Journal #9

New Technology being used for a bike ride ???

Once again we see an article discussing how technology is being implemented into society for a new purpose due to rising gas prices. What now you ask ? New mapping technology is being used not for your out of town trip but for your joy ride on your bicycle. Thats right bicycle, new technology is being used to map out the most suitable route for your joy ride via your bicycle. The maps show you the best route based on aspects such as road blocks, speed limit for cars, sidewalks, etc. This new mapping isn't limited to just bike riders, its also being used by walkers and transit riders alike. The BTA (Bicycle Transportation Alliance) is seeing the effects of the high gases prices as well as their membership is steadily increasing. One of this groups main goals is developing bicycle boulevards which are roads made strickly for bikes making biking a make more safer, healthier alternative to driving. This mapping technology will be able to show these routes via the computer making them known to riders who may or may not know about them. (http://www.bta4bikes.org/at_work/bikeboulevards.php)










http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/07/25/webmaps.walking.ap/index.html

Journal #8

Solar Cars......Maybe becoming the next big thing ?

This summer, 15 teams competed in a 2,400 mile race from Plano, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. A team composed of Michigan University students won the race, it took them 51 hours and 42 minutes on the road. They used gallium arsenide multi-junction photovoltaic cells on their car. They stated that gallium cells can provide almost 50 percent more power than silicon photovoltaic cells, but are nearly twice as expensive. These cars did not work in heavy cloud cover as they do not absorb enough solar energy. I find this article very interesting as it gives us insight on how we can use solar energy with the combination of either gas or electric to change the outlook of our automobile industry. This is something I believe we as a society have really turned our attention to as gas and energy prices have been going through the roof with no relief in sight. The invention of hybrid cars is becoming the new rage throughout the world. As seen in this site : http://www.eartheasy.com/live_hybrid_cars.htm The variety of new hybrid cars are not just the tiny little cars we first saw. Hybrid SUVs are also becoming popular, especially in America as we love our big cars with comfort.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07/25/michigan.solar.car/index.html

Journal #7

Solar Trees...A possible solution to energy relief


Once again I'm coming back to tackle the issue of the energy crisis. This article is about "trees" that use solar energy to supply light to our local streets as well as providing modern artwork. These trees feature a "striking green trunk and ten branches with solar panels that radiate light on the street below." These trees have started popping up in England, Lovegrove tells CNN that these trees are not only visually appeasing when they're on but also when they're off. The trees also have the ability to close up to protect themselves from high winds. The article seen here

http://www.metaefficient.com/leds/solar-trees-may-light-up-europe.html states that street lighting consumes 10% of the total amount of electricity in Europe, making these new solar trees seem like a very good option and energy saving.

These trees show us how the use of technology is being used for almost everything. The energy crisis were currently facing is turning our attention to other sources such as solar power. We're beginning to implement this from placing panels on top of buildings, street lighting as the article states, as well as using them in cars, etc.










http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/24/solar.trees/index.html

Journal #6

New Age Windshield Aimed to Help the Elderly

With the US population of 65 and older expected to double in the next 20 years, General Motors
has came out with a windshield that has some great features that enable you to see the road better. Some of the features are: projects a blue line to show the edge of the road, infrared sensors to detect a person or animal in the driver's path, it is able to sense where the car is relative to the road as well as the position of the driver's head, it also has built in GPS. A British website discusses how elderly accidents can not only cause physical pain but emotional as it can mean and end to their driving, resulting in a loss of "independence and confidence". The fact that the 65+ age group is expected to double in the next 20 years is alarming to me as America's babyboomers are at that age now, that statistic goes to show just
how important it is to use the evolving technology and to apply it to improving car safety in order to keep the elderly safer as the population will be so large.
But this technology will not only be for the elderly, it will also be available for the whole population as well. For instance windshields that reflect bright sun light that can blind a driver are in the research stage currently. All drivers can be blinded by this not just the elderly.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2459/is_n4_v24/ai_17450261
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/18/windshields.older.drivers.ap/index.html

journal #5

U.S. is reported to be lagging in science- tech graduates

A newly published report states that the high-profile push by business groups to double the number of U.S. bachelor's degrees awarded in science, math and engineering by 2015 is not coming close to the expected numbers. In 2005 15 business groups warned that the lack of this graduates would pose a threat to the United States competitiveness against other countries. They stated that the U.S. would need to add 400,000 graduates annually in these fields to stay competitive. The current rate is around 220,000 annually. The arguement is being made that this problem is caused by lack of funding and support from the government. The government created the "America Competes Act" which was a program in which encouraged students to take the path of math and science by rewarding them with scholarships, job opportunities etc. but its being accused of not continuing to support it. I find this article very interesting as we find ourselves living in the world surrounded by computers. I would of thought the amount of graduates would be at an all-time high as there is such a high demand for computer skills etc. I don't know if its because we have slowed down from the initial "boom" of the technology age or what. I would have to imagine Computer Science to be included in their category of math and science graduates. I could see where the need for math graduates may be decreasing, but that would be a result due to the rise of computers. So its kind of like you would lose math graduates but it would be due to the rise of computers, resulting in more computer science graduates, so I do not see where we would have such a big fall out of graduates.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07/15/science.degrees.ap/index.html

Journal #4

Wind Farms being built of the coast of Delaware

In todays economy, where we find ourselves paying 4.09+ for a gallon of gas, electricity and natural gas prices also at an all time high, we're beginning to look for other ways to create energy, one of those ways is through the wind. This past Monday it was announced that Delmarva Power and Bluewater Wind will be creating an offshore field of wind turbines a dozen miles off Rehoboth Beach, Delaware with a projected cost of 1.6 billion dollars. The turbines will sit on a pole about 250 feet above the waterline, where the ocean is about 75 feet deep. It is said that the turbines will be "nearly invisible" and that the only time you may be able to see them from the shore will be clear winter days. The project is expected to be in operation within 4 years from the beginning of construction. With projects like this popping up all over the world it shows us just how bad of a "Crisis" we're facing when it comes to energy. We can see the use of technology in play in trying to battle the energy crisis, as we try to find the most effecient methods possible in creating, re-using and discovering energy sources. This article needs to be read by all the Americans who think the only option is gasoline and who continue to drive their Hummers around town instead of helping to fight the problem and getting a smaller more efficient car. Its time the world unites in the battle to find alternate resources of energy. This same company also has created a offshore field off the coast of Denmark as well. The first power from this field is expected by 2012 and supply up to 50,000 homes a year with power.








http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/23/wind.turbines/index.html

Journal # 3

Live Streaming Video for the 2008 Olympics

During the upcoming 2008 Olympics, NBC will stream 2,200 hours of 25 events live, with almost the entire 4,000 hours of the games available on archive for North American Internet users. CNN interviewed Perkins Miller, SVP Digital Media, NBC Sports and Olympics, about the dawn of the digital games. When asked how come they only broadcasted one hockey game from the 2006 winter games, they responded by saying how far online video technology has come allowing them to have a much greater capability in 2008 to make this possible. When asked did he think that online broadcasts will ever replace that of the television he said he would find it hard to imagine sitting in front of a computer vs. that of say a 52 inch flat screen to watch the super bowl. Miller also stated that the fact that the majority of households with young children own more laptops than televisions and how they use technology as a tool, things may change. This shows us the demand of being able to watch this along with many other things has grown immensely. The invention of youtube lets us go watch anything that may of happened worldwide. Even though it may infringe on copyright laws (mostly in sports), clips of great plays etc. always find their way online. America's love for the television has been invident ever since it was invented in black and white. In today's society when we can watch shows such as the Andy Griffin Show which came out in black and white on our 52 inch LCD screens with surround sound and in HI-DEF shows just how much we as Americans love our television viewing experience wither be on an actual tv or computer. The extensive coverage of the 2008 Olympics via online will have one of the biggest online viewing populations to date.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/10/oly.nbc/index.html