This blog is written to appeal to home users; small business operators such as ”mom and pop” shops and micro-businesses; and community groups such as churches who want to get the most out of their information and communications technology, including their small computer network, using technology that is cost-effective and easy for most users to set up.
Here, the common need usually is that most of these groups don’t have dedicated IT staff on hand to assist in acquiring or maintaining their information and communications technology. In a lot of small-business or community-group cases, whoever runs the organisation typically ends up managing the organisation’s technology.
The articles are written in a manner to support the use of commonly-implemented standards where multiple vendors are able to supply products based on these standards. They are also written in a manner where there is no fear or favour in choosing or deploying a particular standard or vendor’s product.
This blog is also about encouraging the provision of safe reliable broadband Internet access that is cost-effective to all wherever they may live. This includes the provision of a reliable broadband service to rural and regional communities, thus facilitating access to Internet activities like working from home, distance education, telemedicine and the benefits of the “world wide library and news service” that is the World Wide Web.
I am also discussing areas where industry needs to work to make technologies accessible to home and small-business computer users. This includes foolproof installation of relatively-sophisticated network setups like multiple-access-point wireless networks or IP-based telecommunications setups.
At times, I have discussed issues concerning information technology in the home from a social perspective such as Internet and social network activity in the home and using the blog as a springboard for information concerning local emergencies.
Standards Concerning Products And Services Mentioned In This Blog
All products and services reviewed or mentioned in this blog are reviewed without fear or favour from anyone associated with the companies involved. Infact, I encourage the implementation of commonly-accepted industry standards and practices that exist to facilitate competition and innovation in this industry.
If I receive high-value goods or services from a supplier due to reviewing or mentioning a particular product, I will disclose this fact. As well, unless stated otherwise, all equipment that has been reviewed in this blog is sample units lent out by the manufacturer or their public-relations agency or purchased under regular business arrangements.
Software suppliers or their public-relations agencies may offer me a free licensed copy or subscription to their product for my use whenever I review a paid software product and I will disclose this. As well, this will not affect my opinion on the program when I review it.
Privacy Notice
The author of this blog respects the privacy of individuals who have anything to do with this blog, whether by reading or commenting on the blog, linking to the blog’s articles or subscribing to the blog’s RSS feed.
Information collected from blog end-users
There is aggregate data being captured in relation to what is being viewed on the blog and where from in order to optimise the content. This is mainly in the form of Internet IP addresses, ISP or corporate network name where you came from, browsing environment (browser, operating system, display resolution and existence of Javascript, Flash and other enhanced-browsing options) as well as what pages you have viewed.
E-mail addresses
If you leave a comment on the blog, you will have to leave your name and e-mail address as part of leaving the comment. As well, if you use the contact form you will be required to provide their name and e-mail address in order to contact the author. By leaving the e-mail addresses, you implicitly allow the author of the blog to contact them in relation to the blog, but the e-mail address will only be available to the author and will not be shown on the blog.
Users are strongly discouraged from writing e-mail addresses anywhere in the comment form other than the e-mail address field (which is to be for their e-mail address only) unless they obfuscate the e-mail address. This measure is to protect themselves from spambots.
Use of cookies and similar technology
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Author contact details
Author: Simon Mackay
E-mail: Simon_Mackay [at] bigpond.com or click here to e-mail me
Country of origin: Australia
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