5/7/14: Social Media Advice

In this Social Media Advice article, Lisa Nielsen discusses ten things you should keep in mind when posting on social media websites. One of the recommendations she gave was to make your online profile private, but also be aware that making it private will not fully protect you. She also says not to offend anyone over social networking websites because this is a fast way to get attention, but not good attention. There should not be cursing in your tweets or statuses because employers and colleges can always look at your profile and this is not something they want to see. I agree with Nielsen's point of view in this article. I personally do not have any social networking websites, so this is not a main concern of mine, but I have heard of people doing some of these things on websites and they should be more careful especially if applying for a job or applying to college. Many people in today's society have become immersed in social media and that is acceptable if they use it for the right reasons.

RSS Assignment

1. Why did you select the sites you subscribed to?
 
    I selected the websites I subscribed to because they provide information that I am interested in,   whether it being some form of news or just something for entertainment.

2. Was it easy to find feeds and to subscribe to them?

    Some of these feeds were easy to find while others were not. Some websites have RSS feeds, but not all do. Digg Reader has a feature where you can browse different categories that interest you         and it provides a list of websites in that particular category that have RSS feeds, which makes             finding websites much easier.

3. Which sites were your favorites?

    One of my favorite websites is This is Why I'm Broke. This website has very interesting, new       products that are not likely to be found anywhere else. I also enjoy NASA because it has an                 image of the day feature that I subscribed to and everyday and it either provides an image or fact         about NASA.

4. What else can you use RSS feeds for?

    RSS feeds are really good to use to be on top of the latest news. I'm sure they are put to good use in certain jobs and careers where people need to follow what is going on in a particular field. They           would also be good for school because subscribing to educational websites is beneficial and you can     even subscribe to your own school website if it has an RSS feed.

5. How likely are you to continue to use RSS feeds in the future?

    I will continue to use RSS feeds because they are very helpful and convenient. Having a reader that can display all of your subscriptions is also very helpful because it puts all of the information in             one place. I did not know of RSS feeds before this assignment, but now that I do, I will use                 them in the future.

Tech Discussion 5/2/14: Prototype Microsoft Keyboard That Recognizes Hand Gestures

A team at Microsoft Research created a prototype mechanical keyboard that understands hand gestures given above the keyboard or even on the keyboard. Each keyboard has proximity sensors embedded in a printed circuit board. The sensors are in between the rows of keys in order to track the movement of the user's hands as they touch the keyboard or hover over it. The keyboard operates at above 300 hertz, which is enough for it to pick up very fast movement. The user can swipe up, down, left, and right, change applications and windows by hovering the hand in place, and zoom by pinching. There is even a way to play games by using this keyboard. For example, there is a steering wheel gesture that allows users to control an onscreen car in a racing game. To read more click here.

Tech Discussion 4/25/14: SuperShoes

Dhairya Dand has created something called SuperShoe insoles to take everyone's eyes off of their phones and focus on the world surrounding them. These insoles use tickling patterns to communicate smartphone applications to the feet of whoever is wearing them. The silicone insoles are flexible and can be put in any pair of shoes. Each sole has an onboard microcontroller, a Bluetooth low-energy chip, a pad under the big toe, and three motors underneath the smaller toes. By using these insoles with a smartphone, SuperShoes can act as a tour guide, tickling both feet when a new suggestion that deals with the wearer's interests is found. The SuperShoe insoles can also act as a navigation tool. If you put a destination into your GPS on your phone, the insoles will tickle either your right or left foot, directing you where to turn. In addition, they can also be used to remind you of events you put in your calendar. It is not known when the SuperShoe insoles will hit the market because the creator says he has no immediate plans to bring them to the market. To learn more click here.

4/21/14: My Favorite Restaurant

     My favorite restaurant is Tina Louise in Carlstadt, New Jersey. Tina Louise is not a chain, but the owning company, The Village Restaurant Group, also has other restaurants similar to this one. A very renown one is Taos is East Rutherford. Tina Louise is known for its Chinese food. This restaurant has been around for years and is loved for its very good quality and fairly inexpensive food. Tina Louise is a very small and quaint restaurant located on 403 Hackensack Street in Carlstadt. The directions can be found here.


     I found out about this restaurant through my parents because they took me for the first time a few weeks ago. This restaurant has been around for years and my parents always used to go there when they first got married. They are very familiar with the owners and the service. Tina Louise is not a chain, but as said before, the owners do have other restaurants that are a bit different located nearby. Customers are often satisfied with the service and food at Tina Louise. To read reviews of Tina Louise click here. My parents and I love this restaurant because the food is very good and the owners are very nice and family-oriented.
   
     Tina Louise offers many great dishes; my personal favorites are the dumplings and the sesame seed chicken. The dumplings are typically served as an appetizer and the sesame seed chicken as an entree. The sesame seed chicken comes with white rice, but you can ask for a different side if you prefer. This restaurant has the best Chinese food I have ever had and I do not know what I would do if it closed down. I suppose I would just have to order Chinese food, or learn how to make this food. Maybe watching some videos on recipes for sesame seed chicken and dumplings would be helpful. Here are two videos I found that I would put to use.

Tech Discussion 4/11/14: Bentley Making a Hybrid

 

Bentley has been talking about constructing a hybrid for years and it is now showing previews. The Bentley Hybrid Concept will debut later in April and will be the first official look at Bentley's plug-in hybrid future. The 2014 Hybrid Concept is built on a Mulsanne base. According to the automaker, the hybrid technology will enhance the luxury and performance of the car. Bentley says that the hybrid option will cut CO2 emissions by 70 percent and boost the vehicle's power to 25 percent and there will be an all electric range of 31 miles. The chairman and chief executive said that by the end of the decade at least 90 percent of their vehicles will have the hybrid plug-in option. There will be a lot of copper detailing on the car to hide the electric architecture underneath. Much more information about the Bentley Hybrid Concept will be revealed at the Beijing Auto Show on April 20th when it is debuted. To read more click here.

Tech Discussion 4/4/14: Car Rear View Cameras Becoming Mandatory

Many cars are beginning to have rear view cameras to make parking easier and blind spots more visible. It has been said that in a few years, it will be mandatory for all cars to have rear view cameras. The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a rule requiring rear view cameras to be installed in all new automobiles weighing under 10,000 pounds in the United States starting in May of 2018. According to this administration, every year there are about 210 deaths and 15,000 injuries from a vehicle backing up and hitting someone. The NHTSA expects making rear view cameras mandatory will help save 58 to 69 lives a year. To read more on the specifications of the soon-to-be required rear view camera Click Here.