Virtual Reality

BY: Regae M. Reynolds

http://youtu.be/WYG7xGFByJ8

http://youtu.be/MQeHPnMCKWY

http://youtu.be/UT5xtpHRdlE

http://youtu.be/EkSn2O54xP0

           Virtual Reality (VR) dates back to the 1950’s created by a visionary man by the name of Morton Heilig. Heilig was a cinematographer and desired for the theatrical experience to be engaging. The first concept of the sensory technology was shown in the Sensorama; it not only had a visual display, it offered odor emitters, speakers, a moving chair, and fans. It was not until the early sixties when engineers developed the single head display.

         Virtual Reality has many uses in technology, gaming, and also therapy. This technology has influenced movies such as The Matrix, Tron, and Gamer. These Sci-Fi movies have encouraged robotic rovers that are able to navigate in any environment, operated from a remote location.

VR can be used in simulation such as flights, surgical operations, and engineering concepts. EON Reality has produced educational components that allow students to be engaged discovering the solar system, oceanography, in addition to other various atmospheres that could only be studied in books. EON also has developed training software for medical and technology professionals.

The Omni created the Oculus Rift, it is the newest form of VR that integrates natural body movement through simulation. It translates computer keystrokes from body movements, with its unique tread design; users are able to run, jump, and dodge. The advances for gaming are limitless and out sell movies in regards to retail purchases.

          Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder commonly occurred after a close encounter with death or constant bodily state of fear. Emory University has one of the test sites, where Iraq Veterans can go to seek therapy. By conducting similar stimulation in a safe environment doctors are able to counsel patients past the traumatic experience. The studies have proven to aid in insomniac occurrences and anxiety attacks.

Resources:

Strickland, Jonathan.  "How Virtual Reality Works"  29 June 2007.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/virtual-reality.htm>  12 November 2013.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/the-global-search-for-edu_b_4093571.html

http://www.vrphobia.com/research.htm

Social Media and the Bullying Influence

BY: Quimani Watson

The rise of social media has influenced how we communicate to one another. As we rely more on social media outlets to express ourselves, people may find it easier to communicate inappropriately than ever before.  I remember learning about how to write a letter properly in elementary school. The letter always started with a dear so and so and ended with a sincerely yours. That politeness is not found on many social media websites. Instant messages are quick, to the point and lack a certain element of thoughtfulness that use to exist.

Social media users do not have to be trained on how to write a ‘tweet’ before using communication devices. People do not have to learn basic etiquette or even understand the responsibilities that may come when using social networking sites. People can hide behind their words without the fear of physical confrontation from a receiver. Social media can easily be used as a ‘bully pulpit’.

Most recently, a young girl named Rebecca Sedwick committed suicide in Florida because she was cyber-bullied by her peers. The bullying took place over several months both physically and online. Even when her mother withdrew her from the school, the cyber bullying still took place. Although the young girls that tormented Rebecca were arrested, I cannot be sure they even understood the seriousness of their actions at the time.

Most people are raised knowing that you should be kind and respectful to other people. But today, we have “like or not like”. Our opinions can be validated or challenged. So when do our opinions cross the line? Should our social networks have some responsibility to monitor and report messages that are threatening?  And should parents be accountable for their children that post these types of messages?

Regardless of how you may feel, the effects of social comments can have long lasting affects on someone. Any type of verbal abuse, threats, gossip or anything that may cause emotional harm needs to be stopped. The fight to stop cyberbullying should start at home. Parents have a responsibility to monitor teenagers or young children who may have access to these sites. Social media sites should also have a responsibility to safeguard not just our privacy but safety.

Google Glass

BY: Sean Paul

Google. the world’s greatest web search engine? I think not. I mean yes it is a great search engine and debatable if the best, but what Google’s known best for is not what it’s capable of doing. Google also has innovations such as YouTube, Android (phone operating system), Chrome, Maps, Earth, Gmail, Google+, Google Play Store and many more. Google continues to stay ahead of competitors by evolving and venturing in new ideas. But have you heard about their new innovation, Google Glass?

“The wearable computer”, and what Times Magazine named one of the Best Inventions of 2012 (being that it was expected to release last year). It’s an optical head-mounted display, with smartphone-like hands-free capabilities of interacting with the internet thru voice commands. Equipped with Android operating system, a touchpad, camera, video chat capabilities, wifi and Bluetooth capable, and much more. A device that you can ask on the spot, “How do you say, Good Morning in French”, or “My name is Sean Paul”, in German. If you were at a party and a song came on that you had no clue about, simply just ask, “Glass what song is this”, and it would tell you.

Currently in development, Google has already begun a program that allows people to test out the products before its consumer release. If selected by Google, the price to obtain the developing model would be $1500, a lot more than what the final product will cost of course. Google is even contemplating on working with major sunglasses retailers and the idea of adding the option of having actual prescription lenses to the glasses, making it more suitable for those who do require prescription glasses.

Look to see this item for consumer purchase come 2014. Also with Google even venturing into driverless cars, it wouldn’t surprise me what Google announces next.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5XoAkOuWdM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8GVKqGruOQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRrdeFh5-io

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iMA-y_4KwA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxbX9qhbhMU#t=85

Wednesday November 20, 2013 - Google Products - HW #8 Linear Regression

Google Hardware

Why is google getting into hardware?

GOOGLE GLASS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSnB06um5r4

http://youtu.be/elXk87IKgCo

GOOGLE CAR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_xRPA0CjJg

GOOGLE FIBER

http://youtu.be/X0I5DHOETFE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EefE4O4dX74

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icw9nM50Kgo

CHROME BOOK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzNn3YKbvR4

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Homework #8 - Linear Regression

Define Linear Regression
To describe the linear association between quantitative variables, a statistical procedure called regression often is used to construct a model. Regression is used to assess the contribution of one or more independent variables  to one dependent variable. 

It also can be used to predict the value of one variable based on the values of others. When there is only one independent variable and when the relationship can be expressed as a straight line, the procedure is called simple linear regression. 

If there are more than one independent variable, then its called multiple regression 
(See HW#9).

As a business major, you will see both linear and multiple regression again, possibly many time in future classes. Homework #8 and #9 will provide a simple introduction and more importantly how to use Excel to solve problems. Again you will see this again.

HW #8 Data for Student Exam

HW#8 Steps:

1. Watch the video(s) below (there are both PC & MAC videos)
2. Download the excel file for HW#8
3. Take Exam on classmarker.com (Friday 9 am until Sunday midnight)

Excel 2010 Windows

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExfknNCvBYg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkNubKibM0A

Excel 2011 - MAC

http://youtu.be/1jZ4T1dcsFg

Google Glass!

BY: Richard Hodge

Many of us spend a significant portion of our day glued to our smartphones, or to other connected devices. Reading social media or checking out the weather or otherwise dipping into the wealth of data at our disposal will typically consume all of our attention, making it hard to do anything else. Google Glass might offer a solution to this problem.

Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project.  Glass is being developed by Google X, which has worked on other futuristic technologies such as driverless cars. The project was announced on Google+ by Project Glass lead Babak Parviz, an electrical engineer who has also worked on putting displays into contact lenses.

Glass responds to voice commands as well as taps and gestures on the touch-sensitive bar that runs along the side of the frame. You can start a search with "Ok Glass.." and take a photo or launch an app with a command phrase or a tap of your finger. Glass can also be paired with a phone using the My Glass app to allow quick fiddling with settings and customization.

Current versions of Glass offer a 640 x 360 display. According to Google the display is "the equivalent of a 25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away." There is a 5 megapixel camera built-in to the frame that can also capture video at 720p resolution.

There was speculation that Glass may launch early, before the end of 2013 but no announcement has been forthcoming from Google. While waiting for the full release, we had some thoughts about where Google Glass may be headed by the end of the decade. If Google's wearable future comes to pass, just what will the world of tech look like by 2020?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaU6DWb0yzs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BTCoT8ajbI

Coin

By: D'Angelo Gantt Jr.

I believe the release of Coin will have one of the biggest impacts on the world's economy. This one card has the capability to pay for any necessity in the world. Coin has the ability to make life simple, improve and fit for any individual. This card reduces clutter within a person's wallet and it allows a person to process all of their other cards onto one. More importantly, a person can process any card onto the Coin which includes debit cards, credit cards, membership cards and loyalty cards.

Next, the way people add cards onto the Coin is by using a mobile app to manage, add and sync different cards. Coin can currently be used anywhere within the U.S., but have not been processed in every location across the world. The release of the Coin is the summer of 2014, and each card will cost $100. I believe this was a great invention and will make a change for the best in our economy.

http://youtu.be/w9Sx34swEG0

Ultra efficient solar power

By Denzel Butler

Finding the perfect energy source has been a problem in the world for a long time, we have tried wind water, oil, solar power, etc... Scientist  Harry Atwater believes that he and his lab have created a new solar panel that can generate more than twice as much as a normal solar panel. He says that this solar panel will be more affordable than the other panels and will be able to filter light from all sides.

This can help out the world in so many ways, solar energy is the greatest source of reusable energy. The sun is not going away, or the earth is not flying into it, for a few hundred billion years, or maybe longer. This panel is also great for the environment, the carbon footprint that burning coals leaves by realizing carbon dioxide will no longer be a problem. It is also cheaper for people when it comes to fuel cost.

           

Harry Atwater believes that in a few years this panel will be ready, and I believe that people should go out and switch to solar power. People will not switch right away but once the people realize how much they can save, and how they can save the planet they will gladly switch over.