Speeding up a sluggish computer

Steps to take before spending money on costly upgrades.

Empty the trash. Files dragged to the trash icon may be out of sight, but they continue to eat up valuable space. Only when the trash is emptied is space freed up.

Restart your computer. Even when you quit a program, large ones may continue to siphon off memory. Restarting (or "rebooting") adjusts this problem.

Fix fragmented files. Over time, files on your hard drive may become fragmented, i.e. a file may be broken up into pieces and written on different far away locations on the hard disk drive, requiring more time to read the file from the hard disk drive. Most PCs come with a defragment program. In Windows you can find it under Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.

Purge old e-mail files. Many e-mail programs save copies of every message you send. Empty or reduce this backup file to free up hard-drive space. If necessary, ask your e-mail service to help locate the files.

Switch off start-ups. Programs that support instant messaging and calendars begin running as soon as you start your computer and use up its resources. You're better off turning them on as needed. » Continue reading

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Straighten out your cyberkids

A recent Australian study found that 60% of children using computers at school showed early signs of repetitive strain injury. Here are some at-your-desk exercises for young PC-users. (Do them gently; if you feel pain see your doctor.)

1. Stretch your arms above your head and spread your fingers. Then lower your arms so they're straight out in front. Hold for a few seconds.
   
2. Push the bottom of your right palm against the top of your left palm, so you feel a stretch along the underside of your left forearm. Repeat on the other side. Now do it pushing on the backs of your palms.
   
3. In a chair with your back straight, look over your right shoulder. Then slowly move to look over your left shoulder. Go back to the center and nod slowly three times. Then turn your head in a "no" motion three times. Finally stretch as if laying your head on each shoulder.
   
4. Keep your hips forward and turn to look behind on each side, placing your arm across the back of the chair, stretching your back.
   
5. Push your chin forward to stretch the jaw and neck.
   
6. Sitting, roll each shoulder forward and around then back and around. Then lift each shoulder up to your ear and down.

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Cat walk on the keyboard

Cats and computers don't mix. Any cat owner will tell you kitties like to walk, jump or sprawl on keyboards in just such a way as to uninstall software or even crash your computer. "For some cats, keyboards are like New Age sandals with rubber nubs pointing upwards onto their soles. Shiatsu for cats, maybe," says computer programmer Chris Niswander, inventor of PawSense, a program that can sense when a cat depresses multiple keys. One or two paw steps are enough for the software to block access to computer and emit anticat sounds -- a variety of annoying noises performed by Niswander. You can also record your own message such as "Bad kitty!"

You might also be interested to read:

• Interpreting the dog tail wag.
  
• Can dogs watch TV?
  
• Social networking for cats and dogs!

» Continue reading

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Remedy for falling asleep while at the driving wheel

Vehicles of the future may keep an eye on their drivers, rousing you if you start to nod off, thanks to new technology that can scan your face for signs of drowsiness.

FaceLab uses two cameras built into the dashboard to identify key points on your face (it's unfazed by sunglasses or a head turned to one side), creating a 3D picture which it compares to a computer model. By analyzing the movements of your head, the rate you blink and the angle of your gaze it monitors progressive drowsiness. If you're in a danger of falling asleep, the system could trigger alarms or a flashing red light-which could refuse to stop until the card did. If the system works and is adopted by the industry it could help save the innumerable lives lost each year from falling asleep at the wheel. » Continue reading

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Getting the most from AA batteries

It turns out that batteries aren't as "perishable" as we thought. "You can buy batteries in value packs and store them up to five years witout fear that their energy wll drain," says Mark Connelly, Consumer Reports director of appliance testing. Just don't toss loose batteries into a shoebox with metal objects. They can touch and lose power. As for putting batteries in the fridge, the chill does not preserve or extend their life by much, Connelly says. Here's a battery-buyer's guide:

Alkaline: Single-use battery best for low-drain electronics such as remotes and many toys.

Premium alkaline: Lasts longer than regular alkalines. Good for high-drain devices such as digital cameras.

Rechargeable nickel-cadmium: Less powerful than alkalines but can be recharged. Most suited for remotes, toys and small radios.

Rechargeable nickel-metal hydride: Ideal for high-drain items thanks to its extended life. » Continue reading

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Coping with too many high-tech choices

Remember when shopping for a camera was easy? Fiddle with a few models, pick one and go home happy. Today you practically need a degree in computer science and three months just to research the right one.

The same clutter exists in virtually every category of consumer electronics and technology. Faced with too many choices, people cannot compare all the options competently, says Barry Schwartz, an American professor of social theory and author of The Paradox of Choice. For example, one university study found that a supermakret customer offered 24 varieties of jam was less likely to by any jam, than a customer offered just six varieties.

So how can time-pressed electronics shoppers make a decision without feeling regret? Experts urge self-restraint:

Stick to a budget: It's easy to get snowed into adding features that inch up the price, says Brian Clark, founder of The Tech Enthusiast's Network, a consumer technology consulting service. Begin with an absolute price ceiling, he says, and you will automatically limit yourself to the best product you can afford.

Know your needs: Ask a friend or relative who is up on electronics to explain the options and then figure out which ones matter most to you.

Talk the talk: Before coming face to face with sales people who favour jargon, bone up on the lingo. Clark says knowing what key terms mean in advance can inoculate you against buying more that you need.

Ease the pressure: If you feel overwhelmed, leave the store, Clark says. Impulse purchases rarely wind up satisfying in the long run.

Train you brain: No product is perfect. And with electronics, there's always a new, more technically sophisticated version just around the corner. "We tend to focus on what's satisfying about your purchase," Barry Schwartz says. » Continue reading

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What your fingers say about you

Strange as it might seem, the shorter a man's index finger is compared to his ring finger, the more inclined he is to be physically aggressive. Psychologist Dr. Peter Hurd at the University of Alberta measured the fingers of 300 students and asked them to answer a questionnaire on aggression. He found that finger lengths did correlate to physically aggressive behaviour. Scientists believe that the more testosterone -- which is secretd naturally by the mother -- a male foetus is exposed to in the womb, the shorter his index finger will be. The same is not true for female foetuses.

"You wouldn't want to screen people for certain jobs based on finger lengths," says Dr. Hurd, "but we are learning that a large part of our personality is determined while we're in the womb.

Learn more about the effects of the length of your fingers on your personality here. » Continue reading

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