Final Posts & Projects

Today is our last day of class, crazy how fast the semester flies by!

Final post - How did you cope without power for the weekend? What technology did you miss most? How significant of a role does technology play in your life? (5 sentence answer)

Final Project - Write a two-page, size 12, double spaces, 1" margin paper on "How Technology Affects My Life".  Please use specific examples as well as broad statements. Our exam is scheduled for WEDNESDAY, May 11th at 9:00AM so you can come writte it during those two hours or simply drop it off at that time. EVERYONE MUST BE PRESENT AT 9AM.

Evaluations - If you missed class on Wednesday please log on to the following site and complete the short survey, your answers really do matter!!! www.surveymonkey.com/s/8ykm2b3

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 5 weeks old.  Post the links to the articles you reviewed.

Hacking
Royal wedding
Sales & stocks
Computer worms
Smart phones
Facebook
Social networking
Google
Technology unvieling
Twitter

Tablet Take-over

Tablets are the hot item in electronics right now and are currently taking over the technology industry.  Read the following article about just how fast their popularity is growing.  Also, tablets are so small and user friendly it has been suggested that they will be popping up in unfamiliar places before we know it.  The second article is about one such example.  Read both articles.  What do you think? Do you own a tablet already? If so, what kind and what do you think about it? If not, do you plan on getting one in the near future and what is appealing about tablets? What are some other uses you can think of for tablets? What are some pros and cons to the current technology boom?

http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/19/technology/tablet_forecasts/index.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/04/20/server.tablet.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?

 

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

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.  After you are done this you must respond to someone's post....start off by stating their name and then share your thoughts! Have fun and find something that interests you!

GOOGLE

What did you find out?

Career Ambitions

Everyone has been asked the cliche question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" a hundred times but have you ever stopped to really consider your options?  The job market is limitless and often the "secret", unconsidered jobs are the ones that have opportunities to make millions.  Read the following articles.  Have you ever considered these jobs? What did you find interesting about these articles?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/04/04/job.facebook.mashable/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/04/05/silicon.valley.job.market/index.html

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 others have 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?

When the word "technology" is discussed we often start talking about computers, tv's, and other thing we use every day but the truth is that technology extends far beyond things we commonly encounter.  The following is an article about Mercury and the technology used to capture pictures of our solar system.  Read the article and share a thought or two about it.  Then think of another "outside the box" use for technology.  Find a related article and post the link as well as a couple sentences about how the techonolgy is used, what it is, and how it affects our society.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/29/first-image-of-mercury-from-orbit-released/?hpt=C2

People used to think it was amazing if you had a phone at your house...

And now its not unusual to find a 10 year old with their own cell phone.  Things we think are common parts of everyday life were once some sci-fi dream that people thought would never happen. Here is a few things that today we might think are bizzare but might be common place at your 20 year high school reunion.  Which do you think is most likely to become a reality? Why?  Choose three of the inventions and discuss how you think they will affect society.  What will they replace? How will the aid people? How will the hinder our current way of life?

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/03/25/science.fiction.kaku/index.html

Japan Nuclear Disaster

The news is currently jam packed with stories relating to the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in reccent days.  This is a tragedy on so many levels.  Read the following article on the effects of radiatin on humans.  Several nuclear power plants were damaged in this disaster and it is now leading to a nation-wide state of emergency.  After you have read the article search other news outlets (CNN, Global news, Yahoo, etc.) and find three more related articles on various problems Japan is facing.  Paste each link in a post and summarize each article under each link.  You will be asked to share your findings with the class.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/21/japan.radiation.food.risk/index.html?hpt=T2

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?

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

What are you searching?

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

More Facebook, more self-esteem?

Read the article.  Do you think what the researches found is generally true? Why or why not?  How many hours a week do you spend on Facebook or other similar networking sites? Do you feel that these hours benifit your self-esteem? Do you often feel better abou yourself after you've read something nice someone wrote on your wall or relived a fun moment in pictures? Share your thoughts.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/03/01/facebook.self.esteem/index.html?iref=NS1

Apps Apps Apps

It seems that applications are becoming a part of every thing in society.  We've all heard the phrase "There's an app for that" and it is becoming more and more true with every passing day.  Last night was the Oscars, read the following article about "aps" at the Oscars. Which of the apps would you be most likely to use? Also, do you have any applications installed on your phone, computer, etc. that you use regularly? Finally, state one app you would like to see created and explain briefly how it would potentially work.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/02/25/oscars.apps/index.html

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 (Post topic to blog today)
Information - 20 points
Presentation - 15 points
Use of class time - 10 points
Total - 50 points

Presentation date: Wednesday, February 16tth

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

Super Tech Super Bowl

Did you watch the Super Bowl yesterday?  Did you notice all the technology that is used to make the game the "ultimate experience"?  What did you notice and how has this changed over the last few years?  Also, what would a Super Bowl be without the ads.  Which one was your favorite?  In case you missed them here is a link to a few of the top ones.

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/the-buzziest-super-bowl-ads-of-2011--2278

Read the following article about some of the high tech tools integrated into the Super Bowl presentation.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/02/03/super.bowl.technology/index.html

What do you think about these advances?  Do you enjoy the things they add to the experience?  What is your favorite technology related aspect of the Super Bowl and why?

Scan or pat down?

Most people dread the time when they get to the front of the line at the airport security terminal?  The time when you might get searched from head to toe or you might walk through the detector and head to the coffee shop in seconds.  Read the follow article.  How would these body scans make you feel? Is this a good alternative?  What are some pros and cons? Share your thoughts!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/02/01/airport.body.scans/index.html?hpt=T2

Good bye checks and credit 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?

How to be a millionaire before you're 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

Advertising overload?

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

What did you like about last year? Here's some lists of what others thought...

Top 10's of 2010

With the new year getting started "Top 10" lists continue to pile up reviewing what was hot and what was not for 2010.  Time in partership with CNN presents The Top 10 Everything.  Visit the following website, click on "Business and Tech", and then chose the "Top 10 Gadgets".  Read all 10 of the gadegets and then chose the THREE that interest you the most.  Briefly explain why they interest you and how you feel they changed our society this year.  Also, pick one more Top 10 list to review, post the topic and which of the items was your favorite on that list and why you chose it.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2035319,00.html?hpt=C2#biz

New year, new class!

Welcome to Social Implications of Technology the Spring 2011 edition.  Find a news article that interests you. Copy and paste the link to the article you found as a reply to this blog.  Have you ever blogged before and what do you think of blogging?