Week 9 - The World Wide Web and The Internet

Networking kind of goes hand-in-hand with the World Wide Web, which is how we access information over The Internet. Many people confuse the two terms - World Wide Web and The Internet - but in fact, The Internet really refers to the physical interconnection of the uncountable number of routers, switches, hubs, servers, IP Phones, PCs, and many other devices popping up around the world like refrigerators, cars, etc. The Internet encompasses many protocols, not just HTTP, which is what the World Wide Web uses to exchange pages of information.

Energizing would be an avid user of the Internet, especially of the W.W.W. component. When choosing a domain name, one thing to be careful of is not to interfere with any other name that may be similar to other companies out there. For example, Energizer, the battery company has a very similar name to this company's name. When using Google, Energizer brings up completely different results than Energizing does. So something with the word "Energizing" would probably be OK, especially since Energizing would not be using the name in bad faith. Of course this domain name is just an alias for a 4 part IP address, stored on some domain name server initially, then propagated down the lower level servers the more the name is searched.

Energizing.com, Energizing.net, Energizing.org are all taken, but they seem to be mostly ad-driven sites. There would be a chance that at least one is for sale, then the company could eventually pursue rights to the rest of them, since they are mostly to bring in revenue by advertising, not to promote a company or person. Aka, they don't really have a true purpose. However, there is a chance that, because these have been bought before the company concept was created, Energizing may not get rights to them.

A company website is absolutely necessary in today's world, not only for marketing and advertising purposes, but for quicker customer service. This way, not only will the name be out there, but in terms of competition, customers would be more likely to choose a company with an active site that is easily accessible, and often updated. It is crucial to be a quick responder and to keep updated information on the site.

Week 8 - Networking

Connections are important if Energizing wants to expand its borders. Of course, networking can mean anything - social networking, or internet networking. They are very different in the way they work, but both have the same root meaning: being connected to as many nodes as possible in a way that new options (routes or opportunities) are made visible as quickly as possible. Just as someone who has many personal connections will get information about discounts, job opportunities, you name it, a company that is efficiently networked, whether it be inter-networking or external-networking will be much more efficient in responding to consumer requests, manufacturing, recruiting, advertising, etc.

Today's technologies allow us to be packet switching in networks, but telephones are still operational, though the standard circuit switching is still in use. This technology, which involves keeping a line open for communication is a waste of bandwidth. IP phones are becoming more popular, but are still expensive for an average person to own. Companies use these phones more often than individuals do. Besides phones, being connected to clients, and constantly upgrading the information of how much electricity is created through the exercise machines is beneficial to have in order to market the company and idea in a more efficient manner.

Energizing would utilize many protocols, including IMAP and SMTP for employees to have their own mailboxes. In addition FTP would be useful in order to upload newer versions of the operating system to the net or even directly to the gyms' machines. Energizing could also offer a cheaper POP mailbox for clients, especially for communication between client and company. This would become useful primarily if the client has questions or concerns to which a company representative would reply via email stored with POP.

Week 10 - Privacy not Piracy

The notion of stealing other people's belongings is anything but a new idea. Ever since humans know themselves, piracy has always been an issue. No one would be comfortable leaving their laptop, ipod, wallet, or anything else out in the middle of a crowded mall. Analogously, no one should feel safe typing their credit card number out over an unsecured internet connection. The internet is probably the biggest mall of malls, carrying exchanges of personal information at capacities many million times more than that of a giant mall in NYC for example. It is no question why online security is much of a necessity. Although we try to do something about keeping consumers' information private, there is always the pickpocket, aka hacker/virus creator who constantly try to pry out innocent peoples' information to use to their benefit.

Energizing is one company that would put their customers' interests first, making the utmost effort to clearly state what information we collect about them, how it is collected, how we would use it, and what information, if any, we would share with third parties.

Looking forward, information collected would be mostly through forms online, like when we collect new consumers' information such as name, address, telephone numbers, etc. We would also keep track of what they bought, thus using that to keep an updated profile of the client, some of which we would share with advertisers (like how much they are into the whole idea of the company, of if they are just buyers just to try the whole idea.) We wouldn't share specific addresses or names, only the city they are from for better ad targeting. Transactions online would be stored in encrypted files processed over ssl connections. Energizer would also keep antiviral programs up to date on all machines used in the company.

Week 6 & 7 - Keeping Tabs

In order to grow, every company needs to keep track of its finances, whether it is incoming money or outgoing money. In Energizing, incoming money would be from gyms buying the products, customer service, or any energy created from the gym machines. Outgoing money would include shipping, raw materials, payroll, etc. In order to keep from running out of materials, or becoming bankrupt from bad accounting, it is important to keep track of all company finances using spreadsheets and databases. Spreadsheets would be more for individualized, smaller-scale, and constantly changing data-keeping.

Spreadsheets are also useful for making graphs for fiscal year summaries, or mid-year reports. Speaking of graphical representations, these reports would also contain text and images of what's been accomplished and what is in for the future of the company, as well as financial information for share holders. A clean layout should be used, as well as a positive color palette. Such a report should also be put online; it is crucial to select the correct typography for both formats. Online type should be sans-serif for an easier read. For easier navigation, rather than put up a pdf of the file, an interactive version is preferable.

Typography would also be used in the logo of the company. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as InDesign are needed to create an appropriate logo and the reports mentioned above. In addition, online advertising, print advertising, and media kits should be created as well for company growth and to increase publicity.

Week 5 - Software Operations

There are multiple systems in a company like this that would need a variety of operating systems, from complicated ones like Windows to simpler ones that manage a workout machine and battery charge system. Computers in the headquarters doing business development and management would need the Windows or Mac operating systems, based on their functions. The marketing/advertising section would probably use Mac computers since they need more visual-based programs, while the finance department, for example should use a windows operating system.

Servers containing customer data, and energy production information would probably use Unix-based operating systems. The machines designed for harvesting the energy produced during a workout would have a simpler operating system; they would know just enough to calculate workout data, and process the energy, sending it to the generator/large battery. This operating system should also be able to send data of energy produced to a central location so energy generation statistics about each gym/machine can be stored, and used for future development.

Each OS would need all sorts of software. In fact, there is a wide variety of needed software depending on which operating system the computer uses/for what. Spreadsheet programs on any computer running Windows or Microsoft is important for any data-storage reasons, but it is absolutely necessary to have them on the servers, since they are there to store data. The most organized way would be in some sort of multi-cell document.

Utilization of high-performing Open Source software should be implemented as much as possible for cutting costs, and also to follow the trend of where technology is moving today. Open source is becoming more powerful as the community of developers in the world work together, and sometimes produce (now more often than before) better software than what is already out there. For example, Firefox has surpassed Internet Explorer in just a few years, and is becoming more popular among web developers. Even Google came to fame in less than a decade, and is continuing with its open source web browser, Chrome. Clearly, that is where the world is heading.

Week 4 - Protecting the Energy

Protecting the identity is just as important for any company as it would be for this one. However, with the idea that I've come up with, it is especially crucial to protect the ideas and advancements made on the workout machines Energizing makes. First, it is important to patent any new ideas that come up during development.

The office where the information is kept for manufacturing, financial accounting, customer service, and any other departments that are part of the company needs to be under some sort of security. The theft of data from any of these processes would be detrimental to the company's development. Like a personal credit card info or bank card info theft, keeping all information out if ID thieves' hands is crucial.

In order to keep the office, and manufacturing plant secure, there should be a security desk at each entrance, or some sort of lock that can only be opened by trusted employees or other personnel. In addition, a credit check should be performed yearly, if not more than that. Moderation of workers' online activities should be enforced, as there is also a potential in a security breach there.

Week 3 - Hardware

Being a company that installs energy harvesting units into machines, and/or creates machines that are designed specifically for that purpose, there will be the need for some sort of small CPU in each work out machine. This CPU will not be as intricate as the one in a desktop computer, but it needs to figure out how much power the LCD screen or other workout aids need, and to send the rest off to a battery. This battery is also important, for there will either be a battery connected to each machine (which would ease rearrangement), or all of them could be individually connected via wires to a large storage battery. After years of use, these batteries would also need to be replaced, or at least maintained so that the efficiency stays as good as possible.

Besides the actual machines, the company would need desktop computers, as well as one, if not more, servers. This of course depends on how large the company is. Nevertheless, Energizing would need to keep track of all its customers, and retail stores through some sort of management, which would of course be in need of computers to process and store/back up all data.

A factory where the company would assemble these machines would need hardware too. Robotic computers would be needed to assemble the delicate parts, as well as a section for repairs. These computers would be more of the troubleshooting type, where they know the step by step process of putting a cardio machine together and apart, detect any faults in the system, and what kind of faults there are; ie. if it is mechanical, or software related.

Like with any other company, this one could expand to include many other branches involved in "greening" the gym system in America.