Industry News (11)
Time to Embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Content Creation, Stock Images and Product Photography
Written by Karla Guccione, Web Designer
This articles examines how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the world of content creation including, authoring text and creating images. In addition to sharing some of the tools your competition may be implementing to get ahead of you, this article also provides facts on the history and evolution of Artificial Intelligence. The hope is that his article will help you realize the endless possibilities offered by Artificial Intelligence and what to expect in the future.
Google and Microsoft Reduce Workforces, Both Hint at Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Written by Karla Guccione, Web Designer
Is the current economic crisis the real reason for tech industries recent reduction in workforces? Yes, the economy is in bad shape. Interest’s rates are high and inflation is climbing, but it is also evident that the recent leaps and bounds made within the developments of Artificial Intelligence (AI), is making it easier for BIG TECH to part with their employees.
Google Cuts 12.5% of Workforce in 2023
First, to put Google cuts in context: in Q3 2021 Alphabet Inc. reported 150,028 total employee’s. On January 20, 2023 Sundar Pichai CEO of Google and Alphabet released a statement “A difficult decision to set us up for the future”. His statement goes on to convey that “We’ve (Google) decided to reduce our workforce by approximately 12,000 roles” (12.5% of their company). Later in the statement he says that the company is pivoting and recalls Google “to be AI-first years ago led to groundbreaking advances across our businesses and the whole industry.”
Google Announces Plan to Purchase the Thompson Center in Chicago
Written by Karla Guccione, Web Designer
Alphabet Inc. announces their intent on “Bringing Google to Chicago’s Thompson Center.” The company announcement posted on July 27, 2022 under Google’s Company News section, conveyed the company’s plan to purchase the Thompson Center and “support (their) engineering work in Chicago,” in effort to “advance the growth of Google’s partners and customers across the Midwest and nationally”.
While Google, and their parent company “Alphabet Inc.” (both mostly known for their Search Engine Console) are both headquartered in the same Mountain View, California corporate complex, known as the “Googleplex.” The Googleplex has been reported to possesses roughly 2 million square feet of office space, the Thompson Center is not far behind with approximately 1.5 million square feet, spread across 17 floors of office and retail space.
Note to Website Owners: COVID-19 Sends Business Online, Ecommerce and Internet Activity Rise
Written by Local Chicago Area Web Designer
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, the World is seeing a shift in the way business is done. With much of the World’s work-force sidelined, and with retail stores closing across the United States, our economy is evolving and consumers are looking for virtual spaces to wander.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, for those of us who are fortunate enough to remain healthy, some of us have taken advantage of the World being paused, by getting our Spring cleaning accomplished at home. Clearing closets and clutter have been accomplished. However, if you are a business owner and/or website owner, knowing where the World's economy is headed (online), have you reviewed your business plan and website to make sure they are both adequate vehicles that are capable of carrying your business into the future?
Stealing Images is a Crime, Avoid Copyright Claims Using FREE and/or PAID Royalty-Free Stock Images
Written by Sal Guccione
This article provides some insight into copyright infringement and/or copyright claims, as it relates to the use of images on websites, while also offering ways to avoid copyright claims. This includes providing proactive actions and links to resources for free royalty-free stock images and paid royalty-free stock images.
If you own a website, or are a web designer who has used images without securing licensing then you probably know this can be a real costly endeavor. Copyright infringement is a real and occurs more often than you think. This occurs both on purpose, and inadvertently. In any case, the attorneys who will be contacting you do not care if it was a mistake or not. This is why it is important to use images from a trusted source (not Google Image Search), and/or license your images from a trusted stock image resource.
Before we get into providing solutions to avoiding copyright claims, let us first understand the nuts and bolts of the issue which can be realized by reviewing some frequently asked questions and answers relative to copyright infringement as it relates to "image usage on the internet".
Google Shuts Down Google+, Facebook Wins Social Media Battle
Written by Local Chicago Area Web Designer
In October of 2018 Google announced they would be "Protecting your data, improving our third-party APIs, and sunsetting consumer Google+". Later in December another update would come as Google announced "Expediting changes to Google+". Most recently in December of 2018, deletion dates were provided when Google emphasized that it will shut down Google+, "due to low usage and challenges involved in maintaining a successful product that meets consumers’ expectations." as provided in Google's official statement.
While the number of mobile device users is growing, the number of social media networks is also constantly growing. However, with the recent news of Google sunsetting Google+, the "social media battle field" just got thinner.
How to Fix Google Usability Issues Using Mobile Friendly & Responsive Web Design
Written by Local Chicago Area Web Designer
In 2015 Google notified all website owners of issues on their site relative to mobility issues. If your website was deficient and/or you have received an email that provided a warning stating that “Google systems has tested your site finding a percentage of your website’s pages to have critical mobile usability errors", then this is something you really should resolve.
Is it a valid concern if a website is not optimized for mobile devices? That question depends on the answer to another question. How many mobile device users are their versus desktop users. In May 2015, in the “Google Inside Adwords Blog”, within the article titled "Building for the next moment", Google stated that “Google searches take place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries including the US and Japan”. Furthermore, www.statista.com authored an article titled "Statistics and Facts on Mobile Internet Usage" which reports that "mobile phone internet user penetration was 52.7 percent in 2015" and suggests the figure will climb to 63.4 percent by 2017.
Matt Cutts is the Most Interesting Man in the World of SEO
Written by Sal Guccione
If you don’t know who Matt Cutts is, then you probably have not been paying much attention to the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). If you own or manage a website and have an interest in growing your web presence, then its time you learn more about Matt Cutts.
When viewing Google’s Management Team Page, provided on their company website. You will not see a photo or even a description of Matt Cutts. I find this funny considering, that when Matt Cutts speaks, his words have a more significant impact on the world of SEO than any other Google staff member.
Perhaps you are more familiar with the "stay thirsty" ad campaign put on by Dos Equis Beer. Whereas their spokesman is a older distinguished gentlemen who is lauded as "the most interesting man in the world". I could not help but to rewrite many of the popular sayings so that they are relevant to the world of SEO and Matt Cutts.
"Search engines base their results upon his guidelines"
"His words are considered golden"
"He is fluent in all search engine algorithms, even those that have not been developed yet"
292 Million Dollar Website: Healthcare.gov
Written by Karla Guccione, Web Designer
Healthcare.gov may be the most talked about website since the days of Facebook going public! Healthcare.gov is a healthcare exchange website created by and operated under the United States Federal Government as per the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) which was signed into law March 23, 2010. The PPACA was designed to serve the residents of the thirty-six U.S. states that opted not to create their own state exchanges. In order to achieve the goals of the PPACA, as with many other businesses, industries and endeavors, a service based website was required.
Healthcare.gov is the government website which was developed to provide a way for Americans to “comparison shop” between different possible health insurance options for an individual within his or her state, with a visual format somewhat similar to websites such as Amazon.com and Etsy.
While the Healthcare.gov website has been criticized and dragged through the mud, is it really a broken website or is all the noise created by those who oppose the politics behind the National Health Care initiative?
Big Name Joomla Users: Leonardo Di Caprio, MTV and McDonalds
Written by Karla Guccione, Web DesignerAs reported on the Joomla Website, Lenoardo Di Caprio uses Joomla on his new site LeonardoDiCaprio.com.
Leonardo Di Caprio is one of the most famous actors in the world. Leonardo has shown the ability to choose great roles, starring in movies from Inception and Gangs of New York to Titanic and Catch Me if You Can. It seems he can also choose great software. His new site LeonardoDiCaprio.com runs Joomla. This is a particularly interesting site in its design and its navigation.
Who else uses Joomla? Leo joins the ranks of numerous other big names that use Joomla. Other big names that use the Joomla platform include Major Television Networks, Retailers, Car Manufacturers and even Government Agencies. Names such as McDonalds, Jaguar, Pizza Hut, MTV, Sony Pictures, Mexico City and even the United Kingdoms Ministry of Defense.
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Google Plus Local Replaces Google Places
Written by Karla Guccione, Web Designer |
Yes, it is true that Google Places is no more! However the replacement of Google Places with Google Plus Local is a logical move for Google. As Google aims to topple Facebook and Twitter as the web’s leading online communities, “Google Plus” is their vehicle to do so. This article provides an in-depth look into Google and Google’s products that relate to Google Plus and Google Plus Local. If you can afford a moment to read this article, you will understand how significant the birth of Google Plus Local is, as it relates to Google’s big picture.
Why does it make sense for Google to enter the Social Networking arena? With the creation of “Google Plus” and now Google Plus Local, Google plans to merge all of their technology under one roof! Google has been strategically building their tools to dominate the online industry. After search engines, Google has been leading the innovative mapping industry with Google Maps. With Google owning the map market, you can assume that they have all the pieces in place to bring a “local” appeal to any social community they may be involved in developing.
