(S9) Tech Shoes!

Capturing Electricity with a Shoe

Check out the link: Popsi - Shoe

1. In your own words, how does this work? How does the shoe generate electricity?

2. What other uses could come out from this technology? Or, what might this allow someone to do while “On-the-Go”?

3. They generate about 36 kW/h which is about $3.60 in electricity Do you think the electricity you collect could be sold? What are the possibilities?

4. Random related thought...

Week Off

Enjoy a week off from Blog Homework!

(S8) Lion vs Win8

The old mac vs PC debate has gotten a bit more complicated with the popularity of mobile devices using variations of these and new operating systems.

Apple is streamlining it's product offerings as a result of ipad/iphone trends. Tablets have soared in sales.

Many claim that "Mac is becoming more like PC and PC is becoming more like mac.

1. Do you agree? Disagree? Explain your reasoning.

2. Review Win8. What's cool? What's not?

3. What are the coolest things about Lion that launched? What don't you like about it.

4. What is the primary computing device that YOU use the most?

5. Do you think that mobile devices will completely replace desktop machines?

(S7) Gadgets

You guys really like gadgets! I've combined two student blog ideas for this weeks blog.

Find 3 of your favorite gadgets from some of the sites below. Describe why you picked each one and how you think it would improve our lives.

Innovation News sensor

Innovation News

Futurich

fgadgets

Engadget

Techgadgets

Gizmondo

ThinkGeek

Please use this format:

1 Gadget .... is cool because... it would benefit or improve my life because...

2 Gadget .... is cool because... it would benefit or improve my life because...

3 Gadget .... is cool because... it would benefit or improve my life because...

* We are going to vote on the best submission of gadgets. Free Blog Pass to the winner. Ms K :)

(S6) Concepts

There are concepts for just about everything imaginable, from cars to computers, even with guns! Here is your assignment:

1. Find a concept, any concept! Tell about it. Provide links. (shortened link of course)

2. Explain why it should be become mass produced!

3. Random thoughts about the concept?

(PS From MsK: I'm not sure what this student was thinking here and I didn't edit their idea at all except to add that cool pic....so we'll see where this takes us...)

(S5) Social Networking

1. How does social networking affect your life?

2. What social networks do you think could enhance your school experience? How?

3. What are some trending, new social networks? Good/Bad? Why?

4. Check out some obscure social networking sites. Pick one you've never heard of and comment on it's potential for the benefit of certain groups.

Dissertation Survey

Call for Participation in Study on Online Video Games

Hi, my name is Jeannette Shaffer and I am a graduate student at George Mason University in Virginia.

As a gamer, I have become interested in how gamers help one another, challenge one another, and work collaboratively to complete a mission when playing video games online. I began wondering why doesn’t this happen in school with learning and especially with educational games?

As part of my studies, I am doing research to learn more about the tools high school students use to communicate when playing online and offline video games. Through this research, I hope to gather information that will help with the design of educational games, to make these more interesting and useful for high school students.

I have developed a survey to gather information about students’ use of these online and offline tools. To participate in this survey, you must be 13 – 18 years old, enrolled in high school, and an online gamer. The survey is anonymous so no personal identifying information is collected from you, and will only take about 15 minutes to complete.

To access the survey click here: Gaming Social Preferences Survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7T2R59W

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Assignment GenYES Students:

After taking the survey please comment below on your thoughts regarding this survey either about; the quality of questions asked, what questions you would ask or why someone would conduct this kind of research. Perhaps you have other comments about all this, go for it.

(S4) GenYES

1 To you, what is GenYES?

2 What are you doing to get the most out of each day in class?

3 Name two things you wish you could do more of in class (yes...appropriate!)

4. What do you personally contribute to the betterment of our GenYES class? What mark or influence are you leaving on this class?

(S3) Looking backward at Forward Thinking

Here's a link from 2001 Mac Forum right after the ipod was first released:

MacRumors

Read through a lot of the comments. They are funny. Remember it's 2001

Now take a close look at these: Apple Progress Charts (Click on the image to enlarge)

1. What happened? It appeared the public did not like the device. Yet it took off. Why, do you think? Analyse the data closely.

2. The chart info is about a year old, but how does Apple compare with other tech markets?

3. What other tech company do you believe has a substantial or greater (?) impact on American life?

(S2) S.O.P.A.

VS

This is perfect timing for this student's entry, considering this weeks recent news and events.

The 'people of the Internet' voiced opinions loud and clear about SOPA and PIPA.

Do you have the total picture?

Read through ALL 5 SHORT articles below before commenting.

Find information on your own, to support your thinking.

Piracy :: Articles, Games, Music, Movies :: Intellectual Property

Movie - Prior to the Blackout - Both sides of the debate

SOPA - Grandstanding

Wikipedia - SOPA explained - Fairly?

(OK.. the wiki is not short but you get the idea pretty quick)

SOPA Could Help People Like Me

1. What are bills like SOPA and PIPA trying to accomplish?

2. What is good about all this?

3. What is bad about all this?

4. What are your solutions?