Finals Syndrome

Project #2

iController

Mac is Going the Distance

A universal remote for all local iTunes programs? I didn't believe it either when i saw the headline. I just might be Apple crazy but this is just too much. I'm getting exicited just typing about it. Humor aside, just imagine your iPhone could control any nearby iTunes playliststs without having to plug in any cords, add any programs to your computer, or basically w/o having to use as much mental capacity as we did a year ago.

I'm getting the feeling that these guys are now just coming up with these little toys just to get us to buy a bunch of crap we really don't need. Correction a bunch of really neat, fun, and exciting crap. I personlly do not have a Mac or an iPhone. I will obtain one in the near futrue mainly for academic purposes. Still i will have to say that these little gadgets will certainly make the switch significantly worth it.

Touch Table

The Extinction of Digital Barriers

The leaps and bounds that technology has taken in the past few years is astounding. This is no exception. The touch table blows the mouse and keyboard out of the water. This device allows for several grand scale purposes.

One would be the advancement in the economics field. Some of the designers explain that the touch table would aid oil industries in the discovering and excessive meticulous maintenance of oil deposits right down to some few meters or so. My stance on our urgent dependency of oil is as it always has been

Of course as a nation who loves being terrorized from within, excuse the cynicism, the touch table can be used for militaristic purposes. I personally think this is just an excuse to back the device, but that's just me. Criticism aside, it certainly would be able to aid our armies by strategically enhancing warfare by taking men off the field who would in other cases be the guinea pigs of battle. This is obviously a plus for our casualties.

Tech Driven Gov. Election

NBC MySpace

"The 2008 election is proving to be the most youth- and technology-driven race in history..."
This statement, along with the mass youth reinforcement of the internet, along with 24 hour access to presidential politicians will make this election one for the record books.

I personally believe that with the backing of virtually unlimited information the Internet and our young generation will make this election incredibly credible. It's obvious that when someone has sufficient facts to back important life decisions (election of our governmental leaders) it's probably for the better. This year, the situation is no different. Myself, I know for sure that this continuous access to government direction and intentions has made my point of view a little more important on voting. We've all heard the phrase, "Vote or Die." I think that this ultimate access will prevent us from committing mass digital suicide. So to speak

Television Transition

Much Need Eyeballs

This article hits on a couple of interesting points. One of them is the ability to track viewership rather than just assume that people are watching. CBS has taken a leap and wouldn't ya know it, landed safe and sound. They put a brand new episode of "Big Bang Theory," online instead of broadcasting it's premier first. This was certainly risky because they could have dropped many of their t.v. viewers when they showed an unseen episode online first. But, to many watching eye's dismay, CBS had not lost a significant amount of viewers.

Along with these surprising results comes an indirect hurdle. Advertisers are now turning their eyes on the Internet. With the uprising of t.v. shows on the Inter web, comes the migration of ads from t.v. to online. I have a hunch that outlines the development of ads in online. I predict that in some distant (or not) future will come the equilibrium of online ads with the current amount of ads on television right now. I would instinctively think that this would be a negative occurrence. Upon recollection, i would have to say that this is inevitable. With a new medium comes some expected and unexpected reverberance.

Connecting to Korea

Korea Debut

The expansion and breaking through of social networking sites depends on a on a few different things: 1) The Look of the site. 2) The Ease with which these sites are user friendly. 3) Basically the cultural context has a big part to play as well.

In reference to these site's looks i would have to say, and agree with this article, that MySpace has been treading on the design frontier. It's image is now a little generic for the everyday user, in my opinion. Facebook is not significantly far ahead of myspace with respect to customization capabilities, however Facebook is not cluttered with advertisments either. I do believe that is a milestone in the differences MySpace and Facebook have with each other.

The second point has to deal with how user friendly MySpace is. I would have to say that MySpace being the leader in the online social networks would have to stand to reason that it does well when talking about user compatablility. However cluttered with irrelevant adverstising MySpace may appear, it is still on top of the few big networks.

The final point that i have mentioned was the cultural point of view. Word-of-mouth definitly helps these social orginizations to flourish. I think that it's the company that gets talked about more often that leads the competition, personally. In Korea, their superior technology and design capacities make it a haven for dull or boring websites to fish for some new material. In this article MySpace is doing just that. Whether this is good or bad, i'm not sure. I personally view the reaping of one's culture, in any aspect, a negative happening. But, if MySpace and Korea could benefit from this merger then i would have to say go for it.

UPD Out of Control

Exclusive China

Leaving China Out of Wikipedia

This is a pretty important article when it comes to the review of our global Inter Web scheme. The article tells that China is excluded in the Wikipedia environment and even those who are able to get around these barricades using proxies still are subject to the title of vandals. By vandals i mean recognized as proxy using entities, which are turned away if willing to correct a mistake in some area of information.

The article makes a good point exemplifying the fact that China (largest country of people) is unable to put their input into these "global" indexes. Let alone all of the individuals who do not have access to the Inter Web. China or the caregivers of Wikipedia have to do something if they want to have a optimally unified source of global information. If this is accomplished there would many more inclusions in the area of Chinese culture and an increasingly valid website.

As a global community we should work as diligently as we can to support that very title: A Global Community. I do understand that this is certainly a long-shot. But we have to face the facts; if we are to become anywhere near sustainable we have to work together in this finite world to care and respect each other. Or at least be able to do some research on your own culture on Wikipedia for God's sakes.

New Intel

Advancements in Intel

A large part of my posts are about hand-held gadgets. From the one end of the spectrum (getting phone signals through your spine), to the other (the enhancing of many types of new media on a handheld). However, the business Intel is doing it's best to keep up with these new advances and trying to do so appears to be not the easiest thing to do.

This article describes the future of our hand-devices. It claims that Intel has recently come out with new developments on our "personal digital assistants." For example, they have come out with devices that could quite possibly not require any "hunt and pecking," as the article describes. But sensored movements and almost intangible capabilities is what they are after.

On a personal level this is a scary foretelling of some bad circumstances. People keep saying that there needs to be more of and larger leaps and bounds in the media medium. However if people keep making the inanimate machines clever enough to the point where we almost don't have to even move in order to go see a movie, order some food buy new clothes i think this "intelligence," says the article, could put our procrastinating mind sets into an even more prolonged state of inobligation. With respect to getting things done for ourselves. Insted of having my cell phone inside of my head.

Google Demographics

The Wrong Way to Demographics

Google really can't help being #1 can they? Apparently Google's new way of advertising just doesn't match up to the traditional demographic aims. However, Google's poor feedback may just be due to site-seer's nonchalant attitude as they wave-off or pass over ads. As an ex-Myspacer i can say first hand that all of those flashy ads and annoying commercials that popped up went in one ear/eye and out the other. I'm quite positive that I'm not alone in this type of behavior as well.

Yet, having specifically targeted demographics that are not just focused on generalities like location, but personal enough to get down to the users themselves just might give Google the edge....i think. Targeting specific qualities like this will certainly give the participant the advantage in the most dramatic way possible. I can say that i have had it up to hear *points to neck* with those annoying ads that barricade my way into my social life, however i can also say that they're quite effective if targeted to qualifications user-to-user. The author said it best it think, "They need to seem less like blaring come-ons and more like social invitations."

Teleportation

Glitches in Teleporting

This article describes an even deeper delving into the art that is online searching. Google has made it possible to search for a site, and at the same time (hypothetically), search within that site. This is certainly all well-and-good for the everyday, online customer; however there are some adverse side effects that come with this efficiency, as the article explains.

The positive: speedy, precise and concise searches. The negative: the presence of competing sites/agencies. In the detailed visuals the article provides you can see that when searching for a particular item/subject within a site there is the possibility of competing websites to be alternative sources for the same item/subject. This is good for the consumer, having an array of choices at ones disposal. However bad for the intended sites searched, having competition blatantly displayed right next to the targeted search. The author of the article makes an extremely valid point though. To avoid this problem being any more harmful than initially seen, the targeted sites could "optimize" their search capabilities within their sites. Making search in their web sites as user friendly as possible is the only way that these organizations could possibly withstand the negative capabilities of teleporting.

Ken L. Burns

WOW

Where are the Boundries?

I have experienced the symptoms and circumstances of playing this online game World of Warcraft. My roomate actually plays quite often, which is apparently what happens to most, and i have had to subside some issues i have had with this game before.

This is actually hard to talk about when you know someone that has found this neccessity with this game. As the article states some psychologists have begun studying this and similar programs and their adverse affects on relationships with these individuals. They say that the endorphins could lead to some psychological dependency. If a particular individual didn't have the best social life and wasn't the best looking in the bunch then this endorphin release mixed with the successful feelings you get when you lead a big group of people into battle and come out on top could cause some deep twisted feelings of accomplishment. It's almost scary to see what these types of simulations can do to actual people when it is ultimately the underlying reason for some parts of personl degredation.

Facebook Folk

Facebook/Parents

(Leno Voice) So have you heard of this, parents are now befriending their sons and daughters on the Internet site Facebook? What's next, are parents going to be going to frat party's soon or what...?

I know, not very funny. However iiiiiinteresting. Parents have established, as i quaintly refer to them as, "Kid-Watcher" progarms on and offline now. Now the need for parental supervision has reached the point of no return....unless they delete their profiles. All humor aside it certainly does show the desperation that some parents are willing to go through to keep their kids in line. However, Facebook vets know that there are ways around their parents viewing aaaallll of their after school activities. For example blocking/limiting what they may veiw on their page. But, i would assume, suspision would arise from this. Techno wiz kids have ways around this threat, however this example shows the expansion of technology, even if it is into the clutches of evel hands.

Anonymous

Kentucky/Anonymous Bill

This is an interesting story for a couple of reasons. 1) This could be quite devastating to the aspects of the Inter Web where anonymity reigns. The biggest example i could concoct was comments on blogs and similar types of sites. Apperently there is quite a lot of bullying going on on the Internet as the article suggests. I myself am not too keen on the whole virtual bullying situation going on, however i would assume that it is a problem in certain areas. Yet, i haven't been so exposed to it myself. However much a drawback it is to anonymity, as there are to many different aspects of the internet, it is deffinitly a tool to be used to shed different perspectives on an aray of subject matters.

2) Charging someone for others' free opinions on the Web. I reiterate, i have not experienced this bullying myself, but if it is as big a problem as could be then it should be delt with accordingly. But c'mon, freedom os speech man!

Latest From Apple

Apple's Latest

I'm not gonna try to hide the fact that there are certainly many words that appear to be jargon to me in this article. But the thing i do take away from it is that now there are programs which are comprable to the latest editions of web surfing, digital design and programming.

There's mention of many different orginizaitons changing their entire programming databases to house this monumental creation. Which includes some Universities even. One of my proffessors (Dr. Cecil) mentioned that this was one of the only ways that we can change the technological world in a profound way: to be able to apply new improvements to old applications. For example, the iPhone technology has pushed the limits with touch screen and multimotion technology in a handheld device (of course in the most practical way - thanks apple). Now these new capabilities have the potential to rewire entire universities. That's impressive.

Internet Revolution

Cell Phone Revolution

This case is quite the interesting one. Apparently some girl had lost her phone in a taxi in NYC. The culprit who had taken the phone out of the taxi had refused to give the phone back after being tracked down. Then the victim publicized her plight on the interweb and received enormous feedback and assistance in pressuring the authorities in NYC to hunt down the phone and assist our victim.

The author of this article makes some interesting (and extravagant) points: "The Internet will transform the world everywhere groups of people come together to accomplish something, which is everywhere." In short this is describing the revolutionary power that the Internet has in response to this case and many potential cases in the future. The author claims that this case shows that people can unintentionally form groups and "organizations" when there is no obvious intention to form these groups. When people come together in this way: across cultures and countries, it is truly a defining moment for the technology that grounded these mass movements. The InterWeb.

"The argument I'm making is that the Internet isn't a decoration to contemporary society -- it's a challenge to it. " This statement is certainly concrete reinforcement for the power of our technology, our global relationships stemming from said technology.

Audio Session

Lower Thrids

Text/Transistions

Tax Dollars Being Spent Frivolously

Earmarks = Evil?

Besides the fact that this story is valiantly exploitatious, it says a lot for the good graces the Internet has to offer. This story is basically about the ambiguous expenditure of citizen's cash out of citizen's pockets. Senators are spending upwards of millions of dollars every year to fund what they have covertly dubbed "Earmarks".

However low, decieving or down right inappropriate these Earmarks are, this story also shows us a big advantage the InterWeb has to offer. David Heath, Seattle Investigative Reporter, used the oppurtunity of the InterWeb in an ingenious fasion. As Heath tried to track down all of these mysterious funds, he eventually came to the conclusion that there are no open-access, or even clear documents of the total spending of Earmarks by the members of Congress. So he went ahead and made one. It states in the article that Heath has now created a, i'm not exactly sure if it's a website, however some form of documentation of this inexplicable spending that is now easily accessible to the public.

Like Our Secret Service Needs To Be More Secret

2-Way Microphone Headset

The title of this article is a little bit deceiving. At first i thought this was just going to be another Patriot Act-like creation from the government. To my dismay, watch the video on this site and you'll understand. The way they presented this product in the video it seem almost a mockery of any type of spy gadgetry.

In any case, advancements like these, especially in the round-table, business world are definitely an advantage for the over zealous business person. Even if you don't sit in conferences on a daily basis, i personally think that this little do-dad could be extremely fun. On the other end of the spectrum this device could certainly be quite invasive. If you don't want a certain person(s) hearing certain pieces of information, i think this little guy could upset quite a few individuals.

Pakistan Limits Internet

Pakistan/You tube

This is a pretty interesting story....except for this quote from Wahaj-us-Siraj, the convener of the Association of Pakistan Internet Service Providers: "The government has valid reason for that, but they have to find a better way of doing it. If we continue blocking popular websites, people will stop using the Internet."

I agree with the beginning of this statement. Yes, the government does have a legitimate reason for putting up these walls in the virtual world, but that's just theoretical. Banning the entirety of You tube from an entire nation? Seems a bit much wouldn't you say? That's my first order of beef; second, the end part of Siraj's statement: "...people will stop using the Internet." Pardon my french but that's a bunch of BS. I'm sure an outrage would ensue, however the notion that people, an entire nation even, would stop using the Inter Web is quite feasibly impossible. BBC Journalists....get a clue.

Chroma Key Exercise

Google/Yahoo demographics don't lie

Google/Yahoo

This is kind of a vicious little motiff that just will not go away. This barrier has been a hard one to cross, and i'm referring to the "label" barriers. It's always difficutl to get rid of an annoying tradition like this and trying to become a global community, but do we have to keep pointing it out? I know, i know, it does make headlines, however, there are certain aspects that need to be focused on more.
With this divergence in the search engine community being brought to the forefront, it certainly explains a lot of the "buying out's" that are happening in the Web World. It's almost just a shadow of an element of the capitalist world (we love so much): Merging of corporations is as leymen as i can put it. Which obviously hurts the lower laborer more so than our masses-loving, headstrong leaders...that we love so much.

Micro-scope

Microsoft's Telescope

This is another huge step in the potential of the global-wide-web. We are able to look at pictures and videos of tiny microrganisms, and now being able to pan far reaches of space is a giant leap.
The article does also mention something about terabits. Understanding the measurements of these giant projects also creates a better appreciation for these particular advances. Creating a better understanding of these projects creates a more engaged audience (aka: ourselves as students). How bout that, a real world use from these major classes already! But on a more serious note: what an opportunity for the average person to be able to generate a globabl citizen thought process! I have a theory. I think that, if more attention was put, this "simple" program could do some global good. Putting yourself in perspective with the Earth and how, comparativly, small we really are.

Hot or Not is Hot

Hot or Not is apparently Hot

The only thing i really have to say about this article is...wow. In this day and age the hottest sites on the market are sites that are strictly devoted to being judgemental? I suppose the only people that engage in these types of activites are there by their own free will, and probably know full well what the consequences of being a part of this are.

(I have a hot or not account myself)

China Ban Potentially Lifted

China/Olympics

This story is interesting for a couple different reasons. One it shows how technologically specific we have become. We now have the potential to block certain items from being searched on the internet, which in and of itself is astounding. Number two, it shows that there are even underlying cultural aspects in regards to the interweb. In our history cultures have clashed for many different reasons and in this particular situation the battlefield is invisible. I'm sure that there will definitly be some controversial repercussions from this.

Transitional Video

Monkey Underpants

Google fearing the Microsoft Expansion

Google "David or Goliath?"

With the merger of Microsoft and Yahoo comes the competition factor. With the comments on this sites page you can see the indecision of the masses in action. However, i think there is a heavy favor for the "Pro-Merger" side. I personally think that this is a bad move, however competition-thriving it would be, it would just be promoting Monopolistic firms once again. I do not believe that Google is the "new" goliath, i think that we should stop the combining of these super-net powers and keep to the individual graces of each; otherwise, the internect could be on a downward spiral of corruption itself....Dun Dun Duuuuuun!

Hybrid Escalade

Hybrid Escalade for MVP of Super Bowl

For the 2008 Super Bowl MVP they awarded an '09 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. Apperently it gets around 18 miles to the gallon and has a 40% fuel efficiency increase from the previous models. This peeked my interest, number one, because i love Cadillacs in general. Number two, this is great advertising for Hybrids all-around. There was, again, a record number of people watching the SB this year, and with all those eyes there is deffinitely some people that this could directly affect.

first day on the job

2nd to last week in January,

I begin staring at the vast depth of this mechanical brain. The desires for knowledge in this tangible world comes without price; but what is lacking monetarily is redeemed with the everlasting consumption of time. Never retreating, never backing down, alwasy trudging forward in the muck and disillusions that consume the subconscience.