Why Should Every Business Leader Care About Hadoop?

he phenomenon of big data has been pretty incredible and pretty exhausting for any potential business beneficiaries. That being said, every business leader needs to be aware of the impact that these various technologies will have on their ability to stay competitive.
One category of big data technology is called Hadoop. It is an open source software stack. Open source is a crowd-sourced project that no one owns and everyone can use freely.
What kind of software is Hadoop? Named after a stuffed elephant, Hadoop is at its core a really cheap, highly resilient, and infinitely scalable data storage software.
Here is a quick analogy for Hadoop. Let's say you were one of the original owners of the Apple iPod. Eventually, the size of storage and features change enough that you move on to the next generation and the next. Finally, you get tired of the associated price increase. Instead of going out and buying new versions, you flip the settings to run as data storage and connect all of the old or lesser versions together into one massive file system. Files are duplicated across multiple devices for redundancy. If some older device fails, you simply swap in a working device for the old one. You were previously limited to 64GB of data on a single device. Now that you have hooked all your devices together, you have plenty of space. How many pictures, songs, and movies can you store now?
Similarly, this is what is happening with computer servers. They each had their own individual purpose, and the hardware continually got better. Unfortunately, the cost had serious escalations which each new server. Why not develop a system that allows you to string together multiple commodity servers and overlay an absolutely brilliant methodology for replicating data? This methodology ensures that a single server failure warrants a simple machine swap rather than a complete rebuild of the system. All of a sudden, you have cheap infinite storage and the increasing ability to process that data at high-speed with the added compute power.
Who is using Hadoop for Business?
The current users tend to be in one of two camps: small businesses that have a ton of data they want to use to monitor their operations and large companies that have the resources and appropriate data volumes to discover new business efficiencies.
The smaller companies tend to be gaming companies, SaaS, or digital media companies where the very nature of the business generates a ton of system log data. The log data usually describes the actions and behaviors of the consumers of the various products. For example, multiple watchers of a video may experience a glitch at the same point in a movie they are watching. This would lead to abandonment of the session. As this occurs across multiple viewers, you can discover that there is a content issue that the company should resolve. The same thing goes for gaming. Your favorite MMO experiences a problem that hits multiple users. Find it, fix it, or the game goes away. You can see that the owners of data intensive businesses need to find inexpensive ways to collect and analyze data just to exist.
Larger companies are seeing the light on what it means to be a data-driven company. With more storage and horsepower on the same budget or less, companies are now able to store all kinds of data. Imagine consumer profiles that meld all of the historical account and CRM history (not just a few months) then fuse it with Twitter, Facebook, and purchased demographic information. What can you do with this? You can do some frightening things actually. Are you starting to notice that Facebook regularly predicts items and products you might be interested in? That is all Hadoop making it happen. The more data or attributes you can discover about a person the more precise the prediction. Marketing companies have been the early adopters given the deluge of data that is being produced by consumers and devices. More accuracy in the analysis means better product recommendations and more profits.
Why isn't everyone using Hadoop for Business?
There are a lot of companies that say they don't use social data or do not have "big data." They need to wake the heck up! They are already behind their competitors. If you have any dashboards or reports produced by your IT department that takes more than 5 seconds to return a result, your data is big enough. It isn't just about having a lot of data, it's about speed as well... the speed at which your business reacts to the market.
For most industries, there are opportunities where data processing speed across massive data volumes will create value and transform your business.
Revenue: If you own retail stores where the region is having a freak storm, how quickly can you price optimize your inventory for umbrellas or snow shovels?
Asset Efficiency: Can you constantly calculate the wear and tear on mechanical parts via sensor data and replace them before they cause an operational failure?
Operating Margin: Are you in oil and gas where seismic exploration throws off petabytes of data and takes days to mine? What if you could cheaply store all the data and analyze it in minutes?
The applications of Hadoop for business are limitless. Business leaders need to care. Moore's law is quickly shuttling us to an age of infinite compute possibilities. AI, Robotics, and Synthetic Biology are only a few of the items mentioned in the book "Bold" by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler, and these technologies are becoming democratized very quickly. This means you don't need technology experts to use them. User interfaces and cloud technologies are making them available to everyone now.
It is time to take off the hat of skepticism and put on the thinking cap of your own personal creativity. What can your business accomplish with Hadoop?

Shane Pratt is a sales and marketing executive in the big data technology space. He has spent most of his career helping people translate technology solutions into business value, and blogs regularly on the topics of big data for business. Shane currently works at Actian and you can sign up for his blog at http://shanepratt.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8997329

Fingerprint Reader Software Provides You With an Effective Security Method

Fingerprint Reader Software, which is popularly referred to as a scanner, is used primarily for security purposes. Basically, these types of systems help in identifying an individual based on specific distinguishable patterns. Biometric security techniques use unique characteristics similar to retina-scan, fingerprints and voice. The same has brought a substantial support against many security threats. Efficient technology deserves all the thanks in being able to turn what was once thought as a fantasy into a reality.
Inner workings
The fingerprint technology system changes slightly between different products and systems. However, it demands clarification that the basis of identification remains more or less the same. Any standard system comprises of a sensor, a processor and software. A sensor is used for the sole purpose of scanning the fingerprint of a person, processor for storing the fingerprint database and the software remains dedicated to compare the fingerprint to the database, which has already been predefined. The fingerprint is matched with a reference number within the database. After the same has been performed, the number is matched with the account of the concerned person. The match is used for allowing or disallowing access.
Places where these are used
The fingerprint reader software is used both in the corporate houses and the government organizations. This finds importance for maintaining the apt level of security and identification of all employees. You will be gobsmacked in knowing that many data centers are using the readers for improving management purposes and facilitating remote access. However, the con remains that the cost involved is slightly on the higher side and perhaps this stands as the reasons behind some companies still relying on the use of ID badges.
Various sized organizations
However, many organizations realize the importance of fingerprint scanning. They are well aware of the verity that it offers an effective means of security, so cost hardly matters to them. It comes as reassuring news to all small-sized organizations that several fingerprint scanners are available in the souk, which does not cost much. The scanners are looked upon as the automatic choice as far as providing the security to your notebooks remains in focus. As a user of the fingerprint reader software, there is no need to bear with the brunt of remembering multiple passwords.
In a synopsis, it is possible to claim that the fingerprint readers are designed in an apt manner, in order, to provide access to the hard drive. The sensor of the device performs a scanning of the fingerprints of the notebook users such that it is possible to unlock the hard-drive to be able to starting using the device. Nowadays, a majority of all the software companies are incorporating the readers in the latest available devices for ensuring the convenience of their customers. The fact that the fingerprint readers are incorporated in the devices is the reason that all you need to do is simply swipe your fingers to get started. Taking into account its immense benefits, it is rightly looked upon as the new generation security system.

J Steve Mark is a well-known author and takes immense interest in the latest technological developments. He realizes the importance of Fingerprint Reader Software in ensuring the optimum level of security.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9019153

How Mobile Application Development Can Benefit The Rural Customer?

Mobile application development has surely done wonders for the digital economy of India over the last three years. Business enterprises and customers have gained from the revolution in mobile applications technology. The surge in urbanization, a growing middle class with a healthy purchasing power, improvements in IT infrastructure and government initiatives to attract more investment in telecom and internet services coupled with social mobility have all contributed to the this phenomenal movement. The Indian consumer residing in cities is beginning to embrace business transactions on the internet and the value generated by online purchases and sales. This trend notwithstanding, there remain some bleak facts about rural India. Is the consumer of rural India moving as fast as the urban counterparts? While empirical evidence suggests that there are some roadblocks, we later in this article take a look at some economically feasible solutions to those challenges.
Some Reflections on the Internet Economy in the World and India
Current estimates indicate that 4.2 billion people across the world will not have internet connectivity even in the year 2017. The compounded annual growth rate of internet users has climbed down from 14 percent in 2006-07 to 10 percent now. Aided by factors such as rising income levels and low technology costs, the internet economy could see an addition of another 500-700 million users by the year 2017. While these are statistical accounts of the scenario there are factors underlying this sorry state in developing countries like India. Data collected by World Bank on the digital divide says the following:

• 64% of offline people live in rural areas
• 18% of offline people have an age of 55 years or above
• 28% of these people are illiterate
• 52% of offline people are women
• 15% market penetration of internet in countries like Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, etc.

The World Bank study suggests that millions of people do not go online because they believe that it is against widely accepted social and cultural norms. People retired from their professions do not find computers for use. There is also a perceived threat to information and privacy from internet use. While governments and businesses have been making big strides in urban areas for economic growth and internet connectivity, the rural households are still left out. Millions of people consider the sage of computers to be rocket science and hence avoid it. The stark truth is that as long as internet connectivity in rural offline communities remains absent, there will be a drag on their lives.

Mobile Apps Can Drive out the Entitlement Failure
While the above data and its analysis clarify the existence of the digital divide, there is hope in the form of mobile applications development. Mobile development services can reach the for-profit enterprises and their offerings to the bottom of the pyramid markets. While computer purchase and usage may be unaffordable and technically complex, using a smart phone is child's play. Plus, the smart phone is a personalized device. The portability of the device and real-time information that mobile apps offer, present an opportunity to stay rooted in the local culture and yet modernize. While banks, retail enterprises, insurance companies and micro-finance institutions may find it economically impractical to set up brick and mortar models of business, mobile application developers can connect the dots. Web solutions providers will have to design and deliver mobile application development services in an efficient way to create a viable business model. Rural markets offer a tremendous window for lifestyle applications development, entertainment applications development and games applications development even in emerging economies. Provided that language, user friendliness and distribution of apps are dealt with smartly, business enterprises can look forward to exploring untapped markets in rural areas. The understanding of ground realities of rural markets, focus on rural business models and organizational collaboration with client companies is crucial in this regard. Android business solutions and Windows business software solutions crafted with business intelligence can make a real difference to the lives of offline people and drive out the entitlement failure. The internet is for everyone and mobile development service enterprises with an eye on local context specific innovation are the enablers of this proposition

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9016274

Speed Up Your PC by Cleaning Its Registry

If you're suffering from a slow running PC, you know how frustrating it can be. There are several possibilities as to why your computer isn't running to its fast potential. Often times, the cause of a slow PC is an overloaded or junk riddled registry.
Computers than run on Windows operating system have what is called a 'registry' which is essentially a database that contains files from almost everything that occurs on your computer - from websites you have visited to left over applications. A lot of these files are completely unnecessary to have on your registry, and an overload of these files will make your computer sluggish. When your registry is clogged with too many entries, your computer has to process more information, which slows down processing speed, thus leading to slow performance, and even freezing of your computer.
This common issue can be cured by removing the junk files from your registry. If you have a good antivirus program installed, run it and it should tell you if you have any malicious files. If you do have malicious files, you should go into your Control Panel and uninstall them. Sometimes removing just the malicious ones doesn't speed up your PC to it's full potential. To optimize your computer, you should get a registry scan that will tell you what files are unnecessary and should be deleted. It catches things that an antivirus wont, such as left over software applications from an uninstalled program. Registry software also points out any errors that are causing your computer to take longer to process. This is a common theme among a clogged up registry, and it's essentially to delete these speed-killing errors.
You can get a free registry scan from most registry software companies, which will tell you how your registry health stands. The reputable registry cleaners tell you what caches and applications should be deleted. Some advanced programs also include features that let you prevent problems that can arise from a clogged registry, such as automatic scan scheduler so you can clean your registry regularly.
The last step is to run a reliable registry cleaning software that will identify all files that can be removed to optimize your PC's speed. Make sure whatever software you choose has a backup option to ensure your files are backed up incase anything goes wrong during the cleaning. You should go with a top rated software that has a customer support option, and is easy to use.

Click here [http://computercleanupdr.com/registry-cleaner-reviews/] to see reviews on top rated registry cleaners.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7974288

WordPress Vs Blogger - Ultimate Comparison

When you have so many utilities to run your blogs you have several thoughts in mind as well, these thoughts initiate from the point which is better and which is not. Well, even in the case of the WordPress and Blogger similar situation is being considered and to eliminate all kinds of confusions from your mind and to help you make a better decision we have provided below a complete guide of comparison between the two platforms.
Ownership of the Website
When you make your website over Blogger you enjoy numerous benefits which are much reliable, however, one thing that may be a turnoff for this platform is the matter of ownership. Blogger is owned by Google and you never know when it shuts down your website leaving you in the middle of the worst situation.
However, when you use WordPress, you are in a position to enjoy reliable and long term benefits from your website. You are the owner of your website and it is entirely depending upon you that how long you need to drag the website and when to shut.
Control of the Website
When you consider the control level in the context of Blogger all you come across is a limited choice of options. You have either little or no opportunities to enjoy extensions and add life to your website.
However, while you are using WordPress you have the ability to add as many extensions you want. The platform offers unlimited freedom and the numerous plug-ins on the part of the platform offer you a great deal of convenience oriented features.
Layout of the Website
When you consider the layout of the website you are operating you may wish to add colors, templates and themes within it. However, when you are using the Blogger platform for the website you will have limited options and you have a frame of certain themes of which you have to make a selection without any modifications.
Whereas, when it comes to the WordPress you have hundreds of options to consider in terms of layouts, the colors, the templates and the modification of appearance is all in your hands and may be adjusted as per your wishes.
Portability of the Website
When you think of moving your website in terms of Blogger you are at a risk of losing your SEO rankings in some or the other way, moreover, the data of your website remain on the Google directory for a very long period.

I am working as a freelance content writer from past two years and have taken up various projects over varying niche. My skills and expertise include writing web contents for numerous businesses, writing articles, blogs tips, product descriptions, guests' posts and I have been offering article rewriting services as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9001190

Windows 7 OS Crashes: Three Tips to Fix Windows 7 Crashes

Nowadays, for most Windows 7 Operating System users, the most frustrating problem that frequently occurs is the Windows 7 crash. The operating system crashes randomly without any hint-at the moment you boot the computer, the time you are working on a plan, while racing with friends by computer games, when surfing the internet, and more. This problem is known as BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), under which the computer screen turns blue and crashes at last. Though this kind of problem can make you very depressed and annoyed, but you can get it fixed successfully with the help of tips below.
1. Eradicate Viruses and Spyware.
First perform an overall scan to detect viruses or spyware hidden on your computer. Some viruses or spyware are invisible and hard to be found. They can affect your computer and interfere with the proper functioning of your operating system. Besides, computers attacked by viruses may frequently freeze or even crash. Moreover, these viruses have strong ability in spreading, just like some virus in the human body. The most urgent thing is to eradicate it once your computer is affected.
Fortunately, you can install reliable antivirus software and then kick these malicious programs away from your operating system. Always keep your computer updated with the latest virus definitions. It you have not armed your computer with a good antivirus program; you can try some freeware, which are not only free but also useful.
2. Update PC RAM and Uninstall Unnecessary Programs.
Each software installed on your computer occupies the Random Access Memory (RAM) while running. The RAM is a kind of storage media which allows data stored in it to be accessed directly in any random order. In addition to these applications, your Windows 7 OS also requires a certain amount of resources to run. To ensure these programs run smoothly without crashing, you can either free up some space by removing some redundant programs or upgrade the RAM to a larger size.
3. Fix the Windows 7 Registry Error.
The Windows registry is a big database for storing files and configurations that are used to run all software and hardware on your system. It can be regarded as the "lifeblood" of your computer, as the PC cannot run with no access to the data in the registry. As time went by, more and more data added into the registry would make it congested with needless entries. Some invalid entries would cause errors and lead to computer crashes eventually, especially in new Windows 7/8 operating systems. The worn computer requires frequent PC maintenance for the sake of improving PC performance.
A healthy registry can bring the end of the computer crash; however, the registry is an extremely complicated section of your system. It is impossible to fix it manually since most people have trouble in pointing out the problematic registry entry. If you remove the wrong registry entry or value, the whole system can collapse. To avoid this risk, you had better install a registry cleaner on your computer.
This application can scan your registry comprehensively and remove these invalid entries. Some people may apprehend that the registry cleaner may clean up some important data by mistake and lead to the forever loss of these data. Do not worry; the software developers have already taken this case into consideration. The application would create a backup before removing entries and errors which enable users to restore their registry to its original state if needed.
Do as the three tips above to speed up your compute and completely eliminate Windows 7 crashes. Run a full scan of your computer with a registry cleaner by diving deep into every aspect of the computer's system searching for potential issues quickly and accurately. After scanning the computer, you would be quite surprised by the PC performance.

My name is Daisy Wood. I would like to share cool stuff about the latest PC maintenance software. I am an editor for Amigabit: http://www.amigabit.com/, which specializes in developing superior PC Maintenance, Registry Cleaner and Data Recovery software. If you like my articles, please share them with your friends.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8131034

Laravel, the PHP Framework With the Most Robust Features

If a seasoned developer was asked to evaluate all these frameworks on the basis of features, the codes in each framework and run a few sample projects, it can be easily deduced that Laravel the PHP framework is the best among all.
We can say that it actually kicked off with its third version although it had been launched for quite a while. In the beginning this framework was largely inspired by CodeIgniter but as time passed and Laravel matured, this has been the PHP framework which is quite unique in its approach now.
Laravel's folder structure logically segregates codes. This way it becomes quite easier for the developer to use it for a big project.
Also, it has a modular structure and is compatible with guest libraries. Although, it has a seemingly simpler code with less subtle syntax and logics but what's turning Laravel into the best PHP framework is that its support for bundles and modules makes it adhere with other codes also.
Next, it is the size of the code. Laravel doesn't come with never ending lines of code. That prevents (of course if you are using Laravel) initiation of unnecessary processing cycles as well as consumption of memory into your monthly hosting bill. This is precisely where Laravel leaves behind the PHP framework, ZEND.
Laravel also supersedes FuelPHP as it is more compatible with PSR-2. It also accepts Composer system along with third party components. This is something in which FuelPHP still lags behind.
It is known to every developer that frameworks are a gateway to creation of applications that are quicker than the rest, safer to operate and far more efficient to work. Therefore it requires immense consideration regarding what PHP framework to use during web development so as to make it a success.
Laravel is deemed to be the PHP framework for artisans. In addition to its above mentioned features, this framework simplifies commonly carried out tasks like authentication, routing, sessions and caching all of it in a simple and easy-to-read syntax. Its readability and absolutely spot on documentation also helps you to accelerate your coding.
There are several web developers who happen to be abysmally slow or inefficient at programming. Such developers often tend to switch from PHP to any other 'simpler' language, but due to Laravel, it's much better to stay within the PHP framework environment and also code in a much simpler manner.
It helps freshies to the world of web development in understanding how MVC operates. The thing with Laravel is that it is a complete package unlike other frameworks that have some robust features but lack some other essential ones.
As for instance, Symfony2 gets too subtle and it seems highly time consuming especially if the project is simply for limited business usage.
Zend2 is huge. Yii lacks flexibility with its features although it has some of them which amount to magnanimity in terms of efficiency. CodeIgniter is still quite preferable but it is well, outdated. And Kohana is nowhere near a well-documented framework.
All of these limitations prompt developers to pick Laravel the PHP framework that is most helpful and easy to use. Laravel is elegant, simple, has a wonderful community and a handsome number of extensions. Laravel is still quite young as compared to CodeIgniter or any other conventional PHP framework but the best part about it is that it is much promising and it won't be a matter of time that Laravel will be unanimously declared by developers as the best PHP framework.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9011624