Connect with us

Guides

Faster, Better, And a Joy to Use: How to Speed Up Your Computer and Make It More Efficient

Published

on

There’s nothing quite like booting a pristine, straight-from-the-box computer for the first time. With no files or operating issues to weigh them down, newer computers run like a charm—at least until you’ve put some serious hours into using one.

Over time, computers can degrade, grow buggy, or get clogged with files, all of which can result in frustrating lag. How can you speed up your computer for a faster experience, even when you’ve been using it for a few years?

If you’re hoping to get closer to that straight-from-the-box experience, here are a few tips to help you resolve common issues that slow your computer down.

Free Up More Storage Space

If you’ve had your computer for a while, the chances are good that you’re running low on storage space. Over time, all of your saved files and folders can add up. In certain cases, they can make your computer less efficient, and they can even wreak havoc with system updates or make your system crash.

Your first step toward a faster computer should always be to check on your storage. You should aim to keep at least ten percent of your total disk size free at all times.

There are countless ways to free up storage on your computer, from deleting old files to transferring unused documents to a USB drive or external hard drive. In addition, you can opt to store certain files with cloud storage, especially if you rely on common file types like word processor documents or spreadsheets.

You’ll also want to remove any programs you don’t often use. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used an application in the past six months to a year, you should consider removing it. The same is true for bloatware, or unwanted applications that come pre-installed on your device.

Check for Viruses and Malware

If you don’t already use an anti-malware program, now is a good time to start. Viruses and malware store themselves on your computer’s system memory, which can slow your entire system down. If you aren’t sure whether malware is causing your computer’s slow speed, be sure to run a complete system scan to identify and get rid of any potential issues.

Pay Attention to the Programs You’re Running

If your computer seems to be lagging, the culprit might be a specific application. Complex programs or tasks, such as photo or video editing, can eat away at a great deal of your computer’s processing and take a toll on your system’s resources.

However, in some cases, the culprit might be an unexpected program. When you notice that your computer is slowing down, check the applications your system is running. From there, you’ll need to take steps to close those applications and lower your Windows or Mac CPU usage.

It’s especially important to consider the programs that run on startup. Some programs will automatically run in the background as soon as your computer starts up, allowing you to sync files, protect your system, and more. However, if you have too many programs clamoring for attention, it can eat up more of your memory and CPU.

If you’re on a Windows computer, you can open Task Manager to check the programs that launch on startup. For Mac users, you’ll head to System Preferences and check the Login Items section under Users & Groups. This will allow you to uncheck any programs you don’t want to open at login.

Defragment Your Hard Drive

As mentioned above, when you store countless files and applications on your system over the years, it tends to slow your computer down. In some cases, this is true even after you’ve deleted the files, as storing and deleting those files can create empty spaces in your computer’s filing structure.

For PC users, defragmenting your hard drive is an easy task, as Windows comes with a built-in application for this purpose. You can also grab a free defrag tool if you want more thorough cleaning.

Mac users, on the other hand, are lucky: you won’t need to defragment your hard drive to boost your Mac’s speed, as Apple computers aren’t prone to this storage error.

Tweak Your Settings

For a faster laptop, small settings can make a big difference.

In Windows, for example, there are plenty of animated visual effects involved in the appearance of your windows and menus. If you’re running low on system memory, these are just one of several settings to disable.

To speed up your Mac, you can reduce transparency and animations in the Accessibility section of System Preferences: simply select the option to reduce the visual effects you don’t need.

Reconsider Your Browser

You might be surprised to know that your humble web browser itself can be a memory-hogging application. Even high-performing browsers like Google Chrome may eat up at your precious resources.

If you don’t mind switching browsers, consider opting for a light browser instead.

Alternatively, work to minimize the number of tabs you have open, and prune away any unused browser extensions. It can also help to consider which browsers work best with your OS: Safari tends to work better on Mac computers, for example, than Google Chrome.

Use These Tips to Speed Up Your Computer

Whether you want to boost your PC or clean up your Mac, these simple tips can help you speed up your computer in no time. Though storage issues, complex applications, and viruses can slow your computer down as it ages, it’s not hard to optimize it for better efficiency. You might just find that a little effort can get your older computer running like new again!

Looking for more of the tech tips you need to know? Check out our other posts for additional insights.

Continue Reading

Guides

How to Conclude Your Virtual Meeting in an Engaging Way

Published

on

Virtual Meeting

Virtual meetings can be fun and engaging but can become unproductive if you don’t follow some simple best practices.

One way to avoid this is to ensure the meeting ends on time and in an engaging manner. Here are a few tips to help you do that:

Have a Closing Remark

Creating engaging virtual meetings requires intense planning and strategic outreach. This involves defining your session’s purpose, developing engagement strategies, and identifying a robust platform for your collaboration needs.

One of the best ways to conclude your virtual meeting engagingly is to make a closing remark that sums up what was covered and clarifies any action items. This remark can be light-hearted, a witty visual, or just a simple one that captures your presentation’s essence.

Have a Question and Answer Session

A Q&A session at the end of a virtual meeting or a presentation can engage attendees correctly. There are a few things to consider when planning a Q&A session, and here are some tips for hosting an effective one:

Before the meeting, ensure everyone knows the agenda and how to prepare for it. Add the plan to the meeting invitation and email it to all attendees, so they know what to expect.

During the meeting, use participant muting or hand-raising functions to facilitate turns so that each question is answered as quickly and efficiently as possible.

After the close of the meeting, ask if any questions were raised and what the feedback was. You can also ask if anyone has suggestions or ideas to share with you and your team. This is an excellent way to boost employee engagement and allow the audience to feel heard.

Have a Group Activity

Group activities can make virtual meetings more positive and boost employee engagement. These team-building games are easy to set up and run over a Zoom call, so you can play with your entire team no matter where they are!

ELI5: Explain like you’re five is a simple game where you ask your employees to describe a concept they know or are passionate about in a way that even 5-year-olds can understand. This is a great icebreaker that requires communication, teamwork, and reasoning!

Culture Connection: Have employees describe the company culture in one word. This is an excellent icebreaker for your remote team and can help you track any cultural shifts.

Challenge your team’s quick judgments with this activity. Ask them to list three items they would want on a desert island and provide their reasons for each. Everyone will be able to see your team’s broad spectrum of perspectives and learn new things from their peers.

Have a Discussion

Discussing a virtual meeting can be tricky. You must balance the need for focus with a desire to engage your team members.

Whether you’re having a problem-solving meeting or an idea-sharing session, it’s essential to ensure that everyone feels like they’re part of the discussion. To do this, use various attractive features in your meeting to make your attendees feel more active and engaged.

Start with an agenda of questions to get people thinking about what they want from the meeting. This will keep people on the right track and help them feel more engaged.

It’s also a good idea to create meeting norms that clarify what kind of attention is expected from participants. This can include eye movement, typing sounds, and expressions. If anyone needs to follow your instructions, feel free to point them out. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can connect with your audience when they’re on the same page as you.

Continue Reading

Guides

What is an Airblast Room and How Does it Work?

Published

on

Airblast Room

An airblast room is a safe and controlled environment where unfinished products are blasted to remove paint, mold, rust, or other contaminants. It is an ideal solution for a wide variety of industrial applications.

The blasting process is performed manually or with mechanical abrasive rigs on tracks. The abrasive is accelerated through a hose and nozzle specific to the project type. The abrasive debris falls into a collection or recovery system through the floor grate.

What is an Airblast Room?

The massive, closed cabinets known as blast rooms by Airblast AFC are made to contain dangerous materials. Operators inside blast the components with reusable media, such as steel shot or grit, while wearing protective gear.

The best blast rooms have a dust collecting system to catch flying debris before contaminating your workspace to safeguard the environment. An appropriately sized system can increase your productivity and lower your operating costs while helping to keep your employees safe from dust-borne illnesses.

Blasting rooms come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from containerized blast booths to converted shipping containers to modular units with various floor configurations. 

Blasting Process

The blasting process involves using abrasive materials to remove unwanted elements, rust, and cosmetic damage from metal or other materials. It can be a simple treatment of a single pole, a large build, or a more extensive stripping and preparation for further coating applications.

A high-quality abrasive is expelled against the material’s surface at a high rate, which can help peel back layers of paint and other coatings. It can help prepare the metal or other object for subsequent treatment, reducing the time and effort required for further work.

Typically, the abrasive is applied by a turbine system or in a dedicated blast cabinet. It allows the team to control the spray rate, reducing the risk of contamination or spillage and ensuring the safe application of the material.

Abrasive Recovery

Abrasive recovery is removing spent abrasive and dust from an air blast room’s floor after blasting. These waste materials can be collected with sweepers, moving walls, air jets, or other methods to be reprocessed in a recycling system.

The most common method of abrasive recovery is a vacuum recovery system, but other options are available such as mechanical and pneumatic systems. Each option will provide different benefits for your blast room.

Pneumatic abrasive recovery systems operate by sweeping or shoveling media into a floor hopper to be cleaned and recycled using a cyclone separator. These are an economical alternative to whole floor recovery systems that work best with lighter abrasives such as glass bead, aluminum oxide, and garnet.

Mechanical abrasive recovery systems require a small footprint installation and are ideal for blast rooms with limited budgets or in environments where excavation is not allowed. The recovered media mix is fed into a screw conveyor system and discharged into bucket elevators.

Dust Collection

Blasting machines and equipment may release large amounts of dust as they work. A dust collection system helps contain and clean up this dust so that the workers and their environment remain safe.

The proper dust collector will depend on the type of work being done and the amount of debris produced. The size of the dust particle is also an important consideration.

A small collector can filter a single location, or an industrial dust collection system can be used for multiple sites. These systems are equipped with various accessories to help maintain a clean environment.

Dust collectors are critical air control equipment that can improve the air quality in any warehouse or factory. They remove contaminates such as gas fumes, dirt, sand, paint, and chemicals from machinery and other processes.

Continue Reading

Guides

What Does a Genealogist Do?

Published

on

genealogy specialists

What Genealogy Is?

Genealogy is the study of family history and lineage. It involves researching and documenting the lives of ancestors, building family trees, and uncovering connections between different generations.

The Role of a Genealogist

Genealogy specialists, also known as genealogists, play a crucial role in this field by conducting research, analyzing information, and communicating their findings to clients and other researchers. They use a variety of tools and resources to uncover the past and piece together the stories of our ancestors.

Researching Ancestry

Identifying and locating relevant records

Is a key aspect of genealogy research. Genealogy specialists use a variety of sources to gather information, including vital records (such as birth, marriage, and death certificates), census records, church records, and military records. They may also use newspapers, diaries, and letters to gain insight into the lives of their ancestors.

Analyzing and interpreting information

Analyzing and interpreting the information found in these records is another important step in the research process. Genealogy specialists must be able to read and understand old documents, decipher handwriting, and make connections between different pieces of information. They must also be able to identify and overcome any potential roadblocks, such as missing records or conflicting information.

Utilizing online resources and databases

Is increasingly important in genealogy research. Genealogy specialists use a variety of online tools, including genealogy websites, digital archives, and social media platforms to access a wealth of information and connect with other researchers.

Building Family Trees

Gathering and organizing information

Is the foundation of building a family tree. Genealogy specialists use the information they have researched to create a comprehensive and accurate representation of their client’s ancestors. They must be able to organize and keep track of a large amount of information, including names, dates, and locations.

Creating and maintaining a family tree

Is a process that requires attention to detail and the ability to think critically. Genealogy specialists use software and other tools to create visual representations of family trees, including charts, diagrams and graphs. They must also be able to update and modify the tree as new information is discovered.

Identifying and solving problems in the tree

Is an ongoing process for genealogy specialists. As they research and build a tree, they may encounter issues such as missing information, conflicting data, or duplicate ancestors. They must be able to identify these issues and use their research skills to find solutions and correct errors in the tree.

Communicating and Collaborating

Interacting with clients and other researchers

This is an important aspect of a genealogy specialist’s job. They must be able to communicate effectively with clients to understand their research goals and provide updates on their progress. They also communicate with other researchers and genealogy experts to share information and collaborate on projects.

Sharing information and collaborating on projects

Is essential to advancing genealogy research. Genealogy specialists often work with a team of researchers or join online communities to share information and ideas. They may also contribute to online databases and forums to help others in their research.

Presenting findings and creating reports

This is the final step in a genealogy specialist’s work. They must be able to present their findings in a clear and concise manner, whether it be through written reports, oral presentations, or visual aids. They should also be able to provide recommendations for further research and the next steps for the client.

Professional Development and Certification

  • Education and training opportunities:
    Genealogy specialists can continue to improve their skills by attending workshops, classes, and conferences.
  • Certifications and credentials:
    Many organizations offer certifications for genealogy specialists, which can demonstrate their expertise and professional standing in the field.
  • Staying current with industry developments:
    Genealogy research is a constantly evolving field, and genealogy specialists must stay up-to-date with new technologies, resources, and best practices.

Conclusion

Genealogy specialists are experts in researching and documenting family history, building family trees, and uncovering connections between different generations. They use various tools and resources to gather information, analyze and interpret it, and present their findings to clients and other researchers. They also participate in professional development and may seek certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Genealogy is a profession that requires skill, knowledge and patience to discover the history of one’s family.

Continue Reading

Trending