Technology

I saw this video in class today as an introduction to infographics and bravo because they truly are captivating.

This sparked a whole range of excitement for me, however, since I love infographics and also HOW COOL IS THIS GUYS YOU GET TO BE LIKE TONY STARK AKA IRON MAN AND MAKE A REALLY COOL WEAPON OR SOMETHING!!!!

Excitement aside, this is really exciting you guys.

Everyone’s scared of biological warfare becoming the next big thing… but what about an open online warfare? One where no one knows who’s shooting whom. It sounds kind of like a scary version of Zenon girl of the 21st century to me. Although I suppose it opens up a whole new range of ethical questions and dilemmas since now that could potentially change the age of the draft to just simply whoever can think of the code the fastest… whether they be a 40 year old general or a 12 year old super hacker.

Well, I’m not very good at coding but I can dream about creating some super smart program like this and essentially becoming an anonymous weapon maker like Tony Stark. I guess that means we need to start thinking of a nerdier super hero name than Iron Man… Coding Man? The Webmaster? The Dark Array? Javatron?

You guys have any clever ones? Let’s hear them.

Prezi the wonderful presentation generator

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Mollie Barnes

We are all sick of powerpoints. They are boring to make, boring to watch and boring to grade. So everyone breathe a sigh of relief because now there’s something ELSE you can use for your digital, clean and easy presentations for class. Prezi!

My first Prezi!

I made my first Prezi last night for my Intro to Modern World Literature class. Very exciting stuff, I know. It’s like the Google Docs of powerpoints… everyone can edit it if you allow them to. And it’s so much easier than Powerpoint. The biggest benefit? It’s all online.

This article shows students’ reactions to the new form of presenting. Now if only they can think of a more fun way to register for classes… speaking of which I better go do that.

The risky business of 3D

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Mollie Barnes

I’ve killed a man, I’ve danced with Michael Jackson, I’ve flown with my own two wings over icebergs, I’ve been to space…virtually. With all these new virtual gadgets, there is literally a way to trick your brain into thinking it’s doing anything. I always seem to have trouble tricking my brain into fully getting into it, though. When I’m watching a 3D movie, I can usually get into it and forget that it’s fake for a few minutes, and when I get off the treadmill I immediately fall on my face because my coordination is so thrown off by the run to nowhere that I just took. 3D is trying to be the next big thing so hard, but some are still skeptical.

In a BBC article it speculates upon the dangers of watching 3D television. It says that 3D television might not be suitable for children. Who could have seen that one coming, right? Obviously every new technology that comes out is not as suitable for developing children as the activities that they would be doing had the new technologies not been invented such as playing with friends and socializing, reading, or exercising. Instead lets give them video games where they can not only stay inside and function without having to talk to anyone or be social, now they don’t even have to be unsatisfied by things looking fake.

Nintendo’s 3D portable gaming device that doesn’t even require 3D glasses

It seems like the incentives for healthy living that kids need to grow and develop normally are slowly and slowly diminishing. Or maybe I just think 3D is better suited for theme parks than basements. Or maybe I just wish that I could have perfect eyesight and so I think that anyone who could potentially have great eyesight and does something to harm it is just plain foolish.