Google's New Music Search

Finally, to our final blog! This one is dedicated to our final project: the new technology pitch.

I looked around for a while on gizmag.com, trying to find something that really interested me. I really enjoy finding and experiencing new music, so when Google's new music search popped up, I was hooked.

I know that regular searches allow you to look for music by artist name, song and ablum title. But, what if you're like me and can only recall a few words to a new song I like and want to download? That's where Google's new search comes in!

The search allows you to type in a few words to a song, and it brings up the most relevant info to the lyrics you searched. A video will often pop up,or you'll be directed to a site like Imeem that partnered with Google. On this site, you can then learn more about the song/artist or purchase the song.

Woah! Awesome for someone, like me, who is always searching for new music but can never remember the words

Sippin' Rocks= No More Crunching on Ice Cubes

I know one of the things I enjoy about having a cocktail is chewing on the ice cubes as I sip. However, having those cubes in the glass poses one problem: cocktail dilution. I hesitate paying upwards of $8 for a cocktail that I'm going to sip and have it diluted before I even get halfway through.

A recent invention may be the answer to that: Sippin' Rocks! These 'rocks' are squares made of high quality granite that are frozen a few hours before needed. You simply (yet carefully) put two of the rocks in your cocktail and poof! you have a drink that won't get diluted. (Warning label: no chewing, unless you like visiting your dentist!)

While a neat idea, I think whomever invented these nifty 'rocks' could have thought more about the market... They are handsome 'rocks'- for a guy. I just can't see a woman sipping a cocktail with large granite squares inside.

Who knows, maybe I have to try them to believe in them!

End of Pap Smear Testing? Woah!

If you are female, you know the pain and discomfort of a pap smear test...If you are male, you're pretty lucky to not have to know what a pap smear is like.
An emerging technology (and one that was presented on today in COM 435) may take some of that pain and discomfort away- yay!

Zilico has come out with a portable pap smear device that sends out a mild electrical current that reads how the current flows through cervical cells. This device provides instant feedback instead of the several week long wait of a normal pap smear. Also, the device checks for cervical cancer- a huge plus, because cervical cancer kills thousands of women each year.

This device looks like a space machine, and may be a little overwhelming for a young women abotu to recieve her first pap. However, if this "space machine" can provide instant feedback for women, why not try it?

Raising Children via Wii-mote

In looking around for my new technology for the presenation, I found this new toy for young girls: a Wii Baby! What will they come up with next?

This toy consists of an average looking baby doll, except it isn't. The average baby doll I played with as a child did not have a Wii-mote hooked into its back. This Wii baby has 18 modes of play, and communicates with the child via giggling, gurgling or crying. You can rock it to sleep and even teach it to walk!

Personally, I think the folks at Wii are going a little too far. Young teens are already having babies at alarmingly early ages... Society doesn't need little children wanting kids because they can "take care of" their Wii baby.

http://www.gizmag.com/wii-baby-and-me-nintendo/13400/

Shark Tank

I have to admit, I am somewhat anxious about the Technology Pitch this morning- and for a few reasons.
It seems there has been some confusion on the actual technology we are supposed to pitch. In recitation, it seemed that we could pitch even a technology that we created ourselves. However, an email recieved last night said we were pitching a technology that already existed and was ready to move to market. My team and I had already decided on our technology and moved forward with it, and even though it is something we created, we decided to move forward with it.
Also, I think there was some confusion on who would talk during the presentation. My teammates and I had split our presentation into two presenters, but the email we recieved last night said it wasn't recommended. So, wonderful Mike Sheehy volunteered to speak on behalf of our group. Thanks Mike!

After having watched Shark Tank in class, my group thought we would be walking into a similation of that show... So, we tried to prepare for anything!

For anyone that doesn't know what Shart Tank is, check it out:
http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/

My New Blackberry

So, I finally broke down and bought the next 'crave' in phones: the Blackberry. For months, I've heard people talk about how it is so amazing to be so connected to several, if not all, their email accounts, facebook, as well as the Web. My friends would receive emails on their phones in class, while I'd have to wait til the next chance I had to sit down at my laptop to check mine. What's the weather going to be like? Oh, let me check my Blackberry...and on and on.
I have to admit, for the first few days, I was amazed at how my new phone worked. I had so many options, could readily surf the Web, and let me tell you how excited I was when I'd get an email...woah. It was awesome to be so connected- I felt like I had finally caught up with current times.
However, I feel differently now. Although I have learned to manage my phone settings, I don't necessarily enjoy receiving emails at all hours of the day. I like being in the know, but 24/7 is a bit much for me. I miss the days when I could take a day to respond to an email, because the sender didn't know when I'd next check my mail. Now, it seems, that people assume others have email attached to their phones, and can answer their request within the hour.
I don't enjoy being so connected. It makes me wonder, are people getting too attached to their technology?
I remember before I had this phone, I had friends who wouldn't put their Blackberries down. I would be talking to them while they'd pretty much be having another conversation with/on their phone. I felt out of touch- where did person to person communication go?
Now, I feel like I've become one of those people I disliked. With this new technology at my fingertips, I am constantly checking my phone to read an email or surf the web. It truly is like an addiction- an addiction I no longer want to have!

Wiki Midterm Review

I have to say I really like the idea of a class wiki effort for the midterm study guide. In one of the powerpoint slides, the activity was described as "an opportunity to learn how to use a tool and actively produce something that will help you learn and prepare." I honestly don't think it could have been explained any better, because that is exactly what we were able to do.

The wiki allowed us to learn by doing. We were given direction on what subject to post on, and from there we were on our own to figure out what needed to be posted and how to post it. I learn best by doing, so putting my portion of the midterm on the wiki really made some of the things we've talked about in lecture click for me (i.e. hypertext)

I loved being able to toy around with things on the site, as it took me a few tries before I could actually figure out how to make a link (I didn't think the directions made much sense as I followed them). However, I eventually was able to make my own links and add the info of which I was assigned.

I liked the fact that we all could collaborate to one site, and it made it easier to study. I do wish, however, that we would have had more of an idea of exactly what we needed to ellaborate on. Maybe next time, a posting of an actual study guide outline would be helpful, and then we as students can go in, make each outline line a link and add bulk that is helpful for studying.

Geocaching Hunt

What a fun activity!
Having the class go on a geocache was an awesome way to put to practice some of the things we learned in lecture...definitely a more interesting way to put our knowledge to use. More activities like this would be greatly appreciated.

My group was sent to the clue that was supposed to throw the team for a loop. After we received our gps, we followed its direction to the south part of campus by the Union, where we found our clue under a rock. It was interesting to me to watch the gps recalculate the line we were supposed to follow as we moved...there were a couple of times we had to stop and wait on it to re-load the line because we had moved too fast or gone in the wrong direction (because of buildings).

Before the classroom activity, I read up online and watched the video that was posted to acclamate us to what we were going to experience. I have to say, when that movie comes out, I will definitely go see it.

It also makes me want to do a larger scale geocache...I find it fascinating that people would lwant to hide some type of treasure for others to find. I think it shows how far we have come as a human race that we are willing to pop in coordinates and hunt for someone else's treasure. It also amazes me that technology has led us this far, and makes me very curious to see where it might lead us in the future!

Online Identity

The discussion from our first critical thinking paper really got me thinking about how I judge other people's online identities, especially on Facebook because I frequent it the most.
I thought about initially adding a new friend, and how I judge their identity from the friend accept. When I add a new friend, I come to understand their online identity through the information they post about themselves in the "About Me" section of their profile. After reading through that section, I know all the information they choose to disclose about themselves and how they view who they are. If they disclose more personal information, I conclude that they are more open and honest, and also may seek friends who disclose just as much as they do. If they don't disclose as much information, I conclude that they may not open up as easily, have something to hide, or do not view Facebook as the place to get to know others. However, I take that section with a grain of salt because I know people only list the positive aspects of themselves, even if they only list a few.
Next, I look a bit closer to the applications they have on their page and what I think those say about an individual. Usually, I can see what organizations are important to them through the applications they list on their page.
I'll check out what they write on shared friends' walls, or what they allow people to post on their own wall. I feel that a more private person will not allow huge amounts of public displays of information and for that reason may not have a wall at all. However, I have noticed that some people update their status frequently with their actions throughout the day.
Finally, any interaction I have with them online will be judged too. Certain words they might use, as well as icons will be taken into consideration when I message them on Facebook chat. I can try to judge how they are feeling or what they are truly thinking depending on those things.
However, I think it is very hard to gain a sense of an identity online, no matter the site used. There are so many personal cues that are missed out on because people are communicating via a computer instead of face-to-face that one can never truly know how the person on the opposite end feels. That is why I try my best not to form a final judgement of a person's identity until I can meet them in person.
Which brings to mind an important question: What if I can never meet them in person? If that is the case, I will seriously consider the information I share with them online until I get to a point where I feel I can read the words they choose and understand exactly what they meant by those words. I would very closely examine the words they choose, also. I think getting to know someone's online identity would take a very long time, and with much examination.

First Blog Ever!

I feel even more connected to the world now (As if Facebook wasn't enough...)
It is amazing to me how connected one could choose to be if they wished. I do think this format is neat though, that a person could share his/her thoughts with thousands of others who could quote and link the blog with theirs. Interesting way to get your ideas out there, if you think about it...