People don’t just suddenly decide they want to work with the intricacies of computer systems — a love for information technology comes from somewhere, often many places. This influence can even be identified in early childhood, as toys and games can spark an interest in how to build, program, and simply put things together to form better, functional processes.

If common devices can be so inspiring, what are some of the things that may have motivated people to work in IT? Here’s a list of 7 gadgets that probably inspired IT professionals to pursue an IT career.

Gadget: K’NEX

(Credit: rossn)

Its influence: With the ability to add gears, pulleys, and wheels to the designs, K’NEX allowed kids to try out designing and building and enjoy the challenges of creating different structures and putting pieces together.
What Why it’s Awesome: Kids made awesome creations based on color-coded instructions or their  own imagination! Later, K’NEX products could move and were able to be programmed, so the possibility for innovation in childhood was even more possible. How is that not awesome?

Gadget: Commodore 64

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Its influence: The Commodore 64 was some people’s primary source for playing games for a while, but it also served as several people’s introduction to computing.

Why it’s Awesome:  Not only were users able to program and play games on the Commodore 64, the computer also had sound and graphics cards that no other computer could match. This is part of why it would ship for more than 2 million units a year at its peak and became the best-selling home computer model of all time.

Gadget: Wolfenstein 3D

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Its influence: This game is recognized as the “father of the first-person-shooter game,” and its developments and cool factor probably inspired a lot of players to realize the potential in programming games and similar media.

Why it’s Awesome: The plot involved playing as an American commando fighting Nazis. If that’s not intense enough, it had a 3D feel, so you could turn 360 degrees within the game and feel more immersed in the experience.

Gadget: Transformers

(Credit: Transformers on Amazon)

Its influence: Having to actually take the time to figure out how to build the Transformer into its alternate form meant that a child had to think about how all the parts could be deconstructed and fit together again. This stage of “play” could have allowed kids to start developing their creative and problem-solving thought processes  and use skills that, in theory, benefit IT.

Why it’s Awesome: It’s a robot that can turn into a car and back again. If that’s not cool enough, the particular version above has light-up eyes and battle hooks to look super hardcore.

Gadget: Apple II

(Credit: br1dotcom)

Its influence:  Fox News reported in 2007 that the Apple II’s comprehensive manual allowed people to teach themselves computer hardware and software engineering.  Sellam Ismail, proprietor of VintageTech, told Fox that the machine was very accessible and people could program, dissemble code, and more.

Why it’s Awesome: One of Apple’s first big successes, this computer featured 8-bit processing, game controller ports, and a floppy drive. (Remember when having that stuff was awesome and not obvious?)

Gadget: Tetris

(Credit: wwarby)

Its influence: This might not have a direct IT influence, but the hours spent playing this game could have increased people’s interest in problem solving and figuring out how parts come together. Sure, there isn’t really science backing this up, so maybe you have your own opinion on the matter, but regardless, Tetris is awesome.

Why it’s Awesome: It was addicting, available on several platforms, and made you incredibly excited about shapes. There definitely wasn’t much like it during its day, especially because if you played for a solid hour, you’d start seeing those blocks when you closed your eyes. (In that way, Tetris was the Guitar Hero of 1980s.)

Conclusion

Old and archaic by today’s standards, these early versions of computers, games, and toys were like nothing many of us ever dreamed of back in the day.  They blew our minds (does anyone say that any more?) and ignited our inspiration. So much so that a mere 30 years later we’ve gone from the Apple II to the iGeneration. So what about you? Did you use any of these gadgets? What are some of the devices that influenced your IT career?

6 Tech Gadgets that Influenced Your IT Career is a post from: Modis

If you were faced with the toughest IT problem on Earth, it would be useful to have a team of the best IT professionals ever. What if you could have any person, real or fictional, helping you out? Which people do you think would be most capable of solving any IT issue that comes their way? Here are the top 6 IT gurus who could most likely vanquish any IT enemy.

Larry Page

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Unless you’ve somehow managed to obtain all of your information by searching at the library or texting one of those pointless companies that answer your random questions, you’ve heard of Google. You’ve most likely heard of this guy, too, as he is a co-founder of Google and is worth a measly $16.7 billion.

It’s a no-brainer to include someone who has been such a huge part of creating the genius that is Google and all of its products — Gmail, Google Books, Google+, Google Docs, etc. — and has revolutionized the way people use information.

David Lightman

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If you’re wondering, “Who’s this David Lightman guy?” then you clearly didn’t have regular WarGamesmarathons in the 80s. Yes, this is our first featured fictional teammate. Played by a young Matthew Broderick, Lightman is the kid protagonist who loved hacking school computers to change his grades and managed to hack into classified government information, as well.

Anyone who can accidentally gain access to highly classified Internet material and then successfully solve the massive problem he created in doing so should be on an epic IT team. You’d just have to make sure he doesn’t play any Global Thermonuclear War.

IBM-Watson

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All right, this isn’t exactly a person, but in the IT world, it should probably qualify as a team member based on its exceptional skills, especially for a machine! If the only Jeopardy!you’ve seen is the Celebrity Jeopardy skit on Saturday Night Live, you might have missed the IBM-Watson craziness.

To put it simply, this machine participated in Jeopardy! and actually served as a competitive contestant, capable of answering tough trivia questions. Because this device is making huge strides in data analytics, it would probably be a handy machine to have around for reference purposes. Hey, all you’d have to do is put the IT question you have in the form of a question!

Linus Torvalds

Linus Torvalds, the man behind Linux, used his intelligence and perseverance to create one of the fastest growing operating systems ever based on his support of open source solutions. He more recently conducted a top-secret research project in order to launch the Crusoe™ processor.

Torvalds not only has the skill and intelligence to be a perfect fit for an IT team—he also has unyielding determination, as he continued to work on Linux even when, early on, some people called the system obsolete and were skeptical of its success.

Thomas A. Anderson

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This amazing IT team candidate also goes by his more common name, Neo. While Tom starts as just a typical computer programmer, he ends up finding out that he’s The One. He figures out how to manipulate The Matrix and essentially gains the ability to do a ton of awesome stuff.

As someone who has control over the very fabric of life, it makes sense that Neo would be a necessary member of the ultimate IT team. Plus, if we didn’t pick him, he might release the agents on us.

Alexis Murphy

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This name most likely went over your head, but yes, this would be another fictional character who happens to be the young blond girl in the Jurassic Park movie. Remember that scene toward the end when she’s able to reboot the park’s security systems and save the group from a velociraptor attack? Yeah. That deserves some props.

Why should another child be on the IT team? Anyone able to remain calm enough to utilize their IT knowhow and save everyone from a pack of dinosaurs deserves to be on an IT team.Also, if she could have so many skills when she’s young, imagine what she could do when she’s older! That is, of course, assuming fictional characters grow up. Hmm.

Conclusion

From machines to preteen girls, this team definitely has a wide range of IT pros. Whether you value nerve, pure computer skill, or an innovative attitude, who would you choose to be on your IT dream team? Remember — the sky’s the limit!

Fantasy Information Technology: Building Your Dream Team is a post from: Modis

Information technology is a field where strange people tend to flourish. There are plenty of generic “corporate stiff” types in this field and a lot of these people are nerds who never entirely got over their high school issues.

While this can be extremely dangerous to people who tick them off, it can also be hilarious to people in the audience. The following is a group of techies most people would enjoy having around–and a group who would make every workday a scary day.

Workers We Want

Peter Gibbons
MOVIE: Office Space

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Peter starts off as just another average, frustrated chump in the IT world. No doubt you’ve met that guy. He’s the type who is all slumped over and would drink like a fish if he could summon up the wherewithal to buck the system. However, after being hypnotized and put into a permanently relaxed and honest state, he becomes downright fun.

How many people would get into management if they admitted to being lazy, unmotivated and completely disenchanted with a workplace seemingly designed to run poorly? In the real world not that many, but it worked for Peter and he’d be a fun boss to have. Of course, when things went wrong he couldn’t be found–possibly the best trait of any boss.

David
MOVIE: War Games

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David’s a bit of a scamp and he likes to hack a lot , but he’s pretty white hat about it. A veteran of the old school, he could field strip today’s wussy networks with no problem and make things work properly. After all, he helped a major computer get over its fetish for destroying the world and hooked it on chess.

David’s laid back style and brilliant mind would make him an easygoing tech who could swoop in, solve the problem at hand, and then flash one of his impish little smiles. Let any two-bit hacker so much as try to mess with his network.

Chuck Bartowski
SHOW: Chuck

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Chuck graduated from MIT but got a really simple job. Unmotivated brilliance is a tragedy, but sometimes fate steps in. Considering Chuck’s accidental implantation with tons of government information critical to national security, he’s the kind of guy who’s handy to have around. He’s a reluctant spy but a good guy with a sense of humor and low blood pressure.

When you’ve got a report due in two hours and your hard drive crashes, you want it handled by a techie who has stared death in the face. Chuck is that guy and then some.

Workers We Want to Avoid

While the first group of techies are guys you’d love to have around the office, this next group is a set of very scary people. While they might just seem like ordinary nerds with delusions of grandeur, with the right equipment they can be devastating.

The Plague
MOVIE: Hackers

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This is a scary guy. Not only is he willing to steal millions of dollars from a company that hired him to protect them from online threats. He’s even willing to go so far as to initiate a global oil catastrophe by capsizing hundreds of automated tankers. That kind of wreckage would make the Exxon Valdez look like a kid spilling a gas can on the ground by comparison.

This guy won’t help you fix a problem. More likely than not he’ll just laugh and moo at you because he thinks most people are cattle, then skulk away to go plot his next nefarious scheme.

Dr. Falken
MOVIE: War Games

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Dr. Falken isn’t a bad guy by nature. He’s not planning to hurt anybody, but in the classical mad scientist vein he just doesn’t seem to connect the dots in time. Normally when someone programs a sentient computer, they give it an understanding of the consequences of their actions. Even Skynet knew what it was doing.

Unfortunately, Falken never gives Joshua, his uber-project, the sense to just give up when the results of a game would literally destroy the world. Morose over the death of his son, Falken is a calm but loose cannon who might just decide that nothing in this world is even worth saving. Imagine hearing a treatise reminiscent of Nietzsche over the water cooler.

Milton
MOVIE: Office Space

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Milton is just one more guy who’s given his life to a company and then acted surprised when they took it for granted. At first he’s just a mild-mannered nerd, but isn’t that how every massacre story begins? Ultimately he blows up the office. What if he’d been a little more ambitious? While the world will never know about that, guys like Milton are just a little too quiet.

Shutting it Down
Techies are a mixed bag. The relaxed and generally kind ones have an honor code, and defend their networks like Samurai. Unfortunately, there will always be the Ronin-types who only follow their desire for profit, revenge or to show they don’t care about anything anymore. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which is more dangerous, evil or apathy. Defrag at least once a week, or else!

3 Fictional IT Workers We Want in Our Office (And 3 We Don’t) is a post from: Modis

Information technology has positively impacted countless industries by increasing efficiency and organization, which allows for more sophisticated processes and thus more productivity and advancement. The stock exchange isn’t an exception; it’s evolved along with information technology since it’s very dependent on computer data and calculation.

The New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ represent a massive part of the financial industry — buying and selling stocks. It’s a complicated process in which millions of people trade parts of ownership for different companies, and it’s so complex that some people don’t understand how it all breaks down, let alone fully comprehend how information technology plays a part.

The Basics

Before 1998, stock exchange generally consisted of people making deals and trading stocks on the floors. In today’s stock exchange environment, almost everything is handled through the use of computers. For example, one estimate from all the way back in 1999 showed 90% of the trades made at the NYSE were done electronically. Even when people are making the deals themselves, they use smartphones and portable computers to communicate with offices in order to make sound decisions.

Stock specialists are on the exchange floor, immersed in all of the action, but much of the process is automated, and billions of shares can be processed in one day. The stock market might not seem so computerized, but that’s because people have to be on the floor despite not necessarily making a lot of decisions, especially in the case of NASDAQ, which is highly automated.

On the most basic level, computers serve as a major foundation for the stock market because they record share ownership information on databases. If someone wants to purchase a stock, they don’t even have to go through a human representative to do it — often times, a person can submit an interest in purchasing a stock over the Internet, and the computer will act as the broker and try to find the cheapest price. It’s nearly impossible to find an aspect of the stock exchange not impacted by technology.

The Latest Technology

It’s already been mentioned that the automated stock system can process millions of shares in mere hours. Even more impressive are the superfast computers in use today, which can trade a stock in a millionth of a second. Capabilities like this point to the vital influence information technology has on the way the stock market functions — without this advanced computer technology, the current scale and speed at which the stock exchange operates today would be impossible.

In 2009, high-frequency trading became all the rage. According to The New York Times, very powerful computers began allowing high-frequency traders to send million of orders at unparalleled stock exchange speeds. Typical computers can’t compete with the speed, and humans don’t even stand a chance.

Aside from how stock experts are taking advantage of expanding information technology, they’re also trying to save money and consolidate in order to form better organization and cut extensive IT-related spending. The New York Stock Exchange recently announced a merger with Deutsche Borse, through which both exchanges hope to eliminate millions of dollars in operational and IT costs. Developments both in information technology itself and how information technology is used throughout the stock exchange industry are shaping the way stocks are traded on even the most basic level.

Conclusion
As information technology advances, the stock exchange infrastructure will grow more sophisticated and most likely will become more automated. The stock buying and selling process evolves along with developments in computer technology and usability, so it’s fairly certain that the stock market will continue to expand and reshape.

Information Technology & Stock Exchange: How They Function Together is a post from: Modis

It might appear that everyone has computer knowledge, but this just isn’t the case. On top of the fact that there’s a generational gap concerning technology, there are also the people who know how to use computers but don’t fully understand how they function.

And guess what? They’ll need help if their computers stop working. So how can you do this without all of the information going over their heads? It doesn’t matter if the people in need only use the computer for emailing or for playing Spider Solitaire — there are ways to explain computer concepts to them.

Determine level of understanding. 

Whether you’re assisting your dad or your coworker, you’ll need an understanding of what the issue is and how much the person knows about computers in general. You’ll usually be able to tell simply based on how he or she presents the issue.

For example, if people say, “I clicked on that thing and then there was a flash and now everything’s slow,” you’ll know that they mainly understand how to operate a computer but don’t have the knowledge of why these actions work.

Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can start getting into the right mindset as to how you’re going to explain the steps that need to be taken — whether you can speak as if you were conversing with an IT professional or as if you were conversing with someone who’s never seen a computer before.

Decide how much they need to know.  

Once you’ve established how much the person knows about computers, the next thing to do is figure out what he or she needs to know in order to solve the problem and hopefully keep it from happening again.

On one hand, if you think this is an isolated issue that won’t become a problem in the future, you can choose to simply tell the person what to do without explaining why. You can say click this, install that, without providing any background or explanation.

However, if you think this person would benefit from understanding the concepts at hand, you might want to spell it all out for him or her in an easy-to-comprehend way. Consider each point that’s important and get ready to describe them in layman’s terms.

Use analogies.

Analogies make explaining anything unfamiliar much more relatable and digestible.  But don’t dive right into spouting similes if the person hasn’t even asked a specific question yet. Once the user’s expressed an interest in learning something, think of a way to make it relevant to him or her.

For example, to explain the difference between the hard drive and the computer’s memory, say that the hard drive is like your kitchen pantry and the memory is like your kitchen counter: the counter (memory) holds the items you’re working with while the pantry holds what you’ll use later.

Be careful with how you share the analogies. Using the wrong tone can make it sound like you view the other person as stupid or inferior. Make sure to keep a conversational tone going on, and explain that analogies helps you understand, as well. Which brings us to the next point….

Don’t be condescending. 

No matter what route you end up choosing, make sure you don’t sound condescending. The users might already hate the fact that they have to sit there and listen to computer talk for half an hour; if you sound patronizing, they’ll be even more turned off to the process and even less cooperative.

Not everyone has the same experience with computers as you do, so be patient. Think what it would be like if you asked a writer what foreshadowing was — the writer might be surprised you don’t know, but in going back to the basics, the writer can break it down for you. (Hey, look: I used an analogy!)

As described in the previous section, a lot of how you portray yourself is communicated through your tone, and your tone will sound patronizing if you view the person as lacking intelligence. Try to be more empathetic, and your voice will reflect this.

Conclusion
Remaining patient and trying to put yourself in other people’s shoes will really help you teach them more effectively. It’s especially difficult over the phone, but if you take it slow and work one step at a time, you’ll be able to help the person solve the issue and know how to address it if it ever arises again.

How to Communicate with Computer Plebeians is a post from: Modis

Technology has come such a long way that we forget where we were just 10 or 20 years ago. People take for granted how portable and easy-to-use computers and other devices have become. It’s fun to look back on what was — at the time — super innovative and hip in the world of technology. Some of these items are still being sold on eBay today for collectors and tech enthusiasts alike. Here are some of the funniest.

Vintage Apple Macintosh Computer 512K M0001W Imagewriter Printer Mouse Keyboard

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eBay Price Listing: $999.99
Its Modern Equivalent: iMac
Item Breakdown:

This prehistoric piece of machinery was nicknamed “Fat Mac” and was one of the first Mac computers on the market. This offering on eBay includes the computer and the keyboard, mouse, and printer, as shown in the picture. Despite their yellowing coloring, these devices are actually still in working condition, according to the seller.

The Fat Mac came out after the original Mac and offered four times the RAM. These computer models were made in the mid-1980s and at the time it still wasn’t possible to open more than one application simultaneously. Think about that for a second. If you’re playing Spider Solitaire, imagine, all you could do at that one moment was play Spider Solitaire. Yeah — it sounds terrible.

Vintage Gemini Zorba Portable Z-80 CP/M Computer

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eBay Price Listing: $399.99
Its Modern Equivalent: any laptop
Item Breakdown:

Yes, friends, this is what a laptop used to look like. It was basically a giant block you carted around with a tiny screen-to-surface-area ratio. It doesn’t look like something that would be too convenient to lug to class. The one offered in the eBay listing powers up, but the monitor doesn’t energize.

Zorba Portable Computers came out in the early 1980s and served to help businesspeople take their work on the go (if you can call it on-the-go). The seller says this item is an uncommon version of the Zorba product. It’s hard to imagine anything like it being common!

WordPerfect for Windows 5.2 Floppy Disk Set Vintage Software

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eBay Price Listing: $0.99
Its Modern Equivalent: Microsoft Word
Item Breakdown:

What better way of showing that WordPerfect is an obsolete program than by displaying five of its floppy discs? You know something isn’t worth much when its price listing isn’t even a dollar and the shipping is $5.79.

Back in the day, though, WordPerfect used to be the head honcho of word processors. This version of WordPerfect was made for Windows 5.2 and includes a set of five 3.5” floppy discs. While the program seems ancient, it included footnotes, columns, and other features current word processors find so important.

Rare 1972 RPN Garrett ITM2 Vintage Retro Calculator

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eBay Price Listing: $137.00
Its Modern Equivalent: pocket calculators
Item Breakdown:

At first glance, this resembles a cash register more than a calculator. You could probably fit half a dozen modern calculators in this thing and use it as a calculator carrier. Despite its outward appearance, the calculator in the listing actually still works.

The seller says this item is rare and a “must have for the serious collector.” Think about calculators this big being must-haves for students and professionals. Wouldn’t a calculator this big take up and entire desk?

Vintage 1980s Computer Carry Transport Case

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eBay Price Listing: $9.99
Its Modern Equivalent: laptop bags
Item Breakdown:

Judging by the old-school laptop previously shown, it’s not a surprise that the cases used to carry these laptops were also huge compared to today’s standards. This case on its own weights about 11 pounds! This isn’t the type of thing you can sling over your shoulder and easily take to Starbucks.

When you hear “laptop case” nowadays, you think of a protective covering that goes over a sleek laptop to guard it from scratches and various kinds of damage. That definitely wasn’t what it was like back in the early ‘80s. Fortunately we have thin, durable laptop bags now that do the trick.

Conclusion

Looking at devices and products from just as far back as the 1980s can really open your eyes to the amazing technology we have today. Remember thinking how amazing floppy disks were and how incredible those gigantic, clunky desktop computers were? It’s crazy how a decade of technology can mean a complete revolution in products and capabilities. Thankfully, we’re far from the days of lugging around “laptops” that are practically the size of mini fridges.

Hilarious Old IT Gadgets Still Found On eBay is a post from: Modis

You know IT geeks like technology, but you can’t necessarily afford to shell out $1,000 to get them a new computer for Christmas. So what do you get these geeky compadres? Here’s a breakdown of some awesomely nerdy gift ideas for the girl and guy geeks in your life. Instead of sifting through dozens of websites like Etsy, ThinkGeek, and more to find decent gifts, use this guide to see some of the best highlights the web has to offer.

GIFTS FOR GIRL GEEKS [<$15]

Floppy disc magnets ($2.50)

Why we love them: They’re adorable, retro, and colorful: everything good magnets should be! What better way to affix things to your fridge, and at $2.50 each, you don’t have an excuse not to.

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Where to buy it: Etsy
Geek level: 7/10
Practicality level: 2/10

Motherboard ornaments ($14.99)

Why we love them: Can there be a cuter way of using recycled motherboards? Display your geekiness proudly and in a Christmas-y way! The $15 gets you all three ornaments.

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Where to buy it: ThinkGeek
Geek level: 8/10
Practicality level: 1/10

GIFTS FOR GIRL GEEKS [$15-$40]

Caffeinated Soap ($24.99)

Why we love it: Gulping down gallons of coffee just to get through the day doesn’t have to be the norm anymore. Help her cut down on the cost of lattes and give her the gift of caffeinated soap.

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Where to buy it: Amazon
Geek level: 2/10
Practicality level: 9/10

HTML earrings ($20)

Why we love them: Anyone who appreciates clever, nerdy humor will absolutely love these HTML tag earrings. They are so cool that you may have to hold back from buying them for yourself!

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Where to buy it: Etsy
Geek level: 10/10
Practicality level: 2/10

Internet pillows ($20-$30)

Why we love them: Give your friend the chance to cherish her favorite tech platform with these well crafted pillows based on the logos of Google, Chrome, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and more.

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Where to buy it: Etsy
Geek level: 7/10
Practicality level: 4/10

GIFTS FOR GIRL GEEKS [>$100]

Kindle Fire  ($199)

Why we love it: Now you can afford to get her a tablet without having to take out a second mortgage! Kindle Fire features access to books, movies, music, games, web browsing through Amazon Silk, and free cloud storage.

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Where to buy it: Amazon
Geek level: 3/10
Practicality level: 10/10

GIFTS FOR GUY GEEKS [<$15]

Cyber Clean Home & Office putty ($8.05)

Why we love it: It’s essentially keyboard-cleaning putty that can also help him keep his gadgets clean. It’s also great for countless other household and office objects. Who doesn’t need this?

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Where to buy it: Amazon
Geek level: 2/10
Practicality level: 9/10

Ctrl Alt Delete Cup set ($11.99)

Why we love it: Toast to the magic that is the ctrl, alt, and delete keys when used together in harmony. These would be great for him to share a cup of coffee with some friends. This gift will ensure you are also invited to the hangout session.

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 Where to buy it: ThinkGeek
Geek level: 6/10
Practicality level: 5/10

GIFTS FOR GUY GEEKS [$15-$40]

USB wristband ($18.95)

Why we love it: Your friend or family member won’t have to risk losing his flash drive while scurrying around the office. Now he can carry it around as a band on his wrist — fashionable and useful!

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Where to buy it: Gifts.com
Geek level: 3/10
Practicality level: 8/10

Security Check T-Shirt  http://www.snorgtees.com/t-shirts/geek-nerd/captcha-fml ($19.95)

Why we love it: This shirt totally hits the mark because seriously, this happens to us regularly. What does that say? Qj68jfo? Qijbofo? Onib8fp? Forget it. We’re going on Facebook instead.

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Where to buy it: SnorgTees
Geek level: 7/10
Practicality level: 5/10

PC Diagnostic Dice ($19.99)

Why we love them: Don’t you wish you could hand out pouches of these dice to magically solve people’s problems? Each die has a different purpose: indentifying problem, source, and solution. Nice.

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Where to buy it: ThinkGeek
Geek level: 8/10
Practicality level: 3/10

GIFTS FOR GUY GEEKS [>$100]

Laser Keyboard ($169.99)

Why we love it: Anything involving lasers and virtual keyboards sounds pretty amazing to us, and you can bet that it will be super cool for him. Hook this gadget up to computers and phones to have a keyboard wherever you go!

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Where to buy it: Amazon
Geek level: 9/10
Practicality level: 10/10

CONCLUSION

It doesn’t matter if the IT geek is a guy or a girl, and it doesn’t matter what your price range is — there are loads of awesome gifts out there perfect for your friend. From magnets to e-readers, all it takes is a little thought and the effort to embrace your inner geek. You’re sure to find the perfect gift for that special geeky friend or family member, or maybe even for yourself.

Ultimate Gift Guide for IT Geeks is a post from: Modis

IT professionals constantly concern themselves with data security and making sure digital information is protected and backed-up.  What we sometimes forget is that the environment can actually pose a threat to this information and equipment in a number of ways.

Luckily, there are methods IT workers can use to mitigate environmental effects on electronics, which will help safeguard the computers, additional hardware, and the information these machines contain. Here’s a list of the common environmental threats and how you can lessen their effects.

Fire

Not only is fire generally damaging and extremely dangerous for the people working in the office — if a fire starts in a room with computers and other electronics, they can all be destroyed in an instant if you don’t have the proper fire suppression system.

Probably the best fire suppression system is three-tiered. Once a fire is detected, first everything will power off, then a gas-based suppression system will be activated (a common type is the FM-200 system because it doesn’t hurt the environment like Halon does), and finally, if these other two methods fail, the sprinkler system will douse the flames.

In having a system like this, you’ll be able to keep from drenching your equipment unless it’s absolutely necessary. You’re using two other methods and giving people the chance to put out the fire before taking the most damaging action.

Natural disasters

It’s important to keep in mind what kind of natural disasters generally affect your area. Taking this into consideration can help you save thousands of dollars in equipment if a hurricane or earthquake comes and damages the building.

If your area is earthquake-prone, make sure to not keep computer towers and other large electronic equipment high up because if they crash on the floor, they’ll be destroyed and can potentially hurt people in the office. Also, check into flooring regulations if earthquakes are common.

If your location has a history of being affected by hurricanes or any other type of storm that causes flooding, then you’ll want to put your towers and other equipment on a rack to prevent severe water damage.

Static electricity

A shock of static electricity can burn out a computer chip and render it useless. Unfortunately, this type of electricity can be quite common, so it’s important to take measures to alleviate its presence. There are a few ways to do this.

First, it’s vital that you control the humidity levels of the rooms containing electrical equipment. The more humid a room is, the less likely it is that static will build up because the presence of water makes it difficult. Second, make sure the flooring in server rooms is tile, not carpet, to prevent static.

Third, if you plan on opening up the computer to work on it, make sure you ground yourself before touching it and potentially shocking it into oblivion. This basically involves touching something that isn’t active (which is why people touch door knobs when they’ve shuffled across carpet).

Heat

This is probably one of the most basic dangers to computers, and it’s why towers have fans inside of them. If the electronics aren’t cooled down, they’ll overheat and stop working. This is especially important for server rooms, which contain numerous machines that create a lot of heat.

Because of this, it’s important to incorporate cooling systems into rooms with many electronics. Keep in mind the potential for buying more equipment and how that’ll affect the hat of the room. When deciding on a cooling system, purchasing one that includes a dust filter is also a good way to go, as dust can pose a potential heat threat.

Over time, dust, smoke (although people should never be smoking around computers), and other tiny materials can get stuck in the computers and potentially stall the fans. This could also lead to overheating, so it’s important to clean out the inside of computers about once a month.

Conclusion

A lot of things can be detrimental to the performance of computers and other equipment, but if you keep in mind all of the outside threats, you’ll be able to take action to avoid these circumstances and lessen the effects of environmental conditions.

Detrimental Environmental Effects an IT Person Can Mitigate is a post from: Modis

In 2010, 88% of online retailers participated in Cyber Monday, and the event only looks to be gaining more steam. This infographic breaks down the rapid growth of one of the biggest shopping days of the year and explores the retailers’ behind-the-scenes attempts to keep up with the increasing customer volume.

click the image to expand the graphic

Remember to follow us on Twitter and Facebook  for continual updates on the latest deals for techies. Modis will be giving out NewEgg gift cards on Cyber Monday, so make sure to stay tuned! 

Use the HTML below to embed this graphic

<a href="http://blog.modis.com/miscellaneous-it/cyber-monday-holiday-shopping" title="Cyber Monday: Holiday Shopping On The Rise"><img title="Cyber Monday: Holiday Shopping On The Rise" src="http://blog.modis.com/wp-content/uploads/cyber-monday-2011.png" alt="" width="400" height="2813" /></a><br /> Source:<a href="http://www.modis.com"> Modis – IT Staffing Agency</a>

• 4.3 billion visitors per minute hit 270 online retailers on this day.
• In 2010, retail sites saw a visitor increase of 39% over 2009.
• Most people shop Cyber Monday deals while at work after the long weekend.
• The average shopper does about 36% of their holiday shopping online.
• 25% of retailers start deals earlier than Monday.

How Did Cyber Monday Start?

Cyber Monday is a fairly recent event and was created by the National Retail Federation.

• The first Cyber Monday was in 2005.
• Shop.org, the online division of NRF, noticed an increase in online sales after Thanksgiving and decided to brand it.
• In 2005, just 45% of online retailers held sales.
• In 2007, 72% of online retailers joined the Cyber Monday movement.
• Last year, 2010, 88% of online retailers participated in Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday Growth.

• 2005 - $484 million
• 2006 - $608 million
• 2007 - $733 million
• 2008 - $846 million
• 2009 - $887 million
• 2010 - $1,028 million

Where Cyber Shoppers Buy

In order of most visited:

• 1.Amazon.com
• 2. Best Buy
• 3. Toys R Us
• 4. Sears
• 5. Kmart
• 6. Overstock.com
• 7. QVC
• 8. Kohls
• 9. Dell
• 10. Home Depot

Behind the Scenes of Cyber Monday

For the customers, Cyber Monday deals are simple, but what really goes on behind the scenes?

• Promotion
• This year has seen an increase of 23% in Google Adwords spending.
• WebiMax reports an increase of 400% in ad revenue leading up to Thanksgiving weekend.

• Traffic
•  Over 5% of annual traffic occurs on Cyber Monday, according to the top 100 online retailers.
•  How do e-retailers prepare for the drastic influx of traffic?
• Adding servers for the holidays
• Adding application delivery controllers (ADC)
• Using the cloud

• Security
• Secure transactions don’t just happen, it’s a process to set up SSL on a site, though most retailers will have this in place long before Cyber Monday.
• Only 28% of online shoppers buy without checking for security measures.

 Why Use the Cloud?

Even retailers with plenty of servers can expect a big spike in traffic on Cyber Monday. Fortunately, there are solutions and using the cloud is an excellent option for several reasons.

• Temporary
•  You can set up cloud usage just for the extra traffic that comes in from big events, rather than all the time.

• Pay Per Use  
• Many cloud services offer the option of pay per use, so even when cloud costs are high, if they are only used for traffic spikes such as Cyber Monday spikes, it is more affordable than adding another server.

• Easy Setup
• Cloud services tend to be quite user friendly, meaning companies can make sure their websites will stay up, without hiring more employees.

Top Tech Gadgets in 2011

In 2010, Amazon.com sold out of its Cyber Deal on iPod Touch and Kindles did very well, too. So what’s hot this year at e-retailers?

• Kindle Fire: This full color e-reader from Amazon.com was just released in November and is looking good for holiday sales.
• BOQARI Q1 Earbuds: These stylish earbuds are usually around $300, so Cyber Monday deals make these much more affordable.
• Xbox Kinect: One of the hottest new gaming systems on the market, the Kinect is picking up speed this holiday season.
• Garmin nuvi 1300 Portable GPS: For the person on the go, a portable GPS can be a good deal this year.
• iPad 2: Though the iPad 2 was released early, it is still one of the hotter items available for Cyber Monday deal hunters and is likely to sell out fast.

Cyber Monday is growing by leaps and bounds every year as people realize that it is far easier to make a purchase online than it is to wait outside a store at 3 am. We can expect to see even more buyers participating in 2011, with sales going higher than ever.

Cyber Monday: Holiday Shopping On The Rise is a post from: Modis

You’re constantly reading about all of the most advanced, high-tech gadgets hitting the market, and you imagine yourself buying these items and living a life of eternal bliss. Have you ever thought of what it’d be like to use these products in a work setting? How much easier they would make your IT job?

If you haven’t, we know you are now. And you’re probably wondering why you never thought of this genius idea in the first place. Because it’s our fault we’ve got you hooked on this concept, we’ll go through all of the latest tech must-haves and give you advice on how to get your boss on board for buying them.

Item: iPad 2

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Cost: $499+

Why it’s awesome: Do we really have to explain? Running iOS and giving you access to the iCloud, this high-tech tablet provides 10 hours of battery life, two cameras, and Wifi and/or 3G access. These features allow you to take pictures, record video, and even FaceTime.

How to use it: The iPad 2 is a portable, lightweight way to have everything you need with you at all times. With access to hundreds of thousands of Apple apps, you can make use of applications like VNC Viewer ($9.99), which lets you access your desktop computer from anywhere, and Fing (free), a convenient network scanner. iPad 2 will last for your entire workday and even allow you to communicate with coworkers who are across the building or off-site.

How to get it: Stress the importance of how efficient it would be to always have resources with you while you’re making your rounds. Also, the apps available can make working much quicker and more flexible. For example, the VNC Viewer app would allow you to help someone with his or her computer problems from home. How can you get more productive than that? That’s time saved at work the next day, and with universal access to, well, almost everything, you’ll never fall behind.

Item: Virtual Infrared Keyboard

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Cost: $169.99

Why it’s awesome: First of all, this keyboard definitely looks like something from the future, which already makes it awesome. But reviews have shown that despite skepticism about how well it’ll work, it’s actually great and extremely accurate.

How to use it: Use it for your normal computer in order to have less hardware to deal with and less to clean. But the best part is that you can use it with your smartphone as well! If you’re ever away from your desktop and trying to do work on your phone, having this virtual keyboard handy can save you a ton of time. Just check the website before buying so that you make sure the keyboard is compatible with your phone.

How to get it: Explain how this keyboard can link up to computers and phones. Then point out to your boss that if you have a keyboard on hand all the time, there’s no excuse to not work. You’ll essentially always have access to a computer, so not only can you work, but you can work more quickly instead of typing on a touch screen in a way you’re not used to. The one-time $170 cost is totally worth all of the extra work you’ll be able to get done.

Item: Kindle Fire

Cost: $199

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Cost: $169.99

Why it’s awesome: While Kindle Fire is probably meant to compete with Nook Color, it makes a fantastic tablet if you’re not looking for tons of additional features. It includes access to Amazon Cloud and uses Amazon Silk, a cloud-accelerated “split browser” for fast Web browsing.

How to use it: If your boss laughs in your face about the expense of an iPad 2, the Amazon Fire can really make more of a case. It’s smaller and can easily be held in one hand, so it’s better for on-the-go scenarios. Not to mention it’s less than half the price of an iPad 2. It won’t be released until Nov. 15, but reports have suggested Fire will allow access to many Android apps, so it’s possible many IT-helpful applications similar (or identical) to Apple’s will be at your fingertips.

How to get it: If you were going to put a price tag on the ultimate efficiency tool, it would be $200. Kindle Fire’s so easy to take around with you, and with free Amazon Cloud storage, you can carry all sorts of useful notes, files, and reminders for yourself and also have access to Wifi and countless useful apps. Plus, it’s made with an extra-durable display, so you won’t be worrying so much about getting it scratched. Having such a valuable resource on the go will exponentially increase your productivity.

And, if you want to start small…

Item: Plug Hub

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Cost: $28.95

Why it’s awesome: Working with numerous electronics means dealing with numerous cords. Because you have better things to do than constantly untangle cords, they tend to get twist into quite the nest of disorganization. Plug Hub completely eliminates this problem.

How to use it: This product helps you organize the mess of cords under your desk. It houses your power cords that connect to the power strip, featuring three anchors that allow for the simple wrapping of the cords. Not only did this make your area and all of your coworkers’ areas less embarrassing and cluttered looking, it also makes your job easier if you have to deal with hardware and need to find the plug that matches the electronic.

How to get it: Simply lead your boss to a coworker’s desk that’s particularly cluttered and ask if he’d like a solution. If he thinks $35 is a little much to get one for every person in the company, remind him of how much time this will save every time you or someone else has to deal with the cluster of cables. Also, if any clients or consumers visit the office, it’s better for their reputation to have a sleek, clean office, not one that draws your eye to cord entanglements.

Conclusion

We want as many awesome gadgets as you do, but telling your boss that they’re “super legit” won’t really get you anywhere. When you pitch the idea to management, make sure you focus on any money-saving, efficiency-increasing aspects. They want to know how buying these products will increase productivity and cut spending. So, tell them how!

4 Amazing IT Gadgets, & How to Get Your Boss to Buy Them is a post from: Modis