Archive for June, 2009

DATA, DATA, DATA

Monday, June 29th, 2009

At Gorges Web Sites, we work on a wide variety of Web-based projects, but data is at the core of everything we do. Over the years, we have worked with all manners of data – from multilingual Web content to online videos; from logistics tracking data to energy efficiency reporting. We understand that your data is at the heart of your business and that is why we offer a wide range of data-specific services.

Reporting
Many businesses already have sophisticated software systems that have been running their business for years. Perhaps you purchased an off-the-shelf package or maybe you built your own custom system from scratch. Over the years, these systems have done the hard work of maintaining your information and are now the custodians to a reservoir of critical business data. What information lies latent in this structured data? What critical business intelligence can you extract from your software’s silo of data? Database reporting is one of the many services we offer that can help transform your business data into meaningful intelligence.

Data Scrubbing
As software architects, we review your business requirements and design the most fitting storage structures to manage and maintain your data. We choose sensible database constraints and implement form validation to ensure that your data stays as clean and flexible as possible. However, as users add data to your system, it can grow in unexpected and surprising ways. This is why we offer data scrubbing and sanitization services. We can help identify inconsistencies in your data and design scripts to correct those issues.

Data Migrations
As your business matures, you may find that you’ve outgrown your existing software systems, but you never outgrow your business data. When your business makes the decision to buy a new software solution, you will need to analyze, export, and migrate your legacy data from the existing system into the new one. This can be a complex and challenging process, especially for larger databases, but with the appropriate amount of research and planning, this process can be executed to maintain a high level of data fidelity. We have proven experience working with legacy business data in software upgrade and migration scenarios.

The name Gorges Web Sites may convey the notion that we simply build Web sites, but in actuality we are a team of skilled and experienced database engineers. We love working with your data and develop solutions that help your business grow and prosper. If your business already has a software system, but you want to get more from your data, please contact us today.

Greg Kops is a project manager at GORGES. After a decade working as a database and systems programmer, Greg uses his skills and experience to help plan and manage our larger, long-term projects.

My MythTV Experiences

Friday, June 19th, 2009

This topic deviates a bit from our work-related blog, but a few liberties can be occasionally entertained.

For about four years I have been using MythTV, which is a software package that records and plays back television shows.  Installing and configuring this package is not for the technology-challenged, and I have it working on a small Shuttle computer with a tv-tuner card and large hard disk.

I rarely see live television since MythTV has the ability to find and remove commercials and I always prefer to watch television without commercials.  I have three young children, and I have recorded hundreds of educational shows for kids (e.g. Magic School Bus, Zula Patrol) all without commercials.

Although we do not yet own a high-definition television (I know – we’re in the dark ages), I purchased a HDHomeRun device that converts unencrypted digital television signals into an ethernet-based UDP stream.  Since all television cable providers must provide unencrypted access to local digital channels, I can now record and playback high-definition shows recorded in MythTV to my laptop.

And converting any show or movie to an iPhone or iPod Touch compatible movie is as simple as running a script and then loading it into iTunes for syncing.  Long car trips are more than tolerable for our family when we can just hand an iPod Touch to a child which has a Backyardigans or Thomas the Tank Engine show on it.  And no need for another remote control – I can control MythTV from my iPhone or wireless iPod Touch.

And here’s one of the best features:  there is no monthly fee that Time Warner, Comcast, and DISH charge for PVR rental.  I do pay $20/year for access to an online television schedule, so I guess my licensing cost is a whopping 5¢/day.

worked in academia, corporate research labs and several technology startup companies prior to GORGES. His expertise is software architecture, database development, and system administration. Matt brings GORGES over 25 years experience developing fast and robust software on a multitude of platforms and languages.
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