Annotation of "Virtual reality exercise / Sweat's real scenery is not"

Kopytoff, V. (n.d.). Articles about Virtual Reality - SFGate. Featured Articles From The SFGate. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://articles.sfgate.com/keyword/virtual-reality

 

This was by far the most interesting annotation out of all five. It was an article about how people in today's society are out of shape and need to exercise more. How will they accomplish this? The passage talks about how new technology offers people the experience of riding a bike uphill through a beautiful rain forest, or a rocky mountain, or even a desert. They do this by simulating all the scenery through virtual reality. They are starting to come out with these and offer them at gyms around the world. It is as if nothing is good enough anymore, unless it is electronic. The point of this article was to talk about how people are trying to get others that cannot stop staring at a screen in their house to come and stare at a screen in the gym. How much more can the world continue to change? When will food we eat become not enough? When will people begin to feel like there just is not a broad enough variety of fruits and vegetables? Perhaps in these new realities there will be new food too? The arrival of virtual realities is only just beginning. I cannot imagine the controversy that is in store for virtual video games. What will happen to the minds of men when they spend hours and hours in another world? Worse, what happens when they come out of this second world and have been killing people for the last three hours. Talk about video games promoting violence. It is very uncertain where this new road of technology will lead us to. It may be in the best interest for man, but at the same time, it could very well be the beginning of our own collapse.

Here is the link: http://articles.sfgate.com/keyword/virtual-reality

Annotation of "Growing up with the wired generation"

Growing up with the wired generation | Technology | The Guardian . (n.d.). Latest news, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk . Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2005/nov/10/newmedia.media

 

This was a very interesting piece on how much the world is changing. The author of this passage began by describing how when a child used to be sent to his or her room it was a punishment. Parents used to do this to make their children feel cut off from the rest of the world. Now, it is not much of a punishment at all. Kids can be connected to the entire world all in the palm of their hand. The best part is, their parents have little to no understanding of the device that sets them free. In this article, it explains how in today's society a young person can be who they want to be while online. It also talks about how you used to see kids kicking a soccer ball together in the streets, but now they are busy playing a soccer video game online versus someone from Europe, or anywhere else in the world. In these days, anyone can be good at sports. You can be over weight and unhealthy, and still win the NBA championship game. This article had many points that many people may not even think exist. The small things in life like playing catch with your father in the front yard are beginning to disappear. They say that it's the little things that matter the most. If that is the case, few things will matter anymore. The passage ends by saying how if these devices were taken from the youth they would be totally lost. It is almost as if the more advanced technology gets the more less advance the everyday human becomes.

 Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2005/nov/10/newmedia.media

Annotaion of "The Undersea Robot Pilots Working in the BP Oil Disaster"

Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide. (n.d.). Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide. Retrieved April 6, 2011, from http://gizmodo.com/#!5560927/bps-undersea-robots-and-the-people-who-operate-them

This passage began by expressing the opinion of the author, and how he felt about the BP oil disaster. The focus of the article began to change once the author started to talk about how BP is trying to fix it's mistake. It says how BP has invested in four different robotic companies, and they have been using robotic machines to work on the pipes under water. They achieve this by running copper, and fiber optic cables to the robots. They take two people to navigate, one person controlling the direction it moves, and one controlling the arms. There is also video feed from the robot's perspective going back to the pilots control room. This room is very dark and has many computer monitors. The author seems to want to get the point across that without the help of these robots we would be in very big trouble trying to repair the disaster.

Link:http://gizmodo.com/#!5560927/bps-undersea-robots-and-the-people-who-operate-them

Annotation of "Ear implants for the deaf with no strings attached "

Ear implants for the deaf with no strings attached - tech - 04 April 2011 - New Scientist. (n.d.). Science news and science jobs from New Scientist - New Scientist. Retrieved April 6, 2011, from http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028064.800-ear-implants-for-the-deaf-with-no-strings-attached.html

This article focused on the new advancements in technology revolving around microphone implants in deaf people's ears. The writer's purpose was to explain how with the help of new technology doctors are actually able to allow a deaf person to hear for the first time in their lives. They are able to achieve this by implanting a tiny microphone that attaches to the cochlea. Then, it translates noise and turns it into tiny electric impulses, which allow the ear to translate and understand. The author seems to really agree and promote this new technology. It is said to be undergoing major advancements within the next five years. So far only four patience had had this implant, but it is still in  trial and will continue to be researched. This was mainly an informative passage with a lot of scientific information. It will be interesting to see how more things become possible with new technology.


Here is a link to the original post:http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028064.800-ear-implants-for-the-deaf-with-no-strings-attached.html

Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray

Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray (n.d.). How Should Schools Handle Cyberbullying? - NYTimes.com. The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/style/28bully.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&ref=style

 

For my first annotation, I chose an article from the New York Times. This article discusses many different situations revolved around cyberbullying. The writer's purpose was to inform the reader on what sorts of things are happening in middle schools and high schools around the world, and how they are being influenced by texting, Youtube, and Facebook. The writer points out that with all the cyberbullying and texting teachers do not know if they have the place to get involved or not. They don't know if it is in their place to be able to help. The bullying did happen outside of campus after all. The writer of this passage did not necessarily argue with facts, but more presented what was happening in another place. Many times in the passage there were cut outs of interviews with teachers and parents. This was a very useful passage that not only informed the reader on cyberbullying, but also gave real life stories and events that have changed peoples' lives.

 

Here is a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/style/28bully.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&ref=style

A response to "Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul"

Forest picked a very interesting video to blog about. It was a video that showed a group of people skating, and teaching younger children to skate. I wanted to write a response to this not to argue with Forest that he wasn't clear, or I didn't agree with him, but to simply add to what I thought the video was. Yes, it did show how different skating was in Kabul compared to anywhere in America, but I think that this video was a lot deeper than that.

 

 Life in Kabul is rougher than any of us will ever experience. We complain that gas prices are too high, or something else in our lives is not how we want them, but do we not realize how much we take for granted? Most people would most likely agree that when you see a skate boarder the first word that comes to mind is "Punk." At one time Skate boarding was all the rave. If you didn't have skate shoes and baggy pants you were not considered cool. At least that's how it was for me growing up. Now compare what skate boarding is here to what it is in Kabul. These children and young adults are not merely skating because they think it is cool. These people are using skate boarding as a way of hope, and security. It is safe to say that almost nothing has stayed very constant in most of these kids' lives except for violence. Now that they have skating, they have something that will always be there for them. Now, they are trying to get younger children involved with it. It seemed to me like it was almost comparable to a type of schooling program. I think that what these people are doing over there is very helpful, and that more people should be doing things similar to this. Whether it be skate boarding, or any other activity that we so often take for granted, because it will give one of these people reason, and hope, in a society where there is very little.

Here is a link to the origonal post. http://for-eis.blogspot.com/

Internet Addiction

For my last free post, I chose a very interesting article about the effects the internet has on many people, and how it can disrupt their daily life. Before reading this article I think I may have been very naive about the fact that internet addiction really exists. For some people, hours upon hours of daily internet surfing are not out of the norm. Furthermore, a person suffering from internet addiction will experience symptoms like depression, anger, or sadness if the use of the internet is not available. Another branch of internet addiction is a result from online gaming, which can become a very dangerous addiction regarding one's health. One very positive thing regarding computer addiction is that it can be cured with therapy.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/704888_2