FIVE FACTS (pages 6-7 in "Tomorrow's Technology and You"
1) The abacus and the Hindu-Arabic number system are examples of early calculating tools that had an immediate and profounfd effect on the human race.
2) It took 125 years for the computer to go from idea to reality. They were first designed for military use and over the years adated to what we have today.
3) After the first computers in the early days, they started to develop rapidly, with new ones replacing the old every year. The transistor, whichwas developed in 1948 started to appear in computers, making them smaller and more reliable.
4)Soon after in the 1960s, the US developed integrated circuits, which were silicon chips with many transistors in them, creating smaller, more efficient, more powerful computers.
5) In 1971, Intel developed the first microprocessor, which was a silicon chip that contained all of the computers computational functions. They made the computer even more powerful, and they were inexpensive to develop, leading to mass productions of watches, calculators. It also lead to the launch and mass productions of personal computers in the 1970s.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Article 2: At&t family tracking service
Article Link:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10219786-94.html
AT&T Launches Family Tracking Service
Just recently, AT&T released a new system that allows parents to track their children via cell phone. It uses GPS technology and cell phone tower triangulation to track the individual in question. The parents may watch where their children are online in real time, or they can recieve text messagesevery now and then informing them of their child's location. The person being tracked recieves periodic text messxgaes reminding them they are being watched. In order to prevent stalkers from using the service, one can only track people in their family plan.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10219786-94.html
AT&T Launches Family Tracking Service
Just recently, AT&T released a new system that allows parents to track their children via cell phone. It uses GPS technology and cell phone tower triangulation to track the individual in question. The parents may watch where their children are online in real time, or they can recieve text messagesevery now and then informing them of their child's location. The person being tracked recieves periodic text messxgaes reminding them they are being watched. In order to prevent stalkers from using the service, one can only track people in their family plan.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tech Article: Ipods
Here's an interesting article...it talks about how ipods help teachers and studetns in school.
http://www.questiaschool.com/read/5014694173
http://www.questiaschool.com/read/5014694173
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tech Reflect: 8/25
TechReflect: How do you feel about computers and technology? Explain your positive and negative feelings.
I feel computers are very useful, becasuse they provide us with efficent means for communication, research, entertainment, work. One can easily look up infortmation on any research topic, exsisting business, upcoming events, and so on. You can also use it to stay in touch with people around the world, look up directions for a destination, watch videos, and even shop or pay bills. You can also express your own opinion and spread your ideas via the internet.Software for all kinds of applications are availabe. Computers basically help in all aspects of life and the benefits seem to outweigh the negative aspects of computers, such as security issues, and so on...
I feel computers are very useful, becasuse they provide us with efficent means for communication, research, entertainment, work. One can easily look up infortmation on any research topic, exsisting business, upcoming events, and so on. You can also use it to stay in touch with people around the world, look up directions for a destination, watch videos, and even shop or pay bills. You can also express your own opinion and spread your ideas via the internet.Software for all kinds of applications are availabe. Computers basically help in all aspects of life and the benefits seem to outweigh the negative aspects of computers, such as security issues, and so on...
Monday, August 24, 2009
ITGS triangle
ASSIGNMENT: Choose an IT system, and generally apply the social/ethical issues to it. Then apply the IT system to two areas of impact.
Online Blogs
Section 2: IT Systems in a Socail Context
Often times, teachers decide to use online blogs to keep their students updated on school assignments na dpost up notes and links to hlep students study. A lot of the teacehrs at al-Arqam this year decided to use this method, and it'sdefinately an easy way to prevent miscommunication between students and teachers. It's an efficient communication system becasue it makes it easier for studetns to catch up with whats going on in class and what the homework is if they were absent, or if they just eren't paying too much attention is class.
Section 1: SOcial and Ethical Issues
There are many benefits to this method of communication, but there are some issues that may arise.
1)For one thing, it's not personal, and even if there are notes posted on the blog, it won't be the same as having a teacher teach the student.
2)There is also the issue of equality of access. There may be some people who don't have access to the blog, and may therefore not be able to recieve the notes, homework posts, and other benefits. This may cause miscommunication among the taecher and students without access to the blog.
3)There's also the issue of privacy; if students wanted to make personal comments to the teacher or if the teacher wanted to discuss grades via the blog, others owuld be able to see the comments.
Section 3: Areas of Impact
EDUCATION: It's clear that blogs help create ew streams of communication among students and teachers...and obviosly its becoming popular since half the teachers at Al-Arqam have chosen this route.it creates an efficient and effective means of communication.
BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT: Just as it helps in schools, blogs may also help ease communication between employers and employees in businesses and organizations. Tasks can be posted, meeting dates can peple up to pace, and updates on projects would help keep every employee on track with what's going on.
Since the internet is a so widely used nowadays in every area, its a great way to communicate with others and keep people posted.
Online Blogs
Section 2: IT Systems in a Socail Context
Often times, teachers decide to use online blogs to keep their students updated on school assignments na dpost up notes and links to hlep students study. A lot of the teacehrs at al-Arqam this year decided to use this method, and it'sdefinately an easy way to prevent miscommunication between students and teachers. It's an efficient communication system becasue it makes it easier for studetns to catch up with whats going on in class and what the homework is if they were absent, or if they just eren't paying too much attention is class.
Section 1: SOcial and Ethical Issues
There are many benefits to this method of communication, but there are some issues that may arise.
1)For one thing, it's not personal, and even if there are notes posted on the blog, it won't be the same as having a teacher teach the student.
2)There is also the issue of equality of access. There may be some people who don't have access to the blog, and may therefore not be able to recieve the notes, homework posts, and other benefits. This may cause miscommunication among the taecher and students without access to the blog.
3)There's also the issue of privacy; if students wanted to make personal comments to the teacher or if the teacher wanted to discuss grades via the blog, others owuld be able to see the comments.
Section 3: Areas of Impact
EDUCATION: It's clear that blogs help create ew streams of communication among students and teachers...and obviosly its becoming popular since half the teachers at Al-Arqam have chosen this route.it creates an efficient and effective means of communication.
BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT: Just as it helps in schools, blogs may also help ease communication between employers and employees in businesses and organizations. Tasks can be posted, meeting dates can peple up to pace, and updates on projects would help keep every employee on track with what's going on.
Since the internet is a so widely used nowadays in every area, its a great way to communicate with others and keep people posted.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Social Networking Websites...
Assignment: Apply a social/ethicla issue to the idea of social networking websites.
Reliability:
The issue i was assigned was reliability, which refers to how dependable an IT system is. When it coms to networking sites such as facebook, myspace, or twitter, thye can be relaible in some senses and unreliable in others. One of the purposes of networking sites is to keep in touch with friends and family you don't see ofetn. Or to simply send messages to those you need to. In this sense these websites are reliable becuase they're a method of communicating with others. ANy message you want to send to someone can be sent via threse sites. It's also a relaible way of sharing pictures, videos, and information.
Another purpose of these webistes is to ceonnect with old friends who you may not have seen in a while, or network with new people. In this sense you cannot always depend on these wesites. Poeple can fake information about themselves, and put up random pictures, saying its them. Stalkers and online predators can make fake accounts and try to add people and get to know them, with ulterior motives. This sense of unrelaiblity can make sicializing websites dangerous if one isn't careful on them...
Reliability:
The issue i was assigned was reliability, which refers to how dependable an IT system is. When it coms to networking sites such as facebook, myspace, or twitter, thye can be relaible in some senses and unreliable in others. One of the purposes of networking sites is to keep in touch with friends and family you don't see ofetn. Or to simply send messages to those you need to. In this sense these websites are reliable becuase they're a method of communicating with others. ANy message you want to send to someone can be sent via threse sites. It's also a relaible way of sharing pictures, videos, and information.
Another purpose of these webistes is to ceonnect with old friends who you may not have seen in a while, or network with new people. In this sense you cannot always depend on these wesites. Poeple can fake information about themselves, and put up random pictures, saying its them. Stalkers and online predators can make fake accounts and try to add people and get to know them, with ulterior motives. This sense of unrelaiblity can make sicializing websites dangerous if one isn't careful on them...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
the "Death Star"
Assignment: Looking at the "Death Star" as an IT system, apply it to a social and ethical issue.
1.8 Control: This issue talks about how technology can impose control on a goup of people. The "Death Star" can in a sense control people, because as we saw in the clip, it could literally control ships by pulling them closer to it. It's a very literal analysis...but i couldn't come up with another one...
1.11 People and Machines: This area addresses all the problems and issues that couldarrise as a result of the use of a specific piece of technology. Becasue the "Death Star" has a very destructive nature, it's important that it is designed to be safe and accurate when aiming at a target. Also, if the "Death Star was mass produced somehow, it would be chaotic, because people would use it for their own purposes, destoying planets left and right, and leading all living species in the universe to their impending doom. So basically this can be a very dangerous piece fo technology if it were to be accessible to all, if it weren't designed well, or if it fell into the wrong hands...(enter suspense music here).
1.8 Control: This issue talks about how technology can impose control on a goup of people. The "Death Star" can in a sense control people, because as we saw in the clip, it could literally control ships by pulling them closer to it. It's a very literal analysis...but i couldn't come up with another one...
1.11 People and Machines: This area addresses all the problems and issues that couldarrise as a result of the use of a specific piece of technology. Becasue the "Death Star" has a very destructive nature, it's important that it is designed to be safe and accurate when aiming at a target. Also, if the "Death Star was mass produced somehow, it would be chaotic, because people would use it for their own purposes, destoying planets left and right, and leading all living species in the universe to their impending doom. So basically this can be a very dangerous piece fo technology if it were to be accessible to all, if it weren't designed well, or if it fell into the wrong hands...(enter suspense music here).
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
My Interaction with Computers...
Assignment: List the ways you interact with computers in your daily life:
I interact with computers constantly....
1) Homework/Research: I pretty much type up most of my assignements, and when we're given the option of doing a powerpoint for a project, i go for it. There's also always some sort of research assignemtn to do, in which case the internet is my number one research destination. i also like online translating services... So basically if school's in session, you'll find me on my laptop every afternoon.
2)SOCAILIZING: This is the reason i love computers...particulary the internet. With it's magical powers i can stay in touch with everyone and hold conversations via networking sites like facebook, email, and im-ing via Aim.
3) Keeping up with everything: When i hear about some news story or anything im interestied in, i usually hit up google or yahoo and catch up on current events, recent studies; any topic im intereted in. I also usually look up new words on online dictionaries.
4) Movies: I watch many many movies online, especailly on the weekends or vacations, when Rimsha and I are in the mood and don't have anything else to do. We also watch our fair share of random pointless youtube videos.
5) Other stuff: I like to use some different programs on the computer for entertainment, i learnedhow to use photoshop to an extent so sometimes i'm on there messing around with photos. Paint is fun when i want to make random drawings and then make them my sister's desktop picture.
Thats all i can think of...thanks for reading folks...
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