Hydrogen Engines

The video I have chosen tells the story of a man who has invented a welder that is powered by the Hydrogen in water. This engine is remarkable as a welder but has opened up the idea of a car that could theoritically be powered by water.
In our society with gas prices is an obvious problem. In our informatics class we have learned that informatics is simply, “problem solving using information technology”. By using this new technology we would be able to solve our gas problem by giving us an alternative fuel. The government has already asked this man to work on a hummer that runs on both water and gasoline.
I believe this technology could be very useful and could revolutionize the auto industry.

Is Twitter Growing Too Fast?

Twitter, the conversation site that we discussed in class recently is under some controversy of late, mainly by loyal users of it. The site, which lets users post 140-character microblogs, saw a 1,374 percent jump in unique visitors between February 2008 and February this year, up to 7 million. This has led to more frequent crashes of the site, which has angered loyal “Twitterers” (the site displays the above “Fail Whale” image when the site crashes). Some users say Twitter has outgrown its core audience and is irrelevant to the technophiles who made it popular in the first place. Other users are annoyed by the flood of spammers who now use the site’s popularity to make money. Celebrities and members of Congress have been jumping onto the site in recent months, adding to the site’s mainstream popularity and, some users say, causing glitches in the system.  But amidst all the complaining from some users, there seem to be just as many people who are almost excited about Twitter’s growing pains.  People are now using Twitter in new and exciting ways, such as reporting current news.  Amy Gahran, who writes on social media at contentious.com, said the backlash against Twitter stems from the fact that people are uncomfortable with change. Early users see new people coming to the site, and that creeps them out, but it shouldn’t, she said.  She said Twitter is popular because its super easy-to-use as well as mimicking real conversation.  According to Gahran, “Change is freaking good, roll with it”.  Only time will tell if this holds true for Twitter.

This article and Twitter itself relates to Informatics in a number of ways.  Twitter like any website, takes a group of talented people to manage it and correct any problems that it encounters.  What I can see as the main issue regarding the site is managing the massive amount of information it receives at any one time.  It is easy to see with over 7 million users how this is an issue.  It is hard for me to visualize the amount of computing power and technical expertise that it takes to make this site run.

Personally I think that the change occurring on Twitter is a good thing.  With Twitter, we now have the ultimate medium of sharing short, to-the-point information with each other.  For example, someone now has the power to report a forest fire to millions of people at once, using only a cell phone.  Friends can now see what each other is doing, by just looking at their latest “Tweet” (although granted, it is rather similar to facebook).  I think that the people who are complaining about the growth of Twitter should create their own website if they want a “pure” form of Twitter.  Otherwise, I think that the growth of Twitter is an amazing thing.

Here is a link to the article:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/31/twitter.fail.whale/index.html

April Fools’ Computer Worm

Here it comes…and it’s not looking pretty.
Supposedly the Conficker.c bomb is on it’s way, set to drop tomorrow (April Fools). So? Well, this new computer worm (for PC, HAHA) could be so catastrophic that Microsoft (M$) is offering 205K for someone to step up and rat out the programs author.

What is Conficker.c and what do analysts fear it may do?
Conficker.c is a worm (you know the kind we learned about in class), and is expected to infect between 5 million and 10 million computers.

What happens on April Fools’ Day is anyone’s guess.
The program could infect machines and leave them as zombie computers…collect personal data (bank info)…gather your passwords, etc.

How does the Conficker.c work?
The program is set to evolve in time, while disabling any M$ and virus updates…you get the picture.

Who wrote the program?
A bunch of geniuses, I hate to admit it. No one really knows for sure…but Conficker Cabal is the group name. Few tips are leading to Eastern European countries…often where law enforcement doesn’t look (or care so to say).

How did the worm evolve?
At first, the program would generate 250 urls a day and sell computer users fake antivirus software. This strand C, about to drop, is going to generate 50K urls a day…and cause a bunch of chaos!

via CNN

iPhone To Feature Skype

Skype has been around for several years now and it popularity has grown allowing it to be used my many people and businesses around the globe. Skype makes it very easy for people to communicate providing that they have internet and a computer with a microphone. Skype is planning to launch an application for the iPhone this May and will further increase it iPhone’s power as a media communication tool.  Users will not be allowed to make their free calls using the network but will be allowed to make them by utilizing the phone’s wireless capabilities.

Users will benefit from free online calls to computers but will have to pay a cost when calling other phones. “Rival applications from Fring and TruPhone are already available for the iPhone (news.bbc.co.uk)” and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. Most technology that goes mini or mobile usually has to make sacrifices in one way or another compared to the standard version. Skype for the iPhone is no exception. For now users will have to do without the video chat features and the “ability to receive a second Skype call (news.bbc.co.uk)”.

I think the addition of a Skype application seals the iPhone as the ultimate mobile communication device. The iPhone was created as a device that interacts with humans to help them better interact with each other which definitely relates it to informatics. The iPhone and Skype are both examples of information technology combining helps to further the evolution for IT and communications. I think this is a smart business decision by both parties to allow a Skype application for the iPhone and it will surely help seal the future of both products.

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7971673.stm

The Hackers Slang

Unfortunately I’m a virgin when it comes to Jargon, so any time I come across new terms I like to share them with people around me.  Better yet, I act like ive known the terms for the longest.  Just Recently I got a subscription to wired the magazine so i get a heads up about a new wave of technology.  After reading about How to Run a Scam.. i stumbled across these words.  The first is Satellite Sheik? These satellites act as ministers of Islam. Broadcasting Muslim principles on TV and social networks, amusing Arabs. This is very interesting, it shows how the religion itself has really grown.  Next is Spitterati…Celebs go to “posh soirees” this event is prepared to collect saliva for genetic sequencing, stars like Rupert Murdoch and Harvey Weinstein have thrown spit parties, guest then give half teaspoon of saliva. This is one jargon term i wouldn’t mind forgetting.  Sea Grape is the pet name for the new found Gromia Sphaerica.  This creature tumbles across the ocean floor and it may be responisble for prints in Precambrian fossils, in fact these fossils were credited to more complicated life forms.   Lastly is Locasexual…an Ecologist who implements locavore logic, that is someone who only buys locally produced goods.  However a locasexual will only date locally and hopes to find love in their surrounding area, rejecting all long-distance relationships.  Stated by Jonathon Keats “this carbon-conscious canoodler makes love as romantic as a spreadsheet.”  This is why i enjoy these jargon terms because you learn new facts, and even though some are ridiculous i still find it appealing.

Facebooks Victory Over Myspace

Myspace, since being created 5 years ago, is suffering from a lack of users, and is now about half the size of Social Network, Facebook.  In the beginning Myspace had a great vision, which Rupert Murdoch saw. He purchased the online “place for friends,” for $580 Million Dollars.  Many enjoyed the fact that they could create their own profile page and share various content with friends for free. But then Harvard Student, Mark Zuckerberg, founded Facebook, which appealed to a larger demographic. Additionally, Facebook has many of the same perks of myspace, plus more! Facebook, soon became the prime social network of today’s society. It is reported that just last month Myspace’s Unique Visitors decrease 2 percent, while Facebook’s increased by 16.6 percent. Thus, Myspace if facing a large spiral downhill, when it was just a year ago when both social networks were the same size.

This article relates to informatics in various ways. Informatics the fundamentals to create and understand the underlining information of networking websites such as Myspace. Additionally, the difference in design of these two websites, has caused one website to lose some of its users.  

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/mar/29/myspace-facebook-bebo-twitter

Sabrina McCane

China Is Blamed For Computer Spy Ring

Most recently,  reports from both Cambridge and Toronto University have concluded that a great espionage program, that was used to spy on computers in over 100 countries, was ran from servers in China. This system is known as GhostNet, and has effected about 1,295 computers in 103 countries in 2 years. Moreover, it has been reported that GhostNet has attacked South and South-East Asia’s Government, along with computers in the Dalai Lama’s offices. Furthermore, the attacks on computer were fairly easy and direct. Emails with attachments and links to websites were in infected, and sent out to many organizations. Once open by someone, the virus allows the hackers to have complete control over the host computer.

After the Dalai Lama Offices asked Toronto Researcher to evaluate their computers, a 10 month investigation was lead. The researchers then confirmed that the virus was created by Malware, and indeed was established from China. Furthermore, this issue goes hand in hand with informatics, since a significant part of informatics deals with malware & cybersecurity.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/30/china-dalai-lama-spying-computers

Sabrina McCane

Armageddon

In the article “How to Defend Earth Against an Asteroid Strike,” which can be found on the website wiredscience.com, is an informative piece that describes the measures being taken to protect our planet in the case of an asteroid strike.  The article informs that some scientists believe there to be a possibility of an asteroid impact which could end civilization sometime as soon as the next century others however say that it wont be for some 300, 00o years, but they all agree that one is destined for earth.  Scientists will discuss methods that should be taken at the first International Academy of Astronautics Planetary Defense conference or IAA, which will be held at the end of April.  Such methods discussed will include explosion, nearby explosion, electric propulsion, gravity tractor, or a photon sail.  But for now all they can do is sit and watch, so through NASA’s near earth objects program they track, observe, and catalogue potential threats.  This is a process that cannot be done once, it must be done continuously with ever more projection and forecasting observations.

This is related to informatics because ever more comunication between analytics and those of authority figures will be necessary.  It will also be required that a researcher have use of problem solving technology and know-how as well as programs to predict future events.  These are basic skills that are being taught in I101.  Using these basic skills we will be able to master larger problems later that may arise such as an Armageddon.

I believe these skills in I101 as well as the measures being taken by the IAA and NASA are exceedingly important.  The skills learned in I101 will give students the power to take on cases such as predicting an Armageddon as well as give them the ability to be a part of programs such as the IAA and NASA.  Which are a great importance in producing aide and protection to the world.  Just recently, within the past month, an asteroid came within 334,000 miles of earth, which shows that it has a possibility of happening and people wont think it a big deal till it’s upon us.

Intel Boosting (s)Low Processors

Intel is expecting to redo its laptop chip line starting today. They’re replacing the old chips with new super low energy processors that should make the ultraportable laptops run faster without reducing battery life.  These new chips will still require the same energy as their earlier ones. These chips will run at speeds up to 1.6GHz—slightly higher than earlier versions running up to 1.4GHz. Depending on the applications that are ran, existing ultraportable laptops with these ULV (ultra-low-voltage) chips will run anywhere between four and seven hours. These chips will soon join the Montevina mobile platform that combines laptop chips and wireless capabilities into laptops.

These new chips include dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 chip running at 1.6GHz—3MB of cache and drawing 10 watts of power. The expected price is $269 for this model and a single-core Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 chip running at 1.4GHz—3MB of cache at $262. Intel has many other faster versions coming out soon that are also parts of their new chip refresh. Intel is correcting their recent problems of slow running processors by boosting up speeds for consumers.

I got my first computer when I was 8 years old. It took around two minutes to load a webpage on a 56k and I thought that I was in a rocketship. Now, if my webpage hasn’t loaded within 15 seconds, I immediately assume that the IU server is down. By way of this, I’m definitely  a firm believer in “the quicker, the better”. I can also say that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Intel will be pleasing a large wave a people by allowing faster browsing and loading speeds in these updated processors.

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/pcworld/20090327/tc_pcworld/intelboostsspeedoflowpowerprocessors

“New generation of tools interacting with digital media”

With the help of technology, the way of learning has changed dramatically. The video clip introduces a new invention, which builds some of the computer technologies into small cubic. As shown in the clip the invention not only brings new ways for adults to interpret technology and entertain themselves, it at the same time brings new early education possibilities.
Compared to previous technologies, this new invention is more humanized. These small computer cubic screens can be attached together easily, and whenever it been attached the images in each screen can interact each other. Also, no mater set a screen to any side, the screen will always change according to human visual preferences Moreover, this invention can used to create music. The method is to array different sound effects in different cubic together. Another cool thing is these cubic can use to play word game. All the functions above can entertain people in their own way.
This new invention is really useful when encounter early education. The top reason is that, it is easy to play around. Different combination of cubic can bring different results. When kids play with these cubic they will be able to found the different possibilities. For example, when they listen to a story, they can decide some of the major elements of a story. The process of the story is decided by their preference, which can cultivate their creation abilities. The second function is the humanized calculator function. Whenever people play around the numbers on different cubic, people can create different equations, and the cubic after equal sign will change automatically according to the equation. This function can help kids learn math positively, since they can play around numbers. Further, the cubic can show different letters, which can be used to play word game. The sounds for right or wrong words are different, so that kids are able to learn word accordingly.
Though some of the functions are not 100% perfect, I personally believe it will promote the possibility for early education after further explored. The video is relates to t101 class, since informatics works to solve problems using IT. This invention tries to minimize the gap between education background and the use of computer technology. It is a really handy invention that enable child get to the dimension of technology in their early age, and makes them learning in a easier way.