 Prepare For Hurricane Season, Protect Your SystemsIt’s important we do what we can to prevent damage to our systems. The state of Hawaii is always busy getting supplies together before a storm. That's why we compiled a 5 minute read to help you prepare.
Storm damaged computer equipment is more common than most people think. Probably because a modem (or any other computer equipment) is one of the last things we think to protect in the event of bad weather. Fortunately, its not difficult to avoid the hassle of replacing your modem or, even worse, the cost of replacing your entire computer system. A simple surge protector can do wonders. It'll protect your computer equipment from most thunderstorms, as well as common power fluctuations that occur with rain or wind (We Are More usually installs these for the businesses we work in). Surge protectors can't always protect against heavy storms, though, so it's a good idea to unplug your computer when a storm is in the forecast. You should also unplug your peripheral equipment (printers, scanners, etc.). It's pretty simple if you have a surge protector, just unplug the surge protector from the wall (there's no need to disconnect your equipment from the computer). Don't forget your high-speed modem router and switch that controls your VoIP WiFi and point of sale systems. If your Internet connection runs through coax (most do) unplug the coax cable. Power surges can travel through the line and fry your modem. This also goes for all audio visual equipment (amplifiers, signal processors, televisions) and security systems. If you don’t get a chance to disconnect your computer before this or any storm and a power outage occurs, go ahead and unplug your equipment. Power spikes can occur when service is restored, so this will help prevent damage. When the storm ends and the power comes back on, connect and turn on your computer first, then peripheral equipment. This will protect against power spikes that can occur as the computer starts up. Preparing for a storm should only take you a couple of minutes. And trust us--that's nothing compared to the frustration we all deal with if a computer modem or router goes down. We look forward to Douglas passing and We Are More continuing business as usual! Stay dry! Aloha from We Are More! Featured blog by Ola Shaw
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Family Time With TechnologyFamilies are finally spending huge amounts of time together! Which is probably a nightmare in some households, but it doesn’t have to be! When is the last time your family did a video game competition, or a BBQ with good food and music, or just a movie night in general? You can’t recall huh? We Are More thinks these last months during the corona virus pandemic (and going forward) have been the perfect time to remind families how much fun they can have together. All they need is a TV screen, a good sound system, and some magic dust from our installation crew! Seriously. Technology has the power to bring people together.  Sarah M. Coyne did an article on the benefits of playing video games as a family. She said that “research has shown that video games can strengthen parent-child relationships and marriages when used in the right context.” This is an exclusion of violent video games or the overuse of video games to the point of addiction, but it shows that healthy use of video games is possible and can bring people together. So instead of taking frustration out on each other, why not let it out on a friendly game of Mario Cart? Or stop ordering takeout and start having a BBQ once a week! We Are More’s sound system installations will make every backyard BBQ feel like a party. Add in some lighting features while you’re at it to keep BBQ’s going later into the evening. Throw some steaks on the grill, burgers, shrimp, the works! Then bump up the tunes (or leave it low, as serene background music) and enjoy each other’s company. Wherever there’s good food, there’s happy people. Save the image below and send it to your family group chat to get things started tonight!  Happiness can also be found in silence. Instead of struggling with trying to put the little ones to bed, why don’t you have a movie night? Make them excited about popcorn and other snacks. Remind them they have to behave to watch the show and that silence is key in the theater room!  We Are More has a wide selection of TV screens that can be mounted in any room for your theater experience. They also offer surround sound installations, so it’s really “just like the movies.” Along with automated lighting control to turn your lights down from your comfy spot on the couch, they also recommend television providers that would be good for your personal preference. You’re going to have to choose the movie on your own though (I know, such a bummer. That’s usually the hardest part!).
Whatever the activity, We Are More can help make quality time a good time with technology. There are so many ways technology can bring families together. Don’t wait to think of ways to spend more time with your growing kids. Let’s use technology how it’s supposed to be used— to our advantage! Why The Internet Is Important We live in a world where the next best thing is already a thing of the past, thanks to social media. Where we hear any and everything from news stations as long as their channel is the first to let us know. Where the spread of epidemics, mass hysteria, famine, economic distress, and the end of the world is on everyone’s minds due to the screens in front of them. These are just a few of the subjects that have been turning the globe upside down since the start of 2020. Thankfully, the internet is also keeping everyone connected and almost sane. People are learning how to interact differently. Even children are dependent on it more than ever as a means to education for the upcoming school year. What we do with the internet, how we utilize it, is vital to how it can benefit people in these troubling times. The internet was once a luxury to some and is now a necessity to everyone. To communicate with loved ones, stay informed, and even for things people used to take for granted, like shopping from home. Did you know –despite over 22 million Americans filing for unemployment (see chart below from The Washington Post)— since the corona virus hit the nation, America has seen an exceptionally high increase of online shopping?   Online buying has never been more popular. Sure, states are reopening, and some businesses are too. Yet we still see the elderly fearing for their lives in grocery stores, even with a mask on, and others who cannot wear masks due to health conditions or phobias, keeping them away from public places. Not to mention the thousands of stores that were shut down due to the risk of spreading the virus that have yet to open up again, and financial obligations that closed some businesses indefinitely. It makes sense that there would be a rise in online purchases. According to The New York Times, the spike in online sales happened after Americans received their first stimulus check (see chart below), which aided in a surge of online shopping later in April. If the internet were not accessible, what exactly would people be doing for essential items? They would be growing their own food and sewing their own clothes, which some people are great at doing; but the rest of us? Not so much. The comfort of online shopping proves to be an essential part of the internet and is something that is helping online businesses stay afloat.   Though the internet might seem like an awful place with everything going on, without the internet, people would be in even more chaos than they are now. Online businesses seem to be the only ones doing as good as normal. So, what could people do as unemployment rises and online sales increase? Here’s a thought, why not start an online business? It doesn’t even have to be a business you are passionate about; it just has to be something that would sell right now. A popular money maker during this time is recycled (used) clothing. Everyone loves shopping, but no one likes paying the highest price for something they could get cheaper elsewhere. Since there are so many people out of work, no one wants splurge on anything new, but they still want the satisfaction of buying things they want that they can afford. If you are someone who is staying home, think of the things people are willing to spend on, get creative, and start selling— boom, online work. Being a legitimate business owner entails a lot of other legal requirements, but starting small on resale cites like Mercari, Poshmark, eBay etc. is something anyone can do to make some extra cash. It’s the perfect time to make money while cleaning out your house. There are so many opportunities as well as advantages during this time of global stress. Use the internet! Find your niche. You got this!
We Are More is not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned. No copyright or infringement is intended. |
Our AuthorSamara Towers does We Are More's PR & Marketing which includes writing our blogs! She was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated from Corban University with a Bachelors Degree in Creative Writing. She produces content to give our audience more insight and opinions on technical solutions big and small. 
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