Week 6:Clear/Multimedia Images

This week in class we learned about Multimedia-images, audio, and videos. I found learning about multimedia image types the most interesting and helpful out of the three. We learned about two different image types: rastor and vector. Rastor graphics are an array of colored dots or squares in a grid used to create the image while vector graphics are geometric objects, points, lines, etc. that can be expressed by a mathematical equation. To get a more in depth explanation of the difference that I used click here. 

Vector graphics give a better quality when adjusting the image and sizing up. With rastor graphics, you don't want to size up because of pixelation. We also learned about the different image file formats, such as BMP, GIF(which provides no loss of color), JPG (what the eye focuses on), and PNG. 

This topic is important in the business world because in order to create presentations and for certain products you will need to know how to create images in the most efficient way for your company. Skills with software like Adobe Photoshop and Apple Aperture will be very useful in the business world when it comes to employment. It is also important to know about multimedia images when working with digital cameras and scanners. I really had no knowledge about image types until this week during class, but was able to understand the information easily.

Excel Project

In order to familiarize myself with Excel, I completed a project in class that dealt with a fitness center owner determining the effectiveness of a certain workout. There were 500 participants that did a 15 minute workout and a 5 minute cool down where their heart rate was recorded each minute. I created formulas based off the data provided to determine the participants' maximum heart rate, target heart rate, highest heart rate, whether their target heart rate was achieved, and their percentage increase in heart rate. I also had to format the data in different ways, including using freeze panes and headers.

The part of the exercise I felt was the most challenging was the formula created to determine whether the participant's target heart rate was achieved. I used the Excel =IF() function, where I used whether the value for the highest heart rate was greater or equal to the target heart rate. Then I used "Yes" as the answer if the logical test was true and "No" as the answer if the logical test was false. I had to look up the information in my notes from last weeks lectures, but once I was able to find it our and create the logical test based on what the fitness center owner wanted it was easy to put together.

The following screen shot from the project represents the average percent increase in heart rates for the subjects, organized by age and gender. I was able to learn a lot about using pivot tables by using data from the original worksheet.

The skills I learned with Excel through this project will help me enormously next time I have to do any sort of work with numbers. This project taught me how many different formulas you can use, as well as how to copy formulas (relative and absolute), and how to format Excel spreadsheets. I believe these tasks will prove to be very important in the business world and in the real world in general.

Week 5:Clear/Excel Formulas

This week we learned how to use and operate Excel. We went over how to create formulas in an excel worksheet which I found to be extremely interesting and useful. To start a formula in excel you must begin with an equals sign (=). From there you fill out the rest of the equation and the order of performance in the equation is parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, then subtraction (aka PEMDAS).

The symbols for the different mathematical operations are:

• Addition (+)
• Subtration (-)
• Multiplication (*)
• Division (/)

Excel also has numerous functions that will help you with formulas. For example if you type into a cell: =SUM and drag the cursor across the cells you would like it to add together (=SUM(B2:E2), it will sum the cells for you. For an in depth list of math and statistical functions click here. Excel formulas and functions are important in the business world because creating an excel spreadsheet for a company while knowing how to create functions that you can copy into multiple cells can turn out to be time saving and efficient. Excel spreadsheets can look and seem complicated but once you learn how to work with them, they become easy and helpful.

Week 4:Clear/Application Software

This week in class we began the lectures by learning about application software. I have never put much thought into the software I use, even though I have realized that I use it a lot and without it I would really have no need for my computer. Application software consists of software that helps you solve your direct needs. Application software is designed for productivity and assisting with personal tasks like research or writing reports. Different types of application software include horizontal applications, vertical applications, software suites, and standalone applications.

Horizontal applications are programs that can be used in any industry for all types of programs that any business can use. An example of a horizontal application would be word processing or web browsing. Vertical applications are programs that are specific to one industry. If a business outside of that industry tries to use it it won't meet the same needs, an example would be a restaurant ordering system. A Software suite is a set of programs that is created and implemented in a common way so that the entire suite of programs shares those features. Microsoft office is an example of a software suite with word processing, spreadsheet, etc. A standalone application is something that is not integrated with any other program and is seen as on it's own, like iTunes or Mozilla Firefox.

To get a broad overview of what application software is and what the different types are click here.

Week 3: Clear/ Ergonomics

This week we continued our discussion in class about how computers work and what their different components do. We learned about ergonomics, which I had never even heard of before. Ergonomics is how you fit workplace conditions and jobs to your workers. This includes things like how you are sitting at your desk, where your computer screen is at (the top of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level), and avoid cradling a phone between your head and neck, use a speaker phone or an ear piece. I learned in class that one-third of MSD cases are caused by work related injuries that could be potentially prevented if ergonomics is a part of the work place.

At first, I really didn't think this topic was very important but then I went to the United States Department of Labor website and realized how much it really impacts the business world, workers and their performance. The website explains that if you follow the rules and principles of ergonomics you will provide your workers will a safer work environment that they will be happier in which can increase productivity among the workers. I was amazed that something as simple as teaching your company how to arrange their desks and how to sit could potentially increase profits. The website also lists the type of work that leads to injuries and MSD which are jobs that require a lot of heavy lifting, straining of body muscles, and awkward positions for the body. 

I believe it is really important for companies to take ergonomics seriously in order to ensure the safest work environment for their employees. Not only will this help ensure their safety but it could also increase a companies productivity.

Week 2: Clear/Computer Hardware

I have never really put much thought into how computers work. This seems kind of ridiculous to me after I think about how much time I spend on the computer, but after the lectures I watched about computer hardware this week, as many elements as there are to a computer it wasn't that hard to understand. From what I gathered from the lectures, everything begins with the motherboard and the large circuit board inside the computer. Then we go on to the Central Processing Unit which performs most of the computations in the computer system. And from there you can focus and learn about a number of factors: how fast the computer works, the memory, the aspects to take into consideration when buying a computer, etc.

To talk about the ins and outs of the computer can take a very long time, as shown by the amount of information we had to learn this week. However, I never really felt overwhelmed because I found it very easy to understand if you took the concept and just went back to how this impacts the way you can use the computer. This week made me realize that in order to be successful in the business world, you need to know how computers work. So much business is conducted over the internet that to not understand the hardware of how a computer is built, would be silly because you wouldn't be able to work with everything possible.

After the lectures, even though I felt confidant in my understanding of the information, I still wanted to learn more about the way memory works. I found very helpful diagrams here! The labels for input and output devices made the concept clearer to me and the chart with different types of storage was also extremely helpful. I am very happy I decided to take this course because I believe learning how computers work will be extremely important for me to know now and in my future career.

Week 1: Clear/ Fair Use

Fair Use is a topic that many people find hard to understand. I found it difficult and slightly confusing until this past week in ISM3004. Fair use is limitations on how a person can use copyrighted materials. Many people either think they can use most materials as they wish or that they can't use any copyrighted materials at all, but this is not correct. You are only able to use copyrighted materials if you follow certain guidelines: what you use the material for, how much of the material you borrow, and whether or not the way you use the material changes the original work's value. 

What really helped me grasp this concept in class this week was the "Disney Copyright Law" video on YouTube. I think it was an awesome way to show what Fair Use is and bring the idea together at the end by saying that if Fair Use is a valid use for copyrighted material, than their video on YouTube is protected. Sources the video listed as available for people to use copyrighted materials under fair use are news, parody, and critical comment.

A good example of fair use is cited in the case of Bill Graham Archives (BGA) v. Dorling Kindersley (DK). BGA took DK to court because DK published a book that had seven Grateful Dead poster reproductions in it without licensing from BGA. An article about the case can be found here: http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2006/05/6876.ars. This article is great for understanding fair use and copyright laws because it lays out exactly how the court made their decision. The court went by the three guidelines mentioned earlier in the article and came to the conclusion that DK was protected under fair use.