Thursday, April 15, 2010

Rhymes of History

Rhyme of History-Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds are rhymes of history in that they predate computers (Wikipedia, 2010). Virtual worlds will rekindle trips to exotic destinations without the cost and time of the journey. The learners being enabled to interact with the virtual world and have the sense of being a part of worlds will give them a realistic view of the content.

When Kevin Kelly gave his lecture on “the next 5000 days of the web”; found at: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/
kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html
, it was mentioned how computer technology has moved from embodiment which was computer to computer to restructure which is page to page to what he calls “one machine” which is data to data and the fourth step of transparency which is a virtual computer world where everything known will be on the world wide web or cyberspace.

More and more educators are beginning to see how virtual worlds can be a valuable teaching tool. Educators may want to teach students about the vegetation in different climate zones and the class can take a trip to the different zones without actually leaving the classroom or home. Students could build engines and even perform medical procedures in virtual worlds. Data in cyberspace will be our virtual world of information that we depend on.

Reference

Kelly, K. (2007, December). The next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from; http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/
kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

Thornburg, D. (2009). Emerging and Future Technology, Rhymes of History; Laureate Education Inc. video

Wikipedia (2010). Virtual Worlds retrieved from; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_world#History

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Smartphone Module 2

A smart phone enhances productivity and enables new ways of conducting business beyond the confines of the office. Data once reserved for offices is now on a much smaller, mobile and convenient device.

Netbooks is the next step

Retrieves and Rekindle

Interest in web mail services

SMART and iPhones and the like may make desktops or even laptops obsolete.

Tetrad Model

  • Enhancements: What does this technology do that is new?
  • Obsolescence/Obsolete: What does this technology replace?
  • Retrieval/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
  • Reversal/Demise: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?

Enhances

Allows for new ways of conducting business outside of the confines of the office. Business can be conducted on a mobile device.






Obsoletes

Has the potential to make desktops or even laptops obsolete.

Rekindles

Interest in web mail services and multi-tasking capabilities







Reverses
Netbooks may be the
next step of this technology







References

Ganapati, P. (2008). The Next Netbook Trend: Cellphone-Like Contract Deals; Gadget Lab; retrieved from: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/12/next-time-you-s/

Silicon.com (2006). Analysis: What is a smartphone? retrieved from;
http://www.silicon.com/technology/mobile/2006/02/13/analysis-what-is-a-smartphone-3915639

Thornburg, D. D., (2008). Emerging technologies and McLuhan's Laws of Media.Lake Barrington Il: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Junctionless Transistor

Tyndall National Institute creates first junctionless transistor.

This will be an emerging technology that will be able to replace standard transistors that are now in use. If this junctionless transistor truely work; it will be a revolution in electronic devices. This transistor uses nanotechnology to create it and if Moore's Law is to remain constant thru 2015; the invention of this device will extend Moore's Law well beyond 2015. Electronic devices will be cheaper because without junctions in the transistors the electronic devices will be cheaper to develop and they will become smaller and hold more information. The implications on the world will mean more people will be able to afford electronics. School systems will be able to divert more funds to other areas of their concern. Space explorers will be able to travel farther because they may not need to carry a very heavy load in their explorations.

It is the floppy disk in my workplace that has been replaced by other storage devices. The floppy disk was arkward to worh with, though it served a purpose when first introduced. The disk were very easily damaged and one could lose data. The floppy disk are portable storage that were replaced by other portable devices such as USB storage devices and CD's, DVD's. Computers also have internal storage data bases and software applications that serve the same purpose. These other devices that replaced the floppy disk are smaller and stores more data. This meant more room could be used for other devices in the workplace.

It was pointed out to me by one of my group mates that I may have misunderstood the blog assignment so I added the floppy disk to my blog.

Reference
Brandon, A. (2010). Tyndall National Institute creates first junctionless transistor; gizmag. retrieved from; http://www.gizmag.com/tyndall-national-institute-first-junctionless-transistor/14531/

Welcome to the Obsolete Technology Website, Retrieved from; http://oldcomputers.net/