Final Post

             My entrepreneurship idea for Project 1 is The Metro Card Finder. Throughout the semester my idea has evolved from being a baby to a pretty much grown adult. The first time I expressed my idea, I received a lot of criticism because it was not developed, did not have a foundation, and was just a mere idea that could not be seen as reality because it was just full of air. I sounded like I was saying "Lets make a balloon" without providing how I was going to do it, and what resources I would need. As the semester has progressed, and I have learned from lectures things that I can dissect and apply to my entrepreneurship idea. 

The Metro Card Finder started out as simple; it was just an app that would help you find a lost/stolen MetroCard without the hows, whos, and whats involved. At first, the idea was to capture an image of the back side of the Metro Card where the numbers and expiration date are located, with a phone or a mobile device. From there, the information of the card would be recorded into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) system. When the card is lost, once reported to the MTA, it could be tracked down. My alternative for those who did not possess smart phones and other devices was to register their cards online. I never thought about anything like promotion; however, once I went to lecture for Social Media that changed. 

             Social Media plays a vital role in our daily lives, and especially in my entrepreneurship idea.  Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, HootSuite, Foursquare, Instagram, Blogger, and Wordpress are examples of social media. People are so absorbed into social media because they rely on the opinions and experiences of others when it comes to purchasing or pursuing anything. For example, before buying a product/service we look at other customer ratings and reviews for the product to help us judge if the product/service is worth it. Depending on the good or bad reviews, they will decide whether or not to purchase the product. Social Media is important because you can release an idea before it becomes something material. This is a way for promoting and improvising on the product plan simultaneously by letting the public know what solutions can be available to any problem they can be experiencing. If one person likes the product, he/she surely will tell family and friends and spread the word. When it comes to selling and advertising, it is all about the word of mouth nowadays. It becomes a means for improvising the idea for a product/service because it allows potential consumers to add in suggestions for making the product better. For example, what things we can add or subtract from our idea to make them buy it? This relates to my entrepreneurship idea completely because my classmates were allowed to comment on my idea and from these comments I learned that I needed to do more research and development in order to enhance an solidify my product. As the lectures became more complicated and technical, I was able to learn how to incorporate technology into my entrepreneurship idea.

           The "Cloud" is the world wide web, otherwise known as the internet. Cloud computing is basically software applications on the web that can be accessed anywhere and any time. cloud computing also enables cloud storage which is "an internet service that provides storage to computer users" (From the Textbook for IST195: "Discovering Computers: Shelly Cashman Series)  ie, individuals, home businesses, and enterprises. When there is not enough space to store information, cloud storage services are made available. Examples of Cloud Storage Services are Amazon EC2 and Amazon S3; these websites provide enterprise level storage, web services, and data center services. In other words, these websites enable you to manage and store your data at a cost of course. For my entrepreneurship idea, since there will be many customers I'm hoping, all of their information pertaining to them needs to be managed (personal info, metrocard info, images, services, accessing tutorial videos, etc). Cloud Computing in this case would be vital to storing and managing customers' information. In order to store data, which would then be stored as information, you would need database software/applications.

             A database is a system that is designed to manage large amounts of data and information quickly and efficiently, while making specific information easy to access. Databases are software applications that consist of many tables that are used to store information. A huge database will be needed for my entrepreneurship idea because almost everyone in NYC uses public transportation regardless of whether or not they have cars, even the tourists who come to visit use it. A database will help us keep records of purchase transactions, reported lost/stolen times, when cards are deactivated, the personal information of customers(addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, credit card information), Card numbers, RFID chip identification, etc. A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) would be most useful because it would describe the relationship between the different pieces of information. For example, to which customer does all this data belong to? Foreign Keys would help in this process because they establish a technical relationship between two or more tables; in our case the tables of information would be Customer Id, Card Number, Reported Missing Times, and RFID chips (Radio Frequency Identification, a tracking device chip on the back of the card). 

            As you can see, I started my idea off of scratch and it has developed to be something beautiful that can be improvised even more. Right now, the app would have three different alternatives to finding your stolen/lost metro cards. 1.  capture an image of the back side of the Metro Card where the numbers and expiration date are located, with a phone or a mobile device 2.  register the cards online 3. implant an RFID chip on the card so that when it is lost, the radio waves would be able to track down the card via radio waves even under ground. These are the pillars to my invention; however, there needs to be an outline to success for this idea to become a reality. In order for this mere idea to become a reality, there would have to be a lot of research and development so that when I present this idea, I know what I am talking about fully, not just the terms and definitions. There would have to be promotion on social media; I would have to present this idea to the public before it actually becomes something so that they can give me ideas on how to best improvise it. In order for them to have any kind of opinion on it at all, they would have to know what this idea looks like. Since I do not have the product invented already, I would have to show them my dream. I would create a makeshift image of what the product should look like. To do this, I would have to use Photoshop since it is so good at making things that dont exist believable. Lastly, this idea needs a huge amount of funding and support in order to start the research+development, get workers, and software. 

Lecture Post- Databases

The MetroCard Finder App is designed to help people find their lost/stolen Metro Cards by scan/enter the code on the back of the metrocard into the computer or phone via the MTA website and/or with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), a tracking device) chip on the back of the card. 

             The lecture on Database materials applies to everything, including my entrepreneurship idea. It applies to everything because information is involved and needed in every situation. Data is just words until someone makes information out of it, and manages it. A database is a system that is designed to manage large amounts of data and information quickly and efficiently, while making specific information easy to access. Data can be anything; it can be name, height, weight, address. The list goes on. Databases are software applications that consist of many tables that are used to store information. 

            Databases are a great way to manage and store information; they are used to avoid the mistakes that information management systems in the past made. Unlike physical files, text files, and excel, with databases it is almost impossible for your information to get misfiled, it is less difficult to search and store information, and there is no redundancy of data. The redundancy of data is prevented with the use of primary keys which are used to give each piece of information/ category, a signifier that sets it apart. A great example of this is Autoincrimated numbers for each piece. 

             A huge database will be needed for my entrepreneurship idea for many reasons. Almost everyone in NYC uses public transportation regardless of whether or not they have cars, even the tourists who come to visit use it. A database will help us keep records of purchase transactions, reported lost/stolen times, when cards are deactivated, the personal information of customers(addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, credit card information), Card numbers, RFID chip identification, etc. A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) would be most useful because it would describe the relationship between the different pieces of information. For example, to which customer does all this data belong to? Foreign Keys would help in this process because they establish a technical relationship between two or more tables; in our case the tables of information would be Customer Id, Card Number, Reported Missing Times, and RFID chips. 

Lecture Post- March 10, 2013

NETWORKING

               The Metro Card Finder is an app designed to help find lost or stolen Metro Cards. With today's current technology,finding your stolen/lost metrocard will be easy. One method of finding it is to scan/enter the code on the back of your metrocard into the computer or phone via the MTA website. Another method is to have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), a tracking device) chip on the back of the card. Once you realize that it is stolen, call and report it to the authorities immediately. They will deactivate the card temporarily and locate the card by detecting the radio wave signals. This week's lecture on networking is related to my entrepreneurship idea in important ways.
              
           Networking is: "A system of computers and peripherals, such as printers, that are linked together. A network can consist of as few as two computers connected with cables or millions of computers that are spread over a large geographical area and are connected by telephone lines, fiberoptic cables, or radio waves. The Internet is an example of very large network.." (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/network). 

In other words, a network is an interconnected system of computers, servers, and devices such as printers. A network is made up of few or millions of computers that are connected with cables. It can be spanned over a large geographic area. The network of computers are connected through telephone lines, fiberoptic cables, or radio waves. A network is basically what we widely know as the internet AKA the World Wide Web. The internet connections would be Dial Up (connection through telephone lines), Broadband (Fiberoptic cables), and WiFi (Radio Waves). 

            The internet works between clients and web servers through an endless list of protocols/rules. Users type in a domain name, which is basically a word code for an IP address, which is a number code for websites. The http that we see after we type in an address and search is really important. It stands for hypertext transfer protocol, and it is a four step process between a client and the web server, which makes it simpler to request and access information. The four step process goes like this: 1. the client makes a connection to the web server, 2. the http requests information from the server, 3. the web server sends over html files, 4. the browser closes the connection. the browser has to close the connection because if the connection is open too long on different client users' computers then it means an open connection everywhere simultaneously. Its just too much for the server to keep track of, this will result in the server crashing from too many open connections. (Material from lecture powerpoint Week 8)

             Networking is important to my entrepreneurship idea because it involves the web, protocols, domains and such because it will be something on the cloud, virtual; meaning that it involves the internet, web servers, and clients. People's private information such as credit card information, personal profiles will be on my website. To protect my site, i will need to prevent hackers who find their ways to ruining lives by using spam. Tracing IP addresses to their proper locations will help me to eradicate any issues, because IP addresses act as a source of identification towards users, and devices. A good connection means good customer service. The better my connection, the better i can serve my customers and this requires of me to be able to properly close any connections automatically after the data requested is seen. Most people nowadays can buy domain names for their sites. This is something I need to do, I would have to purchase a domain name for their to be any potential business. Purchasing a domain name has many tricks and sticks to it. I would have to make sure that no one else has it in order to prevent trademark lawsuits, and I would have to buy one at an affordable price. Godaddy helps me to ensure both of these, i can buy and own one for a cheap price while avoiding expensive lawsuits regarding trademarks due to my lack of originality in creating a domain name. 

        

Blogger Review: 2/28/13

BLOGGER REVIEW OF SLASHGEAR: http://www.slashgear.com/

SlashGear is a professional technology blog that is devoted to bringing the most recent and innovative forms of personal technology to light. This blog provides information about the plans of big corporations who will impact our daily lives with their new inventions and merger acquisitions. It covers the latest cutting edge technology and trends in our current digital age. SlashGear provides reviews of technological products and services. However, they also allow the public to make commentary in order to provide a sense of community where individuals can express their dissatisfaction or satisfaction regarding products/services from certain companies. SlashGear is run and operated by R3 Media LLC, and a crew of nine members who keep the blog running and alive (http://www.slashgear.com/about/)

http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-could-make-2-5b-by-releasing-office-on-ipad-27271748/

This blog post from SlashGear discusses a potential big tme billion dollar deal between Microsoft and Apple, two of the biggest competitors and providers of operating system services and software applications. The deal at hand was to have Microsoft release its software on the iPad, a $2.5 billion deal as stated by analyst Adam Holt from Morgan Stanley. However, Microsoft turned down this deal, but with good reason. This deal did not include the commission (revenue, profit) that Apple would be making after purchasing the software and selling it in the Office Apps in its App Store (http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-could-make-2-5b-by-releasing-office-on-ipad-27271748/). In other words, after releasing the software Microsoft would not be recieving any kind of percentage of the revenue that Apple would be recieving after releasing their own software. Also, releasing this software to the iPad would take the essence out of the Microsoft Surface tablets. The iPad would just become the Apple version of the Microsoft Surface tablets, and make better sales.

Overall the bloggers have an amazing style. They kept the information brief and understandable so that the message was relayed, along with graphics and images in between so that it is just not text. I also noticed some advertisements for other products. Followers of the blog provide useful input on what they read from the articles or what they might have heard that relate to it. This is definitely a type of format that I should follow. Adding images and graphics always makes the page more alive, entertaining, and more readers would be attracted to it and remain interested.

LECTURE POST- 2/24/13

Lecture Post- Photoshop and Cloud Computing

The Metro Card Finder is an app designed to help find lost or stolen Metro Cards. With today's current technology, I am looking for different alternatives to finding your stolen/lost metrocard. One method of finding it is to scan/enter the code on the back of your metrocard into the computer or phone via the MTA website. Another method is to have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), a tracking device) chip on the back of the card. Once you realize that it is stolen, call and report it to the authorities immediately. They will deactivate the card temporarily and locate the card by detecting the radio wave signals.

The concept of photoshop can be incorporated into my entrepreneurship idea in an important way. Photoshop enables you to create images or improvise already existing images. Through the various techniques on Adobe Photoshop, such as color balance adjustments and "the lasso", you can alter an image or even create one that was never there. You can make a man look like a woman and vice versa because photoshop allows you to add, take away, and create. For example, for the lab for this week we altered an image of a football game that took place at the Carrier Dome here in SU. We were assigned to fill up the section of the audience that looked empty, to make it look like the event was full house. We also had to put our name on the football field so it looks like we own it. This was done through photoshopping (using the lasso, copying and pasting sections of the crowd to a less filled section, adjusting the color balance so that nothing looks out of place). 

My entrepreneurship idea has not been set forth into action, it is not real yet. What photoshop will allow me to do is make my dream a reality. When people hear about an idea, they have to see it to believe it. Otherwise it is just a gimmick. They want an image that will allow them to see where the idea will go, and whether or not it might just work. I can get an image of a MetroCard and add an RFID chip to a place where it would fit best. This way consumers/customers will have an idea of how the invention looks and they can spread the word that this might just work because it looks believable. In no way would I be tricking anyone, I would just give them an image of what the prototype would look like. 

The "Cloud" is the world wide web, otherwise known as the internet. Cloud computing is basically software applications on the web that can be accessed anywhere and any time. Most of the time it is free, unlike the actual software that you have to purchase for high prices. One downside of cloud computing is that it requires an internet connection; so if your internet is down you can not access the necessary software. Whereas the purchased version of the software doesn't require internet and is more stable. Examples of Cloud Computing are Google Docs, Google's version of excel, ZOHO, and Dropbox. Now cloud computing also enables cloud storage which is "an internet service that provides storage to computer users" (From the Textbook for IST195: "Discovering Computers: Shelly Cashman Series)  ie, individuals, home businesses, and enterprises. When there is not enough space to store information, cloud storage services are made available. Examples of Cloud Storage Services are Amazon EC2 and Amazon S3; these websites provide enterprise level storage, web services, and data center services. In other words, these websites enable you to manage and store your data at a cost of course. For my entrepreneurship idea, since there will be many customers I'm hoping, all of their information pertaining to them needs to be managed (personal info, metrocard info, images, services, accessing tutorial videos, etc). 

Competitive Analysis- 2/17/13

            The Metro Card Finder is an app designed to help find lost or stolen Metro Cards. With today's current technology, I am looking for different alternatives to finding your stolen/lost metrocard. One method of finding it is to scan/enter the code on the back of your metrocard into the computer or phone via the MTA website. Another method is to have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), a tracking device) chip on the back of the card. Once you realize that it is stolen, call and report it to the authorities immediately. They will deactivate the card temporarily and locate the card by detecting the radio wave signals.

RFID Chip: 

The top 2 competitors of this idea are the services of the MTA itself.

Competitor 1: http://www.mta.info/metrocard/problems.htm#lost
For this service, the MTA will deactivate and replace Metrocards that were stolen or lost, but only certain kinds. These include: 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard, 7-Day Express Bus MetroCard, EasyPay Xpress and Reduced-Fare EasyPay option Metrocards. Also, if you purchased your metro card with a Credit/Debit card at an ATM Machine there is the guarantee of getting a full refund (http://becomeanewyorker.com/lost-your-metrocard-getting-your-money-back-is-easier-than-you-think/). This service does not include  Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards. According to the website these cards must be "Treated like cash." In other words, once its gone it is gone and can not be redeemed. My idea differs from this service because it includes all Metro Cards and you don't have to personally call the authorities. It can be done on a computer or a smart phone app, and is a much quicker process. 

Competitor 2: http://secondavenuesagas.com/2011/06/14/an-online-solution-for-lost-or-damaged-metrocards/ 

For the issue of lost/stolen Metro Cards, the MTA has put up something new called the Metro Card Efix Website. When a customer has a problem with his/her Metro Card, he/she can fill out an online form and try to resolve the problems digitally. The types of problems are separated into six categories: lost or stolen reduced fare cards; Select Bus Service errors; MetroCard not returned from the bus farebox; MetroCard Vending Machine problem; or a transfer problem (http://secondavenuesagas.com/2011/06/14/an-online-solution-for-lost-or-damaged-metrocards/ ). This is similar to my idea because it can also be done digitally through a computer, or anything that has internet on it. The difference is that it will still take a good amount of time to solve the issues, and that this solution is more general and does not just stand for one issue but for many. My idea is more efficient and quicker and really stands to solve one pressing issue rather than several. 

Summary: My two competitors are from the MTA, one is a service that will refund certain kinds of cards, and the other is a website dedicated to several issues. I believe that with more research on RFIDs I can incorporate it to my idea. This will provide a much faster and efficient solution to various customers using all kinds of Metro Cards. 

Lecture Post- computer forensics/hardware/the system unit

               

                   MetroCard Finder is an app that is designed to help find lost/stolen Metro Cards and it can be accessed from a personal computer or a smartphone. In collaboration with Google Maps, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and the input and feedback of viewers like you, this project will be completed. It can become developed so that it will not only work for Metrocards but for other more general items and valuables such as Credit cards, Debit cards, and even vehicles. Many aspects of technology would have to be applied for this idea to be in motion and successful.
                    I would like to add on to my entrepreneurship idea the tracking device in the form of a Nano chip. The Nano chip would be attached to the MetroCard so that if a customer lost it underground, it could be detected through a wireless range. Many customers lose these valuables in the train which will eventually go underground. This would make it hard for them to track the item with their phone or computer since there would be no detectable signal. It would even be hard for the MTA to track their own cards without a signal. With this nanotechnology, it would be really convenient to track the card because of the unlimited wireless range even underground. One major aspect of technology that would need to be deeply considered is Hardware.
                    Hardware is the tools, machinery, wiring, and other physical characteristics that are necessary in order to keep a machine/system running. A part of hardware to be considered in this situation is nanotechnology, which is the study of manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular level especially to build microscopic devices (as robots, or even making microscopic chips). Microscopic Chips would have to be attached to the valuable items. Once the item is reported lost, they system would try to track down it down even in difficult underground spots thanks to the micro chip that would work with a wireless range. A GPS system is also required to help make the tracking process quicker.
                      Customers would also have the option of scanning the receipt for purchase of the item and then upload the image via pc or smart phone/tablet. The image would be uploaded into the system's database. This way the invoice #, reference #, amount added into the card would be in the database, along with a possible facial recognition of the customer.

Lecture Post- Social Media

The Metro Card Finder app allows you to capture an image of the numbers with your phone or other mobile device, so that it can be recorded into the system. So when you do lose your Metro Card (hopefully that does not happen), the app will tell you where the exact location of where the card is after you enter the number in. One would also be able to do this online; since the picture of the number is already taken he/she would just have to refer to the image in order to crunch in the identification number. You can report it to the authorities and give them the identification number. Then, authorities would put the card on hold so that it can’t be used by anyone else, and the person who does attempt to use it for their own purposes will be caught red-handed. This plan would have to work by being in a partnership with Google Maps (our source for finding the location of the Metro Card), and the MTA (the authorities who would put the card on hold and let you know that your card has been found so that you can pick it up). 

Social Media plays a vital role in our daily lives, and in any entrepreneurship idea. We are in an era where the world runs on social media. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, HootSuite, Foursquare, Instagram, Blogger, and Wordpress are examples of social media. Information is spread faster in social media, and it is received first in social media as well. We hear about the death or birth of something important before the news can even tell us. Information finds us, rather than us looking for it. People are so absorbed into social media because they rely on the opinions and experiences of others when it comes to purchasing or pursuing anything. This is one of the reasons why Social Media is so pivotal to any entrepreneurship idea. For example, before buying a product/service we look at other customer ratings and reviews for the product to help us judge if the product/service is worth it. Jenny might be looking at a Dell computer, but she is not sure whether it is worth it. So, she asks her friend who has purchased a laptop from the same company, and looks online for other customer ratings to see how satisfied they were with the product. Depending on the good or bad reviews, Jenny will decide whether or not to purchase the product. 

Social Media is important because you can release an idea before it becomes something material. This is a way for promoting and improvising on the product plan simultaneously. It would be a way for promoting a product/service by letting the public know what solutions can be available to any problem they can be experiencing. If one person likes the product, he/she surely will tell family and friends and spread the word. When it comes to selling and advertising, it is all about the word of mouth nowadays; Social Media becomes psychology in a way, because it helps entrepreneurs and businesses understand the mind of consumers. 

It becomes a means for improvising the idea for a product/service because it allows potential consumers to add in suggestions for making the product better. When consumers are allowed to comment on the ideas, they add their input of what they think will improve the product/service. In other words, what things we can add or subtract from our idea to make them buy it. This relates to my entrepreneurship idea completely because my classmates were allowed to comment on my blog post for the MetroCard Finder App. From their comments, I know how to better improve my product/service, so that it can appeal to consumers and so that it can be more sellable. I can do additional research and development based on their suggestions, and incorporate it into my entrepreneurship idea. 

Entrepreneurship Post           

          

           In New York City, people use the subway to get around to places. There are various trains that run underground and above ground that can be taken to get to places; there is also the option of taking the buses. Unlike Syracuse, where you will have to either take the Centro bus that takes an eternity to arrive and pick you up, own a car, or know someone who owns a car to get anywhere. New York City has the subway transit system; The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), who is in charge of running the busses and trains makes transportation easily accessible. You don’t have to be rich or very patient in order to travel.

            Customers can access the trains/busses by purchasing what is known as a Metro Card. They have to pay a fee of $2.25 per journey and they are issued a Metro Card which is swiped into a turnstile order to get on the trains and busses.

(Swiping the Metro Card)

(The turnstile in which you swipe your Metro Card)

 Because paying the same amount over and over for a journey is a drag, they are allowed to refill the Metro Cards or insert an amount that can last them months, or even the entire year. Now one of the biggest expenses in New York City is most definitely transportation costs. It is not as costly as buying and affording a car, but it is still expensive and annoying. Annoying because people tend to lose such objects in which they have invested so much money in, easily. They get lost and money is lost as well. Since, either it ends up in the train tracks or someone picked up your Metro Card and used it for their own purposes. This is theft that cannot otherwise be detected and prevented because it’s for an object so small and easily lost. Once it is lost, it can’t be regained.

            Now my entrepreneurship idea is to find a solution to this problem. I would like to propose to create an app that can help you find your stolen or lost Metro Card. This is how a Metro Card looks:

                                             

The top part of the image is what the front of the Metro Card looks like, and the bottom part is what the back of the Metro Card looks like. On the back of the Metro Card you will find the expiration date, and the number of the card. It is kind of like an ISBN number for a book, or an identification number. With my app, you can capture an image of the numbers with your phone or other mobile device, so that it can be recorded into the system. So when you do lose your Metro Card (hopefully that does not happen), the app will tell you where the exact location of where the card is after you enter the number in.

One would also be able to do this online; since the picture of the number is already taken he/she would just have to refer to the image in order to crunch in the identification number. You can report it to the authorities and give them the identification number. Then, authorities would put the card on hold so that it can’t be used by anyone else, and the person who does attempt to use it for their own purposes will be caught red-handed. This plan would have to work by being in a partnership with Google Maps (our source for finding the location of the Metro Card), and the MTA (the authorities who would put the card on hold and let you know that your card has been found so that you can pick it up).