Where's the "You" in Technology?

New Book Release!!!

2012-02-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

One Innocent & Ordinary Life

Short Stories and Poems

Authored by Mr. Brian Wayne Maki

About the author:
Brian Maki is a poet, computer business owner, and writer living in Marquette, Michigan. He has been writing his whole life, ever since he received a journal when he was seven years old. He has previously published two other books, entitled "Flying a Kite" and "Where Strong Winds Blow" (both were published in 1993 and 1994, respectively).

Book Description:

This book describes in short stories and poems the Innocent and Ordinary life we have lost in the last twenty years. What is an ordinary life? Does anyone really live an innocent life anymore? The book challenges you to realize how your life has changed, and to take more notice of the world around you. A book you can read again and again, each time learning something new! A very enjoyable reading experience and something fresh and new for today's reader.

Publication Date: February 10, 2012

ISBN/EAN13: 1468105825 / 9781468105827

Page Count: 94

Binding Type: US Trade Paper 8.5" x 11" English

Color: Black and White

Related Categories: Poetry / General

Selling Price: $10.00

Purchasing the book:

From CreateSpace:
https://www.createspace.com/3752323

From Amazon:
Amazon Website

From Maki Consulting:
www.mc-computerhelp.com

"Two Trees of Meadow Grove" by Brian Maki

2011-11-06T12:06:00.000-08:00

From a book entitled "One Innocent & Ordinary Life."

The Real Power of Facebook

2011-09-03T12:51:00.001-07:00

In February 2004, a young Harvard student named Mark Zuckerberg developed the first pages of a student profile website named Facebook. From these beginnings, the website flourished into a whirlwind of users joining to develop their own personal pages and sponsors giving money for the company’s unprecedented growth and overall success.

Where were we before 2004 in technology? Google had its popularity (even then as it does today) and people were using it to find information. Windows XP had its hold on the marketplace and the use had spread to small businesses. Free email had also emerged on the scene, mainly available through a variety of companies like AOL, Yahoo, and MSN. Many users were not using technology at a personal level during this period. Some were just barely able to type a letter or build a spreadsheet, but that would all change with the creation of Facebook.

The amazing part about Facebook has been its growth. As of 2011, membership has risen to 800 million users worldwide, a number so large the company had to build more computers to store all the new information created by its users.

Consider that all these users are getting FREE accounts with Facebook.

So, then, what is the real power of Facebook? Why are so many people interested in sharing the intimate details of their life without concern for their privacy? Why would they want to tell a complete stranger their life story? Are we all begging to become celebrities or becoming too curious for our own good? Does the service make us feel that way? The questions may never stop. But one thing is very certain: a majority of culture wants to share everything about their life! We are also creatures of habit and circumstance. The stop light has turned green, and common folk are ready to pour out private pictures, personal opinions, provide guidance to others, and willing to lose a career over their antics.

If you talk with others about Facebook, you start getting a difference picture of how it works in their day-to-day life. The basis of communication and sharing is the primary attraction to the service. People can talk to anyone, read gossip and share philosophies, and look into a life they once were barred from knowing anything about. They have so much more they can learn about others, and this is pushing email to the side as the way to communicate with others. “Instant information” is what happens when you mix this all together, and the attraction is driving to a deeper level in the conscience mind. Combine this with “texting” and you have the perfect formula for the ultimate communication with another human being. Now you can realize the attraction of Facebook to its millions of users (with more joining each week).

In no other part of human history have we been able to share more than right now. No more horse and buggy to relay information to the masses; we can do this with one click of a button or by pressing the SEND key on a cell phone. Just think for a moment how “fast” this technology has become and our dependence upon its very existence to get information to everyone. We have no way to turn back now; our lives depend upon the continued development of social websites like Facebook.

Mark Zuckerberg has become the next billionaire. The day he sells out and gives up his ownership of Facebook, he will walk away knowing that his experiment has gained a following for the ages. He came at the right time in history, a moment when technology needed someone like him and his ideals to create a vision for the future. He certainly delivered.

To make Facebook work for future generations, here are a few guidelines to follow:

1. Never share information you would not be willing to share with others. Going to bathroom, for example, is your own business. No one else needs to know it.

2. Keep your personal opinions to your own friends. Don’t post something one day you might regret. Instead, go talk to someone about the problem.

3. Don’t talk about future events. When you do this, someone else could know vivid details about your life. Don’t let Facebook collect this information.

4. Keep your pictures poignant and simple. People will get the wrong idea. Anything beyond this shows people too much, and they already know enough about you by your profile.

5. Only become friends with real friends you know personally. Anything else is not a friend in the “real” world.

Facebook is used as a tool to communicate in this day and age. We can say the good and the bad about what this tool is doing to our society, our children, and families. Some will be willing to listen; others could care less. But when everything is set in motion, users like us will determine how everything will be used and shared.

Remember, it’s the common-sense attitude that will carry us into a promising future.

By: Brian Maki

Date: September 3, 2011

The Emergence of “Texting” in Our Lives

2011-06-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

We can give all the credit for the rise of “texting” to teenagers. From sending one small message, sometimes even in strange codes, we can now do this in the oddest of places. What a glorious moment! Even the shortest message (like a happy face) now has a great amount of meaning to another person, although the older generation would beg to differ that point.

The death of the common face-to-face conversation is on the rise as well. Groups of people gathering for formal meetings have dropped over the past few years (some of these meetings can take place on-line with instant messaging or by a web camera.) Saving gas money and hotel fees are the typical reasons, but the face-to-face encounter just does so much more than a dry, boring sentence on a digital screen. You miss out on that sudden smile, a laugh at a dry joke, and even the quick wit about someone’s comment. A whole life is what you miss out on, and no “texting” could ever provide such emotions.

“Texting” has grown to a powerful status in our culture. Those “texting” are more likely to feel connected and close with others, be up-to-date on current events, know the whereabouts of their friends, and know who they hang with at any given moment. Those who aren’t “texting” are supposedly disconnected from information, friends, and society at large. They are the ones that no one wants to be.

We can only image how much more “texting” will shape our daily lives. A tiny machine being held in your hand can do more than a typewriter could ever do. You can be connected to the world within a second, and you don’t have to be anywhere special to send a message to someone you love. Maybe that’s where the thought turns somewhat sour: immediate gratification in an instant! We then begin to think everything in our lives will be immediate, perfect, enduring in a way.

We are being held against our will by corporations who have taught us this way of living. Fast times and information overload comes to mind in today’s technology. Doing more and more, to push our being beyond what we can make it do, to be forever connected to everything and at every given moment of our lives. It is like every moment of our lives is being recorded for their benefit. We are being held from living the good life, and we don’t realize the ramifications of this new lifestyle. All of us are lost in the information tidal wave that has overcome our common sense abilities.

Each day another gadget makes the claim that it can do more with less. The problem is we are the ones that are becoming less and less, and it is more about the machine than the common man. We will eventually fade away from the picture and into the night. It sure is going that way if we let this happen. Millions of people are “texting” right now, for no given reason, to share the smallest thought with someone else. The same thought could have been shared “in person,” making for a warm and caring memory with another human being. Instead, we continue to walk with our heads down, typing cryptic messages to others in hopes they will understand our feelings, our wants, and our needs. If technology could someday deliver human emotions and desires, we would not need each other for support.

The word “lonely” would have a whole new meaning on a worldwide level.

By: Brian Maki

Date published: June 20, 2011

Ultimate Layman’s Guide to Computers

2011-04-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

This kind of booklet would break down the language barrier between computer user and machine. A future booklet of this nature must contain simple-to-use instructions and concrete ideas, spelled out in layman’s terms, to get the job done. We must keep in mind the "YOU" in technology. Imagine that this booklet sits on your desk and can be used as a simple reference guide. Such a booklet would be called the Ultimate Layman’s Guide to Computers.

It's been one of my dreams to put together such a booklet.

The idea behind this booklet comes from thousands of users that I have personally trained. How many times in class has someone asked me how complex information could be translated into layman’s terms? That question always left me wondering if such a book could be put together and if the booklet could stand the test of time. Most technology books only have a shelf life of five years, and then everything changes. This booklet must capture the essence of right now.

One of the many challenges of putting together such a booklet is for it to be very usable for beginning and intermediate users. I have met many users who have gathered their knowledge from others, and have struggled with computers ever since. The problem starts when they ask more than one friend for an answer. You will find many ways to attack the same issue.

The start of anyone’s frustrations begins in a very innocent manner. It could have something to do with e-mail; it could be an issue with printing; it could be
something you have to download; or it could be as easy as something you cannot open! Whatever it is, you want it now and you can’t make it happen. People then back away and stop learning new solutions or skills to get past the problem.

Today's computer users fall into select skill levels:
1. Novice, basic.
2. Second-hand.
3. Trained/skilled.
4. Expert.

These skill levels have developed over the past 20 years. No wonder users struggle to find a common ground – there are no standards set in place!

In today’s world, many users feel overwhelmed by technology. When change is on the horizon, either through media announcements or something new written in an article, people do not accept change. If something is working well, why should we change it! This is the common thought mode of today’s user.

The goal of this guide is to give you something handy that can be used whenever you are in trouble. Before you have to pick up the phone for help or to call a neighborhood friend, this would be your first step in solving the issue on your terms. In the end, I hope you become a computer trouble-shooter, helping to resolve your most common issues when they arise.

Posted Date: April 26, 2011

By: Brian Maki, Computer Technician

Goals: Shaping Our World

2011-03-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

There is a small part of us that wants to achieve. Even if we lose sight of all our goals, there is still some part of us that continues to strive. Maybe it is something that is felt through a breeze, maybe it is something that is heard in between each wave that hits the shore – somehow it finds its way into our minds. And once it arrives, well, there is no holding back what one can achieve.

We now live in an age that has bigger, better, and more elaborate goals than any generation before. The pressure to succeed is beyond understanding. Ask anyone you know about goals, and they will tell you how “hard” it is to succeed. It’s almost like these goals are chocking the life out of ordinary people.

We are becoming a generation separated from ourselves.

How do we get back to a life with realistic goals? We cannot all be doctors, nurses, builders, scientists, or astronauts. It’s not possible for everyone to make the honor roll. There is not enough room at the top for everyone. So, where does that leave a majority of people?

We have to realize, first, that all people are significant. The majority of us will make contributions our whole life, and in small ways unknown to other parts of society. In a whole, these small acts of work and kindness will continue to shape the next generation.

Everyone must take an effort in shaping our world. You can’t hide behind a computer screen and expect the world to change. Physical efforts will do more good than mental ones. Helping someone out “in person” will mean more and achieve more than any sentence you could type. Our own personal efforts will definitely shape this world.

In the end, there is really a small part of us that wants to achieve. We need to find it. There is no better time to discover what makes us tick. The world needs people, lots of people, to achieve goals at all spectrums of life. Everyone can do this; it takes one person at a time to realize it.

By: Brian Maki

Date: March 23, 2011

Patience: Technology and Our Lives

2011-03-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

There is one word in our language we have lost touch with over the years. A word so simple that it only takes a brief moment to sustain it – that’s if we know how to use it. We learn the word through others, like our parents or siblings or neighbors, and most likely a teacher. We define the word over the course of our life.

Patience is the quality of being patient. We have to do this without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or apparent frustration. Simply, it is a word that defines the world we are not living in.

With computers, cell phones, the Internet, GPS systems, and self-serve checkout lines, we wonder if we even have the slightest avenue available to make this word happen. Think about all the things you depend upon right now that are technology-related. All the little gadgets that process information, the same information that our brains could be processing, are done by machines.

If we lived for one minute without the aid of technology, could it be done? Maybe not. You see people who have went over the edge now, the addiction level showing in public places, the idea that one needs to be “connected” all the time, no matter where the place. This driving desire to connect with information and with people has become a blueprint for the next generation of technology users.

Our thirst for technology does not end there. New words like texting, twittering, face booking, and e-mail are slowly replacing basic human interaction. There once was a time when two people would meet face-to-face – even that has been replaced by an Internet meeting over a cable or phone line.

All of this technology pressures us daily and has pushed patience aside. For instance, the need to respond to an e-mail has now become a priority. When the cell phone rings, there is the need to answer it. When your car says something to you, there is the need to consider the problem it has pointed out. There is no “turn-off” switch for technology; it runs 24/7 and never stops. We become immune to how this technology has wrapped itself around our thoughts, emotions, feelings, and it is squeezing the life out of us. Others, however, don’t know there is a problem. They just follow the instructions technology gives to them and go about their day.

For one moment, let us not forget the generations before us. They used patience as a way to deal with daily conflicts, stress, and living conditions. A person in that time could be put into any situation, and they had this edge to look beyond the bad and find good in something. The world was not “on-demand” or “have it your way.” The world had people in it that cared and had real feelings and emotions.

We must strive to find the balance again. The problem is we keep letting technology interfere with daily living and survival. For example, the computer is supposed to be a helpful tool; instead it has grown into a massive problem. The world now has people who can only type a sentence, but not run a mile. People have become addicts of their computer, cell phone, and the Internet. There are cyber-crimes that try to steal our identities and harm our children. And even when we reach the top, there will be another piece of technology to stress our minds.

How do we teach the next generation what this all means? What message can we get to them that they will understand? Do we have to purpose it through a computer, a cell phone, or twitter it? Whatever it takes – that’s the mentality we need!

We start by admitting there is a problem and pledge to make a difference to solve it. It would be easy for us to just say it and never do anything. Even taking a walk in the park or riding a bicycle without a gadget around might be a step in the right direction.

But even that might not be able to take us there.

We have to show the next generation what patience is all about. By doing “less equals more mentality,” we could change the world in small ways. We could get control of the world we have lost.

It’s in these steps we show people it isn’t technology that drives our world – we do!

Try these simple steps to learn patience:

Look something up in a book: a word, place, artist, author, history, facts, or fiction.
Take a map and go some place you never went before. Use your imagination and thinking skills to bring you there.
Talk to others -- in person!
Go to the library and spend some time reading.
When you’re happy about something, go to someone and describe what happened.
Tell a story to someone you don’t even know.
Take something that is broken, figure out what is wrong, and try to fix it with your own hands.
Try to spend one day without the aid of a gadget being around you. No cell phones or computer. Just you.

We can take back what is ours. The idea is we have to start somewhere – we have to find balance in our world. The balance all comes from our efforts to maintain a healthy relationship with ourselves and the technology that surrounds us. If we keep things on strict terms, we may live a better life, live healthy, and be able to communicate in a way that lets others know we are happy and content about the world at hand. It will take patience, and plenty of it. Anything is possible. We have a whole life yet to redefine this word and have it bring new meaning to our lives.

By: Brian Maki, Computer Consultant

Posted Date: March 13, 2011

Technology in Simple Terms

2011-03-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

I have put much thought and consideration into posting information about today's changing technology scene. The reason that this is important to me, I guess, is the way we are living our lives as of 2011. The science-fiction days of watching a computer take over the world has arrived. We are in the midst of the greatest technological breakthroughs known to man.

The whole idea is beginning to form that we need to have technology at our fingertips to survive.

We need to realize our whole world cannot be controlled by a computer. We, as humans, must realize the need to use reasoning, judgment, common-sense, feelings, and empathy on a daily basis, not allowing a computer to take over human reasoning.

But others don't agree with that statement.

As you take a drive to a nearby store, you will see over 50% of the people in the store walking around, not paying attention to the world around them. They are preoccupied by a cell phone, a text message, mumbling to themselves or just laughing to themselves for no apparent reason. It is almost morbid to think we have dumbed ourselves down to a level of pure child-like behaviors.

We have to believe in ourselves to make this world a better place. The problem is we are starting, slowly, to ignore what is really important in our lives. We are letting go of the tiny "blessings" the world has to offer, and we are losing out on making a connection with religion, nature, or even God. The whole world is spinning out of control, and we are not recognizing this as an issue or even a concern. I would hope we could do better.

Technology has come down to simple terms. We use the technology for the good and betterment of our personal lives, our jobs, and our dreams. Each year of our technology lives, we try to learn a new "trick" that will make things easier, but we will not step away from some of the traditional ways that we live or work. To be in contact with something real and moving is more than a computer could ever give us. To laugh, love, and learn -- now that is a day we all want to live through!!! Simple ways means a less stressful life, and a life we can be happy to be living.

Posted Date: March 12, 2011

By: Brian Maki, Computer Technician

www.mc-computerhelp.com