Category: Portfolio

Posted on by

Why Graphic Design Is Important in Digital Marketing

Why Graphic Design Is Important in Digital Marketing

Introduction

We are all aware of precisely what Graphic Design is and how it augments, shapes and extends the Digital Marketing strategies for organisations to be competitive online. But have we deeply understood the means with which how vital it is to Digital Marketing, and why it is such a necessity? Will this perfect digital ‘marriage’ continue or are adjustments required to maintain and sustain their effectiveness and value? This article will explain why Graphic Design is essential in Digital Marketing, and what new trends might be worth considering in the not too distant digital future.

Establishing that initial ‘perfect digital connection’

In our energetic, fast-paced world, consumers will only provide you with a short attention span with which to seize. A clear visual (either static or dynamic) with a strong corresponding content piece is the key to grabbing that brief attention duration and converting it to a visit to your website. There, the potential consumer can review your products and services in more detail. This is called the ‘perfect digital connection’, and it can be confirmation that your digital marketing strategies (which will be delivered by graphic design) are actually working. As per the old saying – ‘First impressions do count’.

Graphic Design, Digital Marketing and Brand Strategy

Graphic designers will build and deliver your unique style, identity and business tone – think about those famous logos where the companies are instantly recognisable and initiate pleasant or unforgettable internal emotions towards that brand.

However, it is essential to realise that graphic design is not just a combination of images and colours. It signifies a deep connection with the history and business philosophy that constitutes an organisation. It should not only amaze people on what an incredible visual design it is, but it should also reflect the company’s organic identity, how they conduct themselves in the corporate world, and importantly how they treat their customers.

Competitor Differentiation

Competitor differentiation can present itself in a variety of options. Digital differentiation is one strategy that companies use to market their goods and services in a fashion that sets them apart.

  • A company can be easily identified, who are not readily known, because of its graphic design. Creating and delivering your unique style is the way you can provide exceptional visibility; unique logo, business cards, websites and social media channels all provide striking contrasts compared to your competitors,
  • A professional designer creates stunning, eye-catching layouts that will impress consumers and further initiate visitor traffic to your website. Once a potential lead views a company’s impressive advertisements, they are likely to inquire further about the product too,
  • Quality graphic designs add value to your company – You are also establishing your credibility and professional image. Quality visual imaging is not just pleasing to the consumer’s eye – the genuine publicity will be your key to gaining the consumer’s trust, enabling them more comfortable to do business with you,
  • Displaying quality graphic designs establishes a business’s credibility and professional image.

The Internet channel has become saturated with digital advertising and marketing, and companies find it challenging to differentiate messaging from their competitors when everyone shares the same online message. But customer experience is proven to be the perfect tool to gain that competitive advantage over your rivals and help you stand out from your competitors.

Customer Experience and Digital Marketing

Here are some key statistics regarding Graphic Design in Digital Marketing:

  • The likes and shared on Infographics social media occur three times as much than any other information type,
  • Global mobile advertising expenditure reached an excess of $300 billion in 2020,
  • A video is ‘shared’ 1,200% more times than sharing a text or URL link,
  • Unique content, coupled with appealing and alluring graphics, can increase website traffic by up to 2,000%.

There is a direct relationship between customer experience and customer loyalty. Those businesses that understand, sustain, and nurture this connection will not only retain those customers, but see them recommend their products or services to a friend, colleague, or acquaintance. 

Studies have shown that a compelling relationship

exists between a customer’s positive experience and their willingness to

purchase again from the same company. And the essential tool companies use to maintain that positive customer experience is Digital Marketing. Newsletters, emails, personalised tweets and other social media channels target and foster that positive relationship between customers and their organisation’s product and services.

Digital consistency matters to the consumer

Great graphic design and digital marketing summarise a business’s ideas in a way that’s pleasing to the consumer’s eye. Potential buyers may not be willing to read a complicated or technical document trying to persuade them to purchase a product, but they will be amenable to study an image or view a short video, that will serve the same purpose. Additionally, a business’s graphic design needs to be consistent. Your brand’s representations should be either visually identical, or similar, to build trust and ensure that your brand is recognisable. Exceptional graphic design gives your business this much-needed consistency.

Conclusion

People, especially consumers, love to see positive and appealing images because it helps increase their recollection chances. The art of Graphic design, coupled with key marketing messaging via Digital Marketing, is essential in attracting potential customers’ attention towards a business’s goods and services. A Digital Marketing strategy, and corresponding plan, has become a necessity for companies to grow competitive in the digital world, and the ones that succeed will see the positive result on their financial bottom line.

Posted on by

Creating Your Perfect Home Office

Creating Your Perfect Home Office

Now is a critical time within our careers to have a convenient location to work away from the normal office. In addition, the continuing COVID-19 pandemic has made it imperative that workers work remotely, which normally means from home. However, to sustain the same effectiveness and productivity levels at home as we would be in the office environment requires a more than sufficient home office setting.

 

What Space will I Need to Designate for my Home Office?

Your home office can be as large or as small as you necessitate it to be. The space you will need will depend, to an extent, on the type of work one does. A writer, for example, may only require a corner space to fit a desk and chair, with a laptop and a writing pad nearby. However, if you are a draftsman, you will need extensive space to fit viewing large blueprints on, and possibly walk around it as well.

 

A home office is not just simply a temporary environment where you can ably work, yet it does not need to be a permanent setting that you cannot roam from when one sees fit. As a side thought, there are companies such as Spring, who offer a free home valuation service – it might be prudent to check them out and see if they can make the home office transition both simple and easy for you.

 

How do I Create that Healthy Office Set-up?

The focus when creating a healthy home work environment is not on comfort – even though we previously spent considerable time at work, we probably were oblivious to how we can make this time healthier.

 

A few minor changes and possibly furniture upgrades can modify your physical and mental health while working from home, boosting your productivity and overall satisfaction.

 

By making a few adjustments to your working set-up, you can significantly reduce the ergonomic risks and ensure your home office set-up is so much better:

  • Make sure that the computer screen is situated at eye level and situated on a specific monitor stand,
  • Regularly place your shoulders towards the back of your chair,
  • Put your feet flat on the floor, with no crossing of your feet.

 

How much will I be out of Pocket for a Home Office Set-up?

A home office set-up can be as expensive (or cheap) as you desire. Basically, all that is required is a suitable work desk to place your laptop on and a sturdy chair. But, of course, this strategy is not the optimal approach to work effectively from home.

 

  • Work desks can be purchased quite reasonably, and the costs will vary depending on what material it is made from, and how many ‘extras’ it has. An adjustable stand-up work desk can cost anywhere from £400 to £800, while a standard wooden desk will set you back approximately £100 to £200.
  • Office chairs will significantly differ in value – and it might be the best investment you will make when furnishing your personal home office. Depending on how technical they are, chairs that are large, comfortable and supportive will cost approximately £150 to £200.
  • Shelves and storage units add décor and style to your home office, and the cheaper units from those DIY stores will only cost around £50 apiece. Such a small investment will make working from home that much more pleasant and satisfying.

 

Can My Employer Help with any of these Costs?

Within the current working climate, your employer should be supportive when establishing a home office – even more so if it is based on their needs and interests. Each business will provide information about what they can and cannot provide you as a home worker – especially if you have been given no choice as to whether you can work from home or not.

If you have been ‘shoved’ into a home working situation with no other practical alternatives, you can claim some tax assistance with specific bills – like your home gas and electricity. Your accountant can give you more specific advice regarding those annual tax deductions.

 

And if you are looking to sell your dwelling quickly, then there are a few clever renovation tasks that you can apply to either your study or office quarters that will definitely increase the value of your residence.

 

Summing It All Up

Throughout these unsettled times, introducing a home office environment has never been more important to you and your career. You will not require considerable space or a substantial budget; what you do need is a workable desk and a peaceful and ambient environment. There is a definite attraction to creating an office workspace that is not only practical, but one you can call your own.

Posted on by

RAID Storage Systems and how RAID is changing with SSD

RAID Storage Systems and how RAID is changing with SSD

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a method of storing the same data in different locations on multiple hard disk drives (HDD) or solid-state drives (SSD) to protect data in the event of a drive failure. This method increases the speed of storing and accessing data while preventing data loss and unplanned downtimes – as data is shared over multiple disks, this increases the mean time between failures (MTBF). Storing data redundantly also increases fault tolerance. RAID data recovery utilizes the practices of disk mirroring or disk striping. Mirroring will copy identical data onto more than one drive, dependant on the RAID level chosen.

 

RAID works by allowing input/ output (I/O) operations to overlap in a balanced fashion, therefore improving subsequent application performance. There are different RAID levels that can be utilized (RAID level: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 + combinations), but not all RAID levels intend to provide redundancy.

 

No matter what RAID level is adopted, the RAID array will appear to the underlying operating system (OS) as a single logical drive. RAID, by tradition, was primarily designed for use in servers, but its implementation is seen in storage-intensive computers and applications that need a high level of data security and high transfer speeds.

 

How using SSD RAID arrays can lead to further performance gains over HDD

 

Let me be quite frank – SSDs are considerably more appealing as a storage component due to their high performance and minimal power consumption when compared with HDDs. SSDs tend to be far more reliable than HDDs because they do not have any moving parts that can malfunction over time with continual usage. That is not to say that SSDs are not prone to failure – they do, and can, fail for various reasons.

 

It is for these key reasons that SSD RAID arrays, and server data recovery, can be highly advantageous when used with business applications where data security and data protection is more than merely a requirement, but a vital component that needs to be satisfied by Information Technology providers. Add to this the fact that SSD RAID arrays can provide further performance gains than what HDD RAID arrays can deliver, it is clear that two facts become apparent:

 

  • HDDs are more susceptible to failure than SSDs,
  • HDDs offer lower performance than SSDs.

 

This distinction is crucial with our comparison objectives because a RAID array can either help you achieve improved performance or superior protection against disk failure, or both.

 

It is important to note that organizations that are utilizing SSDs are likely to have infrastructure workloads with specific and demanding storage requirements regarding performance. Single SSDs might struggle to provide the necessary performance service level agreements, and it’s when dealing with these circumstances that an SSD RAID array may offer the essential performance boost required. RAID arrays are likely to be the sensible storage solution to remediate performance challenges in organizations with SSD infrastructure already present and operational.

 

How RAID storage has changed with the migration from HDD to SSD

 

RAID’s positioning in the infrastructure enterprise storage world has evolved over time due to the following grounds:

  • SSDs are far more reliable devices compared with legacy HDDs. The provides the confidence that a drive failure occurrence in a RAID array much less likely to occur,
  • Firmware defined storage options that operate differently from RAID, and thus do not require the procurement of expensive RAID controllers with associated backup power requirements, but still provide protection against data loss in the event of hardware failure,
  • Server-based computing is evolving to present quicker and more straightforward options for IT consumers; potential complications with storage infrastructure systems – such as the introduction of further RAID controllers – not only increase capital expenditure but also introduces another possible failure point for CIOs to be concerned about.

 

These points are not meant to portray RAID as a stagnant technology that is merely watching the world pass it by – far from it. There is the concept of Differential RAID (or Diff-RAID), a new RAID variant that distributes uniformity unevenly across SSDs to create age disparities within RAID arrays. This strategy has been devised with SSDs in RAID formation to track each drive’s age within a RAID set. The controller knows how old each drive within the RAID array is, and it smartly distributes more activity to the newer drives, and less activity towards the older drives. The objective is to ensure that all drives will not experience simultaneous unrecoverable data errors. Diff-RAID provides much greater reliability for SSDs than RAID-4 and RAID-5 for the same space overhead and offers a trade-off curve between throughput and reliability.


The key technical considerations to be aware of when boosting SSD Performance with RAID

 

As previously mentioned, there are considerable technical differences between HDDs and SSDs, and these differences will drive the decision as to what RAID array implementation will be required to cater to both of them. Simply put, some RAID implementations are great for HDDs are not for SSDs, and vice-versa. So, the primary question that requires an answer is: which RAID level should be utilized when using an SSD RAID array?

 

SSD Raid 1 (Stripe): 

RAID 1 can provide complete redundancy, but only simple performance gains, and therefore should be considered if performance requirements are not a vital requirement for application delivery.

 

SSD RAID 5 or 6: 

A popular alternative that provides redundancy is RAID 5 (uses data striping with parity bits and requires a minimum of three disks) and RAID 6 (uses striping and double parity with a minimum of four disks). 

 

SSD RAID 10: 

A superior alternative to RAID 5 or 6 would be the adoption of SSD RAID configuration level 10. RAID 10 uses RAID stripe and mirroring to provide fault tolerance with a minimum of four SSDs. An additional advantage of RAID 10 is that it can offer a high level of performance, but with a decrease in storage efficiency. The key benefit is that any two disks can fail without losing data, and both of these RAID configurations provide increased performance. The challenges with RAID 5 and 6 are that both implementations require a large number of disk write operations to cater to the parity bit information requirement.

 

 

(Note: for data protection purposes, RAID 0 was disregarded as it uses a RAID stripe pattern written to two disks to increase performance but offers no data redundancy).

 


Conclusion

More extensive consumer storage requirements drive the necessity for IT providers and suppliers to deliver reliable, effective, and performance-oriented storage infrastructure solutions that are cost-effective and profitable. SSD RAID provides the essential tools, processes, and storage delivery mechanisms that can deliver these consumer requirements – more so than what HDD RAID can. SSDs are an order or two magnitude faster than traditional media, and their capacities more than rival what HDDs have controlled and provided all along.

SSDs do exhibit wear and tear over time; however, their lifespan is significantly longer than legacy disk drives, making their in-service dates much more predictable and maintenance activities far more efficient and reliable.

Posted on by

Top 5 Ways Having Coffee and Tea in the Office Pantry Helps Improve Productivity Among Employees

Top 5 Ways Having Coffee and Tea in the Office Pantry Helps Improve Productivity Among Employees

Introduction

 

Most companies these days will have a small kitchen or pantry conveniently located within each working floor of their office premises – its presence, and availability, are advantageous from several viewpoints:

  • Employees can use the fridge to keep their mid-morning/ afternoon snacks and lunches fresh,
  • A quick catch-up with a workmate while preparing lunch, or while making a cup of tea,
  • Increases morale within the workforce, assuming the kitchen is always kept clean and freshly stocked with all the necessary amenities.

 

Would you believe that the employee productivity in the workplace can be improved as much as 46%, by merely drinking the occasional cup of coffee or tea? This article will explain why having coffee & tea in the office kitchen improves productivity among employees – please read on!

 

  1. Accessibility is Productivity

 

The chances are that if the workplace does not provide any hot refreshments, or worse, what they do offer you would not give to your neighbours barking dog, then your workers will have to venture outside to the nearest and dearest coffee shop. That involves gathering the coffee/ tea drinking herd, walking over to the coffee shop proprietor, queuing and waiting in line to be served, sitting inside and drinking your bevvies – and then returning to the office. On average, this could take up to twenty five minutes, and if four of you perform this routine and twice a day as well? Ordering your caffeine fix from an online tea and coffee shop can save you time, however the lost working time, and loss in productivity, start to add up. Having instant or ground coffee, and tea bags, in the workplace kitchen provides accessibility; and this enables an employee to return to their workstations sooner rather than later after a coffee break.

 

  1. Socialising and Networking boosts Productivity

 

Drinking the occasional mid-morning or afternoon coffee or tea with a valued workmate is excellent for work stress relief, and the perfect opportunity to have a quick laugh. This in turn creates a relaxed work atmosphere, and the mood of the work environment is positive and inducive to collaboration and efficiency.

Regardless of whether it is sharing the latest office gossip or interpreting the latest trends on the FTSE 350 index, the camaraderie spent on those ten to fifteen minutes together has been formally proven to increase not only work productivity, but employee growth potential, resulting in overall higher operating profits for the company.

 

 

  1. Caffeine is Healthy – and it keeps your employees Healthy too (so they can work more!)

 

Scientific proof shows that coffee & tea contain antioxidants and nutrients that boost your health and welfare. And I am sure we all know by now the health benefits of drinking green loose leaf tea. Coffee has also been proven to reduce the risk of certain diseases such as heart disease (especially with women) and Type 2 diabetes. Caffeine increases your metabolism, and it can improve your mood, helping your brain function more effectively and efficiently. Also, the physical motion of making and drinking a hot beverage can provide us with a much-needed workplace pause – especially when facing those fast approaching tight project deadlines.

 

The National Institute of Occupational Health in the U.S. conducted a study and found that drinking coffee shortly before working on a computer-based office assignment could provide a powerful pain-relieving effect. They also found that drinking approximately two cups of coffee per day can reduce muscle pain by just under 50%.

Therefore:

  • Always have coffee in the office pantry
  • Always have tea in the office pantry

 

  1. Caffeine is the arch enemy of the Afternoon Productivity Slump

 

Ah, that dreaded afternoon slump… Anyone who has worked in the office environment knows that this phenomenon typically appears between two or three in the afternoon. Your eyelids start to feel heavy, you are finding it difficult to concentrate on that sudden email your manager just sent you, and you realise that you have been staring at your computer terminal for the last five minutes or so doing absolutely nothing. Your motivation is waning, and the countdown to knock-off time has commenced.

I am confident that this is the reason why the afternoon cup of tea was created! This is the best way to beat the afternoon slump and get that caffeine hit in (assuming you can tolerate drinking coffee or tea in the mid-afternoon). Both your morale and mood will improve, and the burst of motivational energy will prepare you for that late afternoon meeting with clients or senior management.

 

  1. Staff perks + positive workplace culture = Improved Productivity

 

Offering positive work benefits can be beneficial with retaining loyal and high-performing staff, as well as attracting new talent to the workplace. Having coffee & tea available is one of those positive work perks that can improve the happiness levels of your staff, enabling them to maintain or increase their work output. By creating comfortable and encouraging work environments, managers are contributing positively to their employee well-being and satisfaction. A happy and satisfied worker will deliver productive work, and they will be less likely to leave – a low turnover rate means less hiring time and effort which in turn means reduced costs.

 

 

 

Wrapping it all up

 

A constructive work environment will naturally thrive over time. Positive emotions and well-being improve interpersonal relationships and contribute to increased collaboration and creativity. And the overall outcome will be increased productivity. The availability and accessibility of coffee and tea, by itself, will not increase the P&L margin on your financial reports – what it can provide, and what it can do, is be a stimulus to buffer against lethargy, bolster employee health, and enable them to bring out their best strengths. When an organisation can develop a prosperous work culture that achieves higher levels of organisational effectiveness, they, in turn, improve their customer’s satisfaction, financial performance and employee engagement.

Posted on by

Key Challenges Facing the MedTech Executives in 2021

Key Challenges Facing the MedTech Executives in 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has placed unprecedented challenges and economic strain on the health-care industry. Health systems have provided substantial resources to all manner of COVID-19 response efforts as the infection spreads, and the number of positive cases increases: and unfortunately the rate of positive COVID cases will not decrease anytime soon.

 

Subsequently, the medical devices industry has suffered under strain to meet the operational challenges for their goods and services from the front-line health-care teams. And when shortages of supplies occur, the requirement, and expectation, is that medical device manufacturers must increase capacity quickly and seamlessly. What health-care workers and their management fail to realize is the time required to expand and build this new capacity in conjunction with government regulation and a global supply chain hampered by lockdown policies.

 

The unparalleled demand COVID-19 has placed on the need for personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, diagnostic tests, and other critical medical supplies has positioned the MedTech industry right in front, and center stage. MedTech leaders are not only analyzing and devising plans to swiftly increase their manufacturing capacity and capabilities, they are searching outside their normal business boundaries to further supplement capacity to meet the needs and requirements. This involves outlining and engaging in partnerships with companies outside of the sector and reviewing the possibilities of open-source equipment design and deployment.

 

Interestingly, the MedTech industry has been affected by the reduced demand for a portion of their goods and services associated with elective procedures and surgeries. As decreed by government, these types of procedures have been temporarily postponed and canceled so that medical facilities can focus their resources on treating COVID-19 patients. A challenge MedTech leaders will face when the recovery begins will be the resurgent demand for elective procedures, therefore placing strain on their business models and supply chains.

 

According to a McKinsey report, high demand has impacted MedTech companies in stages:

 

  1. Existing inventory can often meet the increased rise in demand. When stock shortages eventually occur, manufacturers and distributors can prioritize the remaining stock under ‘protective allocation’ while production can catch up with demand.
  2. Increase manufacturing production rapidly. Existing or risky supply chain bottlenecks will need to be identified and addressed to cope with increased production.
  3. Supply chain challenges can worsen due to lockdowns, temporary plant closures, and travel and trade restrictions. These challenges can widen to items indirectly associated with the products experiencing the initial surge of demand. 

 

 

As health care organizations respond to the COVID-19 crisis, MedTech leaders have been faced with significant challenges: successfully planning for their organization’s future while ensuring financial sustainability. The pandemic’s economic impact has driven MedTech’s to alter their planning style – scenario planning for multiple unknown eventualities.

 

When the pandemic eventually abates, what are the key considerations for MedTech leaders on how to successfully navigate post COVID-19 business world? It has been estimated that complete financial recovery for the MedTech industry could take anywhere from six months to two years. Rethinking industry norms will need to be considered when operating successfully in a post COVID-19 busines world.

 

Virtual Care: The value of virtual care and virtual work has been successfully demonstrated during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, virtual health technologies showed great promise but with minimal adoption due to the disruption to implement and deploy, along with the massive financial investment required. MedTech leaders will need to prioritize virtual health technologies as either a supplement or a transition to their core business offerings.

 

Focus on the Consumer: MedTech leaders have identified consumer trust and safety concerns as a top priority, and the need to provide new communication channels to reach their consumers effectively and efficiently.

 

Digitization Technology: MedTech leaders will need to allocate capital spending on digital technology such as Cloud infrastructure, robotic process automation (RPA), and artificial intelligence (AI). In order to assist with virtual care, the adoption of these technologies is crucial to deliver that care and consumer focus.

Agile decision-making: Rapid and agile (not to mention courageous) decision-making across the whole organization is required to provide timely and accurate business responses to any crisis. Historically, decision making has been slow within the health care industry – primarily due to conservative management and the organization size and structure. Frontline responses to COVID-19 cannot entertain any delay in decision-making, so the creation of executive command centers with the necessary structure, attendance, and decision-making powers is required. As a result, organizations have the ability to take quick actions on the organization’s finance, technology, operations, and human capital.

 

Resilient Leadership: In the midst of financial uncertainty and unprecedented challenges, the leadership of MedTech’s has been scrutinized and commented upon like never before. Resilient leadership is the new norm, and this can be seen in the following manner:

 

  1. Lessons Learned: MedTech leaders need to review their initial responses and planning to the crisis and be deft when assessing their business continuity initiatives along with any pitfalls that have been encountered along the COVID-19 response journey. Share these lessons learned and (now) best practices so overall business improvements can be made moving forth.

 

  1. Thrive during change: MedTech leaders will need to embrace the challenges and learn to thrive with change. Prioritizing and re-prioritizing will be required when dealing with unexpected changes coping with a pandemic – both for short-term and long-term strategies.

 

Supply chain: Mitigating the supply shortfall resulting from future COVID-19 infection waves is crucial to aid frontline health-care workers fighting the pandemic. There will need to be a balance between resource availability, the rapid acquisition of raw supplies, and the manufacturing of these materials to provide timely goods and services. Establishing a vigorous and robust supply chain will be critical for both PPE and other standard health-care supplies.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted a substantial crisis in the health care industry. As a result, MedTech leaders will be required to adapt to the necessary changes to meet these challenges quickly. Yes, it has been an overwhelming humanitarian crisis, yet it presents an opportunity to transform healthcare and healthcare delivery. In time the COVID-19 case volumes will subside. Therefore, the MedTech operations will stabilize: the industry will be challenged to deeply rethink their business and operating models to adapt to future healthcare needs.

Understanding and addressing the vulnerabilities that have emerged in the MedTech supply chain is essential as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. While an uncertain future awaits for MedTech companies, it makes more than sound business sense to understand, embrace, and adopt these vulnerabilities to strengthen their supply chain. The supply chain inefficiencies that have been exposed today will only be stronger tomorrow, providing that the harsh lessons learned are heeded and adopted.

 

There is considerable more work to do and achieve so we can all defeat the virus, and there is no one company or organization that can deliver all the goods, products, and supplies needed to resolve this global pandemic. Only by being unified can we defeat the virus, with intelligent and focused strategies for healthcare production, resource allocation and deployment.

Posted on by

Discover the Power of Stones Through Lithotherapy

Discover the Power of Stones Through Lithotherapy

Introduction

Lithotherapy is an ancient healing technique that depends upon the positive natural energy that is inherent within specific stones and crystals that provide healing capabilities to induce a calm of mind, promote relaxation and instil a sense of peace within people. It is a combination of using stones for massage and chromotherapy (or the stones colours) to cure the mind and body.

Lithotherapy is not just a healing technique, but a worldwide industry with retail sales of crystals contributing more than one billion US dollars per year.

What is Lithotherapy?

The National Geographic cited a scientific study conducted by the University of Wisconsin that acknowledged the existence of the oldest known naturally formed rock fragment called Zircon, which was scientifically dated back to 4.5 billion years ago, and it was discovered in Australia. Zircon is one stone that is usually adopted in lithotherapy, commonly seen as a blue colour, although it can also be found in yellow and shades of brown. Zircon symbolises the inner fire, and it has been used to strengthen the immune system, helping our bodies fight illness and disease.

Long considered an alternative form of medicine, lithotherapy uses the internal energy and colour from certain stones to harmonise the body. Interestingly, the word lithotherapy has its origins in ancient Greek. The Greek words therapia (meaning ‘care’), and lithos (meaning ‘stone’) are combined together to form the word lithotherapy. The literal meaning is ‘the way to care by using stones’.

The lithotherapy healing power and process are as follows: the minerals formed within the stones emit tiny vibrations containing properties that can either reduce or remove both physical and psychologies irregularities within the human body. Either placed at strategic positions along the body (typically placed on the spine, while lying face down on a relaxing massage table) or worn around the neck as pendants, the released vibrations are believed to positively treat internal organs that they harmonise with. The energy released by the stones correlates to their internal chemical composition, their shape and colour.

Lithotherapy has been attributed to creating and maintaining a positive balance between one’s body, mind and spirit. The assistance it can provide can be physical or on a psychological and spiritual level. Lithotherapy has also been used successfully to remove emotional obstacles and assist individuals by providing a heightened awareness to personal discovery.

What are its Origins?

The origins of lithotherapy can be dated back to 500 BC, where observations of different crystals’ healing powers were scribed. Upon severe injury or illness, a particular stone with certain healing powers would heal the ailing individual. The healing method involved wearing amulets, containing these specific stones, around the neck until normal health resumed.

The healing powers of crystals can be traced back to Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece:

Ancient Egypt

  • Ancient Egyptians mined crystals make jewellery, and also for their healing abilities,
  • Healing crystals were used for health and protection,
  • Amulets that contained healing crystals were worn by ancient Egyptians to signify their status and importance within the community.
  • Amulets were often worn by the dead (especially mummys) as they believed wearing them would protect them in the afterlife.

Ancient Greece

  • The word ‘crystal’ comes from the Greek words krýstallos (meaning ‘ice’),
  • The Ancient Greeks believed that quartz crystals were frozen so solid that they would permanently remain in this state, regardless of the external conditions,
  • The word ‘amethyst’ comes from the Greek word amethyos (meaning ‘not intoxicate.’) Amethyst was worn by the Ancient Greeks to prevent alcohol intoxication and minimise or eliminate hangovers.

In more recent times in 1609, the court physician to Rudolf II of Germany, Anselmus de Boot, believed that gemstones’ healing presence was due to the presence of either good or bad angels. Good angels would provide an extraordinary power to certain gems, and evil angels would provide temptation into other gemstones and crystals.

What are the Benefits of Lithotherapy?

Human bodies comprise of naturally formed energies, that work harmoniously together to maintain a healthy balance physically and spiritually. The benefit of lithotherapy will provide you with a realisation that you can revitalise yourself and unleash spiritual and physical virtues.

The key benefits that lithotherapy can provide are as follows:

  • Complete internal revitalising and energising of one’s inner soul and spirit which caused depletion,
  • The removal of internal emotional turmoil, negative energy and tension that has arisen due to external life circumstances,
  • The ability to minimise and overcome instances of nightmares or night terrors,
  • Crystals can also combat evil spirits and spells that have accumulated in the body that have drained energy and caused diseases.

What are the Different Ways to use the Healing Crystals?

There are no constraints on how you use stones for lithotherapy practices, so long as you choose the correct stone for the specific ailment that requires treatment. As crystals can absorb, repel or transmit natural energies, wearing a stone around your neck (in the form of a necklace, or pendant), an earring, rings on your fingers and toes, or an arm amulet is easy and efficient.

You can apply healing stones directly to the part of the body that needs healing – such as placing stones (called ‘laying on of stones’) in a straight line on one’s spine if there is a back ailment that requires attention, while some people hold a crystal during a meditation session to capture the positive radiance that is emitted.

Other ways to use stones is to arrange or place them in a fixed pattern on the floor, forming a shape that is designed to transfer the healing energies from the crystals to oneself. Others sleep with the crystals positioned near the bed, so their powers can work on the mind while asleep to eliminate negative energies associated with daily life stresses. Some practices involved holding the crystal and moving it slowly all over the body, clearing all negative energy as it progresses all over. Some people place them in their workplace to transmit positive energy and enhance their productiveness and improve their career progression capabilities.

Healing Stones used in Lithotherapy

Various types of stones are used in lithotherapy, and they are used for different purposes.

  • Clear quartz is a potent crystal, used for providing protection, assisting with problem-solving, internal aural cleansing, and aiding the immune system’s rejuvenation. Rose quartz is a symbol of love and harmony. It can assist in embracing love and affection and help resolve any current relationship concerns.
  • Citrine stone is used to attract wealth and prosperity, soothe and calm any stomach or digestion disorders. When infused with sunlight, it can become a powerful catalyst that can provide energy to boost creativity and positivity concerning the future.
  • Amethyst is best known to help with energy protection, assist with stress reduction, and provide mood regulation. Amethyst is commonly used for dispersing any negative energies with its internal spiritual properties.
  • Black tourmaline is a powerful mineral crystal used for energy protection, a negativity energy absorber, and protect oneself from electronic emanations.
  • Fluorite is useful in removing negative energy, aiding meditation practices and finding spiritual tranquillity.
  • Jade has a calming effect and is considered perfect for inner self-acceptance and a positive booster to increase your inner creativity.
  • Turquoise provides you with the ability to interpret and understand your dreams. It can help strengthen friendships and ward off evil energy, giving confidence if needed in public.
  • Obsidian stone can assist if one is struggling to remove bad habits, can be used to provide serenity, and give insight and clarity for a better future.
  • Blue zircon is a natural stone, rarely used, but signifies liveliness and brightness. Zircon symbolises the one’s inner fire, and is used to strengthen immune defences and help fight serious illnesses.
  • Tanzanite is the stone of the family ‘Zo Zosites’ and this gem was once named ‘the blue treasure of Africa’. In lithotherapy, Tanzanite is known to stimulate the imagination and positively act on the brain.
  • Aquamarine – from the Latin phrase ‘aqua marina’ meaning sea water. The Aquamarine symbolises ‘the sea and the mother’ as well as purity. In lithotherapy it is said that it fights all allergies, heals sore throats, and reduces dental pain. It is also known for its promotion of hearing abilities.
  • Star Sapphire is one of the most recognised stones by the general public. The nuances of the blue sapphire vary according to its origin. In lithotherapy, it is stated that blue sapphire calms all types of tensions and develops the imagination as well as one’s spirituality.

Conclusion

It is vital to recognise, trust, and learn how to use crystals and minerals for healing purposes. Crystals can enhance one’s natural abilities and capabilities and assist with exploring and reaching our maximum talents. We have noted that different types of crystals have other properties that can help with diverse areas of our lives.

It is sound practice to learn and understand the different properties that crystals can provide to support, and not hinder, any lithotherapy endeavours you are attempting.

Posted on by

5 Best Things To Look Out For At Universal Studios Singapore

5 Best Things To Look Out For At Universal Studios Singapore

Throughout Universal Studios Singapore, you will experience their uniquely created theme zones, where every themed location has been invented after movie world icons and places. There is the well renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame situated in the Hollywood zone. You can also experience walking around the New York zone, where the scenery develops into grand city skylines, including a staged Central station subway entrance. You can also check out a movie set and encounter the destructive force of a simulated hurricane – with the special effects created by the legendary Steven Spielberg.

 

As this theme park is always crowded, sourcing great deals when obtaining your online tickets is a must – be smart and check out Universal Studios Singapore Tickets, where you can research and purchase coupon codes, online coupons, online vouchers, and so much more.

 

So why not check out the following list of the five best things to look out for at Universal Studios Singapore.

 

Absolute Breathtaking Rides

Fabulous Science Fiction City features the legendary Transformers the Ride, which is the ultimate three-dimensional battle ride where you combat those evil forces in battle. You can then move onwards to Ancient Egypt World and encounter scarab beetles and evil mummies all within an indoor roller coaster – in complete darkness!

 

Live Performances that are simply Spectacular

Live performances and events at Universal Studios Singapore are correspondingly spectacular to watch and see. Your young family will absolutely love the experience at the Shrek Adventure at Far Far Away. This cinematic experience allows guests to feel the action while watching the movie. Just as exciting is the Lost World zone, where The Waterworld production show, which is based on the same-named movie, highlights acrobatic and dangerous stunts and fantastic eruptions and explosions.

 

Restaurants, Food, and Parades

In between those thrills and spills of attractions and rides, your family will need to replenish their energy levels, so why not step into one of the many themed restaurants spanning the park. The musical beat-inspired Rhythm Truck has an indulgent array of street food available for all tastes, and it is very popular with attendees.

 

After Dark – Universal Studios At Nighttime

When the sun sets, there is still a load of fun to experience at Universal Studios Singapore. Only recently did Universal Studios extend its operating hours into the evening – called Universal After Hours – which contains thrilling nighttime activities and rides lasting until 10 pm on selected days.

 

You can purchase tickets purely for the evening shows, so make sure you research obtaining voucher codes, coupon codes, online coupons, and online vouchers when planning your evening experience.

 

The evening shows are dazzling and fascinating, and here are the three most enjoyable nighttime shows that your family will absolutely adore:

 

Wings of Time

The Wings of Time show is an exhibition of sound, water, and lighting that is truly magnificent to witness in person. There are two shows scheduled per evening, and it is ideal to arrive early and choose seats around the central rows (if you sit near the front, be prepared to get saturated!). The entire show will last for 20 minutes with the arrangement of lights, music, and water movements.

 

Crane Dance

Formally classified as the most prominent mechanical dance puppet show globally, the Crane Dance portrays a love story about two cranes metamorphosing into real birds. There is only one show scheduled per evening, and it lasts for 10 minutes.

 

Lake Hollywood Spectacular

The Lake Hollywood Spectacular firework display occurs at the lake towards the edge of Hollywood Boulevard. Starting promptly at 9:30 pm, it will last for approximately five minutes. Finding a location to sit and watch does not require being at the lake – there are plenty of vantage points to see this sensational evening event.

 

Hollywood Dreams Light-up Parade

This brightly lit parade is a gathering of all your favorite characters walking amongst a parade. Be entertained by Marty from Madagascar prancing to the drumbeat, relish the chase scene of the park rangers from Jurassic Park, and appreciate the wonderland symmetry of Far Far Away.

 

Meet and Greet with your favorite Cartoon Characters

You can find an assortment of adorable cartoon characters in costume throughout the various zones, who will be more than happy to meet and greet everyone – your children will love them. Make sure to check their daily schedule as they do vary their position throughout the day.

Posted on by

How to Choose the Keywords for Your SEO Articles

How to Choose the Keywords for Your SEO Articles

Attracting readers to your website requires more than posting interesting content. Newly websites start with great content, and the challenge is to maintain a steady flow of updates to ensure that not only readers will return, but you can organically increase your reader-base. The other critical activity is selecting the keywords to attract traffic to your website.

 

Any keyword-related task begins with one key activity – keyword research. Let’s ponder on what we refer to by a keyword. In Search Engine Optimization (SEO), keywords are the words and expressions that online users enter into a search engine browser like Google or Bing.

 

The search engines’ results one sees following a keyword search are what the search engines interpret as the search intent. Search intent is a fundamental component of keyword research as it enables website owners to plan their content to satisfy your users’ searching needs.

 

There are steps you can manage to determine the appropriate keywords that will prove prosperous for your SEO articles:

 

  1. Know and understand your ‘niche’: Enter online forums, ask questions and remember what consumers are looking for about this topic. This information can craft your goals and keywords.
  2. Clearly define your goals: What is your website online for? To teach budding newbies about a topic, or is it for more seasoned readers who want to enhance their knowledge?
  3. Create trial keywords: Understanding your niche and goals, craft your keywords, plainly describe what you are offering, and then brainstorm what users might search for using these initial keywords as a base.
  4. Test your trial keywords with a keyword research tool: There are several exceptional tools available to test keywords and phrases, and you can refine them based on the results.
  5. Return to step 1, and restart: Continuous improvement is needed to refine your keywords – over time your site grows and develops into a side-avenue that will need to be catered for, you might need to review your current keywords – regardless of the reason, it’s always beneficial business practise to improve your keyword searches for your content.
Posted on by

How G7 Training and Certification Works At Your Printing Facility

How G7 Training and Certification Works At Your Printing Facility

G7 training and the certification process are a meticulous and labor-intensive endeavor. And typically only the most talented printing industry experts will succeed in achieving the G7 Master qualification.

Print Buyers are Making G7 a Requirement

Print buyers understand that the similarity of the complete visual appearance across all printing products is critical for market adoption and consumer acceptance.

A consistent and constant vibrant color and color management scheme in an organizations visual messaging elucidates a shrewd but powerful communication channel of quality and trust. And it is the opposite that can diminish it – a dwindling loyalty to a brand resulting in consumers potentially rejecting it outright.

When presenting and showcasing your brand, your organization’s color scheme must be uniform, regardless of the printing mechanism that one uses. G7 training can help.

Different printing devices and vendors are likely to produce different marketing products or collateral. The output imagery is at risk of appearing slightly different in appearance. Especially so if the original printing requirements involve intricate and elaborate color schemes.

But if all the printed products have the same gray balance along with a neutral tonality – as defined and implemented by G7 – they will all resemble identical to the human eye. It is for this reason that print buyers are mandating G7 as one of their print buying requirements.

G7 Certification – Deep Dive

‘G7’ is an acronym for grayscale plus seven colors. The G7 certification system program will assess the capability of a printing software package that can precisely calibrate printing equipment to satisfy the G7 grayscale standard definition, using four 1-D curves.

  • Ideallianceestablished the entire G7 certification process and support the application of the G7 methodology in process control.
  • Following each G7 certified system is an instruction guide designed to assist producers, and end-users, in the customary use and operation of their now standardized printing systems.
  • Utilizing a G7 certified system assures the ability to manage and perform a consistent G7 printing workflow, which will develop efficiencies, reduce direct and indirect operational costs, and increase the speed to market of all printed materials.

Key Objectives for G7 Onsite Training and Qualification

Before coordinating G7 training onsite at your printing facility, it is vital to understand – and set – the key objectives of the G7 training and qualification process for your printing team.

An example of a few key G7 training objectives for your organization could be as follows:

  • It is important to realize that this training exercise is not a one-off training process but a substantial investment for your people and your printing organization. The first objective is to incorporate this G7 mindset into your short and long-term strategic business plans,
  • G7 upskilling will be a sustainable quality method that will benefit your printing buyers. Make sure your current and future buyers are made aware well before the certification process reaches completion. After successful G7 training, market this notion extensively on all company media channels.
  • Obviously, the G7 training provider will have a credible training organization with all the necessary training materials and knowledge to train others with.
  • Prepare for an annual certification and G7 support costs for your printing facilities and equipment. And any changes or modifications to the G7 certification process will require corresponding upskilling activities within your organization.

Typical G7 Training Process at your Printing Facility

From Idealliance, the G7 printer program allows printing providers to dependably and effectively balance the visual appearance of printing multiple devices. This is to ensure all process colors are neutral and adjusted. While also advancing the overall gray balance, color matching, and color stability. G7 is appropriate for printing processes such as inkjet, offset web, offset sheet-fed, and flexo.

A custom week-long onsite courses will improve and update printing workflows. So they adhere to the compliance standards that G7 requires. And all applicable printing operators go through adequate training to achieve and maintain consistency and control with each print run.

Before training occurs, the G7 trainer will assist with preparing a G7 workflow audit for the following items:

  1. Overall printing and press stipulations,
  2. Color measurement and management equipment,
  3. Device process control procedures.

Once the audit has been conducted and reviewed, any necessary advised updates or changes required for G7 training to occur need to be addressed. This pre-training activity will render the ideal conditions to maximize G7 knowledge transfer. And to ensure the right conditions, suitable software, and printing instruments are ready beforehand.

Conclusion

The G7 methodology is not a theoretical concept that has been extensively researched solely by academia. It is a proven process to consistently deliver high quality. The process also delivers a more dependable process control across multiple printing and different packaging operations.

Adoption is strong throughout the United States. Acceptance has been growing in other parts of the world. Within this competitive pandemic economic climate, printing and packaging operations should contemplate investing G7 in their key valuable assets – their printing staff and their printing devices.

If there is any drawback to the G7 method and G7 training, it is that it relies principally on achieving gray balance. If the print image does not hold sufficient grayscale information, the calibration could become inaccurate. Likewise, offset printing may be difficult to balance the grayscale. Because it involves a process called ‘wet-trapping’ – leading to inconsistent and irregular dark tones appearing in the final printed output.