Whole House Video Distribution
Home Computer Networking
Home Automation (Lights, etc.)
Home automation is the integration of technology and modern conveniences in your home for intelligent living.
Home automation can be as simple as an additional phone line for high-speed Internet services, or controlling a light or an appliance in your home.
Most home automation installations start with a Structured Cabling System in a new home or remodeling project. Structured Cabling is the most important factor for future proofing your investment. Most homes built today are obsolete when the owner walks through the door for the first time. With a Structured Cabling system in place you open up many possibilities in your home. One possibility is a computer network for sharing printers, scanners and other devices. Or maybe whole house video so you can play a movie in one room and watch it in several locations. You may want to have a satellite system, cable TV, or just a simple antenna for local stations or all three systems. A video camera can be used to monitor a baby's room or at the front door to see who is calling. Many homes today have an office, which may require a high-speed Internet connection like ISDN, DSL or cable modem. How would you like to listen to music in the kitchen when your stereo system is located in your family room? All of this is possible with a Structured Cabling System in place.
You then can take Home Automation to another level by adding a Security System or controlling lights or electrical appliances by just walking into a room. Voice activation systems are available for someone who would like to venture into a higher level. You may want to turn lights and a TV on from your cell phone so your house has the appearance of someone being at home. Turn the heat or AC on early because you are getting home from a trip sooner than expected. Have your lawn watered automatically sensing when Mother Nature has not supplied enough moisture to nurture the grass. The possibilities become all most endless.
At Home Automation Essentials we strive to match the right technology with the homeowner while keeping possibilities open for today and tomorrow.
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John Graham from the Madison Macintosh Users Group will be the presenter at the October 8 general meeting. Another member, Dan Luedtke, will also be there with John. The presentation will likely be a history of Apple and the Macintosh, what's happening now, and a look into the future. We will learn about the Macintosh group and some of their members may be attending, as well.
The September 10 general meeting topic will be "Linux: What, Why, How."
Steve Krause, president of the Madison Linux Users Group (MadLUG), will give an overview of what Linux is (in general, as well as its current status). He will also cover why one might use it (in a home, business, and/or hobbyist setting) and how one might start using it (common and popular applications, where to get Linux distributions, and sources of help and documentation).The presentation is introductory in nature and accessible to casual users familiar with Windows, but not with Linux.
Krause is a 28-year-old graduate student at UW-Madison working on a PhD in German literature. He has worked with computers for 20 years, and with Linux since 1998. For the past two years, he has been president of the Madison Linux Users Group (MadLUG).
The August 13 general meeting will feature a presentation on "Blogs" by Jonathan Broad who teaches a class in the UW-Madison Graduate School that is both about blogs in part, and is run via blogs. Mr Broad will explore the mechanic of blogging: the types of services and software out there, how to use blogs, blog etiquette, promoting your blog, etc. He will also talk about the history of blogs and their growing significance, both on-line and off-line, to the worlds of society and politics.
The July 9 general meeting will feature a special presentation on "Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks" by local attorney Charles Kyle Kenyon. In the spirit of "giving forward," he maintains a Word FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) web site at http://www.addbalance.com/word/ . He will give an overview of the FAQ, explain how to use various Word features such as styles, and answer questions from the audience. This will be a great opportunity to find out everything you wanted to know about Microsoft Word but were afraid to ask.
The Wisconsin state Web portal (
http://www.wisconsin.gov) was designed to improve access to government information, programs, and services. The portal allows citizens, visitors, businesses, organizations, and others to quickly and efficiently locate appropriate resources. It also organizes services by subject rather than agency. Subject areas include: agriculture and food production, city and town government. health and medicine, recreation and tourism, and voting and elections.A representative from the Wisconsin Department of Electronic Government will present how the state portal was created, demonstrate how to easily find needed information, and show how to complete some online transactions.
PARTS NOW! LLC is the world's leading distributor of new and refurbished
computer printer parts, whole unit printers, and component level repairs. The
international wholesaler is the largest parts reseller for Lexmark,
Hewlett-Packard and Canon U.S.A. Inc., and also provides parts for Oki, Xerox,
and many other printers. The company is a one-stop shop for all printer-related
items and offers training classes for printer service technicians.
PARTS NOW! was started in March of 1989 in Monona, WI. A house and garage served as the initial site of the business. The company, now located in Madison, has increased sales from the previous year for every year since their inception.
A representative from PARTS NOW! will present what laser printers are all about and how they differ from ink jet printers. He will discuss what can go wrong with a printer and how to choose a printer in the first place. He will also cover the hidden costs of purchasing and using a printer, namely, the cartridges and other supplies.
See
a presentation on The Why Files, which is a World Wide Web magazine supported by the Graduate School at
University of Wisconsin-Madison. Every week, The Why Files covers a science story inspired by the headlines in a
format they call the science behind the news. Coverage ranges,
literally, from anthropology to zoology, including nuclear and biological
weapons, artificial intelligence, psychology, meteorology, space science, and
more.
Object Desktop from Stardock Corporation (http://www.stardock.com) is a suite of productivity enhancements that allows people to customize Windows to their particular needs. With it, users can transform Windows into anything they desire. Customize how your buttons look and where they are placed. Organize your programs in a way that works the way you want it to--not the way some programmer thought it should. Create a kid-friendly desktop in which only websites you approve are accessible.
Today's Windows PCs all come looking essentially identical. Yet individuals may use their PCs in completely different ways. One size fits all has some advantages, but a stock broker may want a different desktop than a newspaper editor or a bank executive would. Object Desktop takes Windows to the next level. Use it to create super start bars to organize your programs and data the way you want. Add virtual desktops. Monitor printers and other resources. Totally change the look and feel of Windows.
The February 12 general meeting will feature some videos from Microsoft, including the Microsoft presentation at the Fall 2002 APCUG Conference in Las Vegas. A video from Microsoft's Mindshare Program has demonstrations of several of Microsoft's new software products. Come see how the other half lives... Might even see some replays of Jimmy the Groundhog rolling in the snow trying to get away from those incessant naysayers! It just keeps getting better!
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SIG: ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
The new Digital Photography SIG will have an organizational meeting on Wednesday, February 12 at 6 p.m. at the Bolz Auditorium (Classroom 1), 124 South Brooks Street, Madison, WI. This SIG is for those who are interested in learning all about digital cameras and digital photography, whether you are a novice or an expert.
Information: Tom Havighurst at havig@chorus.net
The
QTI Group, a member of Techworks
Partners, will be presenting at the January meeting.
The TechWorks mission is to help IT students with disabilities develop and refine skills to enter the information technology field. This program is guided by a Business Advisory Council. The Business Advisory Council (BAC) of TechWorks is composed of private businesses, educational institutions, and state government.
QTI is a locally owned firm with a 45-plus year history serving communities in south central Wisconsin. This local ownership provides them with the keen desire to serve clients well along with providing the best and most current job openings for applicants. QTI services have grown to a level where applicants and clients are offered complete, one-stop assistance. Services include recruiting for blue collar to boardroom positions, HR Consulting, and Human Resources services. Most people will change jobs at least 7 times in their lifetime. Searching for a job takes time. The QTI group of companies has placed over 7,000 people each year in jobs ranging from blue collar to boardroom.