In-Car Gadgets & Entertainment - Necessary Or Narcissistic?

The idea of entertainment in a car sounds not so bad… if they are used to entertain children and or bored adults on a long and winding road trip. But at what point has technology gone too far when the driver is the one using the entertainment? While driving late at night on a not so busy Los Angeles major freeway I looked to my left to see a driver watching a movie while driving. There were not very many cars on the road but if he was using it to stay awake during the drive, than he was twice the danger of causing an accident.

Typical luxury and family automobiles features a navigation system, DVD player, MP3 player, Bluetooth abilities, HD radio broadcasting, and even Wi-Fi technology. All of these luxuries and entertainments are additional distractions on the road. The gadget distractions have become so bad that laws have already or are now being passed that makes it illegal to text while driving. Seems perfectly logical yet hundreds of drivers still send text messages while driving. I know because I use to be one of them. I stopped after a way too close minor accident could have occurred if I hadn’t looked up at exactly the perfect moment to slam my brakes on. In addition, I now ride passenger on my boyfriend’s motorcycle and the things I witness as a motorcycle passenger leaves me gawking in utter disbelief.

With these thoughts in mind, I have severe doubts about the sensible use of South Korea's new GPS navigation system that is an all-in-one navigation system that allows passengers (or drivers) to watch television on a 7-inch display that also displays photos, plays videos, permit games to be played, controls music selection and now has a digital karaoke machine. The all-in-one navigation system looks beautiful but would any of us be all that surprised to see the driver next to us singing in their car with a microphone in their hand? Thankfully, they're only available in Korea.

On The Other Hand

Mouhamad A. Naboulsi, president Applied Computer Technologies, Inc. believes there is a middle ground that does not compromise safety. He says that his company has developed a system that balances the driving practice with emphasis on safety, while still allowing drivers to use communication & entertainment technologies while driving. Here are the key advantages he lists as luxury and safety features

1- Hands are monitored to be on the steering wheel, otherwise devices are disabled
2- Incoming communications are silenced when Drivers are passing, merging and or changing lanes etc.
3-System is calibrated to the driver’s skills and experience and fits into a cell phone.

In addition, Mouhamad A. Naboulsi makes some very valid and important points that demand attention. He continues by saying

“What we need is to educate our legislative bodies to require a device like ours on every vehicle. Auto manufacturers are aware of our device and some are already using it overseas, to avoid our patents. let's face it, if we turn off our cell phones, we will be passed by Europe, Japan and the rest of the world. We need to stay connected to stay competitive, but we need to do it safely.”

Mouhamad A. Naboulsi president of Applied Computer Technologies, Inc. said that the company is currently looking for capital and for political mentors. If interested, please visit the Applied Computer Technologies, Inc website.




Source: Yahoo Tech: Navigation System features In-Car Karaoke

Cyber Tracker

Virb – A Place For Webbies

On the surface, it isn’t obvious why Virb is useful or even fun. It looks like just another social network and it doesn’t do anything revolutionary. However, Virb offers a lot of features that take away the constantly annoying traits that are present at other social networking sites.


Virb is a cleaner sleeker and more personalized neighborhood with a ton of great features that combines easy user customization, Flickr photostream, VirbTunes (aka iTunes plugin), a wide screen video player with a light box effect and a ton of other features that annoy users at other social networking sites. In addition, Virb is busy building new features and functionalities such as a Twitter module.

According to Virb

“Virb.com is a music-oriented content and information website that provides a service to musical artists and to record companies on behalf of musical artists” -- the people behind popular music networking service PureVolume. Conversely, Virb is attracting non-music industry users who simply enjoy music but are not involved in the music industry and who doesn’t like some form of music?

The Downers

Virb isn't for the 'newb", "nub" or "n00b (new to social networking / internet). While Virb has fantastic customization features the problem is that most people (including myself) don’t know how to use CSS that well. Until there are a large number of easy to find Virb layouts that users can copy and paste Virb growth will be slower than it could be. Yet, if Virb implements easy to use ‘copy and paste ‘ Virb layouts will the viewers be forced to see “this layout created by XXX” ads? Anther thing to consider is that a business driven user cannot reach a mass audience through Virb alone -- but a business driven user can certainly reach a quality audience.


Here are some the coolest Virb features that I found and believe have the potential to steal MySpace users.

• Gives you the ability to easily customize your profile and unlike MySpace, if you don’t want to hear today’s Top 40 blazing song or yester year’s classic, Virb has a feature that allows you to turn off the person's customizations while viewing their profile.

• Virb Rocks: Shows off some of the best designers and designs on Virb

• Virb Transport: Allows you take any piece of your Virb profile and put it on your own website or other profiles

• Virb Music Browse: Choose the music you like and choose only the music you want to locate on Virb. When you find a musical artist you like, you can save all the songs in your personal player list on your profile. The top 3 songs you enjoy the most show at the top of your profile -- similar to MySpace Friends.

• External Blog: Syndicate your external blog and Virb will feed it into their system which will show up in your friends' recent activity, and will be displayed as if it were part of Virb.

While I do consistently use MySpace for writing placement, I have never cared for MySpace and the numerous Spam messages, ‘meat market’ and teenage atmosphere and "it's ok to look" display ads. Virb has much more of a community feel that displays the personal, the artistic and the business aspect of people. It is an all in one social networking site that should pick up more of the technically minded people as the site gains popularity


Virb is what MySpace should have been by now if it actually worked as an online social networking community and not an enormous marketing flea market. I won’t say that Virb will overtake MySpace (yet), but as more of the age 25+ web savvy users get sick of web cam girls, emo attitudes and pyramid messages, people will want a social networking community and not simply a “place for friends’. So if you're looking to connect with webbies, Virb looks like the place to do it.

SierraNightTide: Virb - A Place For Webbies

Linked In?

I’ve been avoiding new social networking sites because after a while they all just start to melt together like ice cream on a Chicago summer day. On the other hand, that is sort of like going online and reading only one news source and thinking you know everything there is to know about the article subject matter.

I keep hearing about LinkedIn and figured it was time I paid anther visit to the site and do my homework.

What is LinkedIn?

It's a professional networking website. Some call it MySpace for Adults without webcam girl emails and pictures of that drunken night at the last holiday party.

There are no blogs about how Joe Smo can’t get a date or ‘Princess waiting for her Prince Charming’ lack of love.

Linked In is a place where you can build a network of valuable networks. The first step is joining Linked In and creating your professional profile. Then search for people you've worked with, worked for, or just know from school.

Why Use LinkedIn?

The more creative way to go about utilizing LinkedIn is to travel around the site and see who may be a valuable professional connection for your long-term career goals. However, remember that others are also looking for valuable networking sources – so to find value, be valuable.

Is there a company you have always wanted to work for but just haven’t been able to get an interview with? Search for people who currently and or formally have worked for the company.

Once you have exchanged greetings and agreed to link, you'll have access to they’re network connections as they will have access to yours.

After some research I find that LinkedIn definitely deserves some more attention. So here are some tips & tricks I discovered.

Don’t expect LinkedIn to do the work for you. It’s a tool, like the keyboard. Just because the keyboard has letters doesn’t mean it’s going to write an email for you.

LinkedIn won’t automatically connect you to people. Relationships don't just happen, you have to go into the system and introduce yourself and get involved.

The more time you spend exploring LinkedIn, the more helpful it can be.

Being friendly pays -- the more connections you have and a potential contact has will increase the amount of networking possibilities that exists.

Let me know what you find by exploring LinkedIn. I’m looking forward to experiencing all that LinkIn has been bragged about -- feel free to add me.
SierraNightTide

What is Network Marketing?

Network marketing is a business in which a direct sales and multilevel marketing builds business and cliental. It is also called Multi-level marketing (MLM). Typically, independent business owners become associated with a parent company in a contractor-like relationship.



Five Reasons Given Why People Do Not Make It In Network Marketing:


1) Inferior Company
2) Poor compensation
3) Unreliable product or service
4) Lack of leadership
5) Lack of knowledge in how to work network marketing

Use Personal Hobbies To Nurture Career Success

The ideal situation is to have a boss who looks out for your interests during difficult times. This protectiveness is nurtured when the boss thinks of you not just as a competent employee but as a kindred spirit. If you want a higher quality relationship with the boss, develop an interest in something that also interests the boss. Ideally, this should be an activity that fits nicely into the work experience. For example, if your boss likes to talk business while playing golf, learning to play and enjoy golf. This will predictably bring a tighter business bond between you.

"To really understand your boss, you need to see him or her as a person, not just as a business contact," explains Dilip Phadke, Hewlett Packard's director of business development strategic initiatives.

Creating Good Habits For Success