What Is the Importance of Interface Testing?

What is interfacing in fact? An interface connects to the backend of a database system and which writes or retrieves data from that end. While developing the front end (interface) of the system, why is its testing important before bringing it to real-time usage in full swing? Read on to find out.

There are several parts or modules at the interface end. Testing this end brings out bugs, which after debugging, enables to provide an efficiently working front end and also a well-developed database system on the overall for a company's own use or selling to clients, keeping them happy and satisfied.

Testing the interface end enables to check vigorously if the administrative panel works alright. Not every administrator should have access to all parts or modules. Only the top most administrator in the hierarchy gets access to all the parts.

The front end should be tested to find out if it coordinates and operates correctly with the backend. It should be able to add, edit, delete and retrieve data correctly from the backend and be in harmony with the backend meaning data at both the ends are the same and updated.

The front end should be for the end users who should find it pretty user-friendly to work on not thinking much but getting ahead with mouse clicks while the main backend maintenance remains the responsibility of the administrative panel.

The interface end should be tested and tested over and over again to make it as user-friendly as possible. Questionnaires based on the front end or actually having the interface tested out by novice users brings light to so many flaws and discrepancies which are otherwise not visible to the experts. Above all, in order to make the interface user-friendly, it should follow the norms and principles of a good web interface design.

So what are the guidelines of a good and user-friendly web interface design? Here are a few:

1) Keep it simple.

2) Your design should give a first good impression.

3) Pages should be well-organized with a top-down design.

4) Consistency should exist among the pages.

5) Make sure your interface is wonderful not only design-wise but also content-wise.

Now comes the question about what languages to use for your entire front end and backend system. Well, you sure must have initial programming skills and expertise and then you can broaden your zenith of knowledge. C sharp, or Php, HTML and Javascript, or ASP.net are good for interface design while MySql or Microsoft SQL Server can work for the backend database. It is up to you to connect and synchronize them together as I have already mentioned earlier.

Take small daily steps every day and once you have begun, it is bound to end some day and your task will be completed with thorough testing included, enabling you to give the lovely finishing touches.

Rosina S Khan has authored this article, highlighting why testing the interface of a complete backend and front end database system is significant.

For a wealth of free resources based on an academic guide on Databases, quality scholar papers, stunning fiction stories, amazing self-help eBooks and commendable articles, all authored by her, and much more, visit: http://rosinaskhan.weebly.com. You will be glad that you did.

RFID in Libraries - How Does a RFID Solution for Library Work?

What does an RFID library solution consist of?

A typical RFID library management system consists of RFID tags, a label conversion station, a self-service machine, a cart inventory, a RFID security door and a 24-hours Outdoor Book Drop.

1. RFID library tags - the core of the system. A RFID library tag is equipped with a programmable chip and an antenna and it can be fixed inside the back cover of a book or directly onto a CD.

2. Label Conversion Station - it provides a quick, easy solution to binding library items with RFID tags.

3. Self Service Station- it works as a combined station which provides check-in and check-out service.

4. Inventory Cart- it is typically equipped with a large RFID antenna with excellent detection rates, making it easier for librarians to take inventory of the items.

5. RFID Security Door - it works as part of the detection system.

6. 24-hours Outdoor Book Drop - A device mounted on the facade of the library. It offers a great flexibility and convenience for patrons, because they can return library items even when the library is closed at night or on holidays.

Process flow of the Management System

Book Tagging: Past each the library items with a RFID tag. This book binding operation is done by the label conversion station.

Automatic Inventory and Positioning: Librarians use an inventory cart to identify items for shelving process and trace the position of an item. If they find the items are in wrong place and they can put them back to the right place. By wirelessly connecting to a PC or laptop, it can significantly improve the efficiency of inventory.

Automatic Identification: The system will automatically record the whole behavior when patrons borrow a book with their legitimate library card. From the moment they use the subsystem of resource management to find out the specific location of the books they need, take the books from the bookcase till they get the book checked out on the self-service machine.

Automatic Anti-Theft Detection: When the items get through the RFID security door, no matter they are entrained in clothes or in bags, the system will automatically find that and identify if the items are borrowed and automatically alarm when the items are taken out of the library illegally.

Benefits of the RFID library management system

For Libraries:

1) They can conduct stock management more effectively as RFID technology improves in accuracy and reading range.

2) They are released from repetitive labor, such as finding lost and missing items and identifying mis-shelved stock, and provide better patron services.

3) They can spend less time for circulation operations.

4) They can improve inventory management.

5) Less staff are required to manage them may be reduced due to more automated operations.

For Library Patrons

1) They can save a lot of time for waiting in long lines by using self-service station.

2) They can find what they are looking for quickly & easily.

3) They can return borrowed items in time with the help of reminders for due dates.

4) Flexible timings are available for them by using book drops & return chutes for returning library material.

By Gordon Cheng

History of Computers - When Floppy Disks Actually Flopped

With the advent of early computers as far as the 80's and beginning of 90's, floppy disks were popular to store data. Everyone who handled computers also had access to these floppy disks. But technology advances all the time and it was time for floppy disks to flop. What did people prefer instead? Read on to find out.

Floppy disks could only store KB's of data. But peoples' demand for storing data was catapulting higher and higher. And CDROM disks were born. They could store several mega bytes of data.

Now CD's are also getting obsolete. It is the era of GB's of data in flash drives and terabytes of data in portable hard disks.

So how did floppy disks which were once in great demand and popular become outdated? One reason I mentioned earlier is their much less storage capacity. The other reason is people no more found them enticing. CD's, flash drives and portable hard disks seemed more promising and sophisticated.

I myself don't like using CD's any more. I only download whatever I need from the vast resource of internet and if I have any data to store, I use flash drives.

So the trend was floppy disks, CDROM disks, flash drives and portable hard disks and yes in that order. What's next? What have the great Tech guys out there have in mind? I am curious, really curious.

Surely, something more attractive and user-friendly with three-in-one facilities will turn up. For example, they can be connected to digital camera, laptops or computer and cell phones with the same size and design. Now that would be interesting. One gadget being able to do all three would be great. I am in anticipation of that day.

Summing up, this article's focus was not actually on the history of computers but that of the accessories that can be connected to them. I hope you found value in what I portrayed here.

Years ago there were no computers - not to talk of floppy disks, CD's, flash drives and portable hard disks. But life still carried on. And people were simple and happy. But with the advent of these in modern life, the world has shrunk a lot but even then people don't feel satisfied and content with what they have. They have a strong urge to get more of these gadgets but in reality you don't need to be gadget obsessed and hoard in your home everything out there available in the market. You can still be purely happy and enjoy life without possessing all of them.

Rosina S Khan has authored this article, highlighting why floppy disks flopped and couldn't find their entrance in the modern era.

For a wealth of free resources based on stunning fiction stories, amazing self-help eBooks, commendable articles and quality scholar papers, all authored by her, and much more, visit: http://rosinaskhan.weebly.com. You will be glad that you did.

Breakthrough Battery Charging Technologies

Battery chargers are devices that feed electric currents into rechargeable batteries to renew their energy. Protocols for charging depend of the type of battery being used and its size. Some batteries are programmed to tolerate overcharging while being connected to a constant current source. Such kinds may need manual disconnection when the battery is recharged or they may cut-off at a fixed time through a timer. Those types that cannot withstand overcharging may have in-built voltage and temperature sensing circuits to cut off when fully charged.

Over the decades, smart phones and other devices have become technologically advanced with each passing year but power limitations are severely restrictive. The battery hasn't witnessed the kind of advance that other devices have. But all that may be changing now.

It is only now that big technology companies such as those making electric vehicles are becoming aware of the limitations of lithium-ion batteries. The maximum recharge duration of the best Smartphone is limited to less than 60 hours while operating systems are becoming more and more power efficient. Universities around the world are making huge investments into a plethora of studies, research and discoveries. However, in spite of the many developments that have taken place especially in the last two decades, the 'perfect replacement' has not yet been achieved. Manufacturing techniques cost huge amounts and any additional changes come with huge costs.

But we may see huge changes as early as 2017 with superfast 30-second recharging and over-the-air charging likely to start trending.

Some of the path-breaking discoveries and technologies could be those that we are reading about already.

• Lithium-air breathing batteries - this mean oxygen is the oxidizer resulting in batteries costing nearly a fifth of the price and weighing a fifth less than lithium-ion making phones, cars and other devices last longer. Dallas University is still pursuing this discovery and it may take at least five years to come to market.

• Bioo plant charger - as the name suggests, this harnesses photosynthesis to charge a device. Already available in the market, the 'plant pot' reacts with organic matter and water using organic materials and generates enough power for charging devices. This is a huge step forward as it provides green energy and allows energy from forests to be harnessed; in addition, it can add up to a greener planet.

• Gold nanowire batteries - a thousand times thinner than human hair, this technology provides a breakthrough for future batteries that can withstand plenty of recharging and not die. Researchers at the University of California have used gold nanowires in a gel electrolyte that have withstood 200,000 recharges in three months and have not broken down at all.

• Magnesium batteries - a breakthrough in harnessing the mineral magnesium for batteries has been achieved by some scientists. This allows for smaller densely packed battery units that in the long run could make cheaper batteries not dependent on lithium-ion. However, this is still in the development stage.

Managed Print Services: It's More Important Than You Think

Outsourcing the management of your company's document output via Managed Print Services (MPS) offers a myriad of benefits. Most companies embark on an MPS solution to save money, reduce energy costs, and consolidate printer fleets. However, an MPS solution offers much more than that - It also enables you to increase workflow and boost productivity. Your return on investment is limited only by the limitations you put on your solution.

Here are a few ways to help MPS help you, maximizing its impact on your organization:

Start from the beginning. From day one, plan on using MPS to its fullest potential. Rather than following the learning curve, dive in head first. This way, you will avoid using MPS only for short-term savings. Instead, you'll be better equipped to take advantage of infrastructure optimization, proactive management, and business optimization.

Set yourself free. You may not realize it right away, but maintaining a proactive MPS solution will free you and your employees from tedious work-allowing you to focus on more productive tasks. It will also free you from distractions (like when a printer goes down) and tracking inventory (such as when you need more toner). With MPS, it's all taken care of for you. That way, your employees can focus on what's actually important: your business.

Integrate everything. In order to truly eliminate inefficient processes, you'll want to integrate your MPS system with existing business systems to enhance workflow, information management, and compliance. Integration allows you to truly measure your cost savings and track productivity improvements.

Be specific. When engaging with MPS, keep your specific needs in the back of your mind. This includes adopting solutions suited to your specific industry, such as education, law, medical, or finance. Intelligent multifunction devices can be equipped with industry-specific software that provides practical solutions for your unique business needs. Remember, there is more to MPS than copying, printing, and scanning. Make MPS work for you instead of the other way around.

Never stop improving. Process improvement is key to ensuring you attain the wide array of benefits MPS offers. Always be willing to adjust your MPS solution and your workflow in order to gain the most out of your system.

MPS is not a one size fits all solution nor is it a strategy for wholesale replacement of your current print fleet with new devices. The benefits of MPS are best realized when a professional MPS provider works with you to develop near-term and long-term goals to meet your specific needs. In that way you maximize the return on investment by optimizing business processes, boosting productivity and enhancing workflow.

Richard Hermann is owner and CEO of TC Technologies, Inc. The company has been awarded the CompTIA Managed Print Trustmark and is dedicated to delivering Smart Office Document Solutions for our clients. This includes cost containment, cost reduction and business process enhancements to improve the production and use of documents both hardcopy and electronically. For more information please visit http://www.tctechnologies-inc.com.

Using Google Street View for Remote Feng Shui Audits

For many years now I have used Google Earth aerial views to determine remotely the compass reading for a property. Google Earth shows true north at the top edge of their photos, but then notes the longitude and latitude coordinates at the bottom of the page. With that information, I would go to the National Geophysical Data Center website to figure out the magnetic declination for the area being viewed.

The aerial photos provide insight into things a consultant may not even be aware of when doing an in-person evaluation, such a noting which neighbors have a pool that could be affecting another property, as a large body of water.

More recently, using Google Compass, the work is done for you if you follow the clicks all the way to the end and you can see on one final page the comparison between True North and magnetic North, which they refer to as the "compass bearing." In a classical Feng Shui analysis, using a compass is paramount for a proper reading. "The compass is to the geomancer what a telescope is to an astronomer," to quote Feng Shui historian, practitioner and author Stephen Skinner.

As much as I appreciate these aerial photos, something was still missing and Google Street View has been yet another great application, to fill in the missing pieces, when doing remote analysis. Google Street View captures the scene at street level and you can move the view around to see the property in question, up and down the street and the land across the street.

This is an important feature in a Feng Shui analysis. For example, some houses benefit from having higher land level on their facing side. If there is a slope upwards, a real mountain, or even a neighbor's stone wall across the street, these are natural influences which can affect the health and well-being of the occupants. What is not always evident or easy to see from aerial photos can be corroborated with Google Street View, such as the height or density of trees, hedges and other landscaping elements nearby. The natural surroundings near a house or building can play an important role in manipulating or shoring up the air currents.

Man-made features, can also be evaluated such as a roof line pointing toward a property or statuary and things of the like which cannot be easily identified from just an aerial perspective.

There is also something to be said for visual "sha." The word "sha" refers to something objectionable, ugly, draining, or a condition which could undermine the health or mental outlook of a person. With Google Street View, you can sometimes clearly see the condition of a house and if there is any dilapidation to the structure, what exterior colors are being used, and all visuals at ground level and closer range than what the aerial photos provide. As another example, from just aerial photos alone, it is not always evident how many stories a building or house is, but this is clearly shown with Google Street View. There is always a relationship between structures and their comparative height matters.

These are essential tools for a feng shui practitioner, offering advice remotely. A person may take their own pictures of course and provide them to a consultant. But for a variety of reasons, the Google Street View can give instantaneous information, especially if a prospective buyer or renter is not near the property either, to be the eyes for the long distance Feng Shui consultant.

The Street View image also helps locate the exact address of a property when the Google Earth pin just lands in the center of the street.

Kartar Diamond works remotely with people all over the world. She is the author of Feng Shui for Skeptics, The Feng Shui Matrix, and The Feng Shui Continuum, as well as ebooks which can help the lay person with some immediate practical skills. Feng Shui Tips for House Hunting and Feng Shui Tips for Realtors can be an asset to those working with Kartar remotely to find desirable properties. For more information about Kartar' services, learning tools and credentials, go to http://www.FengShuiSolutions.net

Hidden Features of Google Search

Google is used by billions of people every day to find a variety of information on the Internet. However, how many of us really use all the Google features to the full? It is easy to learn little things to help you find the desirable results faster and more precisely.

Quotations Marks, Minus and OR

Google is extremely good at finding the information you need, but with more specific search phrases you can get much better results. Using operators such as quotations marks - "like that" - or enclosing search phrases or using a minus, which will, exclude the keyword from your search, for example (bread recipe - flour). By using 'OR', you will prompt Google to give you a choice, e.g. Football Cup 2012 or 2014.

Filter keyword searches on a single site

Google gives you the choice to restrict your search to a single site. For example, if you are looking for Editorial Guidelines on the EzineArticles site, simply type 'editorial guidelines site:EzineArticles.com'.

Searching for a definition

From the time to time, we all struggle with the meaning of words and need to find an exact definition. In this case, using the operator 'define' comes in handy. Using 'Define:word' gives you the dictionary definition of the desired word with its synonyms.

Find similar sites

Sometimes you may want to look for a similar site to one you already use, in this scenario the operator 'related' comes in handy. For example, 'related:bbc.com' gives you some of the sites for rivals of the BBC or their sister sites.

Search for Apps

Google search is built to simplify the ability to find the right application for your Smartphone. By clicking on more>Apps at the top of result page, you will get a list of available applications. This function is particularly handy for Android users.

Google Trends

Find out what others are searching for in your country. Simply type 'Google.com/trends' in your browser to find the latest trends in music, TV or movies.

Google's best doodles

By skipping any search criteria and clicking on 'I'm feeling lucky' Google will take you to its selection of doodles graphically divided with logos corresponding to important dates.

Essential info on your fingertip

With simple prompts such as 'weather', you will get the current seven-day forecast for your location. By adding the name of any city or town you want, you can get a forecast for a different location. If you ever need to know the time somewhere else on the globe, just type 'time New York' for example, to see the time at that location. For many people knowing the times of sunrise and sunset is very important, to know when sun is coming up in London, type 'sunrise London'. To check stock information promptly; use 'GOOG' to find out latest Google stock status.

For more information about Google Search Secrets please visit https://www.udemy.com/google-search-secrets/

Avoid Sleeping With Your Smartphone

Smartphones can be useful at night to send a text, check the time, set an alarm, look at the calendar, use as a flashlight, read a book, and so much more. However, does the small radiation that the phone emits warrant concern? Here's some compelling evidence as to why sleeping with a smartphone may keep you from being your best the next day.

Why You Should Not Sleep Near Your Smartphone

Mobile phones use electronic magnetic radiation in the microwave range. Sleeping with a phone nearby boosts your radiation exposure just a bit, which can prevent an optimal sleep cycle.

Smartphones affect deep non-REM sleep, which leaves less time for blood flow to be directed to your muscles. Therefore in the morning, you may experience lack of concentration, soreness, and focused performance.

"Anything that disrupts the integrity of your sleep will potentially have adverse consequences in functioning during the day, such as grouchiness, difficulty concentrating, and in children hyperactivity and behaviour problems,"says Dr. William Kohler of the Florida Sleep Institute.

Five ninth-grade girls from Denmark observed these very consequences and noticed they couldn't concentrate the morning after sleeping with their phones. So they perform scientific experiment: Take 400 cress seeds (edible herb related to watercress) and split them into 12 trays, placing the trays in two rooms at the same temperature, six in each room. Give the trays the same amount of water and sunlight for 12 days, but expose six of the trays to mobile phone radiation. The girls had WiFi routers emit the same level of electromagnetic energy as a cell phone.

As you can see, the results are dramatic. The plants in the non-electromagnified room grew, while those situated next to the routers didn't grow at all or died.

"None of us sleep with our mobile phones at our bedside any more. Either we keep them at a distance or in another room," said one of the students.

Taking Precautions with Cell Phone Radiation

Two years ago, the International Agency for Research on Cancer rated smartphones as "group 2B", which means they may cause cancer in humans. Mobile phones are still a relatively new technology, so it will still take years to fully understand what, if any, adverse side effects cell phone radiation will have. Let's take the "better safe than sorry" approach and take a few precautions:

If you must keep your phone nearby for a morning alarm or clock, put the phone on "airplane mode", which will shut down the transceiver.

If you need to be on call and can't put the phone in airplane mode, at least put the phone a couple feet away from your bed.

Text instead of talking whenever possible. Use speaker phone, or a Bluetooth headphone device, instead of holding the phone to your ear whenever possible.

Try an experiment if you sleep with your smartphone. Put it in another room for a week, and don't look at it immediately before bed. See if you notice any significant change in your mornings and please report back your findings.

2011's iPhone Killers

The iPhone 4 is currently the most popular phone available at the moment. Everybody likes an underdog so what phones are on the horizon that could potentially challenge the throne of Apple's mighty mobile phone.

Kyocera Echo

The dual-screen Android smartphone called Kyocera Echo is a first and one which comes from a company that virtually invented the smartphone. As the name suggests the handset comprises of two screens which fold out not too dissimilar to a Nintendo DS. The Echo comes with a host of competitive specifications:

• 2x 3.5″LCD touchscreens at 800 x 480 resolution


• 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, autofocus and digital zoom


• 720p HD camcorder


• Stereo Bluetooth


• Full HTML Web browser with Google Search


• 1GHz Snapdragon processor (QSD 8650 Android)


• 1 gigabyte (GB) of onboard memory and an 8GB micro SDcard for the external memory card slot supporting cards up to 32GB


• Voice and text notifications

This phone is set to take multi-tasking to a whole new level and is expected to be launched in March.

LG Optimus 2X

The LG Optimus 2X is the world's first dual core smartpone. Initially this device will be launched with Android 2.2 and will be upgraded to Gingerbread once it becomes available. It runs flash and its speedy dual-core processors make the interface quick and smooth. This Android feature filled handset will no doubt go down well when it is launched. Some of its many features can be seen below:

• Display - 480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches


• 8 MP camera, autofocus and LED flash


• Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement


• 8 GB storage, 512 MB RAM


• MicroSD, up to 32GB memory storage


• 3G, HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps


• 1080p Video


• Dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor

The LG Optimus 2X is expected to be launched in March.

HTC 7 Pro

HTC has made quite a name for itself recently and their popularity continues to grow and for good reason too. This handset is another dual core processor mobile phone this time running Windows 7, which also provides a QWERTY keyboard.

• Display - 480 x 800 pixels, 3.6 inches


• 5 MP camera, autofocus and LED flash


• 8 or 16 GB storage, 448 MB RAM


• Micro USB available


• HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2 Mbp


• 1 GHz Scorpion processor


• Pocket Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, PDF viewer)

This handset is already available in the US.

HTC Desire 2

Many fans consider the HTC desire to be the best phone on the market. So naturally the Desire 2 is eagerly awaited. At this stage there are only rumours with sightings being reported at various events. If the sightings are true we could be seeing the next version sooner rather than later.

Rumoured Details Below:

• Front and rear cameras


• 3.8 inch display


• 1 GB RAM


• 8 MP camera, autofocus and LED flash


• Android 2.3.1 Gingerbread OS


• Micro USB and SD available


• HSDPA 14.4 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s

The iPhone has a massive legion of followers but there are alternatives which some regard as even better. In 2011 there are several competitors who could take the throne comparing build quality and functionality it all depends on the marketing.

Mobile Phone Recycling for cash.

Louise Goldstein