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HOOKED UPA shocking 90% of tribal populations lack high-speed Internet access. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says usage rates are just 5% in some areas. New America Foundation Open Technology Initiative calls this a travesty. But hopefully this will soon be changing.
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Courtesy of georgehotelling (via Flickr)
We still have a ways to go when it comes to clean energy, but there are things you can do every day to make your own life more energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Making smart choices about the tech and energy you use on a daily basis, even the smallest choices, can have a big impact.
Of course, some of these Top 20 Green Tech Ideas may be expensive or are still in the works. But there are several you can use, or may already be using and you just don’t know it, that can help you save money, energy and the environment.
Here are just a few to get started:
Courtesy of Google
I’m a big fan of Google, I use it for work and play, searching for recipes, images, sources, articles, you name it. But sometimes the results can be overwhelming.
Wouldn’t it be helpful if there were a way to see what others have found useful? Well, it seems I’m not alone. Recently, Google introduced the “+1″ button.
On Facebook you can see which pages, posts, etc. those you know like – making it easier to find. And much like Facebook’s “like” button, +1 allows you to share recommendations with friends, contacts and everyone else on Google.
Google says +1 is a “digital shorthand for “this is pretty cool”. To recommend something, all you have to do is click +1 on a webpage or ad you find useful. These +1’s will then start appearing in Google’s search results.” While it’s still in its early stages, the new button will make it easier to find the stuff you’re looking for. You can even link your Google profile to your Twitter and other accounts so that when you tweet a search result it automatically +1s the item for you.
For now, you’ll only be able to +1 a webpage and Google ads. But Google says soon you’ll be able to +1 products, search results, specific articles, etc.
How do I start using the +1 button?
Until Google fully launches the +1 button, you can opt-in and join the Experiment to test it out.
Tell us: Have you started using the +1 feature? What do you think of it? Will it help you navigate Google’s search results a little better?
Courtesy of Johan.V. (via flickr)
The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or the IC3, is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NWC3).
They recently reported that in their 10-year history, 2010 was the second-highest year for complaints of online crime (2009 was the highest).
There were 303,809 complaints in 2010, and victims have reported hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
Knowing the online crimes that happen most often is the first step to protecting yourself from falling victim to one. According to the IC3, the top types of Internet Crime were:
“We have implemented new tools to help law enforcement bring online criminals to justice,” says Gordon M. Snow, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, so the IC3 also suggests that you lodge complaints through their web portal if you do fall victim to an online crime.
Courtesy of blmurch (via Flickr)
There are only a few weeks left to file your taxes. It’s getting down to crunch time. Of course, e-filing can make filing simple and get you your refund quickly.
But with nearly 21 million returns filed electronically, e-filing can also be an easy way for criminals to get their hands on your personal and financial information. Fortunately, there are a few precautions you can take to safeguard yourself and your info online.
Here are a few ways Mashable says you can protect your personal information during this prime time for scammers:
Learn about even more ways to keep your computer and information safe, here.
Courtesy of Cara Photography (via Flickr)
If you’re looking for a job, you’re probably used to getting job alerts and offers in your email. But what you might not expect is a scam that uses your unemployment to lure you into a trap.
Consider this: you open your inbox to find an email from a construction company saying, “The HR Department of our company is interested in your resume..stable income…you don’t need any operational experience”.
Might seem too good to be true. But the email looks legit and has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) seal of approval. You even do your homework and find the company does have an excellent rating with the BBB.
At this point, you’re probably excited about a potential job opportunity. So, you may not think twice about the next step. The email then invites you to visit the company’s website and fill out a contact form. Now, all you need to do is provide your banking and personal information so they can pay you.. **Red Flag
These companies are real – the websites and job offers are not. Scammers are using FBN Construction in Dayton, Ohio and others to steal credit information from hundreds of applicants. And this scam seems to be making its way across the U.S.
So, what can you do to protect yourself?
If you receive an email like this, do your research and visit the BBB. You can file a complaint here. You can also learn more about protecting your identity and credit online, here.
Courtesy of iTunes
From what’s happening in Japan, we can learn a thing or two about how to best prepare for natural disasters. And with technology like smart phones making it easy to access the web from wherever, your phone can be a useful tool in emergency preparedness.
There are some very handy apps and sites that can help you prepare, stay updated, and help you figure out where to go and what to do next.
Here are just a few apps that can help you through a disaster:
These sites can also help you in an emergency:
Courtesy of pouwerker (via Flickr)
Are you trying to find someone in Japan? Many service providers, Google and others are trying to help make it easy for you to contact your friends and family.
If you’re looking for a loved one, here are just a few ways to locate and contact them:
AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, T-Mobile and Sprint are providing Free calls to Japan to help you reach your loved ones. Along with credits and waived fees, some are also offering free sms messaging services, even if you don’t have a text messaging plan, to help you contact relatives and make donations.
Google Person Finder: all you need to do is enter as much info as you can and Google will provide any related information – including last known location, physical descriptions, last reported status and messages left by those searching for the individual.
Check these photos of shelter resident lists if you’re unsure of your loved ones’ whereabouts. These photos are to help those in affected areas who can’t register names on Google Person Finder.
Missing persons phone lines (Japanese language)
Emergency voicemail message board
Disaster message boards – you can leave and check messages, find people by phone number, etc.
You can find a lot of information about what’s going on in Japan, where to make donations and more at Google’s Crisis Response page.
Courtesy of David365 (via Flickr)
The 8.9 magnitude earthquake last week, and the tsunami that followed, devastated Japan, and now the tech companies of the world are working with non-profit organizations to assist in the relief efforts.
Social media is making it easier for us all to give back, and here are the best ways to help:
Even Lady Gaga is giving to the Japanese relief aid through the web, so you should too!
We share a lot of information about ourselves online these days, and it’s important to stay vigilante about securing your privacy and your safety.
It’s important to safeguard your email and Facebook accounts. It’s also important to recognize that advertisers, retailers, and other companies collect, store, track, and use your information. Currently Apple is being sued for allegedly transmitting users’ personal information to advertisers without those users’ knowledge.
At least Google has decided to put in place steps to safeguard your privacy on Google Maps Street View.
On their Maps privacy page, Google states that they only photograph public access views and blur faces and license plate numbers.
But for awhile, it was possible to see photos of bikini-clad sunbathers or people in compromising situations (a man walking into an adult video store) accidentally captured by a Google Street View camera. Not surprising that people got upset.
Now, if you find that Google Street View has caught you with your pants down or picking your nose, you can report your concern.
Here’s how:
It can’t get much easier than that!
