Classrooms of the future

Twitter should decentralize

This article examines the social networking site twitter and the flaws in its operating systems. When Twitter first began it was never expected to be as large as it became and now with its growing popularity, some loop holes have been spotted. On twitter you can theoretically follow as many people as you want and thus be followed by whoever. Unlike other social media sites there is no comfirmation system on the "following" systems and no limitations on the number of people. unlike twitter, facebook limits users to 5000 friends.

The author suggests that Twitter should start charging its users to turn a profit and have their own sever much like microsoft exchange. However, how many users would be willing to pay this fee, especially if another site much like twitter opens up for free. As of now twitter have virtually no competition, so why change.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/04/twitter-should-decentralize-and-make-money-via-twitter-server/

the future of email

Google Makeover

We all know that Google is by far the leading internet search engine company out there. However, as stated in he article, the appearence of the search phenoms main page does leave something to be desired. This is what prompeted the site Webmynd to hold a contest to redesign the Google home page. The designers have until November 1st to make their entry using any CSS modifications they would like. The winner of this contest will take home a brand new Macbook Air. Although there will only be one winner, designers will still be able to use their newly designed web page using Webmynd's pluggin manager that launched back in march.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/20/redesigngoogle-a-contest-to-revamp-the-worlds-most-popular-search-engine/

Article Response: Do You Have Good Facebook Manners

In this quirky, hilarious article about facebook etiquette the social networking site's relationships faux-pas are examined. The video is in black and white and resembles a skit from to 1950's, using many popular phrases such as, "he was such a grodie jodie," or, "timmy gordon is a wet blanket!" Despite the humor of the video they do leave you with 5 rules that will help you avoid any facebook relationship fights which, as an avid facebook user, i often see!

-Dont change your relationship status without consulting the other person
-Dont post embarrassing photographs of other people
-Be descreet when posting messages on other ppeoples walls
-Dont steal other peopls friends
-dont start hate groups

http://mashable.com/2009/04/22/facebook-manners/

Ray Kirzweil, The Future of Technology

Listening to Ray Kirzweil’s presentation on the advances of technology, I was greatly surprised at the technological advancements that weren’t available to the everyday person. In his opinion new technology becomes available to the public on an exponential level when there is a need and availability for the product. He uses solar panels an example because they are heavy and expensive to build and over time they will become less expensive with the advancements of nano technology which greatly improves their productivity and reduces expenses. An example of improvement in size and reduction in price would be cell phones. Cell phones have greatly reduced in price and have also increased in capacity of great applications, which in turns means it exponentially produces more for the consumer!
The most exciting thing about Kirzweil’s presentation is his belief that after one craze, or paradigm begins to fade out, it opens the door to new technology to be available to the masses. These new technologies will be most beneficial in the health care fields in which he predicts the creation of a robotic, red blood cell which would allow the average person to hold their breath for hours at a time, and even obtain the heightened skill level of an Olympic sprinter. However, the most important thing about new technological advances in medicine is the fact that progress increases at an exponential rate. He uses the example that it took us fifteen years to sequence HIV, where as SARS was sequenced in thirty one days. Although I find some of his predictions somewhat farfetched, and fear that society will become less and less independent from any form of technology, I am excited to see what the future of technology holds.