Does new technology make us anti-social?

I personally think technology has let us take the easy way out. For example emailing a teacher is much easier then going to visit them during office hours and texting is much easier then actually calling someone and talking to them on the phone. There is not nearly as much personal confrontation as there used to be say 10 years ago because there are so many ways to get around it.

Another example is Walkman, MP3 player or whatever device that people use to listen to music. What the Walkman and MP3 player did was to create a personal zone around the individual in a public space. It was more anti-social than chewing gum, more provocative than wearing mascara to tutorials. Think about it. We don’t share music by hanging out and listening to records anymore; we just swap music files on a pendrive or MP3.

The Walkman allowed us to tune out the surroundings we didn’t like. Great for long commutes or jogging. But think where it’s got us. Pocket sized devices we wear like shields to protect us from interacting with the strange, the new, the different, the unexpected. Earphones that block out all but the sound of the familiar and make us think we’re in a movie.

We’re not. We’re in the here and now, with people and things, and sights and smells that we may never experience because we’re too absorbed by our personal devices. Life’s there to be taken personally, but not from behind a device.

But, if we think again, sometimes technology will improve social life. One one side you have the people who spend all of their time on their computers playing alone, and on the other you have the people playing with each other. There's also a ton of technology that I would say improves social habits. Things like cell phones and webcams make it easier to talk to people that you may not otherwise get the chance to talk to.

However new technology is not all that bad and it actually has several pros. Social media activities have given people the opportunity to have discussion networks with people from different backgrounds. The study also said internet and cell phone users are as likely as anyone else to visit with their neighbors in person and belong to local organizations.

So apparently technology really doesn’t have a negative affect on people in today’s world. However if anything I am convinced people today do not have as good of face-to-face people skills one may have had 10 years ago due to texting and emailing.

Hybrid marketing-where internet marketing meets real world marketing

hybrid-something having two kins of components that produce the same or similar results, such as vehicle powered by both an electric motor and internal combustion engine as sources of power for the drive train. That is what had been taught by william one of the intenet marketeer in the market right now.

In my head right now, I am thinking of the picture of Toyota Prius?The real thing happened out there was not about eco-frienly cars but more so of what happens when your marketing, mix it up and go both offline and online. Wiiliam said that that is not the only option left.

So next.......

FOCUS YOUR OFFLINE MARKETING ON YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE

This is what we have learned in class friends. Having an oline presence for our business is the advantage for business owner and the main focus shoul be....company's website. The main reason is that with a website, we can tell a lot of story. The story might covered :

• The benefits of the The cost


• The product's story


• The costs of the poducts/services

And a host of others bits of juicy information at a much lower cost than doing this solely in a magazine or newspaper. So this is what we are going to do :

• Possibly the best is just by asking the journalists in your local Newspaper/Magazine if they could feature your new product or services. By specically telling them anout your spanking new, well designed and useable website that showcases all your products benefits and abilities. Becase the press are always lookout for new and fresh contents and they'll be glad for a lead and any lead. Secondly, they are more likely to drop by your company's website instead of offices,

However William said that this method works better for some businesses or any intersting products-tech?health/lifestyle/products seem to generate the most buzz and interest when it comes to media. But we never know, so open up local newspapers and find the section which suits the business the most. So with those reporters email adresses and names, go ahead, shoot them and email, it doesnt's hurt to ask.

REMIND PEOPLE ONLINE THAT YOU ARE FAMOUS

It is time for people that we are celebrity...Getting featured in the news which give something that is sometimes quite hard to come by credibility. Credibility is hard to gain from a stranger who is just stubled onto your site for the first time. Sure, you may have a great product and so much that your previous clients find your business tha mest credible in their minds. But what about the first timers to encounter?

.........Imaging seeing "As seen in Times Magazine"......................

So, as a conclusion, when we are planning the next advertising compaign, remember to hit multiple bases at once. And always always always ask people to take the call action of heading over to your website, for that is the palce where you can persuade, nudge, impress, and ultimately make the brand impression on to them.

Facebook Usage

Warning against posting publicly on Facebook or Social Networking site. As a supplement to my post below.

Putri Nadeeya

Social Networking: The good, the bad... my personal experience and that of those around me.

Yes, that’s it there... the whole title could probably explain it well... the effects social networking has on us.

I have to admit, I am a social networking addict... should probably call myself a ‘social-networking-aholic’ and signed myself up for a SNA Anonymous group (imagine that...me in the middle of a group of people: Hi, my name is Nadeeya and I’m a social-networking-aholic. :P). I have been using social networking sites ever since my Diploma years, which comes to about 6 years of social networking experience. From Friendster to BlogSpot to Fotopages to MySpace and now on to the most talked about Facebook. A couple of days ago, I got myself into Twitter... so I’ll be tweeting soon, like a bunch of chirpy happy birds! I spend up to 7 hours a day on days where I feel like staying at home. I sometimes check my sites through my phone and even when I travel on a holiday. It is THAT extreme, though I am lucky to be able to balance the real world and the virtual world. But what about others and what affect it has on them? Let us look through experiences of myself and people around me and how we should handle social networking sites to our own advantage.

As we know, there are lot of consequences of social networking to us, either on a positive or negative impact. It could give us our 15 minutes of fame one day and it could even give us the worst case scenario that could destroy us within a minute. It is all in the eye (or mind) of the beholder and how we manage ourselves in using these social networking sites.

I found both ends to the impact of social networking. On the positive side, it is a great way to catch up with my friends and families... sometimes re-connecting with friends from primary school or kindergarten to some extent. (Even to childhood sweethearts, as my friend recently discovered... not good when you’re married by that time and the ex comes out from nowhere) My mom recently got in touch with family members she lost contact with for years and they decided to make a special page to reconnect with the whole ‘Kuala Kangsar’ family clan from generations to generations, even pulling me into the picture, which is good because in some ways we finally get to learn our family background and get to know who’s who and what not.

Planning events have not been easier with the applications social networking sites have. We could invite people to weddings, birthdays, alumni events, almost anything! And there’s buttons for us to click on which lets us RSVP on the events, which makes the task of the event planning much easier than before, since before the invention of these sites, we’d have to go through snail mail which takes days to send, and weeks to get replies back to. And the great thing is that it’s free! You do not need to spend 30-60 cents per invitation card like you used to. Though some people still like to go traditional, especially in important occasions such as weddings, since it involves a lot of err... elder people.

And talk about being so occupied with work and studies that you don’t have the time to catch up with friends and family. By having a social networking site, we could get an update on our loved ones (or enemies) at the click of a mouse. At least we know what’s happening to those around us, at the comfort of our office or home without even needing to call each and everyone for updates.

HOWEVER (I just had to emphasize on this. Ngee~) there are consequences to social networking as we know it.

A recent article by http://amandaa87.wordpress.com mentioned that social networking is not bad at all, because the reality now, is that people are becoming much more smarter in handling their own page (or their own cyber life, in other words). People are becoming more aware of the predators lurking around the web, let it be sexual predators, hackers or so forth and most are also aware that the government, as we know it are watching our every step we take online, let it be our transactions, what we post on our page, our pictures... almost anything and everything to be at that.

Yes, it some context, I do have to agree with what amandaa87 has to say: that we human beings are becoming smarter in handling the web then we were before. But it sometimes takes a few hurdles down the hill for us to finally realize what we’ve done wrong. I remember having a friend whose ex-boyfriends new girlfriend hired a hacker to hack down her Facebook and actually use it to destroy my friend’s image. Luckily my friend was smart enough to report it to the Facebook management, and the hacking stopped. I also had a friend who found out her husband was cheating on her when she saw a picture of her husband and another woman from a friends’ friends-friend (plus minus), and they ended up getting a divorce soon after.

On a contrary, for me personally, I made friends with total strangers over social networking sites, which some people think I was insane in doing, but in the end these strangers are now whom I call my best friends. We got to know each other, meet up in a group, got to know our other friends and families and soon become close till this day. Though I did come across those not-so-nice people whom wanted things that are out of the question, however I did manage to shove them and block them away from my site.

I even had friends who had a big family fight because of some pictures that were posted on the social networking site, that apparently almost each member of the family had... and it caused them not to talk to each other for over 4 months now, up to this day. I almost had the same problem when I invited some friends over for a dinner at my house, and because it was a ‘small’ gathering, I invited only those specific to that group and didn’t invite the rest. Though I did not post the pictures of those gatherings on my profile, my other friends who were there, did, and tagged my profile to those pictures. Within a few days, I had quite some damage control to deal with in explaining why I didn’t invite everyone for the gathering and why it was a small occasion comprising of a small number of people. It’s exhausting really... but that is the price you have to pay.

Take another issue that balances between good and bad of social networking. Imagine this situation: You often see this person’s picture that you don’t know in your friend’s page. You only know that person’s name and how that person looks like, vice versa to that person at your picture. Then one day as you are walking around the Mall, someone comes up to you and says “Assallamualaikum... you Nadeeya kan? (You’re Nadeeya, right?) and you’ll be like “Oh heyyy Amat, right?... you’re Intan’s friend, right??” If things go right, you’d make yourself a new friend. If things go wrong... you’d probably have a personal stalker, especially if he/she knows so much about you, vice versa you are that persons stalker and now too much about that person without even knowing that person personally.

Social networking sites can’t always be called ‘social sites’ because at some extremes, it does not even enhance our social capabilities. This is the case whereby we have people whom refuse to go out of the house because they are stuck on the sites and refuse human contacts, most probably because they’d rather not move from their couch or they have an ‘online game tournament’ to attend to. Some even spend hours and hours a day on the computer that they fail to connect with the real world, and this sometimes prove negativity when it affects your relationship with your family as well as your ‘real’ friends.

As I mentioned earlier, it is all in the eyes (or mind) of the beholder. If you know how to handle

your sites well, and use it in a proper way, rather than a destructive way. Everything will be fine. So to be on the safe side, set your privacy settings at a maximum on your social networking page, so that those that can view you are only your friends and add and approve friends of those that are really your friends, and not some kind of stranger unless you get to know that stranger online on a good start and only meet that person face to face after a few months and bringing a group of friends along with you.

I agree that social networking sites leads to uncomfortable situations, but if you know how to balance your real life and your cyber life or virtual life, then you will be fine. Never let social networking control your life. It will destroy you in the long run, whether you want it or not. Yes, there are lots of good things that come out of it, but there are also the bad things. Balance yourself and social networking sites will actually prove to be good for you to some extent or bad... if you still don’t or refuse to know how to work your way up on the ethics of using social networking sites. It all depends on YOU.

Putri Nadeeya Zahari
2009228552

princessdee2.blogspot.com <--- for the whole class to see!!! Ignore the personal stuff, sometimes i just get carried away...

How is chocolate made?

The beauty of technologies and innovations...

Learn from "Sensei" of Technology & Innovation

WRAPPING SUSHI ROBOT SWR-2002
It is amazing how Japanese can came out with the sushi wrapping innovation...

“SENSEI” OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY MOVING TO 4G NETWORKS

“Kawaii ne” (Oh..it’s so cute)...”Ganbatte ne” (Go for it/All the best)... This is some of the terms that we always heard when we watch Japanese drama and even for some of us, even have heard it directly when travelling in Japan. The country that is full of its unique culture and lifestyle and “Kawaii” (cuteness) concept, but yet when it is come to innovation in technology, Japan is always the “sensei” (Guru) of technology.

I am a big fan of Japanese soaps and film especially the one staring Takuya Kimura, thus “googling” Japanese stuff is a must for me. While I am “googling”, I found out that United States (US) and Japan the “sensei” of technology are ready for the 4G networks, where else in other parts of the world especially Malaysia still struggling even with 3G networks.

According to Nikkei, via Bloomberg, all four major Japanese telcos are moving one step closer to building out their 4G networks, with service roll-outs beginning in September 2010 through late 2012. The combined investments to build base stations, service equipment and related facilities for these new networks are forecast to top 1 Trillion JPY, or approximately $10 Billion, by 2014.

4G? Wait, not even everyone of us own the 3G phone and yet, there is 4G coming in the market. Really? Technologies do change rapidly. Thus, to ensure that I would not be left out, I would like to share a little information about the technology of 4G.

• What is a 4G network?

4G is the fourth generation of wireless communications currently being developed for high speed broadband mobile capabilities. It is characterized by higher speed of data transfer and improved quality of sound. The data rates for wireless technologies or the speed as can be seen in Figure 1 whereby 4G network maximum speed is up to 100Mbps. While Figure 2 indicates the features for 4G networks.

Figure 1 – Data Rates for Wireless Technologies (http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/).

Figure 2 – 4G Network Features

• 3G VS 4G network.

3G (DSL Speeds) Max Speed up to 3.1Mbps	4G (Wired Network Speeds) Max Speed up to 100+Mbps
All 2G and 2.5G Features plus: Real-time location-based services Full motion video Streaming music 3D gaming Faster Web browsing	Wireless Broadband Internet Access MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) Video Chat Mobile Television HDTV (High Definition TV) DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) Real Time Audio High Speed Data Transfer All 3G Features plus: On-demand video Video conferencing High quality streaming video High quality Voice-over-IP (VoIP) Added security features

Table 1 – Comparison of 3G and 4G networks (http://www.wirelessinternet.org/4G-network.php).

· What types of devices use 4G Networks?

The 4G network is set to not only restrict with 4G phones and laptops only. Due to its features, many industries are considering to the expansion of 4G connectivity compatible devices such as:-

• Video Camera
• Gaming Devices
• Vending Machines
• Refrigerators
• Billing Devices

The trend is to provide wireless internet access to every portable device that could supply and incorporate the 4G embedded modules. The 4G technology could not only provide internet broadband connectivity but also a high level of security that is beneficial to devices that incorporate financial transactions such as vending machines and billing devices.

· More 4G?

With maximum speed of 100Mbps, 4G definitely offers user more. It can be in terms of:-

a) Contents provisions and agents

In the future the group of network supporters and the group of content-providers will be different significantly. The customer could pick and choose among the mobile application and any providers who offer high level of performance with the aid of agents. Agent means a special, intelligent program which runs basically on the owner terminal or it starts his work on it. Its aim to collect the user’s habits in telecommunication and everyday life time and to offer gathered services based on them.

b) Forging Ahead Adhoc Networks

We can assume that 4G networks mean global sized and uniform systems. This is where adhoc networks came as it is a set of uniform devices where the terminals have the selfsame hardware platform and there are no other assigned fix-settled equipments to control the systems. This type of network could provide better performance in particular cases. Situations of ad hoc will be usually in the future.

By that time the so-called intelligent household utensils will spread and will be very popular. In our home the conventional tools and utensils will be “clever”. For example the refrigerator will able to sense the decrease of foods and it will order them using the Internet; our coffeemaker will make an offer about our breakfast; our heating system will adapt to our present at home; TV will find our programme-watching habits out and it will try to propose us the available best TV channels. Wow, it is great though it sounds scary at the same time as most of the decision is made by the system, not us anymore.

· Conclusion.

4G definitely sounds great and undeniably can assist user conveniently than before. However in reality, how many Malaysians have using 3.5 or even 3G before? If we check 3G coverage area, we will get only few small dots in Malaysia. There is a lot of area STILL not covered by 3G networks yet. Extra note that current 3G mobile phone is not compatible to 3.5G and of course not with 4G.

Perhaps, we should learn from the best which is Japan the “Sensei” of technology. A culture of innovation and technology must be created to ensure that Malaysians also can come out with latest technology and creative innovation. In fact, one of the reason Japan is success in the innovation of technology is due to its creativity culture among them. Furthermore, the Japanese people are willingly to try and adapt with the new technology available. In terms of the adoption process as indicates in Figure 3, most of the Japanese are innovators and early adopters whereby the consumers are the first mover to try any new innovation available.

Figure 3 – The Adoption Process (http://www.marketingteacher.com/ Lessons/lesson_adoption_process.htm).

Sadly for Malaysians, many of us are in late majority or laggards whereby we use technologies after the innovators have moved to others new innovation. However, we cannot blame Malaysians for being a laggard in terms of innovation. As stated earlier, we are still struggling in the 3G network. The culture of innovation and creativity should be created to ensure Malaysians users are confident with the latest technologies offered, thus the willingness for users to adapt and support the new technologies can be higher. Due to that, let us create a innovative and creative culture among us :)...

-Lydia Binti Nasaruddin Sia- 2008347159

Change sticky notes! (*_^)

Caakkk!

OMG! In this crazily busy world, we can’t always remember every little detail of every little thing. That is why we jot down important notes and keep it for later reference. Am i right? However, Windows 7 Stick Notes helps us to do this.

In this tip, I will show you how to format text, change the text size, text color, or add bullets to make a list in Sticky Notes by using keyboard shortcuts in Windows 7.

To do this, highlight the texts that you want it to be formatted while modifying or creating a sticky notes...
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

*
*
*
Use the keyboard shortcuts listed below to apply formats of
how you want the texts to be...

Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Ctrl+B	Bold text
Ctrl+I	Italic text
Ctrl+T	Strikethrough
Ctrl+U	Underlined text
Ctrl+Shift+L	Bulleted (press once) or Numbered (press twice) list
Ctrl+Shift+>	Increased text size
Ctrl+Shift+<	Decreased text size
Ctrl+A	Select all
Ctrl+Shift+A	Toggles all caps
Ctrl+L	Left aligns text
Ctrl+R	Right aligns text
Ctrl+E	Centers text
Ctrl+Shift+L	Small Alpha list (3rd), Capital Alpha list (4th), small roman (5th), Capital roman (6th)
Ctrl+Scroll Wheel	Increase/Decrease text size
Ctrl+1	Single-space lines
Ctrl+2	Double-space lines
Ctrl+5	Set 1.5-line spacing
Ctrl+=	Subscript
Ctrl+Shift++	Superscript
Ctrl+Z	Undo
Ctrl+Y	Redo
Ctrl+X	Cut
Ctrl+C	Copy
Ctrl+V	Paste

Happy trying, guys!

Yeay! SHARING is CARING!! (*_^)


xoxo,
cikqilla
2008701277

Understanding intention to continuously share information on weblogs.

Researched by: His Peng Lu and Kuo Lun Hsiao (2007), Internal Research, Vol 17. No.14 pp.345-361

Summary of the research by Aminsha Shahadan -2008533367

_________________________________________________________________

Introduction.

This research is about understanding the behavior of people keep using blog as a medium to gather information through available comments and provide ideas. Thus this study will identify the motive of individual to keep blogging. The research area is to analyze factors affect the users’ intention of update the blogs.
Weblogs or blogs became popular in recent years worldwide web. Many businesses have begun to use blog as a medium to arouse discussion, to initiate or desire ideas and provide further visibility. The purpose of people to use blog are publishing information, transferring knowledge, and building relationship with another blogger.
According to Accenture(2004), blog is interactive web pages that allowing blogger to publish ideas and information. Blog flexibility which is permit it user to customize the appearance or the looks of the blog will increase the potential to share ideas in a virtually cost-free environment. Fortune Based on Vogelstein et al. (2005), Fortune Megazine in year 2005 has recognized blog as among the top ten technology trend to view.
Du and Wagner ( 2006) said that the success of the blog page is on the content value that the blog could deliver to it user or reader.
Long Tail Theory ( Anderson, 2006) said that continuous sharing less popular blogs may collectively attract more readers or make more profit than the popular blogs and popular blogs do.
Most of the study analyzes the factor of adopting blog. Therefore, this study is to investigate the factors of individual motive continued blogging.
Research Hypothesis
Lu and Hsiao have come out with below hypothesis in this study to identify the motive of individual keep using and up-dating the blog.

H1 – Perceived information creation ability will have a positive effect on knowledge self efficacy.
H2 – perceived knowledge sharing experience will have a positive effect on knowledge self-efficacy.
H3 – Subjective norms will have a positive effect on knowledge self-efficacy.
H4 – Feedback will have a positive effect on knowledge self-efficacy.
H5 – Subjective norms will have a positive effect on personal outcome expectation.
H6-Feedback will have a positive effect on personal outcome expectations.
H7 – Subjective norms will have a positive effect on the intention of continuing to update blogs
H8 – Feedback will have a positive effect on intention of continuing to up-date blogs.
H9 – Knowledge self-efficacy will have a positive effect on the intention of continuing to update blogs.
H10- Knowledge self-efficacy will have a positive effect on personal outcome expectations.
H11- Personal outcome expectations will have a positive effect on the intention of continuing to update blogs.

Research Methodology
The questionnaire has been distributed through on line survey. Blog of WRETCH album has been identified as the most user and questionnaire has been distributed to 1,990 members. Received response from 549 members which is 24 is invalid or repeated.
Results:
The respondent could self report their purpose of using blog. They can choose the following factor as determinant to use blog and as a result, this study found that:
a) 366 respondents ( 82 male, 280 female) choose blog as recording personal information or diaries
b) 155 respondents ( 50 male and 105 female) use blog for sharing information with others
c) 2 respondents use blog for adding the RSS of others’ blogs as a browser
d) 2 respondents said that blog is Raising individual’s reputation or advertising

Based on the above found that most of the bloggers are female. The respondent age ranged between 20 to 40 years old.
As analysis of the data has been generated and these research found results as follows:
a) H1 & H2 – accept that perceived information creation ability and knowledge-sharing experience had a strong positive effect on knowledge self-efficacy.
b) H3 – Reject and found that Subjective norms have less significant effect on knowledge self-efficacy.
c) H4 – Found that Feedback did not significantly affect knowledge self-efficacy.
d) H5 – Accept that Subjective norms will have a positive effect on personal outcome expectation.
e) H6-Accept that Feedback will have a stronger positive effect on personal outcome expectations.
f) H7 – Reject due to Subjective norms did not significantly affect on the intention of continuing to update blogs
g) H8 – Reject due to Feedback did not have a positive effect on intention of continuing to up-date blogs.
h) H9 – confirm that knowledge self-efficacy will have a positive effect on the intention of continuing to update blogs.
i) H10- reject that Knowledge self-efficacy will have a positive effect on personal outcome expectations.
j) H11- Accept that Personal outcome expectations will have a positive effect on the intention of continuing to update blogs.

Discussion.
The result above revealed that knowledge self-efficacy and outcome expectations significantly affect the bloggers’ intention of continuing to update blogs.
In this study also found that subjective norm and feedback has no significant affect on bloggers’ intention of continuing to up-date blogs. One of the reason is due to bloogers have used for a period of time. However, subjective norms and feedback found to be has a positive effect on personal outcome expectations.
Finally, the result of this study found that performance accomplishment ( perceive information creation ability and knowledge-sharing experience) are more important predictor of knowledge self-efficacy than social persuasion(subjective norms and feedback)

Comments:
It’s true that people do blogging to gather information, give ideas or sharing knowledge. This study could assist those people that using blog to promote and advertise their product. Significantly cheap cost of promoting product to the wide market and has potential to be a popular medium of business transaction in the future.
This popular blog worldwide web has a good potential to the small business to promote and advertise its product. We may find a lot of weblog through internet. Some of them doing business such as clothing, painting work, accessories, second hand items and etc,..
The good things about the blog, people could view the comments available from those had past experience using the product. If the products are really good, then the comments found to be positive and could influence others blogger to purchase the product. This new type of word of mouth or probably we could change it to word of mouse since it is using internet instead of traditional way, face to face to deliver the information.
However, the negative impact of blogging if people had bad experience using the product that advertised in the blog. These will affect the image and reputation of the product itself. The damage will significantly affect the profit.
These studies will assist small entrepreneur to smartly use blog to promote its blog and wisely identify tools that can attract people keep continuing up-date the blog. I trust that very attractive blog appearance with sufficient information will attract people to continuing up-date blog. May be we could start with close friends to deliver some comments on the blog, just a starter I perceived, and we will see from there…..happy blogging…..

How to overcome final test stress??

Sitting final test or exam is never easy, but there is no escaping them at university. Remember, you will be the one sitting the exam so you have got to take responsibility for your studying. Find a revision style that works for you. No one revises in exactly the same way. A mixture of reading, talking, writing and testing could all be necessary so try to find out what works best for you so you can make the most of revision time. Take time to relax. Although you might feel guilty not revising for every hour up until the start of an exam, too much studying can have effect on your health. Taking time out to relax for an hour or so will not only keep you calm, but will train you to remember key details when you return to the books. Remember to take enough sleep. The quiet of night time may seem like an ideal time to absorb information, however try not to stay up until the early hours as you might not be able to retain information you think is still in your memory the next day. It is better to get some rest and feel refreshed the next day than wasting energy and being tired from a lack of sleep. Eating properly will keep your energy levels up and stop your mind wandering. Ask for help, if you are struggling with a topic be sure to talk to someone. Even chatting to a fellow student not on your course can help make things clearer in your mind as you will be recounting the knowledge you have already revised. Talking about any stress you might be feeling is also the best way to overcome it.

Revision tips

Develop a timetable to monitor your progress. Make sure you allocate adequate time for fun and relaxation as well.

While revising a subject, practise writing. This would be an actual simulation of the examination itself. Plan your revision and complete it in time. This will give you a sense of achievement and build your confidence.

While revising, vary subjects and their difficulty so you don't get bored or disheartened. Set realistic targets of what you can achieve in the time available.

Spend as much time on recall as on reading. Practise by writing answers as you would do in the exam. This will help you remember the important points when you answer each paper.

Practise writing answers under exam conditions. Take three hour tests, without a break in between, preferably at the same time as that of the exam. This will help your body clock adjust to the examination time and conditions.

Overcome final test stress with praying to God

For Muslim, we can encounter this stress problem by praying to our God. According to http://makkah.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/stress-management-part-2/, there are few solution to overome this problem.

When in distress or difficulty or sorrow:
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, no 128

1. Ibn ‘Abbas reported, “The Prophet, peace be upon him, at times of sorrow and grief used to supplicate, La ilaha illa Allah Al-’Azim, Al-’Alim, la ilaha illa Allah, Rabbul ‘arshil ‘Azim, la ilaha illa Allahu, Rabbus-Samawati wa rabbul ardi wa rabbul ‘arshi karim (There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the mighty throne, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and the Lord of the throne of honor)’.”
Source: Bukhari and Muslim.

2. Anas said that when the Prophet, peace be upon him, was faced with a serious difficulty, he would always supplicate, “Ya Hayyu, ya Qayyumu, bi-rahmatika astaghithu (O the Living, O the Eternal, I seek help in Your grace).
Source: Tirmidhi

3. Abu Hurairah reported that whenever the Prophet, peace be upon him, was faced with a serious difficulty, he would raise his head to the sky and supplicate, “Subhan-Allah al-’Azim (glory be to Allah, the Mighty).” And when he implored seriously and strongly, he would say “Ya Hayyu, Ya Qayyum (O the Living, the Eternal One).”
Source: Tirmidhi

4. Abu Bakrah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The supplications of distress are, ‘Allahumma rahmataka arju, fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ain, wa aslah li sha’ni kullahu, la ilaha illa anta (O Allah, I hope for Your mercy, so give me not over to my self even for as little as wink of an eye, and set right all my affairs, there is no god but You).”
Source: Abu Daw’ud

5. Asma, daughter of ‘Amais, reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, asked her, “Shall I tell you words that you may say in times of pain or distress. These are, ‘Allah, Allah, Rabbi la ushriku bihi shai’an (Allah, Allah, my Lord, I associate none with Him).” Another narration says that these words should be said seven times.
Source: Abu Daw’ud

6. Sa’d ibn Waqas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The supplication made by the Companion of the Fish (Prophet Yunus) in the belly of the fish was, ‘La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin (there is no god but You, You are far exalted and above all weaknesses, and I was indeed the wrongdoer)’. If any Muslim supplicates in these words, his supplication will be accepted.” In another report we read, “I know words that will cause Allah to remove one’s distress. These are the words (of supplication) of my brother Yunus, peace be upon him,”
Source: Tirmidhi

7. Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “If any servant of Allah afflicted with distress or grief makes this supplication, his supplication will be accepted: ‘O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of your maidservant. My forehead is in Your hand. Your command conceming me prevails, and Your decision concerning me is just. I call upon You by every one of the beautiful names by which You have described Yourself, or which You have revealed in Your book, or have taught anyone of Your creatures, or which You have chosen to keep in the knowledge of the unseen with You, to make the Qur’an the delight of my heart, the light of my breast, and remover of my griefs, sorrows, and afflictions‘.” A supplication in these words will be answered. Allah will remove one’s affliction and replace it with joy and happiness.
Source: Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban

8. Anas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to supplicate, “O Allah, there is no ease except what You make easy, and you alone can turn a difficulty into ease.” (Ibn As-sinni)

Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, #131

9. Allah’s Apostle used to say at the time of difficulty, “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Majestic, the Most Forbearing. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Honourable Throne.”

Source: narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih Bukhari, volume 9, #526.



Guys and girls, i wish you all good luck on your exams. All the best.

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benefit OF E-SOCIAL NETWORKING to the businesses

Prepared by : 2008270014

Wikipedia states that a social network is “…a social structure made of nodes (which are generally individuals or organizations) that are tied by one or more specific types of relations…” (Social network, 2007).

The relationship of the network was now seen in the sophisticated platform callled World Wide Web. As discussed in Illiana's entry on the development of Web Technology we can see the extreme growth from Web 2.0 to Web 4.0.

The next Generation of web-based E-Social Networking defined the human interaction and collaboration usually takes place within groups. These groups are formed around a shared relationship, goal or project. Groups require the ability to interact with other groups to share their knowledge and expertise in order for the group to be successful and innovative (Anria Sophia, 2009). 

Through a social networking website, the group members may virtually interact regardless of their location and time zone. They will testimony products and services that they have experienced before.

How E-Social Network can be beneficial to businesses?

1. Opprtunity!! They MUST Set-Up E-social network page; facebook, blog, flickr, multiply or others.
   Since people nowadays become too dependable to MR.GOOGLE, they seldomly look back at printed media especially the youngsters. Printed MEDIA is costly!! This is a BIG opportunity to the businesses.
   
2. EASY to maintain LESS/NO Cost
   Some of Small Scale business started their awareness and online shopping through E-Social Network platforms. In Malaysia there are tremendous growth of the websites selling shawls, cupcakes, wedding gifts, baby's stuffs. Why they choose to have this platform? It is easy to maintain and can be build-up at less/no cost. Except the monthly commitment to Streamyx or broadband provider :P
   
3. Fast Information Delivery
   Businesses can promote their campaign immediately whenever they feel that they want to. They dont have to make any booking for pages on printed media. For an example they can publish their post on promotion, online coupons or even tweet pictures of celebrities who came to their shop.
   
4. CUSTOMER FRIENDLY - GET CONNECTED!!
   businesses that adapt E-Social Network as their platform to communicate with their customer can be customer friendly compared to brochure type web. This is because business owner and customers can always share their thoughts through comments function or chatbox dunction. They can also connect themselves through facebook and become nearer to their customer.

As conclusion, to remain competetive in the market, businesses should take this opportunity of having e-social network as a platform to promote their business. Now is the time for businesses to become creative and take deliberate steps to ensure future success.

E-Commerce and its benefit

What is E-commerce?

Internet is an enabler for e-commerce as it allows businesses to showcase and sell their  products and services online and gives potential customers, prospects and business partners access to information about these businesses and their products and services that would lead to purchase as mention by Andam, (2003). He refer E-commerce as the use of electronic communications and digital information processing technology in business transactions to create, transform, and redifine relationships for value creation between or among organizations and between organizations and individuals. Anon, (2009) have found that there are certain features can be found on e-commerce sites. Features may include a shopping cart, ability to process credit cards, online product catalog, automated inventory system, databases, bulk email program, statistics tracking and other non-computer technologies such as product warehousing and shipping transportation. Wen, Chen, and Hwang (2001), have stated that E-commerce offers functionality and new ways of doing business that no company can afford to ignore. The basis for moving to an electronic commerce is a belief that electronic markets have the potential to be information based goods and services, finding global customers and trading partners to conduct business. Electronic commerce via the internet or the next generation Internet Protocal, IPv6, will change business institutions, operations and products or service.

Gartner Advisory Group, a reseach and advisory services firm have acknowledge that the Internet and the Web are essential components of an E-commerce strategy. Therefore, companies must participate in external business relationships by using computer interactions (i.e. transactions, support, marketing, communication and collaboration) by either business-to-business or business -to-consumer. Andam (2003), also found that there are major different types of e-commerce which is business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-government (B2G), and consumer-to-consumer (C2C). Liu (1997), have examined web sites in US Fortune 500 companies and services on their Web Site, and about 26 percent of them provide for some type of online business with their customers through website. E-commerce is a potentially growing business for today's market. The traditional boundaries will soon be replaced with a whole new technology as well as a mechanism and media for purchasing goods and services. The electronic payment system provides opportunities for new global and national trading relationships. Doing transaction online will bring many benefits for both companies and consumer.

Benefit of E-commerce.

There are many benefits that can be derive from E-commerce. There are:-

New Market Opportunity

E-commerce will help small and medium sized enterprise to reach global market. E-commerce allow business to be assessable to user all around the world regardless the location of the business office. Customer can request supplier and product and services from any business around the world using E-commerce.

Product Promotion

Through a direct, information rich and interactive contact with customer, E-commerce enhance the promotion of the product. E-commerce offers and opportunity for new promotion strategies, enhancing the branding of products. Product information trough E-commerce is more compact and range from various sites. User can choose and compare products they intent to purchase and easily find and select specialize products. Example like www.canon.com or www.dell.com.

Cost saving

 By using a public share infrastructure such as internet and digitally transmitting and reusing information, E-commerce systems lower the cost of delivering information  to customers including personnel,phone,postage, and printing costs. Cost saving result through reduced brochure printing and distribution costs and reduction in order taking as customers use fill-in forms to orders. Companies also can run with less employees and did not required to have physical building in order to stay operational. Thus this will reduce costs related to building leases, phone bills,utility bills and other cost. Example like www.Microsoft.com.

24x7 hours business and timely information

E-commerce allow a reduction of the cycle-time required to produce and deliver information and services. E-commerce sites give the ability to have unlimited store hours, giving customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access to shop and buy items from business regardless of time differences and locations. Example buying through www.apple.com.

Shortened remittence time

With electronic funds transfer (EFT), customers sent their remittances electronically to the company bank. The arrangement eliminated the time delay associated with the remittance in the mail system. Example like www.publicbankonline.com.

Information consistency

E-commerce ensure the consistency and accuracy of information through sharing of information and use of electronic forms for doing business. Example like www.fedex.com where customer can know the movement of their parcel through fedex.com website.

Better customer services

E-commerce provide the ability to provide online answers to problems through resolution guides, archives of commonly encountered problems and electronic mail interaction 24 hours a day, 365 days a year have build customer confidence and retention. Example like www.canon.com and www.nikon.com.

Customization of products

The information-based nature of the E-commerce process allows for new products to be created or existing products to be customized based on customer exact needs. Company will produce the specific product based on the requirement of the customers. Example like www.dell.com.

Increase brand and product awareness

Having e-commerce mean businesses can literally reach out to millions of consumers looking for what product and services being selling anywhere in the world. By reaching out to the new markets and displaying the  business website prominently in front of the customers, it will be able to help increase the company/domain brand name and also increase customer awareness about the product line. Thus this can lead to recognizable brand name.

Convenience of doing business

There is no limit on time and location to conduct a business with related parties. The information delivered to manufacturers, suppliers and warehouses is almost real time. Customers can do their business transaction regardless of time constrain. Example business through CIMB Bank (www.cimbclick.com).

Better customer relationship

E-commerce enables the learing about customers due its ability to record every event in which a customer asks for information about a product, buys one, requires  customer services. Through these interactions the need of the customer are identified and will feed future marketing efforts.

NURHIDAYAH BINTI KHALID   2008771481