Content Management Systems, should your public Internet Face be done this way?

Definition : Content Management System (CMS): A computer program that allows publishing, editing and modifying content as well as maintenance from a central interface

The other day, I got into a conversation with a fellow Web Designer, who told me that Wordpress and the scripting language PHP, were the future for Web Designers, and that more companies are  deploying more Websites in this manor.

But, lets look at this for a second, does CMS make sense when it comes to the Website that the public , Sure a layout like Wikipedia is good, for publicly curated encyclopaedic content, but for most businesses, at least from their public face, do you really want something that any member of your team can edit from any remote location, without information being validated through the proper channels and departments?

In the world of Business Websites, It's best to leave the interactive, editable content to a platform like Facebook or Google Plus, at best maybe just factor one area of your public site in the CMS system.  I would personally suggest that a company save the CMS setup for a Internally Networked, or Privately accessed Website and go with a more traditional Web Site design for their consumer accessible Site.

Explaining what a Web Designer does to someone who does not understand Technology

Over the weekend, I was back in my Hometown for the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, I got the statement from my Mom that she was having problems explaining to my 90 Year Old Grandmother what I do as a Web Designer.

This caused me to have to think a bit about just how to go about explaining this, as I knew my Grandmother would be joining us for Turkey Dinner, and the solution came to me thanks to a project She had done when I was growing up.

The explanation that allowed me to answer the question "Just what does he do with his business" was that I do Page Layout, setting images and text in place to create a readable page, to which My Grandmother's response was "Oh Ok, that makes sense"

The fact of the matter is, I could have went into more detail, going into how I edit the photos, discussing things like Audio and Video files, Cascading Style Sheets and just what HTML stands for (Hypertext Markup Language by the way), but not everyone understand all that goes into Web Design. By describing it like a Typesetter, or Traditional Publisher is understood by someone who may not understand the world of Technology, in other words, Keeping it Stupidly Simple.

How to deal with copycats

Have you ever chanced to come across two of anything that look almost identical and wonder just what the makers of the second item were thinking in replicating the first one?

In many areas of product marketing this is done every day. Company A releases a product that catches on with people, prompting company B to replicate their own design in hopes they too can find success in the same market.

Website design, is not all that different, at any given moment of any given day new websites come online with a look and feel that almost mirrors existing sites.  part of this maybe because the form of the Website is functionally well laid out. It can also be done to entice some users over from the competitor to your site. No matter the reason

So, just how does one go about the creation and presentation of new, unique content? The answer is, actually, not all that easy to state, however by presenting open, honest and Site relevant content to your Company's project, then backing that content up with strong, passionate customer support and product expertise your company can be on it's way to a Website that works for you and your consumer base.

Traveling and Cables

Many people in modern times travel with Technology, you have the Smart Phone, a Tablet, maybe you still  carry a Laptop, cause the apps you need are not on the Tablet or Smart Phone, and lets not forget the Accessories.

This of course means the dreaded detail, Cables! Sure enough it's happened to everyone, at one time or another, you reach your destination and realize you "Forgot the Charge Cable…ugh!"

So, how does one travel better when it comes to Technology and all those Cables, well a few tips I suggest include 

Step 1: Make a List of EVERYTHING you travel with that needs a cable

Step 2: Pick up a second adapter for each item on the list from Step 1

Step 3: Stop by your local Dollar Store and buy a cheap soft sided zippered Pencil Case

Step 4: Place a Printed List and the second adapter cable for each item on that list in the Pencil Case

Step 5: Store newly created travel kit in your luggage so you have it when you travel.

Step 6: Update the Kit when ever you change up a device you travel with

Following this process should allow you to travel with little to no headaches from having forgot to pack your cables, which means less trips to the Business Depot, Radio Shack or Apple Store in a City you are not used to.

Safe Travels and Stay Technical My Friends

Hey! Don't throw away that, You Never Know when your Technology might need it

We see them everywhere, they are packed in some Snacks, like Beef Jerky, in New Shoes and in Electronics, and what do we do with them when we get them? We Throw them away!

Then , that day comes, you know that Fateful day when you drop your Smart Phone in a puddle, Little Jimmy or Jenny attempts to discover if the Tablet will Float, or you spill coffee on it over breakfast.  Te first thought being "CRAP! that's going to cost me hundreds to replace!

If you're lucky, you have some dry white rice that you can toss the device into in order to suck all the liquid out of it, and hopefully, pull it back from the brink of the Electronic Afterlife, until you realize… you finished off the Rice the night before making that dish for dinner.

you're at that point of "!@#$ What do I do now, my brand new [insert brand and item here] is DEAD!" until you stop for a second…"wait a tick, I planned specifically for this!" you say to yourself, running to the Tech box, where you pull out that reusable plastic deli meat container filled with the contents of that substance we used to always toss out, thats right THE SILICA PACK! 

Tossing the device in the bin, you pace back and forth for a day as those little beads wick the water away from all the sensitive areas of your device, you pull it out, you turn it on, you hear the familiar notes of your notification alert! Success, as you hold it to the sky, doing the Doctor Frankenstein "It's Alive" performance.

All because that little package got directed to a reusable cause instead of just being tossed in the trash.

Hackathon, or Giving back to the community through Sharing Tech Knowledge

So, in the past week I actually signed up to be part of something new for my local community, a event called PG (Prince George) Hacks, a Hackathon!  But what is a Hackathon anyway? 

To the majority of the world many view the idea of Hacking as the practice of cracking security to access information for nefarious purposes. In reality though this hackathon, actually is a place for Programmers, Database Designers, Web Developers and IT Specialists to take a day, gather together and create applications and processes which will help make the "world work a little better"

PG Hacks takes place on Oct. 19th and, is something I'm looking forward to participating in. more information can be found but looking up , on Twitter, #PGHACKS or bring up the following website

http://www.startupprincegeorge.ca/events/pg-hacks/

Prepping a Mobile Office and how a reliable tablet can help you showcase your business in the field

In this modern, connected world, the art of the Business meeting is being taken out of the traditional office environment and into more informal locations like Starbucks.  It's getting more prevalent to see people discussing projects over a coffee at the corner wi-fi shop with their portfolio open, pen and note pad at hand to take notes.

But what if there is something  on your Business' Website that would help with the discussion, what is the best solution for this situation.  the answer may very well be a  7-8 inch Tablet.  

Be it any of the Android devices, Blackberry's Playbook (Don't laugh too much, it was a major part of my return to Post-Secondary Education a couple years ago and still is a go to tablet on a daily basis to this very day) Apple's iPad mini or a Windows based offering. Having a Wi-Fi connected tablet at the ready allows you to quickly bring up specifically the information needed to win over your client and potentially land the deal.

Why do I suggest a 7-8 Inch tablet, instead of something in the 10-inch screen range? The answer is simply portability.  This size tablet can fit into most pockets on a zippered portfolio and be deployed quickly with the addition of a inexpensive stand for finding a good viewing angle.  Add in a recording device , like Voice Notes on the iPhone, making sure you have something like the Square Adaptor to take payment in the field and, depending on the device a small USB Drive (say 8GB's) to the standard weapons of a Pen, Notepad and easily accessible Business Cards to round out your portable office workspace, and you should be set.