tips · Page 11 of 14 · Bluwater Technologies

Making Your Screen More Readable

a person using a laptop computer on a wooden table

Today’s computer tip of the day about making your screen more readable.

But it already is, you say? Sure. But there are several ways to really enhance the readability.

Making Your Screen More Readable

making your screen more readable

Readability Features

First, you might be seeing or hearing a lot more on your screen than just the text you’re trying to read. If you’re trying to read a news story, for example, you might see a video on another news story as part of the screen. Yes, you can mute the video. But some people find it distracting. Ads, whether banner notifications or videos, are also an issue for some people.

Enter readability. First, look at the right hand side of the bar where you enter URLs. Many pages will show a small icon that looks something like an open book.

Move your cursor over it. It will say “enter readability.”

Click on it.

It will immediately remove videos and banners from the page. The text will be the same, but the distracting elements will be gone. It looks more like, well, a book page.

Another method is to get a free app that will let you save anything you want to read. Instapaper and Read It Later are two apps that will let you do this and also have a readability function.

Size Text

Another issue with reading material on computer screens is the size of the font. If it’s too small and you’re reading a lot, it could cause eye strain.

Increasing the size of the online font is very simple. Just press the Control key and the + key at the same time. The font size will increase gradually every time the + key is depressed.

business technology it solutions

Working With Windows: Computer Tip Of The Day

Time is money so every click of your mouse is costly. Since you don’t want to endlessly waste time working with Windows. Fortunately, with this computer tip of the day you can stop doing so.

Did you know that you can launch programs in your taskbar directly from your keyboard without ever touching your mouse?

Working with Windows

Your Windows taskbar can serve as a quick launch bar if you populate it with the programs you use daily. While you can easily click on them to open them when necessary, a faster way of launching this software is by using certain keyboard combinations. This is easy because every program to the right of your start button has its own numerical shortcut (the first program is “1,” the second “2,” up through 10, which is “0”). By pressing the Windows key and the number of the program you want to open, you open it.

In a similar way, you can quickly launch another instance (e.g. another Chrome browser along side of the one you’re already using) of the same program in a similar way. All you must do is hold down the shift button and then use the quick-launch keyboard trick again. Now you’ll have a new, clean version of the software open along side of the one you’ve already opened.

If you need help working with Windows or more computer tips, make sure you contact us. There are many shortcuts available for you to use with your computer today.

it support

The Best Business Laptop For You: Computer Tip of the Day

a man sitting at a table using a laptop computer

Some business owners choose a computer that’s strictly for their office, while others use a personal laptop. In plenty of ways, having your own laptop is much more beneficial than an office computer. First of all, you’re not restricted to the hours in your business, and you can also complete any unfinished work at home, right from your personal device. With that said, owning and purchasing a laptop for your business, involves making smart decisions and knowing what is the best business laptop. You can’t just waltz into the nearest Best Buy and expect any laptop to be a perfect fit for your business needs.

best business laptop

For today’s computer tip, here is how to make sure you’re purchasing the best business laptop for your needs.

First of all, you should consider the cost of what you’re purchasing. Just because a laptop is more expensive, that doesn’t always mean it’s better. On the contrary, a cheap laptop doesn’t always mean that it’s “worse”, either. Consider your budget, and weigh the pros and cons of each device. Speaking of which, consider your business needs as well. Many laptops have excellent hardware, but also come with plenty of accessories you may not even need. There’s nothing wrong with purchasing it if it’s within your budget, but always remember that there’s a huge difference between your wants and your needs. Lastly, before buying any laptop, check reviews, especially if you plan to purchase it online.

After all, cheap hardware is the last thing you want to buy. In relation to this, many developers think they’re sneaky. They cut corners and use cheaper hardware, so they can reduce the costs of building a laptop. In the long run, these laptops have a much shorter lifespan. Many consumers are unaware of this until the warranty expires, and by then, it’s too late for them. Knowing the general consensus on what you’re purchasing, can help you avoid these issues.

For more information, contact us today at Bluwater Technologies. We look forward to hearing from you.

business technology it support

HIPAA compliance consultants can save your business from serious financial losses

a model of a human skull with blood vessels attached to it

Healthcare cyber attacks occur frequently, with hackers targeting hospitals, medical practices, insurance companies, and other businesses and organizations that handle medical information in some capacity. That’s why HIPAA compliance is so important. A recent article from Healthcare IT News mentions that the healthcare industry leads the way among different industries in experiencing cyber attacks.

Given the risk of healthcare data breaches, it’s no wonder that businesses are required to meet HIPAA standards. HIPAA, short for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, lays out guidelines for keeping medical data private. If your business handles any sort of healthcare information, you must follow HIPAA guidelines.

Failure to meet HIPAA compliance can result in various fines, in some cases amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Prison time is also a possible consequence, depending on the severity of violations and whether they were deliberate.

Ensuring that you meet HIPAA standards can also improve your cyber security overall. When you evaluate your business for HIPAA violations, you can detect employee behaviors and IT practices that are compromising data security. For example:

Your business transmits sensitive healthcare information over unencrypted channels.
Your employees are sharing passwords freely or leaving unguarded access to various files containing medical information.
Sensitive healthcare data gets released to unauthorized parties, and in general, your business doesn’t sufficiently restrict access privileges to confidential data.
Your employees dispose of data without the proper safeguards. For example, they may discard a computer hard drive intact or throw out unshredded documents containing private information.

How can you make sure you’re meeting HIPAA standards? HIPAA compliance consultants can give you their guidance and assistance. Hiring consultants helps you avoid the legal penalties for violating HIPAA regulations. They’ll also strengthen your cyber security practices more generally, decreasing the chances that you’ll suffer a serious data breach. You’ll be in a better position to avoid steep financial losses and preserve people’s trust.

Please contact us for more information about working toward HIPAA compliance.

compliance HIPAA

Computer Tips: The Right Anti-Virus Software for your Business

It’s no surprise how important it is for businesses to keep their information secure. Regardless of your business size, you need to take the proper security measures to make sure your data isn’t compromised. Some companies like to invest in more expensive software protection, while others (such as small businesses) invest in cheaper software. Keep in mind that every business is different, and the security suitable for one establishment may end up being excessive for you and your company. With that said, what are some computer tips when choosing the right anti-virus software for your business?

For today’s computer tips, here are a few things to keep in mind.

As I briefly mentioned before, cost is an important factor when choosing the right anti-virus software for your business. It’s important to want your company protected, but don’t overdo it if you’re on a budget. This is especially true for those who own a small or medium-sized business. Larger companies typically can invest in more advanced security, since they usually have more resources available.

However, also check and see how well-known the security product is. Is it frequently used among other businesses? Does the product have a lot of reviews? If so, is the feedback positive? Believe it or not, not every anti-virus program can be trusted. In fact, some may be harmful programs in disguise. Always make sure the product you’re downloading can be trusted.