Emerging Technologies

A future technology that I found interesting was the new Lytro Light-Field Photography Camera. Most cameras create images using a flat plate—whether chemical film or a digital sensor—to record the position, color, and intensity of the light that comes through a lens. Lytro's camera does all of that and it records the angle at which rays of light arrive. The resulting files aren't images but mini-databases capturing the three-dimensional pattern of light, called a light field, at a particular moment. Software can be used on that database to produce many different possible photos and visual effects from just one picture taken. I think that this could become very popular. The camera sounds fun, easy to use, and it allows you to use your creativity to the fullest. I think the thing that surprised me the most is that way after you have taken to one photo, you are able to refocus it, change the lighting, and create an image that is almost completely new! I also like the fact that, after you post it on the internet, others are allowed to experiment with the image too. A possibility for the future in this area is for all cameras to be light-field based and being able to create 3-D images at home. A technology that was considered an emerging technology back in 2009 that is used now is the Intelligent Software Assistant, or Siri. Siri is in pretty much every smart phone out there and is used by thousands of people. The software is able to voice recognize you talking to it, hear your question, and supply an intelligent and helpful answer. Tell Siri you want to go to a restaurant and she will supply you with all restaurants nearby and directions from where you are to each one. Where Siri lacks in information, she makes up for it with sarcasm, humor, or just conversation. No matter what you ask, Siri has an answer.

Survey

First Impressions

Theodore Roosevelt- The River of Doubt Timeline

Online Safety

I read a news article about a girl who was a victim of cyber bullying. The girl, Megan Meier, had met a boy online who seemed nice and said the two had a lot in common. Megan and the supposed boy, Josh Evens, had talked for a while and Josh had seemed nice, until he started making degrading remarks to Megan and posted things like: "Megan Meiers is ugly and fat!" Megan, who had had problems with depression before, was terribly hurt by these comments and unded up killing herself. Her mother found her young daughter's body in her closet. The family then found out that the supposed Josh Evens was actually a neighborhood friend and parent that created the fake profile to try and find what megan was saying about her daughter.

When I read this article I was shocked. It it sad that a grown woman, especially being a friend of the family, would be so imature as to bully a young girl. Though the woman was at fault, I feel that the situatuion could have been avoided. Megan should not have even started talking to the boy because she had no idea who he was. He may have seemed nice at first, which is probably why Megan continued to talk to him, but you never really know. You have to be careful with what you do or post on the internet and that includes who you talk to. Only talk to people that you really know.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3882520&page=1

Online Safety Cartoon

By ashleahf | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon