What is a Computer Registry?

What is a Computer Registry?

You may have heard the term computer registry but not know what it means. This article defines the term and outlines some common problems your registry may develop.

What it is: Your computer sets aside some space on its hard drive in a place called a registry. This is used for storing information about the operational settings of your computer, such as user profiles, system details, and application-specific information. You can think of it as a kind of electronic notepad that your computer uses to remember important information about its own operation at the system level. Information is constantly being written to and then deleted from your computer registry.

What can go wrong: Given all of this activity at such an important level of your computer's regular operations, registry errors can and do occur frequently. This is an extremely common problem and it is likely that most computers have at least a few registry errors. For example, when you remove a program, this action might accidentally delete or overwrite data that is vital to the smooth operation of your system. In addition to errors, registries on computers that are more than a year old can start to build up a cache of essentially useless data that in effect clogs up your system.

How to tell something is wrong: If you have had your computer for at least a year, you may start to notice a subtle decline in its performance. There may be a delay in response time for certain applications or your operating system. Or, some programs such as your browser might suddenly freeze up. The issue could be a virus or spyware (be sure to check those), but if you have already explored those options try running a scan of your registry.

Get a FREE scan: Most registry cleaner products on the market today offer a free, no-obligation scan to find out exactly how many problems your registry has.

Fix it: If you want to go ahead and get the problem fixed, most registry cleaner products will charge you around US$29.95. You can also find free registry cleaner products on the Internet: just do a search on your favorite search engine. Note: Use any product you find at your own risk. However, most products are safe to run.

by Jed Jones
Keyword : Computer Registry?

How To Buy An Ergonomic Office Chair

How To Buy An Ergonomic Office Chair

When shopping for or buying an ergonomic chair or ergonomic office chair online, finding the best ergonomic chair depends a lot on what kind of work you do whether at home or away from home. And incorrect ergonomics can cause back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and many other medical issues. And if you spend most of your waking hours sitting at your desk, you know you need an ergonomic office chair that works with your body not against it, to spare you from needless backaches and fatigue.

The terms computer ergonomics and office ergonomics are often used interchangeably; they're usually referring to body-adapted ergonomic chairs, office chairs, stools, desks, keyboards, mice and so on. In recent times, the word 'ergonomics' has become part of office terminology. Medical chairs and dental chairs also benefit from using correct ergonomics. Clean room chairs and ESD chairs are also on the market; these chairs come with height adjustable options as well as seat pan and back option, plus they have necessary inflatable lumbar support and footrest options. Ergonomic comfort is also very important because it helps keep employees alert. Ergonomic intensive-use chairs or seating, also known as 24/7 seating, are usually used for dispatch room security monitoring areas, control rooms, and 911 emergency dispatch offices.

Ergonomic executive office chairs or seating, also called managers' chairs, are usually found with a higher back and come with leather or stitched leather upholstery. The ergonomic intensive-use chairs are very durable and especially need to be ergonomic in design, because workers are typically sitting for many hours. And the executive chairs usually have upholstered back rests and upholstered arms.

The hydraulic seat height adjustment allows the user to adjust the chair properly so feet can rest on the floor or footrest and the upper body is properly aligned with the computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. The seat should always extend at least one inch from either side of the hips for optimum comfort because insufficient hip room can make you sit too far forward and not get enough support for the thighs. Adjustable height and width are absolutely necessary when buying a chair that has armrests. The armrests should be made of a soft material and should be at least 2" wide to provide an adequate surface area.

Some of the ergonomic chair seat pans easily adjust for either a forward or backward tilt. You can use an ergonomic chair with casters and a 5-point base to ease movement and minimize possible tipping. A good ergonomic chair or office chair will recline and lock into several different positions.

The backrest of the chair should also have angle, in-out and height adjustments to achieve the proper spinal alignment; the angle adjustment allows the user to adjust the angle of the backrest in relation to the seat pan, as opposed to the tilt mechanism, which moves the seat pan with the backrest. The front part of the seat should slope down ever so slightly and allow a fist size gap between the back of the knees and the front edge of the seat pan to reduce pressure on the back of the thighs. The seat pan is the one component of the chair that supports the majority of the user's weight.

Hopefully these ergonomic facts and tips about features and types of ergonomic chairs will help you when shopping for or buying an ergonomic chair online or locally from your office supply store or office furniture store. Many good deals can be found online and at local office furniture consignment and resale shops. And if you can't afford the Cadillac of chairs, the Aeron chair, which starts at about $400, find an ergonomic chair or ergonomic office chair that is a true ergonomic chair, not the 'ergonomically designed' chair that is generally not totally ergonomic.

by Helen Hecker
Keyword : How To Buy An Ergonomic Office Chair

Google Calls For Global Privacy Standards

Google Calls For Global Privacy Standards

Google takes a lot of heat from the European Union over its privacy standards. Now the company is taking its turn to speechify.

This morning, Google's Global Privacy Counsel Peter Fleischer took the stage at a European regional meeting on the "ethical dimensions of the information society," organized by the French Commission of the UNESCO, to call for international privacy standards.

"The majority of the world's countries offer virtually no privacy standards to their citizens and businesses," Fleischer later wrote in a blog post calling for international privacy standards that are "clear and strong, mindful of commercial realities, and in line with oftentimes divergent political needs."

Now is the time for such standards, Fleischer writes, because of accelerating globalization, technological innovation and concern over personal privacy.

Search rivals Ask and Microsoft called for industry-wide standards in July.

As a workable model for international standards, however, Fleischer cites the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Privacy Framework.

The APEC Privacy Framework, according to the organization's Web site, is built on nine principles: preventing harm, integrity of personal information, notice, security safeguards, collection limitations, access and correction, uses of personal information, accountability and choice.

Fleischer said the framework appeals to Google because it balances business needs and commercial interests. And unlike other international privacy standards, as well as the OECD guidelines and the European Directive, the APEC Privacy Framework was developed in the "Internet age."

A Google spokesperson told InternetNews.com the company does not mean to endorse specific privacy standards, such as APEC's, but to advocate a "clear strong workable practice."

In June, Google responded to pressure from the European Union over privacy concerns by agreeing to anonymize its search server logs after 18 months. Previously, Google held onto user search data for as long as 24 months, a length of time the company decided on in reaction to past European Union (EU) concerns.

By Nicholas Carlson
Keyword : Google Calls For Global Privacy Standards