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Computer technology makes everything we do in the office easier and faster. Unfortunately it can also make it easier and faster for embezzlers and thieves. Many dentists are concerned about external security. They fear computer viruses or Internet hackers.  These concerns need to be addressed however it is far more likely that the security of the office will be breached or compromised internally by people working in the office.
On the most basic level a security system isolates sensitive information and then limits access to that information to approved individuals. It is analogous to handing out office keys to employees. In theory it is possible to create perfect security for your computer system. However to do so would make the security measures so cumbersome and time consuming we would never get any work done. In the real world we compromise between efficiency and security.
In most offices, passwords are the principle method of allowing access and authorization. But oftentimes users forget their passwords. When this happens a new password needs to be assigned, involving time and effort. Another problem with passwords is the tendency for both dentists and staff – for the sake of an easy life – to lend their passwords to the other people working in the office.
The first level of security is a simple Windows logon password. This is like the key to the front door. A logon can do two things. First it is a simple way to prevent an unauthorized person from using a workstation and getting or changing information. Second it can identify who made an entry. In theory an administrator can track every keystroke from any computer in your office. If a particular workstation is only used by one person and if that person has a unique and secret password and if that person never leaves their computer while it is logged on then it is possible to determine who made every entry.

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A key feature to tablet PCs  is the use of touch screens and inking. That means a user can easily enter information by tapping on the screen with one hand while holding the tablet in another. Ink allows users to write or draw on the screen just as if it was a piece of paper.
This allows dentists to draw on the electronic dental chart just like we used to do on the paper charts. It also allows for ink capable forms. A patient does not fill out a paper form but is handed a tablet and fills out the form using a stylus and ink. And then the patient or dentist can sign the electronic chart using ink.

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Are you looking to buy a laptop this Holiday season? Well what type do you want or need? Do you want a gaming machine? Or maybe a general purpose or multimedia or are you looking for a great buy? Look here [1]for a complete guide from PC Magazine which includes the different types of laptops, what they offer who the ideal user is and what key features to look for.

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1901672,00.asp

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[1]
Gearlog – Gadget Guide for Geeks by Geeks – View More

USB has been a convenient way of hot-syncing devices to a PC, but most new computers have only a pair of USB ports on the front, and multiple slots on the back. This meant you’d often have to reach behind the machine to plug and unplug your USB devices or use a wired USB hub. Hardly convenient. But finally, USB has gone wireless, with Belkin’s Cable-Free USB Hub ($199.99 list), which will be available in mid-December. Any USB device–thumb drives, MP3 players, digital cameras, or whatever–can be plugged into the four-port hub, which uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology to transmit to a USB dongle connected to the PC. This system’s range is 30 feet, and data transfers at speeds of up to 480 Mbps, making for a great alternative to Bluetooth and one that much easier to connect.

[1] http://www.gearlog.com/default.php?p=15

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From Lorne Lavine at the digital dentist, click the link for the full story.
The Digital Dentist Blog – Dental Technology Consultants [1]

Increase your Bandwidth by 20% I found this on another website. I’ve cleaned up the language as it was a bit, uh, raw, so here is the edited version. This is a great step to increase your download speed by up to 20% with one simple setting:
Did you know Microsoft reserves 20% of your maximum bandwidth for their own use?

[1] http://thedigitaldentist.blogspot.com/2006/12/increase-your-bandwidth-by-20.html

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From the NYT click for the whole article on electronic health records and privacy.
Health Hazard: Computers Spilling Your History – New York Times [1]

Powerful forces are lobbying hard for government and private programs that could push the nation’s costly and inefficient health care system into the computer age. President Bush strongly favors more use of health information technology. Health insurance and medical device companies are eager supporters, not to mention technology companies like I.B.M. and Google. Furthermore, Intel and Wal-Mart Stores have both said they intend to announce plans this week to embrace electronic health records for their employees. Others may soon follow. Bills to speed the adoption of information technology by hospitals and doctors have passed both chambers of Congress.But the legislation has bogged down, largely because of differences over how to balance the health care industry’s interest in efficiently collecting, studying and using data with privacy concerns for tens of millions of ordinary Americans — not just celebrities and victims of crime.

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/business/yourmoney/03health.html?ex=1322802000&en=b2c0f7946b4e3d9d&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

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Myth: The thinnest sensors are the most comfortable.

Fact: This seems to make sense but on examination it is just silly. With this logic pressing a knife blade into your hand would be more comfortable than pressing a pencil. After all, the knife is thinner. Within the range of all sensors on the market, that is 2-4mm thick, the patient acceptance is the same.

 
Myth: The cord is a problem.
 

Fact: The cord simply needs to come out of the mouth it can’t go down the throat. If you can master a saliva ejector you can handle the cord on the sensor. 

Myth: It will cost $40,000 for a digital x-ray system.
 

Fact: It is quite possible to get a digital x-ray system for $12,000 or less. A good name brand sensor will cost about $8,000 and good software around $4,000. If you want to shop price you could get a system for under $10,000.

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Look here; http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2068721,00.asp [1] for a complete table on the features of the various versions of Windows Vista. Based on this table it looks like most dental offices will need the Vista Business version ($299). However it is likely you will need to upgrade or replace your PCs in order to run Vista.

[1] http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2068721,00.asp

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Read the whole article here Cell Phones Don’t Raise Cancer Risk: Study [1]

Using a cellular phone does not increase a person’s risk of cancer, according to a broad study released on Tuesday involving more than 400,000 Danish cellular telephone users. A team of researchers used data on the entire population of Denmark to determine that neither short- nor long-term use of cellular phones, also called mobile phones, was linked to a greater risk of tumors of the brain and nervous system, salivary gland or eyes, leukemia or cancer overall. ………………………………………The phones emit electromagnetic fields that can penetrate into the brain, and some scientists have sought to determine if this could cause cancer or other health problems. Schuz’s team studied data on 420,095 Danish cell phone users (357,553 men and 62,542 women) who first subscribed for mobile service between 1982 and 1995 and were followed through 2002—meaning some were tracked for two decades. The researchers then compared their cancer incidence to the rest of Denmark’s population. A total of 14,249 cancer cases were seen among the cellular telephone users, a number that was lower than would be expected for that population, according to the study appearing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2069089,00.asp

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