Secure Email Assignment

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/feb11/02-02msdirectprojectpr.mspx

This article talks not only about the importance of securing your email, but also specifically about how Microsoft is making strides to do just that. Microsoft recently unveiled a new email encryption function for there HealthVault. This service allows clinical partners to securely send information to patients. This is all part of something bigger called The Direct Project. The goal of the Direct Project is to create a way for users to be able to send simple and secure encrypted health information to their recipients. This will allow an encrypted copy of an individual's clinical information to be transmitted to a patient's new email address created within Microsoft HealthVault. This makes the transfer of information fasr, but more importantly it makes it secure. A patient's clinical and medical information should be very private, and security is a number one issue, which is why the encryption service of the email is so valuable.

Database Project

       I learned a lot when completing the Database project, and that is because I had never used Microsoft Access before. First of all, the learning began even before I started the project. Downloading Access was a lesson in its own. I didn't use the detailed instructions in the "How Do I" section because I feel like I know a little bit more about computers than I did at the beginning of the year and I wanted to test my knowledge. Seeing as how I was able to download the program I would say I was pretty successful. I also learned a thing or two about patience ( : But like I've said before, it's one thing to watch a lecture and think you know how to do something, and it is a totally different ball game when you actually go out and try to do it yourself. I feel like a have a pretty good basic understanding of Microsoft Access at this point. Maybe even enough to be able to write "basic knowledge in Microsoft Access" on my resume. Creating new tables and importing data was new to me at first, but by the end of this project, I had a much better understanding and I am much more comfortable with the program.
       I can think of just a couple ways that we could possibly enhance the database we have been working on. Firstly, it is possible that different groupings could be more helpful. For example, in our database we grouped by cities, however the instructions made it seem like there was more significance involved in whether or not the member was an individual or with a family. Also, there were only 2 cities, Gainesville and Alachua so grouping by those 2 cities alone didn't really seem helpful. Another way we could maybe make the database more helpful is if we exported the data onto some type of document. Putting it all together could make the information seem more organized, and might cause a few less headaches. Having a slightly better understanding of how the database would be used could be helpful as well.

Excel Project

       I found this Excel project to be extremely helpful. Excel will undoubtedly be an important asset when we enter the business environment. In fact, it has proved to be extremely helpful even now with school projects and various internships I have participated in. This particular project didn't necessarily demand a wealth of knowledge concerning Excel and its attributes, but it covered many of the basic tools and shortcuts that virtually everyone needs when completing tasks in Excel. The project started off simple enough, requiring me to rename certain worksheets and center some information. Quickly however it required us to utilize some of the other functions in Excel, such as the "Help" function. Of course, we could have just as easily googled how to "Freeze Panes" but that would have been just as helpful, requiring that we put to use our searching skills previously learned in this course.
       What I liked about this project is that it did require us to put into practice everything that we've learned. Last week we watched several tutorial videos on how to properly and efficiently use Excel, but it's one thing to learn, and another thing to practice. For example, it's quite helpful to have a visual of someone utilizing absolute and relative cell addressing, but it takes it to an entirely different level when you are asked to create formulas that can involve both times of addressing, like this project demanded. It really helps you understand the concepts behind the formulas. This project asked that we do MAX functions and IF logical tests. The concepts seemed easy enough when I was listening to them being explained in the comfort of my room, but the knowledge really stuck when I had to make these formulas on my own.
       At my last internship over the summer, I used Excel almost on a daily basis. Any knowledge or skills I had came from my middle and high school memories of learning the system. I was no master by any means, and I certainly didn't think I could ever make a pivot table, let alone really even know what one was. This project really helped me understand how to properly use one. I actually felt it was necessary to go back and watch both Pivot Table videos over again which really helped solidify everything I had learned.