The Individual Guide

Bar Charts and the Information Challenge

Whether one is an unknown entrepreneur or Donald Trump, an elementary school teacher or a university president, a 6th grader researching other countries or a government leader visiting them, each person in any capacity has at least one thing in common: information.

Let me explain why I use bar charts as an example. Whether information is being acquired or distributed for business or educational purposes, the challenge that arises is how to compile all of the information. Bar charts are just one example of a variety of instruments for displaying information which is precise, yet simple.

This time is referred to as the “Information Age” because information about anything under the sun (and beyond) is now available in every home and hamlet. However, though information is one thing each person has in common, our interaction with it sets us apart. In many cases, the way information is accumulated may propel one business beyond the rest. On the other hand, the way information is disseminated may also set one business ahead of the rest. Can something as simple as bar charts make the difference?

Tools for Information Improvement

Bar charts, pie chart, or other types of business chart and business graphs are easily created using graphing programs with almost any word processing software. To create graphs in word processor for a database chart or a database graph is relatively simple and user-friendly.

Creating graphs and charts can also be done for a company website using almost any graph program or business mapping software.

HTML and PDF Interactive Information

Using the above-mentioned tools, compiling information using charts, graphs, and other informational mapping becomes very simple. But problems arise after initially compiling information. Online charts and graphs may include net charts, php graph, flash chart, perl graph, perl map, dynamic chart, dashboard chart, dashboard map, dashboard graph, coldfusion chart, coldfusion graph, dynamic flash, globfx, visual mining or any other data visualization tool, like a web graph or an executive dashboard. Creating these visuals online generally require .net technology.

There are online charts and graphs on the one hand, but there are also many charts and graphs made from word processing applications. The latter are usually saved as a PDF file, in order to preserve the visual integrity of the information when printing reports. These PDF files may include an archive report in the form of an archive PDF, api java PDF, PDF charts, perl PDF, PDF invoice, cold fusion PDF, C++ PDF, other pie charts and bar graphs. These are usually created using Adobe Acrobat.

Bridging the Gap Between PDF and HTML

The disconnect usually comes in trying to convert a PDF file to an HTML file or an HTML file to a PDF file. The gap between HTML and PDF has been bridged by an advanced PDF to HTML converter in recent data visualization software.

Now, visual information a user prints from the internet will no longer cut off because it does not fit the page, nor will a PDF document be distorted while writing it to the internet. Do bar graphs make the difference? The answer is that it depends on how you use it. With the possibility of interaction between HTML and PDF now available to the 6th grader, Donald Trump, and everyone in between, accessing and disseminating information can propel everyone forward into the Information Age.

Joe Miller is a specialist in online advertising. More information on bar charts and other PDF and HTML interactive tools, visitCorda.com.

Stretch to relax. Rise on your toes and reach for the ceiling, with your head back. Tighten your muscles from legs up through abdomen, and then release. Relax the neck and shoulder muscles, letting your head loll on your neck in different directions.

Breathe to relax. Stand erect, but relaxed and balanced. Inhale while silently counting to five. Hold the breath for five counts, then exhale for five - all breathing is through the mouth. Your diaphragm should move, but your chest should not expand. You can gradually increase the number of counts for each breath to 10.

Relax your Jaw. Let your head loll forward. As you raise it, keep your jaw relaxed. Let it hang open, and smile to yourself at how silly it feels.

Relax your throat. Yawn …. This is how your throat needs to be to speak well - open, and relaxed.

Keep relaxing the muscles throughout your body, your jaw, neck and throat until you walk to the presentation area. Then smile! and begin.

© 2005 Written by Bronwyn Ritchie for International Training in Communication All rights reserved. If you would like to use this article, you have permission to use it only in full, and only with the following Resource box attached.

Bronwyn Ritchie is a speaker, writer, librarian and trainer and she manages Pivotal Points - resources for the times in your life when you pivot - change direction - towards a better you, a better life. For more tips, articles and courses on public speaking and presentations, visit http://www.consultpivotal.com/public_speaking.htm

A Computerized Time Clock System is an employee time tracking system that is suitable for most organizations. A computerized time clock collects employee Punch IN (time in) and Punch OUT (time out) information and combines and collates it into management reports. These reports are typically used for generating the information required to produce the payroll.

Computerized time clock systems are available in different configurations and capacities so you can build a system to match the size of your organization.

The system consists of one or more punch card or access units combined with software that runs on an ordinary PC or other computer system (UNIX, LINUX etc).

The punch card or access unit(s) collect the employee Punch IN (time in) and Punch OUT (time out) data and pass it onto the computer, where it is used to generate management reports and potentially the payroll. Used together the components create a computerized time clock system.

The major benefit of these systems is that once set up, they automatically collect all the employee information into a central computer (generally a standard PC) which then processes the reports.

Features vary between systems, but will include a good range of management reports to accommodate your organization’s holiday, overtime, shift and pay-period policies.

You can buy an entry-level computerized time clock system which allows employees to Punch IN and OUT at one location, or a network-version where employees can Punch IN and OUT at multiple locations.

The data collection can be accomplished by various means, including traditional time clocks, time-and-date stamps, guard tour systems and access control systems activated by badges or proximity cards.

You can also buy computerized time clock systems that support newer biometric registration systems such as finger, hand, and subcutaneous fingerprint readers; proximity, barcode, and magnetic stripe badge readers and even telephone (using voice recognition).

You should expect to find the following types of reports from a computerized time clock system.

- Employee Time Card Report

- Who is IN, Who is OUT Report

- Hours Worked Summary

- Shifts Report

- Holidays Report

- Time Card Approval

- Approaching Overtime

- Daily Totals By Employee

- Employee Profiles Report

A typical PC configuration will require:

- Intel Pentium II 400mhz or higher with Minimum 128MB Memory (Note most modern PCs will use a Pentium IV with 256MB Memory)
- CD-ROM Drive
- At least 256 SVGA video
- 150MB available hard disk space
- Windows 98SE/2000/2003-Server/NT4.0(SP6a)/XP

Some software also runs on larger systems using UNIX or LINUX.

The author has a passion for accurate record keeping and a fascination for any technology that improves and simplifies that process. Learn more about computerized timeclocks by visiting his website.

People respond to good leadership! Period! It is in all aspects of our lives, not just business. A mother is a leader in her home; a son may be leader of a team sport or a daughter the leader of the debate team. A group relies on the person in charge to actually lead them to success. A true leader is highly ethical, honest and respected.

In our society we have leaders and followers. Are we born to one or the other? No! Can you hone your leadership skills? Absolutely!

The leaders that I admire seem to have all of these in place:

a) They think BIG! They don’t put a ceiling in place. Instead, no limit is set as to how big or how much better something can be.
b) The goals are firmly set in place and the eye does not come off of it.
c) They make known to all involved the final product that they are all going for, example, if you sell widgets, it takes x number of widgets to be affluent, or you want to win that football game and ultimately the title. Know what you’re going for.
d) They can get compliance to orders.
e) When goals are met they set new goals or raise the bar.

People will follow your lead willingly if you are honest, ethical, if you are consistent and treat them with respect. Rewarding someone when a job is well done is always appreciated. A good leader will also off load someone who consistently hinders the group who is just not a team player.

You can improve your own self- respect and become an inspiration to others. How great is that!

Willie Jones

Willie is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist. Thanks very much for reading this far. Please come and visit us at: http://www.artinspires.com/for an inspirational poster or two

“Make sure you enroll in the free motivational poster drawing. All winners receive a free framed print.”