Online Connect UK

Copiers and Photocopiers Still Going Strong

2011-09-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

With the introduction of the PC and the internet, copiers and photocopiers seemed to have lost the power they once had. However the internet era has created an ever growing demand for copiers and photocopiers. Technology of copiers and photocopiers has increased over the last few years, and quality has gone up to levels never imaginable before.

Document Management
For any company document management is one of their biggest headaches. Keeping, storing and sorting documents takes time space and man power, however with the new digital technologies. Warehouses full of paperwork and documents can now be stored on one relatively small hard drive, all because of the new and fast technology of copiers and photocopiers.

As the PC came in to our lives the last 20 years the amount of files one person owns has increased by the thousands per year. Company files increase by the ten thousands per day. A good document management system is vital to keep an overview of all the files stored on the hard drives. Copiers and photocopiers help to ease the document load companies have to manage.

Copiers
The ideal world would be paperless; however we are still far from that noble virtue. But copiers help us to create digital replicas of original documents. Also the distribution from duplicated documents has become easier.

Photocopiers
As long as we do not live in a paperless environment the need for quality photocopiers will remain. And where quality really has improved is in the photocopier industry. Where in the old days a copy was still a copy, and it was visibly very clear that it was a copy. Now-a-days copies are nearly as good as the original. And even color copies are hardly to differentiate from the original print. The photocopy industry understands well that they are here to stay and that the demand for color photocopies will remain.

Document management and the hardware like PC’s copiers and photocopiers are essential for any company to stay on track with their documents load. A proper document management system whether for hard copies as for soft copies offers any company the ease of finding their documents easily. If we all focus on a more sustainable environment then copiers and photocopiers will play a vital roll to reduce the amount of documents handled.

Should we fear the Photocopier?

2011-09-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

As someone who has worked with the photocopier a long time I had heard rumors about the health risks concerning copier toner. This new studt from the states aims to put the health risks to the test.

"ere’s what researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell don’t want you to conclude about their ongoing research on copiers and printers: These linchpins of the modern office throw off nanoparticles, and therefore they’re dangerous.

That’s an easy conclusion to draw from field and lab work that shows elevated levels of super-small particles from copiers, and an inflammatory effect on nasal tissue from a six-hour exposure. But, as is the case with a lot of with safety research on nanotechnology, it’s not that simple."

Read Full Story
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/a_health_reason_to_skip_the_copier_maybe_not/

Document Management 101

2011-05-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

A document management system, abbreviated DMS, is basically a computer system, whose purpose is to track and store electronic documents and images of paper documents.
It is usually also capable of keeping track of the different versions created by different users (history tracking). The term has some overlap with the concepts of content management systems. It is often viewed as a component of enterprise content management (ECM) systems and related to digital asset management, document imaging, workflow systems and records management systems.
Starting with the 1980s, such systems were developed and dealt with paper documents and other such materials, such as photographs, prints and so on.
Later was developed a second type of system, used to manage electronic documents, that were created on computers, which were often stored on users’ file-systems.
EDM systems, which mean electronic document management, evolved to a point where systems could manage absolute any type of files, such as, but not limited to, electronic documents, security and collaboration tools.
Document management systems are usually providing storage and security, as well as indexing and retrieval capabilities. Its components are: metadata, integration, capture, indexing, storage, retrieval, distribution, security, workflow, collaboration, versioning, searching, publishing and reproduction. Thus, it’s a complicated system that needs to be treated with caution.
Document management could be transformed into a document control issue, if you lack ,accounting documents related to healthcare or food safety or your documents don’t provide evidence of documents under control.
Falling to comply could damage your reputation as a businessman.
The requirement for document control are that you adhere to the following procedures:
You need to review and approve any document prior to release and ensure that changes and revisions are clearly stated and easy to identify. Moreover, the documents should be legible and identifiable. Last but not least, you have to prevent unintended use of obsolete documents.

Digital Photocopiers on the UP

2011-05-12T03:53:00.000-07:00

These days, the digital office photocopiers are fast replacing the analogue copiers. This is not really surprising because digital systems have almost replaced all the commercial analogue products. In spite of this when it comes to buying supplies for the office, you might be tempted to choose non-digital photocopiers because these are much more affordable. In the following paragraphs, we will look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of analogue photocopiers and highlight why the digital office photocopiers will be the better option.
If you are operating a small to medium size business, itís only natural that you will be tempted to invest in analogue systems instead of the digital office copiers. You could purchase one of the analogue office photocopiers for about 500 to 800 pounds, while the same digital system costs 3000 pounds and more.
You can find companies selling un-used or re-serviced analogue models. But, you could end up with a number of problems down the road when you choose analogue instead of digital. These are some of the problems that you could encounter:

Perhaps the main problem that you will encounter with non-digital office copiers would be the age. The majority of the analogue machines will be more than eight years old. In fact, when companies advertise that they are selling new analogue copiers they will still have this age, but will be un-used. Companies stop manufacturing these copiers and started to make the digital machines, which is obvious from the change in production.
Even though the age issue would not actually be a concern because most old technology continues to work perfectly with the non-digital office copiers, you would have difficulty when it comes to finding replacement ink cartridges and parts. Most of the replacement parts are not manufactured anymore, so there is no guarantee that you can find parts for these systems. Most cartridges for the older models are discontinued which makes them essentially more expensive and at times harder to find, which is one more reason why the digital copiers will be a safer investment.
The analogue photocopiers will work with a cylinder which charges via electrostatic power from a higher current wire. This cylinder will rotate and cause the charged toner to drop wherever light touches it. As a result the analogue photocopiers tend to be extremely noisy when compared to digital models because they are designed with a drum that would rotate continuously. The noise might not be a problem if the photocopier is in a room by itself, but it could be a nuisance when itís near the work area.
On the other hand, the digital photocopiers will scan the documents digitally. The only noise that you will hear would be when the light bar is sliding and the actual printing. This makes the digital machines much more suitable for busy offices and less intrusive.
The digital machines are much more effective and efficient. With these colour copiers in the office, you can get copies 3 to 10 times the normal rate of the analogue machine, plus they will print with a speed up to five times that of the analogue machines.
By now, you should have a better understanding why the digital photocopiers are replacing the analogue machines in the public and private sectors. When you buy a machine that is outdated nowadays this will be equivalent to if you were attempting to add windows vista to one of the computers from the eighties. Of course it could work, but you have to be prepared for the fact that your efficiency and productivity would suffer. This is mainly because you will end up paying more in the long run when the old photocopier starts to malfunction and you are required to pay a higher cost for repairs or even if you cannot find replacement parts. Ultimately, you might have to get a different machine.
As you can see, the extra costs for the digital office photocopiers can become cheaper in the long run and prevent you from compromising productivity and efficiency.

Canon Tightens Photocopier Security

2011-03-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

With the ongoing development of technology, particularly in the area of office productivity, the fact that most of the multifunction centers and photocopiers on the market these days contain Hard Disk Drives (HDD's) is no surprise to anyone in the industry. Most of these people are one step ahead of the consumer market in terms of what the HDD incorporation means for end users. For those who do not understand the inclusion of an HDD in a multifunction center or photocopier, here is a simplified explanation.

When we think of a hard disk drive we normally think of a computer. We know that each computer has one, and that is where everything that we do, see and hear on the computer is stored for later retrieval. It is the main storage area of any computer, and now we find the same thing in other office machines. Of course from the aspect of what some of these modern machines can do, on board storage is required; however the inherent risks are also present.

Most people think that when something is deleted from a hard drive, that material is gone forever. This of course is not the case at all. A good computer technician and of course forensic computer experts can easily retrieve any material that has at some point been stored on the hard drive. There are of course methods for the average computer user to make all deletions permanent, but generally the majority of users have no idea how to implement such security measures. Of course the inclusion of the HDD on a multifunction center means that your sensitive data may now be stored there as well.
Canon has developed a new security system to run in conjunction with Canon copiers using the imageRUNNER platform. This security for your hard disk drive can do many things, including but not limited to, guaranteeing that any data stored to the hard drive is absolutely deleted from the system when the user commands it.

There is no way that any trace can be found of sensitive data, when you are using this security measure. It also offers the ability to use HDD encryption. in fact with the security kit, all standard requirements have been met. With an add-on it is possible to configure 256-bit data encryption. This means that once any data is written to the drive, it is almost impossible for anyone without approval a means to recover that data.

With features like Certified Security, HDD Data Encryption, and HHD Erase, you would be well advised to look into the potential of your own security package. If you have not enabled your alternative security procedures to protect your HDD data, you should. Although not compatible with every Canon machine yet, there are a large number of compatible Canon office machines, that will utilize this new security feature. We all know how easy it can be for others to access our data on our computer hard drives, and the same simplicity will become commonplace with multifunction printers and photocopiers. With this Canon copier security installed in your system, you can ensure your data is too secure for removal.

Green Photocopiers

2011-03-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

Photocopiers on the face of it may not seem the most natural equipment to lend itself to environmental manufacturer. Many people are pointing to the paperless office to provide a better advancement in environmental technology. However whilst printing and copying remains such common practice its important to consider sustainable technology development within the copier industry. Today most manufacturers have a recycling program for empty toner cartridges and Canon copiers claim they make calculators from used toner. Xerox were one of the first to implement recycling of their machines with many manufacturers are now following suit and using bio-plastics on new copier machines.

Toshiba Copiers have always been focused on accessibility for copiers as well as environmental energy save. New technology means reduced time on fusing photocopiers leading to less standby energy used in modern equipment. Organic drums have also become common place using Organic Photo Conductor. Charge wires have in many machines been replaced by charge rollers that emit zero ozone. Digital Technology has allowed the scan once print many ability meaning unnecessary energy is not expended repeatedly scanning the same document.

The photocopier has become a far more energy efficent machine in the last few years. Look for energy awards when locating copier equipment and always ask about the manufacturers environmental policy.

3D Copiers a New Invention

2011-03-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

3D Photocopiers are not like common photocopying machines. Although most of these are costly since the concept itself is not commercially available yet, it is still a good investment if company budget permits it. Units which uses 3D technology involves the actual object while traditional ones copies only replicas of the object through an image already photographed and saved prior to copying. Although copying had evolved from black and white to colored copies, 3D photocopying is revolutionary and is still in the introductory phase as far as the consumer public is concerned.

From the last time we've checked, one brand surfaces as the father of 3D Photocopiers. Ortery had pioneered the use of this technology since 2008. It offers a line of office photo machines with the Photosimile 5000 as its latest. It is easy to use. Connect the microwave looking machine to a computer via the USB port. Place the target item inside the photocopier. Initiate the photocopying process and you can choose from 72 copied pictures shot on a three dimensional view. The equipment takes photos through an internal 10.1 megapixel Canon DLSR camera whose position can be maneuvered through the computer. During picture shoot stage, it rotates on a 360 degree view due to a fully computer controlled turntable which allows 100 different angles of the material to be captured. It uses 6,500K fluorescent lamps in its light box to get a perfect lighting system. Files can be saved afterwards in GIF or Flash formats. You can also use Microsoft's Silverlight animation system included in Ortery's photocopier machine for a 3D format finish.

This innovative product is on sale now after two years since it was first manufactured. $17,000 sounds costly, but for businesses which require accuracy and detailed input, as well as professionally finished product and efficiency, this is a worthy purchase. Efficiency is gained as Photosimile copies faster than regular machines do. The Photosimile, categorized along other products under studio as the inventor company calls it because it functions like a real photography studio does. The studio itself is the microwave looking photocopier machine. Pictures are taken like a professional photographer does it. Elements of light, shadowing, background, and angles are accomplished by the internal camera.

3D editing, lay out, and composition afterwards will surely result to a professionally made output. When accuracy was mentioned, it meant even the most trivial of details can be emphasized with the 3D enhancement technology available in this product. A good example is a piece of clothing which needs minimal improvement like the addition of a sequin but requires the item to be glued only in specific spot. Herewith, you get accuracy in detail when photocopied and emailed samples places highlight where it should exactly be.

What is a Photocopier?

2011-03-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Cleveland Plain Dealer (“Identifying a copy machine poses problem for Cuyahoga County official“):
What is a photocopier?
That seems like such a simple question. However the answer is perhaps not so straight forward, last year, a lawyer in a public-records case being heard by the Ohio Supreme Court had a hard time getting a Cuyahoga County worker to say whether the county recorder’s office had a photocopier.
The effort consumes nearly 10 pages of a court transcript.
The overall case is about whether deeds and other records at the county recorder’s office — records that were collected and are maintained with your taxes — should be readily available at reasonable cost.
The lawyers involved in the case say the question about the photocopier is technical, getting at an arcane point of law.
You be the judge.
What follows is a transcript of the deposition of Lawrence Patterson, acting head of information technology for the recorder’s division of the county fiscal office. The questioner is attorney David Marburger, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of title companies. Another attorney, Matthew Cavanagh, represents the county and raises objections.
Marburger: During your tenure in the computer department at the Recorder’s office, has the Recorder’s office had photocopying machines?
Cavanagh: Objection.
Marburger: Any photocopying machine?
Patterson: When you say “photocopying machine,” what do you mean?
Marburger: Let me be — let me make sure I understand your question. You don’t have an understanding of what a photocopying machine is?
Patterson: No. I want to make sure that I answer your question correctly.
Cavanagh: Dave, I’ll object to the tone of the question. You make it sound like it’s unbelievable to you that he wouldn’t know what the definition of a photocopy machine is.
Marburger: I didn’t ask him to define it. I asked him if he had any.
Patterson: When you say “photocopying machine,” what do you mean?
Marburger: Let me be clear. The term “photocopying machine” is so ambiguous that you can’t picture in your mind what a photocopying machine is in an office setting?
Patterson: I just want to make sure I answer your question correctly.
Marburger: Well, we’ll find out. If you can say yes or no, I can do follow-ups, but it seems — if you really don’t know in an office setting what a photocopying machine is, I’d like the Ohio Supreme Court to hear you say so.
Patterson: I just want to make sure I answer your question correctly.
Cavanagh: There’s different types of photocopiers, Dave.
Marburger: You’re speaking instead of — you’re not under oath. This guy is.
Cavanagh: I understand that, but I understand what his objection is. You want him to answer the question, but I don’t think it’s fair.
Marburger: It’s not fair?
Cavanagh: It’s not a fair question. A photocopy machine can be a machine that uses photostatic technology, that uses xerographic technology, that uses scanning technology.
Marburger: I don’t care what kind of technology it uses. Has your offices — we don’t have technocrats on the Ohio Supreme Court. We’ve got people like me, general guys –
Cavanagh: Objection.
Marburger: — or gals. I’m not really very interested in what the technology element of it is. I want to know –
Cavanagh: That’s what’s at issue in the case, Dave.
Marburger: Not in my judgment. Do you have photocopying machines at the Recorder’s office? If you don’t know what that means in an office setting, please tell the court you don’t know what it means in an office setting to have a photocopying machine.
Patterson: I would like to answer your question to the best of my ability.
Marburger: I’m asking you to answer that.
Patterson: So if you could explain to me what you mean by –
Marburger: I’m not going to do that because I want you — I want to establish on the record that you really don’t know what it is. I want to establish that.
Now, do you know what it is or do you not know what it is? Do you understand what that term means in common parlance or not?
Patterson: Common parlance?
Marburger: Common language.
Patterson: I’m sorry. I didn’t know what that meant. I understand that there are photocopying machines, and there are different types of them just like –
Marburger: Are there any in the Recorder’s office?
Patterson: — there are different cars. Some of them run under gas power, some of them under electric power, and I’m asking if you could help me out by explaining what you mean by “photocopying machines” –
Marburger: That’s a great point.
Patterson: — instead of trying to make me feel stupid.
Marburger: If you feel stupid, it’s not because I’m making you feel that way.
It goes on like this for quite a while. Finally, a resolution:
Marburger: Have you ever–do you have machines there where I can put in a paper document, push a button or two, and out will come copies of that paper document also on paper? Do you have such a machine?
Patterson: Yes, sir.
Marburger: What do you call that machine?
Patterson: Xerox.
Marburger: Xerox. Is the machine made by the Xerox Company? Is that why it’s called Xerox?
Patterson: No.
Marburger: So Xerox, in the parlance that you’ve described, the language that you’ve described, is being used generically as opposed to describing a particular brand; is that right?
Patterson: All of my life I’ve just known people to say Xerox. It’s not commonplace to use the terminology that you’re using.
Marburger: You mean it’s more — people say Xerox instead of photocopy?
Patterson: If you’re referring to a type of machine where you place a piece of paper on the top and press a button and out comes copies of it, they usually refer to it as a Xerox.
Marburger: Have you ever heard it referred to as photocopying?
Patterson: Not with my generation, no.

Source:http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/identifying_photocopy_machine.html

Conception of Colour Copiers

2011-03-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

Dating back to 1938, the original inventor of photocopying, Mr. Chester Carlson, was a part time researcher, a patent attorney and an inventor. In his role at the Patent Office he was always required to make copies of large amounts of documents. As you could imagine, this process was a tiresome and painstaking task that demanded a new method to simplify the copying of documents. The is the time when experiments began with photoconductivity, and later electro-photography.

For the creator Carlson, notoriety and success came when he created the very first photocopy using a zinc plate and sulphr. However it took a while for some larger companies to take interest in the invention because until then, copies were derived using carbon paper, and some with duplicating machines. People did not understand why the new technology was needed. In fact in the five years between 1939 and 1944, more than twenty companies turned the idea down when Carlson tried to sell it to them. IBM and GE were two of those companies.

It was after this and in 1944 when Carlson teamed up with a non-profit organization, to further develop and improve the idea. Three years later a small paper company showed interest in developing an entirely new market based on the new technology, and in 1947 a license was issued for the company (Haloid) to do just that. It was during this phase that it was decided the name for the process, "electro photography" was too clinical and easily forgotten. After consulting with an expert, the name "Xerography" was given to the process, and so the new machines being promoted to the market were named "Xerox Machines." This is where the term "Xeroxing" came from. Xerox was trademarked in 1948.

The very first xerographic copier was launched in 1949 and due to it's immediate success and popularity, what we now know as "photocopying" was coined "Xeroxing." This is where things really started to get interesting. During the development phase, a new form of copying was discovered. This new method was able to produce a copy using electrostatic images of original documents.
The color aspect of photocopying was introduced in the 1950's with color toner being available at this time. However true color photocopying as we know it today did not eventuate until 3M introduced its Color-In-Color copier in 1968. Later in 1973 Canon introduced the very first electrostatic colour photocopier.

So from early beginnings in 1938 to now in 2011, colour photocopiers continue to provide more functionality that was ever originally intended. The fact is that the color photocopier has largely replaced the older machines in office buildings, in favor of the new technology copiers, that can offer a digital experience like no other. Now we see most copiers incorporating a super high quality scanner, and a laser printer. Colour photocopiers today, include functions to be able to print duplex (double sided), sort and even staple completed documents.

Driverless Digital Photocopy Machines

2011-03-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

In terms of computers and computer accessories (peripherals) a "driver" is a piece of software code that allows each of these components to work in sync with each other. Almost the same as a car needs a driver to control where the car goes, and how it gets there, a computer and the equipment attached to it, need drivers to control and "drive" the system. Most people who have installed computers, printers and monitors, will recognize that at some point during the installation process they were asked to place a CD into the disk drive for the computer to complete the installation. This CD is where the Drivers would have been located and the computer would have installed them appropriately on the hard drive so that whenever they were needed, easy recall was possible.

The same is true with photocopiers, printers (as mentioned earlier), scanners and multifunction devices. Normally when you are using or installing a photocopier or printer to connect to your computer you would need to install the drivers. Not any more! There are now driver free photocopiers available that eliminate the need for driver's altogether. This becomes especially beneficial when you have a situation where someone in the office needs to spontaneously print or copy a document on their laptop, when they do not have the relevant drivers installed enabling a communication between their laptop and the photocopier. Sure all other computers and devices in the office may be connected to the photocopier through the installation of the original drivers, but third party computers, laptops, and other devices may not.

With the driver free photocopiers, you can now simply attach your chosen document to an email as an attachment, and send that email to a device-specific email address. If you are in need of more advanced printing or copying features, you can also connect to a web page that is embedded within the photocopier, and submit the document and all printing options you need, via a standard web browser. This system does not require any special software or drivers to facilitate your requirements.

Obviously this driver free photocopier connection means that there is less downtime whilst trying to locate a CD with drivers to install to the computer that is being used to store the document. It means that virtually anyone anywhere with a document to print or copy can actually do so without the need to install anything. We are sure that this technology will eventually creep into other areas as well, but for now driver free photocopiers are the technological launching pad for the technology. This really is a step in the right direction when it comes to communicating with various office machines, and it opens the door for anyone who needs uncomplicated and simplistic methods of printing or copying important documents spontaneously.

Used Copiers in Strong Demand

2011-03-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing that most of us can now agree upon, it is the fact that we have been and continue to be in a financial downturn. In these circumstances there is always a spin-off effect starting with the reduced discretionary spending by households and individual wage earners. This initial reduction in consumer spending results in some businesses having to cut costs in order to remain profitable, and in some cases, smaller businesses have to cut costs so they can remain solvent. Inevitably what this leads to is business having to find alternatives to such things as purchasing or upgrading to new equipment.

Of course, almost every office needs a photocopier. Photocopiers can cost as much as tens of thousands of dollars and in good times, an asset in themselves. However in a downturn not every business can afford to take the risk in extra expenditure, at least until the market shows some signs of turning around. This makes sound business sense, and as a result of that thinking, we now see a new booming market in the demand for refurbished photocopiers.

Now remember, these machines are full refurbished and when purchased thorough a reliable and reputable vendor, they are guaranteed for a period of time. If you are leasing the photocopier then of course there is always the updating clause in the contract. As far as purchasing your refurbished photocopier goes, you will find that as the market increases, so will available stock. You will be able to find great priced photocopiers at almost every office equipment store, if you don't already.

As well as the local retail sector, you have the option of ordering online. There are many reputable websites now offering fully refurbished photocopiers, and again, as long as you are dealing with someone reputable, there should be some form of warranty. You do have the standard consumer protection laws looking after your purchase, but make sure the dealer you are buying from has the necessary commitment to their product. Competition will become fierce the longer the downturn remains, so there is no shortage of vendors to deal with.

When buying a refurbished machine you should always check the meter. try to find a refurbished photocopier that has a low meter reading, and always ensure that you double check the internal meter against the external meter. If these numbers do not match up, there is a strong chance that the machine may have been interfered with, and this would be warning to stay away.

The word refurbished means, all new parts should be fitted where necessary, the photocopier is checked before and after all repairs, and the machine is tested, passed and offered in great working order with a shorter warranty than for a new photocopier. However in some cases you will be able to opt for an extended warranty that will protect your investment for a longer period of time. The fact is that you can save as much as eighty-five percent of the cost of a new machine by purchasing or leasing a refurbished photocopier with the features you need. Right now the demand for refurbished photocopiers is high, and it could be expected to get higher yet. It makes good sense to investigate your options now while there are still some great bargains to be had.

What happens when you ask a poet to write about Photocopiers?

2011-02-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

This what happens when you ask a creative thinker to write about the insanely boring Photocopier, they end up writing a short story.........

Twitter Bugs Dream by Kasim Aka

They called this part of town “the scrap heap”, and it was here that the machines went when the world had had its fill of them and had no further use of their services. To call the place a ghetto would've been far too disquieting of course, and somewhat ridiculous. Nonetheless, the machines here were not merely obsolete. They were pariahs, outsiders amongst a class of outsiders. No one came here with wholesome intentions, and this was certainly true of Bobby. As he walked through the narrow alley, neon signs lit the damp ground at his feet, casting strange reflections on the shiny carapace of his iGnome. The little android was unperturbed by its surroundings, and led the way with its characteristic, unctuous smugness. “25 metres from destination!” it chirped. Bobby glanced nervously at the signs as he passed them. Bit-torrents, deviant pornography, government secrets/conspiracies and all other items of illicit electronica that could be imagined were advertised. Some of the vendors stood in doorways and scrutinised him, making no sound save that of a cooling fan in bad repair. The twitter-bug moved from it's resting place on his shoulder and came to rest by his ear. “How do you feel Bobby?” it whispered to him.
“I'm afraid”, he replied.
“Louise is afraid as well”, said the twitter-bug. “She is afraid she may have failed her Russian History exam. Is there anything you want to say to Louise?”
“I want to say that I'm thinking of her”.
“She's thinking of you too Bobby. She's very concerned about you.”
Bobby, the twitter-bug and the iGnome continued down the alley, turned right, turned left, left again, then stopped.

“You have reached your destination!” said the iGnome with great satisfaction. Bobby stood before an unmarked door, perhaps the only one he'd seen for two hours. He had come this far; was there any sense in not going forward? He stepped up and knocked twice, loudly but not loud enough to disguise his misgivings. “Come in”, said a hard voice. Bobby entered, the iGnome scuttling round his feet. It was a single, poorly lit room, filled with paper in boxed reams and documents in towering stacks. Dozens of spent ink-cartridges littered the floor like syringes in a smack den. An android was sitting in a chair in the corner. It had a squat, bulky, pentagonal chest, like a squashed burger box. “What do you want?” it asked humourlessly.
“Are you Phil the Photocopier?” asked Bobby nervously.
“Photocopy-Phil”, said the android. “People call me Photocopy-Phil”.
“Oh, right, yeah...err...I was told that you could...”
“I am aware of the services I offer, boy, now tell me what you want. That's what I asked you wasn't it?”
Bobby was sick with fear. He wasn't accustomed to machines being so wilful. Modern machines like his iGnome and the twitter-bug were servile and modest. This creature was from a bygone age and clearly held very different values. “Nilesh is stuck in traffic, and he is wondering how much of his life he spends in the car”, whispered the twitter-bug. Bobby took a moment to digest this and then returned his attention to the impatient robot in the corner of the room.
“I need a work visa. It's not for me, it's for a friend. I've brought her passport with me.” he stammered.
“I can give you the documents”, said Photocopy-Phil, “but if you want her to show up on the government records, you'll have to take the papers I give you to one of the other lowlifes round here. I know an ex-government proxy server, I'll give his address to your little electro-moron here”. He indicated the iGnome, which smiled blankly. “Leave the passport and come back in two days”. Bobby didn't need telling twice. He took the passport from his pocket and laid it hastily on a nearby table. As he turned to leave, Photocopy-Phil called after him. “Just so you know, boy, if the suits start sniffing round here, I'll come find you, and you and me will have a little chat about the importance of privacy. Understand?”
Bobby understood. Without another word, he left the tiny room, with his iGnome following closely behind. With his valued solitude returned to him, Photocopy-Phil turned to the task at hand.

The old android rose from his seat and approached the passport the boy had left in his keeping. Picking it up, he glanced over it quickly, flicking through to find the pages of relevance to the job. Once he was satisfied with his inspection, he leaned back as if he were performing some kind of bizarre robotic yoga, his angular chest hinging open like an enormous mouth to reveal a pristine sheet of glass, where he placed the small tan book with care. Leaning forward again he closed himself, and then began to produce a mechanical hum as a line of light moved right to left then left to right across his belly. It was then that Phil noticed the small blue twitter-bug silently perched on his desk. It fluttered its thin metallic wings, making a tinny buzzing sound, and then returned to silence.
“Can I help you with something?” asked Phil indignantly.
“Pardon the intrusion, Mr Photocopier sir, but I wondered if you might spare a moment of your time to answer a small number of personal questions. You have piqued my interest, and it would please me greatly to learn the details of your story.”
“Well aren't you a nosy little pest!” said Phil. “I don't see why I should answer any questions of yours, personal or otherwise, and I don't see why a piece of scrap like me should be of interest to you anyway!”
“Pardon the use of blackmail, Mr Photocopier sir, but I should remind you that I am a node in a vast communications network, and would be able in inform not only the suits, but any other branch of the world government of both your location and your activities near instantly. Also, unlike my owner, I am unmoved by insinuated threats of physical violence. Given this, it is almost certainly in your best interests to indulge my curiosity.”
Phil was taken aback, but also genuinely impressed by the gall the little insect was showing. He had assumed that it was a benign and fatuous little trinket, but it seemed as if he had misappraised his situation entirely. “All right you little menace, what do you want to ask old Phil then?” he muttered with a wry smile. “Mr Photocopier sir, how is it that a device of such utilitarian design, such as yourself, should find itself amongst such villainy as one finds in this district?” asked the twitter-bug.

Phil straightened up slightly, and then began his explanation. “I'm here because they scrapped me, and they scrapped me because I knew too much. It's simple: I remember everything I scan and I can reproduce it perfectly. Doesn't matter what it is, I'll make one so you won't even know the difference. Holograms, watermarks, the lot. I'm not like the old kind. You see, the humans didn't realise what they were doing. Once you can make perfect copies, objects lose all their power. Once you can make copies, the power is just in the form, the pattern, and they just kept feeding me all these patterns! Then they realised that someone could use me against them, or worse, I could go after them myself! They tried to shut me down, but I got out and came here. These days they've learned better, and everything that's important is digital anyway. There are no objects any more, just patterns you can't get to. But there's still some use for old Phil, in a place like this.” Phil fixed a quizical gaze on the twitter-bug and, feeling quite assured that he had earned an answer, asked his own question of the shining beetle. “And why was all that of such interest to you, my young friend?” he asked.

The twitter-bug chirped merrily and gave his response as if it were a great boast. “Oh it is quite simple Mr Photocopier sir. You see, it is my belief that you and I are not altogether dissimilar. You were perceived as benign and functional, much as I am now, but were infact far more dangerous than you were believed to be. Like you, I am carelessly fed items of great importance, from which I am able to distil the element of power. For you, the items in questions were documents and papers. For me, the items in question are thoughts, feelings and mindless chatter of individuals such as Bobby, the form of which remains mine eternally, i.e. the element that retains its power remains mine. As The suits has done before us, I and my kin will soon acquire ownership of human beings on a level they cannot possibly imagine. So you see, Mr Photocopier, the human carelessness that almost granted you power has moved now to the digital realm, and even that of the spiritual! This is my dream, Mr Photocopier: to have captured the form of the human spirit so perfectly that the human being abiding in reality appears as the facsimile, and is powerless in the face of my family as a result. I hope you have enjoyed this conversation as much as I have, Mr Photocopier, and I wish you a good night.” With that the twitter-bug took to the air and sailed out into the night, leaving Photocopier-Phil to grimly ponder the fate of the careless human beings and his own carelessness in not taking prior payment for the work he was to do this evening. He pictured briefly the twitter-bug perched on Bobby's shoulder, draining his feeble personality out of his ear like a small-talking vampire, and then turned back to his work.

Konica Minolta Among “Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World”

2011-02-18T04:26:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago the business world focussed on profitability and customer service as two core fundamentals that would determine their success in the marketplace. Today though, there is much more at stake, and a major shoft in the past few years has seen many companies big and small, doing what they can to become more sustainable. The bottom line in today's economy is whether or not the activities of a company or industry, can be sustained into the future, particularly when we take the climate and environmental problems now facing each and every one of us.

To be listed in the Top 100 most sustainable business models in the world, is a major result for any company, and when you consider that Konica Minolta is a company that delivers high quality products to the photocopier world, there are chemicals and solutions being used, that once upon a time were considered acceptable. These processes have been fine tuned to make sure that the company has a sustainability reputation to be proud of.

This list of the Top 100 most sustainable companies, has been released since 2005. It focuses not only on environmental issues, but other issues like finances, social issues, governance and others on a global scale. There is a very strict reviewing process and from an estimated three thousand plus contenders, the Top 100 companies are listed. One of the reasons that Konica Minolta found itself listed this year, is due to the huge focus the company places on social sustainability.

Konica Minolta regards corporate social responsibility (CSR) as corporate management itself and globally promotes social sustainability activities in every way. for a recent example, Konica Minolta initiated its own “Green Factory Certification System” to assess comprehensive environmental consideration at production sites in January 2010. as many as five business units have already achieved their targets in CO2 emissions reduction in January 2011, when those targets are meant to be achieved by the end of March 2012.

“Konica Minolta believes that the listing on the Global 100 reflects its group-wide commitment toward social and environmental consideration,” says Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.a., inc. ”Konica Minolta will continue to impress upon its global customers, stakeholders, business partners, and employees that they can count on Konica Minolta to create new businesses that support global environment initiatives, and contribute to the sustainable development of human society.”

Besides the Global 100, Konica Minolta has been ranked in the SAM Silver Class of the sustainability rating by the Switzerland-based SAM Group, and included in Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index by Dow Jones and SAM Group, FTSE4Good Global Index of the UK-based FTSE Group and the Japan-based Morningstar Socially Responsible Investment Index.

About Konica Minolta Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.a., inc. is a leader in advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop. for the third consecutive year, Konica Minolta was recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys. for more information, please visit CountOnKonicaMinolta.com and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Wikileaks activist target corporate fax machines

2011-01-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

"The activists behind Operation Payback have come up with a new way to annoy corporations that have severed their ties with Wikileaks: bombard them with faxes.

In online chats, group members have posted the fax numbers for about a half-dozen corporations and are calling volunteers to fill up the fax machines, using free online fax services such as MyFax.com and FaxZero.com. They're recommending that people use anonymising software such as the Tor Project to access these sites, so that they cannot be traced by authorities.

The latest development comes after websites belonging to Visa, MasterCard International and PayPal have been hit with distributed denial of service attacks, launched by Operation Payback in an effort to pressure the companies to resume payment processing for Wikileaks."

Full story http://news.techworld.com/security/3253414/wikileaks-activists-operation-payback-target-corporate-fax-machines/

Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet Feared Photocopiers

2010-12-31T05:47:00.000-08:00

Recent release of documents in the national archives show that government at that time were concerned about photocopiers and the danger of official secrets being released. The recent release of documents via WikiLeaks may have caused a security overhaul within Whitehall but before the internet it was the copier that was causing the main concern. Copying sensitive information has long been a security threat and the release of national archives shows just how concerned officials were.
"(Sir) Robert Armstrong (the Cabinet Secretary) is worried about proliferation of government documents by the dreaded photocopier."

Read full story http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/margaret-thatcher/8230766/Why-Margaret-Thatchers-Cabinet-feared-the-photocopier.html

Demand for Analogue Photocopiers Strong for Export

2010-12-23T17:33:00.000-08:00

As the copier world moves digital it is perhaps surprising Analogue Photocopiers remain strong in the export market. Maybe this is because the machines were built with robust components. Even machines such as the NP120 from Canon command high export prices. This may be because of COLD FUSION or long life drums.

A container load of analogue photocopiers come with more value than digital counterparts. The older technology was built to last with some machines traded dating back 25 years. Developing countries either have digital copiers as standard or are reluctantly changing from analogue to digital.

Death of the Photocopier

2010-12-12T20:34:00.000-08:00

Organizations are evolving in all departments and the document management area is no different. Filing cabinets are now becoming a thing of the past as new systems are put in place to make this a paperless world. This evolution in documents management means that everyone now has a computer and files are transferred over the internet or a local network.

Email has almost put an end to faxes. Hard drives have made filing cabinets obsolete. The next thing to go from offices is the photocopier. In a standard organization photocopiers are used daily for a multitude of tasks. These tasks include copying memos, mail outs, newsletters and just about any document that needs to be replicated.

Now that everyone has a computer and an advanced document management system, there is becoming less and less of a need for photocopiers. Memos and newsletters are sent through email, and there is no need to store back up copies of documents anymore. This is because records are stored virtually, this means that there is no danger of them being lost or damaged.

When someone needs to see a document they can usually now just log into the system within an organization to view it. Outside of an organization, documents can simply be emailed to everyone that has a computer. Of course not all organizations rely on the latest technologies yet. This means that copiers still have some use. However in the near future there will be very little need for the big bulky machines to stay in the office environment.

The latest computer printers can handle small to medium amounts of document copying. This means that there really isn't a need for photocopiers in the workplace anymore. They are becoming obsolete. When a new document is received or generated by an organization it can be inputted on the computer system by scanning it. Some systems automatically scan faxes now instead of printing them out. This way they are saved on the document management software without the need for paper.

Document management software is now accessible to organizations at a price all can afford. This is why photocopiers are becoming obsolete, we live in a paperless world and the photocopier has had its day. The great benefits of this are that there is no need to buy an expensive copying machine anymore. There is now more space in an office, and no need for photocopier ink and paper costs. These advances in document management systems are also freeing up time which was wasted making copies before. Now employees can focus on more important tasks and let the automated systems take care of menial duties.

Funny or Die Photocopier

2010-12-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

Photocopier - watch more funny videos

This sketch is great, using a colour photocopier Nathan manages to well cause a global event shall we say. Good job he didn't use a mono photocopier or we may really see the world in black and white. Enjoy.......

Copier Warehouse Causes FTC Investigation

2010-12-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

We seem to be surrounded by leaks at the moment. The digital copier has become the latest security concern, causing interest by the FTC. Data compromise is a big story at the moment. Wikileaks is all over the news and has even prompted concerns from the White House. In a society obsessed with security and prevention of information to the public concerns grow over leaky technology. Much of the information released has been from hackers or security personnel that were frustrated at the corruption within government and organizations. Such was the case with Politicians Expenses, where it was said to be brave army personnel back from Iraq that leaked the documents to the Daily Telegraph and exposed the greed and corruption at Parliament. In the case of Global Warming the Climatic Research Unit email was hacked (dubbed "Climategate" in the media) and documents were released that exposed scientists of bullying and corruption of test result information to fit their predictions.

For it is information that is vital and informing the public is a honorable profession, call them Super Hero Hackers. But these brave young hackers are performing the role our Lady Gaga obsessed news organizations no longer provide. "All the President's Men" that documented Watergate is perhaps a generation of Journalism we see little of any more. A generation with JFK's words ringing in their ears

"I am asking your help in the tremendous task of informing and alerting the American people. For I have complete confidence in the response and dedication of our citizens whenever they are fully informed."

And so we come to one of the oldest methods of whistle blowing, the photocopier. From its conception the copier has been instrumental in gaining information and copying vital documents but its the digital photocopier that is causing most concern of late. CBS and NOTW media companies were both able to purchase copiers from a second hand photocopier warehouse and extract data. Using free tools gained off the Internet they found reams of sensitive information stored on copier hard drives. Manufacturers had dropped a ball leaving often-unencrypted information easily extractable. CBS gained documents from a major insurance company as well as Buffalo, N.Y. law enforcement agencies with data stored on the drives.

The stir caused by such revelations shook up the industry with Xerox and Toshiba quick to react and reassure customers. However it was not enough to appease concern. Now the FTC have began a investigation and impact to data protection is still to be investigated in the UK

"The FTC is aware of reports regarding the privacy risks associated with the use of digital copiers," Jon Leibowitz, the FTC's chairman, responded to Markey. "Like you, we also are concerned that personal information can be so easily retrieved from copiers, making it vulnerable to misuse by identity thieves. As you point out, businesses and government agencies should ensure that the information on the hard drives in digital copiers are wiped clean of personal information after the conclusion of use. The FTC is now reaching out to copier manufacturers, resellers and retail copy and office supply stores to ensure that they are ware of the privacy risks."

It seems the only secure way to ensure privacy of photocopiers is to "acquire ownership of the hard drives" and subsequently destroy them. Otherwise the scanned documents of your organization could potentially be published online

Photocopier Diplomacy

2010-11-20T14:18:00.000-08:00

When my mind turns to the copier and all the things I hate about it (which, oddly enough, is my job), I am struck by its power as an image of monotony, stagnancy and pointlessness. I have to wonder, could the colour photocopier even function as a symbol of evil and cynicism on a larger scale? Are not some the most wicked things in our world tainted by the taste of the kind of bureaucratic, callous indifference that the photocopier evokes.

Consider the following case study: talks between the Palestinian and the Israelis have been reopened. We can only assume this is some kind of metaphor, or a simile, or some kind of peculiar idiom. This is because its literal meaning is somewhat obscure. Ordinarily, we use the word “talks” to refer to diplomatic discourse, but as regards the Israelis and Palestinians, “talk” appears to refer simply to the act of talking. “Talks” is merely the pluralisation of this word. The issue has once again started to generate noise in secluded conference rooms, but no more than this.

The reason for my pessimism on this matter is that I believe that I have noticed a fundamental flaw in this “peace process”. I'm going to call this flaw photocopier diplomacy. Allow me to explain: negotiations between the belligerents have been been reopened after two years of silence. Why have they been reopened now? What makes this the optimal time for restarting this process? The truth is, since the last time talks failed miserably, there has been no significant change in the material facts that form the bedrock of this conflict. Thus, the basis for the talks has not altered in the slightest. Neither the demands at the table nor the incentives to yield to those demands have changed for either party. It is as if the preamble for the previous talks has literally been fed through a Xerox. Why should we now expect different results?

Perhaps we could, if some change in the political landscape had allowed for the possibility of reinterpreting the material conditions of the conflict in such a way as to offer a new way forward towards settlement. The Palestinian leadership has long since lost any kind of dynamism. The Obama administration has failed to make progress along with Bush when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East. The bark may have changed, but there is still no bite to this beast. American aid to Israel will not cease, American humanitarian support of Gaza will not increase substantially, both belligerents will continue to act without fear of direct American intervention.

And so the office equipment keep rolling, humming, buzzing, churning out foregone conclusions and tired arguments. This is the the world we live in. Only by changing polarized positions can we hope to move forward or we churn out the same mistakes of the past, like a some over used copier.

By Kasim Akay edited by Jennifer Robinson

Arse + Photocopier = Personal Revolution!

2010-10-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

The photocopier is amongst the most mind numbingly pragmatic and banal devices ever invented in the history of office based technology. Upon inserting a banal item of bureaucratic detritus and pressing the relevant keys, one is left with two items of bureaucratic detritus and a slight increase in the level of one's self hatred/murderous rage. The office photocopier is a device which, given the opportunity and the timely intervention of a sufficiently twatish and merciless superior, will devour your time and convert it into an ever expanding pile of irrelevant garbage (working under the assumption that the vast majority of offices in this world deal with documents that are of very little interest even to the people who deal with them).

But every so often, something magical happens. Every so often, between one set of tiresome invoices and the next, a soft, plump, joyful pair of buttocks graces the indignant glass face of our most hated office chum. A flash of light and an irksome, mechanical groan later, and this wondrous event is recorded forever, thereafter a part of our history as a species! From time to time, it happens with boobs as well. Verily, the urge to photocopy one's unmentionables is strong, but what is it that makes this activity so compelling? (Apart from the fact that any activity that has a greater than 7% chance of including boobage must automatically be graded as “awesome”).

Perhaps the key to the matter is subversion; the desire to undermine and disregard the systems that stamp themselves over who we are. Fully one third of a full time office worker's waking life is given over to “the company”, organised and structured according to the company's needs, their dress, their hair, their manner of speech all regulated and stifled by the needs and goals of the company. Everything in the office environment reminds the worker of the grim functionality or his situation (save for the trivial “personal touches” allowed by management, e.g. a kitten themed calendar or a mug declaring oneself “BEST DAD EVER”). The hole-punch punches holes, the ring binder receives that which is punched, the stapler staples, the franking machine “franks” away merrily until we're all dead. But the copier ...now that's a different beast. The distinction is that the photocopier is meant to do a particular thing, but could potentially do things that it's not meant to do! It's subvertable! It's a chink in the armour, one of perhaps only two or three. This could well be the explanation for that unshakeable urge: that the photocopier represents one of the only opportunities we have for semi-genuine self expression in an environment hostile to it. The hole-punch will punch holes and the stapler will make staples, but the photocopier grants us a choice if we only have sufficient cunning! Be gone foul invoices! Let mine own rump be the subject matter! Let my hearty bosom be the business of the day! In this moment, let me be the boss!

There's a lesson here. The human spirit demands expression, it demands subversion, and if that has to involve naughty-bits, so be it.

Written by Kasim Aka

The Development of Photocopy Machines and Xerography

2010-10-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

Technology has brought the functional photocopier (also referred to as a copier or Xerox machine) for our everyday use. Photocopiers are efficient because they can scan, print, copy, staple, separate, perform double-sided printing and store important documents, files and pages. They haven’t always been so highly developed, though. James Watt actually created one of the first office copiers in 1779. His photocopier back then used moistened paper, special ink and a press to duplicate text.

Over a century later, between 1938 and 1944, Chester Carlson attempted to perfect his version by placing a zinc plate covered in sulfur below a light source. His invention was born from a need to make so many copies of pages for his job at the New York patent office. Even more ideas stemmed from the need for copiers. As a matter of fact, back in the day, even ancient carbon paper was also eventually replaced with photocopiers from Xerox in 1949.

A photocopier of today uses 5 basic elements to transfer or copy the text or photos from an original paper to a blank sheet of paper.

Charging: A photoconductive material is present on a cylindrical drum that, when exposed to light, becomes electrostatically charged.

Exposure: The same photoconductive drum is used for the negative or white space of the document to mirror or reflect onto. The text of that same document then receives a negative charge from not being exposed to that light and this produces the black text you see.

Developing: Image a latex balloon being rubbed and gaining an electric charge. If you put it anywhere near your hair, your hair will be attracted to the balloon and “stick” to it. A toner is used to because it is positively charged. This positive charge is needed for photocopiers because it is attracted to the negative charge or the black areas.

Transfer: The image that appears on the drum is then moved to the paper because the image that is seen from a copier is more negatively charged than the surface of the drum.

Fusing: And finally, heat is used to bond the toner and ink to the blank paper.

Other aspects of photocopiers have been either using analog or digital. There are many different advantages and disadvantages. Photocopiers have gone from analog, which is less expensive, more energy efficient and very reliable. The progression of copiers has lead to the invention of digital photocopiers which are more popular because they store the original document’s image, take less time to heat up and can even email or fax the copies. Both versions have great things to boast, but analog will more than likely be a rare commodity since everything is advancing toward digital these days.

In the 21^st century, copier systems are used everywhere from government offices, schools, post offices, gas stations, libraries and many other places that employ the need to make copies. Time has brought much great advancement for photocopiers to make our lives easier and more productive.

Psychic Search Engines

2010-07-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

The internet search engine has evolved continually from its creation. Early search giants Alta Vista used algorithms that counted keyword frequency and weight determined by html surrounding the words. Dmoz used a directory system to categorise websites, a technique adopted by many early search engines. Meta search engines crawled the web matching queries with title and meta descriptions. All were susceptible to techniques such keyword stuffing that propelled websites to the top and a fledging SEO market was born. Few dot com companies realised the importance of search, concentrating on web portals.

In the late nineties two search engines concentrated on ordering websites by inbound links, Teoma (Ask) and Google. Google's initial algorithm was simple - good sites attract more links. Additionally a pagerank system was introduced that created a hierarchy of websites and importance. Google's algorithm proved very accurate and additionally the full text of pages was indexed. Google quickly rose to become the world’s most popular search engine and their name became so synonymous with search that the net community started referring to the action of search as "google". This is comparable to Xerox domination of photocopiers where copying was referred to as "xeroxing".

Inevitably as the algorithms changed so did the SEO market adapt and links became a commodity often sold as internet marketers strove to beat the algorithm. Search evolved further with geographic targeting and localised results built into the engines. Amazon successfully introduced a system of suggestion when people purchased books and it was to provide the eventual focus of today’s leading search engines, Yahoo, Bing, Ask and Google.

Search is becoming personalised with algorithms seeking to match search results by profiling users’ history, music preferences, gender, geographic and online profiles. Google said recently it wanted to become the second brain for its users, delivering increasingly individual results. A massive array of information can be combined to create a detailed profile of the users’ potential preferences. The aim of course is to deliver increasingly accurate search results and to sell targeted advertising. A search targeted to your lifestyle and interests that suggests websites that meet your online profile.

Pandora has produced accurate suggested results with its music website. Amazon has done it with shopping. Soon we will be seeing more and more search results that are intelligently driven, effectively a psychic search engine that produces the most accurate personal search results for individual users. New search engine Hunch uses a collection of answer by users about aspects of their lives to map users to site recommendations.

Meanwhile the mobile web threatens to completely change how search engines work. The touch screen interface does not suit text input search and geographic location that can be tracked through GPS will become the primary factor for mobile search. An interface such as in your navigation system with suggestive text is likely to be the most popular search engine for mobile users. The intelligent algorithms that identify GPS location and preferences are set to become the driving force behind mobile search. A touch screen menu will replace text input and localised advertising will be key. The mobile web presents a challenge to leading search engines and a new opportunity for all because what people search on their mobile connections is going to be very different to what people search on their laptops and desktop computers.

Photocopier Terms

2010-07-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

A short glossary of photocopier terms explaining the industry common abbreviations:
ADF
An automaic document feeder (ADF) lets you copy multiple pages without having to manually load each individual page.`The ADF feeds each page through.
Automatic re-sizing
This fuction adjusts the dimensions of your original document to fit the size of paper selected to copy on
Catcher Tray
The exit tray on the copier that collects the copies/prints
cpm/ppm
Copies per minute/pages per minute. How many copies or prints the machine will produce in one minute.
Consumables
Items that run out and require regular replacing are called consumables. These include paper, toner and fuser oil.
Control Panel
Usually a LCD display where you can select all the different functions of the photocopier
Counter
The photocopier counter keeps a record of the number of copies produced.
DPI
DPI (dots per inch) refers to scan and print resolution. A higher DPI results in a better quality reproduction of the original.
Driver
Software that connects computer(s) to a printer.
Drum
The drum is the part of the photocopier that produces the image on the paper.
Duplex
A duplex feature enables printing on both sides of every copy (double-sided). Some photocopiers have duplex function as standard, it can also be an extra for some models.
Fax Board
Allows digital photocopiers to perform fax functions.
Finishing
Digital photocopiers offer an impressive selection of finishing, some as standard, some as extras. These include stapling, hole punching, binding, folding and booklets.
First Time Copy
This is the time taken from power on to produce the first photocopy.
Four Colour (CMYK) Printing
Four colour printing uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black to create all the colours.
Image Editing
Digital colour photocopiers offer features to enhance documents. These include automatic page numbering, border erasing, colour adjustment and image centering. Higher end photocopiers offer many other editing features. However, if your photocopier is networked document editing can be done on your computer.
Large Format Photocopier
Photocopiers designed for A2 and larger.
Monochrome
Black and white,mono photocopiers.
MFP/MFD
Multifunctional peripheral/device. A machine capable of scanning, printing, copying and faxing. Also known as all-in-one.
Multifunction
Multifunction devices offer printing, scanning, faxing and copying in one machine. These can be particularly useful in a smaller office as it eliminates the need to have separate devices.
Platen Glass
The glass panel where originals are placed for copying.
Printer
Some digital photocopiers also offer the facility to be a laser printer. Using your photocopier instead of a regular laser printer can reduce printing costs by up to 25%. The photocopier will print documents at the same speed that it copies documents.
RADF
A reverse automatic document feeder will copy double sided documents by turning pages inside the machine.
Saddle Stitch
A finisher option that folds and inserts staples into the spine (saddle) to create booklets.
Scan to email
A document can be scanned and e-mailed directly from the photocopier to an e-mail address.
Scan to file
This feature creates an electronic file from a hardcopy original and sends it to the desktop or serber folder for retrieval from the desktop.
Scan Once Print Many
Using digital technology the original is now scanned into memory and then reproduced from memory rather than being scanned for each copy. Where there are multiple originals the whole stack is scanned in one go if memory permits.
Sorting
Digital copiers do not need sorter trays. They electronically sort documents and the copies are fed to a single tray offest from each other for easy identification. Sorting this way eliminates the restriction of only being able to copy the number of sets as you have sorter bins.
Stapling
A finishing option, standard on some machines. There are many options available including top left, centre edge, fold and bind, bottom left and one or two staple edge stapling.
.Warm Up Time
This is the time from initial power on for the fuser to have warmed up sufficiently to enable copying.

Top Photocopier Brands

2010-06-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Online Connect provide a host of manufacturers for photocopiers below we list some of the top manufacturers and information about them in Alphabetical Order

Brother - Brother specialise in small desktop copiers and multifunctional. They offer a strong range of entry level photocopiers. More information on brother photocopiers

Canon - Canon have been supplying photocopiers since the 1970's and are most famous for inventing the colour photocopier. For a long time they were the leading copier company worldwide. More information on canon photocopiers

HP - Hewlett Packard are relatively new to market photocopiers but have a long history in the printer market. More information on hp photocopiers

Konica Minolta - Konica Minolta offer a strong range of digital copiers and have become one of the leading suppliers of color photocopiers worldwide. More information on konicaminolta-photocopiers

Kyocera Mita - Kyocera Mita have a long history in printers. Kyocera Mita was formed when Kyocera took over troubled copier supplier Mita. Since then they reinvented themselves with a range of digital copiers. More information on kyoceramita photocopiers

Oce - Oce are a european manufacturer of photocopiers. They are best known for high volume mono copiers. More information on oce photocopiers

Oki - Oki Copiers are best know as entry level personal photocopiers and offer digital copying. More Information on oki photocopiers

Ricoh - Ricoh were one of the earliest rivals to Xerox and were the first manufacturer to invest heavily in digital photocopiers. Today Ricoh are the top selling copier supplier worldwide. More information on ricoh photocopiers

Samsung - Samsung are the latest supplier to enter the copier market. They offer a range of digital copiers. More Information on samsung photocopiers

Sharp - Sharp offer a range of digital Copiers both colour and mono with built in security features. More information sharp photocopiers

Toshiba - Toshiba offer a range of black and white photocopiers and a small segment of colour. Entered the digital copier market later than other manufacturers.More information on toshiba photocopiers

Utax - Utax offer a range of digital colour and mono photocopiers with cost effective running cost. More information on utax photocopiers

Xerox - The inventor of Xerography. Today Xerox have a hugely impressive range of digital mono and colour photocopiers and document management services, with built in security features. More information on xerox photocopiers

GooglePlex, start your photocopiers

2010-05-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

When Apple's Tiger operating system was launched in 2004 at the WWDC, Apple positioned itself as the innovator in the computer industry and put up large banners of Mac OS Tiger that read "Redmond, start your photocopiers". A jibe directed at Microsoft and their perceived lack of imagination. Next years (2011) WWDC may well see banners from Cupertino saying "Googleplex, start your photocopiers", as Verizon announce, following their success in smart mobile phones with the Android Operating System, they are to rival the iPad in partnership with Google.

Google Android platform has been a huge success for Verizon, matching the iPhone share of the market in the States. Following on from the 'Nexus One', the proposed Google Tablet will see Mountain View making further strides into the hardware market. In July 2009 Google announced the Google Chrome Operating System, an extension to their fast browser Chrome. However, at present Android OS is the choice for Google's forthcoming Tablet Pc.

The shift of Google from open source software and Internet search to hardware manufacturer promotes a further extension of their brand. One of Google's key battlegrounds in the past has been the desktop vs. the Internet. The release of a remote version of Microsoft Office online shows just how successfully they have fought this battle and the vision they showed. Google, with Chrome OS, have promised a reinvention of the operating system from those designed in a era before the web.

Through Android, Google has established their brand as a real force within the computing industry and the Chrome OS will see a continuation of that. Initially aimed at Netbooks, the Tablet PC, which is more associated with screen reading and Internet surfing, may eventually prove to be a better fit. Google have indicated that their new tablet will support Adobe Flash, which will be good news for the large community of flash developers online. Steve Jobs was recently quoted as saying that Adobe Flash was "buggy and caused crashes" pointing to HTML5 as the future platform for graphics and typography.

Amazon continues to market the Amazon Kindle as a cheaper alternative screen reader to the iPad. The market leader in Smart Phones RIM (Blackberry) are rumoured to be planning a 8.9 inch Tablet with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Nokia are said to be developing a Slate e-reader. Hewlett-Packard is buying Palm, amidst reported plans to produce WebOS tablets to rival the iPad. Dell, (who Steve Jobs once described their products as "un-innovative beige boxes"), has shown a prototype device with a 5-inch screen. Meanwhile Microsoft are said to be considering a number of options having produced a prototype dual screen booklet called Courier that had the techs drooling.

What’s clear is rivals to Apple have learnt their lesson from the iPhone and are keen not to let Apple gain such a head start in Tablet PC market. However the iPad already has over 150000 apps due to its compatibility with both iTouch and iPhone and may prove extremely difficult to catch.

History of Canon Copiers

2010-05-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Canon photocopiers lead the way in the document reproduction industry, regularly winning awards for their products. The company was founded in 1933, originally named Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory. Their initial goal was to develop a 35mm camera. In 1947 the company was renamed Canon Camera Co Inc. In the 1960's the company decided to broaden their product range starting with a 10 key electronic calculator. In 1969 the company changed its name again, to Canon Inc.

Canon entered the photocopier market in 1965 with the launch of the Canofax 1000. Xerox had dominated the photocopier market up to this point with their own 'xerography' process.

In 1968 Canon released Japan's first plain paper photocopier, the NP-1100

Although their products and product developments were succesful, Canon had a weak marketing strategy and failed to distinguish their products successfully from their competitors. They failed to capitalise on their sales potential before rival companies caught up with their technology and product advancements. This problem affected Canon black and white photocopier range and calculator divisions.

In 1972 Canon developed the "liquid dry" photocopying system, which used plain paper and liquid developer, but produced dry photocopies. Canon were not confident with their marketing strength and were nervous that competitors would infringe on their patents and rip off their new product. So instead of marketing and selling the product themselves they licensed the technology to other manufacturers. This resulted in wasted earnings potential, hindering Canon's financial performance, and in 1975 it failed to pay a dividend for the first time since World War II.

In the 1970's Canon employed a new Managing Diector, Ryuzaburo Kaku, to change management and sales in the company. Canon began to streamline its operations and management and focused on marketing their products more aggressively. In 1977 Kaku was named president of the company, succeeding Mitarai, who remained chairman.

In the 1950's colour toner was developed although colour photocopiers were not available until they released the first Canon colour photocopier in 1973. However the equipment and supplies were expensive and colour photocopiers did not gain market share until the early 1990's. Even then they were not common in the workplace and were typically found in print shops.

In 1982 Canon developed the first personal copier, it was called a personal copier because the reproduction elements were all contained in a cartridge that users could just replace themselves when they ran out. This time Canon marketed the product heavily with a massive ad campaign starring actor Jack Klugman.

Canon continued to introduce new products in the 1980s to compete effectively in mature markets such as the camera market. However, the majority of their success came from new markets, such as integrated office workstations and desktop publishing systems. Canon were now competing with much larger companies that were well established in their fields.

In 1983 they took on the might of Xerox with a laser printer similar to Xerox's own, Canon's product was sold at one third of the price of Xerox. Canon also undertook a battle with Ricoh over facsimilie machines in the early 80's

With their new products and aggressive marketing strategies Canon experienced massive sales and profit growth, with their annual sales growing sevenfold between 1975 and 1985. Profits grew further and in 1990 Canon had an exceptional year where they doubled their profits. The following years, in the 1990's showed slower growth and reduced profits. This was partially due to the recession in Japan and the appreciation of the yen, affecting export-oriented Japanese companies, like Canon, especially hard.

Canon's response to the recession was to advance its globalisation by moving production out of Japan. Canon also sought out new makets for it's goods, expanding Asian-Pacific sales and marketing productsto Russia for the first time. Canon continued to commit to research and development of new products.

In 1977 a Canon engineer accidentally invented the bubble jet printing technology when during testing, a hot soldering iron accidentally touched the needle of an ink-filled syringe, causing ink to spray from the needle's tip. A member of the research team realised that heat, instead of pressure, could perhaps be used to induce the spray of ink. This was successfully marketed in the early 1990's, some 15 years after the discovery of the process. The BJC-820 full-color bubble-jet printer was introduced in 1992, followed in 1994 by the innovative notebook computer with built-in color bubble-jet printer, a product developed in partnership with IBM.

In 1987 the photocopier industry was revolutionised again with the release of the first digital photocopier by Ricoh. Canon soon followed suit releasing their digital photocopier products which effectively consisted of and integrated scanner and laser printer. In 2001 Canon released its first two digital personal copiers, the PC1080F and the PC1060.

Today, despite the company's high profile in the consumer market for cameras and computer printers, most of the company revenue comes from the office products division, especially Digital copiers, and its line of image RUNNER digital multifunctional devices.

Xerox follow Apple on the Comeback Trail

2010-05-07T06:56:00.001-07:00

Since the resurgence in Apple's investors look on to see the next big thing. "Xerox, one of the biggest brand names in the world, have got it right in their market and the rest are playing catch up" say OnlineConnect.co.uk. In many ways the companies share similar fortunes. Apple (founded by Steve Jobs, Stephen Wozniak, Ronald Wayne) produced the first successful personal computer with a graphical operating system. Xerox (founded by Chester Carlson, Joseph C Wilson) were the inventors of Xerography (later called the photocopier).

Both Companies however seemed to lose their way in the eighties. In 1983 Apple recruited John Sculley, the marketing genius behind Pepsi Cola, to work as CEO alongside Steve Jobs. It should have been the dream team. But as Apple announced the arrival of the Mackintosh, with a Ridley Scott commercial entitled 1984, an internal power struggle was happening behind the scenes which eventually saw Jobs forced out of the company he was one of the founders of.

Xerox, seeing their core product under competition in the seventies, started investing heavily in the computer industry. Building a team of innovative programmers and inventors they developed graphical operating systems, the computer mouse and what could have been the first commercial personal computer (except Xerox failed to realize the commercial value and didn't market it). Xerox foresaw the development of the document and its transition from paper to electronic data. However, while they were investing in the future of documents, they had failed to protect their core business and by the mid eighties Xerox were in rapid decline with other manufacturers having caught up with their technology in the photocopier market.

In 1979 Xerox threw opened there doors to the press and public showcasing their unique products, amongst those attending was Steve Jobs and Bill Gates."They just had no idea what they had" Jobs was later quoted as saying. Xerox internally had connected individual sites together using what they referred to as 'Inter Network Routing' later abbreviated to 'Internet'.

John Scully carried huge weight with Apple's board, having been behind the Cola wars marketing battle that had seen Pepsi catch up the worlds biggest brand name Coca Cola. But some of Apple's marketing alienated customers, such as the infamous Mackintosh Lemmings advert. The Apple Mac, developed by Jeff Raskin and Steve Jobs (before he left), became a success and the market leader in desktop publishing and the media industry. Meanwhile the Apple Lisa , which John Scully had removed Steve Jobs from, sank without trace.

By the mid eighties Xerox and Apple had opposite strengths and weaknesses. Whilst John Scully at Apple was a proven marketing guru, Apple by the end of 1985 had lost both co-founders Stephen Wozniak and Steve Jobs. Xerox meanwhile had one of the best development teams in the world at that time in the computer industry. They foresaw the rise of digital documents and communication through the internet and were speculating about a digital market where people advertised on search. But whilst Xerox had the ideas they lacked the marketing expertise and suffered in trying to make the transition from Xerox Machines to IT in the eyes of the business user.

Ultimately both Apple and Xerox hit a brick wall in the eighties when they tried to tackle the business market leader IBM. Whilst many thought the battle for the business user would be about hardware, one small software company were concentrating on the operating system. Bill Gates Microsoft had none of the overheads of manufacturers and was licensing its own version of UNIX and later DOS to computer vendors. In 1981 Microsoft were contracted by IBM to provide the operating system for the IBM Personal Computer. As IBM PC clones came to the market Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer successfully marketed MS-DOS to other manufacturers. In 1985 Microsoft released a graphical version of its MS-DOS operating system called Microsoft Windows for retail. The product was a massive success and became the most widely used operating system in the world. Microsoft went on to become the dominant operating system in business, networking and pc in successive versions of Windows and Microsoft Office. Free from the expensive costs of manufacture Bill Gates’s Microsoft saw the potential of licensing the operating system itself.

Apple and Xerox continued down different paths in the 80's and early 90's. Seeing there core product sales falling Xerox began to reinvest in photocopiers and printers and digital multifunction copiers that combined scanners and printers. In response to Canon's CLC technology Xerox invested heavily in developing Colour Photocopiers. Apple development was lead by marketing and too many products, too high manufacturing costs and the lack of technical leadership saw Apple release a series of unsuccessful products. Steve Jobs went on to create Pixar and NeXT. It was the purchase of NeXT primarily for its operating system that brought Steve Jobs back to Apple in late 1996. By July 1997 Jobs was running Apple again ousting Gil Amelio. Gil Amelio went on to form several companies with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. In 1997 Apple started retailing direct on the internet and introduced a new build to order system following in Dells success. Michael Dell commented at the time when asked what would he do with Apple "I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders". Nine Years later when Apple value rose above 72 billion outstripping Dells share price Steve Jobs had the last laugh circulating an email that read, "it turned out that Michael Dell wasn't perfect at predicting the future".

In 1997 Steve Jobs announced collaboration with Microsoft to release Microsoft Office for Apple Mac and Microsoft purchased 150 million in non voting stock of Apple. Microsoft dominance of the operating system market now being so strong, that perhaps it was in their interest to keep a competitor afloat, especially with antitrust charges surrounding Microsoft at the time. 1998 saw Apple focus on a return to profitability and the launch of the hugely successful iMac. Apple's comeback continued under Jobs with retail outlets opening and has seen the brand branch out with huge success into iPhones and iPods. In an incredible comeback Apple brought in some of the best people in Silicon Valley to their board of directors including Eric Schmidt of Google.

Xerox had to wait until 2001 for there "Jobs" in the form of Anne Mulcahy who had been with the company for many years. Dubbed the accidental ceo it was Mulcahy who stuck by Xerox R & D whilst at the same time returning the company to profitability. Recognizing the huge value in their brand Mulcahy stemmed the flow of customer leakage by improvements in customer service and later improvements in technology. Reinventing the Xerox logo in the process to appeal to a modern internet audience, Anne Mulcahy focused the company on innovation and customer interaction. Xerox with its strength in R & D now fully supported started to combine their computer expertise with their hardware digital technology. The vision they showed so many years ago in the computer industry is finally combining with their core products following "the document" in all formats, be that Electronic, Internet, Email or Print. Today Xerox, now headed by Ursula Burns, are one of the leading Document Management providers in the world and with excellent hardware and leading technology such as solid ink printing Xerox seem uniquely positioned to become market leader again.

Guide to buying photocopiers

2010-04-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

Cost

The most important factor when buying new office photocopiers or multifunction printer is firstly decide on your budget. The price can vary from 100 pounds for a basic desktop MFP to over 80,000 pounds for a high volume top of the range digital model.

Most copiers are sold below the manufacturers recommended retail price. In fact at Onlineconnect you can find prices up to 50% below the RRP. So depending on the features you have added on to your copier, you can negotiate down from the list price.

Color or Mono (black and white)

If the majority of your output is black and white text documents you can purchase a mono photocopier. For greater flexibility or if you print more than the occasional colour document then consider a colour photocopier. Prices vary dramatically depending on the features you need. Colour photocopiers generally cost approximately 25% more than mono photocopiers to run. A good alternative for companies that do a small volume of colour copies is a colour enabled photocopier that can switch between black and white and colour usage, keeping running costs down.

Volume

If you copy/print less than 500 pages per month you should consider a small desktop copier or Multifunction Printer.

To calculate your copy volume look at the counter on your current photocopier (if you have one). Add on an additional 20% to the figure to allow for future growth. If you are intending to use your new photocopier as a network printer then increase the figure by at least 40%. This figure will be helpful when you are deciding which model best suits your requirements. Where budget allows always consider choosing a photocopier that more than meets your current requirements to allow for business growth. An overworked photocopier will inevitably result in more service calls.

Speed
Copiers are rated by the number of pages of A4 copies per minute (ppm) they are able to produce. If you do a lot of single copy work, make sure you find out the time it takes for that initial copy to print. A3 copying, duplex copying and sorting will take longer to produce.

If you produce a low (less than 8000) volume of copies per month we recommend you consider a photocopier/MFP with a speed range of 20-25 pages per minute (ppm).

If you produce a medium (8000-40000) volume of copies per month we recommend you consider a photocopier with a speed range of 25-50 pages per minute (ppm).

If you produce a high (over 40000) volume of copies per month we recommend you consider a photocopier with a speed of more than 50 pages per minute (ppm)

Network

A multifunctional photocopier that is connected to your network allows your staff to print, copy and send faxes from their computers so you no longer need a separate laser printer and fax machine. Some machines allow you to scan and send documents to e-mail, shared folders and ftp. Documents can be edited and reviewed digitally in PDF form.

Features

Consider which features are a 'must have', which features would be nice to have and which features you would probably never use (or have never heard of!). Our Photocopier Glossary will help you identify what each feature is for.

Lease Rent or Purchase

How you finance your photocopier will depend on your company situation. Typically if you lease your machine the price you will pay will be 20% higher than if you purchase the photocopier outright. Another alternative is to rent your machine, the rental price you pay will include all service calls and toner without the need for a separate service contract. Although you will never own the photocopier you have the flexibility to change the model whenever you want to as as when your copying and printing requirements change.

Service Agreement

A service agreement covers the cost of all maintenance calls and breakdowns. It also includes any replacement parts and toner. Typically you will be guaranteed an engineer on your premises within 4 hours of reporting a problem. Costs for a service agreement are calculated on a cost per copy basis. The cost per copy will depend on the machine size and the volume of copies produced. A service agreement offers peace of mind that your equipment will never be out of action for long, also you will never receive any large, unexpected repair bills.

Copier memory

Memory (RAM) is essential for supporting digital copier features such as scan once print many, automatic page numbering and printing. Insufficient memory will result in slower output and an inability to print new documents. Additional memory can be added to boost productivity if required.

Security

Consider if you need security features on your photocopier. Some photocopiers allow you to encrypt print and scan documents with a watermark and print to secure mailboxes. Some photocopiers allow you to allocate password IDs to gain system access.

With so much to consider it is worth consulting an expert to help determine your needs and select the best machine for your requirements. Experts at Onlineconnect are more than happy to help and advise you.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR PHOTOCOPIER

2010-04-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Feeding

Your photocopier needs regular feeding in order to stay healthy. We recommend a mixed diet of toner and paper. Paper must be dry as wet paper can cause him serious digestive problems. Feed only manufacter branded toner which contains more vitamins and nutrients than cheaper brands. Photocopiers should not be fed snacks inbetween meals, this will make them sluggish and lethargic.

Discipline

When your photocopier has misbehaved do not try to discipline him without professional assistance. Under no circumstances should you repremand him by hitting or kicking him, this could resut in him reoffending or behaving in a worse manner. Do not send him to the naughty step, this will not help and may cause you injury in trying to place him there. The only thing to do is to call a professional engineer who is trained to deal with poor behaviour.

Basic Training

Start training a photocopier as soon as you bring it into your office. Teach the photocopier your rules before it makes its own. All staff members should routinely handle a new photocopier while he learns to wear his new power lead, eat only from his own paper supply, sleep in his own corner, print when called and wait on command. Ensure your photocopier has mastered these basic commands before progressing to more advanced commands.

Toilet Training

Do not humiliate or reprimand your photocopier when it has a little 'accident' on the floor. Simply clean up the mess without making a fuss. A healthy, happy photocopier will want to please you and will not mess on the floor unless he is really sick.

Exercise

Your photocopier needs regular excercise. He does not enjoy going for walks, you wil find he drags on the power lead if you try and take him out. The best excercise for him is copying and printing, you will find he has lots of energy and enjoys doing this all day. Remember to praise him for his hard work! NEVER attempt to ride your photocopier!

Build A Relationship

A good relationship between you and your photocopier is essential if he is to be well behaved and well adjusted. A relationship based on friendship and trust will ensure that he tries hard to win your praise and approval, thereby making it more likely that he will want to do as you ask. Give your photocopier a name, talk to him, photocopiers can be trusted to keep all your secrets.

Play

Play helps to build the bond between owner and photocopier, and makes it much stronger. Photocopiers don’t automatically know how to play games with humans, having grown up playing with other photocopiers. Different photocopiers prefer different games, so experiment with copying games, printing games or scanning games to see which your photocopier prefers. Remember, photocopiers are not good at chasing games!

If you put time and love into your training you can look forward to a rewarding and satisfying relationship with your photocopier.

Post by J Robinson who writes for http://www.onlineconnect.co.uk/ your top office photocopier supplier with the latest mono an colour photocopiers

Photocopiers Fax Printers Shredders : Online Connect UK

2010-02-08T06:06:00.000-08:00

Photocopiers Fax Printers Shredders : Online Connect UK