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How is technology transforming healthcare?Are you afraid that robots will replace healthcare professionals? Scared that a newly created drug will stir a new kind of addiction, or a genetic test will predict when you'll die? While a future ruled by technological advancements may seem daunting, innovations — especially those pertaining to health and medicine — are always meant to […]

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18 May, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020may18healthcare_b, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, healthcare, medicine, nanotechnology, technology, virtual reality category
How is technology transforming healthcare?

Are you afraid that robots will replace healthcare professionals? Scared that a newly created drug will stir a new kind of addiction, or a genetic test will predict when you'll die? While a future ruled by technological advancements may seem daunting, innovations — especially those pertaining to health and medicine — are always meant to make our lives better. It’s best to embrace and put the following technologies to good use to be in a better position to deploy the best healthcare solutions possible.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining the field of healthcare and all its functions by simplifying the analysis of complex medical data. With AI algorithms and software, healthcare professionals can fast-track medical records processing, treatment planning, and drug development, among other laborious tasks.

When the Ebola virus disease ravaged three nations in West Africa, Atomwise partnered with the University of Toronto and IBM to find a treatment for the virus. The drug discovery company applied AI to a complete database of existing drugs and their side effects to look for one that could be repurposed. The AI tech was able to predict two that could significantly reduce the Ebola virus’s infectivity.

More recently, Google’s DeepMind developed an AI tool capable of spotting breast cancer with as much accuracy as a human radiologist. Google Health and researchers from Imperial College London “trained” a computer to detect abnormalities on nearly 29,000 mammograms of women. The AI then outperformed six human radiologists in a screening trial, suggesting the tool’s potential to improve breast cancer diagnosis at an early stage.

The use of AI is also permeating the pharmaceutical industry, with companies using AI technologies to discover new drug candidates and novel therapeutic solutions. These are only a few of the many instances of companies using AI to automate and expedite highly elaborate processes and ultimately improve the delivery of healthcare solutions.

Augmented reality and virtual reality

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are immersive technologies that allow users to take in information and content visually. While AR pertains to the use of cameras, sensors, and displays to superimpose digital and real-world elements, VR lets users experience and explore entirely simulated environments.

New AR technologies help doctors and surgeons diagnose, treat, and perform surgery on their patients more precisely by providing them with access to real-time data and patient information. For instance, medical practitioners at Imperial College and St. Mary’s Hospital in London are using Microsoft’s HoloLens AR glasses during reconstructive surgery on patients with severe injuries.

Traditionally, surgeons located major blood vessels near wounds using a handheld scanner. With HoloLens, they can overlay 3D digital models of a patient's CT scans onto their body parts during surgery to spot key blood vessels, bones, and muscles.

Meanwhile, a recent Harvard Business Review study found that surgeons who have undergone VR-based training performed 230% better compared to their traditionally trained counterparts. In the study, the VR-trained participants finished a surgical procedure 20% faster and completed 38% more steps correctly.

Medical institutions are also using AR/VR technologies to provide students and trainees with hands-on learning experiences, enabling them to better visualize diverse health issues and scenarios. Using immersive technologies can help them accurately learn and practice procedures without the risk of harming real patients if they make mistakes. What's more, these can allow educators to constantly monitor and give feedback to their students during their education.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the field of research and innovation concerned with the creation of materials and devices on an extremely small scale. Advancements in this field can pave the way for more effective treatments, rapid diagnosis of diseases, and easier delivery of vaccines through aerosols and patches.

As early as 2014, researchers from the Max Planck Institute designed micro-robots that can swim through bodily fluids and potentially be used to deliver drugs or other medical relief precisely to a target location.

In 2018, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Brigham and Women's Hospital designed an electronic pill that can be controlled via Bluetooth. The ingestible capsules can be customized to dispatch medicine and transmit diagnostic information back to a smartphone.

More recently, medical technology company Grapheal developed a wearable patch that can help chronic wounds heal more quickly using electrostimulation. This patch would also allow healthcare providers to remotely monitor the condition of a wound using biosensors, or devices that send out signals when they detect the presence or concentration of a specific biological substance.

Future technological innovations are bound to transform the healthcare industry, and it's our job to make sure it does so for the better.

Call us today and we’ll help you leverage technology to boost your business and help you deliver superior healthcare products and services.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Printer troubles and how to fix themIs your printer broken again? There could be several reasons why. From paper jams and clogged ink cartridges to driver problems and an overloaded print queue — the possibilities are endless. To ease your printer-related woes, let’s take a look at common problems and how you can fix them. Paper jams Paper jams are a […]

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15 May, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020may15_hardware_b, fix printer problem, Hardware, ink cartridge, paper jam, printer, printer problems, printhead, printing issues category
Printer troubles and how to fix them

Is your printer broken again? There could be several reasons why. From paper jams and clogged ink cartridges to driver problems and an overloaded print queue — the possibilities are endless. To ease your printer-related woes, let’s take a look at common problems and how you can fix them.

Paper jams

Paper jams are a common printer problem caused by misaligned paper in the printer tray. Usually, removing the jammed paper and ensuring that the paper is lined up correctly will fix the problem.

Check your printer’s loading capacity as well. The loading capacity typically depends on the material to be printed on. For instance, a printer can print on 100 sheets of plain paper, but can only accommodate 10 envelopes at a time. To avoid jams, make sure to use only the paper sizes and materials prescribed by the printer company.

Lastly, if your printer says there’s a paper jam but no paper is stuck inside, shredded paper residues from the last paper jam could be stuck inside the printer’s gears. Remove them before trying to print again.

Driver problems

The printer driver is responsible for communicating with your computer. Drivers often become outdated or incompatible with your system after an upgrade. Sometimes, you may install an incorrect driver, which can cause the printer to misbehave.

To fix the problem, try uninstalling the faulty driver and replacing it with the appropriate one. You can usually find printer driver information on your printer manufacturer’s support website. Avoid downloading drivers from a third party, as they may be loaded with malware that can cause your computer to malfunction.

Overloaded print queue

There are some instances where your printer fails to clear its queue. If you encounter a paper jam, for instance, the system will not consider the print job done. And if the user attempts to print again, the previous job will not make way for the new request. The worst part? Deleting the print jobs doesn’t do anything most of the time.

To clear the print queue, follow these steps:

  1. Turn off and unplug your printer from the power source.
  2. Click the Start button on your computer and type in services to open Windows Services.
  3. Right-click on Print Spooler and select Stop from the menu that appears. This will halt any stuck print jobs in the queue.
  4. Open File Explorer on your computer, and type in C:\Windows\System32\Spool\PRINTERS in the address bar. Delete all the existing files inside the folder.
  5. Restart your computer and printer. Try printing again.

Clogged printheads

Printhead ink will dry up if you don’t regularly use your printer. This may lead to clogging, which then prevents proper printing. To make sure this issue doesn't happen, unclog your printheads often.

The printhead is located at the end of the cartridge where the ink comes out. To clean it, take a damp paper towel and blot the ink cartridge with the printhead side down. After blotting it a couple of times, you should see ink on the paper towel. Hold the cartridge against a dry paper towel for one minute to dry out any excess ink. Slide the cartridge back into the printer and try to print again.

For printers using individual color cartridges, running a printhead cleaning job can get rid of clogs. While the setup may differ per brand, this is a typical function built into most printers’ software. Consult your user guide to know the best cleaning options for your printer.

Slow printing speed

Slow print jobs are usually caused by outdated software or an intermittent connection. Fix the problem by ensuring that printer drivers and software are updated. If your printer requires an internet connection, you can also try moving your printer closer to your router for a stronger connection.

Check your printer settings as well. For instance, you may be printing at best quality, which takes more time than a draft or normal print because it uses more ink.

If all else fails, check your connections to see if a cable or a power outlet is malfunctioning.

These are just some common problems that you may encounter with your printer. If you have further issues, give us a call today. We’d be happy to assist you.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Top 5 benefits of using softphonesHaving a flexible communication system is more important than ever now that remote work has become crucial to a company’s survival. One option is to issue company phones to telecommuters so they can communicate with clients and colleagues. But the ideal solution for most businesses is to use phone apps or softphones, and here are […]

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13 May, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020may13voip_b, application, cost savings, integration, internet, laptop, smartphone, softphone, user-friendly, video conferencing, VoIP category
Top 5 benefits of using softphones

Having a flexible communication system is more important than ever now that remote work has become crucial to a company’s survival. One option is to issue company phones to telecommuters so they can communicate with clients and colleagues. But the ideal solution for most businesses is to use phone apps or softphones, and here are several reasons why.

Anytime, anywhere business phone

Softphones are essentially a type of application that you can run on internet-enabled devices like a smartphone or laptop. This removes the need for a physical handset, allowing you to make and receive calls from any location with an internet connection. Even if your workers are homebound, softphones give them a lot of flexibility. They don’t have to waste time setting up lines for a traditional phone unit in their home office — they can simply turn their personal smartphone into a business-level communication tool. Employees also get to enjoy hands-free calls, provided their device has a decent headset or microphone.

Reduced costs

The best aspect of softphones is that they significantly cut costs. For one, instead of spending a lot of money installing and maintaining office phone equipment, you only have to pay a small subscription fee to get powerful softphone features on your mobile device and computer. All the expenses associated with server expenses and system maintenance are taken care of by the softphone provider. More importantly, softphones transmit communication data over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. This means you won’t have to deal with expensive local and long-distance rates. In fact, some softphone providers offer a reduced rate for international calls, while others allow you to make calls for free.

User-friendly interface

Softphones come with an interactive user interface that’s easy to learn. If you want to transfer a call to a colleague, you just have to drag and drop the call to their name — there’s no need to dial an extension on your phone. If you need to call someone, all you have to do is search for their profile via a search bar and just click on their name to initiate a call. Want to tell everyone that you’re too busy? Softphones let you enable do not disturb mode for specific time frames in which incoming calls are either sent straight to voicemail or forwarded to the next available person. What’s more, softphones provide incoming call notifications with caller ID and profile information so you know exactly who you’re talking to.

High-quality video conferencing

If you need something more engaging than a simple phone call, softphones allow you to host multiparty video conferences. These make it easy to conduct team and company-wide meetings even if people are miles apart from each other. Participants can also see important visual cues through body language, so conversations with clients and colleagues are clearer and more personal. The best softphone services even let you share your screen so you can better coordinate with your remote workers.

Tight integration with enterprise software

Another benefit of softphones is that they can complement your existing systems. When softphones are integrated with your customer relationship management (CRM) software, for instance, you’ll be able to compile previous call logs and relevant client information before making a call. This is particularly useful for customer service and sales staff who need contextual information to better serve their clients.

All in all, softphones are perfect for any business that wants to operate at peak performance. They’re intuitive, feature-rich, and cost-effective, so if your business doesn’t have this essential communication tool, get an upgrade today. Call us now to enhance your communication systems!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Microsoft 365: New Office 365 features for the same priceOn April 21, Microsoft rebranded its Office 365 (O365) Home and Personal plans asMicrosoft 365 (M365) Personal and Family subscriptions. The company’s officials describe the new bundles as "the subscription for your life to help you make the most of your time, connect, and protect the ones you love, and to develop and grow." But […]

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11 May, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020may11office_b, excel, microsoft, microsoft 365, Office, Office 365, outlook, powerpoint, teams, word category
Microsoft 365: New Office 365 features for the same price

On April 21, Microsoft rebranded its Office 365 (O365) Home and Personal plans asMicrosoft 365 (M365) Personal and Family subscriptions. The company’s officials describe the new bundles as "the subscription for your life to help you make the most of your time, connect, and protect the ones you love, and to develop and grow." But Microsoft isn’t just changing its marketing, it’s also boosting its apps with new capabilities. Here’s what you can expect.

#1 Microsoft Editor

Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), this new editing feature helps you write better by providing advanced grammar and style refinements. It will alert you if you’re using a word too often or constructing overly complex or unclear sentences. It can also make language and style suggestions, rephrase full sentences, and check for plagiarism.

Microsoft Editor is now available in 20 languages in Word and as a browser extension in Outlook. Soon, you can also install it as a Microsoft Edge and Chrome plug-in so you can always submit great writing anywhere on the web.

#2 Presentation Coach and updated Designer

Create better presentations using the AI-driven Presentation Coach feature that helps you avoid filler words, grammar mistakes in your speech, and a monotone pitch that may put your audience to sleep.

What’s more, the enhanced PowerPoint Designer gives you access to over 8,000 images and 175 looping videos, 300 new fonts, and 2,800 new icons. It also has the capability to convert text into a timeline and suggest potential slide layouts whenever you add an image.

#3 Money in Excel

If you use Excel to manage your personal or family budget, then you’ll love the upcoming new feature called Money in Excel that lets you link your bank and credit card accounts and import your data into your spreadsheets. You can also track your transactions line by line, categorize your expenses, and create a monthly spending chart so you can analyze your habits.

#4 Integrated personal and work calendars

Outlook now allows you to look at just one interface for both your personal and work calendars. This prevents your coworkers from setting meetings with you during your blocked personal events. You can also import your child’s school calendars so you’ll be alerted of their conferences, plays, and other academic events.

#5 Teams for consumers

Microsoft Teams will soon have new consumer-centric features that let you connect and collaborate with your friends and family. So if you already use Teams for work, you will be able to connect it with your Teams personal account and easily switch between those two accounts, just like in Outlook.

#6 Family Safety app

Aside from adding new features to their existing apps, Microsoft will also roll out its new Family Safety app for iOS and Android later this year. Similar to Apple’s Screen Time, the app is made to keep your family safe in both the digital and physical worlds.

It lets you see what your children are doing on their Windows PCs, Xboxes, and Android and iPhone devices, and give you an analysis of their time spent on each device, so you can manage their screen time. You can use it to set limits for apps and content filters by age and even block specific websites and games on Xbox. The Family Safety app will also provide you with location sharing and driving reports.

Despite all these new features and upcoming new app, the M365 consumer bundles are still priced identically with its O365 counterparts: M365 Personal at $6.99/month or $69.99/year for one user, and M365 Family at $9.99/month or $99.99/year for up to six users.

To stay updated with the latest Microsoft news and see how these changes can help improve your business, get in touch with our IT experts today!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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