The Complex Relationship of Economic and Technological Advances

Technology has allowed us to change the Earth, take the many things that it has given us and use them to our own means. Economies of civilizations new and old, alive and dead, have shaped not only the way we interact with the world around us, but with each other. Both are key aspects in defining who we are as a whole, defining what humanity is. But how do these two concepts interact, where do they meet, and where do they part?

How do changes in an economy affect technology? Industry, and through it, the economy, is often a driving force behind technological development. Technology is often developed to fulfill a need or a want. This concept can be tied directly into the economic foundation of supply and demand. A good example would be the internet, which is a technology developed for the exchange of a huge variety of things. The internet was developed out of several wants from several different communities. DARPA designed the ARPAnet in America because there was a huge desire for faster knowledge transfer. The Rand Corporation of America created the concept of a military information network. The National Physics Library in England developed a commercial network, the NPL network. In France, the Institut de Recherche d’ Informatique et d’ Automatique developed the scientific network, Cyclades. These various approaches, from around the world, were the building blocks of the internet as we know it ("History of the Internet"). The idea for these things all came from desire, all of them at least partially economic. What is interesting in this particular example is that from economic needs, technology developed a whole new economy. Economy is defined as “a system of interaction and exchange,” and that is exactly what the internet has become, which leads me to the opposite question(Merriam-Webster).

How do changes and advances in technology affect economies? The complexity of this subject is astronomical. In an attempt to simplify, technology changes what economic historian Joel Mokyr termed “production potential.”(Mokyr) By this I think he means that newer technology doesn’t change the economy of a society, but changes what it can be. Advancing technology can change the boundaries and constraints, and therefore the potential, of their economic prosperity. For instance, farming technology like tractors and harvesters allow the farmer to potentially increase his production, though if he chooses to not use them or chooses to use them less then he could, he might not reach that potential. The other way new technology can affect an economy is by being what is being exchanged. Many societies have made use of their technological advantages. For a long time, only China knew the secrets to creating silk, and thus became the sole producer of silk, gaining a lot of wealth from Europe. At other times, newer technology has negatively affected different communities. Take for instance the Luddites, a group of skilled workers in the textile industry in 1811 Britain. They were threatened with being replaced with machines operated by unskilled workers and women, which produced cheaper, though inferior, goods. These new machines droves down their wages, and in anger, they began a six year war against the machines, destroying their frames or their inner workings (Binfield). Another, more modern example of this would be in the automotive industry. Years ago, new technologies like the assembly line and replaceable parts gave many factory workers good jobs. In the present, those same workers are unemployed because of, again, new technology, being laid off and replaced with machines.

By no means do I intend to infer that technology is the only factor in economic growth, or vice versa. Both of these subjects have layers of complexity far beyond my comprehension. They depend on each other, but it is impossible to explain all the near infinite way they do so. The relationships between technology and economies are as hard to define as they are to deny, and the complex web that they weave when looking at the bigger picture is simultaneously awe-inspiring and horrifying. In some ways they act as their very own economy, economy demanding from technology, and technology supplying the potential for the economy to grow. The two have never or will ever be separated completely; they are fundamentally part of humanity, and we will always be both the pawns of, and drivers of, this complex relationship.

Works Cited
((Sorry for the ugliness, blogger had some trouble with the links....'<'s and '>'s freaked it out))

Binfield, Kevin. "Murray State Faculty Pages." Luddites and Luddism: History. John Hopkins
University Press, 2004. Web. 30 Mar 2010.
http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/kevin.binfield/luddites/LudditeHistory.htm

"economy." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.

Merriam-Webster Online. 30 Mar 2010
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/economy

"History of the Internet." Web. 2 Apr 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hIQjrMHTv4

Mokyr, Joel. The Lever of Riches. Oxford University Press, USA, 1990. Print.

Rogers, J. D. "Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information." The Impact of Technology on the Economy. Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 18 Mar 2010.
http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=1CD67FAFCDD31C5EE762C5FA7527A0CD?purl=/39688-bUVrBN/webviewable/

Holy Benjamin Buttons!

What if life was cyclical, rather than linear? What if rather than dying, you simply reverted back to being an infant? If you've ever seen the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, then you've seen this first hand. While we all know with current technology this would be impossible, one animal may hold the genetic map to the fountain of youth.

The turritopsis nutricula jelly fish can be found in warm waters. They and travel alone by following the ocean currents. While they may seem harmless, these 4-5mm in diameter jellies pack quite a sting, and are known to send victims to the hospital. See what they look like here. However, their sting isn't what's causing a buzz among the scientific community. The turritopsis nutricula species of jelly fish (also known as the hydrozan), is the only animal known that can revert back to it's polyp state (first stage of life) repeatedly. It develops into a mature adults than reverts back to it's polyp stage, meaning there may be no natural limit to it's life span.

The jellies are able to live forever due to a process called transdifferentiation. This is the same process salamanders use to regrow their tails. This is done by transforming one type of cell into another type of cell. Salamanders however, can only undergo limited transdifferentiation, meaning they can only regenerate specific organs. The hydrozan jelly fish can undergo an unlimited amount of transdifferentiations, meaning they can regenerate their entire bodies over and over again.

The process the jelly fish undergoes involves turning itself into a jelly like blob. This blob then turns into a polyp colony, which is the first life stage of the jelly fish. Within the colony, a sort of asexual reproduction occurs, resulting in hundreds of jelly fish that are an exact genetic copy of the original. This means that a jelly fish found floating off the coast of Cape Cod could have the exact same genetics as a jelly floating near the coast of South Africa.

While researches aren't looking into using this information as the new fountain of youth, they are looking to the jellies as a possible cure for cancer. According to biologist Stefano Piraino like cancer cells "some cells of this jellyfish that were supposed to [die] … are able to switch off some genes and to switch on some other genes, reactivating genetic programs that were used in earlier stages of the life cycle".

While the jellies don't offer the key to the elixir of life, or directions to the fountain of youth, the possibilities are endless. What if someday, instead of dying, humans simply reverted back to their infancy, and made hundred of exact copies of themselves. I don't know about you but one is enough of some people.

P.S- I feel that the Harry Potter background music in this video is very fitting.

I got my information from...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article5594539.ece

I have used the UK Times as sources in several other projects and have often found them to be unbiased, but sometime they fail to address the details of a subject well enough.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/26/the-world-s-only-immortal-animal.html?pg=3

Unless it's the answeres section, Yahoo is alwaysa a great source for short, straight to the point articles.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/090130-immortal-jellyfish-swarm_2.html

National Geographic is one of my all time favorite sources! They are great for any level of reader, and their site includes games and awesome photo slide shows. Their articles go in depth, but don't sound too snobbish.

"They're coming to get you, Barbara!"

Countless movies have been made about them. Board games, video games, and huge community games have been created to model them. Books have been written about them, television shows have always included them, and a hobby of many people is preparing for them, though they will possibly never come. They are zombies.

For years, people have speculated about zombies and the Zombie Apocalypse. What would trigger it? Perhaps some sort of virus developed in a lab and accidentally let loose like in "28 Days Later," or perhaps radioactive contamination from a space probe exploding in the Earth's atmosphere? Other interpretations believe in a more religious cause, stating that "When there's no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the earth" (Dawn of the Dead).

A zombie as defined by the Meriam-Webster dictionary is "the supernatural power that according to voodoo belief may enter into and reanimate a dead body." In popular culture, the voodoo belief is removed, usually substituting some form of virus as the cause. The common factor is that zombies are the dead who have risen again with a taste for human flesh. Any living human bitten by a zombie will soon die and turn into a zombie. The only sure way to kill a zombie is to remove the head or destroy the brain.

Zombies are perhaps one of the most infamous horror/science fiction creatures. Entire books have been written solely for the purpose of informing the public on the anatomy of a zombie, real life accounts of "zombies," and the best way to survive a zombie outbreak under any circumstances. One of the most famous zombie books, Max Brooks's "World War Z," gives a detailed account of the "Zombie War" from the perspectives of multiple survivors. From the same author comes "The Zombie Survival Guide," which gives an incredible in-depth report on what to do before, during, and after the zombie outbreak.

Today, zombies have "infected" almost every aspect of entertainment. Many video games come standard with a zombie killing level or mode. Colleges across America have begun playing a week long zombie tag game called "Humans vs Zombies." Popular posters have depicted the signs of zombification and how to dispose of said foe. Friends get together and form impromptu think-tanks on what to do in case of a zombie outbreak.

Some reasons about zombies appear so connected to real science that many speculate that zombies are a possible outcome of the future. With modern technology, zombies could be a viable danger in the future. So ready your shotgun and baseball bat, fortify your bunker filled with non-perishable food and lots of ammo, and get ready for the most intense battle for survival of your unlife.

Dawn of the Dead. Dir. George Romero." Perf. Emge, David. United Film Distribution Company: 1978, Film.

Garland, Alex, Script. 28 Days Later. Dir. Danny Boyle." Perf. Murphy, Cillian. Fox Searchlight Pictures: 2002, Film.

Streiner, Russell, Perf. Night of the Living Dead. Dir. George A. Romero." Perf. Steiner, Russell. The Walter Reade Organization: 1968, Film.

It's like I can touch you!!

It seems that in our culture, every few years there is a change in what entertainment media is considered the "norm" for society. Centuries back the thespian arts was the popular form of entertainment, a few generations ago it became movies and film, and only a few years ago has it switched over to video games becoming the future of entertainment. Where then, does that lead us now on our journey to technological advancement? Why no where but the 3rd dimension of course!

Over the past few years, movies have been starting to bring the beauty of 3D back, making it that 3D was no longer just a silly gimmick that was added to an already awful movie, but an effect that added to the entire movie going experience. In the eighties and nineties, the most you could get out of a 3D movie was at most the brief feeling that a poorly animated shark was coming right for you. The addition of 3D to movies back then really did not add too much to the movie going experience, and it never became part of the mainstream entertainment media.

Today, on the other hand, it has been increasingly common for movies to be released in 3D as well as the normal viewing method. Today film makers have been using 3D filming to not add a gimmick to their movies, but in fact add an entire new range of visual perception, that makes movies look like more than just a series of pictures on a flat screen. A recent and commonly discussed example is the extraordinary success of James Cameron's Avatar, where the addition of 3D made the entire CG world that James Cameron created seem almost real and vivid, as if you as the audience were actually a part of that world.

Movies are not the only entertainment media that is now starting to get their hands onto 3D graphics and filming. Nintendo Entertainment recently unveiled their newest project in advancing video gaming technology, the Nintendo 3DS. This hand-held system of theirs is being claimed to have the ability of fully displaying three-dimensional graphics to a player, without the use of glasses. This has caused an uproar of excitement in not only the gaming world, but the technology world as well, since consumers for years have always complained about needing 3D glasses in order to experience 3D.

It does not stop there even, since when the 3DS was revealed, they announced that not only could the device display 3D graphics, the device came with two camera lenses on the front that could capture 3D images and then display them. This caused many game designers and CEO's of famous companies to become excited and filled with a plethora of ideas on how this could be used to influence and change future technology





It cannot be denied that the success of technology like this could easily change the way we view things today. Ubisoft, a popular game developer, has stated that they believe that within 3 years, it is quite likely that every household has a television with the capability to display 3D images. If this prediction is correct, it is possible that modern technology could seem like something from a science fiction piece. If entertainment in the third dimension becomes the next technological norm, than one can only imagine what possibilities that gives technology even further in the future.


Graft, Kris. "Gamasutra - News - Ubisoft Expects 3DTV In Everyone's Home In Three Years." Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games. Web. 23 Sept. 2010. .

Pigna, Kris. "E3 2010: Nintendo Unveils the Nintendo 3DS." 1UP.com: Video Game Reviews, Cheats, and More. Web. 23 Sept. 2010. .

What a Yawn

You’re sitting in class, when the person across from you yawns. Then the person next to you yawns. Then you get the overwhelming urge to yawn your self. Yawning has been studied over many years, mostly for the why? Why do we need to yawn? A new study on the Discovery website has found information as to why yawning seems to be contagious. It may be a group mechanism to calm down a community, related to empathy. The study found that children over the age of four are triggered by yawning. While children with Autism do not react to yawning at all. This may be due to a connection within the subcounsious mind, that children with Autism lack. While this article obviously supports the information provided, it also includes factual information that is convincing. The next article discusses the parts of the brain that react when yawning. These parts of the brain are also related to empathy, and self processing. It is very nutral in its opinion and seems neither for or against the right and wrong, but is as titled an abstract. This new information is interesting, when it comes to body language and how we affect one another. As humans we communicate subconsciously to each other. When we do, 93% of “what we say” comes from body language.

This scientific research is helpful when wanting to understand human behavior. Without communication we would not have language, culture, technology, magic or anything else that makes us "human". What we do with our bodies has a higher importance than what comes out of our mouth. Like many people say, it’s not what you said, it’s how you said it. The more knowledge we have about communication the better communicators we will be. Good communication is the basis for successful ideas, communities, scientific studies and many other aspects of our daily lives. Including new research, technology and the future study of how communication is changing within the 21st century.

I found the Discovery Article while looking for new and upcoming scientific research. I found this source credible because it comes from the Discovery website. Which is a very well known, established, reliable, organization. The next article is an abstract from a medical journal. While I did use Wikipedia for the 93% fact, I learned this in a previous class (but wanted to able to back it up). I also find Wikipedia to be a good starting point. For anyone else who wants to read some basic information about body language and communication.

Sohn, Emily. "Why is Yawning Contagious."Discovery.com. Discovery Communications, Sept 15, 2010. Web. 15 Sep 2010.

Gallup GG Jr, Mohamed FB,Platek SM." Contagious yawning and the brain." www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.gov, May 23, 2005. Web. 15 Sep 2010.

Muggles Take to the Skies!

Who would have thought that it would be possible to fly and drive using the same machine...

Who would have thought that within a century the world of aeronautics would change as it has...

Starting with the Wright Brothers, the imagination behind Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and numerous people in between, a company based out of Massachusetts named Terrafugia (ter-ra-FOO-gee-ah) has invented a flying car that is on its way to being mass produced (first customer delivery is expected in 2011) .

Let us examine well known events that have lead us to the creation of Terrafugia's new model.

Since the revolutionary invention of the airplane by the Wright Brothers in 1903, inventors and artists alike have found numerous opportunities to dream and idealize the future of the aviation world.

Pictured: Orville & Wilbur Wright test a prototype in the early 1900's

In 1968, director Ken Hughes introduced the world to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This car had collapsible wings and a built-in flotation device. These features allowed the car to transform from a land vehicle, to a boat and then a car that could fly. This is my earliest memory of people flying. I can not remember when I first saw an airplane or understood that people traveled inside these objects in the sky. It was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that introduced me to the field of aeronautics.

Pictured: The cast of the Pott Family in the 1960's

While the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car was revolutionary, years later J.K. Rowling planted the idea of flying motorcycles into the minds of adolescents worldwide through the magical world of Harry Potter in The Sorcerer's Stone. Rowling set the precedence for the novel through the imagery of Sirus Black’s flying motorcycle, which had the ability to accommodate a half-giant named Hagrid. A few novels later, J.K. Rowling stepped it up and created Mr. Weasley’s flying car (which, we must admit was probably still in the testing stage when Ron decided to take it for a spin).

Pictured: Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley in Mr. Weasley's flying car

One hundred and seven years later inventors are taking the Wright Brothers’ creation and bringing it to a whole new arena by producing an automobile that can fly. From Hollywood studios, to production sites around the world, the investors and inventors from the Terrafugia company will soon see the Transition® Roadable Aircraft on the roads and in the skies (as long as the prototypes and their improvements continue to pass through the hurdles cast in their way).

Terrafugia has produced a two-seater vehicle that transforms itself into an aircraft. The Transition® Roadable Aircraft has the tested capability to “...cruise at about 115 mph (185 kph) and cover about 400 miles (644 kilometers) worth of turf before needing a refill of regular unleaded gas” (Hadhazy).

Pictured: The Transition Roadable in flight

The makers state that this type of transportation will allow for people to avoid the long lines at airports, travel faster and have the ability to make trips more spontaneously.

For any individual that has roughly $200,000 they could be the next new owner of a Transition Roadable. For a small fee of $10,000 you can have one pre-ordered and on reserve for when production begins. With no flight experience necessary and only 20 hours of practice flying time you’d be able to use the Transition in the sky. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has given the model the green flag. Now the FTA (Federal Transit Administration) must approve the car for road driving.

Pictured: The Transition Roadable being test driven on the road

One hundred years ago, as a society we lifted off the ground in personal aircraft's. We then invented the ability to land airplanes on the surface of bodies of water and propel our way to land. And now, in year 2010 automobiles can transform into airplanes, fly, touch down and transform back into a road automobile.

Unfortunately, this is where my imagination ceases. What could be next for the world of aviation advancements? What more could a person want? How much more room is there for advancement? The once deemed impossible, has become possible. In films and novels where flying cars ruled the streets and the sky, it is becoming a reality, sorry science fiction, you’ve been debunked. Magic, yes. Harry Potter’s world has done it again, you can now take a ride outside the Orlando theme park and try riding in a flying car (just like Mr. Weasley’s).

Our future lies in the sky.

Bosker, Bianca. "Terrafugia Transition 'Flying Car' (PHOTOS, VIDEO): Extraordinary Vehicle Gets Authorities' OK." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Huffington Post, 30 June 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.


"CBC News - Consumer Life - Beat the Traffic: Take the Flying Car." CBS News Canada, 20 Mar. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.


"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)." Web. 15 Sept. 2010.


"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ian Fleming Books, Dick Van Dyke, John Burningham, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Film, The Musical." Ian Fleming Publications, 2009. Web. 14 Sept. 2010.


Hadhazy, Adam. "Flying Car One Step Closer to Reality - Technology & Science - Innovation - Msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- Msnbc.com. 29 June 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.


Michaels, Mike. "Helicopter and Plane Fusion Goes Awry on the Hudson." Scrape TV - The World on Your Side. 8 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.


"Transition Roadable Aircraft: Transition Roadable Aircraft Photos, Wallpapers, Galleries, Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft Makes Maiden Flight 18." Web. 14 Sept. 2010.


"Terrafugia - Transition® the Roadable Light Sport Aircraft : The Vehicle." Terrafugia - Transition®, the Roadable Light Sport Aircraft : Home. 2008. Web. 14 Sept. 2010.

Technology and Society

In these past years technology has been such a huge part of society. Everyone has computers nowadays. It's interesting to see how much they can be a part of our lives. Smartphones are starting to break out in our age group as well, which we could consider small computers in our pockets. We're so attached to them too, constantly texting or checking Facebook. Not only this sort of technology but any sort of business is in constant need of some sort of technology. From a law firm requiring computers for documents to an auto shop needing computers for maintenance and analytics of engines.

With the requirement for all this technology, requirements for current day tasks grow larger, thus better and faster technology is created. In the PCWorld article below, they outline the changes and advances in upcoming technology. Since the article was posted in 2008, about two years ago now, we can see that a good amount of their list was definitely true. Especially the cell phone section - "Where you at? Ask your phone, not your friend" is typically is a true statement now a days (Null). So many people can use theirs cell phone to triangulate where you are and often the "ask for directions" saying is dead. The author of the article hit some good sections of future technology advancements which, two years later, are now true. Typically PCWorld, them being such a large part in technology, knows what they're talking about when they have been dealing with technology for many years now.

Since the technology is changing rapidly it means that there are easier ways to do things. With the already bigger companies utilizing the past technology, it's sometimes harder for them to "get with the times" as some would say since they can't easily switch to the new technology typically. Making use of all these technology advances are now the start-up companies.The New York Times article puts it best - "Yet advances in technology keep changing the context, and thus opening doors to new ways of doing things. The lean start-up model is a set of management practices adapted to today’s Web and Internet technologies." (Lohr) Start-up's now take advantage of the newer technologies and are able to advance further, more quickly than past start-ups. Take a look at Facebook and Twitter. The boom of these two companies were able to take advantage of the newer technology combining mobile technology with modern computer's with internet access. Since society of today uses both of these technologies it was able to boom since it was such a useful thing to be a part of. The New York Times article talks about how the start-ups can actually teach the bigger companies something because of using these newer technologies.

The changes in technology make you question the future of our world. Will smaller companies eventually be the premise and bulk of our society? How much will be automated in our future world? Will such technologies be part of our human rights to have access to such things? In some countries, access to broadband internet is actually a right. Who knows what will be in store for our future world. With the technology advances speeding up so rapidly and the requirements of everyday tasks, it seems that we can't live without it.

Lohr, Steve. "What Start-Ups Can Teach Big Companies - NYTimes.com." Technology - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com. 25 Apr. 2010. Web. 10 Sept. 2010.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/152683/15_hot_new_technologies_that_will_change_everything.html

Null, Christopher. "15 Hot New Technologies That Will Change Everything - PCWorld." Reviews and News on Tech Products, Software and Downloads - PCWorld. 28 Oct. 2008. Web. 10 Sept. 2010.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/what-start-ups-can-teach-big-companies/?scp=31&sq=technology%20changing&st=cse

Stick Waggling: Motion Controls in Video Games.

There is no denying it. The hilariously named Wii has dominated a good portion of the gaming market with it's advancements in the fields of motion controls. To those who are not aware of the revolution; motion controls allow video game players to actually move physically around either through a special controller, pad, or camera in order to interact with the gaming world. Sports games, like Wii Sports, actually get the player to move around and make them feel like they're playing baseball, bowling, or what have you.

Nintendo's massive success with the concept has caused the company's two major game console competitors (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) to announce their own attempts to join the motion control band wagon. Microsoft has introduced it's own Kinect, a bold plan of attack that uses motion control with no controller and only a camera. While Sony has released PlayStation Move, which is similar to the Wii in the sense that it uses a controller but it also uses a camera to track the wand rather than a light sensor.

You can bet we're going to see some huge console wars, with players fighting over what companies did motion controls better.

But I digress. Motion controls have indeed sped the improvement of technology within the gaming industry. Companies are now focusing on improving the basic hardware of the actual systems to improve the controls, rather than trying to top the last generation's graphics. There generally has been improvement of motion controls as a whole, as demonstrated with the PlayStation Move.

Now that I got the good of motion controls out of the way, let's move on to the bad.

Gaming is still a young industry. However, it is a media no different than books or movies. Games tell stories and reveal art through the most interactive means currently out there; by involving the audience in the story and allowing them to choose what they want to do. But it's still a media. It's a means of entertaining yourself between the brief windows of breaks in your everyday life. Books, movies, music; they all are meant to accomplish the same thing. They entertain people.

It's difficult to argue that motion controls do not entertain people; you've probably picked up Wii Sports and have enjoyed a game or two at least once in the past year. But how long does that last? An hour, maybe two? There are games meant to last longer for these systems, of course, like Super Smash Brothers Brawl or even serious games like Silent Hill and Heavy Rain. But here's the thing.

How long do you like to play a game? Usually it's just until you get bored or until you run out of free time. Your body is completely relaxed and you can savor the fun of the game. It's no different than when you read a book. You don't run around like a maniac while trying to read a page, you find a quiet place to sit down and relax. How in the world are you supposed to relax and enjoy yourself when playing a game with motion controls? Flailing your arms around like ants are in your pants can only lessen your time playing the game because it's a good way to tire yourself out physically.

People have claimed "Oh, it adds fun to the game. It really makes you feel like you're in the world." People play games to take them places they've never been before; but I don't think they really want to be in those places themselves. I know I'd be the first to soil myself if I was ever in the position my character is in every five seconds of Call of Duty. And now I'm expected to move around like my guy in the game? No chance, I'm not fit enough to be whipping my limbs around like I've got a spastic twitch. Besides motion controls don't make you feel as you're in the game world, they make you feel like you're doing an aerobic exercise routine in your living room. And its true motion controls are fun for now, but that neatly brings me to my next point.

A gimmick can only be described as something meant to make a product stand out in order to make it sell better. You're supposed to have fun with motion controls, that's the point of the advertisement. A fun, new way to play video games. But please bare in mind; Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are all business companies. They're not like Mickey Mouse, waving you into a colorful of happiness and wonderful rides. Businesses only care about you because you give them money (Okay, so maybe they are like Mickey Mouse). The point of a business is to earn more money, you are a customer and you have money. See the connection here?

This is nothing new, companies have always tried to grab our attention with "new shiny objects" that will sell their products. The Wii in particular sold well because it targeted a new audience that had otherwise been neglected this whole time, casual gamers (Older folks, children, families, etc).

How about the PlayStation Eye? A camera that let an image of you play on the TV screen early on in the PlayStation years. Maybe Virtual Boy? Or remember the Zapper Gun from the NES? That was a gimmick as well, but now most people only remember it for the game Duck Hunt.

Right now, motion controls are, hopefully, a temporary thing. But many hardcore defenders of the consoles advertising motion controls claim it's a new and interesting idea that will revolutionize gaming. It's a gimmick people; it's no different than 3D in movies. You can't revolutionize the gaming entertainment field by using something that was meant to initially bring in the big bucks.

(WARNING: Video has somewhat offensive language and material.)



Last but not least; motion controls are not an effective means of playing a game, period. What have most of the games that advertise motion controls done with them? Some games do use motion controls as an optional mechanic, but usually it's safer to play with a real controller. Take Super Smash Bros Brawl for example. You CAN play with a Wii Remote, but most people who play it will reach for a GameCube Controller before a Wii wand. Some games like Monster Hunter Tri, don't even play well at all with a remote and force you to buy a D-Pad Controller add on if you want to have any chance of playing the stupid thing.

How about combat based games like God of War? How in the world am I supposed to do a fifty hit combat with a PlayStation Move controller? Why not just rip my arms off from the start? They're going to be useless after I attempt it anyway. Then there's the Xbox's Kinect. Do I even need to explain what can go wrong when your controller is a camera? What happens if you step on the cat while playing?

I'm sure games for these systems will come up with clever ideas to avoid these problems but here's the thing. Isn't that just dodging the issue? If motion controls were the new revolution of the gaming industry, why are they altering their design to meet the standards of traditional gaming? The answer is simple; for gaming consoles, motion controls are a fad.

There's no doubt that research into motion controls will continue into the beyond; maybe until there is at last a virtual world. As they stand now, they have a limited lifespan on gaming consoles. Let's move onto the next gimmick.

10, Roger EbertMay. "Roger Ebert: Why I Hate 3D Movies - Newsweek." Newsweek - National News, World News, Business, Health, Technology, Entertainment, and More - Newsweek. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. .

Croshaw, Ben "Yahtzee" "Video Galleries : Zero Punctuation : E3 2010." The Escapist. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. .

"Gimmick." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. .

"Virtual Boy." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. .

Nevermore Nevermore

Imagine for a moment that you never had to worry about death at all. Do you think it would change how you lived your life? This question may soon have more relevance than you think. Certain scientist and philosophers believe that true immortality is achievable within the first few decades past the 21st century. However, even the more conservative scientists acknowledge that life extension is far more likely. Around the globe research is being done in the ever-progressing quest to find the proverbial "fountain of youth". After years of research one researcher believes he may finally have the answer.

Meet Aubrey de Grey, a researcher who believes that his plan for ending aging may be able to be implemented within a few decades, in his book Ending Aging Aubrey talks about how ending aging and debilitation in humans is not only feasible but will be able to be implemented shortly. His proposal is to use what he calls "regenerative medicine" to cause the body to be in a constantly youthful state.

Quite honestly this scares me. The fear and inevitability of death is one of the constant motivators of human existence. Without that to subconsciously guide us I fear for our existence as a species. Aside from speculative concerns there is the realistic concern that if immortality were to be made available to us at large over population would become even more of a problem than it is now. Additionally, if the medicine was not widely available it wold create a ruling upper class to rule society that would simply never die. Thereby creating a class seperation that would be almost impossible to overcome. On a whole I believe immortality is bad for the human race as a whole because it would represent the virtual end to freedom working in our world and , in my own humble opinion, it would lead to the downfall of the human race as we know it.

deGrey, Aubrey. "SENS FOUNDATION Mission" Sens Foundation. Web. 6 Sep 2010.

Zombie Apocalypse: Sooner than we think?

As I spent my weekend watching zombie movies, and playing Dead Rising (a zombie apocalypse game) I thought up a major fear. In the game Dead Rising, A Governmental attempt at lowering the cost of breeding cattle, they accidentally create a wasp which then spawns parasitic larvae, leading to a zombie apocalypse. Despite the ridiculousness of this plot, it reminded me of a news article I saw on the Wall Street Journal.

"Heralding a potential new era in biology, scientists for the first time have created a synthetic cell, completely controlled by man-made genetic instructions..."

What I found interesting was that the DNA was programmed using a computer, and was simply injected into a bacterium, taking it over and creating artifical life. It may just be the zombie nerd in me talking, but that sounds to me like the start of what could become a zombie virus.

Bland, By Eric. "It's Alive! Artificial Life Springs From Manmade DNA." Discovery News: Earth, Space, Tech, Animals, Dinosaurs, History. 20 May 2010. Web. 06 Sept. 2010. .

Hotz, Robert Lee. "Scientists Create First Synthetic Cell - WSJ.com." Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com. 21 May 2010. Web. 06 Sept. 2010. .

Computer Mind Programs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40L3SGmcPDQ

This technology makes me both hopeful and fearful. We are actually developing software that can read our thoughts and respond based on our thoughts. If we have already reached this level of technology how much longer do we have until programs can actually fully read human minds, or even control human minds. I am amazed with this breakthrough and I cannot wait for the technology to be mastered, even if some of the consequences could be devastating.

Mind Control Device Demonstration [video]. (2008). YouTube. Retrieved 5 Sept 2010. .

*Pew pew pew*

Yes, that's right. Laser beams. They're out there, in working condition, being tested on military vessels, proposed to be fully operational in about six years.

The future in fact is not far away at all. Raytheon released a recent video depicting a test of their Phalanx and LaWS (Laser Weapon System). The test reveals a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) flying through the air for short time before literally bursting into flame and crashing down into the ocean. The LaWS is made up of six solid-state lasers simultaneously focusing 32 kilowatts of power onto a single target.

While it seems like science fiction becoming reality, the truth is that lasers have actually been in use by the military for years. In 2006, tests were done in which a laser destroyed a static mortar. In 2008, the test was successfully performed on an incoming mortar. However, shooting down UAVs over a moist environment such as the ocean has been a daunting challenge says Mike Booen, vice president of Raytheon's Advanced Security and Directed Energy Systems line. This new and improved version of the in-use land-based version of the Phalanx (in use in Iraq since 2005) will be ready to equip the Navy by the year 2016. Even more incredible is that the laser runs only off of electricity, and thus cannot run out of ammo as long as it has a current.

There was once a time where gun powder seemed like science fiction. Now science has progressed so far that even laser beams are not uncommon in society. Perhaps satellite warfare will be next, or terraforming. Cloning has been making huge leaps in recent years. Ideas such as Jurassic Park may not be far from reach, and soon after space travel may be a factor. it seems that truly, the only thing stopping man from reaching the infinite is not physics, resources, or other limitations, but simply the passing of time.

Plus, LASERS.

Unfortunately there was no embed link, so hopefully this will do.

How (if at all) is Science Limited?

Science seems like an absolute truth in terms of how the universe works. If you are standing on the ground and you jump, you will inevitably fall back to the ground. If you depress your brakes, the friction will cause your car to slow down. We all believe that these are laws of the universe which cannot be broken. No matter how many times you jump in the air, you will always come down.
As science advances and more accurate methods of measurement are devised our whole concept of what it true can sometimes change. Each of these "laws" are only hypothesis's that after taking into account all of our knowledge at the time seem like the most likely reason for things happening the way they do. When scientists discover that one of the methods of measurement is incorrect or could be wrong then a new hypothesis is formed and sometimes agreed upon sometimes debated for quite sometimes.
The only limitation to science is that we can never be certain what we've gotten wrong. The uncertainty is also the beauty of science. Nothing is good enough; there is no perfect answer, only a better reason. Science will always change and always get more and more precise.

"Opinion: The Limitations of Science." Time in Partnership with CNN 07 May 1965: n. pag. Web. 5 Sep 2010. .

Fears of the Furture

As I was reading the other posts, I mostly enjoyed many of the posts that had to deal with the positives that the future may hold for us. My first thoughts were of different technologies that I hope technology will advance towards, but then I began to think about why some of these technologies could actually hurt mankind in the end. As technology progresses, our society seems to become much lazier. Technology seems to be advancing at a rate where, eventually, no one will need to leave the house. At our current point of technology, anyone with internet could probably live their lives without leaving the house. The internet allows us to work from home, order clothes online, and even grocery shop from the comfort of their own living room. Basically, my biggest fear is that our society will ruin itself because of technology, but I have a feeling that, if it ever gets that far, it will be sometime outside of our life times.

http://www.piggymoo.com/futurama/?episode=02x09

This is a link to a Futurama episode. The majority of the episode does not matter, but the first minute and a half is basically what I envision might happen one day. While Futurama makes this into a funny matter, it could also be devastating.

On a completely unrelated side note, this is an excellent site if anyone wants to watch all of the Futurama episodes.


"Why Must I be a Crustacean in Love?." Piggymoo. Web. 5 Sep 2010. .

Will technology end the world?

With the way technology has been advancing it seems as if anything is possible. For many people this is a frightening situation, especially when dealing with any kind of weaponry. Just recently an article was put out about a heat-beam ray gun which uses a heat-beam to help control unruly inmates at an LA jail (Watkins). Just one generation ago no one would have thought that a ray gun was possible to make, just something you may see on Star Trek.

To make it worse with enemies all over the world fighting and striving to develop new technology on how to kill each other more efficiently. If every country is racing to develop the best weapons when we already have nuclear weapons that can destroy entire countries what is next. This video explains it quite simply.



Although the video is a bit comical, and exaggerated it points out a potently possibility that may have to be dealt with at some point in time. Even with our current technology we can already destroy the world, what happens when we improve it even more?



The end of the world [video]. (2006). YouTube. Retrieved 5 Sept 2010. .

Watkins, Thomas. ACJ. LA authorities plan to use heat-beam ray in jail. 27 Aug 2010. 5 Sept 2010. .

A Negative Effect of Technology:

Although technology has countless positive sides, lately i have been aware of the personal disconnect that having everything at our finger tips at all times can sometimes lead to. The biggest thing that comes to mind concerning this issue is the widespread use texting as a means for communication. In recent years the media, scholars, and government authorities have made it quite apparent that cell phone technology has had a drastic affect on the World as we know it. While many argue that the effect is quite beneficial, there is much evidence which would lead one to believe that negatives of cell phone use (specifically texting) significantly outweigh the positives. Nevertheless, as with any argument, it is best in this case to equally consider both sides.
Surely, there is plenty of evidence in support of texting, such as being a way to stay connected to friends and family, and as a way to stay in the loop while making plans and managing a busy schedule, but the thing that concerns me is its impact on social integration.
I feel that texting is becoming not a convenient addition to communication, but is now used as an alternative that is taking the place of verbal, and even face-to-face interaction. While it often seems beneficial as a time saving tool, it is creating a sense of disconnection between persons. Now, instead of having a true conversation with a friend in which you can express a lot through inflection and the like, one might instead just send a few texts and never delve deeper into their thoughts or emotions because the conversation it perpetually stuck on a superficial level. Another negative effect I see it having on people, is how it takes you from being a fully present person participating fully in life and conversation, to being "elsewhere" because mentally you're somewhere else while texting, and thus you're missing out on lifes' full expirience.
Overall, i am certain that people are slowly forgetting how to interact verbally, and be fully present, which is an incredibly detrimental thing to lose.

Cartoon: by Alex Gregory, Published in The New Yorker 8/2/2010, retrieved online from cartoon bank.com 9/5/10

A Cure for AIDS in Our Lifetime?

One huge hope for science that I have is that scientists will be able to find a cure for not only AIDs, but for all deadly diseases and infections. I think that it is safe to say that most people know at least one person who has died from a disease or infection that has no cure. I also think it is safe to say that these people would love there to be a discovery to cure the disease which killed their loved one. The unfortunate part is that scientists are not optimistic about finding cures to such diseases. This article talks about how scientists are not even sure if there will even be a possibility of find a cure "in the next 20 years" (McNeil). It is somewhat sad that scientists are not hopeful, but that does not mean that a cure will not be found.

McNeil, Donald. "After Long Scientific Search, Still No Cure for AIDS." The New York Times, 9 May 2010. Web. 5 September 2010.