Good bye checks, good bye debit cards...hello Cell phones?

There is a new push in the consumer world that involves using mobile devices to make financial payments.  With this option consumers can possibly replace their cards and checks, even their PayPal account, with a simple mobile phone program.  Read the following article about this advancement.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/12/03/gahran.mobile.payment/index.html

What do you think about this?  Is it something that you think will end up becoming a reality?  Would you feel comfortable using this system?  What are three interesting things you learned from this article?

What are you searching?

Directions: There is no class this Thursday (December 2nd) however there will be a blog entry required for that day.  After reviewing the articles answer the questions and add any thoughts you have regarding the articles.  Next, respond to a classmate's post.  Be polite and repsectful but feel free to openly debate topics.  Have a great weekend!

As a society we are somewhat obsessed with searching the internet for information about any topic under the sun.  Personally as soon as I am questioning something I turn to Google or Yahoo for the answer.  Things such as song lyrics, mathematic conversions, weather, the relationship status of a celeb, etc.  The options are endless.  What are three things you regularly search on the internet? Read the following article.  How many of the Top 10 have you searched this year?  Which of the Top 10 interests you the most and why?  Which is the least likely for you to search?  How do you think our instant searching habbits are changing society?  Do you think the constant and virtually instant access to information allowed by technology is a good or bad thing? Why?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/12/01/yahoo.most.searched.terms/index.html

Cyber Monday

I hadn't heard of this until today!

http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/30/technology/cyber_monday/index.htm

What are some of the benifits to online shopping? What are some of the drawbacks? How do you think this could change to consumer mentality towards purchasing?  How would an increase in online shopping affect our society?

http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/29/technology/cyber_monday/index.htm

Black Friday - Happy Thanksgiving!

The Friday after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is the most hyped shopping day in America.  Stores advertise mind-blowing discounts on some of our favorite products and if you are able to conquer the long lines the extreme savings are usually worth the headache.  This is also the event that gets most people thinking about Christmas shopping! :) Read the article about the 5 hot gadget trends for the holidays.  Which gadget would you add to your list?  Why?

www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/11/19/gadgets.holiday.shopping/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Happy Thanksgiving!

advertisement bombardment

Everyday we as a society visit million of websites.  What we often don't notice though is all the advertisements we are viewing. Companies pay marketing agencies and websites billions of dollars a year to "get their name out there".  Go to a website you find interesting (post a link to this blog).  Look through the page and take note of the advertising.  How many ads are on the homepage? (post this in your response)  Had you ever noticed them before?  Do you use any of the products that are being promoted?

Read the following article.  Would you pay for this service?  Do you think Twitter should charge for this tracking device?  Have you ever thought about how advertising is so integrated into everything we are exposed to on a daily basis?  What is another example of this "subtle" advertising?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/11/18/cashmore.twitter.business/index.html

Hot Topics

You have the first 20 minutes of class to complete the following tasks.

Get in a group.  Chose one of the topics listed below.  Post your group and topic choice to this blog.  Read 2 to 3 articles and give the class an update on current technology advances and how they have impacted society.  Do not read any article that is over 3 weeks old.  Post the links to the articles you reviewed.

Smart phones
Facebook
Flying cars
Social networking
iTunes
Google
Technology Unvieling
Twitter

NO CLASS - Tuesday, November 9

Sorry for the short notice but I will be out of town on Tuesday so we will not be having class! Also, no class (and no school!!!) on Thursday, November 11th due to Veterans day.  Have a great week!

Day light savings time...

Just a little friendly reminder about switching our clocks and how dependent we are on our cell phones.  What are some of the consequences of a glitch like this?  Do you have a clock in your room or a back up alarm of any kind?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/11/01/iphone.alarm.europe/index.html?iref=NS1

Will you complain? Will you make a difference? Will you vote? The subtle effect of our peers actions...

We all look around at society and can see things that we would like to change.  We often get stuck in a rut though that as one single person we can't do anything that will make a difference.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  Something as simple as a smile to the stranger in the hallway or a nice text to your mom can dramatically change someone's day.  Then starts the chain of paying it forward.  The same could be said for voting.  This is a current hot topic in our society right now.  How do the political leaders get the younger generation (us!) to show up at the polls.  Read the following article about one approach to this situation.  Are you planning on voting this year?  What do you think regarding how peer pressure effects our actions?  Are your actions often swayed by what your friends are "reporting" on facebook, twiter, and other technological devices?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/10/28/stewart.colbert.rally/index.html

Something interesting...time traveller?

I just wanted to share this with you because I thought it was really interesting.  Not sure how much I believe it but it will is something to think about...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/10/28/charlie.chaplin.circus.time.travel/index.html

How capabale are robots?

There is a trend in society to constantly strive for an easier and more effective way to complete tasks.  Human performance is often threatened by the creation of a "robot" or machine.  Read the following article about Emily.  Do you see this as a helpful invention or is it over the top?  What do you think some of the pros and cons are to inventions similar to Emily?  List AT LEAST two other "robots" that have been created to replace human roles.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/25/technology/robot_lifeguard/index.htm

How to be a millionaire before you turn 25!

Review the following slide show.  Make sure you read about all 25 people! What are at least three trends you notice from one millionaire to another?  What business idea interests you the most?  Why?  If someone came up to you and offered you a million dollars to tell them your best entrepreneur idea what would your idea be?

http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/slideshows/slideshow_pop.html?nm=YoungMillionaires

Group Project

Choose a topic related to technology in society.  Create a 5 minute power point about that topic.  Include details such as prominent people, pros and cons to society, how it will affect the future, and anything else you think we would be interested to learn about your topic.  Be creative and professional with your presentation.  You may work in groups of 2 or 3.

Topic approval - 5 points
Information - 25 points
Presentation - 15 points
Use of class time - 5 points
Total - 50 points

Presentation date: Tuesday, October 12 


*****Post your topic and group members to this blog today.

Computer Hackers

It doesn't matter whether you are dealing with you personal Facebook account or the computer system of a nuclear power plant hackers are always trying to destroy what you created.  Read the following two articles about computer hackers.

http://theweek.com/article/index/207552/did-the-west-attack-irans-nukes-with-a-computer-worm

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/13225746/facebook-hacking-on-the-rise

Have you or anyone you know ever been the victim of a hacker?  What is the difference between a computer virus and a worm?  Why do you think people get so much enjoyment out of ruining other people's creations?  What are two ways you can protect yourself from hackers?

Same story, different views.

Here is two stories written on the same topic.  What do you think of the story as a whole?  Which side do you see to the story?  What do you think of the cause he donated to?  This needs to be at least 5 sentences long!

http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/23/technology/zuckerberg_donation/index.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/09/23/zuckerberg.donates.money.mashable/index.html

Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel?

This is something your parents and driver ed teachers have been telling you for years but are you really taking their advice?  Read the following article about how car manufacturers are trying to keep up with the latest trends in technology.  Do you you think this is a good idea?  What are some of the pros and cons to their new ideas and integrated car technology?  What does your vehicle currently have factory installed and what other technology do you regularly use that is not "part" of your car?


www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/09/21/smartphones-high-tech-cars-onstar/

Something interesting - Jupiter

Hey this was just something interesting I found that I wanted to share with you.  Look at the sky tonight!



http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20100918/jupiter-approaches-100918/

What's on your mind?

So we've been talking about things I have found on random websites and thought were interesting and applicable to our class for the last few days and now its your turn.  Go to CNN, FOX News, Yahoo, or a similar website and find a technology related article that interests you.  Be creative, it does not have to directly be about computers but has to incorporate technology in some way.  Post the link to this blog then write about why you found it interesting and how it relates to technology.  Also, include one question or thought that you are wondering about regarding the article.  You can use a similar format that I use to start our daily blogs.  Have fun and find something that interests you!

Instant...but necessary?

When it comes to technology in our society people are always wanting faster and "cooler" ways to complete tasks.  Here are two articles about how two commonly used internet tools are moving forward in ways most of us had never even considered.  What do you think of these new changes?  If you could improve or change one thing about both of these applications what would it be?  What do you think about how fast tecnhology in general changes?  Is being able to do "instant" searches something you think is valuable?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/09/09/google.instant.cashmore/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/09/14/cnet.youtube.instant.creator/index.html

Facebook Habits

Sure we all go on facebook a lot and there really are no rules but here are two people's opinions on what is good and bad facebook etiquette.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/09/08/netiquette.facebook.commenting/index.html?iref=NS1

What to you think about what they say?  What is one bad facebook habit you have?  What is one habit that other people do that annoys you?  Would you be worried if your employer viewed your page?

Google

Go to www.google.com.  Take note of the homepage and what is going on.

Read

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/09/07/google.doodle/index.html?hpt=T2

Have you ever noticed the Google homepage before?  What was so memorable about it?  Write a 5 sentence paragraph explaining why you think Google has become such a mainstream topic and how you think it is a part of your life.

Dangerous Technology Careers

Read the following article.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20100902/tc_pcworld/themostdangerousjobsintechnology;_ylt=ArP3XxigYutqbuFL_Kv.JcrHart_;_ylu=X3oDMTNxcmU0YmlqBGFzc2V0A3Bjd29ybGQvMjAxMDA5MDIvdGhlbW9zdGRhbmdlcm91c2pvYnNpbnRlY2hub2xvZ3kEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDdGhlbW9zdGRhbmdl

Which of the jobs would you chose and why?

Tuesday, August 31

Copy and paste the link to the article you found.  Have you ever blogged before and what do you think of blogging?