Sunday, January 25, 2015

GoPro and the NHL

Recently GoPro has partnered with the NHL to provide fans with a cool first person experience while watching NHL games. The GoPros will be used during the oncoming all star game in the next few weeks. This will only be the start of the partnership between the NHL and GoPro.

Link to the original article with more information on the partnership between GoPro and the NHL: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/ice-hockey-nhl-sends-gopro-cameras-onto-ice-173001319.html

I think that it is pretty cool that the NHL is providing viewers a new type of point of view for watching hockey. Ever since I have been a little kid I have watched sporting events from a third person perspective. I think that it would be awesome to view the hockey games in first person mode because it would just look awesome. This is only a part of the new movement of recording and the GoPro era and I think that it is pretty awesome! Hopefully GoPro is going to partner with more sports such as football so we can get first person views from people such as running backs and quarter backs.

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Microsoft's Cortana

Microsoft has been developing a voice assistant similar to apple's Siri but on their new Windows 10 operating system. The system will be a personal assistant and will be activated by the user's voice. The user will be able to conduct Google searches and utilizes other things such as global positioning to tell Cortana to do things at certain areas in the world.

Link to an article with more information on the voice operating system Cortana and it features: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/watch-a-close-look-at-cortana-on-pc-microsoft-108944883369.html

I think that it is pretty cool that Microsoft is going into the business of voice controlled operating systems. I think that the technology that it out right now with Siri is cool but is not yet efficient enough to be used to completely control the computer. I think that systems such as Siri are very clunky right now and have a lot of room to be developed. I think that it is cool that Microsoft is getting into the voice operating system scheme because it will add competition in the market. In technology it is better to have more competition. Competition fuels advancements in the development of the technology and will help the voice recognition technology become more advanced. I also think that it is cool that the voice control system will be more of an assistant. Siri, for me, is just another way to Google things when your hands are not free. Cortana, on the other hand, is aimed at being a personal assistant. I think this is cool because it is going to help people make their days more efficient. If they want people to make a note for themselves they can just tell their phone to remind them of something at a certain time.  I think that this is a pretty cool feature and is going to help propel the voice activated technology world into the future, I also think that the voice recognition of Cortana is a step ahead of the voice recognition of Siri. This is good because it creates competition in the actual quality of the voice recognition software.

Overall, I am looking forward to the features that Cortana is going to bring to the Windows 10 operating system. It will be a great addition to the Windows Operating System and I think that it has the ability to be a very smooth addition to the operating system. If the voice recognition system is correctly implemented I think that it has the potential to be a large selling point for Microsoft devices. I also think that the development of Cortana is great because it will create competition in the voice recognition market. Hopefully I will end up being a great addition to the operating system and it will become a great selling point for Microsoft devices. I think that it is great that Microsoft is taking time to develop the voice recognition software. I also think that it is great that Cortana is going to be focused on being a personal assistant rather than an alternative way to Google things when your hands are not free.

Word Count: 520

Braille Keyboard App

Recently an application for the iPad called iBrailler has be released for use to the public. It creates a Braille keyboard for the user and allows people to have access to a relatively cheap braille keyboard (regular braille keyboards are around one thousand eight hundred dollars). This is great because braille keyboards cost thousands of dollars and aren't the best. The app will probably be used in the education system by a lot of children because it is easy to get and it works very well.

Link to the article with more information on the app and how it could help people in the future: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-proliferation-of-touchscreen-technology-may-108920671179.html

I think that it is cool that people are working on developing applications that will help people that are disabled. Personally, I have an uncle that is disabled. He has cerebral palsy and is nearly paralyzed from the waist down. He has difficulties moving at all and has troubles controlling his hands. When we go back to California I get to see how the littlest tools can help him do things that make his day. For example he uses a controller with velcro on it to play video games. If he did not make the modification to his controller and put the velcro on it he would have a very hard time playing video games and he would probably get bored a lot because video games help him pass the time. I also think that it is cool that the keyboard is able to work with any position of hands. This allows the user to move their hands to any position on the tablet. This is essential for the braille keyboard because people who use it are blind and can't look down to see where there hands are on the tablet. I also think that it is cool that the application is released on the iOS operation system. The is cool because most families in the United States and other first world countries have access to an iOS device. This means that a lot of families with blind children will be able to get the application without spending a single cent. This is great because it is just at the touch of a finger to download and most people have access to internet connection and an iPad.

Overall, I think that it is pretty cool that people are developing applications to help people with disabilities. When things such as the iPad and iPhone were being developed I know that I was not expecting people to develop apps that would help aid the disabled. It is a pretty cool idea that has developed only because of the ease of access to the coding platforms necessary to develop the applications. I think that the application has the potential to help a lot of people. I think that this is because of the relatively cheap price of the things needed to get the keyboard. I am also looking forward to the development of even more apps that will help the disabled. Hopefully as time goes on more and more people will work on developing apps for people with disabilities.

Word Count: 528


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Amber Alerts for Facebook Users

Recently Facebook has teamed up with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help incorporate Amber Alerts into the Facebook user system. From now on Facebook users will be immediately notified of missing children in their area. This system should help prevent children from being abducted and abused or murdered.



Link to the original article with more information on the Amber Alert system: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/help-missing-child-facebook-amber-alert-feature-131658533--abc-news-topstories.html



I think that it is great that a social network is taking advantage of its position in peoples' everyday lives to help find children who are in danger. Since the system is based off a social network it will be very efficient and will probably save many children's lives. The system should be put into place soon. I think that the system will also be a great way to make parents more sure about the safety of their children. Now, if their child does get abducted, there will be a system that could possibly help them get their child back.

Overall, I think that this partnership will end up saving a lot of children's lives and will help prevent children from being abused by abductors.

Word Count: 198

Monday, January 12, 2015

Microsoft's New Spartan Browser for Windows 10

It has been years since I have browsed the web on Internet Explorer, and I am sure that that is the same for many people around the world. Ever since the appearance of other internet browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox the sole role of Internet Explorer for many computer owners is just to download the installation file for their browser of preference (at least that is what I use it for). However, there has been discussion of a new web browsing software that will be released with the Windows 10 operating system. The web browsing platform's current project name is called Spartan, and it is probably going to have a similar color scheme and look as the newer Windows operating systems (Windows 8 and soon to be Windows 10). The browser might bring about the return of Microsoft in the web browsing industry.



Link to the article with more information on the web browsing platform and its possible features: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/this-is-windows-10s-new-web-browser-and-dark-107614507709.html



I think that it is pretty awesome the Microsoft is going to put more effort into developing its web browsing software. For me, I have always preferred Google Chrome over Microsoft's Internet Explorer because of two reasons: one being that Google Chrome is more efficient and uses less resources on your computer and two being that Google Chrome has a better interface and it runs smoother. I think that  a solid internet browser developed by Microsoft has a lot of potential to become the best way to browse the web. Because Microsoft creates the operating system in which most computers run on they would be able to coordinate the web browsing software better with how the operating system works. They could also use the connections between the operating system and the web browser to help keep internet browsing safe (I don't know the specifics on how they would actually do this but I do know that they have  a greater ability to protect your computer than a third party company such as Google does). I also think that it is pretty awesome that they are going to make it have a similar layout to that of the Windows operating system. To the average eye this may not seem like a big deal, but it helps the user experience be more smooth and simple. It is like making a power point presentation with one font versus one with multiple different fonts. The presentation with one, uniform font is more professional and appealing to the eye.

Overall I think that it is pretty awesome that Microsoft is going to release a better, updated web browsing platform with its new operating system. I think that the web browsing platform has a lot of potential and could bring Microsoft back into the web browsing business. I can't wait for the Windows 10 operating system so I can see the cool things that Microsoft will do to make the user experience better.

Word Count: 490

The Z Board 2

As time goes on people are looking for more efficient ways to be able to travel from place to place. Inventions such as the segway and scooters have helped bridge the gap between fast transportation and fuel efficiency. However, a company has recently released a new form of transportation called the Z Board 2. The Z Board 2 is an electric long board that can reach speeds of up to twenty miles per hour. It is also relatively light with a weight that is between 15 and 20 pounds. The Z Board 2 will be released in two editions of different qualities. One edition will cost 999 dollars and the other will cost 1999 dollars. The higher edition will boast better fuel efficiency with the ability to run for up to 24 miles off of a single charge. The cheaper version will be able to run up to 16 miles off of a single charge.



Link to the original article with more information on the product and its release: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/i-rode-a-20-mph-electric-skateboard-and-oh-my-107895989899.html



I think that it is cool that companies are developing products such as this to improve the efficiency of modern day transportation. If everyone was able to use one of these to get to work in a town such as New York city the amount of pollution in the city would be cut down by a lot. The product would also save money for the consumer because they wouldn't have to pay money for the gas required for the trip to their work or destination. I also think that it is cool that the Z Board 2 is pressure sensitive. This allows for a more responsive control system for the board. This also brings up the possibility of sensitivity customization on the boards control system. This could make the board appealing to all types of people, including the elderly. I also like the idea of the Z Board 2 because it would reduce the amount of traffic related accidents in large cities such as New York or San Francisco. It would reduce the amount of crashes by clearing up the streets and allowing more space for people to drive. This would also help with the long commute times that are present in California and around large cities. I also think that the Z Board 2 has a lot of potential to help people with physical impediments become more mobile. It is a lightweight solution that could be adapted to help people with amputated travel decent distances while not in a car or hobbling around.

Overall I think that transportation products such as the Z Board 2 have the potential to be commonplace in the streets in the very near future. They offer a vastly more efficient way of transportation and also would help make the streets safer. I hope that the Z Board 2 and products like it will become more common as times goes on because if they were implemented at a large scale they would make a large, positive impact on how people go about their day and how society works.

Word Count: 513

Sunday, January 11, 2015

The Lenovo LaVie Z HZ550

The Lenovo LaVie Z HZ550 is now the lightest 13 inch lap top in the world. Coming in at around 1.8 pounds the lap top is a FULL POUND lighter than Apple's 13 inch lap top. The starting price of the lap top will be around 1,300 dollars and will release sometime this year. The lap top also boasts pretty decent processing power and a high resolution display, despite its small size.

Link to the original article with more information on the lap top:

I think that it is cool that Lenovo was able to develop a lap top that was this light. I could not imagine how someone could make a computer out of 1.8 pounds of components. I bet that the power supply on my computer weighs at least three times that, if not more. However, I do no think that Lenovo will be able to price their lap top at a higher price the Apple's Mac Book Pro. The lap tops are already so light that the 1 less pound won't even make that much of  a difference. 

Overall I think that it is pretty cool that lap top companies are still trying to push the limits of weight. I don't imagine how the lap tops could get any lighter but only the future will tell.

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The World's Smallest Lap Top Charger

Recently a company has released the world's smallest laptop charger for pre-order. Consumers are now able to pre-order the extremely small lap top charger that gets rid of the stereotypical block like shape of a regular lap top charger and instead take a more round look. The lap top charger will be compatible with most lap top brands, and the company is planning to develop and release an adapter for Apple devices. The product is due to ship sometime during the course of this year.

Link to the original article with more information on the product and it release:https://www.yahoo.com/tech/goodbye-brick-worlds-smallest-laptop-charger-is-107518248199.html

I am glad that companies are trying to improve the size of lap top chargers. For me,when I use a lap top I almost always have it plugged in because the lap top either has a bad battery or I just want the thing to last a long time while I am using it. The charger always gets in the way for me because it is very bulky and takes up a lot of spaces. The chargers for lap tops also tend to get very hot when used for long amounts of time. Since lap top chargers are so bulky I usually find myself just throwing them off to the side. This ends up cluttering the floor and making the mess of wires that is already there even worse. I like the design of the charger because the bulky part is actually where the charger plugs into the outlet. This makes it easier to organize the wiring and helps prevent the clunky part from weighing down the cable and either unplugging the charger or pulling the lap top off of the surface that you have it on. I think that it is also cool because I won't have to worry about it overheating, as it is a higher quality after-market product that is made with a better internal cooling system.

Overall I think that it is really cool that companies are developing better sized lap top chargers. We are in an age where the size of our technology really does make a difference on how we use it. The slightest difference in weight could change how something works completely. I think that an example of that can be found in power supplies, so I am very excited for lap top chargers of this size to become more mainstream.

Word Count: 405

Hyundai James Bond Style

Reccently Hyundai cars have been equipped with the hardware necessary to create an application for smart watches that enables car owners to control their cars "James Bond" style. The app is made for smart watches and takes advantage of mobile data networks in order to let the user control their car with a touch interface. The application features features such as being able to start up your car from a distance, honking the horn to find your car, and many more things.

Link to the original article with more information on the subject regarding the smart watch application for Hyundai cars: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/buy-a-hyundai-start-your-car-from-your-wrist-107337884139.html

I think that it is very cool that Hyundai has made the smart watch application interface standard on their newer cars. As time goes on I can only see the amount of smart watches in the world increasing. I also think that the app is a great way to use the hardware and the features that a smart watch provides. I think that this application interface will help car owners get places more efficiently. Another added bonus to the application is that it lets the consumer check in on their car from long distances. If you were a businessman or a member of a family on vacation you would want to be able to check on your car at the airport to make sure that it has not been damaged. The application that Hyundai has developed will help consumers feel more safe about what is happening with their cars because the car is always "on their wrist". I think that the application has a lot of potential when paired up with great hardware. For example the controls for all of the radio devices and air-conditioning units could be moved to the smart watch. This could free up space on the dash board and could allow for more space for things such as cup holders and screens with touch interfaces. The smart watch application could also be used to help control the audio system in the car. Our family has troubles balancing the audio in our car whenever we go on a vacation. For example, my parents in the front of the car might not want to hear the audio from a movie that we are watching in the back. For them it is hard to control the audio because we control it (and it is even hard for us to reach). The smart watch could easily solve this problem by allowing the user to control the balance of the audio in the car by swiping something on their wrist. I also think that the smart watch could be used to help users control the lights in the car. For some it is hard to reach the lights in the back of the car. The smart watch application could easily eliminate this problem because, once again, it is able to make the control of the lights easier by making it available at the swipe of the wrist.

Overall I think that it is pretty awesome that Hyundai is making their smart watch application compatible with more of their cars. I think that it is a very smart move for them because I think that smart watches will only get more popular as time goes on. I also think that it is great for them because they are able to have a major selling point for families. I think that smart watch applications will be very useful for families who have trouble controlling their cars when they go on vacation.

Word Count: 596