Speech-to-text devices save users time by translating audio recordings into on-screen text. Although the device is computer-related hardware, the speech recognition and translation process is completed by speech recognition software. There are several different digital-voice recorders from which to choose, and a few types of speech recognition programs. Writer Bio

As the first line of defense on a computer, firewalls are primarily designed to limit or stop network traffic and connections. Firewalls analyze incoming data, what it intends to do, and where it’s going to determine whether it should be accepted or denied based on the firewall’s policy. Although firewalls can protect your computer because they require authentication to open network-intensive programs, they may interfere with known safe operations and are limited in their protection capabilities....

The most basic form of user authentication, particularly on the Web, is the password authentication protocol. This method of authentication forces you to remember username/password combinations to access accounts or special sections of a website. While effective and in some ways fundamentally a part of online security, password authentication protocols fail when you don’t address them seriously. This means constructing complex passwords and maintaining secrecy. This also means that entities implementing password authentication must safeguard passwords in some way....

Those ads you see on websites aren’t just nuisances; they are the way many otherwise free websites and online services make the money necessary to keep going. Google is one major provider of onsite advertisements, and splitting fees from ad clicks between itself and individual website owners represents a significant amount of its annual revenue. Software like AdBlock Plus, which keep visitors from ever seeing ads in the first place, deprives Google of some revenue but can have a much larger impact on the websites Google services with ads....

People’s ability to communicate with each other is a major component of the glue that pieces societies together. The Internet – a virtual world that connects people from all walks of life – has had an extensive impact on communication since its proliferation and globalization. The Internet makes communication easier and faster, and makes modes of communication more diverse. Since the 1990s a whole culture has grown up around the new possibilities of keeping in touch on the Web....

Printer Must be On and Connected To make use of the Google Cloud Print service, the printer must be switched on and set up correctly. You can check the setup instructions for your Cloud Ready Printer on the Google Cloud Print information page (link in Resources). If you are using a classic printer, ensure that it is switched on and connected to the computer on which you have set up the Google Cloud Print connector....

The Internet can be a dangerous place, with threats lurking around every virtual corner. These malicious programs and individuals can compromise your computer system, steal your identity and even clean out your bank account if they manage to breach your defenses. Keep an actively updated malware suite on any PC connected to the Internet, and learn to spot the obvious threats to keep yourself safe. Writer Bio

The typical file size of an MP3 depends on a number of different factors, including the length of the audio and the bitrate, which determines the audio quality of the file. Writer Bio

PayPal’s Withdrawal Limit PayPal accounts start out with a $500 monthly withdrawal limit. This limit only applies to money in your PayPal balance that you want to transfer to your bank, not to money you send to other PayPal members, so it only comes into play if you receive payments using PayPal. To withdraw over $500 per month, you need to confirm one or more of your bank accounts or credit or debit cards....

Personal and Recreational Many applications and social networks now make use of webcams with features like Google Hangouts and Skype video conferencing. You can now enter video chats as easily as you might enter a text chat room. Most of these applications and features are also free, so if you have a webcam you’re good to go. Video chatting is useful for keeping up with faraway friends and family, as it makes things a little more personal than just calling on the phone....

Information technology has taken the educational landscape by storm, increasing the learning potential of students and empowering teachers with engaging presentation tools and advanced class-management systems. From preschools to institutions of higher education, a plethora of electronic devices – laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even smart-boards – has opened access to vast amounts of information. These tools promote wider participation in the academic community and benefit educators and students alike. Writer Bio

Updated September 01, 2017 Protocol The first component of a web address is the protocol, which is also known as the scheme. The protocol defines how your browser handles the data and what type of connection is established. Common protocols include Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for accessing web pages or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), which is a secure version commonly used on sites that perform e-commerce or require people log in with a username and password....

When your computer beeps it can be alarming, but beeping communicates crucial diagnostic information that will help you to troubleshoot and correct hardware problems the machine has encountered. A computer beeps when it boots, and a single beep is usually a good sign, meaning that all system components are functioning normally. A computer also beeps when an error condition occurs. The tone and duration of the beep convey information about the nature of the error....

The fifth generation iPod classic was the first iPod with video playback capabilities. Since then, Apple has released versions of the iPod nano and the iPod touch with video playback. These players have limited compatibility with video formats. To make a video play on an iPod, you will need to purchase and download it in a compatible format or convert it from its original format. Writer Bio

Finding unwanted messages in your Facebook inbox can leave you feeling bullied or harassed. The reporting process enables you to take steps to protect yourself. While reporting alone may not prevent all future unwanted messages, when used with the blocking feature, it can result in a more secure inbox. Writer Bio

Updated July 21, 2017 History The first data processing system was developed by IBM. The IBM 701 Data Processing Machine was designed to handle the concept of multitasking, which brought the power of automation to small businesses and organizations. According to MIS magazine, the 701 opened the door for the concept of management information systems and specialized software packages for various industries. Features In simplistic terms, a data processing system uses a software application to accept input from a user to create a form of output....

Even as game consoles have become increasingly complex, the PC has remained one of the most popular gaming platforms in the world. The processor is extremely important to consider when purchasing a PC for gaming. However, what you should look for in a processor depends in part on the type of gaming that you intend to do on the computer. Writer Bio

PBX refers to a Private Branch Exchange phone system. The system is common in many business environments where multiple phone lines are needed. PBX allows a company to use trunk lines, which are a group of phone lines that are managed by the PBX system.

The inner workings of a computer involve a mix of both hardware devices and software. One example of this mix is a PCI hardware device, which needs a software driver to function. Without this driver, the device will not function. Writer Bio

POTS is short for plain old telephone service and refers to the standard land line telephone service that has been in place for many decades. A POTS number refers to the number used to identify your land line telephone service, or your home telephone number. Plain old telephone service is still commonly used throughout the United States and the rest of the world, but VOIP, or voice over Internet protocol, is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to POTS service....