Tech Chapter #8

2014 Emerging Technology

1. Samsung PNF8500
   Samsung's best performing TV ever. The PNF8500 delivers the best picture quality ever tested in a Samsung TV. Exhibits outstanding picture quality with class leading bright room image, deep black levels, very good shadow detail, highly accurate colors and superb off angle and uniformity characteristics. Amazing feature list including; touch pad remote, IR cable blaster with cable box control, four pairs of 3D glasses, and a built in mic and camera for motion and voice control. The industry's most capable smart TV platform has unique styling with full-width ribbon stand and slim-bezel metallic finish.

2. Apple Iphone 6
  The Iphone 6 has a 4.7-inch screen, improved wireless speeds, better camera auto focus and bumped up storage capacities to 128GB at the top end. IOS remains a top knotch mobile operating system with excellent app selection and Apple pay is a smooth secure payment system. Compared to earlier iPhones both new models of the iPhone 6 have thinner bodies, ship faster with A8 processors, slightly improved cameras, speedier Wi-Fi and LTE cellular data and better voice quality. These iPhones are running on iOS 8.1 which adds some nice improvements and customization options including notification widgets, replaceable keyboard, a new health app and Apple Pay.

3. Canon PowerSot SX280 HS
  The Canon PowerSot SX280 HS has shooting modes for every type of photographer from casual to advanced a useful long zoom lens with excellent image stabilization and overall excellent photo and video quality for a compact megazoom. Wi-Fi connectivity and a new processor help make Canon's PowerShot SX280 HS one of the top compact megazooms available. The all new Digic 6 image processor, which provides less noise at high ISOs, faster shooting performance and 1080p movie capture at up to 60 frames per second. Along with the performance gains from the processor, Canon tuned up the camera's autofocus performance, making the autofocis more than 50 percent faster than the SX260's.

Goldman, Joshua.(March 7, 2014) "Excellent Camera but Buy More Batteries." Retrieved From: cnet.com

Katzmaler, David. (June 21, 2013) "Power-packed Plasma Shines Brighter." Retrieved From: cnet.com

Stein, Scott. (November 24, 2014) "iPhone 6 Sets the Smartphone Bar." Retrieved From: cnet.com

Globalization Blog Post

1. Some of the ways IT is improving healthcare are prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases. Patient to healthcare provider interaction. Rapid dissemination of information and improved responses to outbreak situations.

2. Health officals can use technology to study the impact of health interventions and disease prevention programs by using digital records and images utilizing digital cameras that have made it possible for doctors around the world to share information and offer advice on treatments for complicated ailments. For example, Johns Hopkins University is providing individuals with mobile technology to seek advice or treatment from a doctor that is unattainable due to lack of resources.

3. Poor people in developing countries can benfit most from distance learning. People in developing countries are being able to use the internet more and more by using community internet centers (CTCs). Through these centers they have been able to communicate through e-mail and and access a variety of information. Doctors, scientists and other professionals can achieve cheap or free access to journals and other professional publications that are too expensive to buy in hard copy. Also, government aid agencies, foundations and private firms sponsor numerous distance education programs designed to teach skills to a wide variety of developing country professionals, government officals, engineers, scientists and businesspeople.

Extra Credit-
The Dominican Republic's Community Technology Center (CTC) program is at the heart of its strategy to empower people and help them overcome problems such as poverty, unemployment and poor health. These centers provide all residents with free access to computers, the internet and training- everything they need to take advantage of the 21st century technology. Now all Dominicans can come to these centers to get all the access, training and one on one assistance they need to find better jobs, start new businesses and get knowledge to improve their health and living conditions.

The vice president of the Dominican Republic activly supports CTCs program whose objective is to install well equipped centers with complete modern technology in the country's least developed communities. The mission of the CTCs is to bridge the digital divide and promote sustainable human development through the use of information and communication technologies, thereby providing education for development, with the hope that this will help promote social inclusion.

Levin Institute. (2014). Globalization 101- Health Care. Retrieved From: http://www.globalization101.org/health-care/.

Levin Institute. (2014). Globalization 101- Education. Retrieved From: http://www.globalization101.org/education/

Global Resource and Information Directory. (July 1, 2014). Dominican Republic Country Profile. Retrieved From: http://www.fosigrid.org/caribbean/dominican-republic

Jacobs, Deborah. (August 13, 2012). How Dominican Republic is Using Technology to Address Poverty and Unemployment. Retrieved From: http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2012/08/The-Dominican-Republic-Makes-Big-Investment-in-Knowledge

Tech Chapter #7

1. Two apps I have found to help visually impaired users use their smartphones are KNFB and Georgie. KNFB was made by Ray Kurzweil, a computer scientist and employee of Google. This app can read written material such as school work or resturaunt menus to the user. People using this app can adjust or change the position of the camera and read printed matertials out loud. The app Georgie was created by Roger Wilson-Hinds who is registered blind himself. He has created an app that will turn any andriod phone into a simple to use phone that can be used without the need to see. Georgie helps the blind navigate day to day tasks such as catching the bus, reading printed text and knowing their exact whereabout in unfamiliar areas.

2. Some products and ideas that will help lessen the digital divide are free internet access and Internet to the Hogan. Free internet access at libraries. schools and other public places, as well as the availabilty of low cost computers and low cost or free internet access in many areas today, has helped internet use begin to approach the popularity and widespread use of telephones and TVs and has helped it become more affordable for low income families today than in the past. The Navajo Nation is a sovereign tribal nation with more than 250,000 citizens. They have lagged significantly behind the rest of the US in terms of technology. Many schools lack computer and internet access and many residents have to drive seven or eight miles just to reach the nearest telephone. Internet to the Hogan project is designed to end the digital divide in the Navajo Nation. It will provide internet to tribal colleges and other central locations, which then will be extended to community based chapter houses and then to schools, medical clinic and homes.

   Green initiatives to promote sustainability and reduce the amount of e-waste are eStewards Certification Program which is designed to help individuals and organizations locate responsible electronic recyclers. Clean Production Action and Greenpeace haves created programs to push hardware manufacturers to stop using toxic chemicals in their products. The exteneded producer responsibility (EPR) policy has made manufacturers responsible for the entire life cycle of the their products and packaging including recycling.

J. Evans. (26 Sept. 14) voanews.com. "Smartphone App Gives Sight to Blind." Retrieved from http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/smartphone-app-gives-sight-to-the-blind/2460949.html

S. Miles. (16 July 2012) Pcket-Lint.com. "Georgie: The app Used to Help Blind People Use Their Smartphone." Retrieved from http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/116298-georgie-blind-app-sight-and-sound-screenreader

D. Morley. (2013.) Understanding Computers in a Changing Society 6th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Tech Chapter #5

1. During the Arab Springs Revolution people used social media as a key tool in expressing their thoughts concerning unjust acts by the government. Being capable of sharing an immense amount of accurate and uncensored information throughout social networking sites has contributed to the cause of many Arab Springs activists.

2. I don't agree with the photo Lindsey Stone posted on Facebook but I don't think she should loose her job over it. Yes, she was on a business trip paid by her work and did disrespect many people and make her employers look bad. Of course people are going to be upset when you post a picture disrespecting many men and women who have fought for our freedom. I don't agree with the people who are petitioning for her to loose her job. She has been crusified by social media and has been punished enough, hopefully she has learned her lesson.

3. I monitor my digital presence by keeping all my social media sites private, be careful of what I post and only follow and let people follow me who I trust. You can't rid your digital footprint but you can reduce it by making all social media sites private, untag yourself in photos and if you post on forums go back and delete all posts. Also, you can manage your reputation online by maintaining a positive professional appearance. Regularly view your profile and delete any inappropriate posts of pictures. Think before you post and monitor your name by googling yourself.

Kassim, Salem. (2012, July 3). Twitter Revolution: How the Arab Springs Was Helped by Social Media. Retrieved from web. Mic.com.

Sieczkowski, Cavan. (2012, November 20). Lindsey Stone, Plymouth Woman, Takes Photo At Arlington National Cemetery, Causes Facebook Fury. Retrieved from web. Huffington Post.

Arthur, Charles. (2013, April 4). How to Delete Your Digital Life. Retrieved from web. Theguardian.com. 

Chapter #3 Blog Post

1. What I liked most about the video was that the third graders knew about discrimination but all they knew was not to like Blacks or Native Americans. The teacher taught the children this lesson and truly showed them what discrimination really felt like. Through the teachers lesson I feel like the children had a better understanding of what it feel like to be less than and may treat others the way they would want to be treated.

2, Some things I did not like about the video was that such young and innocent children are discriminating. When the teacher asked about National Brotherhood month the children had all good things to say about how you treat your brother. What mainly upset me was when the teacher asked "who do you not treat as your brother" the children said Blacks or Native Americans. Being so young the only reason they have any reason to not like Blacks or Indians is because their parents taught them not to. Also, something else I did not like about the video was that the blue eyed children turned so quickly and became so nasty to the brown eyed children. Even the ones that they were friends with.

3. I was very surprised at how the children with blue eyes treated the children with brown eyes. The kids when from such innocent, kind and respectful students to vicious, rude and nasty. Right after the teacher told the class that blue eyed kids were smarter than brown eyed students. She started stating all of the restrictions of the brown eyed students and with in fifteen minutes the class was divided. During recess there was even a fight between two boys, one blue eyed and one brown eyed. The fight started because the brown eyed student was being picked on by a blue eyed student just because of his eye color. I could not believe how fast the class turned on each other just because of something the teacher said.

4. There is one scene in particular that I will definitely remember a month from now. The scene when the teacher was telling the class that blue eyed people are smarter. The teacher was also saying that blue eyed students get five more minutes of recess, the brown eyed kids could not drink from the water fountain and could not get seconds at lunch time. As the teacher was saying all this stuff the camera was showing the reaction of one young girl. Her facial expressions were so upsetting she as if she could not believe this was happening she even started tearing up.

Frontline (producer). (1995-2014). WGBH Educational Foundation. (Chapter 1). A Class Divided.

Retrieved From:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/view.html

Diversity Chapter #1

1. To me, being an American means freedom, opportunity and unity but to others, being an American  applies solely to those who live in the United States. Also, people consider Americans to be people who live in North, Central or South America. Others feel that the word American is a racial term meaning white. Reigning Miss. America 2014, Nina Davuluri is like no other before she is Indian- American. In her interview she stated that "i'm on a mission. Miss America has always been the girl next door. But Miss. America is evolving and she is not going to look the same anymore." I agree with her one hundred percent, yes a lot of Americans are white but there are so many different races that make up America and I think she is a perfect example of an American.

2. From visiting the website zipskinny.com I compared my zip code with 21237. I observed that my zip code and zip code 21237 had many similarities in education, marital status and occupation. The categories that had significant differences were household income, poverty and race. In Bel Air the average income is $65,669 and in 21237 it is $47,581. The amount of people that are below poverty line in Bel Air is 1.6% and in 21237 it is 4.7%. In both zip codes the majority of their inhabitants are white. But, in zip code 21237 there are more blacks than whites.

3. The first U.S. census was taken in 1790 since then things have significantly changed and in 2050 they will change even more. Whites made us 90% of the U.S. population in 1940, Census estimates in 2050 the percentage of whites who are not hispanic will shrink noticeably to just under 50%. In the 2010 U.S. census three precent identified themselves as members of more than one race. Many demographers expect this figure to increase dramatically by 2050 because of the amount of interracial couples. Also, employment projections for 2050 show that women will make up half of the labor force. The next upcoming generations will become extremely diverse because of the dramatic upsurge in the number of grade school students who are members of racial or ethnic minorities. Lastly, census predictions point to a much "grayer" population by 2050 because people are healthier, living loner and retiring at a later age. To me, the world is changing I compare the way i live compared to my grandparents and everything is different and it is only going to change more between  people living longer, advanced technology and interracial couples.



Richard D. Bucher [2014]. Diversity Consciousness. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall.

Lakshmi Gandhi [Sept.16, 2013]. "10 Things you Need to Know About Miss America Nina Davuluri." Aerogram.com.