There exists a list of the 12 most annoying pieces of technology. I agree with most of them on there. Technology for the sake of technology can be pretty ridiculous. Using technology just so that we can gets annoying when there are other ways to accomplish something that are far less annoying. The only thing that I don't agree with on the list has to be the "touchless bathrooms." Granted there are times when you can't get the sink to work, but there is usually more then one sink right next to each other so you simply need to move over. It cuts back on water consumption and germ spreading. Another of the technologies that i don't really have a problem with is the voice recognition technology. I understand that there are those that get frustrated with it when they can't get the software to understand what they are saying. I personally don't have too much of a problem with it because I am a voice actor and have become accustomed to over enunciating my words. If you are having trouble with the voice recognition software then I suggest you speak slowly and ridiculously in order for the software to understand what you are saying.
One bit of technology that I find incredibly annoying is the email notification feature that comes with any website that you signed up for. This includes Facebook. I DO NOT need an email sent to me every time one of my friends updates their status or someone makes a slight change to an event I'm attending. I have my email linked directly to my phone which is incredibly convenient and helpful especially with school emails and such. I can't stand it though when I get 15 emails in 10 minutes from Facebook because one of my friends is bored and it ends up blowing up my phone.
Another piece of technology I find incredibly annoying are the bluetooth ear pieces. When people go into a store and are shopping around, you will see them and it seems like they are talking to themselves. Often times I will walk by someone and they are looking in my direction while they are talking and then there will be that awkward moment when you're not sure if they are speaking to you or not. How lazy do you have to be to walk around a store and shop that you can't take the time to hold a phone to your ear for a few minutes. These wireless devices should only be used in a car where the situation requires you to use both of your hands. If you are too busy that you have to take a phone call during every moment of your life, then you need to take a step back and realize there is more to life then that.
I am astounded at the progress that our scientists have achieved in the field of technology. To think that barely 30 years ago we had computers that would take up entire rooms in order to compute a series of numbers and now we can talk to people around the world and even communicate with a rover on a different planet with a device that fits in our pocket. It is a credit to our species that we have been able to achieve so much.
With every advancement comes problems though. We are seeing an increase in those that become addicted to the technologies developed. Which will lead to the decreased ability for humans to survive without this technology. If you go to Malawi Africa, there are people there that wonder where their next meal is going to come from and live in huts in the dirt, but they have cell phones. This is an example of how technology has helped this country stay connected but if the increase in technology is not regulated, it could have a detrimental effect on the country.
A recent study found that 1/3 of the U.S. population do not use Facebook or Twitter. They stated this fact as if it were a horrible statistic. I believe that it is a good thing. There is way too much stress, drama, and pressure put onto people because of these sites. It gives me hope that there are still people out there that know how to socialize with a handshake instead of a keyboard. I personally have both a Twitter and Facebook account. The main reason is that there are certain announcements and postings that are critical to my education and career posted on these sites, though I do use them for entertainment purposes as well.
If the internet was shut down today, our world would collapse. The 1/3 of Americans not umbilicalled to the internet would be able to survive with very little difficulty. However, that means that about 210 MILLION people would be without a lifeline to their lives. I understand that not everyone that uses these sites are addicted to them like myself, but it is disconcerting that so many people are linked to them and the people that are not are being chastised for it. I say let them live their lives the healthy way and let us learn from them.
Well first off we can't immediately start pointing fingers at Samsung and calling them evil for practices that they are not directly responsible for. The factories that they have their products constructed at are where these practices take place and it is up to the government to regulate the practices there. This does not exonerate Samsung however because they may have claimed to be unaware of these occurrences but once they found out they didn't take their business elsewhere either.
We can't lay all the blame at Samsung's feet because they are not the only ones at fault. The American public is also to blame. If Samsung were to take their manufacturing and shipping needs elsewhere, their sales would drastically decrease while they made the transition and the public would be so upset that they would cease to buy Samsung products due to lack of supply and the raised cost which would in turn put Samsung in a very financially unstable situation.
Another aspect of the situation is that what is happening in China is not unlike what happened in America about 260 years ago during the industrial revolution. During that time children would work in factories for barely any wages for exorbitant overtime hours. This was the dawn of America becoming a world super power and the leader that we were a few years ago. America's influence is on the decline and is only going to lose more and more influence. Since we outsource all of our business we are simply giving other countries more power over us. We are in debt to too many countries for too much money to be able to recover. China is awakening and will soon become the leading super power of the world. The process they are going through right now is exactly what happened to the united states all those years ago.
As for not using these products, I do not personally have a Samsung device but I am sure that some brand of company I support has used the same techniques sometime in the past. However, the fact remains that our society is continually pushing the development of technology and if we do not get on board we will be left behind. For instance I had to purchase my own cell phone and pay a ridiculous bill every month just so I can have some kind of access to the internet from my house. If I did not have access then I would most likely fail my classes because every single one of them posts assignments and announcements on the internet.
In conclusion, any type of human abuse and extortion is deplorable and should be discouraged but human pain is the price of societal advancement. People die every day in order to fix roads we drive on, pump oil we consume, repair electricity we rely on, and produce technology we depend on. The sad truth is that we are a destructive species and that fact will never change.
The fiasco between Apple and Samsung is absolutely ridiculous. The fact that Apple won the lawsuit was completely due to the fact that the jury was filled laymen and not with electronic and business professionals. If this were to be a fair trial the jury would have to be made up of application developers, business men, and copyright experts. I completely agree with the statement made by Darren Murph from Engadget when he said "Looking at the closing arguments alone, it was plainly obvious that
showing a jury full of laypeople Product A vs. Product B and asking them
-- in a roundabout way -- if they looked alike would lead to an Apple
victory." This is a perfect example of how the lawyers took advantage of the ignorance of the jury in order to get a sketchy victory over Samsung.
Apple is being completely hypocritical with this lawsuit. If they wanted to be completely fair then they should also be paying fines to Android and Windows7 OS for the aspects they have incorporated from them. I personally have an android phone and have enjoyed the awesome convenience of Google Talk for several years. Apple now has the exact same feature that does everything that Google Talk does only they have added a voice that talks back to you and are calling it Siri.
The fact is that now that Apple has won this lawsuit, the friendly sharing of ideas between innovators has ended. Now everyone will be defensive about their ideas and there will be countless lawsuits over everything. The market will get ridiculous and cell phone sales will fall. I will personally never purchase an iphone as android has been ahead of them in every aspect from the beginning. Unfortunately, I think that android phone sales will fall because now there will be so many restrictions on cell phone development.
In conclusion we will basically have to get used to a very bland and straight cut OS if we are not apple customers. We will have to deal with less choice and more round about ways to do what we used to be to do with the touch of a button, or the pinching of our fingers. Android will have to be careful though, if they get too bland and straight cut, they might be getting a lawsuit from Blackberry.
This video shows yet another innovation that Samsung has created. I have researched and tried to find a video for the iphone but every video is either a concept video or a parody. Apparently they are so paranoid that someone will steal their ideas that they won't even advertise them.
Comm203 at Shepherd University has been one of the first communication classes that I have taken. I came into the class with very little knowledge about what was entailed in the communications field and very little ability to do things in the area. This class has greatly influenced my abilities and given me valuable experience.
One of the first things that we touched on was a software called Xmind. This software is used for mapping out ideas. It is a useful tool for organizing ideas and arranging things in a way that makes sense for people that don't think linearly. This software is a great tool, but I didn't use it as much as could have been done. I never really needed it to organize my thoughts because I have been making associations and making connections in my own mind for years. This software is still useful though because as I further my education and take on more projects, I will have more of a need for this software to keep my thoughts straight and produce excellent projects when my plate gets a little full.
Another thing that I was introduced to that I had never done before was blogging. This has been an invaluable asset throughout the semester. It has made me extremely proficient at doing online research and understanding the subject better. I enjoy the blogging because even though it is a somewhat informal way of writing, it allows the freedom to express ones opinion about a subject while still learning and understanding the subject. It has also developed my ability to write. I can now structure a paper a lot better than I used to, whether it be a blog or an academic paper. It has also helped me to better understand how to communicate the idea I'm trying to get across. You can check out my other blogs and see how my skill has developed.
The next major thing that we did was to create a graphic novel. This was a pretty daunting task for me at the beginning as I had never even considered doing it before. This project also introduced me to the Comic Life software. I was able to use it as a guide but was better able to actually draw the comic and get the idea across. This project also helped me in my ability to develop story ideas. The primer for the story was an excellent tool that allowed me to develop my ideas and make changes. After finishing the project, I was able to go back over the primer and view my process which helped me to better understand the way I think and the process for developing ideas.
The biggest project that we had this semester was a video documentary. This project introduced me to several different pieces of software as well as several different techniques. I was able to use Final Cut Pro to produce a video. I was taught how to shoot things with different focal lengths and lighting techniques. The shooting part was the easy part, after which I had to edit the film and put it together. I greatly valued the experience as it also helped me in other classes. I have produced several videos for myself and not just for classes now that I know how to do it. I have also been contracted to produce a film this summer for a missionary in Africa.
All of these new skills have been of tremendous value to me. I have learned so much and plan to continue learning more. These skills have introduced me to new software and techniques. I have picked up these abilities pretty quickly. If I were to be placed in a work environment I am sure I would flourish. I use a PC operating system at home but all of the computers on campus are MAC. Since I am placed in this situation, I have become proficient in being fluent in both MAC and PC operating systems. Now I believe that I have the skills and the potential to enter the workforce and use the software available to me to make me a valuable asset to the company.
There have been many arguments about whether or not violent video games are helpful or harmful. There have been those that say violent video games harm the player and show the player how to commit violent actions or just make them more prone to violent behavior. There are others that say that violent video games are a way for us to release our animal instincts and cope with life. They say that being able to play as an imaginary violent character allows us to be violent and release stress without actually harming the those around us. Now which is it? Are violent video games helpful or harmful?
The answer is somewhat confusing. The answer is both...and neither. The fact of the matter is that violent video games cannot be blamed or praised for what they do. There has simply not been enough research done in the field. Sure there have been studies done to study the behavior of a child exposed to such games but the research doesn't even touch the child's background. The player may have a disturbed home life and the violent video games may exacerbate the situation. However, in the same instance, the violent video games may create a refuge for the child and allow them to get rid of the violence through the game. There is just too little information out there to know for certain.
Now one can obviously form there own opinion about the situation and find research to support their theory. That is perfectly fine. However, that doesn't make their opinion a fact. It simply means that their opinion coincided with the findings of a specific study in a specific situation. To be practical, video games have just not been around long enough to really understand their effect on our psychology and make a concrete decision on their harmful or helpful nature. I mean we're really just now understanding what the antique philosopher's were meaning when they postulated their theories. "It really took us from 1750 to 1985 to really get it"-Kevin Williams when discussing our understanding of Friedrich Nietzsche.
Now as I said before we can always form our own personal opinions but they will never effect the reality of a given situation. From my own personal experience, I would say that video games have provided stress release when I was in need. I have been in a position where I was really stressed about something and in order to take my mind off things I just played a mindless video game which allowed me to calm down and the stress went away. Some games are pretty violent. For instance, Soul Calibur has been one of the biggest fighting games for a long time. This is one of my favorite games to play when I'm stressed out. It allows me to beat the crap out of an imaginary character and release my tension so I don't blow up and freak out on somebody else which would cause major problems.
So in conclusion, it is not possible to know for sure if video games are helpful or harmful. The best thing we can do is live from our personal experience and judge for ourselves whether or not these games are effecting us in a negative or positive way. Parents should also play an active role in their child's life and use their best judgment on whether or not to get a game based on the content. So even though science hasn't told us what the definite answer is, we still have control over our own lives and we should make our decisions according to our own set of values and priorities.
There exists a list of the 12 most annoying pieces of technology. I agree with most of them on there. Technology for the sake of technology can be pretty ridiculous. Using technology just so that we can gets annoying when there are other ways to accomplish something that are far less annoying. The only thing that I don't agree with on the list has to be the "touchless bathrooms." Granted there are times when you can't get the sink to work, but there is usually more then one sink right next to each other so you simply need to move over. It cuts back on water consumption and germ spreading. Another of the
technologies that i don't really have a problem with is the voice recognition technology. I understand that there are those that get frustrated with it when they can't get the software to understand what they are saying. I personally don't have too much of a problem with it because I am a voice actor and have become accustomed to over enunciating my words. If you are having trouble with the voice recognition software then I suggest you speak slowly and ridiculously in order for the software to understand what you are saying. 
Another piece of technology I find incredibly annoying are the bluetooth ear pieces. When people go into a store and are shopping around, you will see them and it seems like they are talking to themselves. Often times I will walk by someone and they are looking in my direction while they are talking and then there will be that awkward moment when you're not sure if they are speaking to you or not. How lazy do you have to be to walk around a store and shop that you can't take the time to hold a phone to your ear for a few minutes. These wireless devices should only be used in a car where the situation requires you to use both of your hands. If you are too busy that you have to take a phone call during every moment of your life, then you need to take a step back and realize there is more to life then that.
Well first off we can't immediately start pointing fingers at Samsung and calling them evil for practices that they are not directly responsible for. The factories that they have their products constructed at are where these practices take place and it is up to the government to regulate the practices there. This does not exonerate Samsung however because they may have claimed to be unaware of these occurrences but once they found out they didn't take their business elsewhere either.
