http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10206051-54.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
Saturday at 8:30, in every time zone, the lights will be out, hopefully. Earth hour was started in Australia 2 years ago and spread throughout the world like wild fire. It is an attempt to save the world by cutting back on our energy dependence. By shutting of all the power for an hour, they hope to save some kilowatts, and save some money. The program is a great idea and a good start towards a greener future.
I think the program has potential to really make a good impact on our society. If everyone turns the lights off in the world at 8:30 til 9:30 in their separate time zone, it has the potential to help our world greatly. I think it is about time that someone started to take some initiative against our growing problem with the environment. I hope that this catches on even bigger and we can soon start going from once a a year doing this to maybe once a month doing it. Then maybe for more than an hour eventually. The Earth Hour has even been endorsed by big celebrities who support it, showing their concern also. Once they endorse it and it becomes more popular, it only gives it more potential to grow.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
How Web 2.0 is changing medicine
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7582/1283
This article was included in my annotated bibliography, which was centered on Web 2.0. This article talked about the ways in which Web 2.0 is changing the medical world today. It talked about how with the increased use of blogs and rss feeds, doctors can update daily and keep in touch with each other in real time. Any new information that is found can be published almost instantly on a doctor's blog.
I think this is very important to the medical world because it really helps the number of resources a doctor has. The more resources the doctor has, the better it is for the patient. I think that we, as patients, benefit the most from this recent update. I also think that we are moving closer to a instantaneous world where everything is updated in real time. The closer and closer we get to having everything be published in real time, the closer and closer we get as a people. As of right now, through social networking and blogs, we could potentially know what everyone we know is doing, at all times. For example, if you make a post on facebook, it gets sent to everyones phone who knows you and has it set up to do that, then they know exactly what you are doing at that time. I think this could be good but also has its down sides too.
This article was included in my annotated bibliography, which was centered on Web 2.0. This article talked about the ways in which Web 2.0 is changing the medical world today. It talked about how with the increased use of blogs and rss feeds, doctors can update daily and keep in touch with each other in real time. Any new information that is found can be published almost instantly on a doctor's blog.
I think this is very important to the medical world because it really helps the number of resources a doctor has. The more resources the doctor has, the better it is for the patient. I think that we, as patients, benefit the most from this recent update. I also think that we are moving closer to a instantaneous world where everything is updated in real time. The closer and closer we get to having everything be published in real time, the closer and closer we get as a people. As of right now, through social networking and blogs, we could potentially know what everyone we know is doing, at all times. For example, if you make a post on facebook, it gets sent to everyones phone who knows you and has it set up to do that, then they know exactly what you are doing at that time. I think this could be good but also has its down sides too.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Google Adds streetview imagery
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13580_3-10173905-39.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
The article I chose was an article that discusses Google's new feature that allows people to upload photos onto the Google Maps application on your phone. You can take a picture of a socially tagged location, such as a memorial building or a restaurant, and upload the picture for others to see. This allows you to find this place more easily.
I think this is a great idea on Google's behalf. It allows users to become more interactive with each other. It is almost as if Google is moving in the direction to become a social networking empire. It is getting its users more involved with each other and allowing them to interact.
This new app is also great for those who travel a lot. If you are in a foreign city on business, for example, you dont want to spend time trying to find the place you need to go. So, you look at your find to verify that you are at the right building, and you can see which person posted the picture and see what other pictures they posted also.
The new feature also makes Google grow as a whole. This is just another step in making Google a broader company. It started as searches only, but then it moved to mail, applications, and much more. The Google company is growing and has potential to do very big things in the future.
The article I chose was an article that discusses Google's new feature that allows people to upload photos onto the Google Maps application on your phone. You can take a picture of a socially tagged location, such as a memorial building or a restaurant, and upload the picture for others to see. This allows you to find this place more easily.
I think this is a great idea on Google's behalf. It allows users to become more interactive with each other. It is almost as if Google is moving in the direction to become a social networking empire. It is getting its users more involved with each other and allowing them to interact.
This new app is also great for those who travel a lot. If you are in a foreign city on business, for example, you dont want to spend time trying to find the place you need to go. So, you look at your find to verify that you are at the right building, and you can see which person posted the picture and see what other pictures they posted also.
The new feature also makes Google grow as a whole. This is just another step in making Google a broader company. It started as searches only, but then it moved to mail, applications, and much more. The Google company is growing and has potential to do very big things in the future.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Microsoft vs. Apple
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/microsoft-to-open-own-retail-stores/341874
It's a tough fight, and while Microsoft is losing to the big rival Apple. As Apple passes Microsoft in the sale of laptops, Microsoft needs new ways to attract (and keep) customers. People are attracted to the Apple concept because of its user-friendly interface and great customer service. Microsoft has lacked in this department so they have made a move to improve in these factors.
While Microsoft opens stores, it could be a great boost for their reputation and profile. Microsoft users will be much more inclined to go back to Microsoft once they see that they can go in and get help with their problems with the operating system.
I think that this was a big step for the future of Microsoft. Without this, I'm not sure if Microsoft had much of a fighting chance at the rate that the Apple company was growing. The Microsoft company made the first step towards become more like its biggest competior, Apple. Now that they have done this, I think that they now have a good chance to become the number one selling operating system on the market.
It's a tough fight, and while Microsoft is losing to the big rival Apple. As Apple passes Microsoft in the sale of laptops, Microsoft needs new ways to attract (and keep) customers. People are attracted to the Apple concept because of its user-friendly interface and great customer service. Microsoft has lacked in this department so they have made a move to improve in these factors.
While Microsoft opens stores, it could be a great boost for their reputation and profile. Microsoft users will be much more inclined to go back to Microsoft once they see that they can go in and get help with their problems with the operating system.
I think that this was a big step for the future of Microsoft. Without this, I'm not sure if Microsoft had much of a fighting chance at the rate that the Apple company was growing. The Microsoft company made the first step towards become more like its biggest competior, Apple. Now that they have done this, I think that they now have a good chance to become the number one selling operating system on the market.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Find out where your kids are at all times!
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090204/ap_on_hi_te/tec_google_people_tracker_6
This article shows how you can find out where your friends and family are at any time through the Google Maps application for you mobile phone. Even though the feature requires you to turn the capability on and off, I still think that it is a serious invasion of privacy.
If someone leaves it on (on accident) after using it or trying it then anyone else can find out where they are. This is a serious threat to people that they may not be aware of. For example, if an adolescent is using it to keep in contact with their parents, and leaves it on while the go play in the park, some type of criminal could come abduct the child or other things of that nature.
On the other hand, it could be beneficial if used in the right context. For example, if your mother has her finding capability turned on, and its her birthday, you can find out where she is and surprise her. Or, if your friend is new to a city ( in this case a campus), you can see where he is and give him directions to your location.
I think the concept behind the new feature to the program is good, but it can easily be used in a bad way.
This article shows how you can find out where your friends and family are at any time through the Google Maps application for you mobile phone. Even though the feature requires you to turn the capability on and off, I still think that it is a serious invasion of privacy.
If someone leaves it on (on accident) after using it or trying it then anyone else can find out where they are. This is a serious threat to people that they may not be aware of. For example, if an adolescent is using it to keep in contact with their parents, and leaves it on while the go play in the park, some type of criminal could come abduct the child or other things of that nature.
On the other hand, it could be beneficial if used in the right context. For example, if your mother has her finding capability turned on, and its her birthday, you can find out where she is and surprise her. Or, if your friend is new to a city ( in this case a campus), you can see where he is and give him directions to your location.
I think the concept behind the new feature to the program is good, but it can easily be used in a bad way.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Google Maps flight Simulator
http://www.programmableweb.com/mashup/google-maps-flight-simulator
This game combines a flight simulator and Google Maps. The program lets you move the plane around the city with the arrow keys. You can change the altitude and where your plane is going. The downside to the game is that you can pick from only 5 cities in the U.S so unless your from a major city, you can't fly around your home town.
This game combines a flight simulator and Google Maps. The program lets you move the plane around the city with the arrow keys. You can change the altitude and where your plane is going. The downside to the game is that you can pick from only 5 cities in the U.S so unless your from a major city, you can't fly around your home town.
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