Computer Phone

Cell phone seemed to be taken for granted these days. Kids beginning at age five (coming from personal experiences with children in my moms kindergarten class) sometimes possess the most high tech devices. Over Easter I was looking through one of my friends drawers in their office room, containing all the cell phones the family had owned over the years. While it was a very large number with their being three children, it was astounding to see how the makers, style, and overall appearance of the cell phone have drastically changed.

This past year for my birthday I asked for a new phone. Mine had taken its course with numerous drops, being used as a dog play toy by my brother, a few drops in water and missing a few of the numbers because they had been rubbed off. To my surprise, and at the time dismay and confusion I received a blackberry. I was overwhelmed to say the least. On my previous phone the screen was less than half the size, Internet was not an option and text messaging was a long ordeal. Instead of reading through the manual, being the very impatient person I am, I decided to go to the AT&T store for a tutorial and to help be set up “the computer” as it was referred to in the beginning. After leaving the store and learning the basics I was a little less intimidated to make a call. I spent days playing around trying to figure out the purpose of each application and tool. It sounds stupid, but this little 3.5 x 2 inch handheld contains the organized version of my life. My OCD planner, which was my old obsession with color coding, highlighting and decorating, is now in the bottom of my desk draw since my phone can record my daily activities while reminding me periodically what needs to be done that day. Instead of having to log into mybama to compose or read e-mail, I can do the same by clicking the “smart key” on the side of my phone.  I won’t even go into and embarrass myself on the amount of hours spent on Facebook mobile or the best game created thus far, Brick Breakers.

If technology has come this far in such a sort amount of time I can’t even begin to fathom what cell phones will have the power to do five, ten or twenty years from now. This new, technology based world we are living in is a scary thing, but after embracing it, I look forward to all the new gadgets to come. 

Firefox

Over the years, consumers have come to expect something new and exciting from computer manufacturers to be produced every year. Sleek and stylish seem to be an absolute necessity these days. As the computers get smaller, people also expect the software to become more user friendly. Systems such as windows and internet explorer have dominated the market. They are installed on just about every computer that you can buy at the store. But despite this dominance, people are starting to find better operating systems and software that's available for free.

One of these free downloads is an internet browser called firefox. This program is an alternative to internet explorer. What I love about firefox is that it is a lot safer than any of its counterparts. It has a bunch of security features so you don't have to worry about some hacker coming and stealing all of your information. There are also safe guards built into the software that make it very difficult for you to download an unwanted file or virus. Another thing that I really love about firefox is the ability for you to customize your internet browsing experience. Firfox has thousands of add-ons that you can download to make easier or enhance your internet experience. Some of the stuff that you can install on your browser include an add-on that gives your global weather updates. Another really cool tool that you can add is called Adblock Plus. Have you ever been annoyed by those ads on the side of web pages that take a really long time to load? Well, with this program all you have to do is right click those ads and they will never be downloadable again. This is a great way to get rid of all of those advertisements that none of us want to see.

Another great add-on that I really love is called Stumble Upon. Basically, when you download this application, it asks you what your hobbies, activities, and interests are. Then, based on this information, every time you click the stumble upon button, it will bring you to a new, random website. Most of the time these websites are very interesting and have information that you never knew about on them. The application also gives you the option to give the site a thumbs up or thumbs down, and based on this information, it will give you better results that reflects you interests. This application also keeps track of what websites you visit on a normal basis and gives you new websites based on this. I've discovered so many new websites by using this add-on, as well as other random facts about some of my subjects of interests that I had never known about before. These are only two of some of the really interesting and very useful add-ons that come with firefox. Firefox should be everyone's internet browser.

Online Movies

Over the weekend my friends and I had a movie marathon. For three consecutive nights we watched Saw II through Saw IV. On Saturday night, the Blockbuster we rented Saw III from accidentally put Saw II in the wrong box. It was past closing time and we couldn’t go exchange the movies. We were bent on watching the movie and didn’t know what to do. We asked neighbors and called friends to see if they had it, but had no success. Finally an idea popped into our heads. We had all heard of websites that had full movies posted on them for free, but had never really used them. We quickly called a friend for a recommendation of sites. We had a lengthy list of websites that offered illegal, free movies online to search for our movie. We had success with the very first website out of 7 we tried, and watched the entire movie, in amazing image quality, on a computer screen.

I couldn’t believe how easily we found an illegal online version of an entire film. I had never really visited a site that offered these, and I was surprised with how many movies were listed. It is very tempting to just watch these movies for free off the Internet instead of paying for them, but it brings up ethical questions. We all felt guilty for “stealing” this movie, and the next day we felt so guilty that we rented the next movie of the series. If there are so many movies available online, it is easy to see how movie companies are losing money. I would much rather watch movies for free online that pay to go see one in theatre or rent one. Being in college, we have a shortage of money and can’t always spend it on frivolous things such as movies. I have explored the websites and watched a few parts of movies. I know it is illegal and wrong, but at the same time I would rather watch it online than pay for it.

It is interesting to me that people risk legal ramifications to post these movies. While I watch these movies, I would never upload one myself. I can’t see what their motivation for uploading these are. I don’t think sharing a movie with many people is worth the potential punishment that can be given for spreading copyrighted material. It is too risky. We hear about people being sued every day for stealing movies and music, and I wouldn’t risk it.

I am also fascinated about the amazing quality of the movie we watched. It was almost as good as a real DVD. At times I even forgot we were watching it off the Internet. It fascinates me how advanced technology has gotten to be able to allow regular people to upload such lengthy and high quality movies. I have uploaded personal videos to YouTube, and it takes what seems like ages for them to upload. I can’t imagine how long it takes to upload a whole movie.

An interesting investment in technology came to me just last week as I was searching through Wikipedia’s large assortment of subjects for Wednesday’s homework assignment. A list of state mottos from America’s 50 unique states soon found its way to my computer screen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_slogans). “Sweet,” I thought, “I wonder what Alabama’s is…”. I didn’t have to look very far because the chart is in alphabetical order, and Alabama is # 1 on the list. Surprisingly, this captivating Southern state has three creative sayings, which are Share The Wonder, Alabama the beautiful, and Where America finds its voice. Alabama.

I thought this site was pretty cool, and I couldn’t help but skim my way through the many slogans listed by each state. I looked at states I hope to visit in the future. Places such as Maine, New York, and Rhode Island all grabbed my attention. The title that appears on the license plates of Mainelanders is Vacationland and New York’s is (of course) I Love New York. Rhode Island holds a relaxing, one-word slogan: Unwind.

So, I fear you’re sitting there and thinking, “Okayyyy….so what’s where does the excitement of technology fit in here?” Good question. I want to begin my answer by simply saying that I love the outdoors. I have yet to find an internet hookup in Oak Mountain’s forests of Alabama the or on banks of the Clarion River in Pennsylvania. This does not mean that internet access holds no importance to my outdoor explorations. In fact, it furthers my drive to explore and travel all over America. When I found this page on Wikipedia, the first thing I noticed were the few black and blue sentences above the chart. One of the sentences says the slogans listed below are used for “the promotion of tourism”. There are so many little things I do not know about this World, or even in these United States. The slogan listings cultivate aspirations of road trips and possible living quarters, and in the mean time, it is fun to learn of the different titles that have for so long labeled each providence.

Did you know that Idaho’s slogan, Famous Potatoes, has changed to Great Potatoes. Tasty Destinations.? Ever hear of the Louisiana slogan, Come as you are. Leave Different.? Or do you recall Mississippi being known as The South’s Warmest Welcome? Each of these state dedication phrases are completely new to me. I wish I had learned about them in Elementary school instead of having to memorize each state’s capital!

Anyway, if you’re ever sitting inside on a rainy day or are just in the mood to learn something enjoyable and interesting, I recommend checking out Wikipedia’s “List of U.S. state slogans”. Information such as this is so simple but yet so rewarding. Try starting up a conversation with the question, “Hey, do you know which state has the slogan, Seize the day off?”. If anyone guesses Maryland, then they either have been doing some state slogan browsing on the internet or they just had a really cool 5th grade teacher.

Hybrid Cars

As I’m sure most people know, a hybrid car is one that combines a traditional combustion engine with a rechargeable electric system in order to increase gas mileage and decrease harmful emissions. Hybrids are becoming more and more popular as gas prices continue to increase. While car-shopping over break, my mom and I talked with a salesperson about the Toyota Prius, and I was amazed at how far hybrid technology has come.

Premiering in Japan in 1997, The Toyota Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid car. Just over ten years later, the Prius is now the most fuel efficient car sold in the United States, and the best-selling hybrid model. Other popular hybrids include the Toyota Highlander, Honda Civic, Lexus RX 400, Ford Escape, and the Toyota Camry. From the introduction of hybrids to the U.S. market in 2000 to the year 2005, hybrid car sales increased by an amazing 2,200 percent! (www.edmunds.com list of best-selling hybrids)

Hybrid cars do not need to be plugged in like electric cars. Instead, the electric battery is recharged by capturing the kinetic energy released during braking. This is called “regenerative braking.” There are two types of hybrid cars: parallel and series. In a parallel hybrid, like the Prius, the gas engine and the electric motor work together to power the car. Alternatively, in a series hybrid the gas engine powers the electric motor, which then powers the car.

Hybrid cars also entail many environmental benefits through lower gas consumption (due to greater gas mileage) and lower emissions of chemicals that are harmful to the environment. In fact, hybrid cars produce about 90% less pollutants than similar non-hybrid cars (from www.hybrid-car.org). Hybrids produce less greenhouse gases—the gases which contribute to global warming. In a comparison of the greenhouse gas emissions of the most fuel-efficient mid-sized cars from 2004, the Chevrolet Malibu emissions totaled 8.1 tons per year, and the Nissan Altima had emissions of 7.5 tons per year, while the Toyota Prius came in at merely 3.5 tons per year (from hybrid-car.org).

Hybrids don’t only offer environmental savings, but financial savings, too. Hybrid cars maintain very low depreciation rates. A Prius with 100,000 miles on it is worth almost as much as its original price. In addition, several states have tax incentives in place to encourage people to buy hybrid cars. Many cities and states even offer benefits such as being able to use the carpool lane regardless of passenger requirements, and even free city parking! Factoring in tax incentives, lower gas consumption, and lower depreciation values, buying a more-expensive hybrid car may save you money in the long run. In fact, hybrid-car.org proposes the following scenario:

ACME Construction has a fleet of 10 work trucks that together drive 2500 miles a week, and guzzle $308 of gas a week. A new hybrid truck offered by a major manufacturer can save ACME Construction nearly $7000 per year, in gasoline costs alone.

And this was written in 2004, with gas prices around half of today’s cost—that means that “ACME Construction” could really save $14,000 per year in gas prices! Overall, the automotive trend toward hybrid cars is beneficial to both the environment and to the drivers’ pocketbooks. And, as the technology advances even more, hybrids should continue to become more and more affordable.

Cell Phone

On the for-front of technology that has been constantly changing for the past forty of so years have been the cell phone. When it was fist developed the personal cell phone was huge and looked more like holding a giant black box to your head compared to today’s sleek and technological beauties. But the truth is that cell phone are becoming so much more a staple of our lives and are filling so much more roles than that of the actually phone. For instance: I just bought my girlfriend a phone called a Blackberry made by Cingular. This PDA has phone at its basic structure but can tackle much more difficult feats. It has full internet access accessible wherever she can get a phone signal; it is a camera, a video-recorder, not to mention a full calendar planner. It seems that the cell phone is becoming a Swiss army knife in the sense of it is a jack of all trades. Recently, the incorporation of music and our phones has become increasing popular. Apple Company has come out with the I-phone which is entirely a touch screen basis where there are no numbers or buttons to use. To some this is a horrible step away from tradition but to most it is the first step in the direction for an entirely different cell phone/PDA. I almost forgot! The new Blackberry has the capability to dial into the AT and T satellite in order to have GPS or global position satellite. Never to be lost again, the cutting edge technology seems to be more of an extension of the body than a tool that we just utilize. In my house in Birmingham we still have an antique phone that still has to be wound to call the operator before the call can go through. It is ridiculous to see how far this simple piece of technology has come in one lifetime. It is rumored that new cell phone technology will be video calls; this is when you call a person the video will come along with the audio, you can see and hear the person. How far will cell phones go with their incorporation in our everyday lives? Is a good or bad thing that we depend on them every moment of the day, and we are almost helpless without them? The cell phone is constantly changing and adapting, as we are with it.

New Technology

Being far from the forefront of technology, I am unaware of new advances (apart from Apple releasing smaller and smaller iPods). However, Casey and I experimented with the popular imaging software, Photoshop. It was weirdly entertaining. The reason Casey and I were playing with Photoshop was to exploit the fake images it can create. While I tried to stay away from falling for the software, I learned to appreciate it for reducing uneven skin, making hair longer, and taking off love handles. I’m slightly partial, being a nineteen year old girl today and having been exposed to advertisements where skinny is the point at which ribs show. This program seemed to allow an easy way out for a diet in progress or a bad hair day, but only in pictures. Aside from Photoshop’s magic ability, the program has impressive functions that carry out the altering picture capabilities. There is an airbrush tool combined with a color sensing brush. It almost allows for a prediction of the picture appearing where the cursor covers the image. When we played around with the image we were able to even create a separate background. A special outlining tool allowed to select the image without a careful and long drag. Everyone knows in even simple programs like Paint on Windows, it becomes difficult to drag the mouse and select exactly what you want. Usually lines (or brush strokes) end up wiggly. Wiggly is no longer an issue to worry about as our technology is becoming more and more sophisticated.