How Software Companies Made You A Product

How Software Companies Made You A Product

By Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia |  @drlalitsetia  |  drlalitsetia@gmail.com  |  Created May 4, 2019

The free access of numerous software and apps just after agree to terms and conditions in digital mode; make us very comfortable. But do you think ever, why the software and apps are freely provided? How they cover their cost of creating and maintaining software and apps? What does a software company do without telling the user? There are a lot of questions will be answered in the following content; clearly state you how software companies made you a product to sell. The 'Grooming of Personality' require such information so that the target audience can make themselves safe from being victim of the false use of confidential information.

Targeting people through software:

The networking, internet connectivity, and GPS-enabled location can easily track the location of any gadget including mobile, tablets, computers etc. Whenever a person buys any mobile, it came with the Android operating system owned by Google and a lot of apps installed by default, came with the mobile and the apps not only tracks location but also have access to storage including device storage and memory card comprises personal photographs, videos, addresses, and other valuable information. The information, a person provides in mobile, tablets, computers can easily be accessed through the apps, software, and sometimes through viruses. The Android operating system always track the location of the mobile which remained most of the time with its user and the location of user is also easily tracked.  

Record of each User:

The search engines and social networking platforms including Google, Facebook, Twitter etc; are used to explore the internet and whatever a person explores, it shows his areas of interest. The companies which own the search engines and social networking platforms store the information related to each user including profile details, areas of interest, information relating to search activities, location of logging into account etc. The information of millions of users led to big data storage. Even if a person is not user of Google or social networking platforms, it is tried to track his location, gather information about him through the associated users. The software companies have become tracking companies.

Even the browsing history of a particular computer or laptop is stored and not deleted entirely. It is stored with the company provided browser services.

Stealing private information:

The software companies through software and apps access the private information of the users. When I talked to some people about it, they told me that there is nothing private. When I asked them whether their banking details, residential locations, and official addresses can be used to harm them or not. They assessed how the information can be used in wrong manner. From where the software companies usually take private information:

(i) Information from Text Messages:

The text messages are stored in device storage and the storage is accessible to the software companies through their operating systems, software including apps.

(ii) Information from e-mails:

The emails are stored in the inbox with its physical storage in the software of companies.

(iii) Information about events:

The events, reminders are stored in Google Calendar and other similar apps installed by the users. The information can be used by the software companies.

(iv) Information from Files on Google-drive:

The google drives are used to capture the files of users, some files are shared by the users and other files are stored through backup service automatically operated in the android operating system.

(v) Information about Bio-metric identity:

The new devices of laptops with locking of system and opening it through bio-metric scanning of fingers is a threat to steal the bio-metric identity of the user. The Android devices are also giving options to lock the device by recording the bio-metric finger prints. The bio-metric identities are also included in the profiles of the users.

How this information is used?

On the basis of information, the companies create and maintain the profile of each person. The software is framed to keep close watch over the activities of users and with analysing information, the companies know better about the users’ behaviour than the users. How software companies use the information:

(a) Each user is a product of software companies:

The companies exploit the information for their own advantages. The collected information is used to sell further to each other and used to decide the number of advertisers to serve the users. The bidding is done to sell the users on the basis of their profile parameters. In this sense, each user is treated as a product.

(b) Using users and computers to display Ads:

The software companies including Google, Yahoo, Rediffmail etc. use the profiles of users in running advertisements and ensures the access of these advertisements through browsing platforms, software, and apps. In order to target the relevant audience, the location and areas of interest are kept in mind. Each time an advertisement is seen, it is known as impression and the companies keep information regarding impressions of each advertisement. More the impressions, more the accessibility of the advertisement is, and accordingly, the companies charge advertisement prices from the advertisers. In order to get more impressions, the companies try to display the advertisements on the basis of location of users and computers. The hyper-targeted Ads are created to follow the users wherever they logged into.

(c) Marketing and Selling products:

The software companies program software, apps and sell these products through marketing on the internet. The companies even use the information about the videos watched by a person on their websites to target the users for sale of products. For example, YouTube is owned by Google and the videos watched by users usually comprises the advertisements of products, offering sale of products, and even taking feedback of the previously purchased product from them.

(d) Analysis of impressions:

The software companies analyse the information through software and find out how much impressions are provided in a particular device, the timings of the impressions, the place of locations where it gets maximum impressions etc. 

   

 *Copyright © 2018 Dr. Lalit Kumar. All rights reserved.

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Wanna to write an eBook for Free

Wanna to write an eBook for Free

A person asked me how to publish own content without spending a single penny! 

Yes, it is possible. I myself published a book. 

Publish ISBN book in 7 days and no need to be dependent upon others. Market your book yourself. In case, no copies sold then also you will not loose money. Writing a book add to your personality and it grooms you with a set of new skills. It is a passion which may not give enough income but satisfaction is guaranteed. 

Everyone would like to put his or her words in the form of an eBook. In today’s virtual world, it is not much difficult. In case, the person has abilities of drafting the content and designing the title page followed by proof-reading or editing; then it can be done without paying a single penny. The eBooks can also be sold online and can be circulated freely. Let’s discuss the essentials of writing an eBook.

1.                 Exceptional Idea: 

There are millions of eBooks available and there will be rarely any issue upon which eBook may have not been written. Before writing an eBook, it is must to have an exceptional idea on which basis, the eBook should be written. It is well known ‘An idea can change the life’, it works here. Firstly, explore the ideas and select one which can be transformed into an eBook. It is required to think again in detail of that idea, and chalk out what can be written in a particular order, to pass the learning on a specific topic or to narrate a case or to simplify anything difficult to understand or to tell a story in an interesting way etc. For example, the information about criticism for anything, can easily be found but why the things happen to be criticized, is not explained by authors, that is required to be pointed out. When I am asked to write my first book, I opted a title on which information is nowhere easily available i.e. Trainer's guide to Evaluation of Training. 

2.                 Gathering data or relevant information: 

It is must to firstly collect the data by reviewing literature so that the eBook cannot be proved as a repetition of already existing information. It is must to gather the relevant information from various sources including books, journals, magazines, and websites of great interest. After collecting the data, edit the same and frame useful information in an organized way to present in the form of eBook. At this stage, it is must to keep in mind, what are the requirements of target audience so that the eBook can easily be sold in the market. What will be the titles of chapters, titles of paragraphs and sub-paragraphs, order of each information, and finally structure of the eBook. 

3.                 Thinking and Writing: 

After finalizing the structure of the eBook and existing information in hand, the author should explore the intellect and put the same after deep thinking in a simple way to pass the knowledge. Some authors start writing from the first lesson, some start from the middle of the eBook, and some start writing from the last lesson to first; it depends upon the author’s desire. 

4.                 Review and rewrite: 

More the editing, more the useful information will be inside the eBook. It is must to review the written content again and again before finalizing it in the form of eBook. It is a never-ending process; however, the author may decide at which stage he launches the eBook’s final content. Revising the content as per the latest updates in the concerned area, is must to make the eBook useful. The content may be rearranged, revised, reframed, rewritten keeping in mind the need of the target audience.

5.                 Finalizing the touching title: 

The title of the eBook should be so touching and self-describing so that the readers or target audience be agreed after listening the title of the eBook to buy it. For example, “You Can Win” was a nice title and created interest in the mind of potential readers to have a copy of it.  

6.                 Adding attractive cover page: 

The cover page is the first look of the eBook and the success of the eBook depends to a great extent upon it. The attractive cover page itself is a marketing tool because it is firstly noticed by the readers. If possible, then hire a professional designer to design the cover page.

7.                 Testing the eBook’s content and seeking improvements: 

Before publishing the eBook, it is must to test it by offering it for review by the experts, potential readers, to have comments for the changes (if required). Beware, only offer the eBook to the confidential and trusted people so that it cannot go in the hands of someone who can steal the information and get it published. On the basis of feedback, the eBook can be improved before publishing. There is always scope for improvement, in case there is requirement to revise to a great extent, then it may be decided to revise it in the next edition.

8.                 Compiling the eBook and finding out keywords: 

It is must to describe the keywords from the content detailed inside the eBook. The keywords should be selected on the basis of both the requirements of the target audience and contents detailed inside the eBook.

9.                 Formatting the eBook: 

The formatting is must before publishing at an online platform i.e. KDP, Smashwords, Lulu etc. The formatting of an eBook is an art and requires learning. It can also be done by using a software.

10.             Selection of publishing platform: 

Once the manuscript or eBook’s content is ready to publish, it is required to select the appropriate publishing platform. It depends upon the target audience which publishing platform will be appropriate. In case, the target audience is computer savvy students then the eBook may be launched at Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and marketed at Amazon. On the other hand, if the target audience is senior and old people who prefer to read hard-copies, then it may be decided to launch the book in digital libraries with a copy in hard-paper to be sold in the market. The authors also consider the privacy protection, royalties offered by the publishing platform, and availability of the target audience before finalizing the publishing platform.

11.             Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): 

The eBook is written and promoted mostly on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) because it provides the feature of formatting the eBook and a marketplace without charging a single penny. The KDP also provides feature to read the eBook at Kindle. Nearly 70% of the price of each sold copy of eBook is provided to the author. But at this platform, it is must that the author’s target audience use Kindle for approaching the eBook.  

12.             Publishing platforms other than KDP: 

There are many other platforms for publishing the eBook i.e. Smashwords, Booktango, Lulu etc. Each platform accepts the manuscript and then publish it in the form of eBook. The interesting thing is that they don’t charge money for publishing it. However, they charge for editing and marketing the eBook. It is also necessary to go through the terms and conditions and look how much royalties each platform is providing for sale of each copy. At present, the Lulu is most appropriate in such case, offering up to 90% of the royalties.

13.              Self-publishing by using a specific software: 

There are software available for self-publishing an eBook, for example, Calibre software converts HTML files into ePub format without charging a single penny. If the content is available in the form of MS-Word document, then it is required to firstly save the .doc or .docx file into .html format and then convert it into an ePub format using Calibre software. Second software normally used for publishing eBook is Adobe Acrobat Pro version. It creates the .pdf file with protection through password. Only the users with password can read the contents of the .pdf file. Third software which can also save documents into .pdf with password is OpenOffice.org, an office suite freely available online. With the change in time, there are many options being available online and an author can opt any for publishing the eBook without paying a single penny.

14.             Promoting the eBook: 

After publishing the eBook, it becomes necessary for promoting the eBook to earn the revenues. The YouTube, FaceBook, Google Communities, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media platforms can be used to promote the eBook. The authors can also link the eBook on StumpleUpon and promote its picture through Instagram or YouTube Clips.    

In nut shell, firstly write contents of an eBook in MS-word document, then use OpenOffice.org to convert it into .pdf with encryption or password. The use Google Docs to convert it into a format ePub meant for eBook.

*Copyright © 2018 Dr. Lalit Kumar. All rights reserved.

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