Last Words

Overall, this class was very beneficial! At first I was unsure about twittering and blogging but I realized it is very important for understanding today's communication and will benefit me in the corporate world. I especially enjoyed blogging about emerging technologies because it helps keep me up to date! I learned so much throughout the semester and when I discuss this knowledge with my peers and family they are blown away by my knowledge. The only project I did not understand was the poster project. It was confusing why in an emerging technologies class we would present using a poster. It seemed more appropriate to use some sort of technology. I did enjoy twittering though. It was very interesting to hear my fellow classes feedback on certain technologies. I will miss this class and fully intend to continue to twitter and blog.
Appreciated
-kj

SharePoint Server

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 is an integrated suite of server capabilities that can help improve organizational effectiveness by providing comprehensive content management and enterprise search, accelerating shared business processes, and facilitating information-sharing across boundaries for better business insight. This server provides IT professionals and developers with a platform and tools they need for server administration, application extensibility, and interoperability. Its a perfect tool for Corporate America and allows any buisness to better and more effectively manage their company. I think this is beneficial for almost everyone. In order to access Mircosoft Office SharePoint Server you can download it online.
For the microsoft user its easy to understand and a yet again a better way to organize one's work . This tool is most common in enterprise situations features include message boards, document versioning, Microsoft exchange intergration, and the other Web 2.0 features. Overall, its another way to better manage your work and communicate more effectivley. Check it out!

-kj

Twoddler

If twitter was not crazy enough there is a new technology that allows toddlers to tweet. The prototype device, developed by a team at Hasselt University in Belgium, essentially hooks up a Fisher Price toy to a Twitter account, such that when the baby performs different actions, the account is updated. Its a great learning tool and also allows for children to interact with their parents.

Twitter is great and a cool new tool for communication but Twoodler seems unnecessary to me. I find it frustrating that children are already introduced to so much technology but to start at age two seems very unnecessary. Children need to explore the great outdoors but due to the emergence of technology kids are glued to the television, computers, and cell phones. What is the point of a computerized Fisher Price toys? I guarantee that children find much more joy in the basic Fisher Price toy than twoodler itself. I can't imagine their attention span is big enough to actually interact with Twoodler.
Confused..
-kj

Google Wave

I am currently a avid Google user. I use Google toolbar and many other Google features such as google talk. Just recently I was at a friends house and he was using this new technology called Google Wave. Google Wave is an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration. A wave can be both a conversationand a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more. The emphasis is "real-time" communication so basically a Google Wave user can chat with someone and it's almost if they are standing next to them, it allows you to read the text word for word as someone is typing.

This technology enhances collaboration and allows for "real-time" conferencing and chatting. Overall enhances communication and allows people to chat face to face without being face to face. Though I am not a current user of Google Wave I have been invited to use the tool. When I was introduced to the product by a friend I asked him the positive and negative implications of such tool. He reiterated the idea that it enhances communication but suggested it was inconvenient that it is again another account. He would like to see it being implemented into his gmail. I think it sounds cool and cant wait to see it further emerge. Whats your take? Check it out!
-kj

Bionic Contact Lens

This past week I have been discussing cyborgs in my Com 435 class. Though the bionic contact lens does not quit fit into this category I still feel it is the same idea. Researchers at the University of Washington created the flexible, biologically safe lens that not only enhances vision but allows one to surf the Internet on a virtual screen, immerse gamers in virtual worlds and monitor patients’ medical conditions. This emerging technology brings a whole new meaning to the "blink of an eye".

I find the bionic contact fascinating but also scary. Its not only amazing to me that vision can be enhanced by a lens but that by thinking you can surf the web and emerge into a virtual world. I have very many questions about this new technology. I don't understand how weight and this particular technology connect? In other words how can one create an item so small and light while also attaching technology to it? It is also frightening that this is the wave of the future. This implies that someday we as humans will turn into personal computers. Does this defeat the purpose of the human race all together? More importantly does this create a foundation for a new human race that can be so advanced there will be no point or use for physical interaction? I want to know what happened to the simple days when life was merely about the survival of the fittest. How and why has our society emerged and advanced so quickly? These are all thoughts and questions that arise when I think of technology such as this. Feel free to give any feedback. Attached is a video to help you better understand this technology.
Later
-kj

Google Voice

This past week in my Com 435 class we were assigned a poster project. The assignment was to a explain an emerging technology using a poster. I discussed the emerging technology, Google Voice. Google Voice Google is a service that enhances the existing capabilities of your phone numbers. Features include: access your voicemail online, read automatic transcriptions of your voicemail, create personalized greetings based on who is calling, make cheap international calls, and more. Google Voice is a free service and currently invite-only. In order to request an invitation, login using your google account. It takes about three weeks to gain access.

Google Voice is very appealing to me and is something I plan to use. My favorite features are using one number to manage all of your phones and accessing your voicemail via email. As a college senior I am currently looking for potential jobs and eventually will have a work phone, home phone, and cell phone. It would be easy to always give out one phone number and then manage my phone calls on my own. Managing your voicemail via email is also very convenient. I am constantly annoyed by having to listen to my voicemail but because I am an avid email checker I find it very convenient to listen to my voicemail while checking my email at the same time.
Its also very useful for the working parent. Every parent is worried about their child especially while they are at school or day care. With Google Voice every parent has the ability to always be reached in case of an emergency. It's also appealing for the friends and family members of soldiers overseas. Once again with the use of Google Voice you will never have the fear of missing a call. Check it out!
-kj
Tofind out more about google Voice attached is a video.

Inequalities

Today seemed to be the theme for discussing racism and sexism. I have explored these terms all my life and understood their implications but I feel I have yet to do anything about it. Its hard to understand why and how such division was created. Who was it that said women are inferior to men and white is the ultimate race. I look around and I see far more qualified people than me who are not white but automatically due to their race, people view them as inferior to me. It's not fair that some have to deal with consist struggles when others can coast on in life simply because of their sex or the color of their skin.
A good point arouse in my anthropology class; are those who are suppressed really at a disadvantage? Due to their struggles they have learned to be a stronger more independent person. This in turn makes their lives a lot easier than those who have had less of a struggle. The suppressed can grow more as a person and push them selves to the limit. At the same time, being a woman, I feel never being able to earn the same or more money than a man is a huge disadvantage. No matter how hard I try I will always make less. It's not right and it's very frustrating. So the question is, will there ever be a day when racism and sexism never occurs? Yes, we as societies become closer and closer to change. Will this fight really stop?
Confused
-KJ

Weekends

Sundays are always a day to reflect or used to be. Sundays now consist of studying and laundry. I always plan to get a jump start to my weekends but the work piles up till Sunday and I am swamped. Now this weekend is different because I have spent most of it curled up in my bed sufferring from a cold. I hate being sick and more importantly I hate how far behind I become when I am. I think this is the worst cold season of the year because everyone I know is becoming ill. I think I deserved it because all week I have deprived myself of sleep and have not kept myself hydrated. I hope tomorrow is a better day.
Bring on Monday
-KJ

The new and improved iPOD

I can say I am usually frustrated with how complicated it is to listen to my iPOD through speakers. Especially on the beach, it's not always convenient to bring a set of speakers. Now there is an easier way to listen to your music while still maintaining the convenience of a portable iPOD. It's Green Power's sliding speaker accessory. It easily slides onto your iPOD without adding unnecessary bulkiness. I can now enjoy my music anytime, anywhere!!
excited
-KJ

Beautiful Day

It's amazing how productive you can become on a sunny day! I have been awake since 7:00 this morning have yet to stop. I think making a to-do list had a lot to do with my success thus far. In class yesterday we discussed a company that is known for their innovations. It was inspiring and interesting to see this team work and advance. I especially enjoyed the emphasis on going against the corporate mindset and creating a team/company that has no real hierarchy. It was also encouraging to hear their lack of interest in the "boss is always right". We know no one is perfect so sometimes its okay to challenge and correct each other whether it be your boss or not. Just make sure we are always having each others best interest! That's all for now...
-KJ

Solar Panel Roads

When skimming through new and emerging technologies I came across a new idea for transportation as we know it, solar panel roads. These new roads are not only to function as a means of traveling but provide energy for our homes, street lighting,and also provide better street signage and make driving safer. Its also to believe that these roads could last up to three times longer than our standard roads and even have the power to be heated in winter which will prevent dangerous ice build ups.
I think this is a great idea and I am a little confused why this process has not already undergone construction. Solar panels and its functions in buildings and roofs have been known and developed for years so it only makes sense to bring it to our road systems. The US is so concerned about being green and being more cost efficient so this appears to be a great solution to alot of our current issues. As an Indiana native a solution to icy dangerous roads is very appealing especially after my near death experience last winter.
-Excited and informed

Race

It officially "hump" day and I am yet again going through the motions of school. I think "senioritis" has hit because each day seems more and more of a struggle. Today nothing too significant happened but as I was winding down with some friends we started to watch TV and was enthralled with the show Tyra. Trya's topic for the day's show was "Race in your face" apparently depicting certain race issues and stigmas. The topics at hand seemed arrogant and irrelevant to daily and important issues that arise from race. This formulated a topic amongst my friends and we started to dissect the term race and its true value.
We decided that race was in fact insignificant to our personal lives. We never found our says daily introducing ourselves as "white women" or really having any significance to our race at all but merely a means in defining the color of our skin. We came to the conclusion that we as a society have created the term "race" and have caused it to effect our lives and how we treat others. We decided it has never been the color of our skin that has defined us personally but rather our nationally and culture in which we live in.
So I challenge those out there to remove race from your vocabulary and see if it really changes the way you look at yourself, others, the world or the way others look at you.
-Confused

My first blog

Hello!!