Escape the Data Deluge: Rise Above the Floods

Much like your favourite threadbare blanket from your toddler years or that pile of magazines collecting up slowly in your drawer, data is just as likely to be hoarded. Whilst data means information, this deluge is particularly problematic when it comes to the field of data analytics. However, with the right techniques, you can use this overflow to your advantage.

Back in 2010, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt made the startling statement that from the dawning of time up until 2003, 5 exabytes of online data had been produced. Fast forward to 2010, and we produced this same amount of data every day! With the rate of data production mounting by the week, you can bet that this figure is even greater now.

Every time you upload that arty, sepia photo to Instagram, you are contributing to this deluge. Your photo is one of the 5 million photos that are uploaded onto the site daily, an unbelievable 1852000000 photos a year! But don't be too hard on yourself. Social networking sites, smartphones and blogs are all perpetrators in this deluge. Now that you can create and share data 24 hours a day, whether you're on the train or at work (don't worry, we won't tell), the problem is being made even worse.

Developers are driving towards a creation of more powerful servers to fulfil this demand, however with this, the data upload limit is also increased. This means a circle of increasing data, increasing capacity for data and (you guessed it... ) even more data. We are constantly striving beyond our means; a clear example of the old 'eyes bigger than your belly' situation. With the recent debut of 4G into the smartphone market, it's obvious that we are on the path to limitless speeds, storage and processing power for our networked devices. It would only be fitting that we also had powerful servers capable of uploading and processing this vast quantity of data as well.

The circle of increasing data shows no sign of subsiding any time soon and, therefore, it would be easy to feel as if you were drowning in this constant flow. However, whilst this data deluge is worrying, it can be used to your advantage. Data means information and, therefore a vast pool of knowledge to take advantage of. All you need is greater accessibility and transparency to data so that it is more easily available for you.

Whether you're doing clinical research or a census investigation, Document Capture Co. (http://www.documentcapture.co.uk/) has the right expertise to be able to help you tackle the deluge. Contact us for a meeting and we can have a no-obligation workshop to see how we can assist your business to rise up above the data deluge.

Three Dimensional (3D) Printing At A Glance

In the beginning

In the mid-80s when the first machines for 3D printing began to circulate, few were willing to bet that the technology had a chance to drive a real revolution in the field of manufacturing. At the time the only available technique was stereo lithography, which utilized print layers of photopolymers modeled through the use of ultraviolet light and gradually superimposed to form more or less faithful reproduction of a three-dimensional object. It was a slow and expensive process (a machine could cost as much $ 500K) and therefore was unattractive for large-scale application. Almost thirty years later, the situation has drastically changed.

3D Printing Today

The cost of machinery over the years has literally collapsed, to the point that these days many companies exploit 3D printing to build three-dimensional prototypes of plastic material without having to activate an entire production process ad hoc. But it is only in recent years that the prices of machinery for 3D printing have decreased dramatically, making it possible for the common man to use 3D printing technology. Suffice it to say that there are companies that have already sold small 3D printers whose price do not exceed one thousand euro (some even offer it in less than 500 euro).

3D printing Production Techniques

Of course, the basic concept of 3D printing is interesting: build a three-dimensional model on your computer and input commands, which will order the printer to use the 3D model and forge a true representation of the model. Most 3D printers use a production technique known as additive manufacturing - the desired object is modeled printing a layer at a time and superimposing it to those layers which are already printed. This can be done in several ways. 3D printers using laser sintering method create the object by heating the powder metal or the thermoplastic.

In Fused Deposition method, a heated nozzle is used that melts the material, which lies three-dimensionally so as to reproduce the 3D model displayed on the computer screen. There are other techniques used mainly in industrial environments, such as the Laminated Object method, which involves stacking thin layers of material, which are engraved by laser from time to time. There are several methods which can be used in 3D printing, for reproducing the image of an object, very realistically. Different organizations and industries use the method which is best suited to meet all the needs of their business.

The Advantages of 3D Printing

3D printing technology has gained a lot of popularity within a short period of time. This technology has been hailed by all and sundry as the 'next big thing' in the world of technology. Here are the various advantages of using 3D printing in different industries:

Faster Response Time

With the help of 3D printing technology, companies can create working models in hours, and not days or weeks. Thanks to its three-dimensional printing, it is possible to obtain identical pieces in a few hours. This allows you to have multiple realizations of the same project with immediate feedback.

Reduced Costs

Creating a prototype with a help of a 3D printer is much cheaper and easier, than making a mold. This results in a piece that can immediately show the defects in construction. Hence, the organization will not only be able to save a lot of time, but will also be able to save a lot of money as well.

Excellent Surface Finish

With the help of certain methods used in 3D printing, we can obtain objects with excellent surface finish. Hence, it is very easily to make prototypes or construction models for different projects across industries. Also, the pieces obtained fit together very easily, helping to locate the errors at the initial stages of the construction.

High Durability

In certain forms of 3D printing, the pieces obtained are highly durable and last long. In fact, certain printing methods can create prototypes that do not warp, withdraw or absorb moisture. They have the necessary strength to be used as working models and to support rigorous testing.

Easy Machining

The pieces realized can be ground, milled, threaded and painted in order to obtain a finish product, adapted to customer requirements.

Functional Models

This method of printing provides you with a chance to show your customers 3D models, which are fully functional and look very similar to the real ones. This makes it possible to show in a direct manner the operation of a product, compared to a model viewable only with the help of a computer.

For example, in the real estate industry this technology can be used to design an entire building and construct a scale model of it, and the same model can be used to provide the customers with a clear idea of how the building will look in reality.

Thus, we can see that there are numerous advantages of using 3D printing technology in various industries.

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Brief Introduction To 3D Printing

As a species we are heavily dependent on technology. Our creative and innovative minds have allowed us to come up with different types of technologies that continue changing the world. Earlier, with the introduction of printing, people were able to easily obtain hard copies of their documents, books and other important files. The introduction of color printing technology allowed us to print colored documents and books in no time. The latest innovation, which promises to revolutionize the world of printing, is 3D printing. This technology came into existence about 30 years ago.

What is a 3D printer?

Imagine a traditional printer, which adds the plastic layer by layer to form a real object in three dimensions. It is controlled by a computer that "reads" a single file containing the model of a 3D object. Initially, this 30 years old technology was very expensive, and up to now it was used only in the industries to achieve rapid prototyping. For some time now, 3D printers have become available to the common people as well, and the prices start at around $600 and for around $1400, you can afford a good quality machine.

How is it different?

Earlier, printing only consisted of reproducing images or texts on papers. These papers could only act as an image of the original object but they could not truly provide us with an insight on the characteristics of the object. However, with the help of 3D printing we can bring the objects to life and reproduce them in such a manner that we can understand the characteristics of the objects. For example, if we take a 3D printout of a chess board, its image will be reproduced with the help of a 3 dimensional object. This object will look very similar to a chess board.

Methods

Unlike traditional printing, 3D printing utilizes various methods for reproducing the object and these methods are:

1) Stereolithography or (SLA);

2) Fused Deposition Modeling or (FDM);

3) Selective Laser Melting or (SLM);

4) Selective Laser Sintering or (SLS);

5) Electron Beam Melting or (EBM) and

6) Laminated Object Manufacturing or (LOM) etc.

As of this moment, industries across the planet use several methods for reproducing the images of objects with the help of 3D printing. They choose the methods based on their requirements and when they find that it will be feasible for them to use any particular method. Different engineering institutes are trying to develop more methods of 3D printing.

Please visit our site for all kinds of information on 3D printing.

3D Printing Technology and Medical Science

Three Dimensional (3D) printing is one of the most innovative and advanced technologies available to mankind. This technology, which was developed in the mid-80s, was initially used only in certain manufacturing industries. However, in the last few years various companies from around the world have enhanced this technology to make it useful to the masses. These days, 3D printing technology is even used in the field of medical science. Scientists and researchers from across the planet have been working continuously to apply this technology in the medical science. By doing so, they are trying to make various treatments accessible to the people.

A new approach integrating the research line of regenerative medicine has been developed by the United States based company called Organovo. This US based company has developed a new technology that will allow doctors to use specific 3D printers capable of making new human tissues. Even other researchers, working for government agencies and private firms, around world have been working on redefining tissue engineering with the help of 3D printing technology. Scientists speculate it will allow them to grow human cells, skin, muscles, or kidney, in 3D, within a very short period of time.

This latest innovation could enable researchers and doctors to create artificial organs naturally. The technological solution from Organovo, although not immediately available in its full capacity, has a lot of advantages. It can be used in the production of blood vessels, allowing researchers to surpass important limitations of regenerative medicine. Having said that, we have to admit that there are quite a few limitations to this technique as well, and they can only be removed with further research in this field. Also, this 3D technology from Organovo is at an experimental stage and is pending approval.

In the future, researchers aim to utilize bio printing technique, with the help of 3D printing technology, for naturally developing artificial human organs. The strong growth in the field of tissue engineering, which has been encountered recently, combined with techniques such as 3D printing and bio printing, demonstrate the strong potential of regenerative medicine. However, we need more researchers, engineers and scientists from around the world to work on this field. They can combine their knowledge and come up with great innovations in the field of medical science, with the help of 3D printing technology.

Thus, we can see that technologies like 3D printing can revolutionize medical science and help in the betterment of humanity.

Explaining The Tablet PC Along With A Few Pointers To Choose Them

The concept of a tablet PC is not new; however it was only with Apple's introduction of the Apple iPad in the year 2010, that the concept of a personalised and portable microcomputer able to carry out all activities captured the market. Since then, Apple has enjoyed a very unique fan following, and each year they keep introducing better versions with competition right at their doorstep. Other big names among manufacturers of tablet PCs are Amazon, Asus, Archos, Google, HP, HTC, Microsoft, Motorola, RIM, Sony, Samsung, and Toshiba.

Tablet PCs have various features including, mobile browsers (their support of Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G or 4 G spectrum), social net working, and email connectivity, messaging, speaker phone with video chatting, camera functions for both still pictures and video shoots, media players, games and other applications for often used work. In addition to these features, the battery life, aesthetic department, and the ease of your wallet matters more when deciding to rank different tablet PCs. There are a few different types in the market and they are slate, booklet, convertible or hybrid.

All these are interesting concepts serve certain sections of the market and 'the race is always on' to get the next version, as they are certain to come in with killer features. There are three major players in the tablet PC market based on the OS inside. Apple launched it first; hence they own the lion's share, very competitively chased by Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows. The clash of the titans makes it a very difficult choice for the average customer, but here are a few pointers to make the process easy.

The first question you must ask yourself concerns your need for a tablet PC, like you should know why you need it? The second one is your budget, the amount you have saved, or which is available to you for this device alone. The third is your brand loyalty or lack of it, which means more options are available to you, and you are likely to stay in a win-win situation for a while. Different types have varying physical specifications in terms of connectivity, screen resolution or on-board or expandable memory storage.

Therefore, the onus is on the buyer to decide which of these features hold his sway. Another point is to consider the effectiveness of the hardware involved in terms of a battery life, and product warranty. On the soft side, you must also consider the range of applications that come with a particular device, and see if it suits your needs. Sometimes, a device comes with several free applications.

All these are the key features, which help a potential buyer in making a choice of a tablet PC.

Cloud Hosting And Your Site

There are a lot of innovation and evolution in the web hosting industry in just the last few years. One of the most popular standout features of the web hosting industry has been the introduction of new types of web hosting plans. One web hosting plan that is used by a lot of businesses is cloud hosting. It is, by far, the newest web hosting plan available over the web that has a lot of exciting new features. Now, let us tackle what exactly is cloud hosting and its benefits.

Web hosting is possible by establishing a Cloud server that is set up and know as Cloud Hosting. In simpler term, it is defined as a hosting plan that is linked to several servers. Since it is linked to several servers, a website that is hosted by a Cloud Server has high processing power and has very little downtime. Also, unlike other web hosting, upgrading and expansion via this technology is easier and a lot faster.

When it comes to the benefits of Cloud Hosting, a lot are to be mentioned. One benefit of Cloud hosting is that it is highly scalable and very economical to the user. As mentioned earlier, with this scalability feature, it allows the user to expand his or her website without getting errors about lack of memory or space. Server crashes is quite impossible to occur since your website will be interlinked to multiple servers. With this, you can save a lot of money from IT cost and maintenance as there is minimum service interruption to no downtime service. The best thing about Cloud Hosting plan is that cutting and adding of resources can be done easily with great ease.

Companies that offer Cloud Computing or Hosting bill their customer only with the amount of computing power they have used. You will be billed like your typical electricity bill.

Cloud hosting is one of the most reasonably best priced, reliable and scalable service. A lot of businesses were successful and able to expand their market to more customers via Cloud Servers and hosting.

Now, choosing which company can be very confusing since there are a lot of Cloud computing or hosting companies that offer the same product and services. The only difference is the cost, speed and other additional services that might be offered by the company. So if you want to save money and have the best Cloud Server hosting service you will ever have better research companies that offer the service. After which, short list them and read some customer's review or testimonial about the company. In this way, you will be able to know which one is best not only for your website but for your needs as well.