Digital Literacy Project » Internet

OEM Website Training Available From AVI

Grant Swaim — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:13:36 +0000

Automotive Video Inc (AVI) is offering a video course on how to use OEM service websites. This is what being digitally literate in the automotive service industry is all about, knowing how to find and use online resources. This training is presented by Bill Haas, Vice President of Education and Training for ASA (Automotive Service Association).

You can get additional information and pricing on this video course at this link and an introduction to the course is provided below.

Technology Has Come a Long Way!

Grant Swaim — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:23:13 +0000

I came across this picture and just had to share it. Now everything these ladies are holding will fit in a chip the size of a pin head!

Ladies Holding Computer Parts... Wow We Have Come a Long Way!

Automotive Wi-Fi Reviewed by Walt Mossberg

Grant Swaim — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:40:03 +0000

The AutoNet Mobile in-car WiFi, has been around for a while now, and is even being offered as a dealer installed option for most Chrysler models. It was just a matter of time before it would make it to the attention of “main stream” geeks and get a review from the Wall Street Journal’s Personal Technology Columnist, Walt Mossberg.

Walt reviewed the unit in late 2008 and found the service to be a good solution to mobile email and web surfing but too slow to handle anything like streaming videos.

AutoNet Mobile recently partnered with Delphi in an effort to harden the design of their wireless router and to sell the technology straight to the manufacturers to use as an OEM option, not a dealer installed option.

You can read Walt’s full review on the WSJ site, here.

Staying Safe While Web Surfing

Grant Swaim — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:23:34 +0000

When you take a computer online, you must be prepared for a hostile word. The bad guys are working hard to compromise your computer for a wide range of reasons. Some of which are:

Acquire personal information from accessing your computer’s files or even installing a program that will monitor your keyboard input.
To present advertisements to you via pop up windows (even if you are not connected to the Internet).
To do malicious damage to your computer files.
Present you with a web page or form that looks legitimate in hopes you will be tricked into providing your personal information, This scheme is called “phishing”.
To “zombie” your computer by installing a hidden program on it that allows your computer to be used for malicious actions. Your computer could be used to spread spam or even be partnered with thousands of other computers to hit the same web page at the same time and take the site down.

Almost everyone is aware that you need to take some precautions; however, far too many people rely on anti-virus software to protect their computer. While software can help, your personal online behavior is actually more important. A person who follows a very strict regiment could actually surf the Internet safely without any ant-virus software.

On his weekly call in radio show, The Tech Guy, Leo Laporte covered the five most important things a person can do to keep safe while on on the Internet. The audio clip below is from his radio show.

Download audio file (5_Things.mp3)

An iPhone Key Fob?

Grant Swaim — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:40:35 +0000

Looks like the folks at Dephi have been come up with the ultimate key fob, an iPhone! While it is in the experimental stage, they can crank the car, perform some bi-directional control and display basic diagnostic information on the phone.

This is all done through a web application. Check out the video.