ELECTRONICS

Electronics magazines have come and gone since the days of Popular Electronics and Radio Electronics. With the expansion of the World Wide Web there has been an explosion of resources and information. It might seem like the day of the paper publication for the electronics hobbyist would be a thing of the past. Not so.

There is a growing "do-it-yourself" and "garage science" movement that is hungry for information on basic and emerging technologies. Electronics and engineering enthusiasts, as well as established researchers, are always on the lookout for new ideas, advancements, and concepts that they can apply in their own work. A good selection of publications are ready to fill this need.
Circuit Cellar

Dubbed "the magazine of computer applications" and "written by engineers, for engineers," Circuit Cellar focuses on providing news and articles about hardware and software methods for embedded-control systems.

t is geared toward the professional who is directly involved in designing and building embedded systems. Some recent articles (issue 234, January 2010) are "Teletext-Based TV Interface", "Multichannel Touch Sensors," and "Three-Axis Stepper Controller".

Circuit Cellar is available in either print ($29.95 per year) or digital ($19.95 per year) formats. Individual issues and articles can be purchased and a free trial issue is available by request.
Silicon Chip

This Australian entry in the hobby electronics market offers news and reviews, advice, and a monthly slate of projects with instructions. Some recent articles (issue 256, January 2010) are "A Multi-Function GPS Car Computer, Part I", "A Balanced Output Board for the Stereo DAC," and "The Bureau Of Meteorology's New Doppler Weather Radar".

Since it is from Australia, Silicon Chip is a bit expensive in print (about $125 per year) with the online subscription a more reasonable $57.29 per year. Individual issues are available for $6.67 each.

Elektor

Elector (with a big lower case "e"), published in Europe since the 1961, now has a print version for the North American market. Similarly to Circuit Cellar, it is aimed at embedded systems and computer and microcontroller applications, but it has a wider scope and is more accessible to the interested amateur.

Articles in the new North American edition (issue 01, January 2010) include "Fourier Analysis using LTspice & Excel", "Elektor CO2 Meter Mk. 2," and "Router + Wireless Doorbell = Alarm System!".

A subscription to the North American edition of Elektor costs $39.95 per year which includes online access (which doesn't seem to be the same as an online subscription to the magazine). A three-issue trial subscription is offered for $9.95. Strangely, a digital edition with access to 14 issues is much more expensive at $85.00.
Nuts and Volts

This magazine has lots of projects designed to be fun or practical (or both). Subtitled "The magazine for the electronics hobbyist," that pretty well says it all.

Nuts and Volts, now in its thirtieth year, covers radio electronics, microchips, basic electronics theory and applications, control systems, robotics, and just about anything and everything in between. Offerings in the January 2010 issue include "Garage Parking Assistant", "Experiments with Alternative Energy," and "Build a Near Space Infrared Telescope".

Nuts and Volts subscriptions include both the print and digital editions for $26.95 a year, or $19.95 for the online edition only. Individual issues are $6.00 each.

SOURCE:-
http://electrical-engineering.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_best_electronics_magazines

Applied electronics is a term that requires a bit of definition before delving into the theoretical side of electronic theory. Generally, the term refers to the physical phenomena involved in electronic conduction or current flow. It also refers to various ways in which these phenomena and the properties of resistance, inductance, and capacitance interact to govern the characteristics, ratings, and limitations of electronic devices. The term is useful in describing the application of electronics theory to the various branches of electrical and electronic engineering. Electron theory, on the other hand, is limited to constructing a viable working model representing our understanding of how electronic conduction occurs based upon careful observation and experimentation.

Electronic conduction (current) is the result of the flow of electrons in a conductive material, such as a copper wire. Metals such as copper, lead, tin and aluminum are the most familiar conductors of electricity. There are two components required to produce electron flow: a source of electromotive energy creating a difference of electronic potential between two points, and a conductive path. A simple example of this is the lighting bolt. Incredibly powerful discharges of electricity strike the earth some 100 times each second, or 8 million times a day. (http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/prim er/lightning/ltg_climatology.h tml)

A lightning bolt is the result of a huge buildup of electromotive energy, or force between earth and clouds with strongly circulating winds and high concentrations of water vapor. The circulating water vapor in the form of rain, snow, or hail pellets accumulates a significant electro-static charge within the clouds vaporous structure. At some point, the difference of potential between the cloud and the earth becomes large enough to exceed the dielectric breakdown point of the atmosphere. The result is an exchange of energy between the earth and the clouds, which we see as a flash of lightning. An average bolt of lightning carries a negative electric current of 40 kiloamperes (kA) (although some bolts can be up to 120 kA), and transfers a charge of five coulombs and 500 MJ, or enough energy to power a 100 watt lightbulb for just under two months. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Lightning)


SOURCE:-
http://www.helium.com/items/1009209-electron-theory-in-applied-electronics

Paper health records have been around for quite some time, and until recently, the health care industry has been reluctant to upgrade to an electronic format. This has partly been due to resistance to change, and partly due to a sense that the paper system was functioning effectively, so why bother to change it.

The reality, however, is that health care organizations have become overwhelmed with patient data.

This is evidenced by the fact that clinics and hospitals usually have paper files stacked about as far as the eye can see. Beyond the physical challenge of handling that volume of paper, reliance on paper files and charts often means that the amount and quality of time spent with patients is diminished. Organizing paper charts so that a patient's medical history, medication list, and family history are easily accessible is difficult to do. Doctors often have to flip through multiple pages of barely legible charts, trying to find a particular piece of information, which may be incomplete or missing entirely.

In the worst case, this can result in misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment of the patient's condition. According to a report in 2006 by the US Institute of Medicine, medical errors were the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, contributing to 7,000 fatalities per year, at an estimated cost of $37.6 billion (USD) annually. Approximately $17 billion of these costs, the report said, is associated with preventable errors.

Clearly a more effective infrastructure than the paper variety is required, one that is capable of storing and managing patient data in a more centralized, robust, and flexible way. This was successfully achieved when the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 was implemented. HIPAA is a set of rules that doctors and health care providers must abide by. The Act ensures that all medical records, medical billing, and patient accounts meet certain consistent standards with regard to documentation, handling, and privacy. This standard took affect April 14, 2006.

In addition, HIPAA requires that all patients be able to access their own medical records, correct errors or omissions, and be informed how personal information is shared or used. Other provisions involve notification of privacy procedures to the patient.

In spring 2004, the US federal government mandated that every American have his or her own EMR file within 10 years. To help encourage the process, the Healthcare Quality Act of July 2005 offered financial assistance to help offset implementation costs.

Enter the EMR

Back in the 1960s, a physician by the name of Lawrence L. Weed came up with the idea of incorporating a patient's entire medical history into one accessible, electronic file. This patient record format is referred to as “electronic medical record,” or an EMR.

Using a database, rules engine, and knowledge base, an EMR captures and stores a patient's complete medical history, family history, and list of medications and allergies in one easily accessible, centralized location. The information is then submitted to a workstation, laptop computer, tablet personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), or voice recognition system for health care staff to retrieve and process. This system provides doctors with real-time, patient-centric information to aid in decision-making directly at the point of health care delivery. Regardless of where and when the patient has previously been treated, all the relevant patient data is available to the health care practitioner via the EMR system.

EMR systems serve to automate the overall workflow of tasks, allowing for the maximum amount of practice efficiency. EMRs can help

* improve the overall treatment of the patient;
* streamline current procedures;
* assist with reducing medical errors; and
* improve office efficiency and overall documentation quality.

Because many different processes can be automated through the use of EMR, health care organizations have seen improvements in productivity, including reduced amounts of paper, copying, management, transcription, and storage costs. Beyond that, since EMR patient data is compactly stored on servers in digital format, hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices are able to convert valuable space, previously occupied by file cabinets and paper storage systems, into areas for patient care and treatment. And because nurses and doctors spend less time searching for information, patient waiting times can be reduced, and physicians can spend their time more effectively with patients on a daily basis.

Barriers to Overcome

As mentioned above, one of the challenges to widespread implementation of EMR systems that must be overcome is the fear of change—the shock of the new that brings with it resistance to alternative ways of doing things. But once the shock subsides, staff invariably begin to realize that automating what were previously manual tasks means that their time is more productive and their workload is reduced. Similarly, medical professionals will see the benefit of having the right data at the right time to provide the highest quality of care to patients.


SOURCE:-
http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/electronic-medical-records-an-introduction-19415/

People across North America are trying to redefine the way they acquire and dispose of electronic goods. According to Gazelle.com, an online electronics recycling center, over 350,000 cellphones and 100,000 computers are thrown away each day to make room for upgrades, making e-waste the fastest growing addition to local landfills.
Think Twice Before Turning Digital Electronics Into Waste

Thrifty and green consumers are thinking twice before tossing out laptops and cellphones. Throwing away used but functional digital electronics is equivalent to throwing away cash. Recycling an electronic device extends its life – there will always be someone willing to use it.

Five Steps to Turn Unwanted Electronics Into Cash

Here are five steps to make electronic equipment recycling worth the effort, while keeping dangerous electronic components out of landfills.

1. Search websites like YouRenew.com, Gazelle.com, Flip.com, eBay, or Craig's List to choose the best market for selling or recycling a particular brand of surplus or used electronics. Have the device on hand with the model number noted and any accessories that may be included in the sale. (Accessories may boost the value of the product). Online electronic recycling centers offer an automated offer within seconds, with checks or PayPal payments issued within 72 hours, while eBay and Craig's List may be monitored over time.
2. Save original packaging on all new products as a rule. But if original isn't available, many online recycling centers offer prepaid shipping and packing materials. Once a resale or recycle agreement has been made, clean and prepare the electronic device for packing.
3. Protect personal information. Remove SIM cards and hard drives. Erase memory from external drives. Eject inserted flashcards, cds, games from all devices before packing for shipment.
4. Photograph the electronic device and accessories and assess the condition of each item truthfully before shipping. Keep hard copies of online transactions and communications with the buyer.
5. Choose from gadgets that are popular and easy to resell or recycle.

Electronics That Can Be Resold

* Blu-ray players, cellphones, smartphones, iPhones, iPods, camcorders, camera lenses, calculators
* Desktop computers, digital cameras, external hard drives, game consoles, GPS devices
* Home audio,laptops, LCD monitors, movies, MP3 players, PDAs, projectors, RC hobby digital radios
* Streaming media, satellite radio, video games

Keep Electronic Waste Out of Landfills

Some consumer electronics don't do as well in the resale market and are not accepted as readily by online recycling companies. But it is important to keep heavy metals found in electronic components out of landfills. Check local charities to donate used but functional electronics. Local municipal websites, as well as Gazelle.com and YouRenew.com list dealers for recycling electronic scrap:

SOURCE:-
http://waste-reduction.suite101.com/article.cfm/5-steps-to-sell-or-recycle-old-electronics

We are now living in the age of electronics. Electronics are tied into so many different aspects of our life. It is hard to find an electrical item in your home that does not have electronics partnered with it, in some way. Most of us begin our day by waking up to an electronic alarm clock. I sometimes wonder what time we would wake up without it. In addition, one of your first stops in the morning will be at your coffee maker. Another electronic contraption. Then you stroll over to the television set and turn on another electronic device. I know that I cannot start my day without a cup of coffee. I just don’t function yet. Millions of people in the world every day, depend on the television set for news and entertainment. Where would we be without television? Maybe outside enjoying life, or going to bed at 7pm like many did, 150 years ago.


When you receive a call on your cell phone. That’s right, you are receiving it on an electronic device. So, we get it, most all of the items that bring us daily pleasure, from video games to DVD players and CD players, are all electronic devices. However, there are also many electronic devices, that save lives everyday. Some use computers for play, but all around the world, computers are used for research that save lives. They are used in hospitals to provide information in seconds, that save lives. Much of the equipment used in hospitals are electronic devices. Electronics are everywhere. Electronics in our automobiles save lives. Whether through warning systems or preventative measures, they save lives. On many occasions we don’t even realize that electronics are helping us.

When you pull up to a traffic light, you are approaching electronics. Without traffic lights the roads would be a mess. The police use various electronic equipment in their pursuit of criminals. We come into contact with electronics in motion at our department stores and malls. Electronics signal much of the devices used in everyday life. So, the next time you are out listening to music, taking a photograph on a digital camera, or setting on your computer, think about what everyday life would be like without it.
To learn more about brand name electronics simply visit our website


SOURCE:-
http://www.a1articles.com/article_568238_47.html

As the demand for desktop E-commerce solutions increases, organizations are looking for new and improved ways to speed up the signature authentication process that is inherent in relying on FAX machines. Today's choices for authenticating documents include faxing handwritten signatures or using secure public key infrastructure (PKI) solutions. With the complexity of installing and administering PKI through-out large organizations, coupled with fast growing presence of pen-based devices on the market, electronic handwritten signatures are sure to gain popularity. Current trends indicate a 90% probability that digital E-Pads will gain mainstream popularity in the next 24 months.

This past July, the U.S. Congress became an early adopter of electronic signature technology, giving its stamp of approval, when they signed the Year2000 Readiness and Responsibility Act electronically. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House, and Strom Thurmond, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, electronically signed H.R. 775 in order to present it to the President of the United States. They signed an Adobe PDF version of the Bill with their handwritten signature, which was captured on a standard laptop equipped with PenOp Signature software and a Wacom digitizer.

U.K. based Penop is a global leader in legally binding electronic signature technology. PenOp combines biometric and digital signature technology to streamline document sign-off procedures, reducing the risk of fraud and making the paperless office a reality. PenOp solutions are currently deployed in more than thirty countries. Vancouver based Wacom is a developer of graphic, intuitive, input devices. Interlink Electronics ( NASDAQ: LINK ), another developer of intuitive interface solutions, and a partner of PenOp, is positioning itself for increased demand of its electronic signature digital E-pads. E. Michael Thoben, chairman, CEO and president of Interlink Electronics, Inc. says, " Our new signature pad, ePad, has generated substantial industry excitement and shows great promise for the E-Commerce market."

Many security experts will still prefer PKI solutions over electronic signatures. Since electronic signatures are bit and byte representatives of personal signatures, their incorporation in .jpegs, .bmps, or .gifs are subject to unscrupulous manipulation. Though we expect this not to slow down the market, electronic signatures that transverse public networks will be subject to new sorts of electronic fraud. Like PKI signatures, electronic signatures can be altered during transport, however a key difference is that once digital signatures have been altered, they are no longer reusable. Until electronic signatures start getting hacked, don't expect organizations to worry too much about signature security.

Market Impact

As more and more technologies converge to form new markets, and as hackers learn to manipulate electronic signatures, expect PKI and Digital E-pads to join the ranks of other connubial technologies. Vendors that embrace the merger of E-Pads and Digital Certificates will command instant market share. Currently electronic signatures and PKI signatures are not the same thing. PKI gives far more bullet proof certainty of identity than electronic signatures.


SOURCE:-
http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/expect-boom-in-electronic-signatures-15288/

Pinrex Technology Corp. are professional connector manufacturers with over 18 years of production experience and recognition within the industry as one of the top connector manufacturers. The Pinrex product range includes Box Headers, CCD connectors, Crimp housings & terminals, DIP plugs, D-Sub connectors, DSC digital camera connectors, Ejector Headers, Female Headers (0.8-2.54mm), FFC & FPC connectors, IC Sockets, IDC sockets, Mini Jumpers (1.27-5.08mm), Mobile phone connectors, Pin Headers from 0.8 to 2.54mm, PLCC Sockets, SATA (serial ATA) and Wire to Board headers. With many years of connector manufacturing experience under their belt, their eye for detail and emphasis on high quality means that Pinrex are a manufacturer you can rely on.


JPR Electronics has been a main UK Distributor since 2001 and supply a wide range of Pinrex standard connector products from stock, at very competitive prices and with a high standard of service. Non-stocked products are available with short lead times and dependable delivery with the experience from the staff members that ensures you receive the right part for your needs.

Pinrex have an experienced research and development department and can also design, develop and manufacture custom connectors and cable assemblies subject to MOQ.


Production is ISO9001 and ISO14001 certified, and UL approved product is available.

JPR Electronics has been a supplier of electronic components and accessories to manufacturers, sub-contractors, design houses, distributors, government departments and educational establishments for over 30 years. Their efficient nature and experience means that they can provide every electronic component that your business will require from many of the best manufacturers on the market including Hitano, Pinrex and Salecom.

For more information on the Pinrex product range, please visit the website at jprelec.co.uk or call JPR Electronics on 01582 470000 and the friendly and experienced staff will find you the electronic components that you need.


SOURCE:-
http://www.a1articles.com/article_1217322_47.html

When shipping electronics it is very important that they are packaged well. Because of the very large spectrum of electronics in the world, I will mainly be focusing on shipping smaller electronics (such as a laptop, gaming system, MP3 player, etc.) rather than larger electronics (such as a television).

The first step to shipping an electronic item is to choose a box. It is important that you choose the appropriate sized box so that your item will be shipped safely and securely. If you are shipping something, for example: a laptop, it may be a good idea to choose a box that is a little larger than the computer so that you will have room for "padding" and packaging materials. Overall, it is a good idea to have a box that is a little larger than the item so you can add "peanuts", bubble-wrap, or other materials that will ensure that your electronic device arrives in one piece.

Packing the item itself is the most important step. If there is not enough supportive material inside the box, then the electronic device will be more likely to move around in the box and be shaken, possibly causing the item to break. Suggested packing materials include "peanuts" (the packing peanuts, not the food), bubble-wrap, and crumpled-up paper. It is important to make sure that there is adequate material so that if the box is dropped or hit by something, then the material will absorb the shock and the item will remain intact.

After you have completed the previous steps you can now seal the box up. When taping the flaps of the box you should not only put tape going along in the direction of the flap, but also put another strip of tape crossing over the flap for extra support. This way your taping should look like a "+" pattern, instead of just a "-". Also, be sure that you put enough tape down. On the sides of the box next to the side with the flaps which you are taping, you should extend the tape down at least a couple inches so that the tape does not come off the box.

After packaging up your items, you can then add the postage, address, and other necessary information that will be needed to ship your electronics. Depending on the size of the box, the shipping cost will vary. Once you have put the required information on the box you can take your package to the post office to be shipped or have it shipped by a delivery service of your choice, such as UPS or FedEx.

SOURCE:-
http://www.helium.com/items/1868761-how-to-ship-electronics

Choosing the Right Electronic Medical Record System for Your Health Care Organization

Electronic medical record (EMR) systems come in two different models: on-demand and on-premise.

An on-demand EMR solution is a Web-based application that the health care provider accesses through the Internet. The solution is administered remotely by a third-party vendor that oversees data management, software upgrades, and security functions.

An on-premise EMR application resides in house, whereby an internal IT department administers and maintains all software, hardware upgrades, and all actions pertaining to the support of the network infrastructure.

The size of the health care organization (is it a small practice or a large hospital?) will usually determine which model is the better fit and what methodology is needed to manage, collect, store, and administer patient health records.

Advantages of an On-demand Solution

On-demand solutions’ chief benefit to health care organizations is that they can minimize the amount of resources applied to IT, allowing a greater concentration to be spent on patient care.

Doctors generally do not have the knowledge, interest, or resources to deal with IT infrastructures; they tend to prefer on-demand EMR systems for the following reasons:

* An infrastructure and specialized IT staff is not needed.
* Software upgrades are performed regularly and automatically.
* A Web-based system can be accessed 24/7.

Being Web-based applications, on-demand solutions are easier and faster to implement because there is no software to install. Data can be accessed from any computer, anywhere in the world, with an network connection.

Generally speaking, on-demand applications have a much lower setup cost because an operating system license is not being purchased for each workstation. On-demand applications are billed as a recurring service, either in monthly, quarterly, or yearly billing cycles. The payment cycle is dependent on what features or services the vendor is offering and the user organization’s negotiating position. Lease costs can be allocated as a business expenditure, allowing the health care organization a tax break by leasing out the software. By contrast, the cost of an on-premise model must be amortized over a specified period of time.

An on-demand application provider may be able to offer clients a more sophisticated security system for less cost than one would be from an on-premise applications vendor. This is because although each client pays a relatively low monthly fee to the on-demand solution provider, the combined revenue gives the provider the financial resources to provide a quality security system acceptable for large hospitals and health care organizations.

Disadvantages of an On-demand Solution

An on-demand solution relies on a third-party provider—an arrangement that places any business at the provider’s mercy. If the vendor that a health care facility has been depending on goes out of business, it will take the organization a substantial amount of time to find another vendor with another solution, which results in a loss of productivity during staff retraining.

US health care organizations need to comply with the guidelines laid out by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These guidelines must be followed to the letter, as they protect the integrity of patient data and health records. Therefore, it is important for health care facilities to know if a prospective service provider follows these stringent policies. The onus is on the health care organization to ensure that patient data is secure; if the service provider it is using does not follow HIPAA guidelines and is thereby compromising patient data, there could be substantial legal ramifications for the health care facility.

There are security concerns that are particular to on-demand solutions. Data resides in an external data center that the user organization has no control over. Security breaches and natural disasters (earthquakes, fires, and floods) can occur, resulting in the loss of an organization’s data. For this reason, it is important to know if a service provider offers a plan of action to protect user organizations’ data, also known as a redundancy, where data is stored in a second location that provides a backup in case the data in the first location is lost or becomes corrupted.

Since an on-demand solution is a pay-as-you-go service, user organizations do not own the rights to the software. In essence, the software is being leased out to the user organization, and at a premium because of its convenience, ease of use, and most importantly, its limiting of an internal IT presence. Some licensing options have a buy-back clause, but these tend to be more costly over time compared to an on-premise solution.

Advantages of an On-premise Solution

On-premise applications maintain data within the health care organization’s network, giving the health care providers better control over who has access to the data, and thereby increasing the data’s security.

There is less downtime when using an on-premise model compared to an on-demand solution; on-demand applications cannot guarantee the communications link between the user and the vendor’s data center. An on-premise model, on the other hand, does not have to contend with remote connectivity issues—a definite consideration for a growing practice.

If a health care organization chooses an on-premise solution and has the means to purchase the software outright, then the software becomes a fixed asset for the health care organization. This is beneficial because the health care organization then has the ability to allocate funds in other areas that can improve and facilitate patient care.

An on-premise solution allows administrators of the user organization to fully customize the application and to have full control over how patient data is handled, distributed to a health care professional, and secured. As a result, it’s not necessary to access the data from a third party’s off-site storage facility, which makes it safer to send data over the network electronically.

Disadvantages of an On-premise Solution

On-premise applications generally carry a higher price tag up front than on-demand solutions do, and the reasons are clear:

* Hardware must be purchased.
* An IT infrastructure is required.
* Specialized staff must be hired for system maintainance (e.g., upgrades, patches, security, etc.).
* A software license must be purchased for each workstation.

An on-premise solution requires the user organization to maintain an internal IT staff, with its attendant costs and administration requirements. This on-site IT staff must perform all equipment and software maintenance, as well as provide support and system maintenance, such as daily backups, security scans, and patches (software upgrades).

It is a common misconception that on-premise applications are safer in terms of data security because they are local applications, and this is often the sole reason health care organizations do not consider implementing an on-demand EMR system. But the safety of an organization’s data largely depends on the security precautions enabled by the internal IT staff. It is possible that a health care facility’s network administrators may be less than vigilant in placing a high priority on data security, and they can leave sensitive patient data exposed.

Vendor scalability is another concern with on-premise solutions, because technology is constantly changing, and software could become obsolete in as little as a couple of years. In other words, what works today may be lacking tomorrow. And once a health care organization purchases an on-premise application, it is stuck with it. By contrast, with an on-demand solution, if the software no longer fits the organization’s needs, the organization can simply select another that does.

As mentioned previously, the on-premise solution that is purchased outright becomes a fixed asset for the health care facility. However, if the health care organization does not have the means to buy the application outright and needs to finance the purchase, then the application becomes a liability until the debt is paid off in full.


SOURCE:-
http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/choosing-the-right-electronic-medical-record-system-for-your-health-care-organization-19289/

What kind of gift does one buy an elderly person for Christmas or a birthday? Why not choose an electronic gift for an aging family member? Grandpa might really go for a DVD player and a few of his favorite movies. A grandmother who loves music might get a real thrill out of an MP3 player that's already been loaded with favorite songs. Both elders might exercise to a video workout system. Make sure the gift is appropriate and user-friendly.
Choose Simple-to-Operate Electronics for Elderly People

Choosing the right electronic gift for an elderly person depends on several important details. Age is not a reliable way to measure ability. However, consider the following functions before choosing an electronic gift for an older person that may have limitations.

* Physical ability. Does the person have the finger dexterity and coordination to operate a small device like a mini MP3 player or would a larger unit be easier to manage?
* Senses. Does the user have poor eyesight or hearing that would make an MP3 player, camera, or other electronic device difficult to enjoy or impossible to use?
* Prosthetic devices. Does the person use a hearing aid? Electronics that work only with headphones may not make a suitable gift for the elderly person.
* Memory loss. Will the user be able to set up and operate the device without help and remember how to use it?
* Temperament due to illness or disease. Would music from a radio or boom box agitate the elderly person if he has Alzheimer's disease?

Considerations when Buying Cell Phones, Portable DVD Player or Digital Camera for Grandparents

The best electronics for an elderly person are those devices that are easy to read or view, and are not complicated to set up or operate.

Cell phones can be lifelines in an emergency and they give peace of mind to people who need to be in contact with each other. But consider this: There is no point in giving Grandpa an expensive cell phone that records video and has fifty nifty features if he can't figure out how to use the thing. A basic cell phone that only makes and receives phone calls is a more sensible choice. Other considerations include:

* Can the user afford the monthly contract payments or load the phone with additional minutes?
* Who is going to help manage the phone?
* Is the elderly person able to see and operate the small keypad?

Digital cameras make great Christmas or birthday gifts for elderly people. Taking pictures is not only a great hobby, but a camera provides an incentive for getting out and getting exercise. Ask these questions before buying a camera:

* How easy is it to operate the camera? Is it "point and shoot" or is the operation more complicated?
* How will the elderly person view the pictures? Does he have access to a computer that has an SD memory card slot, for example?
* Will someone faithfully print the pictures on a printer or camera dock, or take the memory card to a store camera department for printing the photos?

* Is the screen large enough for the elderly user to enjoy?
* Are the control buttons easy to figure out?
* Who will supply the movies for the unit?

Buying Computers, Camcorders and Video Game Systems for Seniors

Laptops, netbooks, and camcorders are pricey gifts. However, advanced electronics may not be suitable for the elderly person who is not computer literate. Netbooks may be too small, especially those that are not equipped with a full-size keyboard. Video gaming may take too much skill and concentration for some elderly persons.

Smaller is not more convenient when selecting an electronic device for an elderly person. Small things are easily misplaced or lost. Small units may have controls that are too small for the elderly person to see clearly.

SOURCE:-
http://aginggrandparents.suite101.com/article.cfm/electronic_gifts_for_elderly_people

Tips for buying personal electronics

In buying personal electronics, we become very conscious of many things, especially our budget.

In this article, I will be sharing some very handy tips and tricks for buying personal electronics with "a smile" on your budget.

{} Know your budget

You should know your budget like a man knows his wife. You should have somehow estimated the kind or number of electronics your budget can take care of.

You should be ready to make good use of that budget.

{} Know what you are buying

What are the electronics you are buying? Watches, iPods, TVs, radios, GPS devices, computers, etc. all of these can be personally owned.

Among the first things to do is to get good knowledge of the electronic you are buying. Get to know their prices, functionalities and features, etc. You can get such information from friends.

The best place to get such information is the Internet. The Internet parades sites of different shops and companies selling electronics there you will get different prices and features and make a quite accurate choice.

{} How about a fairly-used electronic?

You can consider buying a fairly-used electronic depending on your budget. However, you should consider this for all electronics.

For example, I don't advise that people buy a fairly-used laptop. Why? Good because you might not be able to tell about the state of many features in it like the battery strength that diminishes with use, etc. Buy a fairly-used laptop on rare cases where the laptop is proven to be in a very good state.

For some other electronics, a fairly-used might be good, even for a desktop computer. If you are not buying online, you can visit the sales shop/store with a technician to check them out.

You can also buy from friends or relatives who want to sell theirs. With this, you can easily get a good picture of the nature of the electronic before buying. In situations like this, you get a good product at a cheaper price.

{} Friend's Advice

Consider advice from a friend that is quite good with personal electronics. This will help in many areas, especially when it comes to picking the best quality ones that are not too expensive.

{} Consider buying online

The Internet is arguably the best place to buy things like electronics. The simple reason: you are opened to different kinds of that particular electronic, different prices, different services, etc. all from different shops and companies.


SOURCE:-
http://www.helium.com/items/1083853-tips-for-buying-personal-electronics

China has been manufacturing quality products for some time now. From textiles to electronics, most brand name products now found in western countries have been produced and/or assembled overseas. Especially when it comes to electronics, many popular products have been manufactured in China. The mobile phones, MP3 players, cameras, etc. from Chinese factories are the most trusted electronics products on the market. However, some consumers still hesitate to purchase wholesale Chinese electronics. Many believe that the lower price reflects a much lower quality, and choose to pay more for items imprinted with a well-know brand name. However, as the quality of goods produced by Chinese manufacturers continues to improve, the big names in electronics may be forced to lower their prices.

Peace of mind is very important to electronics consumers. When purchasing an expensive piece of equipment, it is worth paying a premium just to rest at ease knowing the product is from a trusted company. As the digital age progresses, we all have less and less patience for slow electronics that are prone to malfunction. People believe that if they pay the higher price for a name brand mobile phone or MP3 player, they are basically guaranteed to receive a long-lasting, quality product.

However, this guarantee is largely mythological. Most of us have learned the hard way that even if you buy from one of the leading companies, you don't always get a quality product. Users have been frustrated for years with poor quality cell phones, broken iPods, and fragile cameras, all from trusted, brand name companies. The first iPods were extremely unreliable, and apparently only designed to last for 1-2 years. Many consumers who learned that their $300 iPod was essentially disposable felt cheated. While most brand name electronics do come with a guarantee, this typically only lasts about a year (unless you pay extra up front for the extended warranty). Even with this warranty, all you can be sure of is that they will send you another product that is as likely to break down as the previous one.

In fact, there are no guarantees. While it may be more likely that you will receive a quality product from a leading electronics manufacturers, this margin is slim. As users begin to realize that all of their electronics products are likely to be broken or outdated within a year or two, many are beginning to look at electronics available from China wholesalers. These goods may be of slightly lower quality, but are much cheaper. The quality gap is rapidly growing smaller, and China prices continue to remain low. If you have ever received poor service from a name brand manufacturer, or had to send back 4 broken iPods, it may seem that this gap no longer exists. Furthermore, Chinese products also come with warranties, typically offering a replacement within 6 months to one year of purchase.

Technology is advancing at a quicker pace than ever before. In addition, global competition continues to drive down prices. While it may still feel safer to purchase overpriced electronics products from big name companies, that reality is changing. Chinese manufacturers, no longer content to assemble goods for the profit of western companies, are now selling their own products at much lower prices. The China wholesale electronics of today are more reliable than ever before, and continue to gain popularity. While this is not good news for companies that have dominated the electronics market for years, consumers will certainly benefit


SOURCE:-
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/china-wholesale-electronics-of-today.html

When most people think of recycling, they picture green bins full of glass, newspapers and plastic milk jugs set out on the sidewalk for trash day. But old electronics devices also contain valuable materials that can be reclaimed--along with poisonous substances that should be kept away from people and out of the environment.
Toxic TVs

As technology advances, consumers want the latest and greatest electronics. As a result, more and more e-waste is generated every year. Hazardous materials are contained inside most consumer electronics, including:

* Computer CPUs and monitors
* Keyboards
* Power supplies
* Speakers
* TVs
* DVD and VHS players
* Cellphones
* Video game systems
* Printers
* Telephones
* Microwave ovens
* Toasters
* Pagers
* Surge Protectors
* Fax Machines

Color cathode ray tubes (CRTs), found in older TVs and computer monitors, contain several pounds of lead. The poisonous metal mercury is used in circuit boards. Other toxic materials found in electronics include chromium, cadmium, zinc, and brominated flame retardants.

What Happens to Old Electronics?

In 2005, the EPA estimated that:

* 45% of consumer electronics are stored or reused;
* 44% are sent to landfills or incinerators; and
* 11% are recycled.

When old electronics get thrown into the trash, the poisons inside them can leach into soil and groundwater through a landfill or be vaporized in an incinerator (see Turning Trash into Electricity). These contaminants damage human and animal nervous systems, and some are known to cause cancer.

Because consumer electronics contain valuable resources, such as copper, gold, glass and plastics, commercial recyclers collect them, sometimes for a fee. They may reuse some of the materials or resell them to others, including overseas recyclers.
What Standards Cover E-waste Recycling?

In July, 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an improved standard for recycling CRTs. Most states have passed or are developing laws for safe disposal of e-waste. However, no overall national standard for electronics waste recycling yet exists.

The international standards, ISO 9001:2001 and ISO 14001, cover electronics recycling plants. Unfortunately, the many workers at non-ISO certified plants, as well as the local environments, are not adequately protected from the toxic materials contained in the recycled electronics.
How Can Consumers Safely Dispose of Used Electronics?

As the problem of e-waste grows, consumers can support those manufacturers that are looking for ways to reduce its harmful effects. For example, Fujitsu now offers a biodegradable plastic laptop chassis, which can decompose in just a few months. As a bonus, the process of manufacturing this plastic creates fewer carbon emissions than for standard petroleum-based plastics.

Many electronics retailers provide "End-Of-Life" asset management services and trade-in programs, in which they agree to take back obsolete products. The major cellphone manufacturers now recycle both handsets and batteries. And many non-profit organizations and schools take working computers as donations.

SOURCE:-
http://environmental-engineering.suite101.com/article.cfm/electronic_waste_recycling_101

Today, health care organizations are looking to adopt time-saving technology. Electronic medical record (EMR) software uses online technology to deliver automated processes that can save health care organizations a lot of time and resources.

Not only does an EMR solution reduce the amount of paper used by a health care facility (because it no longer needs to make as many copies of documents), it helps the facility to save on resources too, including transcription and storage costs. In addition, nurses and doctors spend less time searching for patient data, because it is stored on servers in digital format, taking up a minuscule amount of space. This enables health care organizations to convert valuable space, previously occupied by file cabinets and paper storage systems, into areas for patient care and treatment.

All this helps to reduce patient waiting times, and physicians are able to see more patients daily.

This article lists and discusses the guidelines a health care organization should follow when implementing an EMR system. These guidelines will explain what health care organizations should expect, and they will help to ensure a smoother transition from manual to electronic processes. However, following these guidelines still cannot guarantee that your implementation will be a complete success; some problems are likely to arise regardless of the measures you take to avoid them, and should be expected.

Stage 1: Defining the Needs

Let's start from the beginning. Before an implementation project gets off the ground, there is a lengthy process that needs to occur, as errors or oversights at the beginning of an implementation project can be very costly to a health care organization down the line.

The client (usually a person holding a high-level position in the organization, such as the chief of staff, for example) must first identify and document what aspects of patient care need to be improved within its facility. The client then submits this document, including the reasons for embarking on the project, to the chief information officer (CIO) for review. If the CIO determines that the request is feasible, it is then submitted to senior management for approbation (funding). Senior management's approval of funding the project depends on a benefits analysis and a detailed breakdown of time, resources, and budget to determine if the project will be a beneficial endeavor to the health care organization.

If senior management approves funding, the proposed implementation becomes a project mandate. The CIO will then appoint a project manager (PM), who will be given the scope and relative time frame in which the project is to be completed. The PM will write up the project charter (the project's mission statement and guidelines), and develop a document referred to as the work breakdown structure (WBS). The WBS is a high-level schedule that documents each phase of the project. The PM will then give the human resources (HR) department his or her staffing requirements so that the positions needed for the project are filled. Such resources may be internal or external, depending on availability and on the skill sets of the employees.

Stage 2: Evaluating Project Requirements

At this stage, the PM identifies the client's requirements and becomes familiar with the daily operational roles within the health care organization—before contacting software vendors. In collecting the client's requirements, the PM sets up interviews with all industry professionals and senior managers in the health care organization to find out their needs. The PM will designate the appropriate subject matter experts (SMEs) and business analysts to validate the current process model's capabilities and to determine what capabilities will be required for the future process model.

This is a critical stage because every vendor has its own methodology for implementation. It is essential that the PM and the implementation team know the organization's requirements and to convey them to the vendor. This helps to keep the vendor focused on what the health care organization is looking for.

Once the PM knows the client's requirements, he or she will then define the project to the implementation team so that the objectives, roles, deliverables, and targeted milestones of the project are clear to everyone.

The PM must also consult with executives and senior management, because even though they are not directly involved in the implementation life cycle, their input is definitely being considered. They are spearheading the project (behind the scenes), and they are well aware of the implementation's progress at each phase.

The PM's job is to make certain all aspects of the project run smoothly and that deadlines are met. You could look at the PM as the glue that holds the entire project together. This individual should show leadership and be capable of keeping the project on track and on budget. Once a plan is set in motion, the PM and the implementation team must stick to that plan religiously. If the PM can't lead the team, mistakes will be made and deadlines will be missed, which will impact the allotted budget.

Stage 3: Quality Assurance Testing and User Validation

During the weeks leading up to deployment, a trainer from the vendor site will go to the client's site to train a select group of people for a few months. Once these individuals become proficient and have mastered the system, they will have become SMEs, and they will be responsible for training the entire health care staff on the new EMR system.

During the validation period, two types of testing are performed: technical or stress testing and user acceptance testing (UAT).

Technical testing is crucial before deployment, as this is where quality assurance (QA) performs system and stress testing to avoid any major problems that might arise, before “going live.” This form of testing helps determine the stability of a system. Stress testing involves testing the system beyond its normal operational capacity to observe the results and to weed out or discover any hidden problems not found during initial testing. If the system passes these tests, then the client can rest assured the system is capable of handling the health care organization's workload.

The last stage prior to “going live” is UAT, where the client tries out the system to ensure that everything is working properly and that QA has fixed all the system's bugs.

Stage 4: Deployment (“Going Live”)

If all goes well during the testing and validation stage, the deployment phase is the last step in the implementation life cycle. It usually follows the testing and validation stage by a few weeks.

Once the EMR system “goes live,” the health care employees begin to work with the new system, performing their day-to-day tasks using the new solution. If problems arise at this point, the vendor needs to be informed immediately. It is likely to take some time for the solution to work properly and to align with the health care organization's business processes.

A few weeks later, a post-project assessment is performed. This assessment is a checkpoint to determine if the system's performance aligns with the project charter, as well as a way to audit the vendor. Did the vendor meet the requirements stated in the request for proposal (RFP)? If not, additional enhancements could be recommended as a secondary phase of the project.


SOURCE:-
http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/a-road-map-to-electronic-medical-record-system-implementation-19505/

This second part of an extended note on e-procurement examines the necessary steps after a business decision to go with e-procurement has been made based on the information and criteria covered in Part I.

E-procurement is an integrated system of services and technologies that provides a seamless bridge between buying and selling businesses. The e-procurement process begins at the planning stages within the buying company and extends through to the delivery and collections services of the selling company and the receipt and payment services of the buying company. E-procurement shatters walls, enhances controls, and eliminates time delays in the requisition to receipt process.

About This Note

This Technology Note covering the e-procurement is presented in two parts. The first part covers:

1. The Promise of E-Procurement

2. E-Procurement Myths and Reality

3. Preparing for an E-Procurement Initiative

The second part covers:

4. E-Procurement Architecture

5. Selecting an E-Procurement Partner(s)

6. Implementing E-Procurement

E-Procurement Architecture

Procurement automation begins with budgeting and ends with the retirement of capital assets or consumption of raw materials. Failure (or choosing) not to include any of the following dimensions of the process de-optimizes the investment at best and opens the process for subversion at worst. Following are features found in product offerings and customer requests with examples of what each function addresses.

1.

Budgeting - is the basis for Automated Expenditure Authorization for Cost Center-based controls and accounting. When a Requisition is either initiated by an authorized individual or authorized by one, the Procurement Engine should compare the Requisition against Budget Levels and other Authorization Rules then forward it to the supplier for fulfillment.

Budgeting services include:

* Expense items

* Capital items

*

Cost Allocation Rules

2.

Project Structure - is the source of Automated Expenditure Authorization project-related controls and accounting. It establishes approval and authorization routings that override or clarify normal budgeting processes. Where Project Accounting is employed, it also establishes the hierarchy of accounts that will be used to capture project costs.

Project Structure services include:
*

Expense items
*

Capital items
*

Cost Allocation Rules

3.

Purchase Contracting - establishes commitments and agreements between suppliers and buyers. Requisitions, Receipts, and Payments leverage Purchase Contract data to set up Purchase Orders and Validate Billing. Goods Receipt and Payments post attainment of purchase commitments and consumption of sale commitments.

Purchase Contracting deals with:
*

Quantity minimums
*

Commitment levels
*

Expiration dates

4.

Bid Management - involves a series of steps from Request for Information to Purchase and Post-Acquisition activities. These steps leading up to a Purchase Order are time consuming and highly prone to contention. Bid Management is concerned with:

* Request for Bid posting (Open and Directed)

* Supplier response posting

* Standard Terms & Conditions

5.

Approval & Automated Authorization - are two distinct process steps. Approval is a statement of concurrence that no known conditions exist to prevent authorization. Authorization empowers action. A combination of automated and manual intervention steps leads to commitment of a purchase order.

Approval services include:
*

Budget comparison rules
*

Authorization Rules
*

Approval Rules
*

Workflow
*

Escalation Rules
*

Bypass Rules
*

Exception Handling Rules

6.

Requisitioning - initiates the procurement process. The more simple and comprehensive this process is, the more useable and less subverted the entire process will be.

Requisitioning services include:
*

Catalog of standard goods, services and information
*

Standard kits
*

Alternative product selection assistance
*

Order amendment
*

Custom routing
*

Shipping, handling and delivery instructions
*

Price variance allowance
*

Delivery variance allowance
*

Cost allocation
*

Order consolidation and contingency


7.

Purchasing - establishes procurement sources and coordinates standard product selection, supplier qualification and financial controls. There is a tendency to automate the traditional Purchasing function rather than re-defining it with an e-procurement system. E-procurement systems are designed to eliminate most of the traditional Purchasing department work and enhance the value of the rest.

Purchasing services include:
*

Catalog management
*

Purchase contract management
*

Service contracts
*

Order release
*

Communication of specifications, terms and conditions
*

Expediting
*

Supplier interaction
*

Request for Information, Request for Proposal and Proposal Analysis

8.

Receiving - must match packages and other modes of product receipt to the Purchase Orders that authorized their delivery. Delays occur in this process when goods received cannot be matched to expected deliveries. Often this is caused by differences in product identifiers between the purchasing and sales systems.

Receiving support services include:
*

Under-shipment and over-shipment
*

Substitute products
*

Returns
*

Recipient locator
*

Forward view of expected deliveries

9.

Inventory Management - establishes replenishment rules for stocked goods as well as for supplier-held inventory such as forms and personalized promotional materials.

Inventory Management features include:
*

Maximum / Minimum and Economic Order Quantity rules
*

Associated goods relationships
*

ECO cut-in for manufacturing and engineering materials
*

Phase-in and Phase-out rules for non-manufacturing / engineering materials
*

Alternate products
*

Stocking location identification
*

Drop-ship

10.

Accounts Payable - must match receipts to purchase orders and process payments. Accounts Payable delays can bring the process to a halt when a supplier places a Credit-Hold on the account.

Accounts Payable services include:
*

Automated invoice / receipt matching
*

Batch vouching of payments by time-period and / or payment amount
*

Automated invoice exception authorization

11.

Interfaces - provide links to other operational and planning systems. Robust interfaces assure audibility of financial and inventory systems. They also assure that notification and workflow systems keep procurement-related transaction flowing.

Interface services include:
*

Reference links between functions allow one function to collect data from another.
*

Requisitioning copies price and delivery data from a catalog.
*

Workflow selects 'next step' from Approval and Automated Authorization.
*

Update links between functions map progress.
*

Payment posts Actual Cost to Project Control
*

Receipt posts order fulfillment to Purchasing and Accounts Payable
*

Application System links connect e-procurement to other systems.
*

Procurement obtains engineering drawings from Product Data Management
*

Workflow sends messages through e-mail
*

External System links connect e-procurement to trading partners.
*

Local e-procurement and external Marketplace
*

Workflow to logistics companies

12.

Exception Processing - is essential to the efficiency and value of an e-procurement system. The vast majority of transactions should flow through the system without human interaction. When an exception (workflow delay, budget exceeded, approval declined, shipment error, invoice error) is detected, notification must take place promptly and resolution must be automatically expedited.

13.

Analytical Processing - is essential to process improvement and supplier management. Process measures and reporting that identify the source of delays and exceptions will allow processes to be improved either by adjusting rules or through training. Reporting that focuses on product purchase patterns, product delivery, and supplier factors to support price negotiation and vendor selection.

Selecting an E-Procurement Partner(s)

The marketplace for e-procurement systems is quite broad and complex. Products range from complete application suites to highly configurable tool kits. Similarly, suppliers range from capable technologists to experienced business automation professionals. To make things more confusing, there are often multiple suppliers involved in the process, each providing product components or integration services. Finally, there is great volatility in the technology used to deploy e-procurement. Suppliers, products, and processes change rapidly making the selection process quite difficult.

The following guidelines should minimize risk:

1.

Work quickly once scope and design are established.
2.

Avoid proprietary technologies and protocols. Even though products are System Marked or Patented, they should be built using non-proprietary tools. (Not a simple task!)
3.

Seriously consider outsourcing catalog construction and maintenance. This requires unique skills and is a critical path item.
4.

Avoid the need to acquire new skills and positions to make the system work.
5.

Give extra points to a supplier who has worked with several of your suppliers.
6.

Build an idealized model of characteristics for the solution, assign weighting factors and map supplier solutions to the model to identify differentiating and preference factors.
7.

Resist the temptation to work with 'the vital few' criteria. It is the sum of small variances from dozens of characteristics that cause cost and schedule overruns.
8.

Validate all vendor claims through customer references. This is non-trivial when products and tools change dramatically from one implementation to the next. Employ knowledgeable assistance.
9.

Understand the business model and financial performance of suppliers and develop confidence that the partnership will last through implementation and a few change cycles.
10.

Understand the technical architecture and capabilities of the suppliers to assure their ability to deliver, integrate, and maintain the system.



SOURCE:-
http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/e-procurement-is-not-electronic-purchasing-part-ii-16214/

With everyday wear and tear, things tend to break and your laptop can be one of them. With places that provide iPhone parts and Macbook parts, you do not need to worry because if something does go wrong, you do not have to replace the whole thing. If you are a businessman or woman, chances are you will be carrying around that laptop with you from work to home and if that is the case, you will probably want to buy or have a case that is well padded. That way if it bumps into anything, it will be protected no matter what.

A few reasons why laptops or really any electronics get damaged is because people take them too many places without the protection they need. When you travel, keep it in the proper case and constantly make sure you know where it is. If someone sees a laptop sitting alone, depending on who they are, they might take the opportunity to take it. If you are in a bigger city, it is even more likely. If your laptop does get stolen and you have important documents or passwords that people should not get a hold of, it could be an issue. To prevent this from happening, always back up your files and keep them in a safe place at home as well as on your computer. As for you passwords, keep them in a secure document with a password that only you know.

A few other things that could go wrong are things like food spills and children. When kids get a hold of a laptop when they are too young to handle it, they can be dropped or things could get spilled on it. If you have an office or a room where you can keep it up at a high level that is the best way to make sure it is safe. Otherwise, when you are not paying attention, who knows what could go wrong. Also, if you can avoid eating anywhere near your computer, that could prevent a lot of problems. Food and drinks can be sticky and ruining a keyboard on a laptop can badly damage the entire computer.

Viruses and things that can mess up your computer internally are not easily fixed by a new part. To avoid this, only go on websites that you can trust and do not click on things that do not look legitimate. You can buy software for the computer that protects against anything that will harm it.

Laptops also tend to get too hot if they are placed on a rug or blanket or something that does not let the laptop breathe so it is a good idea to prop up the laptop where the vents are. You can buy tables that let the air circulate or you could make your own makeshift one by propping it up with a doorstopper or something like it. Remember to always keep your laptop protected on the inside and out and you will be able to keep it in shape for a good amount of time.




SOURCE:-
http://ezinearticles.com/?Taking-Care-of-Your-Electronics&id=4639396

Electronic procurement is one of the major business-to-business growth markets on the Internet. As opposed to previous generations of procurement, which have of course been "electronic" for many years, E-procurement refers specifically to procurement that is based, at least in part, on the use of internet or intranet technology. The final direction will eventually involve all parties - users, approvers, suppliers - working from standard browsers, but not all vendors have moved away from products that require specialized desktop software.

The whys of electronic procurement are obvious. Organizations look to E-procurement to reduce administrative costs and improve turnaround, and to help them exercise control over inventory and spending. E-procurement systems also provide new sources of supply and can lead to lower prices for the good being procured. It is no surprise that, according to a survey conducted by Purchasing magazine, 90% of purchasing professionals expect to be buying online by the year 2002. The market for E-procurement tools is estimated to grow from under $200 million in 1998 to $8.5 billion by 2003.

But the wheres of electronic procurement may not be quite so obvious, because E-procurement needs to be thought about in a way that is different from most other applications. For most applications, while there may be inputs coming from outside the company or data sent to the outside, the core of the application - the way we think of where it is -- lies well within the enterprise. With E-procurement the focus is on the transaction, which lies between two different organizations.

If E-procurement were simply about two different players - a buyer and a seller - it would not be quite so interesting, or so difficult. But each player is really the center of a star: the buyer deals with many sellers, and the seller deals with many buyers; see Figure 1. So the question of where E-procurement happens is neither trivial nor obvious.

Different Solutions

An E-procurement system can be located at the seller, at the buyer, or in between. Figure 2 shows the first case. In this sell-side model the buyer is like a shopper on Main Street, who visits the various vendors of interest to look at the offerings and prices. The seller mounts software that enables each buyer to browse and purchase. This is, clearly, a sell-side model.

The obverse case is, obviously, the one shown in Figure 3. Here the sellers have to bring their wares to the buyers, like Travelling Salesmen of the early 20th century. This is a buy-side model.

In the final case, in Figure 4, third parties set up department stores to connect buyers and sellers. This is called the Marketplace model; it has also been called the portal model - or, when it serves a vertical market, the vortal model.

Trade-offs

Each model has advantages and disadvantages for the buyer (and, of course, for the seller). The important questions revolve around who builds and maintains the catalogs that show what products are available, how well the procurement functions integrate with corporate procedures and back-end systems, and how convenient the result is for the buyer's employees.

In the Main Street model each vendor puts up its own catalog, possibly on an extranet. A company in partnership with such a vendor can have its employees navigate to the vendor site with their desktop browsers and make purchases. No catalog maintenance needs to be performed by the purchasing company, which makes adoption of such a system cheap and easy. However, integration with back-end financial systems will not be easy. There are standards being developed, mostly XML-based next-generations of EDI, which in theory will make it easy for any of the documents resulting from a purchase to be read by legacy or ERP systems. The success of that approach remains to be seen as the various proposed standards compete for acceptance. Some of the major vendors such as Ariba and Commerce One have their own standards, as does Microsoft. The Main Street model also suffers from the problems of comparison-shopping and control. In order to comparison shop a purchasing agent must navigate through a number of vendor websites, each with its own interface, packaging and shipping arrangements and discounts. Controlling maverick purchases is nearly impossible. The Main Street approach will work best for smaller purchasing organizations, and for cases where the vendor product is fairly specialized. One example of this model is a new initiative by Eastman Chemical company. Eastman is providing low cost computers from Dell and internet access via UUNET to allow its customers to make purchases at the Eastman site.

The other end of the scale is the Travelling Salesman model. Here the vendors come to the purchaser by providing data from which the purchasing company builds and maintains its own catalog. There are many advantages for the company doing the purchasing. Since it controls the catalog it can exercise tight control over which products get into the catalog, and even give different employees different product selections and quantity limits. In this way purchasing can be brought to the individual desktop, and employees have a single interface to deal with. On the other hand, building and updating catalogs can be a major editorial effort. One vendor in this market, PurchasePro, installs its software at buyer sites. Using the PurchasePro software the client can shop at both vendor sites and at marketplaces. One of PurchasePro's customers is the hotel operating chain Meristar.

In the middle are the Marketplaces, third party sites that bring buyers and sellers together into their own market space. Marketplace sites do provide the unity of a single catalog, but are less integrated with backend systems and the buying company's own policies. Naturally, many vendors in this space are putting significant effort into making their solutions look as much as possible like buy-side solutions.

There are actually two variants of Marketplace. One is the vortal, the vertical marketplace. One example is ChemConnect, which brings buyers and sellers in the chemicals industry together. One estimate projects that 15 percent of this $1.6 trillion industry will be Internet mediated within the next three to five years.

The other variant is a marketplace that covers a wide variety of product types. The real driver here is MRO - Maintenance, Repair and Operating supplies - procurement, which can be as much as 35% of a business' total expenditures. Additionally, MRO buying is a frequent cause of maverick buying - buying off of the preferred vendor list. There are estimates that up to 40 percent of MRO buying is maverick buying, and could be costing a typical billion-dollar company as much as $10 million per year in lost vendor discounts. There are a number of players in this space. The leaders are Ariba and Commerce One, both of whom are actively soliciting vendors and selling their solutions to buying organizations. Others include Concur Technologies, Intelsys, and many smaller players. There is also competition in this space from large ERP vendors like SAP and Baan, Oracle, IBM, HP, and others.

One way to implement a Marketplace model is to be completely Internet based, particularly on the buyer side. This would mean that no software resided on the buyer's own computers and that all operations were done by means of browsers. A second approach would put specialized software on the desktops of the purchasing company's employees, but house network of vendors centrally on the Internet.

Figure 5 is a suggestive comparison of the three approaches. It shows graphically how the different models compare in convenience for some important criteria. But, as always, the devil is in the details, which change daily in this product space. For example, integration into back-end systems is theoretically expected to be harder with the Marketplace model than for the Main Street because the Main Street solution is installed and customized on the buyer's site. But there is no reason that a particular vendor couldn't make a sufficient investment so that their Marketplace model would integrate easily with your back-end systems. Indeed some such ability is promised by major Marketplace vendors.


SOURCE:-
http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/the-wheres-of-electronic-procurement-16087/

When my grandmother needed heating oil, ice, produce or milk, she placed the appropriate card in the front parlor window and when the delivery service came by, they rang the door bell, took the order, made the delivery, got paid and left.

On the other hand when a client at a large media and entertainment company needed a tablet of paper, she called her administrator who wrote a purchase requisition, brought it to her for approval and sent it to the division controller who batched it and sent it to purchasing where the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) buyer batched it, summarized quantities of common items then called the supplier to place the order. The buyer then made copies of the purchase requisitions and sent them to mail room. The supplier boxed up the goods and delivered them to the mail room where they were matched up against the copies of purchase requisitions, bagged and loaded into mail bins for the journey through the walls to the mail room on the administrator's floor. The supplier meanwhile sent an invoice which the mailperson checked against the purchase requisition, initialed the purchase requisition and sent it to Accounts Payable. At Accounts Payable, the Purchase Requisitions were matched with the Purchase Order and the supplier was paid forty-five days later.

Seven days and $150 dollars of handling later, the Tablet of Paper arrived. This is not a pretty picture. But it is not the entire story either. While this person waited for her tablet, hundreds of other employees were drawing from 'office stocks' that had been hoarded over the months and hundreds more were stopping by The Office Superstore on the way back from lunch and submitting Expense Reimbursement Vouchers to Accounts Payable for the same types of materials.

My grandmother had three suppliers and four items to buy and she barely had to leave her rocking chair. How can a company connect 20,000 employees with 10,000 suppliers and 200,000 items?

This Is Where E-Procurement Comes In

The first order of business recommended by the Selection Consultant was to simplify:

1. Reduce the number of items by standardizing on 10 pens and 5 tablet colors

2. Reduce the number of suppliers through consolidation

3. Provide the employees with a catalog that is easy to navigate

4. Provide an Order Form that is Faxed directly to the Supplier

5. Have the suppliers package items for delivery directly into the mail system

6. Eliminate the Purchase Requisition / Purchase Order Match

This alone reduced MRO Spend both through unit cost reduction, purchase order count reduction and reduced (measured) time spent by all parties. Thankfully, Requisition Volume did not increase (at least in the short run). At $85 per Requisition, there was still a lot of room for improvement. Automation came next.

The chosen approach was to build the catalog and order forms on the corporate intranet and duplicate the rest of the process. That yielded $65 unit cost reduction. New goals were set to hit:

1. Two day cycle time (Requisition to Receipt of Goods)

2. $25 per Requisition

3. Greater than 50% reduction in 'office stocks'

4. An additional 5% Cost of Materials reduction

These goals defined the Business Level Requirements of an e-Procurement Solution.

Next Operational Requirements had to be set:

1. An average of 30 seconds to locate an item on the catalog

2. An average of 1 minute to locate and Request an item that had previously been Requested

3. On line feedback to Procurement and Suppliers regarding item quality and delivery service

4. Real-time authorization

5.

There were more than 30 suppliers to consider but key choices reduced the count quickly to 8.

Note, some of the original suppliers did not have the ability to meet key requirements such as:

1. Integration with Financial Accounting Systems

2. Ability to Buy to Stock and Charge at Issue to employee

Also note that this was a while ago, but more on this in a bit.

Technical review of the eight candidates and assessment of internal support needs revealed tremendous differences:

1. The complexity of making multiple suppliers fulfilling a single Requisition seem transparent to the employee ranged from simple to prohibitive.

2. Ability to track workflow including activities at the suppliers facilities and during transport of goods varied widely.

3. The catalog, the catalog and more about the catalog.

What about the catalog?

1. Aggregation of multiple suppliers into a common view has three challenges - Supplier Ability, Product Ability and Customer Willingness to Commit Resources.

2. Connection to multiple supplier technology systems through the corporate firewall(s) and with multiple protocols.

3. Catalog Item price and availability update automation.

4. Handling Personalized items such as Jackets, Mugs and Note Pads.

5. Custom Catalog Items such as the Corporate Holiday Season Greeting Card, telephone directories and Sandwiches from the Delis of Choice.

Having settled on three finalists, product demonstrations and project risk analysis commenced.

We employ Business Scenario Execution as the Proof of the Pudding as follows.

1. Scenarios are established through focus groups with homogeneous and mixed groups of stakeholders.

2. Each scenario is ranked and a business value ($$s) is assigned.

3. Each supplier configures its system and demonstrate it to a subset of stakeholders

4. Ratings are collected and added to other selection criteria

e-Procurement systems carry three principal sources of project risk:

1. It is a buying process for employees therefore it must be readily accepted.

2. Its value is realized over a period of time therefore it must provide good service and it must be kept current.

3. It is network-based therefore there are hundreds of points of failure.

The selection process led to a solution which was implemented and it appears that the IRR will be 20% greater than expected. This is principally due to lower Item Unit Cost but also due to a 60% reduction of 'office stocks'. The only measured cost transfer resulted from an explosion in the number of Requisitions causing more mail packages being handled and more detail A/P transactions that needed to be audited.






SOURCE:-
http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/e-procurement-is-not-electronic-purchasing-16296/

Confused about the complex array of marine navigation software for your Garmin Marine GPS? You are not alone. Here we will take a look at how to find the right charts and what format to purchase to ensure it is compatible with your marine GPS.

BlueChart g2 Vision is highly detailed, visual representation of above and below water with 3 dimensional perspective. High resolution satellite imagery is standard with most Garmin chart plotters. When you upgrade with the optional regional maps you also get aerial photography that provides unparalleled detail for navigation using realistic visual representations. BlueChart g2 charts install in your GPS using the SD card slot on the device to provide complete marine coverage.

The 3-D mapping capability allows you switch between topside view and fish eye view for a realistic picture above or below the water. Below the surface views include shaded depth contours and other features such as reefs, rocks, and shoals. Optional auto guidance software charts the safest known route automatically avoiding known obstacles such as buoys, reefs, harbors and so on. You can also get information about fishing charts, tides, currents, wrecks, anchorages and other points of interest.

Garmin is continuously updating their stock of aerial photographs and satellite imagery to constantly improve the BlueChart for their line of marine GPS electronics.

Find the Right Charts for your Marine GPS

Garmin makes two types of software. BlueChart software is a series of maps for coastal waters and the Great Lakes of North America. BlueChart also covers other worldwide large bodies of water. For example, Blue Chart Americas covers North and South America. For Asia and Oceania, choose BlueChart Pacific and for European and African marine adventures choose BlueChart Atlantic.

For boating in the interior on any of America's abundant freshwater lakes, choose Inland Lakes software for your Garmin marine GPS.

Installing the Charts on your Marine GPS

Formats for Garmin's marine GPS software line include CD-ROM and USB data card. Typically for GPS chart plotter, you purchase the CD-ROM and upload the data onto your PC. Then you use a data card programmer (which connects to your PC's USB port) to transfer information onto a memory card that you install in the chart plotter's memory card slot. You can purchase blank memory cards of various sizes to do this. Garmin's handheld series of marine GPS may have internal memory that allows you to upload the chart data directly into the unit (bypassing the need for a memory card). Other models use a micro-SD card for uploading charts directly.

The CD-ROM method requires you to unlock the software for the region you have purchased with a special license key. If you don't want to use the PC method you can also purchase pre-programmed SD memory cards with the BlueChart software already embedded. These do not require license keys, but on the whole you get more flexibility with the PC approach. Having the navigation and charting software on your PC allows you to plan ahead. You can also save waypoints to the computer. Having routes and waypoints backed up to your PC is a good precaution against data loss as well.

Different Garmin marine GPS devices have different requirements and capabilities for uploading the maps, so when you are purchasing discount charts and add on marine electronics online have your model number handy for reference.




SOURCE:-
http://ezinearticles.com/?Discount-Marine-Electronics-GPS-Software---Garmin-BlueChart-G2-Series&id=4402362

China has emerged as world's major manufacture of consumer electronics goods and high-tech goods than any other country in the world. Starting from the MP3 players, Digital Cameras, Cell phones, to Computer accessories and electronic goods, which are made in China is now gaining fabulous fame.

In current times, china wholesale market is tagged as the world's prime electronic goods industry as they have already shown their ability to manufacture all kinds of electronic products at cheaper rates than anywhere in the world. Reason is not just the low resources price, but low cost of energy as well as lower corporate tax. Although each production outfit uses cheap labor. However, the quality of these products is best. Apart from this, now buying the wholesale china products, particularly electronic products by global sourcing is becoming a hassle free experience. Many China electronics providers are not charging any tax and other charges for a multinational buying. Besides this, nowadays many products are simply available and are accessed in an online market.

Payment including the minimum shipping cost is made after checking all the items in a computer screen. One very important point is that the supplier does not charge any tax, and the importer might need to pay the custom duty according to their country's tax rules. Furthermore, the cost of the earnings ratio is favoring the China electronics trade. Well-informed importers are now looking at the China to source the products via global sourcing. In addition, they buy the wholesale electronics goods from China in bulk as well as sales in a local market in an effectual method to make fast money.

These days many pleased customers from all over the world appreciate exceptional quality of the services, which the China wholesale electronics goods provides. China's wholesale electronics market is providing consumers & re-sellers a fast and profitable source to build the sales. Inclination towards the electronic products that are made in China is now gaining popularity and in coming years have expected to boom little more.

Newest method that may allow you make some money by sourcing hot goods straight from the wholesaler is by drop shipping China wholesale electronics. In addition, there are a number of products that you may get at cheap price from various sources. Therefore, buying from the wholesale China companies generally involves bulk purchases and in large quantities. However, with the drop ship wholesaler or provider you can get the products you want at the low price even in very small quantity.

China is a well-know source of all types of products & leading maker of different gadgets and devices. Many wholesale drop shippers get these products directly from the warehouse in China at very low price and in small quantity; and allowing them and customers' to have one chance to make money from the system. In recent years, the demand for the electronics made in China has a significant increase. This brand popularity as well as the technological advancements in China now has backed the recognition of the Chinese merchandise on the market. Various countries in the world now import the consumer electronics made in China. Vendors import wholesale products in China for the low costs that are offered by wholesalers. Best quality of Chinese products is accessible at cheaper rate and retailer will be able to make good profit on it.

SOURCE:-

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/emerging-chinese-wholesale-electronics-item.html

Everyone recognize that when you buy an item coming from china, particularly products like wholesale electronics, its almost the best example of hazard and reward. There are many person's experience with Chinese wholesale electronics suppliers, I am one of them, here's my own experience with Chinese wholesale electronics suppliers and how you can find the good ones.

I've been online, for some time now, dealing products through eBay, my own internet site, and getting more internet sites set up to the internet committed to single niches. But it wasn't always that bright and prosperous; before I was having full-time earnings online, I was seeking to win with wholesale products, particularly wholesale electronics.


Today I am a little knowledgable when we talk about this kind of thing, I love HDTV, Playstation and Wii video games, Blu-ray movies, and Bose. I loved it very much, I wanted to sell it. Every wholesale electronics products was too expensive for me to buy, so I thought of that the electronic gadget I desired to market was a sophisticated - (in that time) bluetooth headset.

I've heard this Chinese wholesale electronics provider that I believed was legitimate, but in the future, I would find out that they were a total fraud. Spent about 500$ of my hard earned money seeking to purchase this item and market it on eBay. My computations were that if I purchased this item, I would be able to make about 60% earnings.


Then that's huge, meaning that I purchased the items for fifty dollars every item and sell them for about 80$, which was the running cost for eBay. Now If I sell them all, which I was fairly convinced I would, I might possibly make about 300$ profit from these items. That's a nice and good investment, because I would purchase more each time, and make a regular income of three hundred dollars per week marketing these products!

Now it was great, until the provider ran off with my incestments, and since they are located in China, I'd more likely pay more money just to chase those wholesale electronics supplier than what it was really worth. So I spent five-hundred dollars on a hidden headset, that was not yet delivered.


SOURCE:-
http://www.a1articles.com/article_1018269_45.html

Electronic devices play important part in our daily life, as if we can't live without it. There two most reasonable conditions for us to replace electronic devices with a new one.

First, our electronic devices break down fatally and cost for repair is higher than its second hand.
Sometimes, there are people that will try to fix their devices and save their electronic devices although those devices already hard to be repaired if those devices are: gifts from a precious person, an antique device, or a collectible thing.

Second, our electronic devices are already out-of-date. Electronic devices are always improved as technology is improving. Electronic devices that already out-of -date may give more problems in their reparation.
When we have a computer with processor Pentium II and lower RAM, we'll find it difficult to do many computer works because it's very slow. It happens every time when we power on computer, try to copy or save files, download files, open some files, and so on. When it's broken, it will be difficult to find the compatible hardware since it's already out-of-date and it will cost more.
When we have a 10-year-old fridge, we should replace it with a new one because that fridge usually still use CFC-refrigerant system and it can cause ozone depletion (non environmental friendly). Besides, may be it has fatal-unfixed damage or it already has physical defect such as corrosion in cooling-coil.

However, there are also some people that like to replace their electronic devices because of pride. That kind of people will like to buy the latest model although their current one still can be used.


SOURCE:-
http://www.helium.com/items/76972-when-to-get-an-electronic-device-repaired-and-when-to-buy-a-new-one