Staying on top of technology is a nearly impossible task. A primary purpose of the CoSIDA Computer Technology Committee is to assist the membership with different applications. With that said, here are a few tips Id like to share.
You CAN Take it with you. I walk around with 512 floppy disks, well almost. Many of us have jump drives that store 256 to 1GB of data. This allows you to carry big files on the road. Jump drives plug into a USB drives. You can also save your statistic files to the drive and update on road trips. Ive seen thumb drives in the $10 to $20 range with rebates, prices too low to ignore. My drive conveniently sits on my key chain. When you misplace your keys, check your USB drive!
Name Files with Dates. Have you ever sent an outdated file to your printer? This can happen easily if you have the same file name saved in two different placesyour desktop computer and jump drive for example. One simple tip that helps is to name file soccerpub to soccerpub_120905. Youll be less likely to encounter this problem using this easy action.
Name Photos with Dates, too. This naming also is recommended with photographs. For example, I will name a file doe_jon_120905.a2 for an action shot #2 of Jon Doe taken on that date. In addition to letting me know when the photo was taken, such naming reduces the likelihood of our website grabbing another photo of Mr. Doe--or a picture of someone else with the name Doe.
Link to the web, not your computer. Most of us have links on our web pages that direct users to other pages of interest on our athletics sites. Webmasters can link files to the page with the parameters on your server (for example if file is in the same folder as the page just link to that file name), or link via the web (i.e. actual web address http://www...). The second link option is preferable because it will direct to the web page at all times.
When in Doubt, Try RTF: Have you ever tried to open a recent MS-Word file on a computer that does not have a latest version of Word, or in another word processor? Rich text format (.RTF) files are supported by many programs, including the Macintosh OS Text Edit program. Rich Text Format was developed by Microsoft since in 1987 for cross-platform document interchange. Most word processors are able to read and write RTF documents. Unlike most of the word processing formats, RTF is human-readable. Just about anything will open a text file, but an .RTF (rich text format) document will retain formatting from your document.
Time for a Flip? With the proliferation of live webcasting of athletic events, flip cards have become a valuable tool for even the small college SID. For our basketball teams, I use the front and back page of a letter sized page. On one side, I have the roster in numerical order with large numbers. Other than basic roster information, include updated stats (points per game, rebounds, assists, free throw shooting percentage, etc.) and every players career high points. Also, list a players major, family information or general tidbits that the talking heads can use. On the back page of my cardstock letter sized paper is a one page statistics summary. Remember that other teams broadcaster(s) are not as likely to know your pronunciations, statistics, or biographical information. A flip card can provide all those necessities.
An Investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Ben Franklin said that and its true 200 years later! A recent summer visit to a fellow SIDs home introduced me to a magazine I had never encountered: Smart Computing. I perused a few issues of this publication and found the information informative and easy to digest. One of its best features is numerous fixes or tricks with various software applications. I havent subscribed to a computer magazine in years, but I expect to add Smart Computing to my list.
Think Big When Upgrading. When its time to upgrade to a new laptop or desktop computer, think big. Flat screen monitors, DVD burners, photo card readers are all items that two years ago I thought unnecessary. Today, however, I use them daily. Check with your information technology people and pick their brain for what you might need in few years, rather than replacing what you had. A few hundred dollars spent now could keep you on the cutting edge down the road.
Pig Tails and Liberation? No doubt weve all experienced the problem of overloaded power strips or wall outlets. A big reason for the difficulty is the need to plug in bulky power adapters. These monstrosities can take up two, or sometimes as many as three, outlets. Well, pig tails or power strip liberators can relive this hindrance in your office or on press row. This product is simply a small power cord with a male and female end. The male plugs into power strip (using just one DC outlet) while the female side hangs six inches away and allows you to affix a power adapter. There was an article in the CoSIDA Digest about making pig tails yourself out of old cords and equipment. You might prefer to just order them from an electronics company. I ordered five Manhattan power strip liberators from Connect IT (800-627-3901). With shipping charges, the pig tails were about $5 each.
Time to Get Creative? I just ordered the Adobe Creative Suite CS2. After a short time using the integrated package, Ive been very impressed. Improvements have been made to GoLive and InDesign. I would now recommend these programs to anyone considering changing their web design and desktop publishing applications. The Creative Suite is ideal for SIDs who spend a lions share of their time in Photoshop, or the DTP and web environment mentioned earlier. Adobe also offers a new feature called Adobe Bridge that lets users easily move between the CSs software. In addition to four installation CDs, I received a training DVD, two discs of extras, and additional other value added features available on the web. Creative Suite is a bargain, especially considering the education discounts available to SIDS.
CSs power and value, however, cannot be give its due in this short article. The CoSIDA Computer and Technology Committee hopes to offer more resources on the Creative Suite and other tools for athletic communicators in CoSIDA Digests, CoSIDA.com and at the workshop in Nashville this summer.
These are just a few tips to get 2006 started on the right foot. The stories written by computer/technology committee members should include references such as books, websites or magazines where SIDs can go for more information. Have a great 2006 and please drop me a line at blowe@gborocollege.edu if have a story idea for the upcoming year.