Posted by Rick Coelho
Decent available domain names are becoming harder to find these days. Nearly 25 million ".com" names have been registered, and over 23 thousand are purchased every day. It also means that you're more likely to win the grand prize lottery then find a great domain name.
Owning a domain name that helps to successfully "magnetize" a flood of incoming traffic is like gold to any online business. But the increasing scarcity of domain names that are simple to remember, short and suggestive have turned them into red hot commodities.
Just take a look at some of the recent domain name acquisitions:
· business.com sold for $7.5 million
· asseenontv.com sold for $5 million
· altavista.com sold for $3.3 million
· loans.com sold for $3 million
· autos.com sold for $2.2 million
· wallstreet.com sold for $1.03 million
· forsalebyowner.com sold for $835,000
· drugs.com sold for $825,000
· cinema.com sold for $700,000
· art.com sold for $450,000
· engineering.org sold for $199,000
· fruits.com sold for $160,000
· perfect.com sold for $94,000
However, while some of these domain names may have been sold for millions, corporate buyers backed by large bank accounts are not alone in the domain name game. Even entrepreneurs are making a great living in purchasing and selling their own domains.
Not a day goes by, that a domain name sells for as less as $100 or as much as $1 million on public auction sites. For example, eBay.com recently featured actual bids for as little as $500 for "golegs.com" to as much as $20,000 for "arlington.com" -- and thousands more drifting anywhere in between.
Some people seem to know where to get these "nuggets of gold." In fact, a small handful know about an untapped goldmine that lies discreetly tucked away in the dark corners of the vast Internet. And the awareness of this source has helped these "lucky" individuals earn either outrageous fortunes or monstrous levels of traffic for their website.
The goldmine to which I'm referring is the pool of recently expired domain names. While only a few knows it exists, regardless it is expanding with every passing day. There are literally tens of thousands of unclaimed, non-renewed and expired domain names that become available on a daily basis.
An expired domain name is one that was registered previously but was not paid for in time for the renewal date, thus returning it to the listing of available domains. There are many probable reasons for non-renewal (e.g., forgetful owner, no more interest in site, no longer in business, no longer active or didn't pay for whatever reason).
However, you may be asking, "Sure, but I'm never going to find good domain names before some other person snatches them up." For a long time, being "lucky" also meant being alert for the numerous domains that become available, and being quick in registering them before anyone else does.
New tools are becoming available, making the process of searching, finding and registering great domain names much easier. In fact, some of them assist you to become aware of the near expiring domains, giving you an advantage over your competitors that permits you to grab names seconds after they've been dropped.
Nevertheless, a compelling domain name can help an online business become more visible, credible and accessible. And it will help someone earn a rather large fortune. While in the past, finding one was very prohibitive, with the help of tools that are now at your disposal, you now can be a part of the gold rush, too.
Article Source:
http://www.cyberindian.com/domain-registration/index.php
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Web Sites, Domain Names, And Name Servers
Posted by Fred Black
I explain Domain Name Servers and Name Servers to a friend of mine all the time. He builds web sites part time. I know he's not alone; DNS confuses a lot of people.
The internet works by assigning an address to each device attached to it. This address is called an Internet Protocol Address or IP Address for short. It's a 32 bit number that's commonly written as 4 segments or octets (called an octet because each 4th is 8 bits) such as 10.10.1.1 or 216.54.217.22. Each octet can range between 0 and 255. This address works just like your street address: a packet (a chunk of communication between two devices) leaving your computer and heading for Google moves through devices call routers that route traffic on the internet. The router looks at the destination IP Address and knows which way to send the packet. Just like a letter moves through various post offices and delivery vehicles (mail man, mail trucks, airplanes, etc.) your little packet of internet traffic moves across various communication channels (phone lines, cable lines, fiber, etc.) and providers (UUNet, Cogent, Level3, Time-Warner, AT&T, Sprint, AboveNet, etc.). It finally arrives at its destination and is processed and a return packet is sent back... in just the same way, it finds its way back based on your IP Address.
The Internet would be pretty hard to use if you had to remember all those IP Addresses when you wanted to visit a web page, so a naming scheme is used that allows you to enter a name that is easy to remember instead of a sequence of numbers. So, how does your computer get the IP Address of a web site when you type in the name? That's where Domain Name Servers do their job.
Name Servers. A Name Server holds the information that relates the IP Addresses for a web site to the names used to access that web site. If you want to have a web site with a domain name, you have to register or purchase (more like rent) the domain name from a service call a registrar. When I registered the domain name for my web site, I told the registrar what Name Server I was using, Most people will use the Name Servers provided by their hosting facility (where they rent the server space for their web site). That Name Server is configured to have a "zone" for my domain and that zone contains records that relate a name to an IP address, this is called an "A Record". An "MX Record" is used to identify the mail server for that zone, for example, I have an "A Record" for my domain that points to the IP address of the web server, and the "MX Record" points to the mail server for my domain. These may or may not be on the same server. When someone sends me email, their mail server will request the Name Server for my domain and will get it's IP Address, then it can request the MX Record and get it's IP Address, and then it can send packets of mail to the mail server for my domain.
Domain Name Servers. A Domain Name Server stores the domain names and associated IP Addresses for a period of time.
This is stored or cached on a server called a Domain Name Server, or DNS server for short. If the time specified for caching a domain name / IP Address relationship has passed the DNS server will remove it from its cache. When a request for an IP Address is made, and the DNS server does not have that address in its cache, the DNS Server will make a request to a set of special servers on the internet that hold the addresses for all the Name Servers and which domain names each one controls. It can then send a request to the name server for that domain to get the IP Address for the domain name and return it to the computer or device making the original request. All Internet Providers have several DNS servers and as you browse the internet your computer is constantly sending requests to these DNS servers to get (or resolve) IP Addresses for the domain names you type in or links you click on.
A web site's name to address relationships are stored on Name Servers, as you browse the Internet, DNS servers either provide the address back to your computer from cache, or, look up the Name Server for your domain and then gets the correct Name Server to get the IP Address.
Now you too understand DNS and Name Servers!
About The Author:
Fred Black is an experienced web developer offering instructional videos at http://www.WebSiteTrainingOnline.com, An Introduction to Creating Web Sites.
Article Taken From:
http://www.cyberindian.com/domain-registration/index.php
I explain Domain Name Servers and Name Servers to a friend of mine all the time. He builds web sites part time. I know he's not alone; DNS confuses a lot of people.
The internet works by assigning an address to each device attached to it. This address is called an Internet Protocol Address or IP Address for short. It's a 32 bit number that's commonly written as 4 segments or octets (called an octet because each 4th is 8 bits) such as 10.10.1.1 or 216.54.217.22. Each octet can range between 0 and 255. This address works just like your street address: a packet (a chunk of communication between two devices) leaving your computer and heading for Google moves through devices call routers that route traffic on the internet. The router looks at the destination IP Address and knows which way to send the packet. Just like a letter moves through various post offices and delivery vehicles (mail man, mail trucks, airplanes, etc.) your little packet of internet traffic moves across various communication channels (phone lines, cable lines, fiber, etc.) and providers (UUNet, Cogent, Level3, Time-Warner, AT&T, Sprint, AboveNet, etc.). It finally arrives at its destination and is processed and a return packet is sent back... in just the same way, it finds its way back based on your IP Address.
The Internet would be pretty hard to use if you had to remember all those IP Addresses when you wanted to visit a web page, so a naming scheme is used that allows you to enter a name that is easy to remember instead of a sequence of numbers. So, how does your computer get the IP Address of a web site when you type in the name? That's where Domain Name Servers do their job.
Name Servers. A Name Server holds the information that relates the IP Addresses for a web site to the names used to access that web site. If you want to have a web site with a domain name, you have to register or purchase (more like rent) the domain name from a service call a registrar. When I registered the domain name for my web site, I told the registrar what Name Server I was using, Most people will use the Name Servers provided by their hosting facility (where they rent the server space for their web site). That Name Server is configured to have a "zone" for my domain and that zone contains records that relate a name to an IP address, this is called an "A Record". An "MX Record" is used to identify the mail server for that zone, for example, I have an "A Record" for my domain that points to the IP address of the web server, and the "MX Record" points to the mail server for my domain. These may or may not be on the same server. When someone sends me email, their mail server will request the Name Server for my domain and will get it's IP Address, then it can request the MX Record and get it's IP Address, and then it can send packets of mail to the mail server for my domain.
Domain Name Servers. A Domain Name Server stores the domain names and associated IP Addresses for a period of time.
This is stored or cached on a server called a Domain Name Server, or DNS server for short. If the time specified for caching a domain name / IP Address relationship has passed the DNS server will remove it from its cache. When a request for an IP Address is made, and the DNS server does not have that address in its cache, the DNS Server will make a request to a set of special servers on the internet that hold the addresses for all the Name Servers and which domain names each one controls. It can then send a request to the name server for that domain to get the IP Address for the domain name and return it to the computer or device making the original request. All Internet Providers have several DNS servers and as you browse the internet your computer is constantly sending requests to these DNS servers to get (or resolve) IP Addresses for the domain names you type in or links you click on.
A web site's name to address relationships are stored on Name Servers, as you browse the Internet, DNS servers either provide the address back to your computer from cache, or, look up the Name Server for your domain and then gets the correct Name Server to get the IP Address.
Now you too understand DNS and Name Servers!
About The Author:
Fred Black is an experienced web developer offering instructional videos at http://www.WebSiteTrainingOnline.com, An Introduction to Creating Web Sites.
Article Taken From:
http://www.cyberindian.com/domain-registration/index.php
How to get Top Money for your Domain Names
Would you like to be that lucky person who sells their domain for thousands or even a million dollars? It IS possible to find quality domains and resell them for huge amounts of money. The time is ripe for acquiring top domains and selling them. Now that the Internet Boom is behind us, valuable names expire everyday. The best way to find these domains is to use services on the Internet such as DomainsBot to weed out the bad names. Or just check out Hot Lists on sites like Namewinner or Pool.
So what makes a "good" domain name? Usually short, single word domains and 2-3 letter .coms, .nets, and .orgs are the best. The more specific the better. These can be hard to come by but when you find them, you can almost guarantee that you can make good money from them. Once you have purchased a nice domain name, get a good appraisal of the name to get an idea of the possible worth (see www.appraisalblast.com). In order to sell your newly appraised name, you have to find a buyer. Here are your basic options for selling your domain name in a nutshell:
1. Sell it on Ebay
This is the easiest and quickest way to sell your domain name. There are several tricks to landing a good sale at Ebay. One is, start your price low. People want a bargain. Once you have received an initial bid, it will draw peoples attention to your name and create more bids. You may want to set a reserve price if you want to make sure you get X amount of dollars.
When selling your domain on Ebay, make sure your domain name is in the title of the description. Also, include an appraisal to show to possible buyers the value of the domain. Keep your description short, clean, and really emphasize how important and rare your domain is. For example, if your domain is 3 letters and ends in "I", stress how most 3 letter domains that are highly valuable end in "I" because it usually stands for "Incorporated". If it ends in "E" it could stand for "Enterprise".
A little bit of marketing saavy can go a long way. I once sold the domain 0pp.com for over $200. It even has a number in it making it worth very little. But I emphasize its possible uses and potential. Also, spend the extra $1 for the Bold Listing and make sure your auction ends on a Sunday afternoon or evening. This is when most people are browsing Ebay. It will make a big difference.
2. Sell it on Domain Sites
The only sites you should even consider putting your name up for sale is on ebay.com, Afternic, or Sedo. These are the most popular and where some huge sales have taken place. The only downside is that there are high numbers of domains already for sale and usually the site will get a commission of something around 10%. There also may be a small fee to join.
Appraisal Blast charges a minimal fee but no commission. Your domain will get more exposure there just because there aren't hundreds of domains for sale. You may also have luck selling it on forums such as DomainState. The prices of sales there seem to be lower.
3. Contact Large Businesses with Deep Pockets
This approach takes some time and patience. Let's say you have acquired a great domain name that would work great for any business in the field of the stock market. You may want to locate some of the bigger sites or businesses and make an offer to sell your domain name. Make sure the name you own doens't have any elements that are already trademarked because you may be forced to give up the name.
You may want to go on the Internet and look up current websites that deal with stocks and find ones that don't have the greatest domain names. Make offers to these sites stating how your domain is much better and will HELP them. If you get a company to bite, the rewards are usually very generous!
In summary
selling domains for high amounts of cash depends on two key elements. First you must have a quality domain, one that doesn't have numbers or isn't too long. It must be clear and easily recognizable. ".com" is the best, but even domains such as the ".us" are gaining popularity. The second key is Marketing, Marketing, Marketing! I can't stress that enough. You have to create a good reason for someone to buy your domain. How can THEY benefit from it. When these two steps are fulfilled, a sale is almost guaranteed!
By: Dayne Heren - www.appraisalblast.com
So what makes a "good" domain name? Usually short, single word domains and 2-3 letter .coms, .nets, and .orgs are the best. The more specific the better. These can be hard to come by but when you find them, you can almost guarantee that you can make good money from them. Once you have purchased a nice domain name, get a good appraisal of the name to get an idea of the possible worth (see www.appraisalblast.com). In order to sell your newly appraised name, you have to find a buyer. Here are your basic options for selling your domain name in a nutshell:
1. Sell it on Ebay
This is the easiest and quickest way to sell your domain name. There are several tricks to landing a good sale at Ebay. One is, start your price low. People want a bargain. Once you have received an initial bid, it will draw peoples attention to your name and create more bids. You may want to set a reserve price if you want to make sure you get X amount of dollars.
When selling your domain on Ebay, make sure your domain name is in the title of the description. Also, include an appraisal to show to possible buyers the value of the domain. Keep your description short, clean, and really emphasize how important and rare your domain is. For example, if your domain is 3 letters and ends in "I", stress how most 3 letter domains that are highly valuable end in "I" because it usually stands for "Incorporated". If it ends in "E" it could stand for "Enterprise".
A little bit of marketing saavy can go a long way. I once sold the domain 0pp.com for over $200. It even has a number in it making it worth very little. But I emphasize its possible uses and potential. Also, spend the extra $1 for the Bold Listing and make sure your auction ends on a Sunday afternoon or evening. This is when most people are browsing Ebay. It will make a big difference.
2. Sell it on Domain Sites
The only sites you should even consider putting your name up for sale is on ebay.com, Afternic, or Sedo. These are the most popular and where some huge sales have taken place. The only downside is that there are high numbers of domains already for sale and usually the site will get a commission of something around 10%. There also may be a small fee to join.
Appraisal Blast charges a minimal fee but no commission. Your domain will get more exposure there just because there aren't hundreds of domains for sale. You may also have luck selling it on forums such as DomainState. The prices of sales there seem to be lower.
3. Contact Large Businesses with Deep Pockets
This approach takes some time and patience. Let's say you have acquired a great domain name that would work great for any business in the field of the stock market. You may want to locate some of the bigger sites or businesses and make an offer to sell your domain name. Make sure the name you own doens't have any elements that are already trademarked because you may be forced to give up the name.
You may want to go on the Internet and look up current websites that deal with stocks and find ones that don't have the greatest domain names. Make offers to these sites stating how your domain is much better and will HELP them. If you get a company to bite, the rewards are usually very generous!
In summary
selling domains for high amounts of cash depends on two key elements. First you must have a quality domain, one that doesn't have numbers or isn't too long. It must be clear and easily recognizable. ".com" is the best, but even domains such as the ".us" are gaining popularity. The second key is Marketing, Marketing, Marketing! I can't stress that enough. You have to create a good reason for someone to buy your domain. How can THEY benefit from it. When these two steps are fulfilled, a sale is almost guaranteed!
By: Dayne Heren - www.appraisalblast.com
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Doctors Sound Alarm Over Reckless Texting
When you're walking around, riding a bike, driving a car, etc., it's not a good idea to stare at your phone to read and write text messages while in motion. That may sound obvious, but doctors say they've seen some serious and tragic accidents happen from people paying too much attention their phones and not enough to their surroundings.
For people who may not be clear about the dangers of texting while walking, exercising or driving, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) issued a warning this week advising avid texters to resist the urge to read or send messages when engaged in another activity.
Emergency room physicians are seeing an increasing number of injuries -- both minor and serious -- that patients attributed to texting while they did something else, according to the ACEP. The dangerous trend has even led to several fatalities.
The advisory, timed to hit just as parents and students are gearing up to go back to school, is aimed primarily at teens and young adults.
"You're not seeing a lot of 80-year-olds coming in with texting injuries. They do tend to be a younger demographic. And then, depending on whether you're in the city or not, that [determines] what we see. In a city where there's a lot of driving and commuting, we're seeing the most accidents related to texting which can be very serious or even fatal," said Leigh Vinocar, ACEP national spokesperson and a practicing physician.
Bad for Your Face
ER doctors report a rise in a range of injuries and even deaths as a result of texting during inappropriate moments. Falls are the most common kinds of injuries suffered by those who texting while in motion.
"In cities where people are pedestrians and walkers like New York, Chicago and Baltimore, where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic, we're seeing a lot of falls because people aren't paying attention. Can you walk and chew gum? Except that this is more than chewing gum because you're really concentrating on something else," Vinocar told TechNewsWorld.
"Normally when you fall, you put your hands out reflexively to protect your face. If you have anything in your hand, you're not able to drop it as quickly and protect your face. So, we're seeing a lot of facial and head injuries, chins and even eye injuries where people were poked in the eye," she explained.
Students who leave class and text as they walk down the hall, for example, might not realize they have reached the stairs and fall.
People are not as aware of their surroundings when they text, and doctors, according to Vinocar, have reported people falling into holes in the sidewalk, stepping of off curbs or even walking right into oncoming traffic.
Texting Dangers
One doctor, Matthew Lewin, an emergency physician at the University of California in San Francisco, related a horrifying incident in which he saw a young woman in her 20s step off a curb and into the path of an approaching pickup truck.
"She was unconscious and it appeared she'd suffered a massive brain injury. You could tell she saw the truck at the last moment because her cell phone was dropped right where she was struck just off the curb, and she was thrown about 20 or 30 feet. It was horrifying. The truck stopped. The driver was devastated. I was amazed to hear she survived all the way to trauma center but died [in] the ER," he said.
The ACEP recommends that people resist the urge to check text messages or send their own while they are engaged in other activities.
"No. 1, if you're involved in any type of activity that requires concentration -- including walking -- you really shouldn't be texting. Obviously that goes for even more concentration-reliant activities such as biking, rollerblading, playing a sport, and of course driving. You really shouldn't do it. If you get a message [while walking] that you have to respond to, you should get out of the flow of traffic, stand somewhere then read or send a message," Vinocar suggested.
Although several states have either banned or are working on legislation that would specifically prohibit texting while driving, no laws exist to prevent people from walking and texting, she stated.
"With everything that's going on with cell phones -- and the jury is out about the electromagnetic rays -- I don't think texting is a bad thing for kids to do. We still don't know long-term what [the effects of prolonged cell phone use are]," Vinocar noted.
"I'm a big advocate of pushing for stronger safety standards in the industry and doing more research on it. I advocate texting because it's a good way to get messages across and it's not so close to your head. But do it safely, and that means not while you're doing another activity," she concluded.
By Walaika Haskins
TechNewsWorld
For people who may not be clear about the dangers of texting while walking, exercising or driving, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) issued a warning this week advising avid texters to resist the urge to read or send messages when engaged in another activity.
Emergency room physicians are seeing an increasing number of injuries -- both minor and serious -- that patients attributed to texting while they did something else, according to the ACEP. The dangerous trend has even led to several fatalities.
The advisory, timed to hit just as parents and students are gearing up to go back to school, is aimed primarily at teens and young adults.
"You're not seeing a lot of 80-year-olds coming in with texting injuries. They do tend to be a younger demographic. And then, depending on whether you're in the city or not, that [determines] what we see. In a city where there's a lot of driving and commuting, we're seeing the most accidents related to texting which can be very serious or even fatal," said Leigh Vinocar, ACEP national spokesperson and a practicing physician.
Bad for Your Face
ER doctors report a rise in a range of injuries and even deaths as a result of texting during inappropriate moments. Falls are the most common kinds of injuries suffered by those who texting while in motion.
"In cities where people are pedestrians and walkers like New York, Chicago and Baltimore, where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic, we're seeing a lot of falls because people aren't paying attention. Can you walk and chew gum? Except that this is more than chewing gum because you're really concentrating on something else," Vinocar told TechNewsWorld.
"Normally when you fall, you put your hands out reflexively to protect your face. If you have anything in your hand, you're not able to drop it as quickly and protect your face. So, we're seeing a lot of facial and head injuries, chins and even eye injuries where people were poked in the eye," she explained.
Students who leave class and text as they walk down the hall, for example, might not realize they have reached the stairs and fall.
People are not as aware of their surroundings when they text, and doctors, according to Vinocar, have reported people falling into holes in the sidewalk, stepping of off curbs or even walking right into oncoming traffic.
Texting Dangers
One doctor, Matthew Lewin, an emergency physician at the University of California in San Francisco, related a horrifying incident in which he saw a young woman in her 20s step off a curb and into the path of an approaching pickup truck.
"She was unconscious and it appeared she'd suffered a massive brain injury. You could tell she saw the truck at the last moment because her cell phone was dropped right where she was struck just off the curb, and she was thrown about 20 or 30 feet. It was horrifying. The truck stopped. The driver was devastated. I was amazed to hear she survived all the way to trauma center but died [in] the ER," he said.
The ACEP recommends that people resist the urge to check text messages or send their own while they are engaged in other activities.
"No. 1, if you're involved in any type of activity that requires concentration -- including walking -- you really shouldn't be texting. Obviously that goes for even more concentration-reliant activities such as biking, rollerblading, playing a sport, and of course driving. You really shouldn't do it. If you get a message [while walking] that you have to respond to, you should get out of the flow of traffic, stand somewhere then read or send a message," Vinocar suggested.
Although several states have either banned or are working on legislation that would specifically prohibit texting while driving, no laws exist to prevent people from walking and texting, she stated.
"With everything that's going on with cell phones -- and the jury is out about the electromagnetic rays -- I don't think texting is a bad thing for kids to do. We still don't know long-term what [the effects of prolonged cell phone use are]," Vinocar noted.
"I'm a big advocate of pushing for stronger safety standards in the industry and doing more research on it. I advocate texting because it's a good way to get messages across and it's not so close to your head. But do it safely, and that means not while you're doing another activity," she concluded.
By Walaika Haskins
TechNewsWorld
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tooling Around With Ajax
Web 2.0 operations like social networking sites have amplified the popularity of through-the-browser applications relying on Ajax. There are lots of toolkits out there for making life easier for Ajax developers. Security, however, remains a concern.
Social networks are peppering the Internet with Facebook-like interactive features. Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is fast becoming the defacto programming tool for Web developers. But by itself, Ajax is a daunting challenge that requires demanding coding skills.
Ajax toolkits offer Web developers a shortcut method to build in the convenient and useful features that visitors of Web 2.0 sites have come to expect. However, the toolkit concept is nothing new to programming. What's newer is the proliferation of Java-based toolkits to feed the social network phenomenon.
Social media and Web 2.0 allow Web pages to display pop-up windows and other interactive objects without having to refresh the screen. It's now the expected behavior. Without the Ajax toolkits, it would take developers much more time to code and fix errors.
"Ajax and Asynchronous JavaScript are very complex. Ajax toolkits allow me as a developer to do cool things with a couple of quick commands," Evan Keller, director of Internet technology for Luckie & Company, told TechNewsWorld.
One major problem with Ajax being used on social networks is the ubiquitousness of the code. Tooling of Ajax has only started to see productivity New HP LaserJet P4014n Printer Starting at $699 after $100 instant savings. gains. JavaScript is used by hundreds of millions of Web sites today.
"Ajax is incredible in using the rich user experience better than page-to-page navigation. Ajax caught on over other programming methods because it is so effective in creating the interactive response on the Web," Kevin Hakman, director of product marketing for software developer Aptana, told TechNewsWorld.
The impact of Ajax on the Web can be likened to the innovation FedEx created with its overnight letter service. People started to discover the power of JavaScript, he said.
"It can move around the Web. That's why social networking sites are using it," said Hakman.
A portion of the article By Jack M. Germain
Social networks are peppering the Internet with Facebook-like interactive features. Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is fast becoming the defacto programming tool for Web developers. But by itself, Ajax is a daunting challenge that requires demanding coding skills.
Ajax toolkits offer Web developers a shortcut method to build in the convenient and useful features that visitors of Web 2.0 sites have come to expect. However, the toolkit concept is nothing new to programming. What's newer is the proliferation of Java-based toolkits to feed the social network phenomenon.
Social media and Web 2.0 allow Web pages to display pop-up windows and other interactive objects without having to refresh the screen. It's now the expected behavior. Without the Ajax toolkits, it would take developers much more time to code and fix errors.
"Ajax and Asynchronous JavaScript are very complex. Ajax toolkits allow me as a developer to do cool things with a couple of quick commands," Evan Keller, director of Internet technology for Luckie & Company, told TechNewsWorld.
One major problem with Ajax being used on social networks is the ubiquitousness of the code. Tooling of Ajax has only started to see productivity New HP LaserJet P4014n Printer Starting at $699 after $100 instant savings. gains. JavaScript is used by hundreds of millions of Web sites today.
"Ajax is incredible in using the rich user experience better than page-to-page navigation. Ajax caught on over other programming methods because it is so effective in creating the interactive response on the Web," Kevin Hakman, director of product marketing for software developer Aptana, told TechNewsWorld.
The impact of Ajax on the Web can be likened to the innovation FedEx created with its overnight letter service. People started to discover the power of JavaScript, he said.
"It can move around the Web. That's why social networking sites are using it," said Hakman.
A portion of the article By Jack M. Germain
Friday, May 2, 2008
Helping Addicts Cope Through Virtual Immersion
Scientists believe that virtual worlds can help patients in therapy to overcome addictions.
A new study by University of Houston associate professor Patrick Bordnick reveals that a virtual reality environment can provide a safe haven in which patients can practice how to say "no" when offered drugs or alcohol.
"As a therapist, I can tell you to pretend that my office is a bar, and I can ask you to close your eyes and imagine the environment. But you will know that it is not real," said Bordnick.
"In this virtual environment you are at a bar or at a party or in a real-life situation. What we found was that participants had real-life responses."
Bordnick studied 40 alcohol-dependent people who were not receiving treatment (32 men and eight women). Wearing a virtual reality helmet, each was guided through 18 minutes of virtual social environments that included drinking.
Each participant's drink of choice was included in each scene. Using a game pad, the participants rated their cravings and attention to the alcohol details in each room. Each then was interviewed following the experience.
"What we found was that the virtual reality environments were real enough that their cravings were intensified," said Bordnick.
"So now we can develop coping skills and practice them in these very realistic environments until the skills are working tools to use in real life," he added.
The test environments, developed with a company called "Virtually Better," feature different scenarios that an addict may find challenging.
These included a bar with drinking patrons, a house party with guests drinking and smoking, a convenience store with cigarettes and alcohol within reach, a designated smoking area outside a building, and a room with an arguing couple.
The environments use actors in each scene as opposed to computer-generated characters.
The study added another layer of realism by spraying scents that the participant may encounter in the various scenarios, such as cigarette smoke, alcoholic beverages, pizza and aromas associated with the outdoors.
"This study shows us the value of using virtual reality as a tool for assessing and treating addictions. Future studies should explore the importance of environmental settings and other cues on cravings and relapse," Bordnick said.
Story By:By Robert Jaques
VNUNet.com
A new study by University of Houston associate professor Patrick Bordnick reveals that a virtual reality environment can provide a safe haven in which patients can practice how to say "no" when offered drugs or alcohol.
"As a therapist, I can tell you to pretend that my office is a bar, and I can ask you to close your eyes and imagine the environment. But you will know that it is not real," said Bordnick.
"In this virtual environment you are at a bar or at a party or in a real-life situation. What we found was that participants had real-life responses."
Beer Goggles?
Bordnick studied 40 alcohol-dependent people who were not receiving treatment (32 men and eight women). Wearing a virtual reality helmet, each was guided through 18 minutes of virtual social environments that included drinking.
Each participant's drink of choice was included in each scene. Using a game pad, the participants rated their cravings and attention to the alcohol details in each room. Each then was interviewed following the experience.
"What we found was that the virtual reality environments were real enough that their cravings were intensified," said Bordnick.
Coping Skills
"So now we can develop coping skills and practice them in these very realistic environments until the skills are working tools to use in real life," he added.
The test environments, developed with a company called "Virtually Better," feature different scenarios that an addict may find challenging.
These included a bar with drinking patrons, a house party with guests drinking and smoking, a convenience store with cigarettes and alcohol within reach, a designated smoking area outside a building, and a room with an arguing couple.
Layers of Realism
The environments use actors in each scene as opposed to computer-generated characters.
The study added another layer of realism by spraying scents that the participant may encounter in the various scenarios, such as cigarette smoke, alcoholic beverages, pizza and aromas associated with the outdoors.
"This study shows us the value of using virtual reality as a tool for assessing and treating addictions. Future studies should explore the importance of environmental settings and other cues on cravings and relapse," Bordnick said.
Story By:By Robert Jaques
VNUNet.com
Friday, April 25, 2008
The Foul Flavor of Force-Fed Vista
Microsoft wants computer makers to stop shipping machines with XP preinstalled on June 30. That doesn't mean, however, that new computer buyers won't be able to get XP-loaded machines. Dell, for one, will reportedly ignore that order flat-out. Why should Microsoft leave it to vendors to save the day for what is apparently a significant portion of its own users?
Costco and Sam's Club are rationing rice. Friday's reported incident in the Persian Gulf probably has more than a few individuals of a paranoid persuasion stocking up on gasoline. And to top it all off, Microsoft's Security Software As A Service From Webroot. Latest News about Microsoft cutoff date for Windows XP is coming in two months, a decision that's left over 165,000 fans of the OS so upset that they were willing to devote a full three seconds of their lives to sign an online petition to save XP.
Will there be riots? Hoarding? Denial of service attacks on Microsoft's internal IT network Save up to $500 off top-selling HP printers. and an armed assault on the Gates Technodrome?
For a time, it seemed Microsoft was taking twisted pleasure in watching XP lovers in pain. This week CEO Steve Ballmer said the company would maybe, possibly, conceivably keep XP alive a while longer. Later, a Microsoft PR rep poked her head out and essentially said, "Just kidding!"
Microsoft has its own reasons for trying to shove along the march to Vista as forcefully as it can, but that may not necessarily mean its hardware partners have to play along. Some big computer vendors have plans to supply customers with XP despite Microsoft's intention of leaving it behind. Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) Latest News about Dell, in fact, has reportedly promised to keep shipping some PCs with preinstalled XP until 2010, around the time Windows 7, Vista's successor, is scheduled to come out. Shipping XP preinstalled is exactly what Microsoft's June 30 deadline forbids. Dell's doing it anyway.
It's not the only computer maker out to keep XP breathing. Vendors like Lenovo and HP are also offering, and will apparently continue to offer after the deadline, an XP downgrade to buyers of certain computers running certain versions of Vista. For most of these computers, however, the downgrade will be a do-it-yourself project for the buyer. They'll get a disc that will knock Vista back to its ancestor OS.
Backtracking won't be an option for all versions of Vista. Technically, only purchasers of the most expensive versions, Ultimate and Business, have the legal right to a licensed backtrack disc. Granted, the resistance to Vista is strongest among business Over 800,000 High Quality Domains Available For Your Business. Click Here. users, a group of people who probably wouldn't have been buying the more basic versions of Vista even if they liked it.
In any case, getting a new computer running XP after June 30 will be something of a runaround. If buyers aren't actively downgrading the system themselves, they're letting the vendor first install the newer OS and then turn around and revert back to an operating system that predates the euro, instead of just loading XP onto the machine as it comes off the assembly line.
This week, Ballmer commented that it's a "statistical truth" that most people who buy new computers today buy them with Vista. That's pretty obvious -- nearly every PC on the shelves at major retailers comes with Vista, and a lot of direct-sale vendors make it a bit of a chore to get XP on a new machine, even though Microsoft's deadline hasn't yet come. Microsoft's latest OS will likely appear on the majority of new computers for as long as Microsoft keeps its dominant share of the computer market. These vendors' plans to keep XP alive won't do a thing to change it, since all these reverted-to-XP machines will have technically started their lives as Vista-running computers.
The various incompatibilities and annoyances Vista rained when it was first released were enough of an embarrassment. But stubbornly insisting that the technology world into which Microsoft is so firmly entrenched move on to a system so many people simply do not like is pushy and does the company's image no favors. And I imagine it makes a few IT professionals a bit uncomfortable to hear Ballmer describe Vista -- the system to which they're being shoved -- as "a work in progress."
Costco and Sam's Club are rationing rice. Friday's reported incident in the Persian Gulf probably has more than a few individuals of a paranoid persuasion stocking up on gasoline. And to top it all off, Microsoft's Security Software As A Service From Webroot. Latest News about Microsoft cutoff date for Windows XP is coming in two months, a decision that's left over 165,000 fans of the OS so upset that they were willing to devote a full three seconds of their lives to sign an online petition to save XP.
Will there be riots? Hoarding? Denial of service attacks on Microsoft's internal IT network Save up to $500 off top-selling HP printers. and an armed assault on the Gates Technodrome?
For a time, it seemed Microsoft was taking twisted pleasure in watching XP lovers in pain. This week CEO Steve Ballmer said the company would maybe, possibly, conceivably keep XP alive a while longer. Later, a Microsoft PR rep poked her head out and essentially said, "Just kidding!"
The Long Road to Vista
Microsoft has its own reasons for trying to shove along the march to Vista as forcefully as it can, but that may not necessarily mean its hardware partners have to play along. Some big computer vendors have plans to supply customers with XP despite Microsoft's intention of leaving it behind. Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) Latest News about Dell, in fact, has reportedly promised to keep shipping some PCs with preinstalled XP until 2010, around the time Windows 7, Vista's successor, is scheduled to come out. Shipping XP preinstalled is exactly what Microsoft's June 30 deadline forbids. Dell's doing it anyway.
It's not the only computer maker out to keep XP breathing. Vendors like Lenovo and HP are also offering, and will apparently continue to offer after the deadline, an XP downgrade to buyers of certain computers running certain versions of Vista. For most of these computers, however, the downgrade will be a do-it-yourself project for the buyer. They'll get a disc that will knock Vista back to its ancestor OS.
Backtracking won't be an option for all versions of Vista. Technically, only purchasers of the most expensive versions, Ultimate and Business, have the legal right to a licensed backtrack disc. Granted, the resistance to Vista is strongest among business Over 800,000 High Quality Domains Available For Your Business. Click Here. users, a group of people who probably wouldn't have been buying the more basic versions of Vista even if they liked it.
'Statistical Truth'
In any case, getting a new computer running XP after June 30 will be something of a runaround. If buyers aren't actively downgrading the system themselves, they're letting the vendor first install the newer OS and then turn around and revert back to an operating system that predates the euro, instead of just loading XP onto the machine as it comes off the assembly line.
This week, Ballmer commented that it's a "statistical truth" that most people who buy new computers today buy them with Vista. That's pretty obvious -- nearly every PC on the shelves at major retailers comes with Vista, and a lot of direct-sale vendors make it a bit of a chore to get XP on a new machine, even though Microsoft's deadline hasn't yet come. Microsoft's latest OS will likely appear on the majority of new computers for as long as Microsoft keeps its dominant share of the computer market. These vendors' plans to keep XP alive won't do a thing to change it, since all these reverted-to-XP machines will have technically started their lives as Vista-running computers.
The various incompatibilities and annoyances Vista rained when it was first released were enough of an embarrassment. But stubbornly insisting that the technology world into which Microsoft is so firmly entrenched move on to a system so many people simply do not like is pushy and does the company's image no favors. And I imagine it makes a few IT professionals a bit uncomfortable to hear Ballmer describe Vista -- the system to which they're being shoved -- as "a work in progress."
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