http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/25/6134104-horrible-facebook-app-breaks-up-relationships
In today's age of online social networks, dating, and life in general, it's hardly surprising to learn that technology has once again crossed the line in its involvement in our lives. But even with everything I've heard of and seen, this new application by Facebook is still very shocking to me. This new Facebook app called "WaitingRoom" allows its users to let their love interests know that they are waiting for them to become available and leave messages for them. In order for the said love interest to find out who's been leaving them messages, they must change their relationship status on Facebook to "Single" for at least 48 hours.
The app uses natural human curiosity to fuel the service, but it also has the potential to break apart relationships and get outside intruders involved in relationships like never before. I think that in this case, the app has taken things too far. Sure, it may be somewhat fun and a good idea, but in the long term, it is exploiting natural curiosity and causing trouble for established couples.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
How One School District Is Keeping Kids From Cutting Class
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/19/california-school-district-uses-gps-students-cutting-class/
Currently there is a new program in place in the Anaheim Union High School District that will hopefully reduce the number of unexcused absences in the school district. Seventh and eighth graders that have had four or more unexcused absences will be given a hand-held GPS device that will track the students' location 5 times a day - the time the depart for school, the time they arrive at school, lunch time, depart from school, and at 8:00pm. The students are required to punch in a code at each of these specified times which will in turn transmit data on the location of the student at the time the code was punched in.
I think this is a fantastic way of using technology to help with a societal problem - in this case, the troubling and chronic absences of students from school in this particular district. Of course, it come with a cost, and in this case a high one. The cost of the pilot program alone is about $18,000 and if it proves to be effective, the program will be spread to other school districts as well. It is hard to say whether it is worth the cost. It is well-known that California has had budget problems...is it worth reaching deeper into their pockets to help ensure kids go to school?
Currently there is a new program in place in the Anaheim Union High School District that will hopefully reduce the number of unexcused absences in the school district. Seventh and eighth graders that have had four or more unexcused absences will be given a hand-held GPS device that will track the students' location 5 times a day - the time the depart for school, the time they arrive at school, lunch time, depart from school, and at 8:00pm. The students are required to punch in a code at each of these specified times which will in turn transmit data on the location of the student at the time the code was punched in.
I think this is a fantastic way of using technology to help with a societal problem - in this case, the troubling and chronic absences of students from school in this particular district. Of course, it come with a cost, and in this case a high one. The cost of the pilot program alone is about $18,000 and if it proves to be effective, the program will be spread to other school districts as well. It is hard to say whether it is worth the cost. It is well-known that California has had budget problems...is it worth reaching deeper into their pockets to help ensure kids go to school?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Global data storage calculated at 295 exabytes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12419672
The news article reports on the amazing amount of data that is stored in the world...it's such a huge amount that the article uses all sorts of images to help illustrate just how much data there is, which really help and make the number (295 exabytes) that much more digestible.
295 exabytes is equal to about 1.2 billion average-sized hard drives and if the data were stored in books, the books would cover a country the size of the United States or China in 13 layers of books.
Another note, who's even heard of an exabyte? The word exabyte itself still comes up as needing to be spell-checked. But an exabyte is a real thing and is equal to one billion bytes. Definitely hard to fathom.
Interestingly enough, the article still makes sure to mention that in terms of the nature, our own information processing and storage capacities are much greater and much more compact than any that technology has created. "The Human DNA in one single body can store around 300 times more information than we store in all our technological devices" according to one doctor cited in the article.
Obviously we are making huge bounds forward in terms of technological advancement, but I still think it's important to remember that we are not gods as a result of our humanly creations...in fact there's so much more contained in just one person.
The news article reports on the amazing amount of data that is stored in the world...it's such a huge amount that the article uses all sorts of images to help illustrate just how much data there is, which really help and make the number (295 exabytes) that much more digestible.
295 exabytes is equal to about 1.2 billion average-sized hard drives and if the data were stored in books, the books would cover a country the size of the United States or China in 13 layers of books.
Another note, who's even heard of an exabyte? The word exabyte itself still comes up as needing to be spell-checked. But an exabyte is a real thing and is equal to one billion bytes. Definitely hard to fathom.
Interestingly enough, the article still makes sure to mention that in terms of the nature, our own information processing and storage capacities are much greater and much more compact than any that technology has created. "The Human DNA in one single body can store around 300 times more information than we store in all our technological devices" according to one doctor cited in the article.
Obviously we are making huge bounds forward in terms of technological advancement, but I still think it's important to remember that we are not gods as a result of our humanly creations...in fact there's so much more contained in just one person.
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