Conclusion

With these steps, one should be able to clearly see how computers can help you in a day to day situations not only involving aiding business processes but also anywhere else you would be using computers.

These steps have been outlined to show you how effective and efficient using a computer can be compared to previous methods that are obviously outdated by computer technology developments.




A wonderful thing about a book, in contrast to a computer screen, is that you can take it to bed with you. -  Daniel J. Boorstin

Using Collaborative Software for Team Writing

Working as a team. Typically, I believe that there will be at least one class in a semester that will have a group project. With today's technology, getting in contact with each other is easy. With programs such as Skype, Msn, Facebook or Sheridan's own Slate. Communication can be transferred among team members at any time the team decides. Team members can send each other their work though e-mail and then talk about it in Skype regardless of where each group[p member is located. I've done this a few times in the past as our group did not have time to meet up. Where would we be without video communication?

There are many special programs that allow you to post, comment or revise features and make changes to the information. Some of the more well known programs include:

• Blogs
  
• Wiki's
  
• Blackboard
  
• Facebook
   
• Yahoo Messenger
   
• MSN Messenger
   
• Skype

Designing and Producing Professional Looking Documents, Presenations and Web Pages

Most software available contains techniques available to aid you in constructing professional looking documents. You are able to change things like your font to different styles and sizes. You can use italics, boldface, and symbols. You can use these techniques to keep a consistent flowing document.


When you use presentation software you can incorporate things like showy side effects, colour, sound, pictures, and even movies and short video's.


Web design programs can help you design a personal or business website, and is a great alternative to standard methods of presentation.

Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office are the most common but it is not the only way to have something written electronically. You could easily start typing with a smartphone today. In the past i personally would log in to my e-mail account and start off my reports or essays there. It's easy and there is also spell check. When I get home, I could just copy and paste my work on to Microsoft and print it. It can be quite useful if you have no computer or laptop while on vacation. Imagine today, if we only had typewriters to use. How can we get any work done on the first try?

Acting is easier - writing is more creative. The lazy man vies with the industrious. - William Shatner

Adding Graphics For Emphasis

Letters, notes and reports could be enhanced by the addition of graphs and artwork to make data clear and demonstrate clarity and professionalism. One should use WordArt to insert unique text effects to your document. You can also make a larger title, twist text, make text fit a preset shape, or apply a gradient fill. The WordArt that is inputted into a document turns out to be an object that you can shift or place in your document to insert decoration or emphasis. You can import charts, diagrams, and designs created in databases, worksheets, graphics, or draw and paint programs. Readymade pictures, called clip art, can be used to represent or demonstrate information. Usage of such visual attachments greatly expands the formality and effectiveness of documents and can incorporate a new perspective on written documents, oral communications, and web pages. There are so many programs out there that are constantly redefining what is expected for composition of these three areas. Below is a link to a video and another video describing some handy tips when creating word documents for how to change a regular word file from normal or boring looking to professional and eye grabbing with simple but significant formatting.

http://youtu.be/bkJmB56GBfg

Improving Correctness and Precision

Almost all word processing programs today have features that correct spelling and typography errors. Grammar checkers identify several errors in capitalization, word use, double negatives, verb use, sentence structure, number style, and other writing mistakes. Word processors can tell if you make spelling or grammar mistakes by inserting a curvy red, green, or blue underline under the text that it recognizes as an error, based on a word bank database including dictionaries, thesaurus', and more. Red underlines indicate either that Microsoft Word doesn't recognize a word, such as a proper name or place, or a possible spelling error with suitable replacement words are identified. Green underlines indicate that grammar should be revised. A blue underline indicates that a word is spelled correctly but it does not seem to be the correct word tense for the sentence. Word includes a standard dictionary that automatically fixes common spelling mistakes. This is such a great addition to the program as using spell checking can save you all kinds of embarrassment, not to mention time.

Outlining and Organizing Ideas

Generally word processors contain some form of outliner. This is a feature that allows you to split a focus into a hierarchical order with main points and sub points. Your computer maintains track of the levels of ideas automatically so that you can easily add, cut, or rearrange points in the outline. The outline feature creates fast work of organizing long or complex documents, procedures, and presentations. You can promote or demote items in the outline hierarchy by changing their indentation. You can also organize information into headings and subheadings, apply numbered and bulleted lists, and control which levels of information are displayed.

Collecting Information Electronically

Collecting information electronically is one of the ways you can improve your writing ability with written messages, oral presentation and web pages.

Computers enable you to search for resources through the internet quickly and fast. Most of the world's information is now accessible in databases or on the web no matter where you are.

Fighting Writer's Block

WHAT IS WRITER'S BLOCK?

According to Wikipedia, Writer’s Block (WB) is “a condition, associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task in hand. At the other extreme, some "blocked" writers have been unable to work for years on end, and some have even abandoned their careers.”


WHAT CAUSES WRITER'S BLOCK?

There is no specific reason for writer's block though in some cases their might be; origins and effects vary greatly from person to person, just like inspiration and style vary from one writer to another. There are many ways to trigger writer's block; anger or sadness may impede one writer’s efforts, and at the same time could fuel another writer's creativity for writing. Some common causes of writer's block are:

• Fear of failure

• Pushing yourself

• Write what we have to write, not what we want to write

• The work itself   

HOW CAN COMPUTERS CAN HELP YOU FIGHT WRITER'S BLOCK?

The best way to overcome writer's block is to figure out what is causing it and solve that problem. If you are unable to determine the source of your writer's block, there are several other things you can do to overcome it and jump start your writing. The most obvious method is to force yourself to write.

Most people worry about how to start writing, where to begin, and how to write it. Usually the difficulty is not in  deciding what you want to write about, but how to vocalize and convey what you have to say in a way that the writer is happy with.

In this case computers will help you generate your ideas and combine all resources needed together for you in one place... because that's what they are for! Some of the greatest writers come up with their ideas out of the blue - just surfing the web late night until they stumble upon something that inspires them. You can expect fewer delays through using word processors instead of the old fashion paper and pen. Word processors enable ideas to flow effortlessly from your brain to a screen, not to mention having handy resources like YouTube, Wikipedia, Google, and many other sites that may not even be discovered yet just a click away. Also, you can use computers to compose documents a lot faster than other methods, be it PowerPoint presentations, Excel documents to make schedules, or even experimenting with structure and phrasing what you want to say. The possibilities are endless with computers because if you don't understand something that you are working on, or maybe you need some creative input, there are so many resources and application available. "Just Google it."

What Are The Seven Ways In Which Computers Can Help You Create A Better Written Messages, Oral Presentation, and Web Pages?

There are almost infinite ways in which computers can help people be successful, be it from simple tasks like web conferencing, online meetings, and various software applications, to the most complex performances like monitoring a cars performance, or creating complex information system databases. People often have different definitions for what a computer is. The exact definition of a computer from Merium Webster is: an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. 

Complex computers also include the means for storing data (including the program, which is also a form of data) for some necessary duration.

By understanding what computers are generally expected to be, as well as what we have transformed them into over the past 100 years, we can determine various reasons as to why computers can be helpful for any and all applications. Although computers can't actually do the writing for you, they provide powerful tools that make the composition process easier, and the results are usually more professional. The seven most popular methods in which computers can help you improve your written documents,  oral presentations, and web pages are as followed:

• Fighting writer's block

• Collecting information electronically

• Outlining and organizing ideas

• Improving correctness and precision

• Adding graphics for emphasis

• Designing and producing professional looking documents, presentations, and web pages

• Using collaborative software for team writing

The Past

Generation X is by far the most technologically adapted generation yet. Most of them grew up with computers and ultimately a life without them seems impossible. To other individuals, this could be seen as extremely hazardous, as would the effects of using computers as much as we all know we do. The fact of the matter is that we need computers and have relied on them for over 100 years!

In 1975, Ed Roberts was the first to coin the term, "personal computer" when he introduced the Altair 8800. Contrary to popular belief, the first personal computer is considered by many to be the Kenback-1, which was first introduced for $750 in 1971. The computer relied on a series of switches for inputting data and output data by turning on and off a series of lights.

Altair 8800

Kenback-1

 

About 40 years ago, people had no idea what their computer technology would eventually lead to. Even fewer people would have been able to predict that computers would have been developed into what they are today. When the 1970's came around, the popularity of computers was only beginning to take hold. As a result, several companies were expanding and improving on computer technology to increase the income potential and by making personal home computers more accessible and fun to use for everybody.