This past weekend I went on a field trip with the geology department to an abandoned civil war era coal mine to dig for fossil from the Pennsylvanian time period. While there i found an encrusted piece of rust that from my amateur opinion could be an old 19th century pocket knife. When I got back to Erie, I quickly searched the Internet for ways to remove rust from objects and stumbled upon this.
http://users.eastlink.ca/~pspencer/nsaeta/electrolysis.html
This link describes a way to use electrolysis to remove the iron oxide from the material and convert it back into iron. This is a way of restoring antique objects.
What came to my attention after sitting for a while, I began thinking how amazing it is to be able to find random tidbits of information about obscure topics in today's age. What would have taken days of research 15 years ago, was 15 minutes today. Although in previous postings I have ranted about the dangers of mass information, there is a positive side to this issue. Our society now has the ability to gain massive amounts of information in a very short time period on any number of topics. This information can be diluted by media establishments, but the information posted not through this outlet can be very informative, geared for a very select subsection of our society. The Internet has allowed this selective information to be distributed to those who have a desire to look. This is in my opinion the true value to the Internet, the ability to disseminate large quantities of information quickly and to whoever has an interest. This characteristic of the Internet allows those with little formal education to become improve themselves in a very cheap manner.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Changes in quality mean sacrifice…
High Definition (HD) televisions or LCD panels as they are referred to now are not the only means of improving entertainment to end users. The Washington Post discusses the FCC ruling that allowed AM radio stations to broadcast HD programs to listeners 24 hours a day versus the previous restriction to daytime hours. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2007/03/the_fcc_greenlights_hd_radio_n.html
This is an obvious benefit to listeners who have endured the sound of static and interference while enjoying their favorite baseball team live en route. All changes however, require some form of sacrifice and/or trade off from what was, to what will now be. Implementing HD digital technology through AM frequency means that listeners will no longer be able to pick up stations from afar as the digital output will become localized restricting it’s reach. Is this truly an improvement then? AM listeners seem to value the vast array of entertainment available to them through this medium and have grown accustomed to the poor quality. Better quality and less programming may ultimately reduce listener volume. Or perhaps not. They may in fact attract a new generation of younger people, who tune into FM quality stations, as AM stations align with their values.
The biggest obstacle for new technology is getting people addicted to the benefits it offers. iTV for instance was released to market with a 40G hard drive and we all know Apple had the capability of offering much more. Get people hooked to a new concept and way of entertainment, in this example, and then they can’t live without it. A year or two later you release a 100G hard drive because people need more and more and the cycle repeats. I myself am quite content remaining in the “Late Adopter” category of consumers as I believe I get more for my money. Certainly, I do not blame tech companies for gaining high ROI’s as that is the fundamental nature of business, I’m just happy to play my role and benefit as I may.
This is an obvious benefit to listeners who have endured the sound of static and interference while enjoying their favorite baseball team live en route. All changes however, require some form of sacrifice and/or trade off from what was, to what will now be. Implementing HD digital technology through AM frequency means that listeners will no longer be able to pick up stations from afar as the digital output will become localized restricting it’s reach. Is this truly an improvement then? AM listeners seem to value the vast array of entertainment available to them through this medium and have grown accustomed to the poor quality. Better quality and less programming may ultimately reduce listener volume. Or perhaps not. They may in fact attract a new generation of younger people, who tune into FM quality stations, as AM stations align with their values.
The biggest obstacle for new technology is getting people addicted to the benefits it offers. iTV for instance was released to market with a 40G hard drive and we all know Apple had the capability of offering much more. Get people hooked to a new concept and way of entertainment, in this example, and then they can’t live without it. A year or two later you release a 100G hard drive because people need more and more and the cycle repeats. I myself am quite content remaining in the “Late Adopter” category of consumers as I believe I get more for my money. Certainly, I do not blame tech companies for gaining high ROI’s as that is the fundamental nature of business, I’m just happy to play my role and benefit as I may.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Social Security do you really think it will be around for you?
The other day several coworkers and I were discussing the pros and cons of the social security system. I stated I believed it should be dissolved in favor of private funds, and was almost attacked by my fellow workers. Social Security is such a sensitive issue most politicians avoid it; not me I jump in head first.
Social Security in the United States is a social insurance program funded through dedicated payroll taxes called FICA It was initially signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1935. The Social Security Administration is headquartered in Woodlawn, Maryland .
Facts taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_%28United_States%29
Let me explain why I believe this way.
In 2004, some $492 billion of benefits were paid to 47.5 million beneficiaries. It is now projected that the system will run out of funds by 2020. That is only 13 years from now. I will only be 58 years old, not even old enough to retire. 67 is my projected retirement age. I believe I could do a better job investing the same funds privately. There are so many tools available to the private investor today: to monitor accounts, transfer funds, even automated advisors. I am not alone many others feel the same way. Several organizations considered it a crucial issue, such as the Heritage Foundation and Cato Institute. They lobby for some form of Social Security privatization.
I also believe that the government is too restrained to take advantage of the technologies available to improve social security, such preventing fraud by comparing databases to death certificates before checks are written. Allowing individuals to invest their own social security funds and choose the risk they are willing to take for higher returns. My current 401 K is available online and I can move investments around. The government’s ability to make changes is to slow for today’s world. I have seen recently an adoption of many technologies, such as online accounts, direct deposit, and debit cards instead of checks. Maybe there is some hope still.
Here are a few interesting sites dealing with this very subject.
http://www.socialsecurity.org/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/social-security/
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/
Social Security in the United States is a social insurance program funded through dedicated payroll taxes called FICA It was initially signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1935. The Social Security Administration is headquartered in Woodlawn, Maryland .
Facts taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_%28United_States%29
Let me explain why I believe this way.
In 2004, some $492 billion of benefits were paid to 47.5 million beneficiaries. It is now projected that the system will run out of funds by 2020. That is only 13 years from now. I will only be 58 years old, not even old enough to retire. 67 is my projected retirement age. I believe I could do a better job investing the same funds privately. There are so many tools available to the private investor today: to monitor accounts, transfer funds, even automated advisors. I am not alone many others feel the same way. Several organizations considered it a crucial issue, such as the Heritage Foundation and Cato Institute. They lobby for some form of Social Security privatization.
I also believe that the government is too restrained to take advantage of the technologies available to improve social security, such preventing fraud by comparing databases to death certificates before checks are written. Allowing individuals to invest their own social security funds and choose the risk they are willing to take for higher returns. My current 401 K is available online and I can move investments around. The government’s ability to make changes is to slow for today’s world. I have seen recently an adoption of many technologies, such as online accounts, direct deposit, and debit cards instead of checks. Maybe there is some hope still.
Here are a few interesting sites dealing with this very subject.
http://www.socialsecurity.org/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/social-security/
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Microsoft
Earlier this semester we spoke of the technological gap that was hindering some countries from competing on a global level. Africa is drastically behind in technology, but it is slowly improving.
Last week, the USA Today featured an article about Microsoft. Microsoft will now offer a $3 software package to governments that wish to subsidize student computers. They are also going to open 90 more “innovation centers” around the world where their employees will offer classes about technology to small startup businesses attempting to compete in a global world. Hopefully some of the aid Microsoft is supplying will find its way to Africa. They are in desperate need of more help. Last, Microsoft is designing a website targeting engineering graduates in India. They are going to try to expose new graduates to opportunities that will make them more marketable to other employers. The website has not launched yet.
Are Microsoft’s intentions truly altruistic? I am not sure, but I do not think their efforts can hinder the technological gap amongst some nations. Hopefully children in all schools, including the United States, will soon have access to current technology. Maybe then we will be producing the engineers Microsoft seeks to further train for the global market. If nothing else, this is good PR for Microsoft. In time we will be able to see if their efforts are making a difference.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-04-19-gates-china_N.htm?POE=click-refer
Last week, the USA Today featured an article about Microsoft. Microsoft will now offer a $3 software package to governments that wish to subsidize student computers. They are also going to open 90 more “innovation centers” around the world where their employees will offer classes about technology to small startup businesses attempting to compete in a global world. Hopefully some of the aid Microsoft is supplying will find its way to Africa. They are in desperate need of more help. Last, Microsoft is designing a website targeting engineering graduates in India. They are going to try to expose new graduates to opportunities that will make them more marketable to other employers. The website has not launched yet.
Are Microsoft’s intentions truly altruistic? I am not sure, but I do not think their efforts can hinder the technological gap amongst some nations. Hopefully children in all schools, including the United States, will soon have access to current technology. Maybe then we will be producing the engineers Microsoft seeks to further train for the global market. If nothing else, this is good PR for Microsoft. In time we will be able to see if their efforts are making a difference.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-04-19-gates-china_N.htm?POE=click-refer
Cell Phones
Cell phones are increasing becoming more and more advanced. You can text message and download ring tones and games. Maybe you can even watch a little television and do some limited web browsing. In future you will be able to watch whole television shows or sporting events. A British research firm estimates that 125 million people will be watching television on their phones within five years. Our cell phones are currently using a 14.4 kbps downloading speed, which is really slow. The new 3G technology data can be transferred at rates between 64 and 384 kilobytes per second, a blazing speed compared to most common phones. Some newer phones already have 2.5 GB memory stick which can hold a large amount of data. Some phones are already digital hooked up to a computer, so you can receive and send emails and also get documents off your own computer. In the future phones will be four times as fast as the normal homes broadband. Batteries are becoming more advanced and will need to last long with more use of the cell phone. GPS devices, games, and music are all becoming more advanced with the new technology of mp3 and better games. If Virgina Tech students had all these new technologies to receive emails on their cell phones in the middle of class. Everyone would have been notified and aware of the situation that struck the campus. I believe it would have saved many lives and would have caught the killer before he had made the second attack on the students and faculty. But can you look at technology as a savior or can you say if we had it, somethings would not have happened the way they did? I pray for the victims and their families I wish tragedies like this would never occur.
http://news.digitaltrends.com/featured_article34_page3.html
http://news.digitaltrends.com/featured_article34_page3.html
Monday, April 23, 2007
Can RF technology provide security?
I have to say that after hearing about the tragic events that took place at Virginia Tech I began thinking about how the future of technology will provide an array of opportunities to protect our safety. Currently, Bowie State University utilizes a web based service called e2Campus that sends SMS text messages to cell phones to notify of emergency situations on campus http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/492954. This certainly would have had more immediate results than the emails that were sent by administrators at Virginia Tech and would probably save them from the many lawsuits they may face.
One thing that came to my mind as a means of providing safety was RF (radio frequency) services and devices that are currently utilized in ways to create speed and efficiency within supply chains for companies as well as in other profit oriented endeavors such as advertising and target marketing. What if organizations utilized radio frequency to warn constituents about dangerous situations and provided updates on the progress of events? Imagine going to your local bank to conduct a personal transaction and your cell phone receives a message that the bank has just been held up. Local and national governments could utilize RF technology to warn of terrorist attacks, sexual offender releases, Amber alerts, evacuation notices (e.g. toxic spills), virus outbreaks (e.g. AVI, SARS), etc. In order for RF to benefit society in these ways it first needs to become a safe and non-hazardous technology in and of itself before it could be utilized to save our lives.
One thing that came to my mind as a means of providing safety was RF (radio frequency) services and devices that are currently utilized in ways to create speed and efficiency within supply chains for companies as well as in other profit oriented endeavors such as advertising and target marketing. What if organizations utilized radio frequency to warn constituents about dangerous situations and provided updates on the progress of events? Imagine going to your local bank to conduct a personal transaction and your cell phone receives a message that the bank has just been held up. Local and national governments could utilize RF technology to warn of terrorist attacks, sexual offender releases, Amber alerts, evacuation notices (e.g. toxic spills), virus outbreaks (e.g. AVI, SARS), etc. In order for RF to benefit society in these ways it first needs to become a safe and non-hazardous technology in and of itself before it could be utilized to save our lives.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Do we still make toy trucks?
I was in the toy section the other day looking to buy a few things for the grandchildren and realized how much toys have changed. Everything “does something” any more. It’s hard to find just a plain do nothing toy anymore.
We played with dolls. Dressed them, had tea parties, and they were our friends. My brother’s trucks and tractors plowed through fields in the rugs and ran over monsters, which were my dolls. We traded comic books and read books about Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. There were 24 colors in the crayon boxes used to create masterful works of art to be hung on the refrigerator door. We used technology to create stuff like creepy crawlers, easy bake ovens cakes, and Lego cities. We used our imaginations and enjoyed our stuff.
Technology in toys today is overwhelming. I could not find a plain doll. One doll cried, another needed to eat; then it wet. No more using your imagination I thought. The trucks are not only battery powered but also radio controlled. Even books make sounds or read the story to you. Crayons still come in a box but it has over 100 colors. No wonder I’m back in school, I need to learn the new colors just to play.
My point is that sometimes I feel technology has taken the wrong path. These toys don’t encourage children to grow and learn. They encourage the child to expect everything to be done for them. I don’t pretend the baby is crying; it really is. I don’t pretend the car makes a “vroom” noise; it does.
It is great that technology allows us to create these toys, but do we need them? Is this where we should be using innovative ideas? I guess it is just one more segment of society touched by technology.
We played with dolls. Dressed them, had tea parties, and they were our friends. My brother’s trucks and tractors plowed through fields in the rugs and ran over monsters, which were my dolls. We traded comic books and read books about Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. There were 24 colors in the crayon boxes used to create masterful works of art to be hung on the refrigerator door. We used technology to create stuff like creepy crawlers, easy bake ovens cakes, and Lego cities. We used our imaginations and enjoyed our stuff.
Technology in toys today is overwhelming. I could not find a plain doll. One doll cried, another needed to eat; then it wet. No more using your imagination I thought. The trucks are not only battery powered but also radio controlled. Even books make sounds or read the story to you. Crayons still come in a box but it has over 100 colors. No wonder I’m back in school, I need to learn the new colors just to play.
My point is that sometimes I feel technology has taken the wrong path. These toys don’t encourage children to grow and learn. They encourage the child to expect everything to be done for them. I don’t pretend the baby is crying; it really is. I don’t pretend the car makes a “vroom” noise; it does.
It is great that technology allows us to create these toys, but do we need them? Is this where we should be using innovative ideas? I guess it is just one more segment of society touched by technology.
Faith and Hope
Like everyone I was deeply disturbed by what occurred at Virginia Tech. I pray for the families and students whose lives where changed forever. We all want to believe things like this can't happen in today's world.
I listen to students on Mercyhurst campus complain about how the events transpired and how poorly Virginia Tech campus handled it. We have technology to track people; we can evaluate behavior and profile terrorists. I have to say it bothers me to hear young people talk this way. I can’t believe that we have become so technology arrogant and unaware that some people think these things shouldn’t happen. Not that they shouldn’t happen because it is tragic, but they feel there is such control in the world that the human element should be able to prevent anything and everything. As if someone allowed tragedies to happen. People will always be prone to error, especially when evaluating other peoples’ actions and motives. It is our nature.
Mercyhurst is no different than Virginia Tech. I am sure there are students here who feel distant and removed from the rest of the student body. I pray they do not decide to turn violent, but it is always a possibility.
I think it is good that it has opened up our eyes to ask “how would we handle something like this?”, since I am sure it has never been considered. We do not have a public address systems and the police would not be able to lock down all the buildings quickly. How and when would students be notified?
Mercyhurst does have an emergency response plan in place which does give many guidelines for responses. It does not cover every imaginable scenario, so we will be relying on human judgments in many emergencies.
I guess even with all of our “GREAT” advances in technology we all must still rely on the most basic non-technologies of all. Faith - Hope
God will Protect US. Hope it doesn't happen.
I listen to students on Mercyhurst campus complain about how the events transpired and how poorly Virginia Tech campus handled it. We have technology to track people; we can evaluate behavior and profile terrorists. I have to say it bothers me to hear young people talk this way. I can’t believe that we have become so technology arrogant and unaware that some people think these things shouldn’t happen. Not that they shouldn’t happen because it is tragic, but they feel there is such control in the world that the human element should be able to prevent anything and everything. As if someone allowed tragedies to happen. People will always be prone to error, especially when evaluating other peoples’ actions and motives. It is our nature.
Mercyhurst is no different than Virginia Tech. I am sure there are students here who feel distant and removed from the rest of the student body. I pray they do not decide to turn violent, but it is always a possibility.
I think it is good that it has opened up our eyes to ask “how would we handle something like this?”, since I am sure it has never been considered. We do not have a public address systems and the police would not be able to lock down all the buildings quickly. How and when would students be notified?
Mercyhurst does have an emergency response plan in place which does give many guidelines for responses. It does not cover every imaginable scenario, so we will be relying on human judgments in many emergencies.
I guess even with all of our “GREAT” advances in technology we all must still rely on the most basic non-technologies of all. Faith - Hope
God will Protect US. Hope it doesn't happen.
Monday, April 16, 2007
The internet and cell phones in a crisis
As Paul has pointed out with improved technology, future school shootings may decrease. Will metal detectors be installed? Will all classroom buildings require students to swipe an ID badge to gain access? Will surveillance cameras be places in strategic locations? I do not have the answer to any of these questions!
However, technology did affect the chain of communication as today’s events unfolded. Students received an email this morning informing them of the situation. It also recommended they stay in their classrooms or dorm rooms away from any windows. Updates and instructions were also placed on the Virginia Tech’s website. Parents, students and the rest of the world were able to view these messages from their computers and possibly even their cell phones.
The world watched in disbelief through the many news websites available on the Internet. An eyewitness account was even uploaded to CNN.com from a student’s cell phone. Students who were locked in classrooms and dorms were constantly texting and calling their friends to learn more about the situation. It was reported that cell phone service in the area was slow, but that was probably due to the large volume of calls being made at the same time from the same area. The cell phone towers were probably at capacity.
It makes me wonder, what did people ever do without the internet or cell phones? While people will probably criticize some aspects of how the situation was handled, I think the use of technology was probably very welcomed today. With approximately 26,000 students enrolled at Virginia Tech information needed to reach a large number of people extremely quickly and the internet made that possible. Should more have been done? Should it have occurred earlier in the day? I do not know, but I was able to catch up on many of today’s events simply by clicking my mouse and surfing the web. I offer my condolences to those affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
However, technology did affect the chain of communication as today’s events unfolded. Students received an email this morning informing them of the situation. It also recommended they stay in their classrooms or dorm rooms away from any windows. Updates and instructions were also placed on the Virginia Tech’s website. Parents, students and the rest of the world were able to view these messages from their computers and possibly even their cell phones.
The world watched in disbelief through the many news websites available on the Internet. An eyewitness account was even uploaded to CNN.com from a student’s cell phone. Students who were locked in classrooms and dorms were constantly texting and calling their friends to learn more about the situation. It was reported that cell phone service in the area was slow, but that was probably due to the large volume of calls being made at the same time from the same area. The cell phone towers were probably at capacity.
It makes me wonder, what did people ever do without the internet or cell phones? While people will probably criticize some aspects of how the situation was handled, I think the use of technology was probably very welcomed today. With approximately 26,000 students enrolled at Virginia Tech information needed to reach a large number of people extremely quickly and the internet made that possible. Should more have been done? Should it have occurred earlier in the day? I do not know, but I was able to catch up on many of today’s events simply by clicking my mouse and surfing the web. I offer my condolences to those affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
Metal Detectors
After watching the news today about the Virgina Tech. massacre of 33 people on a university campus, I wander if universities and colleges will start implementing metal detectors, more security guards in classrooms and on campus, video surveillance, and start doing more random searches of dorm rooms and on-campus housing. I feel deeply sadden by the hole incident even though we really don't have much information on it, except the fact that 33 people are dead and one of them is the gunman that took his/her own life. Would have better technology such as metal detectors or security guards in the classroom really have protected the students from the gunman. Metal detectors, more security, x-ray machines all have been placed in many schools since Columbine. Some schools don't even allow book-bags in school any more. The technological information that changes are society will be metal detectors and x-ray machines that will continue to grow in this country because of violent acts like this one. Over the past ten years it is a fact the the crime rate in schools has been cut in half since all the metal detectors and x-ray machines have been put in place. Will colleges and universities start being like jr. high and high schools by implementing the same things? It is hard to say what this higher education facilities will do. But it will be hard to look past the two separate incidences that happened today at Virgina Tech. Will there been metal detectors in every business, gas station, restaurant, and university in the future?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Praise and Fear
I think it’s time for me to praise technological advancements as I’ve seemed to be focusing more on the negative effects occurring in society(s) lately. Why the optimism? I realized that I’ve been able to expand my mind in convenient ways, in the comfort of my own home, through the use of a laptop versus a library search or consultation with experts within areas of interest. In addition, I am able to keep in contact with people that antiquated technologies such as the telephone make expensive (in this case my hotel phone), more time consuming, less appealing, as well as less convenient. Right now I’m located in Pittsburgh for a company training for the next three months and because of wireless technological capabilities I am able to communicate here to anyone interested in listening (or should I say reading) over the web as well as fulfill course assignments while I am away from home.
I mentioned the use of technology to a member of the Barber National Institute yesterday and she reacted with an attitude of resistance toward adopting electronic scheduling that would ultimately save her a great deal of time and energy devoted to such job responsibilities. My reaction was one of disappointment until I realized that I too find myself feeling the same way at times just about different things. Why? Mainly out of fear of the unknown as well as the seemingly complex nature toward implementing new ways of conducting personal and professional endeavors. I decided to find out just how many others actually felt this way by searching under “fear of technology” on Google. What I found is that there is, thanks to the wonderful World Wide Web, a site available to help people with all kinds of fears and believe it or not there are many people out there with technology phobias. http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/problem_detail.asp?SDID=880:1879
My first thought was ‘how silly!’ however, this is the ultimate beauty of being electronically connected to information about any topic. How those with fear of technology locate such helpful resources is a bit perplexing (help from family or friends I suppose) and I must admit I was a little overwhelmed when I saw that there were over 57 million hits from my query. In my opinion, resistance to change and the long process of change often has more to do with the reasons people are simply not interested in embracing technology.
I mentioned the use of technology to a member of the Barber National Institute yesterday and she reacted with an attitude of resistance toward adopting electronic scheduling that would ultimately save her a great deal of time and energy devoted to such job responsibilities. My reaction was one of disappointment until I realized that I too find myself feeling the same way at times just about different things. Why? Mainly out of fear of the unknown as well as the seemingly complex nature toward implementing new ways of conducting personal and professional endeavors. I decided to find out just how many others actually felt this way by searching under “fear of technology” on Google. What I found is that there is, thanks to the wonderful World Wide Web, a site available to help people with all kinds of fears and believe it or not there are many people out there with technology phobias. http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/problem_detail.asp?SDID=880:1879
My first thought was ‘how silly!’ however, this is the ultimate beauty of being electronically connected to information about any topic. How those with fear of technology locate such helpful resources is a bit perplexing (help from family or friends I suppose) and I must admit I was a little overwhelmed when I saw that there were over 57 million hits from my query. In my opinion, resistance to change and the long process of change often has more to do with the reasons people are simply not interested in embracing technology.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Biometrics
I read an article about the on going advances in biometrics. Biometrics is the statistical study of biological variation. However the term now also refers to technologies that analyze human traits for security purposes. Many businesses and organizations are developing biometrics to replace PIN numbers and access cards. Which would prevent identity theft, keep things more secure, and making things more convenient for the customer. Fingerprinting is the most well known biometrics and actually devices are being introduced to the marketplace. Identity theft is a growing epidemic in this technology advanced society. The iris scanner is the most secure of all the biometrics because there are 266 different measurements that are different to every person. The iris scanner measures consists of fibrous and vascular tissue and pigment granules. The fingerprint comes in a distance second with around only 40 measurable characteristics. In New Jersey they have implemented iris scanners on ATM's. They have three different cameras that identify the torso, head, and then zoom in on the iris identifying the person. It then makes a grid making a bar code from the eye. Contacts don't affect the reading and every iris is different including identical twins. These advances in technology help and secure the society from harmful acts of theft. I believe some day we will all have smart cards and be using eye scanners kind of like the movie minority report.
http://www.wordquests.info/biometrics-pt1.html
http://www.wordquests.info/biometrics-pt1.html
Yahoo China?
A perfect example of how the world is flattening is shown by Yahoo China "on Tuesday by launching a new blogging and networking service, in a move aimed at diversifying its revenue streams."
As China develops, more and more consumers are being brought to light from this nation. Organization are quick to diversify consumer base and the relatively untapped population of China can lead to untold profits. These consumers desire the same types of technologies as the west which will "allow users to share their hobbies with each other so that they can expand their knowledge."
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=yahoo-china-launches-blog&chanID=sa003
As China develops, more and more consumers are being brought to light from this nation. Organization are quick to diversify consumer base and the relatively untapped population of China can lead to untold profits. These consumers desire the same types of technologies as the west which will "allow users to share their hobbies with each other so that they can expand their knowledge."
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=yahoo-china-launches-blog&chanID=sa003
Sunday, April 8, 2007
India's future success
While reading The World is Flat, it seemed as if India was a utopia for technology. I believed there was an abundance of well educated engineers seeking employment. These individuals were willing to conform to American norms; they changed their names and practiced speaking English eliminating their accent. These cooperative individuals also worked for less money than the average American would. In my mind, I was able to logic why so many firms from various countries, especially the United States, began to move parts of their business there.
However, after reading the article “India's successful high-tech world needs more workers” in the UsaToday I began to question India’s technological utopia. Many of the universities educating the eager young adults in India actually have no electricity, computers or even current text books. If the resources are not available to teach students about the most current trends in technology, how will they be able to work for a successful technology company in India? Do they only have the potential to work in call centers? Do you really need to understand technology to answer telephones? I envisioned many engineers in India working in more challenging sectors of the economy such as software design and programming.
According to the article India may face a shortage of available educated workers by 2010. “Indian schools churn out 400,000 new engineers, the core of the high-tech industry, every year — but as few as 100,000 are actually ready to join the job world, experts say” (Sullivan, 2006). If India does not have enough people to fill open positions in the technology firms, companies may be forced to find employees in other countries. People from other countries may not be willing to work for the same salaries as the people in India. While seeking educated employees from other countries such as Poland and the Philippines would flatten the world even further, it may increase the prices of goods and services in the technology industry.
Technology firms remain optimistic about the future of their industry in India, but only time holds the truth. Can India continue to grow as fast as the technology industry is changing?
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/industry/2007-04-06-india-workers_N.htm
However, after reading the article “India's successful high-tech world needs more workers” in the UsaToday I began to question India’s technological utopia. Many of the universities educating the eager young adults in India actually have no electricity, computers or even current text books. If the resources are not available to teach students about the most current trends in technology, how will they be able to work for a successful technology company in India? Do they only have the potential to work in call centers? Do you really need to understand technology to answer telephones? I envisioned many engineers in India working in more challenging sectors of the economy such as software design and programming.
According to the article India may face a shortage of available educated workers by 2010. “Indian schools churn out 400,000 new engineers, the core of the high-tech industry, every year — but as few as 100,000 are actually ready to join the job world, experts say” (Sullivan, 2006). If India does not have enough people to fill open positions in the technology firms, companies may be forced to find employees in other countries. People from other countries may not be willing to work for the same salaries as the people in India. While seeking educated employees from other countries such as Poland and the Philippines would flatten the world even further, it may increase the prices of goods and services in the technology industry.
Technology firms remain optimistic about the future of their industry in India, but only time holds the truth. Can India continue to grow as fast as the technology industry is changing?
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/industry/2007-04-06-india-workers_N.htm
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
“The Most Dangerous Game”
Wow! This describes exactly how I feel after reading several of the previous posts concerning advances in technology. I am absolutely shocked and still trying to regain my composure over the ability of hunters to kill animals via the internet and personal computer. Hunting is now reduced to a real-life video game? Where is the sportsmanship and adventure in that? Most of the men in my family are avid hunters and look forward to the return of the season every year. Getting the animal is the thrill and ultimate reward for their dedication to the outdoors and the use of their skills in hunting. Perhaps this is just another innovative way for someone to make money from someone’s sport/hobby interests or a way to attract others to the sport in a much different realm.
What concerns me more than anything about the ability to kill over the internet is whether we are opening the playing field to dangerous minds that get a thrill out of hunting humans as occurred in the movie "The Most Dangerous Game." Perhaps this will become a future strategy of our military in addition to utilizing robots to detect bombs. Don’t get me wrong, I think the creation of robots is actually a great idea toward saving lives however; I’m worried about the unforeseen results some of these technological advances will induce. The increase in individuals’ power and change in roles may one day lead to a world war in which we’re all potential targets and/or participants. Will we be fighting humans, robots, or both? It is much easier to detach ourselves from the harsh reality of our actions when they are reduced to the click of a mouse or push of a button. In favor of technological developments, I sure do hope beverage companies have those “special space-age labels” on their bottles to keep my drinks cold as we enter the advancing possibility of this future.
What concerns me more than anything about the ability to kill over the internet is whether we are opening the playing field to dangerous minds that get a thrill out of hunting humans as occurred in the movie "The Most Dangerous Game." Perhaps this will become a future strategy of our military in addition to utilizing robots to detect bombs. Don’t get me wrong, I think the creation of robots is actually a great idea toward saving lives however; I’m worried about the unforeseen results some of these technological advances will induce. The increase in individuals’ power and change in roles may one day lead to a world war in which we’re all potential targets and/or participants. Will we be fighting humans, robots, or both? It is much easier to detach ourselves from the harsh reality of our actions when they are reduced to the click of a mouse or push of a button. In favor of technological developments, I sure do hope beverage companies have those “special space-age labels” on their bottles to keep my drinks cold as we enter the advancing possibility of this future.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Talk about pervasive computing
Has anyone seen the new ads for Coors Light yet. Well I saw it the other day and it made me begin to realize how IT has invaded our lives.
There is a computer chip in the new label to tell you when your beer is "at optimal drinking temperature" WOW
I had to check it out on their website http://www.coorslight.com/
After entering my birthdate numerous times to prove I was 21, I found only a few refrences to this new technology, but I did find they were also using a "special space-age label" to preserve the temperature of beer by insulating your hand from the bottle. It's called "cold in hand". It's about time I say. I had to grow up drinking warm beer or just chugging it so it wouldn't get warm.
Here are few interesting articles I came accross talking about the Molson technology advances.
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003562729 http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070320006141&newsLang=en
There is a computer chip in the new label to tell you when your beer is "at optimal drinking temperature" WOW
I had to check it out on their website http://www.coorslight.com/
After entering my birthdate numerous times to prove I was 21, I found only a few refrences to this new technology, but I did find they were also using a "special space-age label" to preserve the temperature of beer by insulating your hand from the bottle. It's called "cold in hand". It's about time I say. I had to grow up drinking warm beer or just chugging it so it wouldn't get warm.
Here are few interesting articles I came accross talking about the Molson technology advances.
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003562729 http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070320006141&newsLang=en
Robots in war
I recently read an article Bomb-sniffing robots put to test in Iraq. I started reading the article and it really surprised me that there are 5,000 robots in Iraq and Afghanistan up from 150 in 2004. That is 33.33 times more robots in just 3 years. Seventy percent of all US causalities are because of roadside bombs. The robots help this situation because they sniff out roadside bombs with a seven foot long arm. The controller of the robot also has camera views and a reading display to detect the bomb. The robots can smell smoke and other chemical residues or explosive material, to sniff out bombs. What is neat about this is that we are saving humans lives by using an advanced technology. With the way they are using robots to search caves, buildings, land-minds, and roadside bombs they probably could use many more robots to save lives. The government will spend 1.7 billion on robots thru 2012. These robots save lives but could we be seeing the next revolution of fighting, all from a computer screen, killing the enemy with a click of a mouse? Just like the hunting article below. I could definitely see this happening in the future, how far away is it? I'm not really sure and I don't really want to know. This would change the way the world works and conducts its affairs. Would we send robots to go and be a fire fighter and put out a fire so no human lives are at risk? I hope they make fire fighter robots soon.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17874529/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17874529/
Monday, April 2, 2007
Repairman Satellite
Looking back on your discussion last week on Nanotechnology and self-repairing computers, I started to search the Internet for information pertaining to how technology today can repair itself. I stumbled upon this little tidbit from the New Scientist.
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn11511-mechanic-satellite-looks-under-its-own-hood.html
This article discusses a new satellite launched and run by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which undergoes repair upon itself and has the ability to repair other satellites in orbit. Are we one step away from a world controlled by self-repairing machines? I think not. The technology places us one step closer to developing technology that can maintain themselves in orbit and not risk the lives of astronauts to do repair.
Shown in this video is an example of what the satellite could do in orbit.
http://www.darpa.mil/orbitalexpress/video/NewSpace.wmv
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn11511-mechanic-satellite-looks-under-its-own-hood.html
This article discusses a new satellite launched and run by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which undergoes repair upon itself and has the ability to repair other satellites in orbit. Are we one step away from a world controlled by self-repairing machines? I think not. The technology places us one step closer to developing technology that can maintain themselves in orbit and not risk the lives of astronauts to do repair.
Shown in this video is an example of what the satellite could do in orbit.
http://www.darpa.mil/orbitalexpress/video/NewSpace.wmv
Hunting with the help of computers
Well, I would not describe myself as an avid outdoorsman. Actually I have never been hunting, fishing or camping and I do not plan on doing any of those things anytime soon either. I am just not drawn to such hobbies. However, I do know many people who enjoy a weekend outside. Many men and probably some ladies enjoy hunting for the camaraderie, thrill and because they enjoy eating what game they do kill. I have nothing against people who hunt and I think it is acceptable to kill an animal if you plan on eating.
However, I recently read an article in the USA Today which discussed a new trend in technology, hunting with the help of computers. People were able to take the life of an animal simply by clicking their computer mouse. The owner of the property where the animal was shot was then willing to mail the hunter the head of the animal he or she killed. I am unclear about what happens to the rest of the animal remains! The articled cited many hunters who believed the use of the computer to kill game was not actually hunting. The animal has no chance of spotting the hunter because he or she could be miles and miles away in their living room. The animal does not have instincts to know who is watching it graze from their home via hi-speed internet. It gives the hunter an unfair advantage.
People who support this type of hunting said it may enable men and women overseas to still enjoy their sport as well as those with disabilities. While I support our troops in places around the world and I feel bad for people who can no longer hunt do to old age, injury or disabilities, I am not sure hunting with the use of cameras and computer technology is fair. Could a simulated hunting game provide the same fix for hunters who may not be able to hunt during different seasons for various reasons? I do not know.
Hunting has been around for years and it has obviously changed over time. Better rifles, bullets, spotting equipment and more have been developed to make hunting easier for people. Is computer technology the next logical step in hunting? Many states have already begun to take action against computerized hunting, but it has not been outlawed in all states. If you are a hunter, I am curious to know how you feel about the use of computer technology in your sport.
However, I recently read an article in the USA Today which discussed a new trend in technology, hunting with the help of computers. People were able to take the life of an animal simply by clicking their computer mouse. The owner of the property where the animal was shot was then willing to mail the hunter the head of the animal he or she killed. I am unclear about what happens to the rest of the animal remains! The articled cited many hunters who believed the use of the computer to kill game was not actually hunting. The animal has no chance of spotting the hunter because he or she could be miles and miles away in their living room. The animal does not have instincts to know who is watching it graze from their home via hi-speed internet. It gives the hunter an unfair advantage.
People who support this type of hunting said it may enable men and women overseas to still enjoy their sport as well as those with disabilities. While I support our troops in places around the world and I feel bad for people who can no longer hunt do to old age, injury or disabilities, I am not sure hunting with the use of cameras and computer technology is fair. Could a simulated hunting game provide the same fix for hunters who may not be able to hunt during different seasons for various reasons? I do not know.
Hunting has been around for years and it has obviously changed over time. Better rifles, bullets, spotting equipment and more have been developed to make hunting easier for people. Is computer technology the next logical step in hunting? Many states have already begun to take action against computerized hunting, but it has not been outlawed in all states. If you are a hunter, I am curious to know how you feel about the use of computer technology in your sport.
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