Are Wii the children of the revoluton?

In 2006, Nintendo introduced a new game console, called the 'Wii'. This gaming system is known for its distinguishing features, like the wireless controller that can detect motion and rotation. Eversince the Wii had been available for the public, there have been debates on whether this game console is a true technological revolution, or just a hype.
Revolution is defined as "a sudden, complete or marked change in something." (dictionary.com.) Personally, i think that the Wii gaming system is a technological revolution. This gaming system is just another creative invention made my markerting companies to keep the trend of gaming continuous. In theory the "revolution" of motion detecting is a relitivley new and the Wii manipulates it to create a much more engaging way of using it. Though many users of the Wii considerthis a non-revolutionary item, i belive that it is greatly revolutionary and sets the playing feild for many other revolutions deriving for motion detecting. I mean, look at how the Wii works! The remote controls can be detached and used alone. It is a more interactive way of playing games; your own actions are mimicked through out the game. So guys ....you as the consumer should know that this means you have to ...I MEAN YOU HAVE TO ..go out and purchase a Wii ...HAVE FUN

Reading In Cyberspace

Journal Entry # 5


Google’s Book Library Project enables you to search for books that our in Google’s collection. It would show the user the information about the book. Some would display a few sentences which would help the viewers identify the book. People would be able to view the whole content of the book, but only if it is out of copyright. Although people benefit from this library-based digitization, the invention of Google Book Search impacts Google's relationships with different publishers. Publishers would think unfairly of this creation and would beleive that this should be considered illegal because Google is providing a free access to their books. This would also affect the sales of the books and the profit earned by the publishers. People would depend and rely on using Google Book Search to find and read the books online, giving them a reason not to spend money on actually buying the book. As a result, the sales of the books in the stores would decrease, causing the publishers and the writers to not earn as much.Other engines like Yahoo!, and Microsoft have been been competing with Google, in terms of industry growth. Because of the creation of Google Book Search, Google's profit has grown. This will affect on how other companies respond to it. Alll companies want their industry and profits to grow. So because of Google Book Search, they may be thinking of other ideas relating to programs like Google Book Search to also increase their profits. So in the future, they may be a possibility of several programs from other companies simlar to Google's that would be available for people around the world to use.This project would greatly impact and increase the access that people have on information. Now, they would have the ability to research books online, instead of going to a library and looking for the book themselves. In situations where people are not able to visit the library to find the book, they would just use Google Book Search to find the book. Google Book Search also has one advantage people would benefit on. People would have the ability on searching books that would be hard to find in libraries. Books from the past that were publishsed over a period ago, would be difficult to find at a local library. In Google Book Search, there is a better possibilty of find the source of that book.
I do not think that librarians would be affected by the creation of Google Book Search, because people would still visit libraries even for the books that are displayed on Google. The reason why is because some of the books with copyright agreements will only show several lines on the site. People who would need further research on that particular book will have to access libraries and get the book for more information.
Personally, i think that the creation of this source is a good idea, but i would not really benefit from it. When i use books for refrence and to research information, i would like to obatin more than three lines worth of information. I also would not like wasting time searching up a book that would only give me a result of a couple lines from that book. Although Google Book Search is a useful and beneficial program, i would rather get information on books by getting it from the libraries.

The Genographic Project

Journal Entry # 4
“The Genographic Project, launched in April 2005, is a five-year genetic anthropology study that aims to map historical human migration patterns by collecting and analyzing DNA samples from over 100,000 people across five continents. It is being billed as the "moon shot of anthropology."(wikipedia) The purpose of this project is to understand the human journey, how humans came to be. The Genographic Project is runned by field researchers, that collect DNA from indigenous people. To their advantage, researchers are able to share ideas and results from their experiments. In The Genographic Project, there are scientific and technological advances that are necesseray, in order to be accomplished. A tool like “machine speed calculations” help the researchers get the job done.
If The Genographic Project was developed 25, 50, or 100 years ago, it would not run as smoothly or be as successful as today. Within that time, our world has changed, improved, and most importantly, modernized. In the past, our world did not have much way to get around, no computers that they could access for resources. Today, researcherd from The Genegraphic Prject have beneffitted from the imrpovement of technology and transportation. With better ways to get around, they are able to go to places to retreive information dealing with the project. They would also have a variety of resources, including the internet to get more information.
With the modernization taking place in our world, this would be the perfect timing for The Genographic Project to be on put because of wide amount of resources available for them to use.
The indigenious group would be the most important people in the project because their DNAs are most suitable for the project and would be easier to read.

When War meets Video Games

Journal Entry for Question #3

I think that war video games have become so popular because modern technology has become more evolved and modernized. People who create today’s new videogames have a more variety of technology they can use, as compared to the kind of technology they had to create video games in the past. Video games have become more popular because I feel that they are more accessible and entertaining. The video games from the past were only created with basic technology, so the quality would not be as good, if you compared it to video games that are being played in today’s world. I also think that the creativity that goes in the video games help increase its popularity. If the game is fun, has a good moral of the game and looks good, people will enjoy playing it. I also think that the media and advertisement contribute to the increase of popularity in video games.
In today’s world, the media bombards us with so many advertisements, urging us to buy this and watch that. Advertisements dealing with war video games certainly contribute to its popularity because by advertising that game, people in the society, kids in particular, will see that ad and will be attracted to it, causing them to buy the game and play it. I think that video games were not as popular before because there were barely any advertisements dealing with attracting buyers to the video game.
I think realistic war games make people emotionally insensitive to the horror of war mainly because it does not show the real seriousness to war. Gamers know that they are just playing a game, and the consequences of losing the game is to start over. While in real war, you only have one chance to “win the game”, and only one life to live. The complexity of the game, which makes it more realistic, takes away the real horror of war.
In my opinion, I think that war video games are not a good idea. I do happen to be a fan of video games, but I feel that video games dealing with war would be a bad influence, especially for little kids, due to the amount of killing and blood shown throughout the game.

An iPod Classroom?

Journal Entry Question #2

Watching lectures through an iPod is certainly a new and unique way of learning for students. Students are able to watch lecture videos anywhere they want to. Students who are also more "hands on" can benefit from these video lectures. However, i do not think that learning through an iPod would be as effective as learning from a person to person contact. They will gain a "lazy habit" because they will no longer depend on textbooks. Instead, they can just get information through the video. By watching lectures through the iPod, students will begin to lose communication skills they would learn in classrooms. Also, students will not interact with their teachers and fellow classmates as much as they would, if they start using the iPods to learn.

Another problem that would be caused by using an iPod to learn is that not everyone would be able to afford an iPod video. Those who cannot afford to buy an iPod will feel left out and will not be able to get the oppurtunity of listening to lectures anytime they want. Their only way of method to listen to these lectures will have to be through their course website. Another problem is the increase amounts of iPod theift. iPods will be stolen more because if students are allowed to listen to lectures through iPods, they will be able to bring their iPods to school, which means that there is a higher chance that it could be stolen.

Mary Ward is known for its self directed program. Using iPods would be useful for students who have missed their seminars because they can just download the video lecture and send it to their iPods. But i personally do not think that we should grasp this idea of using iPods for lectures because Mary Ward students will begin to lose the skills they are needed to learn in classrooms, such as communicating and consulting with the teacher and interacting with other students. Also, the cost of using iPod for lectures will be far too expensive, and some students will not be able to afford iPods. The problem of theift also has to be taken into consideration. Some students would also just use the iPods as a way to avoid using textbooks.

With the GOOD, comes the BAD

Journal Entry Question for #1

There is no doubt that communication technology has greatly modernized our society. Because of the types of technology that has been invented, we are able to talk to other people that are located on the other side of the world. Everyone has benefited from the invention of e-mails, cell phones and text message. A person can receive an email from a different country faster than they can receive a letter from the mail. Teens are able to communicate daily with their friends using Yahoo or Msn messengers. Others are able to take pictures using their camera phone and send it to other people.

Another form of communication technology used in our modern world is the Internet. People use the internet to access information on practically all subject matters. Almost everything can be found and researched about on the internet. The internet is also largely used for advertisements. Companies use the internet to communicate with their audience and to sell their products or services. They do this by creating a website that displays their sales. People are also able to post up their thoughts through blogging sites, such as Livejournal. Also, people can talk or meet other people on sites such as Facebook or Myspace, which are sites created to make friends. But as much as there are advantages to these modern-day communication technologies, there are also some disadvantages.

Most teens get too caught up using MSN or Yahoo that they tend to get too lazy and use shot forms for words, such as LOL for laugh out loud”, BTW for “by the way” or G2G for “got to go”. Developing this way of writing can affect how they write or talk in assignments for school. Taking pictures on phones, displaying your thoughts and feelings on the internet can also invade a certain person’s privacy. And although access to the internet is useful, there are some sites that are not appropriate for young people. Sites like Myspace could also be a disadvantage because like chat rooms, some teens meet and talk to other “teens” looking for friendships, without knowing who they really are, which a safe way to meet people. Also, anyone could pretend to be other people through the internet.

Modern technology has certainly improved our generation. The invention of emails, cell phones, and instant messenger has helped us in our everyday lives. But although communication technology has many advantages, there is always going to be disadvantages.

Mikz' comm.tech blog=)