IT Help Desk – Page 8

New Voicemail System Implementation Begins

Beginning on July 13, OIT will transition the existing campus voicemail system to the new Unified Messaging service.

This new service will deliver voicemail messages straight to your email mailbox. A speech-to-text transcription will be included in the email message along with the actual audio file. In addition, users can call into the voicemail system to retrieve messages as well as access email, calendar appointments and more. If an individual calls your number but does not leave a message, a missed call notification will be delivered to your email as well. All of these features (and more) can be controlled from the options menu within webmail.smu.edu.

OIT personnel will be migrated the week of July 13. The week of July 20, a pilot group will be migrated. This two week period will provide valuable feedback on both the migration process, our communications and our documentation. We will then schedule the remaining voicemail moves to take place during the months of August and September.

It is important to note that any messages that exist on the current voicemail system will NOT be migrated to the new system. Once your voicemail is migrated, you will no longer be able to access the old system. Therefore, it is imperative that you review any existing messages and document any numbers or details you may need from those messages before your scheduled migration. Each person will receive an email with the date of their migration and more detailed instructions.

To view additional information on this new service, visit http://www.smu.edu/BusinessFinance/OIT/Services/UnifiedMessaging.

The IT Help Desk is Moving!

Moving Truck

We’re Moving on July 2!

In an effort to better serve you during the Fondren Library Center remodel, the IT Help Desk will be relocating to the main floor of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center for the 2015—2016 school year. We will still be providing the same excellent service that you have come to expect, just in a new location starting July 2.

SPSS License Renewal

Every summer, SPSS goes through a license renewal process. During this time, some customers will be given a countdown for when their license will expire. While this message is distressing, there is a 90-day grace period during which there will be NO disruption of service.

Once SMU has received the renewed licenses, all machines running SPSS versions 21 or 22 and have LANDesk installed will update automatically. Those who have software older than versions 21 and 22 will need to update to one of the two most recent iterations via LANDesk. Those who do not have LANDesk or would like assistance with updating to the two most recent versions should contact the SMU Help Desk for assistance. Version 23 will be made available at this time as well for those who would like to update. And of course, SPSS is available at all times via apps.smu.edu.

4 Ways to Manage Stress Using Technology

If you’re looking to relieve your life of unnecessary stress, try one of these tech-savvy methods to lighten your burden and make you feel ready to take on the world.

1. Calming Reflection

Meditation has proven itself as a common yet efficient way of managing stress, and with apps like Mindfulness and Calm, short meditation sessions are at your fingertips wherever and whenever you need them. The Breathe2Relax app provides you with breathing techniques to help you quickly simmer down in any situation.

2. Soothing Sounds

While white noise machines do exist, you can quickly find hours’ worth of relaxing sounds on sites such as YouTube or Spotify, where there are multiple playlists to choose from, or by using the handy Relax Melodies app.

3. Gadgets and Gizmos

A Dublin startup called Galvanic created Pip, a biosensor which measures electrodermal activity associated with stress levels by having the user place their thumb on a small device. After calculating your levels, Pip can suggest techniques to reduce stress, and warn you if your stress levels are too high.

4. Quality Sleep

A great device to use for a re-energizing catnap is the Phillips Wake-Up Light. Described as an uplifting alarm clock, this accessory simulates a sunrise and accompanying sounds to help eliminate grogginess. According to a review by Health.com, even after just four hours of sleep, the experimenter woke up feeling refreshed, thanks to the new clock. An app with a similar purpose is SleepBot. Previously featured on our blog, this alarm clock app measures your movement while sleeping to determine the best time to wake you and leave you feeling refreshed.

Never Miss an Email Again!

By Laurene Klassen

No matter how many times I organize my inbox I somehow manage to get to the point of needing to reorganize it. In many of my trainings, I’m often asked for tips on how to make sure one doesn’t miss an email from key individuals or contain keywords. Here’s a tip I’ve found handy.

If you are like me, there are probably certain emails that you receive that rank in priority for replies. Maybe it’s from your professor, supervisor, or about a critical project. In any case, I recommend setting alerts on emails that are sent from key partners or contain keywords. You can customize your alert to notify you by playing a specific sound, marking your email with high importance, or even displaying the email in an alert window. So, no matter how many emails you get you’ll be sure to not to miss the critical ones!

For instructions on how to set alerts, and a number of other tips to keep your inbox from spiraling out of control, see our Outlook Productivity handouts for PC and Mac. (By the way, these instructions are written for Outlook 2010 and 2011. However, the steps for setting alerts haven’t changed for Outlook 2013.)