Various e-mail providers offer an instant messaging service that allows members to talk to each other when they are online. This can be great fun—just ask my friends who constantly harassed me—but it also can attract unwanted communication from outside your circle of friends.
We all have heard of and probably used one of the many IM applications like these (data marked with an asterisk is based on information from Lehman Brothers, comScore Media Metrix):
A blooper that has become common in recent years is using input controls—checkboxes, radio buttons, text fields, etc.—to present data users cannot change. This refers to controls that are never editable, not to ones that are temporarily inactive (grayed).
First, it uses checkboxes to mark “Required” fields. Users can’t change these checkboxes; they are only indicators. [...]
A blooper that has become common in recent years is using input controls—checkboxes, radio buttons, text fields, etc.—to present data users cannot change. This refers to controls that are never editable, not to ones that are temporarily inactive (grayed).
First, it uses checkboxes to mark “Required” fields. Users can’t change these checkboxes; they are only indicators. [...]
Rule 1: Don’t attach labels and data fields to opposite edges of a form or control panel
If columns of an invisible table are used to lay out labels and data fields on a form or dialog box, the two columns should be adjacent. They should be attached to each other, not to opposite edges of [...]
In any task domain, users will have goals ranging from common to rare. Design your application to recognize this range.
Make common results easy to achieve
If a user’s goal is predictable and common, the user shouldn’t have to do much to achieve it. Unusual goals may require more effort to achieve. Stated more formally: The amount [...]
Nothing confuses and angers software users more than instructions and error messages that are wrong. They waste time and effort by leading users down wrong paths, perhaps leading to costly mistakes.
Among the companies getting the greatest number of hits from new users are companies with their sites listed within Web browser programs. What we’re referring to is sites that are easily accessible from pull-down menus of browsers, hot bars, or preset bookmarks.
From a security or network administrator’s point of view, the very same features that make Skype connect reliably through a restrictive firewall present a challenge to preventing or blocking Skype traffic on a network. Skype is very robust and can function with access to only port 80. Most corporations allow outbound Web traffic, so port [...]
WinFS Rules
The platform known as WinFS Rules is one of the most interesting parts of WinFS for enhanced computing. With WinFS Rules, you can create rules that enable users to personalize their experience. This platform will enable developers to create their own rule-based or expert-based applications.
New Mining-Model Algorithms
Analysis Services 2005 features seven data-mining algorithms—five more than in the 2000 version. In addition, the original two algorithms, decision trees and clustering, have been updated.
The new algorithms are listed below:
Association rules—Used to create a set of rules used in predictions. Most useful in making predictions against large amounts of transactional sales data.
Time [...]
The .NET platform was a huge initiative for Microsoft, and the company plans to continue in that direction with a whole line of products focused around the .NET framework. Microsoft hopes to make development easier for us developers. At the same time, it plans to expand on what can be done with the same applications.
The [...]
Speech is a major initiative for Microsoft. It is part of a larger concept referred to as the Natural User Interface, or Natural UI, which involves creating natural and expressive interactions with the user. This is primarily accomplished using speech-processing capabilities but can also involve natural language and machine learning. The Natural UI is intended [...]
The implementation of the API for Windows is such that messages are sent between the plug-in application and Skype by using the Win32 SendMessage() function. This standard mechanism for communication under the Windows operating system can be difficult to implement if you are not used to low-level Win32 communications.
Can Users Access Different Databases?
I’m talking about different databases of information from the same tool, not necessarily different DBMS products. For example, a user may access the regular data mart stored on a local Windows NT server for most queries and reports and, by using the same tool, have access to this information:
Another department’s data [...]
Updates
Updates for OSes and NOSes are provided by the manufacturer of the specific component. Updates contain improvements to the OS, and new or improved components that the manufacturer believes will make the product more stable, usable, secure, or otherwise attractive to end users. For example, Microsoft updates are often specifically labeled Security Updates. If you [...]
Data repositories include many types of storage systems that are interlinked in systems for maintenance and protection of data. It is important to discuss the need for protection and hardening of the various types of storage that are maintained. This includes different storage media combinations, methods of connection to the information,
When discussing network hardening, there are a number of concerns that are separate from those realized while evaluating and hardening OSes and NOSes. The appropriate firmware and OS updates implemented on hardware must be evaluated, tested, and implemented. In addition, network configurations must be as tight as possible. This includes developing appropriate rule sets and [...]
Most companies and organizations today have a Web presence on the Internet. An Internet presence offers numerous business advantages, such as the ability to advertise to a large audience, to interact with customers and partners, and to provide updated information to interested parties.
Hardening is an important process, another way to harden the network is to use network access control (NAC). There are several different incarnations of NAC available. These include infrastructure-based NAC, endpoint-based NAC, and hardware-based NAC.
Infrastructure-based NAC requires an organization to be running the most current hardware and OSes. OSes such as Microsoft Vista has the [...]
