The growth of the internet over the past two decades has sparked a dramatic increase in its use as an education medium. Websites are popping up every week that grab hold of the trend and offer ways for people to improve their professional status or simply increase their own personal knowledge. It’s big business, now, and shows no signs of slowing. In the US, more people are shifting towards online schooling as a preferred method of education. It’s hard to imagine a world where the classroom is completely replaced, but there are compelling arguments that point to the continuation of the shift and…

It’s easy to say that purchasing anything, even virtual goods, is driven by money. It’s almost a nonsense statement; of course money is tied into the buying spree that’s happening in social gaming, mobile apps, and virtual merchandise. Digging deeper, we can see that money is driving it, but it’s not the direct sales that are making it popular. It’s the advertising spends that are the real end-game. Companies like Zynga (and as a result, Facebook) make a lot of money by getting people hooked on games and offering them ways to purchase better “goods” for their games. People can accelerate virtual…

Everyone has heard of hackers, viruses, and spam. What fewer people have heard of or understand are botnets despite statistics that show they’re trending to be the choice of current cybercriminals. By using “Command-and-Control” servers, hackers are able to remotely take over computers to execute their nefarious activities. Connecting through C&C servers allows a “bot herder” is able to send out spam emails, spread viruses, distribute malicious software, and steal identities. Nearly 90% of all email spam is sent through botnets – and that’s not their biggest threat. This infographic…

Jobs are scarce in most sectors. Silicon Valley is one of those rare areas where the top tech talent is actually being aggressively sought. They aren’t fighting for jobs as much as the companies are fighting for them. One of the most important ways that a company is able to differentiate itself is by offering perks that others do not. It goes well-beyond having 401K and medical insurance. In the competitive world of tech-talent acquisition, many of the bigger companies go out of their way to make sure their employees are nurtured and feel special. Whether it’s onsite breakfast and daily catered…

There was a time not too long ago when a search on Google for “ice cream parlor” done in Newark, NJ, would look pretty much the same as searching for “ice cream parlor” in Long Beach, CA. One would have to type in geographical specifics to something other than national or world-wide results. Those days are behind us and both the search giants Google and Bing as well as many social networking sites have localized search to allow for more relevant results depending on GPS or ISP location of the device doing the search. The main reason is, of course, user experience; the more useful a service is, the more…

There is little doubt that Facebook has emerged as a dominant form of communication for college-age people. For many, it’s easier to contact them through Facebook than by calling their phone. Is it changing the way that college itself is working as well? That’s the question that Online PhD asked and attempts to answer in the infographic below. As Facebook continues to expand internally and in userbase, there’s bound to be more apps, groups, and pages created that are geared towards changing the user experience at college (and everywhere else, it seems). Click to enlarge. Created by: Online PhD…

When people think about luxury cars and the technology behind them, they often look to the German vehicles as the pinnacle. Mercedes Benz and BMW have separated themselves as the definition of luxury over the decades. Now that Acura, the first Asian luxury brand, hits its 25th anniversary, perhaps it’s time to look at what the Japanese carmaker has to offer. The image below was taken from an infographic made by Pohanka Acura. It highlights many of the advancements that have helped to separate the manufacturer from other luxury brands. Click to enlarge or view the text of each advancement below…

Most people have grown accustomed to ignoring banner ads. There are browser plugins that block them and filters that hide them. Even when they’re visible, many people simply pretend like they aren’t there. The problem isn’t with the people. They problem is with the ads themselves. In many cases, they simply all look the same. Sale this. Special that. Stock photo, some text, and a button to click to get more information. They’re old. According to research by BuySellAds, there are ways to make banner ads more appealing. As an increasing number of people spend a growing amount of time online, websites…

Many politicians in both parties are pointing to the Solyndra debacle as proof that we’re either handling the solar energy industry incorrectly or that it’s simply not valid in today’s world. Then, there are those who say Solyndra was an isolated case, that the industry as a whole is still thriving and valid. Who is right? The infographic below points towards the “isolated case” side of the debate, demonstrating that despite Solyndra’s massive failure, that the industry shouldn’t be tainted as a result. General Motors and Chrysler nearly failed just a couple of years ago – should we stop building…

Social media has had a tremendous effect on many aspects of life and work over the last couple of years. Marketing and advertising have been particularly affected due to the attention that social media demands. Just as radio changed advertising, then television changed it later, now the internet and social media have made the advertising executives’ jobs change. This infographic by our friends at BuySellAds breaks it down for us nicely. Click to enlarge. …