If the company you’re working for is anything like where I used to work, I’m guessing that you are only able to access select websites from your office computer. While I am all for productivity and efficiency for the organization’s welfare, I am also for a bit of fun time to get my mind off work for a short while. I think that it’s just wrong to keep people from accessing their web-based email like Hotmail, flash games from Yahoo’s site and http://MySpace.com. Specially http://MySpace.com. Blocking these sites should be a crime. I mean, we are responsible adults and we do value the company’s time and money, right? I am assuming that we all answered yes. I for one refused to be caged in my cubicle with a restricted Internet connection. After a few tries to circumvent the system, I finally came across one that was painless to use and is readily available because no installation or settings configuration was needed.
Web based proxies are websites that enable you to go around firewalls thereby permitting you to enter sites that are being blocked. It is easy enough to look for a free Internet proxy and it is even simpler to use them. After locating a web-based proxy site, all you have to do is enter the URL of the site that you wish to visit in the provided space, usually a rectangular box not unlike the ones found in search engines. Voila! Say hello to http://MySpace.com or eBay right in front of your own workstation in the office or any other place where website access is actively being limited. Your company’s IT administrator can block one or two of these Internet based proxies, but it is virtually impossible to block all of them unless they block everything from coming in or out. In that case, there’s no reason for even having an Internet service.
Before I am branded a hooligan for sidestepping company policies, I would like to talk about the more essential use of proxy websites. Going through set boundaries in cyberspace is not the primary function of these sites but concealing your IP address from prying eyes is. Along that line, no one will be able to make a profile of you by using your online comings and goings as a basis. With your naked IP address, malicious individuals or marketing groups will be able to track your Internet habits and use it to gather information about you. Now we all know how frustrating and annoying unwanted product offers are. Using a proxy will make sure that you won’t be leaving any virtual footsteps behind for anyone to follow. Privacy is the primary objective in using a proxy service when you’re browsing websites. A proxy makes you anonymous because it acts as a buffer between you and everything else out there. When you request for or receive data off some site, it first passes through the slack that the proxy acts as and that’s what stops people from getting information about you. In effect, nobody will even know of your presence.
Alcoholics Anonymous Online Meetings
We all have those days when we could use an extra pair of hands, legs and two heads! While that problem can be resolved to some extent by hiring additional staff, what can you do about those situations where your presence is essential? Now take the case of client meetings, branch office reviews or senior management committee catch-ups. How do you manage to attend all of them when you don't have the time or the inclination to travel?
Ever heard of online meetings?
Online meetings can help bridge the distance to your customers, partners and employees who are located far away. The availability of the internet has led to the creation of web conferencing technology which allows people across the world to log into a single meeting. So, an online meeting not only solves your problem of space and time, but does the same for all the other participants who are crucial to the discussion.
Although online meetings are not as good as the real thing in terms of making an emotional connect with participants, they can “do the job” under the right circumstances. A group in which the members are familiar with each other, and where all the persons know how to make good use of the online meeting format, will certainly find them very productive.
If you've never been part of one, here are a few suggestions on how to make an online meeting work for you:
1. Get a good internet connection. That's an absolute must. Slow speeds or unreliable connectivity will only frustrate the process.
2. Choose a good vendor. Naturally, suppliers of web conferencing technology are plentiful. However, be sure to investigate their suite of services, history of reliability and reputation before you pick one. Costs can vary across vendors, and will also depend on the nature of your meeting requirements – in terms of participants, location and so on.
3. Use the features to the fullest. Online meetings can support both audio and video. Participants could phone in on a given number and enter the meeting. If you choose to use a toll free number, you get to bear the charges for all calls made. A web camera is all that is required to enable a video web conference. And it hardly costs anything.
4. Use other aids. You can always do a demonstration, make a slide presentation or share files in an online meeting. This way you can bridge the distance gap even further, as everyone is able to see what you're talking about.
5. Prepare as you normally would. In fact, I'd say that an online meeting requires even more preparation than a physical one. Therefore, make sure that an agenda has been circulated, the timing of the calls are properly established (remember time zones) and everyone knows what to bring to the table.
When conducted properly, an online meeting can serve many objectives:
Both Word Content & Akhil Shahani are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
