It would be hard to imagine anyone living in the present millennium who has never even heard of the internet. Practically every nation in the world is hooked into this technological wonder that has changed the world’s landscape in ways that were once far from imaginable. Now every human activity seems to have some connection, whether direct or indirect, to the Internet, may it be in academics, the military, finance, entertainment, and of course, work. The Internet is also responsible for creating great possibilities that now enable people to learn, have fun, and most importantly, work practically anywhere they want.
The Internet is the world’s largest, freely accessible convergence of computer networks that are themselves interconnected through a system known as Internet Protocol, or IP, where they exchange data by means of switching packets. In other words, the Internet is a network comprised even further of smaller networks, linking various convergences of computers in different fields such as academics, business, and the government. Through this, the Internet becomes a venue for various services and information transfer such as email (electronic mail), file transfer, online chat, and web browsing. Now, the Internet is also the venue of e-commerce (electronic commerce), which expands businesses into various locations, allowing people to work anywhere, even at home.
Many people think that the World Wide Web is the same as the Internet; however, the former is just a component of the latter. As discussed, the Internet is a gathering of computer networks that are interconnected by means of cables, wires or wireless connections, while the Web is a gathering of documents that are interconnected by hyperlinks. The Web exists within the Internet, and it just so happens to be among the most frequently used components that it is often confused with the big network itself. Nevertheless, the Web serves as a great tool especially for people working at home, because it is a very effective venue for marketing products and services or acquiring projects and clients.
Internet Applications and Tools
Over 1.09 billion people use the Internet and most of them take advantage of the various useful applications or tools that are available. One very popular tool is the electronic mail (e-mail), which has greatly replaced traditional mail (otherwise known as snail mail), because of the instant communication it provides.
Another widely used tool is the online chat, which provides a more casual venue for instant communication with many people all over the world. Of course, the World Wide Web is also a very useful tool as it helps people gain access to and post information all over the world.
These tools are quite helpful for businesses, especially those that operate at home. Email provides a quick and cheap way to communicate with clients and suppliers anywhere in the world. Online chat provides the possibility of meeting with associates without having to commute or travel. The Web is a great place to make yourself known and is thus an indispensable marketing tool. Other components of the Internet are quite useful in running businesses whether at home or in large corporate settings.
The Internet has brought so many possibilities to the people of today. Its applications in business are quite remarkable, and there is no wonder why more and more people are taking advantage of the Internet as an option to make a living.
Thanks to the technological advantages of today, more and more people are being enticed to work at home. In fact, over 20.7 million people worked at home back in 2004 and the figures by now could have already more than doubled. For others who may be interested to work at home but are quite hesitant, a major factor for their reluctance is the perceived difficulty of setting up a home office.
Setting up an office at home may seem daunting, but it is actually quite simple. Of course, different work-at-home jobs require different things but most work-at-home opportunities would require the same basic equipment. There is a need for a well-lit space that is free from distractions or noise for the home worker to be able to concentrate on the job. Then there is a need to sit down and a flat elevated surface to work on. You would also need a place for storing information about clients and customers. Finally, you would need a means of communication and sending information to others.
Most home offices have service businesses and thus there is usually no need to make room for inventory unlike those in the retail, manufacturing, or wholesaling business. There is also usually no need to have a conference room for meetings because people who work at home tend to meet their clients online or in their respective offices for presentations and other purposes.
Now what most people may be concerned about setting up a home office would be the costs. While many would cringe at the thought of the money to be spent to equip the home office, it would be good to know that the price of equipment has dropped dramatically. Phone service prices have also become more home-office-friendly with the emergence of packages that allow owners to get unlimited calls even for long-distance ones at a fixed price. Many of these services also come with high-speed Internet connection that is usually considered a must for work-at-home schemes.
For the computer, you may expect to spend around $1000 to get a decent unit with all the basic capabilities needed for a functional home office. Usually a unit that has the current leading processor, at least 256MB of RAM, 60GB or so of hard drive space, a 17” monitor, a CD/DVD-ROM drive, a modem and an Ethernet connection would suffice in most business transactions. There are many reasonable packages available in leading computer stores online.
A home office would also definitely benefit from a multi-function machine, which saves both space and money. Now there is no more need to buy a printer, a fax machine, and a copier separately because all the functions of these machines can be rolled into one. For just around $250, you can get a machine that does the job of all these equipments. One would also have the option of having machines that produce colored prints.
As for the phone, you might need to get a more functional phone since there might be an increased need to contact people when you have a home office. Usually, a cordless phone that has capabilities like speakerphone, phone conferencing, call waiting, voice mail, among many other things would be beneficial for a home office. Such devices usually go around $200 more or less.
Setting up a home office can be a breeze. With the growing number of people working at home, it is easy to see how the home is fast becoming a popular work place.
There is no doubt that more and more individuals are enticed to work at home. Thanks to the modern conveniences made available by technology, more than 20.7 million people have decided to bring their work at home both part-time and full-time. There are those who have already successfully set up a functional home office but have noticed that they need something more to make their work at home pursuits easier. Such people have discovered the need to get other devices specific to the type of work they have at home. Considering the contribution they can add to one’s productivity and profitability, the effort and investment would be worth taking. Here are some devices that might be required of certain work-at-home schemes.
For transcription services, you would greatly benefit from playback pedals or foot controls. This device controls the playback of sound clips for transcription. Using a foot or both feet, a transcriber can play, rewind, fast forward, or pause sound files being transcribed. This frees the hands, which are needed to type data. Normally, people would not see the need for the hands to be free for typing, but transcribers would know how much convenience they would get if their hands were freed of another task.
For people who deal with clients and give presentations frequently, they might benefit from audio-visual presentation devices such as portable projectors with speakers. Clients are greatly impressed by presentations using multi-media devices and having a portable projector would come in handy for this purpose. This could also boost the acquisition of clients, increasing opportunities for profit.
Some people working at home might also benefit from headsets and web cams, especially when there is a need to meet with clients or suppliers online. You might also benefit from VoIP (voice over internet protocol) devices, to cut the costs of long-distance telephony. This can help home workers reach people in various locations, thereby expanding business productivity.
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