Article 15- 5/2/10

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Teen-Messing-With-iPod-Drives-Jeep-Into-House-92508979.html

The article I chose to write about this week is titled “Teen Messing with iPod Drives Jeep Into House.” This article is about an 18 year old who was in Long Island and crashed into a house because he looked down to change his iPod to a new song. The article states that there is a thing called shuffle and this could have been avoided. What exactly happened was “The distracted East Islip teenager first slammed his 2005 Jeep into a parked car, then lost control and sped across a few lawns before hitting the house at about 11:30.” The car hit the front of the house all because of a technology tool called the iPod. He ran into a 80 year old lady’s house. The driver received minor injured and the woman was taken to the hospital just in case.

This article affects me in a huge way. It is so scary to see that this can happen from someone looking at his or her iPod. Technology is such a great thing for us to have, but it is scary to know that it can put many people in danger. I think people need to obey the laws and do not text and drive. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/29/scitech/pcanswer/main5274193.shtml stated, “A recently released study by the VirginiaTech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a "crash or near crash event" than "nondistracted driving." This website stated “As per talking on a cell phone, the same study found no increased risk for truck drivers and 1.3 times the risk for car drivers.” These statistics blow my mind to know that texting or looking at an iPod can put someone in so much danger. Technology is definitively a great advancement, but it does have it’s downfalls. I 100% believe in not texting and driving.

Article 14- 4/25/10

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/04/20/2010-04-20_ipad_touchscreen_production_could_be_causing_problem_as_overseas_debut_is_delaye.html

The article I am writing about this week is “iPad touchscreen production could be causing problem as overseas debut the delayed.” It is about apples newest release the Ipad. http://pambihira.net/blog/pambihirang-news/scrutinizing-the-apple-ipad-definition-price-size-features-release-date/ stated that an ipod is “A hybrid of Apple iPhone, Apple iTouch, and a full laptop notebook. You can play games, music, watch movies, browse the Internet, and use applications (but can’t make calls) with the touch screen.” The article has not released the iPad overseas because there is such a high demand for them that they do not have enough to send overseas. Apple did not expect the demand for the iPads to be so high, but they are planning on having a bigger supply of them in the next few weeks. They said that the decision was very difficult to decide because they knew it would set them back. Because of the high demands U.K., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland won’t be able to receive the iPad until the end of next month.

I believe that Apple did make the right choice on holding off on sending the iPads across seas, but I feel as though they should have had enough iPads to send out when they said they would. This does not affect me, but I know it affects everyone in U.K., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. The technology is so high in the United States that they should have been able to produce enough of these in a short amount of time. I am sure that Apple Stores will get a few harsh statements from across seas complaining about the delay of the iPad. I feel as though once they receive the iPad across seas that they will be very thrilled. I’m sure the wait will definitely will be worth its while.

Article 13- 4/18/10

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/194204/facebook_beefs_up_site_against_hackers.html

The article I chose this week is titled “Facebook Beefs up Site Against Hackers.” It is about Facebook employers who want to stop hackers from abusing their social-networking site. There are 400 million registered users who use facebook. Hackers are trying to affect as many of them as they can. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:hacker&ei=7pvLS6vHPIPu9gTz_My6BA&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title&ved=0CAYQkAE stated that a hacker is “A programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to steal or change or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism.” Facebooks security has gone up very much. In 2005 there were only a few people working in the security section, but now as much as up to 10 perfect of their 1,200 employees are involved with the security of their website. Their main focus is to find out where the attack is coming from, not necessarily who is attacking them. The website stated, “Facebook has automated systems that detect when someone is using the site in a way that is different from the normal user.” Facebook is penalizing the hackers with $100 per spam message.
I believe what Facebook is doing is the right thing to do. I have personally experienced a message from someone whose account has been hacked. Usually they are links to a fake picture and once you click on the link your Facebook also gets hacked. The hackers are affecting many people. Not only is it annoying, but also it can mess up someone’s computer very much. If Facebook can figure out a way to stop these hackers then a lot of problems would be fixed. I hope that their employees can come up with a great new technology program that can block all hackers from messing with peoples Facebook. I also remember that Myspace had hackers and I believe that is one reason Myspace has disappeared in the computer world. Many people were aggravated with the amount of spam on the website.

Article 12- 4/11/10

http://chronicle.augusta.com/living/2010-04-08/3-d-tv-broadcasts-set-stage-more?v=1270730937

The article I am writing about this week is titled “3-D TV broadcasts set stage for more.” It is about Augusta National Golf Club, who has connections with IBM and Comcast. Augusta National Golf Club was the first organization to produce and broadcast a live event in 3-D. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_television stated, “A 3D television is a television that employs techniques of 3D presentation, such as stereoscopic capture, multi-view capture, or 2D plus depth, and a 3D display—a special viewing device to project a television program into a realistic three-dimensional field.” Their first 3-D live performance was on Wednesday at the Masters Tournament’s Annual Par-# Contest. The TV industry estimates that 1 million 3-D sets will be sold before the end of the year. The cost range for a 3-D television is $600-$800. This article stated, “The technology is based on two images, broadcast simultaneously and then matted together. The images shift, left to right, at about 125 cycles per second.” This causes the 3-D effect.

I believe that 3-D televisions are a great idea and a great technological advancement. I know that it will affect everyone in a huge way. Soon old televisions will be thrown away and 3-D ones will be bought all around the world. I think it will look silly with everyone wearing glasses while watching TV. The one concern I have is that I hope people do not become lazy. I hope that people still get out and go out because there is a definite possibility that people could relate 3-D TV to real life. Besides this one concern I think it is great that people are starting to create such great technology. I have never used a 3-D television myself, but I am sure these TV’s will be very popular in the near future like the article had stated.

Article 11- 4/4/10

http://www.mibz.com/9058-toyota-and-mazda-license-agreement-on-hybrid-technology.html

The article I chose this week is titled Toyota and Mazda – License Agreement on Hybrid technology. It is about Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Mazda Motor Corporation and hybrid cars. http://www.eartheasy.com/live_hybrid_cars.htm stated, “A hybrid car features a small fuel-efficient gas engine combined with an electric motor that assists the engine when accelerating. The electric motor is powered by batteries that recharge automatically while you drive.“ They have signed an agreement to combine the hybrid system with SKY (engines.) This agreement also allows them to produce a hybrid vehicle in Japan. They want to be on the market by 2013. Since the first hybrid car was released (1997) they have over 2.3 million hybrid cars delivered to customers in over 70 countries and regions. Mazda wants to lessen the fuel consumptions in vehicles by 30% by 2015. Their overall strategy is to “enhance the basic elements of its vehicles, including engines, transmissions and reducing weight, and then gradually add electrical components such as start-stop system, regenerative braking and hybrid systems.”

I believe that this is going to be a great step for hybrid cars. Many people are starting to use hybrid cars, so I think this will have a huge affect on them. With Mazda trying to reduce the fuel consumption by 30% will be a huge advancement because gas is so expensive these days. If we do not have to buy as much gas then that will have a huge effect on many people. I believe that hybrid cars save so much energy and are a lot better for the environment, so I am hoping that Mazda and Toyota can make this all happen. If Mazda and Toyota can sell vehicles over Japan then this will be a huge step for them because Japan is huge with the car industry.

Article 10- 3/28/10

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100328/BUSINESS/3280322/1003/4G+technology+won+t+be+the+norm+for+a+while

This article I chose is about cell phone carriers. These carriers are Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, Comcast, and Clearwire. These services are known as 4G. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G stated, “4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to 3G and 2G standards. The nomenclature of the generations generally refers to a change in the fundamental nature of the service.” These companies are promising faster speeds for their cell phones. They are going to be fast enough to replace wireless Internet. 4G will be releasing these new speeds in the next two years. The two most dominant services behind 4G are, Sprint and Clearwire, and Verizon and AT&T. Sprint and Clearwire are going to we using WiMax, which will have towers that will provide broadband access up to 30 miles. Verizon and AT&T will be using Long Term Evolution. This will have download speeds of 50 Mbps.

I believe this 4G will be a huge technology advancement for Sprint, At&T, Verizon, and Clearwire. I personally have sprint and I know that the service sometimes isn’t that great. I have often thought about changing my plan, but after hearing these new advancements they’re creating I might continue to stay. I will be greatly affected by this and I know others will too. Cell phones have already come such a long way and it is unbelievable that we have more technology coming our way. This advancement in technology will allow people to browse the web more easily, not loose service, and send texts a lot quicker. I am definitely a technology nerd and I cannot wait for this new 4G. It will be very interesting to see what cell phone service will have the better advancement. Soon one day we will not have computers anymore and we will have it all on our cell phones.

Article 9- 3/21/10

http://www.worldcorrespondents.com/computer-addiction-treatment-now-available/881801

The article I read this week is about how teenagers are addicted to the computer. When people say technology they automatically think about the computer. This article states that technology is not that great. People do not know how to discipline themselves when they use it. People spend many hours of the day playing computer games and using social networking sites, such as www.facebook.com , www.twitter.com, and www.myspace.com. These sites are used to stay connected with friends, but some depend on these three websites way too much. Dr. Richard Graham is trying to find a treatment for this disease called addiction. His program is 28 days and there are three stages for the program. The article states, “It begins with psychotherapy designed to address the patient’s issues with face-to-face relationships. The next stage is to unpick their relationship with technology and encourage them to switch it off, and finally they are encouraged to take part in both physical exercise and activities with family and friends.”

I think what Dr. Richard Graham is doing is great. Many teenagers today are so affected by social networking sites. They spend hours a day sitting in a chair looking at a computer when they could be getting exercise or hanging out with friends face-to-face. I believe that this program will affect people in many ways. It will help people cope with their addiction to the computer and it will help them meet more people in person. It will expand their horizons in different ways outside of the computer. I hope that the Internet does not go any further with social networking sites because then more people will get sucked into it. I believe it is best to meet people in person and keep a relationship outside of the computer screen. I hope Dr. Richard Graham’s program works very affectively.