Do you need to keep track of hundreds or thousands of different items? Maybe you have a CD collection that has been growing for years and constantly trying to remember what you own or where the CD is currently located is taking up your time and money. You may want to create a database of everything you own but how do you track the physical items? RFID tags can help.

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is an method of tracking physical materials through a small flat transponder attached to the item. You can apply an RFID tag to an object and use radio waves to read and track the item. A standard RFID tag contains an integrated circuit for storing the information you can read and an antenna for transmitting the signal. Many companies and manufactures use RFID in their supply chain management process. The companies apply RFID tags to the items to track and they are able to track their supply easily. You can use the same ideas behind large supply chain management to your home.

You may have heard about RFID tags tracking our every move and are aphrenrsive about tagging the items in your home. After all, you really would not want someone with an RFID reader to be able to see what you have in your home. Labeling your home inventory and collections with RFID will not announce to other people what you own because the tags will actually not have any specific information on them. To begin labeling your products at home, you should purchase passive RFID tags. Passive RFID does not actively broadcast a signal, the RFID information is only readable by a RFID reader in close proximity. If you are cautious about possible exposure of your inventory to others you can test your reader and your RFID tags before applying the labels to your products.

RFID tags are so small now that you can actually purchase labels that contain a RFID chip embedded in the paper. The chips are also very thin so you may not even notice the chip at all. If you want to make labels for a collection of products or to mark your home inventory, choose a label that is not too large and fits your budget. The paper labels are so easy to use that you may start to label everything you come in contact with. You can usually find these RFID labels at stores that sell products to warehouses or online. If this is your first purchase of RFID labels, you may want to seek out a store in your town and discuss your options with a sales clerk. Many companies will try to sell you a printer, labels, and an elaborate RFID reader but there really is no need to over purchase your supplies. All you need are the labels and a RFID reader, which can be purchased second hand through Ebay or other website. If you visit a local store, you may want to request a demonstration of different readers and different labels in order to choose the right labels for your needs.

You will need to purchase an inventory database program for your computer, of if you have the time and the desire, you could make your own. There are many different database programs available online, it is simply a matter of finding the program that meets your needs. To keep your work down, choose a database program that can store the RFID information in them. This allows you to enter all the data pertaining to the items you want to track into one location and scan the RFID label you attach to the product. Also, you may want to spend a little time thinking about why you are labeling the items in your home in order to purchase the best database program for your needs. If you loan items in your collection out, you can use your database to track which items you have loaned out. If you want to create a home inventory in case of loss or theft, your database program can be much easier and simpler.

Because of the demands of many large companies, RFID tags have become very thin and very cheep. You really do not need to do anything special to create a useable RFID label for your home, just slap a pre-made paper label on the items you want to track. With the proper database program and reader you will not need to write anything on the label, just attach, scan the chip, and record the data on your computer. The hard part of this tracking process, will be collecting the data into a database you can use. There are several companies that sell a database and RFID reader package to allow the home user to start an RFID inventory. And who knows, once you begin using RFID tags in your home, you may start to discover additional uses for these handy RFID tags.

Many people use technology to communicate with their friends and love ones but never give a thought to how technology has improved their lives. Technology surrounds us every day, the grocery store is dripping in technology, the buses run on computers, and even the dentist uses digital cameras and computer imaging systems instead of x-rays. While we live our lives surrounded with technology, have you ever stopped to consider how society can be changed through technology?

The internet opened up forms of communication that we never thought were possible before. Today we have hundreds of social news sites where individuals can write and post news reports pertaining to the world around them. People can also comment and respond to ideas through forums and commenting systems which means we can share ideas and knowledge with anyone in the world at any time. Imagine if we created a forum where this open communication path was used to create social policy and laws? No longer would social policy be created by the elite few who find themselves governing others but by the masses.

Open source software allows many people to provide their own input and knowledge towards the creation of useable software. There are still many societies where the exchange of ideas is not open or acceptable. We should bring open source software to these societies and help to teach that sharing ideas and knowledge with others can be a profitable endeavor for everyone. We can also take the ideas of working together to create other open source projects. Using the ideas of open source will increase the eduction level of people around the world, teachers can and are releasing their lessons and knowledge the world through the internet. Children who live their whole lives without access to teachers can now learn by listening to audio recordings or watching a television show.

Many employers area already using video technology to connect their office locations together and avoid large travel expenses. What if we connected employers with possible employees around the world through video communication? Technology could help raise the level of earnings for many people who barely make enough money to survive. A new form of work would be created through the use of video communication. Some workplaces already communicate mainly through email, why not expand this idea and hire the most qualified person no matter where they are located in the world.

Another method of sharing has been created through creative commons. We can improve society by releasing all forms of art under the creative commons licensing structure. Allowing other people to spread our art and use as they see fit can help spread the ideas behind our creations and challenge others to create as well. Time and time again society has been changed by the artistes within and today we have the ability to spread art to every corner of the world by using the internet and technology. Of course, all of our ideas towards using technology and the internet to improve society can only succeed if we have net neutrality. Individuals need to be able to choose what they access on the internet without the interference from an internet provider or their government.

The ability to share knowledge and information with anyone in the world through the internet is one of the best ways we can improve society. However, without a computer hardware infrastructure the internet is nothing but a communication idea. The One Laptop Per Child Initiative (OLPC for short) is a great example of how we can get computers into the hands of people who need them. Computers do not need to be top-of-the-line gaming computers designed to produce high end 3D graphics. We can provide low cost equipment to people who have never owned a computer before. These low end computers are able to connect to the internet and therefore connect to the world.

With an OLPC style computer and a webcam, individuals will be able to document the horrors inflicted on people in third world countries and post the information to the internet for all to see. No longer will one man or one government be able to hide behind their silence and abuse people in their countries. When a society is under siege by a despot, the truth can become societies best weapon. That truth can be recorded on computers and posted to the internet. Even if we can not get a computer in to the hands of every person in the world, there are other technologies that work just as well. Digital cameras can store thousands of pictures on a chip smaller than a postage stamp. If we arm people around the world with cameras we can still communicate and learn through the photos.

Cell phones are also a great technology that will help to improve the lives of people around the world. Even something as simple as a voice conversation can change a person’s life. If all you have is a cell phone that makes voice calls, you could connect to voice recognition software and communicate with the world. People could use cell phones to listen to educational recordings and expand their knowledge. We could teach people new skills and give them training all through a cell phone conversation.

Finally, advanced in manufacturing technology should be shared with all the countries of the world to help improve not only society but the environment as well. By training people on high speed manufacturing processes we can improve the working conditions of millions of people around the world. Clothing manufacturing will not longer need to be completed through sweatshop practices instead high-tech cloth cutters and sewing machines could be used.

Many times technology surrounds us and we fail to notice how our lives are improved. We have become so immune to how improved our lives are because of technology that we often fail to see that there are other people who need assistance. We need to spread our technology to all countries of the world and help to improve their societies as well.

Advances in technology happen every day. People constantly create new methods of using technology and new ideas on what technology should be. We find that often these advances do little to improve our lives. Who really needs a plastic container that will cook your pasta when you add hot water? But sometimes you hear about and advancing technology and can not wait for the final product to hit the market, sure some of the items we are waiting for may never happen but we like to hold out hope and keep waiting.

Computers are constantly changing. Even if you purchase the greatest computer available today chances are next week a better computer will be released. We are really excited to be waiting for our new Linux smart phone/internet tablet. This smart phone will combine the best aspects of a smart phone with the flexibility of an internet tablet. Want to take pictures? Carry your phone and use the 5MP built in camera. Then you can automatically upload the photos to your favorite photo sharing site or email to your friends. If you want to take a video instead of photos, you can do that with the HD video capabilities and even play the vide back through the mini projector. Of course many of the standard smartphone features we all rely on daily are standard with this phone, built in wifi (got it), 3G internet speeds (got it), bluetooth for communication and file sharing (got it). This new smartphone/internet tablet will be with us constantly every day and we can not wait.

Another piece of computer technology that we cannot wait for is the Wii headgear. With the 3D Wii headgear we will be able to completely enter the virtual world of Zelda. Think about the hours of fun available to us with this new headgear. We can play our favorite games and experience somatosensory stimulation. Before the release of the Wii headgear, Mario is nothing but a two-demensional character on our television screen. After the release of the Wii headgear, we become Mario and start our own adventures.

Our third piece of technology that we cannot wait for is advanced 3D printers that contain open source hardware. Imagine the possibilities of 3D printing. You will be able to print 3D pictures of your family or build a model of your own home by using a printer. Once these printers begin to use open source hardware, the price of the printer will begin to fall and soon will be affordable for everyone. Technology will get us to 3D printing soon and even if it seems far fetched think about some of the other forms of technology that were once thought of as science-fiction but now are reality.

The ability to create a diamond was once the private domain of Mother Earth, but now diamonds can created in a lab. Once large scale synthetic materials fabrication starts to become standard in our factories around the world, we may find that the demands we place on natural resources are reduced. We will be able to reduce our demands on the natural resources of the earth when Maglev Intercity Train systems begin to be installed in cities around the world. These magnetic levitation systems will change the way people get to from one point to another and they can even take us to space. But while we wait for the Maglev Intercity Train network, we will settle for a high speed, long distance electric car that had rapid transit hookups. Again, think about the amount of gas we can save when these high speed electric cars are released for sale. But if cars and trains are not your preferred mode of transportation, why not wait with us for our jet wings. In 2006, Yves Rossy created his own jet wings and flew over the Swiss Alps. We are still waiting for word on wether or not Rossy will ever bring his jet pack to market but he does have sponsors and many people can not wait for this new form of transportation to take off.

We are also excited about the Space Elevator. This elevator is being built and will be a gateway to space with a simple elevator and cable system. While the exact design is still being worked out, people go to their job every day and work on the space elevator. We will be there when it opens because the space elevator is one of the products that we cannot wait for.

Back on Earth, we with with anxiety for new mobile medical units. Mobile medical units are designed to help in medical situations where there is a lack of doctors or to speed up the diagnosis and healing process. Using technology, you will be able to place a mobile medical diagnosis unit on your injury and receive information on how to treat the wound or infection. Of course, there will always be a need for doctors but technology will keep up the medical field and provide methods to aid in treating larger amounts of people quickly.

Finally, the last product that we cannot wait for is going to help with our household bills and expenses. Closed water systems are providing an Earth friendly form of water collection and processing that any homeowner can install and use and our own electricity generation is not far behind. No longer will a home owner be forced to connect to the city water supply or pay the high cost for electricity charged by the providers. We will be able to take our homes back and provide the water and electricity we need ourselves.

No matter when these products become available for sale and use, we know we will be in line to purchase. The technologies that are being built upon will change our lives forever. No longer will people wonder how technology can fit into their lives because when these ten products are available for purchase, people will wonder how they ever lived without. We cannot wait for the next technology release, how about you?

Technology is slowly incorporating itself into all aspects of our lives. You may not be aware of it but much of the music you listen to may not be created by traditional instruments but instead is actually created with a computer. Today synthesized music no longer sounds like computer beeps and bops but actually can mimic traditional instruments. Sometimes the synthesized sounds are so good that that the untrained ear no longer can tell the difference. Not only does technology help reproduce the instruments of old but people are creating new instruments as well.

One of the most well known instruments created by technology is the laser harp. The laser harp is a modern take on the traditional string harp. A single laser beam is split into several different parallel layers of light to create “strings” and connected to a synthesizer. In order to play the harp, you block the corresponding light string which activates the corresponding sound. The laser harp was made famous by the musician Jean-Michel Jarre. The laser harp itself makes no sound but Jarre has consistently uses the laser harp to create the same sounds which people have begin to associate with the technological instrument. Alternate designs of the laser harp are available and usually consist of multiple lasers. There are some concerns about the laser power needed to create a harp. Because the laser beam is split into many different beams of light, a class III or IV laser is generally necessary and there may be significant risk of eye or skin damage from these powerful lasers.

The Ball Bearing Beat Machine is an another intriguing method of creating music with technology. The beat machine is set up in a grid formation, different sounds are assigned to the horizontal axis and tempo is assigned to the vertical axis. Musical beats are created by placing the ball bearings into a holder on the grid. The balls can be placed close together to create a fast beat or spread apart to slow the tempo down. Entire songs can be created simply by moving the ball bearings around the machine as a the music is created. The Ball Bearing Beat Machine, can replace traditional drum sets and create temps and beat patterns that many drummers are unable to create themselves. Many designers have expanded upon the idea of the ball bearing beat machine to create beat machines that use blocks or other materials to lay out the sound patterns. The sounds and designs of these machines are only limited by their ability to create different sounds at varying speeds.

The Tenori-On Music Synthesizer consists of a screen that you hold in your hands. This synthesizer has been a hit of technology fans because it is the first mass produced music synthesizer that does not look like a piano. This sixteen by sixteen square grid houses LED switches representing different musical notes. You activate the switches in several different ways to create music. Anyone can create music with the Tenori-On Music Synthesizer simply by selecting the buttons you want to play. You can lay out a light pattern or program a sequence to play a melody. There are a total of 256 different built-in notes and you can extend the ability of the synthesizer through additional samples and customization options. With this portable synthesizer anyone can create music and once you create something worth saving, you can record up to 16 different tracks then edit the files on your computer.

Not only are musicians using technology to create new instruments but musicians are using technology to create new music as well. Many creative artists have produced songs from nothing but the sounds our computers make. Many of these are so well crafted that you are not able to tell the music is created entirely from computer sounds unless it is pointed out to you. Windows XP and Vista error sounds are very popular because of their varying patterns and variety sounds available in the operating systems.

In music, creativity has no boundary and technology only expands the possibilities. The only limit a musician will find is the limit of our imagination. While many manufacturers are focusing on using new technologies to create unusual music creation device, many artists like Jean-Michel Jarre are building new musical instruments from tools and equipment available today. There are some people who believe that many of these new music devices actually do not work as they have been portrayed and that all demonstrations are cleverly edited videos however even if the devices do not work exactly as they should every time it is played, these devices are still musical instruments. No musician is able to get their chosen device to work accurately every time it is played. Our musical instruments are changing as technology changes and advances and with each new day an artist will create another work of art from those advancements

The telephone companies, since Alexander Graham Bell first invented the equally useful and annoying device, have had monopoly over the construction and use of phone lines, and later, or cellular wireless waves. However, with new open source code programs such as Asterisk, individuals can now start up and maintain their own phone line systems using only a personal computer.

Asterisk, the open source program that aims to reinvent the telephone industry, essential transforms a personal computer into a phone line. As far as hardware is concerned, a special card will need to be installed to allow a phone to be connected to the PC is the computer is not already equipped with a LAN line connection.

Since Asterisk is open source software designed to work in any Unix operating system or DOS, it is compatible with Linux and is completely free to use as it is licensed under a general public license as well as the more specific and business oriented proprietary license.

To set up an Asterisk phone line, first, download the free software. Once downloaded, burn the installation and system boot up information to a CD. The PC that is designated to serve as the phone line router, should be switched off and rebooted with the Asterisk installation CD in the appropriate disk drive. The Asterisk user interface will then offer a self explanatory series of prompts to guide the user through the configuration process.

Asterisk will require the administrator of the phone line to create channels and devices to direct the voice communications over the internet. Channels and devices commonly used are VoIP protocols, which channel a voice stream through the internet. VoIP, or IP telephony is particularly useful for users with unused network capacity which can easily carry the voice and data signals being transmitted at a fraction of the cost as they would if they were transmitted through the usual private separate corporate phone network. VoIP uses compressed voice file data packets to transfer digital audio and voice recordings as a whole across the internet.

The digital phone line administrator will also need to establish a dial plan. A dial plan is the pattern of numbers which establishes the expected number and order of digits for a telephone number. A digital Asterisk operated phone requires a dial plan so that users on other external devices such as cell phones or regular LAN line networks or other Asterisk using PCs to connect and receive from the Asterisk network being set up.

Asterisk is controlled by a series of configuration files that define, among other things, what to do when answering an incoming call and how to direct outgoing calls. Asterisk traditionally has used a Linux command line interface that takes a fairly advanced level of computer and technological savvy to operate. The Asterisk system has been reissued as AsteriskNOW and features a graphic interface to aid users in the configuration and installation process.

For users who do not know how they ought to configure their Asterisk home PC IP telephone system, the book Asterisk: the Future of Telephony, by Jared Smith and James Van Meggelen, is a good source for a navigating the options featured by the Asterisk telephone system and figuring out what your communication needs are. For first time users of Asterisk, help with the configuration files is almost a must, as only computer whizzes will be able to get their personal phone line set up unassisted.

If an Asterisk system is to function as a PBX (most are), then a context is needed to determine where a particular device starts its dial plain. These contexts are defined in the configuration files and determine, among other things, the context, limitations and extensions of where a specific signal or dial plan may access. The system can also be altered through the configuration file to recognize and record messages from users and allow the messages to be received and listened to by the administrator. Using loadable module APIs, asterisk software can automatically connect with users communicating with any sort of hardware, from LAN lines to cell phones.

Once set up, Asterisk and other IP Telephony systems, allow the users to conduct conference calls, interactive voice response programs such as voice menus, and automatic call distribution. Essentially, a PC can be configured to act a compact call centre, directing voice and data packets to destinations all over the nation and all over the world.

Many VoIP telephone companies have begun to not only support Asterisk
programs and systems, but explicitly design their telephone service packages to utilize existing Asterisk telephone communication networks. Since so many companies and organizations have unused network space, Asterisk combined with VoIP is frequently a less expensive alternative to costly outsourced communication service providers.