed down. This was re-opened in 1946 but closed again after the Communist Revolution in 1949. A stock market was opened again in 1978, with the Shanghai Stock Exchange re-established in 1990. It has seen steady growth since and is now the fifth biggest stock exchange, and continuing to grow along with the Chinese economy.
Andrew Marshall ©
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Divorce Statistics: Who Divorce Most?
Divorce statistics are just numbers, and are not necessarily representative of making divorce more or less likely. But let’s have a look at some of the statistics that show which groups divorce more or less often.
Age of Marriage
Divorce is more common amongst couples who marry young. Almost half of those who marry very young (under 18 years of age) divorce, with this reduced to around a quarter for those who marry after the age of 25. After the age of 25 the statistics don’t change much.
Divorce occurs more amongst couples where women are older, than where men are older or they are the same age. This is the case where an age gap is less than five years; where it is more than this the divorce ratio is higher whichever spouse is older.
Family Backgrounds
A higher percentage of people whose parents divorced end up going through a divorce themselves. This is even more the case where their parents re-married. Those bought up within a religion divorce less, with the specific statistics varying between different religions.
Cohabitation before Marriage
There are certain groups where cohabitation more regularly leads to marriage. These include those who value religion, those who come from families with higher education and higher income, and couples where the woman is employed.
Roughly half of couples who marry nowadays live together first. However, according to statistics this makes a long-lasting marriage less likely, with divorce more common amongst couples who had live together prior to marriage than those who did not. People who lived with more than one different partner before they got married divorce even more often.
Children before Marriage
Divorce is more common among those who have children prior to getting married. This is the case whether they have married the other parent of their child or not.
Second Marriages
A higher percentage of second marriages fail than first marriages. This is why the overall divorce rate is around 50%, with the divorce rate for first-time marriages only just over 30%. More second marriages fail if this marriage took place when one or both partners were from a single parent family, have a lower level of educations, or were under the age of 25 at the time of their second marriage.
Over half of those who marry for a second time are re-married within five years of their first marriage ending. This happens more for those with no children and higher incomes.
Children
Divorce occurs more where couples have daughters than sons, with a five percent difference. The difference is wider where there are several daughters compared to several sons. Couples who have had twins or triplets divorce more regularly than those who do not.
The Role of Men
According to statistics, the more men help out the less likely they are to divorce. This is the case whether it comes to cleaning, cooking, or playing an active role in bringing up children.
Obviously every relationship is different, and just because a couple fits some of the examples above does not mean divorce is more or less likely. It is, though, an interesting look at some generalisations when it comes to this subject.
Andrew Marshall ©
Age of Marriage
Divorce is more common amongst couples who marry young. Almost half of those who marry very young (under 18 years of age) divorce, with this reduced to around a quarter for those who marry after the age of 25. After the age of 25 the statistics don’t change much.
Divorce occurs more amongst couples where women are older, than where men are older or they are the same age. This is the case where an age gap is less than five years; where it is more than this the divorce ratio is higher whichever spouse is older.
Family Backgrounds
A higher percentage of people whose parents divorced end up going through a divorce themselves. This is even more the case where their parents re-married. Those bought up within a religion divorce less, with the specific statistics varying between different religions.
Cohabitation before Marriage
There are certain groups where cohabitation more regularly leads to marriage. These include those who value religion, those who come from families with higher education and higher income, and couples where the woman is employed.
Roughly half of couples who marry nowadays live together first. However, according to statistics this makes a long-lasting marriage less likely, with divorce more common amongst couples who had live together prior to marriage than those who did not. People who lived with more than one different partner before they got married divorce even more often.
Children before Marriage
Divorce is more common among those who have children prior to getting married. This is the case whether they have married the other parent of their child or not.
Second Marriages
A higher percentage of second marriages fail than first marriages. This is why the overall divorce rate is around 50%, with the divorce rate for first-time marriages only just over 30%. More second marriages fail if this marriage took place when one or both partners were from a single parent family, have a lower level of educations, or were under the age of 25 at the time of their second marriage.
Over half of those who marry for a second time are re-married within five years of their first marriage ending. This happens more for those with no children and higher incomes.
Children
Divorce occurs more where couples have daughters than sons, with a five percent difference. The difference is wider where there are several daughters compared to several sons. Couples who have had twins or triplets divorce more regularly than those who do not.
The Role of Men
According to statistics, the more men help out the less likely they are to divorce. This is the case whether it comes to cleaning, cooking, or playing an active role in bringing up children.
Obviously every relationship is different, and just because a couple fits some of the examples above does not mean divorce is more or less likely. It is, though, an interesting look at some generalisations when it comes to this subject.
Andrew Marshall ©
Employment Law when Dismissing an Employee
As an employer it is never something to look forward to, but there are times when someone needs to be dismissed from their job. To many businesses the rules of when and how an employee’s contract can be terminated can be confusing. This article tries to simplify this area of employment law.
There is a clear three-step procedure that should be followed that can eventually lead to someone being sacked from their job. They are a verbal warning, a written warning and a letter of dismissal. The verbal warning should be the first step to let an employee know that (s)he is not working or behaving as expected when at work. The aim of this is to change the employee’s behavior so they become a better asset to the company. Unfortunately, this change doesn’t always happen. This may lead to the employer wishing to issue a written warning, which can serve as a final warning to improve. If there is still no improvement then a contract can be terminated. This will involve a meeting and an official letter of dismissal.
There are only a few reasons why someone can be sacked, although many sub-reasons within each of these. These are outlined below.
Conduct of an employee - This covers the behaviour of an employee in the course of carrying out their job, whether directly impacting their own job or not. This can include not working the required hours (i.e. always getting to work late), an office worker spending half the day browsing the internet for non-work related websites, and inappropriately behaviour towards other employees.
Capabilities of an employee - Any job requires a certain amount of skill in a particular area. If it transpires that an employee is not capable of reaching this skills level they could be dismissed. This includes, but is not limited to, situations where an employee has lied about qualifications or experience. This is not the case where a role changes though – in this case an alternative role should be found for the employee or they could be made redundant.
Working illegally - Working illegally is….. well, illegal. If an employee is breaking the law to work or while at work then the book can be thrown at them. For example, they may not be able to legally work in the country or may be under the minimum working age (and have lied about this unknown to the employer). Committing a criminal offence related to the job, such as stealing from the company or other employees, is another possible reason for dismissal
Another substantial reason - This covers many other areas that are sackable offences.
It is important to make sure there is a valid reason for sacking someone, otherwise you could be sued for unfair dismissal. For example, you cannot discriminate against someone for any reason. You cannot dismiss someone for being on maternity leave or being off sick for a valid reason. It is also important to be consistent; you cannot give one person a warning and sack another for the same offence.
In most cases a dismissed employee is entitled to a notice period, usually the same period of notice they would have to give were they resigning. However, they can be asked to leave immediately but must be paid until the end of their notice period. So, if the notice period is four weeks they would be entitled to four weeks pay. Many employers prefer this as it prevents a difficult working atmosphere and any resulting bitterness on behalf of the employee. There are occasions when someone can be dismissed with immediately effect without being paid, for example cases of gross misconduct.
Andrew Marshall ©
There is a clear three-step procedure that should be followed that can eventually lead to someone being sacked from their job. They are a verbal warning, a written warning and a letter of dismissal. The verbal warning should be the first step to let an employee know that (s)he is not working or behaving as expected when at work. The aim of this is to change the employee’s behavior so they become a better asset to the company. Unfortunately, this change doesn’t always happen. This may lead to the employer wishing to issue a written warning, which can serve as a final warning to improve. If there is still no improvement then a contract can be terminated. This will involve a meeting and an official letter of dismissal.
There are only a few reasons why someone can be sacked, although many sub-reasons within each of these. These are outlined below.
Conduct of an employee - This covers the behaviour of an employee in the course of carrying out their job, whether directly impacting their own job or not. This can include not working the required hours (i.e. always getting to work late), an office worker spending half the day browsing the internet for non-work related websites, and inappropriately behaviour towards other employees.
Capabilities of an employee - Any job requires a certain amount of skill in a particular area. If it transpires that an employee is not capable of reaching this skills level they could be dismissed. This includes, but is not limited to, situations where an employee has lied about qualifications or experience. This is not the case where a role changes though – in this case an alternative role should be found for the employee or they could be made redundant.
Working illegally - Working illegally is….. well, illegal. If an employee is breaking the law to work or while at work then the book can be thrown at them. For example, they may not be able to legally work in the country or may be under the minimum working age (and have lied about this unknown to the employer). Committing a criminal offence related to the job, such as stealing from the company or other employees, is another possible reason for dismissal
Another substantial reason - This covers many other areas that are sackable offences.
It is important to make sure there is a valid reason for sacking someone, otherwise you could be sued for unfair dismissal. For example, you cannot discriminate against someone for any reason. You cannot dismiss someone for being on maternity leave or being off sick for a valid reason. It is also important to be consistent; you cannot give one person a warning and sack another for the same offence.
In most cases a dismissed employee is entitled to a notice period, usually the same period of notice they would have to give were they resigning. However, they can be asked to leave immediately but must be paid until the end of their notice period. So, if the notice period is four weeks they would be entitled to four weeks pay. Many employers prefer this as it prevents a difficult working atmosphere and any resulting bitterness on behalf of the employee. There are occasions when someone can be dismissed with immediately effect without being paid, for example cases of gross misconduct.
Andrew Marshall ©
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Is a Website Worth the Cost?
Almost all businesses have a website these days. There are many things that go into having a successful website, all of which costs money. But is having a website worth this expense?
Firstly, a website needs to be designed. For a business website it is important that it looks professional as it is an advert for the company. This needs to be balanced with usability. It doesn’t matter how a website looks if it does not meet the needs of the user. Customers need to be able to navigate their way around a site and find the information they are after. Many businesses simply need a brochure site, with information such as who they are, what they do, and how they can be contacted. Others need more functionality, perhaps allowing customers to purchase products through the site.
Once the design phase is completed it needs to be developed. This is where it goes from an idea on paper to a fully functional website. Web development is the most time consuming area of creating a website and involves technical expertise, whereas the web design requires creative skills and imagination.
After the development stage, the website will be ready to go live. For this to happen it needs web hosting. Without this nobody will be able to view it. It is possible for a business to host their own website but this requires the relevant technical expertise and is usually more expensive. Therefore, most choose to outsource their web hosting. There are many different packages and varying prices. Many choose managed hosting, where the web hosting is fully managed by the hosting company. This means the business itself doesn’t need to worry about this aspect of running a website.
Marketing of a website may also be required. There is little point in having a website if no-one can find it. Ideally a website will be found on the front page of the search engines for related phrases. This is where Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO, comes in. These are techniques that optimise a site and increase the authority of a site so it ranks well in search engines such as Google. This hopefully leads to people finding the website and becoming customers. Depending on the nature of a website, it may also need maintaining or updating.
Every aspect of creating and running a website costs money, from the design and development to the hosting and marketing. So, are these costs worth the end result? Well, if done properly, then yes it is. These days businesses without a website are really missing out. With so many having a website it becomes increasingly important. People often search online now instead of places like the Yellow Pages. Without a website, businesses are missing out on a lot of potential business. A website is even important if people are looking specifically for a particular business. Many will still search for the brand name online, and if there is no website they might go elsewhere. So although a website can be expensive, in the long run the return on investment is almost always worth the cost.
Andrew Marshall ©
Firstly, a website needs to be designed. For a business website it is important that it looks professional as it is an advert for the company. This needs to be balanced with usability. It doesn’t matter how a website looks if it does not meet the needs of the user. Customers need to be able to navigate their way around a site and find the information they are after. Many businesses simply need a brochure site, with information such as who they are, what they do, and how they can be contacted. Others need more functionality, perhaps allowing customers to purchase products through the site.
Once the design phase is completed it needs to be developed. This is where it goes from an idea on paper to a fully functional website. Web development is the most time consuming area of creating a website and involves technical expertise, whereas the web design requires creative skills and imagination.
After the development stage, the website will be ready to go live. For this to happen it needs web hosting. Without this nobody will be able to view it. It is possible for a business to host their own website but this requires the relevant technical expertise and is usually more expensive. Therefore, most choose to outsource their web hosting. There are many different packages and varying prices. Many choose managed hosting, where the web hosting is fully managed by the hosting company. This means the business itself doesn’t need to worry about this aspect of running a website.
Marketing of a website may also be required. There is little point in having a website if no-one can find it. Ideally a website will be found on the front page of the search engines for related phrases. This is where Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO, comes in. These are techniques that optimise a site and increase the authority of a site so it ranks well in search engines such as Google. This hopefully leads to people finding the website and becoming customers. Depending on the nature of a website, it may also need maintaining or updating.
Every aspect of creating and running a website costs money, from the design and development to the hosting and marketing. So, are these costs worth the end result? Well, if done properly, then yes it is. These days businesses without a website are really missing out. With so many having a website it becomes increasingly important. People often search online now instead of places like the Yellow Pages. Without a website, businesses are missing out on a lot of potential business. A website is even important if people are looking specifically for a particular business. Many will still search for the brand name online, and if there is no website they might go elsewhere. So although a website can be expensive, in the long run the return on investment is almost always worth the cost.
Andrew Marshall ©
Choosing a Private Doctor
Choosing a private doctor is not an easy decision. There are many factors to consider and everyone has different priorities.
There are different reasons why someone might wish to use a private doctor. It may be that they require an operation or have a particular medical condition that they need to sort out and wish to do it privately. Or they may want a private GP who they can see on a regular basis whatever their medical needs.
Qualifications
Before choosing a private doctor you need to make sure they have the appropriate qualifications. Obviously, any practitioner needs certain qualifications, but you may wish to compare the specific qualifications of different doctors so you can decide who you think is more qualified. If you are using a doctor for a specific condition or an operation then you need to make sure they have qualifications specifically to deal with this particular issue. You want to be sure they have an expertise in the area you will be paying them to help you with.
The Way they Operate
In the private sector everyone has different ways of doing things and this can have an influence on patients and patient care. Unlike NHS doctors, they do not have such strict rules and procedures that they must follow. You may have certain preferences as to how you would like your doctor to operate. You want to choose a doctor whose way of doing things fits in with what you would find comfortable.
Location
Location is of obvious importance, as for most people it is important that they are nearby. You may at times need to be able to get there quickly. If you visit the doctor regularly, this becomes even more important.
Track Record
It is always wise to find out about a doctor’s track record. This will allow you to compare different doctors and consider their relative advantages and disadvantages. When looking at this you need to think about which aspects of their records are most important to you. If you are choosing a private doctor for a particular operation, research their success rate. How many times have they carried out such as operation, and how many of these have resulted in a successful outcome? It would be useful if you are able to find out the opinions of previous patients. Were they happy with the service they received and were there any problems that they experienced?
What about a Healthcare Plan?
Some opt to pay into a medical insurance policy so they are covered for private healthcare. It is important to choose a healthcare plan that suits, as they can vary greatly. An obvious consideration is how much it is going to cost you. You need to check out what is included and if there is anything extra you might need to pay for. If there are any specific medical conditions you suffer from, make sure these are covered.
Whatever type of private medical care you are looking for, make sure you can learn as much as possible. Ask as many questions as you can to build up an overall picture of the care you will receive. We all have different priorities – so make sure yours are met.
Andrew Marshall ©
There are different reasons why someone might wish to use a private doctor. It may be that they require an operation or have a particular medical condition that they need to sort out and wish to do it privately. Or they may want a private GP who they can see on a regular basis whatever their medical needs.
Qualifications
Before choosing a private doctor you need to make sure they have the appropriate qualifications. Obviously, any practitioner needs certain qualifications, but you may wish to compare the specific qualifications of different doctors so you can decide who you think is more qualified. If you are using a doctor for a specific condition or an operation then you need to make sure they have qualifications specifically to deal with this particular issue. You want to be sure they have an expertise in the area you will be paying them to help you with.
The Way they Operate
In the private sector everyone has different ways of doing things and this can have an influence on patients and patient care. Unlike NHS doctors, they do not have such strict rules and procedures that they must follow. You may have certain preferences as to how you would like your doctor to operate. You want to choose a doctor whose way of doing things fits in with what you would find comfortable.
Location
Location is of obvious importance, as for most people it is important that they are nearby. You may at times need to be able to get there quickly. If you visit the doctor regularly, this becomes even more important.
Track Record
It is always wise to find out about a doctor’s track record. This will allow you to compare different doctors and consider their relative advantages and disadvantages. When looking at this you need to think about which aspects of their records are most important to you. If you are choosing a private doctor for a particular operation, research their success rate. How many times have they carried out such as operation, and how many of these have resulted in a successful outcome? It would be useful if you are able to find out the opinions of previous patients. Were they happy with the service they received and were there any problems that they experienced?
What about a Healthcare Plan?
Some opt to pay into a medical insurance policy so they are covered for private healthcare. It is important to choose a healthcare plan that suits, as they can vary greatly. An obvious consideration is how much it is going to cost you. You need to check out what is included and if there is anything extra you might need to pay for. If there are any specific medical conditions you suffer from, make sure these are covered.
Whatever type of private medical care you are looking for, make sure you can learn as much as possible. Ask as many questions as you can to build up an overall picture of the care you will receive. We all have different priorities – so make sure yours are met.
Andrew Marshall ©
Monday, September 12, 2011
What are Academy Schools?
Academies are a relatively new type of school that are being encouraged by the UK government. They are free from the government regulations that regular schools are and are independently run. They are state maintained but can also have the financial help of sponsors and businesses.
Although academies can be independently funded they cannot charge for entry and cannot make a profit. They are effectively publicly funded schools that operate outside of local authority control and can seek additional funding as well. They have more freedom over finances, the curriculum, and teacher’s conditions than regular schools.
Academies can have a large amount of choice over what they teach and how they teach it. They do have to follow the national curriculum in English, Maths, Science and IT, but other than this can teach what they like. This allows them to focus more intensely on other areas if they wish or teach subject that other schools do not. The majority of academies specialise in a certain area, such as technology or sport.
Although they cannot charge pupils to attend, academies are free to choose how they run their admission processes. Pupils must be broadly from the local area but there are not specific requirements for the entry process as there are for regular schools.
The academy system can particularly benefit those who wish to start religious schools. This is because they don’t have to follow the curriculum in teaching a broad range of religions. If they wish they can solely focus on one religion.
Any existing school can apply to be converted into an academy that will be maintained and partly funded by the state but run independently. The first step in starting an academy is for the current governing body to apply to the department for education and for a charitable company to be registered with companies house. An academy trust needs to be set up to run the academy. If the application is successful, this trust will be granted ownership of the school’s land. They will then be able to take over the running of the school, which will at this stage become an academy. Rather than being funded by the local authority, they will be funded directly by central government receiving an annual grant. As mentioned earlier, they will be able to receive additional funding on top of this.
It is thought that academies and the rules that go with them will help improve poorly-performing schools. The thinking is that by being able to attract more funding and have more freedom it will enable them to make changes to improve the quality of teaching, the curriculum and other things. They will be more able to do what they think is necessary to improve a school rather than follow strict regulations as to how it should be run. With more freedom comes more individualism and it is hoped that if specific schools have specific requirements to improve, this will be possible under the academy system. One of the aims of state education is for the quality of education to be the same for everyone. It is hoped that academies will allow poorer quality schools to improve so the gap between the better performing schools and poorer performing schools will narrow.
Andrew Marshall ©
Although academies can be independently funded they cannot charge for entry and cannot make a profit. They are effectively publicly funded schools that operate outside of local authority control and can seek additional funding as well. They have more freedom over finances, the curriculum, and teacher’s conditions than regular schools.
Academies can have a large amount of choice over what they teach and how they teach it. They do have to follow the national curriculum in English, Maths, Science and IT, but other than this can teach what they like. This allows them to focus more intensely on other areas if they wish or teach subject that other schools do not. The majority of academies specialise in a certain area, such as technology or sport.
Although they cannot charge pupils to attend, academies are free to choose how they run their admission processes. Pupils must be broadly from the local area but there are not specific requirements for the entry process as there are for regular schools.
The academy system can particularly benefit those who wish to start religious schools. This is because they don’t have to follow the curriculum in teaching a broad range of religions. If they wish they can solely focus on one religion.
Any existing school can apply to be converted into an academy that will be maintained and partly funded by the state but run independently. The first step in starting an academy is for the current governing body to apply to the department for education and for a charitable company to be registered with companies house. An academy trust needs to be set up to run the academy. If the application is successful, this trust will be granted ownership of the school’s land. They will then be able to take over the running of the school, which will at this stage become an academy. Rather than being funded by the local authority, they will be funded directly by central government receiving an annual grant. As mentioned earlier, they will be able to receive additional funding on top of this.
It is thought that academies and the rules that go with them will help improve poorly-performing schools. The thinking is that by being able to attract more funding and have more freedom it will enable them to make changes to improve the quality of teaching, the curriculum and other things. They will be more able to do what they think is necessary to improve a school rather than follow strict regulations as to how it should be run. With more freedom comes more individualism and it is hoped that if specific schools have specific requirements to improve, this will be possible under the academy system. One of the aims of state education is for the quality of education to be the same for everyone. It is hoped that academies will allow poorer quality schools to improve so the gap between the better performing schools and poorer performing schools will narrow.
Andrew Marshall ©
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Advantages of ISA’s
An ISA is a tax free way of saving. Adults in the UK can invest up to £10,680 a year in an ISA and they will not be required to pay tax on any gains. This article looks at the advantages of ISA’s.
Non-Taxable Income
The main, and most obvious, advantage of an ISA is that you do not have to pay tax on the interest gained. For those in the regular tax bracket this means saving the 20% tax they would otherwise have to pay on the interest.
No Capital Gains Tax
As well as being exempt from income tax, an ISA is also exempt from capital gains tax. This would normally be paid at 28%.
You Have Easy Access to Your Money
Unlike some investments you have access to your money if you need it. If you realise you have invested money that you now need, it is simple to withdraw this from the investment.
Can Split Between Cash and Stocks and Shares ISA’s
ISA investments can be split between the two types of ISA; cash ISA’s and Stocks and Shares ISA’s. The total investment that can be made per year in £10,680. A maximum of £5,340 can go towards a Cash ISA, so anything above this must go towards a Stocks and Shares ISA. Should investors wish, anything up to £10,680 can go towards a Stocks and Shares ISA.
Can Invest Long Term
Money invested into an ISA can be invested for as long as the investor wishes. Although the yearly limit is £10,680, this can be invested every year with no overall limit.
Can Invest from the Age of 18
Stocks and Shares ISA’s can be opened from the time someone turns 18. It is even younger for Cash ISA’s, which can be invested in from someone’s sixteenth birthday with the £5,340 a year limit.
More Beneficial for Long Term Investments
An ISA is most beneficial where invested in over a long-term period. One way it can be used is as an extension to a pension. The longer term an investment is for, the more interest that can be gained and the more there is in the investment in total. If someone is able to invest the full £10,680 a year, that is £213,600 if they do it every year over a twenty year period. Once interest is put on top of that it is a very healthy amount.
There are also fewer risks if investing over a long period. There are ups and down in the financial markets – especially in the current economy – but over a long-term period investment will usually grow. This is even more likely if spread around among various investments products, as is the case with most investment plans and investment trusts.
Benefits to Regular Investors
Some ISA providers will reward customers for making regular investment over a certain amount. For example, they may offer higher interest rates in exchange for a specific minimum investment.
ISA’s are a great way to invest with the tax-free benefits particularly good news for investors. Stocks and Shares ISA’s are particularly advantageous as they will almost always grow more over a long-term period.
Andrew Marshall ©
Non-Taxable Income
The main, and most obvious, advantage of an ISA is that you do not have to pay tax on the interest gained. For those in the regular tax bracket this means saving the 20% tax they would otherwise have to pay on the interest.
No Capital Gains Tax
As well as being exempt from income tax, an ISA is also exempt from capital gains tax. This would normally be paid at 28%.
You Have Easy Access to Your Money
Unlike some investments you have access to your money if you need it. If you realise you have invested money that you now need, it is simple to withdraw this from the investment.
Can Split Between Cash and Stocks and Shares ISA’s
ISA investments can be split between the two types of ISA; cash ISA’s and Stocks and Shares ISA’s. The total investment that can be made per year in £10,680. A maximum of £5,340 can go towards a Cash ISA, so anything above this must go towards a Stocks and Shares ISA. Should investors wish, anything up to £10,680 can go towards a Stocks and Shares ISA.
Can Invest Long Term
Money invested into an ISA can be invested for as long as the investor wishes. Although the yearly limit is £10,680, this can be invested every year with no overall limit.
Can Invest from the Age of 18
Stocks and Shares ISA’s can be opened from the time someone turns 18. It is even younger for Cash ISA’s, which can be invested in from someone’s sixteenth birthday with the £5,340 a year limit.
More Beneficial for Long Term Investments
An ISA is most beneficial where invested in over a long-term period. One way it can be used is as an extension to a pension. The longer term an investment is for, the more interest that can be gained and the more there is in the investment in total. If someone is able to invest the full £10,680 a year, that is £213,600 if they do it every year over a twenty year period. Once interest is put on top of that it is a very healthy amount.
There are also fewer risks if investing over a long period. There are ups and down in the financial markets – especially in the current economy – but over a long-term period investment will usually grow. This is even more likely if spread around among various investments products, as is the case with most investment plans and investment trusts.
Benefits to Regular Investors
Some ISA providers will reward customers for making regular investment over a certain amount. For example, they may offer higher interest rates in exchange for a specific minimum investment.
ISA’s are a great way to invest with the tax-free benefits particularly good news for investors. Stocks and Shares ISA’s are particularly advantageous as they will almost always grow more over a long-term period.
Andrew Marshall ©
Step-Children after Divorce
We often read about how children are impacted by the divorce of their parents and how the dynamics of their lives can change as a consequence. But, what about step-children? What happens to a step-parent’s relationship with their step-children if they divorce from the child’s parent?
Although we hear many stories of troubled step-parent/step-child relationships, many are very positive. There are situations where they have lived together for a long time, possibly since a child has been very young. The step-parent might have been around since before a child can remember. They might even call them Mum or Dad. In these cases the step-parent might see the child in the same eyes as if he or she was a biological child of theirs. Others might be in a situation where they have biological children who have lived together in a family with them along with their step-children.
Where there is a strong step-parent/step-child relationship and a divorce occurs, the step-parent will often want to maintain a close relationship. They may want to see them on a regular basis as they would likely be able to with a biological child.
In the vast majority of cases biological parents who divorce and do not live with their children still have a right to see them. They tend to have an arrangement where they see them on a regular basis unless there is an extreme reason for this not being the case, for example fears for the safety of the child. This is not always the case with step-children, even if their relationship had previously been very close.
Step-parents don’t necessarily have a right to a continuing relationship with their step-children after a divorce from one of the child’s biological parents. In some cases parents will be happy to let their ex-husband or wife see their child and a relationship can therefore continue in the same way as it would for biological children in a similar situation. It is, however, largely the decision of the biological parent with the former step-parent having no legal right to this. This means their relationship with someone they may perceive as their child suddenly being taken away from them.
More recently there have been situations where this has been challenged in the courts. Former step-parents have seeked the legal right to see their former-step children. In some cases this has been granted where it has been deemed best for the children and the children wish to have continuing contact. Such a situation is still the exception rather than the rule, though. It is still all too easy for parents to prevent this from happening. Unlike divorcing biological parents where on-going contact is the norm, in the vast majority of situations for divorcing step-parents it comes down to the choice of his or her former spouse. To some this can feel like their son or daughter being suddenly taken away from them forever. This doesn’t benefit anyone and can be difficult for both the child and the former step-parent.
Andrew Marshall ©
Although we hear many stories of troubled step-parent/step-child relationships, many are very positive. There are situations where they have lived together for a long time, possibly since a child has been very young. The step-parent might have been around since before a child can remember. They might even call them Mum or Dad. In these cases the step-parent might see the child in the same eyes as if he or she was a biological child of theirs. Others might be in a situation where they have biological children who have lived together in a family with them along with their step-children.
Where there is a strong step-parent/step-child relationship and a divorce occurs, the step-parent will often want to maintain a close relationship. They may want to see them on a regular basis as they would likely be able to with a biological child.
In the vast majority of cases biological parents who divorce and do not live with their children still have a right to see them. They tend to have an arrangement where they see them on a regular basis unless there is an extreme reason for this not being the case, for example fears for the safety of the child. This is not always the case with step-children, even if their relationship had previously been very close.
Step-parents don’t necessarily have a right to a continuing relationship with their step-children after a divorce from one of the child’s biological parents. In some cases parents will be happy to let their ex-husband or wife see their child and a relationship can therefore continue in the same way as it would for biological children in a similar situation. It is, however, largely the decision of the biological parent with the former step-parent having no legal right to this. This means their relationship with someone they may perceive as their child suddenly being taken away from them.
More recently there have been situations where this has been challenged in the courts. Former step-parents have seeked the legal right to see their former-step children. In some cases this has been granted where it has been deemed best for the children and the children wish to have continuing contact. Such a situation is still the exception rather than the rule, though. It is still all too easy for parents to prevent this from happening. Unlike divorcing biological parents where on-going contact is the norm, in the vast majority of situations for divorcing step-parents it comes down to the choice of his or her former spouse. To some this can feel like their son or daughter being suddenly taken away from them forever. This doesn’t benefit anyone and can be difficult for both the child and the former step-parent.
Andrew Marshall ©
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Why Choose Dedicated Hosting?
Dedicated Hosting is where a website has an entire server to itself. So, unlike shared hosting, it is the only website hosted on the server. Without getting into the technical stuff about the way dedicated hosting works, let’s look at why it can be advantageous to the average business.
Flexibility
Dedicated Hosting is more flexible. As a website is on its own server it doesn’t get impacted by any other sites. With shared hosting there are many sites on the same server, which can cause them to be impacted by one another. If you have your own server you have full control and more choice is many different areas. You have a choice over operating system, hardware and other variables.
Security
Again, not being impact by other websites is helpful. The more websites that share a server the more variables there are. And with more variables comes the increasing chances of something going wrong. This can cause security issues. With dedicated hosting only applications applicable to you will be uploaded to the server and the whole hosting of the website is generally more stable.
High Traffic Websites
For high traffic websites dedicated hosting can be almost essential. The more traffic you have the more important it becomes. The reason is simple – dedicated hosting can handle more traffic. For one thing, there tends to be more bandwidth available. A server can only handle a certain amount of simultaneous traffic. There is a limited amount of bandwidth available and the more websites there are on the server, the less bandwidth is available to each. Depending on the hosting setup, another site on the same server as yours experiencing a high amount of traffic can mean less bandwidth is available to yours. If there are then a lot of people attempting to access your website they may not be able to. Where a server is dedicated to your website this is not a problem unless your website alone exceeds the server’s capacity. It is not just if visitors can access the site that is an issue here, but the speed at which the website operates. The closer to capacity the server is operating at the more likely it is that there can be speed problems.
Better Quality Service
Dedicated hosting packages usually offer a better service. You are hiring an entire server from the web hosting company so you will be a more important customer. You are paying more so you get a better service. This means the support is better so any problems are likely to be resolved quickly. For example, 24/7 monitoring is often included so issues are identified promptly. For many website owners support is crucial, and with dedicated hosting support is of a higher quality.
Scalability
When you have your own dedicated server it tends to be easy to switch to a different package or upgrade. So, if your website suddenly becomes more popular with more visitors, you can upgrade to a necessary package.
Dedicated hosting is not necessary for all websites. It is a better quality type of hosting than shared hosting, though, so for many it is advantageous.
Andrew Marshall ©
Flexibility
Dedicated Hosting is more flexible. As a website is on its own server it doesn’t get impacted by any other sites. With shared hosting there are many sites on the same server, which can cause them to be impacted by one another. If you have your own server you have full control and more choice is many different areas. You have a choice over operating system, hardware and other variables.
Security
Again, not being impact by other websites is helpful. The more websites that share a server the more variables there are. And with more variables comes the increasing chances of something going wrong. This can cause security issues. With dedicated hosting only applications applicable to you will be uploaded to the server and the whole hosting of the website is generally more stable.
High Traffic Websites
For high traffic websites dedicated hosting can be almost essential. The more traffic you have the more important it becomes. The reason is simple – dedicated hosting can handle more traffic. For one thing, there tends to be more bandwidth available. A server can only handle a certain amount of simultaneous traffic. There is a limited amount of bandwidth available and the more websites there are on the server, the less bandwidth is available to each. Depending on the hosting setup, another site on the same server as yours experiencing a high amount of traffic can mean less bandwidth is available to yours. If there are then a lot of people attempting to access your website they may not be able to. Where a server is dedicated to your website this is not a problem unless your website alone exceeds the server’s capacity. It is not just if visitors can access the site that is an issue here, but the speed at which the website operates. The closer to capacity the server is operating at the more likely it is that there can be speed problems.
Better Quality Service
Dedicated hosting packages usually offer a better service. You are hiring an entire server from the web hosting company so you will be a more important customer. You are paying more so you get a better service. This means the support is better so any problems are likely to be resolved quickly. For example, 24/7 monitoring is often included so issues are identified promptly. For many website owners support is crucial, and with dedicated hosting support is of a higher quality.
Scalability
When you have your own dedicated server it tends to be easy to switch to a different package or upgrade. So, if your website suddenly becomes more popular with more visitors, you can upgrade to a necessary package.
Dedicated hosting is not necessary for all websites. It is a better quality type of hosting than shared hosting, though, so for many it is advantageous.
Andrew Marshall ©
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