Sweater - good, homework - not so much

Ok, so the good news is that I have finished my Info Systems project, so no more talk of emerging technologies on the blog. Yay!
However, other homework is not so up to date, and piling up fast. I promise I will do that as soon as I type this up.
In sweater news, I'm finished the body up to the point where you need to join all the sides and the sleeves, so no more on that until I finish the sleeves. But I did get a good start on one of them during my managerial economics class (it's the one thing that keeps me awake through that class). I forced myself to learn the Magic Loop method just before class because I don't currently have any size 7 dpns, and I'm really glad, I like it a lot, and the KnitPicks needles make it really easy.


I did try the body part on, and it is short and curling a lot at the bottom, so I think I will follow someone's modification from the KAL and knit some ribbing on the bottom to make it lie flat - because short sweaters and rolling edges just really bother me. I think it will look alright because the sleeves are all ribbed too.

Emerging Technology 3

Intranet

The Intranet is an IT tool that organizations have been using for some time now, and is constantly evolving in its uses and abilities, in a similar way to the Internet.

The intranet is like a version of the internet that is restricted to only authorized users. For example, in an organization the intranet is a network that only employees have access to. The main goal is to share information and resources between all members of a company.

It is very useful for companies in many ways. It can help a company keep employees up-to-date with the latest information from and decisions of management. It is also a lot more efficient than always emailing employees. Email takes time for employees to pick up and read, and employees can also become overwhelmed with the volume of emails they receive and keeping the information organized requires large amounts of time which can cut down on employee productivity.

The intranet has been evolving and is now working very well with groupware, such as document sharing, combined authorship documents, messaging, as well as others. (Intranet Journal) Because a company’s intranet is a private protected network, security concerns that may be worrisome when using groupware on the internet are lessened. Also, the intranet can assist employees working on group projects and facilitate teleconferences. (Whatis.com)

However, maintaining a corporate intranet can be a disadvantage to its use. To maintain the advantages of having up-to-date information available to employees, the information must be updated quite frequently. Also, information that is no longer necessary to have on the intranet must be sorted through and removed so that overloading the system can be avoided.

Developing an intranet for a company requires knowledgeable IT staff to build and maintain it. Also, in order to be able to use the intranet employees require a computer, or reasonable access to a shared one. Supplying this to all employees expected to use the intranet could be very costly for a company that doesn’t normally do so.

Although it is a very good advantage, the security of an intranet also requires a great deal of upkeep. It needs to be monitored and updated frequently. Employees having access to sensitive information through the intranet is also a security concern. Companies with high employee turnover rates may have more concerns about these issues. (Wikipedia)


References

Intranet Journal Intranet FAQ. Retrieved October 2, 2007, from Intranet Journal Website: http://www.intranetjournal.com/faqs/whatis/index.html

What is Intranet?. (October 12, 2006). Retrieved October 2, 2007, from Searchvb.com Website: http://searchvb.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid8_gci212377,00.html

Intranet. (September 30, 2007). Retrieved October 2, 2007, from Wikipedia Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intranet

Knitting Experiences

I've seen this around on a couple knitting blogs I've read, and always enjoy looking through them to "get to know" the blogger a bit better, maybe some of their likes and dislikes, etc. So I thought I'd go ahead and post it myself to share with all of you.

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater (previous two are both current projects)
Drop stitch patterns (sounds somewhat frightening)
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone eles's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously (would love to try this, it sounds so intriguing, and efficient)
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intrasia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Wow that went fast...

Ok, so I received the wool for my sweater Wednesday afternoon and was very glad that it arrived, so I swatched right away and then cast on. So this is what it looked like Wednesday afternoon:


So, it's not like I didn't have lots of school work to do, you've seen the posts for my Info Systems class, and I had an exam on Friday in Japanese, and I did get some of that done - even managed to do a bunch of readings for my classes, but somehow just knitting round and round in stockinette went really, really fast. By Friday morning I was finished the decreases up the side and ready to start into the increases. It was this big:


Luckily, I had a good friend visiting over the weekend and spent most of my time otherwise occupied, because I don't think I would have accomplished anything else. Even still we watched a couple movies and I am now beginning the cable repeats for the top of the sweater. Unfortunately reality has set in going back to classes today (not so happily, my friend and I went out last night, there was a 4L pitcher of beer involved, and then she had to leave to catch a train at 6am this morning - it was a rough day), and I am realizing how much work I actually have to get done, and so can't commit the time and energy required for the cables... I'm considering starting a sleeve - this is not good...

Emerging Technology 2

Office Live Workspace

Microsoft announced this week that they are preparing to launch a beta version of a new online tool, “Office Live Workspace”. This is a tool designed to help Microsoft users store, share and access files online. It allows users to have access to business documents they may store there while they are away from the office. This means that workers can stay productive, even if they are caught out of the office. Also, it allows easier sharing of documents between co-workers, meaning that co-workers can collaborate on projects and reports much easier.

Office Live Workspace is not currently going to be allowing users to edit or create documents online, but instead is intended to work alongside a desktop version of Microsoft Office (The Associated Press). This can be seen as an advantage because it will use programs many people already use in their everyday work and that they are comfortable and familiar with. This could also be seen as a bit of a drawback, as organizations wishing to make use of it will have to be using Microsoft Office, as will all of their employees who may want to access their documents at home.

Some organizations may feel more secure using an online document sharing system offered by Microsoft, as opposed to others that are currently available. Microsoft will be offering virus and security protection for documents stored in the workspace. Also, users will be able to control who may access, edit or only review and comment on a particular document. This means that even while in the editing stage, employees could get input from co-workers, without giving them the opportunity to edit a document themselves.

Office Live Workspace is going to be accessible only with a Windows Live ID, meaning all companies wanting to take advantage of this tool will need to allow their employees to have a Windows Live ID, possibly a one that is solely for work purposes so that this tool will not be utilised for non-work related things during working hours.

Microsoft also has plans to possibly integrate this system with other products that utilise Windows Live IDs, such as Hotmail or Windows Live Messenger (CNET News). While these developments could improve employee productivity with the ability to contact co-workers and instant message each other in real time, as opposed to email which can cause delays and hold-ups in communication, they could also present problems with personal use conflicts. Using all of this interconnected software will require organizations to have very good IT use policies in place to diminish the number of people who may begin to abuse the use of these programs in the workplace.


References

Fried, Ina. (September 30, 2007). Microsoft Office heads to the Web. Retrieved October 1, 2007, from CNET News.com Website: http://www.news.com/Microsoft-Office-heads-to-the-Web/2100-1012_3-6210696.html?tag=nefd.lede

Microsoft Office Live Workspace. (2007). Retrieved October 1, 2007, from Microsoft Corporation Website: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX102394081033.aspx

Mintz, Jessica. (October 1, 2007). Microsoft to Unveil Microsoft Live Workspace. Retrieved October 1, 2007 from The Associated Press Website: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hiiOCMPC5XQNJkiuNOzZDAUFCVFAD8S08TA80