by Felicien | Oct 15, 2018 | Education
If you could draw insights from your data within five minutes flat, would that get your attention? Microsoft’s Power BI is an online service, with a connection to other Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, that lets you analyze, visualize and transform data quickly and easily. Through the use of Power BI dashboards, interactive reports, and rich visualizations, your company will make sound decisions in less time, and with no effort.
What Are Microsoft’s Power BI Ease-of-use Features?
We believe tearing down skill level barriers is one of the most vital benefits you can get from Microsoft’s Power BI and makes sense for every business owner. At its core, Power BI is designed to be a tool for everyone.
That’s why Microsoft not only filled it with the best data analytical features available; but also made Power BI incredibly easy to use. That way, everyone at your business or organization will benefit from intelligent, data-driven analysis—regardless of their skill level.
Build intuitive charts and graphs in minutes
Plug in your data, select your graphics and start showing off. With Power BI, you won’t have to rely on hard-to-schedule graphic designers to make your data beautiful ever again. After connecting your data sources to Power BI, you can immediately start using the drag-and-drop menu to build stunning visualizations. Choose from the standard bar or column charts, as well as treemaps, pie charts, and even more specialized graphs such as waterfalls and gauges. You can also build custom graphics using the library of visualizations the Power BI community is continually putting online. Keep refining by removing individual elements, isolating key categories, adjusting axes, and more.
After you’ve transformed your data, you can then take your most useful charts and graphics and quickly combine them all into a custom dashboard with just a few clicks. Create several panels for managing different aspects of your organization, or use only one so you can glean insights at a glance. You can even share these dashboards with other team members, driving efficiency and high-level decision-making throughout your organization.
Explore your data using natural language
Finding the answers you want is as easy as asking a question. One of the most exciting features of Power BI is its ability to interpret queries and questions phrased in natural language. To start exploring through your data, ask a simple question, such as “What were the sales numbers for last quarter?” Power BI will then automatically select the corresponding data and choose the appropriate visualizations to depict it. If you’d like to dive in further, keep refining your question, until you’ve found what you need—or what you were looking for all along.
When finished, you can operationalize that custom data by including it in your dashboard or by sharing it with the rest of your organization. In this way, Power BI helps remove any potential barriers to data exploration and promotes a culture aligned with data analytics. Everyone will finally be able to uncover exactly the information they need.
Access data analytics wherever you are
The Power BI mobile app puts everything you need in your palm. Today’s workers aren’t just sitting in their office all day. They’re always on the go, so it’s essential they continually have access to the data analytics they need. The Power BI mobile app does more than connect with the rest of your Power BI data, so you can check it while you’re away. It offers full integration to help you focus on only the information you need.
For example, once you create a custom dashboard within Power BI, it will automatically appear in your Power BI mobile app, where you can scroll through to view it through the easy-to-use interface. You can take it another step further; tell the mobile app to notify you if any data points you’re tracking exceed a certain threshold. That way, it saves you the trouble of constantly monitoring your phone while you’re out of the office.
The Power BI mobile app also makes it easy to annotate live data and share it through text, email, or through the app itself—giving you further control over your data wherever you go.
Seamlessly connect all of your data
You get native integration with hundreds of data sources, apps, and services. Before you can begin sharing and collaborating with your data, you first have to make sure that everyone can access it in one place. Power BI makes this easy by automatically connecting to hundreds of different data sources, as well as many more apps and services that your organization may already use. That includes native integrations with SQL Server, Azure, SAP Hana, Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics, Adobe Analytics, Salesforce, and much more. New combinations are continually being developed as well, helping to extend further, Power BI’s reach.
With this level of flexibility, you can finally create a convenient way for your entire organization to view all its data under one umbrella. For example, after connecting your CRM system and website analytics software to Power BI, you could create a graph directly comparing website visitors with your sales. Dive further, and you could even correlate the average time a visitor spends on your website before making a purchase.
Once you open up this capability to your entire organization, the possibilities of new and valuable insights are endless. Which you’ll agree, Microsoft’s Power BI does make sense for your business.
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by Felicien | Oct 15, 2018 | Education
New Calendar, Mail, and mobile Outlook features help you get things done, was the title of the April 30th, 2018 blog from Microsoft’s Outlook team, about the newest features. Since then, Outlook has received more modern additions, from mobile management to enterprise information protection all designed for user simplicity. So, let’s step inside and see what new changes Microsoft Outlook has.
What’s New Inside Outlook Calendar?
With the familiarity of Outlook and making it easier to get things done, and customizable, so you stay in control, it couldn’t be any simpler than Bill Pay Reminders. That’s correct, inside Calendar you can automatically track these events.
At the top of your email, you’ll get a summary card (See Fig 1.), just like you do when your package delivery information or any travel reservations is presented in Outlook at the top in your Email Today.
Fig 1. Summary Card inside Microsoft Outlook
Outlook will identify the bills you receive in your email. At the top, it will show you a summary, and automatically add a calendar event on the due date. Two days before the due date, you’ll receive an email reminder so you won’t forget to pay your bills on time.
Suggested meeting rooms and event locations—Adding a meeting or event location just got faster and easier inside Outlook. Similar to a virtual assistant Outlook will offer suggestions for your meeting location. Just start typing in the location field. Based on Bing, Outlook suggests options and then autocompletes your meeting location with the information you’ll need.
Outlook’s rich location feature adds the full address for public locations into your calendar event. Based on your current location, your destination address, and traffic updates a notification is sent when it is time to leave.
Also reserving a meeting room, from your mobile device continues getting more accessible and faster as Outlook learns your preferences. Let’s say you must find a conference room. Outlook will show you what your organization’s room availability is so that you can choose what option is best for your meeting, and it’s all done with just a tap.
Meeting RSVP tracking and forwarding—The key to time management is keeping track of events you’ve plan to attend, or organized. However, managing who is participating is more useful to you also. Inside Outlook, you can now see all tracked meeting responses and RSVPs. (See Fig 2.)
Fig 2. Person’s Name, who are attending, and their responses are shown for easy tracking.
But let’s say you have to plan a meeting, and you are required to keep complete control of the attendees on the list. Inside Outlook, you have a new option to prevent or allow your calendar invitation from being forwarded without your knowledge. Under Response Options, click New Meeting and then check or uncheck Allow Forwarding. (See Fig 3.)
Fig 3. The Response Options’ drop-down menu shows where to check or uncheck.
Fig 4. Below recipient’s photo is a message alerting them, they cannot forward this invitation.
Multiple time zones—Managing events, inside Outlook, across various times zones, is no longer complicated. Go ahead and define the start and end times, across all time zones, for your meetings and appointments. Set up that travel event from the departing time zone to when you arrive at your final destination, in another time zone. (See Fig 5.)
Fig 5. On the main calendar grid, you can display multiple time zones in Outlook.
Simplified Ribbon— is adaptable and easily customizable. That single row of commands you rely on can be quickly and easily personalized. You can either pin the controls or remove them from the ribbon anytime. Should you want to go back to the classic, full-ribbon, just click back anytime. (See Fig 6.)
Simplified Ribbon is adaptive
Adjusts icon labels
Moves commands out of the way
Scales up or down to fit different window sizes
Accessible through new ellipses and menu drop down experiences.
Fig 6. Ribbon shows customized commands.
“Coming Soon”— in Outlook for Windows, the Outlook team introduced a new feature called “Coming soon.” Coming Soon is about making it easier for all users, to discover and learn more about significant updates. With this feature, you just turn it on or off. When it’s on, you can see upcoming visuals that are coming to Outlook. Your overall core experience is now cleaner, simpler and more modern. (See Fig 7.)
The updated Outlook for Windows experience is more straightforward and more customizable. You will work faster and get back to the things that matter most, your free time and user experience. Outlook helps you connect, organize and get things done.
[1] New Calendar, Mail, and mobile Outlook features help you get things done
[2] Your favorite email app, Outlook mobile, adds new enterprise information protection and mobile management capabilities
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by Felicien | Oct 12, 2018 | Education
If you have a child, and they have a mobile phone, their chances of identity theft are at a remarkably higher risk of being stolen, than most adults. But thanks to the new United States federal law, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, and according to a WYTV interview with David Stanley, Cyber Express manager, your loved one’s identity, just got a lot harder to steal.
(WYTV) Keeping Kids Safe: Protecting your kids from identity theft
Children are favorite targets for data thieves, and it’s a crime that can go undetected for years. As parents, we often, unknowingly help hackers snatch our kid’s information all from a simple post.
But, a new law is allowing parents to check and freeze their kids’ credit with the three major agencies for free. And it’s all thanks to a new federal law called The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, which began September 21, 2018.
If you haven’t thought about checking your children’s credit lately, WYTV reporter Lindsey Watson talked to cyber experts about why you may want to reconsider.
It’s an alarming statistic according to Experian. One in four kid’s identities gets stolen before they become an adult. But what makes children such easy targets for data thieves? Parents are often helping hackers snatch their information all with a simple post on social media.
“They’re trying to gain as much information about the person, you know birth dates, name, date, and then they can kinda go back and figure it all out, and put it all together. It’s kinda what they do right now, they SOCIAL hack you,” said David Stanley, Cyber Express manager.
Stanley refers to it as Social Hacking. “It boils down to if you put out your kid’s name, how old he is, or her,” Stanley said. While Stanley says they haven’t seen a child’s identity stolen yet, it’s something parents need to be aware of before it’s too late.
“We can go forward with you, hand-and-hand and figure it out together. Hopefully, your son or daughter isn’t a victim, and if they are let’s figure it out, make sure that everything is fine, get everybody on an even keel and start over,” he said.
7 Cyber Express Child Identification Protection Checklist
In our very connected world, our children do not comprehend that there are individuals out there ready to take advantage of their innocence. Along with the above interview, we’ve put together a quick and easy checklist, that gives you seven more ways you can protect your children’s identity when they can’t.
Always remain cautious about what you disclose – More and more doctor’s offices, store rewards clubs, and schools are having us fill out electronic forms for our children. But it’s becoming too easy to accidentally give out our kid’s information, such as social security numbers, which if stolen, could take years to repair their credit.
Monitor what the school gives to third-party vendors – Whether you realize it or not, schools do release children’s information to their vendors. Five pieces of information commonly published are photos, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and dates of birth. Contact your child’s school to learn if they have an opt-out process.
Be on the lookout for what your child gives away – With social media, online forums, and gaming groups, our children are too eager to say just about anything, to stay connected or keep up with the latest online trends. Unfortunately, identity thieves know just the right words to say, getting your loved one to share personal information.
Monitor your child’s finances monthly – Does your child have a bank account? College savings account? Or a trust fund? Once a month you get these account’s statements. Review them for any unusual activity, plus check with each financial institute, handling their accounts, and sign-up for mobile alerts.
Watch for warning signs you would not expect – Should you receive a pre-approved credit card offer, with your underaged child’s name on the envelope, that’s typically not a computer glitch. If you are getting bills or collection notices addressed to your child, that’s not a coincidence. Should you get, in the mail, notice from the IRS your little one owes back taxes, their ID got stolen.
Investigate to know if your children have a credit history you’re not aware of – Quite often, after some digging, an unsuspecting parent discovers, their child does indeed have a credit history. What is hard to believe is how that happened; when their minor child has never worked.
Credit History examination steps to take are easy:
Call the three major credit reporting agencies and ask for a manual search of files or records associated with 1) your child’s social security number only and 2) your child’s name and social security number tied together.
You’ll be asked to provide copies of their social security number and birth certificate.
Consider having a credit freeze placed on your child’s account.
Numbers or email to get in touch: Equifax: 800-525-6285 / Experian: 888-397-3742 / TransUnion: childidtheft@transunion.com
by Felicien | Oct 12, 2018 | Education
Apple iOS 12 has so many different new features available it’s almost overwhelming. From better password management options to the introduction of the Memoji, users will appreciate some of these more than others. This article will highlight some of the most interesting and useful features and improvements, starting with one everyone can agree is probably overdue: better performance and battery life.
Performance and Battery Life
With iOS 12, all iPhone models since the 5S will see significant improvements in performance – including longer battery life and speed boosts. This is due to several improvements and changes that, combined, enable your phone to last longer and run faster. You can also access much more detailed information on your battery life and performance, even comparing its current performance to what it was capable of when it was brand new.
Password Management Methods
Apple’s iOS 12 allows you to use third-party password management apps instead of, or in addition to, its own password management method (iCloud keychain). This also includes autofill support for these third-party password managers. In addition, iOS 12 will fill in any six-digit codes you receive through SMS for two-factor authentication. To better support online security and privacy, iOS 12 will remind you if you are reusing a password when setting up a new password. It can also create a very powerful password for you and store it on your iCloud keychain.
Secure Emergency Location Data
Another awesome feature in iOS 12 is that it will provide secure location data to first responders if you call 911. This feature makes use of a new Apple technology called HELO that can estimate your location based on a variety of parameters, including GPS, Wi-Fi access points, and cell towers. This will make it much easier for iPhone users to be quickly located by first responders in case of an emergency.
More Emojis, Animojis, and Memojis
For those of you who love to express yourself with emojis, good news: 70 new emojis are being added. And not only that, but Apple is working on more inclusive disability-themed emojis that will be released next year. To access all these new emojis, you’ll need to update to iOS 12.1 when it is released. Apple has also added more Animojis in iOS 12. Now you can access a T. rex, tiger, ghost, and koala, in addition to those that were already available. For those not content with Animojis, Apple has introduced Memojis. These are basically augmented reality characters that you can customize to look like you.
Better Maps
With iOS 12, the Maps app has been redesigned to provide more detail. This includes more public landmarks, more greenery, and the ability to see the layout of stores in malls. Currently, this only applies to the San Francisco Bay region, but it will be added to maps for the entire United States over the next year and a half.
Group Facetime
Group Facetime, now integrated into iMessage, will allow you to simultaneously FaceTime chat with up to 32 people. These calls are very easy to set up via the group chat window in iMessage, and are available through the iPad, iPhone, and the Mac.
Screen Time Report
Have you ever wondered exactly how much time you spend on your Apple devices? Or what apps you really use the most? Well, iOS 12 has added a weekly activity summary that provides plenty of detail. The new App Limits feature does just what it says: it will provide you notifications reminding you of when you are nearing or have reached any limits you set. And for those with children or teenagers, the Downtime feature allows you to control their usage, setting specific limits for apps or even unplug their access completely.
Greatly Improved QR Reader
iOS 12 users will have a much easier time reading QR codes. In the past, a stand-alone app was needed to read QR codes. Now, once you turn on the QR code feature in the settings for your camera, you’ll be able to read QR codes using your Camera app. iOS 12 will highlight the code for you so you will know it has been detected, and you can add a tile to more easily launch QR reader capabilities.
New Developments for Notifications
On iOS 12, you can now decide which apps will deliver silent notifications to your phone (e.g., no sounds, no vibrations), and Siri can advise you on which apps you don’t use often and thus should turn off notifications for. Notifications can also be grouped by app, topic, and even thread. You can also enact a Do Not Disturb feature that will hide your notifications until you turn it off, and you can set it up to automatically turn off when a certain event ends or at a particular time.
Conclusion
No matter how much you use Apple devices, you’ll find some features and improvements in iOS 12 that will make your user experience much more productive and fun. And remember that this was just a sampling of what is now available! There’s a lot more so be sure and check it out.
by Felicien | Oct 11, 2018 | Education
Recently considered outside the realm of possibility, artificial intelligence (AI) has become more commonplace in modern businesses. As technology evolves, applications and tools with these capabilities will continue to transform various industries, including the legal profession.
Although it may sound like science-fiction, many people are currently using AI and are not even aware of doing so. Artificial intelligence is any technology that enables a device to adapt and learn to perform similarly to how a human would. Examples include Allegra and Siri. To summarize, it collects information and uses algorithms and trends to solve problems quickly and accurately. The field of law is now integrating this technology into their everyday use.
How Is AI Being Used in the Legal Field?
There are several ways that it is already being used in the legal profession to supplement what attorneys and support staff-members do. For example, AI is able to help analyze contracts in bulk and individually, as well. A few of the popular software companies that offer AI for this purpose include the following:
ABA Journal
eBrevia
Kira
LawGeex
LegalSifter
This allows partners to use their time and efforts on more advanced activities that require their specialized knowledge. Examples would be negotiating deals, advising clients, and arguing a case in court.
Three aspects that AI is expertly handling in the legal profession are descriptive analytics, predictive analytics, and prescriptive analytics.
What Is Descriptive Analytics?
Descriptive analytics (DSA) uses technology to mine large amounts of legal data, identify legal trends, and analyze behaviors that it then turns into workable insights. Advanced data visualization (an aspect of DSA) helps people identify insights, patterns, and trends that would be difficult to find with human-conducted text review alone. It turns complicated data into easy to understand charts and graphs. Additionally, it highlights factual information to cultivate strategies, assess possible case outcomes, and estimate case values and litigation costs.
What Is Predictive Analytics?
Predictive analytics (PA) uses data to provide insights into potential futures. There are several ways this can be beneficial. It allows law firms to gain a deeper understanding of how judges and juries might behave. By examining the profiles of judges, as well as their previous behavior in court, it is possible to predict how they might rule in specific cases. For example, the legal-tech startup, Judge Analytics, developed a platform that provides information on every judge in the U.S. This allows attorneys to develop the best strategies for their clients.
Additionally, clients often ask their counsel to predict the future. They ask questions like “Should I settle?” or “If we go to trial, will I win?”. With access to years of trial data and this type of AI, lawyers are better able to answer these types of questions.
What Is Prescriptive Analytics?
Prescriptive analytics (PSA) continually tracks outcomes of real-life decisions and incorporates them to sharpen its recommendations and offer actual advice. Intuitive interfaces and pervasive data collection is required to lower barriers to these powerful methods. Since they require ongoing access to evolving data to build and refine the results, they are constantly updating. As machine learning, natural language processing, and analytics technologies evolve, the dependence of law firms will continue to grow.
How Might AI Be Used in Law Offices of the Future?
As the future unfolds, the law school and overall lawyer training approach and curriculum will need to be changed. Legal education will become more all-inclusive. It will begin to emulate a business school education. Case studies, and active networking, and leadership training will likely be included. Although some schools have already included technology in their legal curriculum, a greater number of law students should become tech literate. Eventually—and ultimately—their ability to utilize legal software to analyze information may be just as important as their knowledge and understanding of the law.
In fact, it is anticipated that 100,000 legal roles will be automated by 2036. According to Legal Technology, law firms will reach a “tipping point” by 2020. It is now time for them to commit to becoming AI-ready. They should set aside the fear of the unknown and start developing an understanding of and capability for using technology. It is likely that innovation is the key to maintaining the legal profession’s relevance in this time of transformation.
In Conclusion
With its ability to automate monotonous and time-consuming work like contract or document review and research, AI can easily improve an office’s accuracy and efficiency. It can follow trends and make predictions over immense amounts of information that would be difficult for mortal minds to manage. Although it will not replace attorneys, finding the right combination of analytic tools will vastly alter the way they perform and deliver their services. Taking advantage of the technology available provides a competitive edge over more traditional firms. Choosing to do so may be the most important decision the leaders of legal departments will make in the near future.
