Final Project 6/5/14

Check out Joe's and my Netflix tour!

Tech Discussion 5/30/14: Juno Power Jumpr

Juno Power's new Jumpr is small enough to fit in a glove compartment and light enough to carry around in a pocket and is claimed to have the ability to jump-start a car and charge a phone. The size of the Jumpr is similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S5, making it the smallest jumper you can find. The Jumpr produces a 12 volt output at a peak of 300 amps. 300 amps is enough to start almost all 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines and possibly more depending on the type of model. The Jumpr also has a USB output that can be used to charge mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The Jumpr is now available for $89.99. To read more click here. 

Jing Blog Tour

Check out my blog tour that I created using Jing!

Social Bookmarking

1. What's another way you can organize and store information on your computers?
Another way to organize and store information on your computer rather than using Diigo, is to save websites and articles to your favorites or desktop. Although, with both of these alternatives, you cannot highlight or focus on certain information on a website or in an article like you can with Diigo.

2. What have you learned from researching the above topics? What do you know now about those           current events that you didn’t know before?
I found a lot of interesting information by researching these topics; some that I was aware of and some that I was not. For example, I was very aware of the tensions between Ukraine and Russia causing tensions between Russia and the United States, but I had no idea that this tension could possibly affect our space program. The U.S. needs Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome to launch space missions. After the recent mishap with a satellite falling into the Pacific Ocean, there is a chance that the U.S. may not be able to access this space station as frequently.

3. What are other social bookmarking apps/websites?
Other social bookmarking websites and apps include Digg, Pinterest, Reddit, Delicious, and Wanelo. We have used Digg before in class and I always use the Wanelo app on my phone.

4. Will you continue to use social bookmarking?
I will continue to use social bookmarking because of its convenience. It puts all articles of my interest in one place. I can highlight certain information in an article and put notes on the article. Social bookmarking is very helpful in finding information for a project or paper and in being aware of current events.

Tech Discussion 5/16/14: Apple Buying Beats Electronics

Last week, Dr. Dre negotiated a deal with Apple for Apple to buy Beats Electronics. This was supposedly a $3.2 billion deal. Many think that Apple is going to come up with a new product, or products, corresponding with Beats headphones. It has been said that they plan on possibly using Beats to make a health-and-fitness monitor or to provide audio on a headset to compete with Google Glass. "Smart headphones" could also possibly be in the making by installing sensors in the headphones. The deal between Apple and Beats could even maybe move Apple towards HD downloads for iTunes. Apple has a lot of ideas with what it should do with its new investment. To read more click here. 

Diigo Web 2.0 Tool

The tool I have chosen is called Notes.io. This application allows students to take notes and also share them. This would be convenient in classes where notes are taken, such as my English class with Mr. Forman. Students can share their notes on Twitter, or even Facebook, and students that were absent can retrieve them. This makes it easier for students and even the teachers. Students can also combine their notes and get all the different information each student has written down. This would make studying a lot easier and more effective. This tool is not only good because you can take notes on it, but you can also share them with other students and collaborate.

Tech Discussion 5/9/14: Bracelets and Google Glass Forming a Virtual Keyboard

A university in Sweden is developing a system that combines a pair of bracelets with a visual device, such as Google Glass, to create a virtual keyboard that only the user can view. The bracelets that will either be worn on the wrists or hands will contain sensors that will be able to follow the positions and movements of the user's fingertips and hands. They will also be able to tell how far above the user's hands are from the nearest flat surface. As the user taps his or her hand on the flat surface, the virtual keyboard will correspond. The bracelets can also be used for mouse and gesture control. The team creating this hopes to have it done in a year. To read more click here.