Tap for Tablets

"Now that digital lifestyle devices, tablets, wireless phones, and other Internet appliances are beginning to come of age, we need to worry about presenting our content to these devices so that it is optimized for their display capabilities. "
Mike Davidson 

Tablets are leading the portable venture of technology and apps throughout the world. The first tablet was made around the 1980's but back then they were known as pen computers. It was in 2002 when Microsoft renamed them as tablets, the first portable tablets with windows software in it.  Although windows started to use tablets it is arguably that apple cause the trend of tablets with the Ipad. 

Apple took the lead with tablet technology with apps, music, wifi, etc. All other technology manufactures such as Dell, Asus, Samsung, Acer and more started their own brand of tablets to compete with the Ipad.

Now its 2012 and apple came out with the Ipad Mini a smaller, lighter tablet with all the Ipad power it in it. What really gives the IPad the lead in tablets are apps. Because of the apple store, Itunes, app store, IPad is winning the race in tablets in the market right now.

Although apple has the edge it is not stopping Microsoft with keeping up with them. They recently came out with their new tablet the Microsoft Surface.  With competition on the rise, the market with the tablets for the holidays may change the outcome. While I believe that the Ipad Mini is a bit redundant in the case its just a smaller Ipad and a bigger Iphone without celluar service; there is no denying it is one of the better tablets out there right now. With the Surface, it may change the that all in entirely. 

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mikedavids230170.html#IR43rRCyWZ7W2mlC.99 

Reading Level

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him. "
Maya Angelou


Reading is an essential for a child's education and to develop their reading skills. With the digital age taking over, reading is becoming more evolved than it was in the past decade. With E-books and  kindles reading has become a more portable and easy to access other books through WI-FI. The program Reading Rainbow was a television program that aired on PBS. It was the third longest kids program ever to be on PBS right before Sesame Street and Mister Rodgers. Currently the executive producers and host LeVar Burton launched a new revamp website that contains old re-runs of the show. Burton believes that by doing the this it can rekindle the spark of reading into today's youth. While I grew up with the show I can say it was fun and it did help me learn words, how to pronounce certain words and helped my interest of reading.  I believe with LeVar Burton in that this show should still go on and the website is a good idea, if it helped me read it can help any child. 

The show may not be on the air anymore but with the website now launched it may make a comeback.




















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Tech Annoyance

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."

Albert Einstein

Technology  has become a necessary tool for our everyday lives. With the rise of social media tools and apps we fall to the mercy of technology one way or another. As technology rises so does the problems with it. With every advance it takes there's always seems to have a problem or bug that needs to be improve in the next version or update.

In the link above it talks about several pet peeves on certain technology. I can fully agree with most of the items listed above. One in particular is Captcha. Although I understand the use for it, I still do not like it. Seems to me that it does not really suppress hacking but rather slows down or just annoys users that forgot  their password.

Credit Card Machines, QR codes, phone recognition are all annoyances that one must deal with if they want to further its uses. While the idea is a good one and its sole reason is to benefit others it still has that tick that makes it almost unbearable.

I understand the difficulty of machines, if Terminator, IRobot, The Matrix have taught me anything is that machines/technology can be a great asset to humanity but it can also a pain to deal with. 











http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_technology.html#8IHIbZjbYBtKqQsJ.99

Social Media Today

"When you give everyone a voice and give people power, the system usually ends up in  really good place." Mark Zuckerburg, CEO & founder of Facebook.

In a time where social media is all around us, there have been a drop of a few that uses social media. According to this article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200880/A-THIRD-U-S-population-refrains-using-Facebook-Twitter.html

There are people in the world, at least 1/3 of the world that refuses to use Facebook or twitter. A survey was taken to find a deeper answer to why some don use any social media.

It seems a lot are afraid of hackers that may potentially steal one's identity. While hackers and viruses are potential threats, many people also just do not want a Facebook or a Twitter, While I have Facebook I do not have a twitter or Myspace account. Some people do not wish to set up or create an account or maybe do not even know how. One reason why the decline of accounts could be that the social media era is coming to a close, maybe within the next few years a new social media idea will rise.

Working hard

“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” Buddha

Technology is ever growing, much like a tree it needs to grow and develop. When it was time to upgrade to a new phone I decided to get the Samsung galaxy s2, I have been waiting for so long for this phone, I heard only amazing things the phone. just like many I did not question where this amazing piece of technology came from, where it was created, what materials, how many work on, etc. This article reports that the Chinese labor watch found six Samsung factories with "several labor abuses." The article continues to say that
the abuse includes unpaid labor, forced ans excessive overtime hours, and physical and verbal abuse. it is stated that workers would work for 12 hours straight and that there was discrimination based on age, gender and personal  appearances.

Apparently Apple has a similar article, It seems as we strive to better phones, mp3 players, television, anything we sometimes lose our humanity. The sad truth reveals itself, that although we are evolving through technology but old work ethics stay the same. At what cost does it take to pay for a better device, apparently it takes several factory workers and their rights 

Both articles are hard to intake but actions are being taken against these crimes. Does this make consumers feel a little better? Maybe, it is more than business and money, its about our humanity.



http://gizmodo.com/5940903/report-worker-abuse-and-underage-employment-at-six-more-samsung-factories

Samsung vs. Apple

"The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency."
Bill Gates.




 The quote above relates to the topic: Samsung vs. Apple court case by how simply Bill Gates said it himself; A device can be wonderful with the right operation and efficiency. In the case of Apples IPhone versus Samsungs smart phones have caused a lot of inefficiency to the consumers. Apple won the court case against Samsung, however that won't necessary stop the company from further advancing their phones. Some may argue that Samsung did not copy the IPhone, but it is with a lot of hard evidence in the court room it is hard not to see Apples viewpoint. 

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/25/editorial-engadget-on-the-apple-vs-samsung-ruling/  

In this articles it covers the wide opinions of software developers or people in the business. While some may agree with either party, my opinion is this: Whether Apple is right or Wrong, ideas from an innovative idea will always be manipulated, upgraded or studied to make it better. It has been done in history and will continue to do so as long as people have the desire to take one step closer to advancing technology. 
 






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Video Games, harmful or not?

"Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock-n-roll."
Shigeru Miyamoto


In this modern age, where entertainment and the media has gone to a new level. Even utilizing technology where controllers are not even needed but solely on motion sensing and the use of 3D screens. Although the advances of technology in video games is speeding up, what about the advances of the content of video games. In the past two decades; video games have become more prone to violence then before. There also seems to be more games with violence in them than games that don't.

Video games are just a form of entertainment like movies or television. However much like other recreational media devices video games can heavily influence one's well being. Video games toady are different than what they were in the past decade, not just graphically but the way they are played as well. Games such as Grand Theft Auto, where you have to car jack someone and kill people, can affected a child's mind. I believe that while video games are fun to play and  from escape reality, there are some that should not be played by a younger, immature audience. Which is why games come in ratings, much like movies there are games for children and for adults. Though the laws are getting better with video game ratings, younger children still can find ways to access games not suitable for their age group. This is becoming a problem but there is little video game companies do about it. In cases such as these, my stand on video games is this: Video games are not evil or bad, it is the person who takes it to far from playing the game that is the source of the problem. Parents should be more cautious when dealing with their children playing video games that are above their age group. It is true that some people are sucked in a video game for hours, like a soulless zombie but they are few, they should not be the prime example of those who value games as just a form of entertainment. While the news can say that video games are destroying childhoods, the same could have been said about Television when it first came out. Video games is not a way of life, they are a form of how we choose to use our free time.



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The treatment

Within Shepherd's gates are young minds in the pursuit of higher learning. The diversity of the students within the University are vast. Although they all come from different backgrounds each individual seek a better future. While attending Shepherd University many seek to join an organization or group, to be part of something bigger than themselves. Joining a Greek organization has been a College tradition for years and many students have been part of it. In Shepherd University however is a different story. It seems that Greek life on campus is not as big nor supported than other schools. Still it does not stop students from joining fraternities or sororities, although they are not heavily supported. Which is why I chose a documentary about the Greek Life at Shepherd University.

This documentary will show all the aspects of Fraternities and Sororities on campus. There are many stigmas about social Fraternities and Sororities such as heavy drinking, intoxication activities, belligerency,

but in fact there are many aspect that the public does not know about Greek life, the rumors and stereotypes about Greeks are just that: rumors and stereotypes. Fraternities and Sororities are not just drinking clubs, the word Fraternity comes from the Latin phrase Fraternaliswhich means Brotherhood. That's what the social fraternities and Fraternites are. In my Documentary I will show the viewer the real side to Greek life on Shepherd Campus. I will try to incorporate all the Fraternities and Sororities on campus. What really goes on, how some members feel about the their image and what they think about their own group and how they help Shepherd's social growth.

The technical skills that I will use are:

• Lighting
• Wide shots (ws), Close ups (cu), point of view (pov)
• Editing
• maybe motion graphics (titles)

Typography, more than fonts.

"Type is saying things to us all the time. Typefaces express a mood, an atmosphere. They give words a certain coloring." -Rick Poyner

Have you ever seen a movie that you were inspired from? How about a movie inspired from a font? Yes a font. It is something we take advantage of everyday. Whenever we type, or read we use fonts to print in information, our ideas, thoughts, history and futures. That is Helvetica. The movie about the font that changed the way we see coke cola, advertising and life was a eye opener for me.

For me the most memorable scene from Helvetica was how passionate graphic designer Michael Bierut was about the creation of Helvetica. The way he described it, was raw emotion about a font that changed the way he saw graphic designs. He explained it as " It's The Real Thing. Period. Coke. Period. Any Questions? Of Course Not." Much like all the designers in the movie felt more or less the same. Helvetica.

An idea that I thought was pretty cool was the way they incorporate Helvetica into everyday ads. Everyday we see it but never truly notices it. If I were to ever create a idea of how to expand a ad or video the best way was to show it to everyone everyday. The sneaker the better, most people never realize what's in front of them. People just phase right through simple but effective ads that engrave a message in their minds that's what Helvetica does.

Internet Security

Security is, I would say, our top priority because for all the exciting things you will be able to do with computers organizing your lives, staying in touch with people, being creative - if we don't solve these security problems, then people will hold back. (Bill Gates)

The policy 

The internet is changing, every day. When I was little I remember clicking the mouse and turning on the family computer. Then the sound of the bandwidth when connecting the internet comes in. It is a sound that I haven’t heard in a decade. Now the future is here, back then it took three minutes to connect to the web, now it takes a second. The internet is growing to a larger scale, one that even incorporates into cellular phones, tablets and game consoles. The social media aspects are heading into a younger population. Before it was college students now as young as 7 year olds use the internet and all the attributes that come with it. (Facebook, twitter, YouTube) Since the spectrum of the age group is moved into a younger more native audience it is becoming easier to hack into one’s personal information. Hacking into one’s personal information can be a mess and ruin one’s life. This is why Google is strengthening its measures to protect its measures to ensure safety to its users.

Google is one of the largest web-based company in the internet. It started out as a search engine, a guide to other website, a gate to the whole web. Now it’s the leading company that is trying to revolutionize the web. It is trying to combine many new media based aspects to its layout. It started out with Gmail, email service with Google. Then Google maps, Google videos, Blogger, Chrome and Google+. Very recently Google has decided to enforce its new policy. It’s one policy, one Google experience.  They are trying to make the internet usage safe and easy to understand.  There new policy ties to an easy way access all the media features. It also tries to collaborate easy usage of all the share properties with Google.   

Security and protection is what it all means and Google understand that. Although Google has changed its policy, it is for the better. It makes navigating through Google much easier and safer. In a other blog, they explain how the usage the policy can benefit all.  

Blog 2: A Whole New Mind

“Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” (Buddha). The future of communications is expanding; it is evolving into a market of well proper opportunities. The industry is sculpting into statue of different forms. Each form testes each individual to learn a new technique continue on to complete the job. As I’m coming closer to graduating the University part of my life I need to look real hard of where I’m heading. Some questions arose from me thinking about my future.  

1.       Where is the company heading? Is it outsourcing to foreign country?

2.       Is the company up to date with the latest media tools?

3.       What kind of technology/software do I need to become fluent in?

There are six essential key elements that will help me improve the industry and land me the dream job I always wanted. In the media business it takes a lot of Design. This means I need to be imaginative, innovative and creative. Employers seek one who is sees things others do not, that special thing. It takes a slick design to launch off attention that creates business look at the apple products.

Story is important if not the most important part of engaging into the media world. What does your idea say? It has to say a story, is your movie going to see big s or is it just going straight to DVD. That’s what makes the difference between something great and something not even worth mentioning. The story in my work is my weakest point but it is also my one attribute that is getting more developed.

In the Communication field it takes a lot of symphony to get ahead. Symphony creates inventions and thinks about the bigger picture. Who would have thought of a phone that can also play music and go on the web? It took symphony to create an idea that shook the world.

If I want to succeed in the real world then I need to create an empathy state of mind. Empathy is going beyond the logical state of mind and entering the emotional part of it. I have always been called the nice guy (don’t know if it’s a good thing) however I use that to my advantage to keep relationships, have a trusting aura and keep a positive attitude. With that I can create friendships that will help me seek those who “know” the industry. Just knowing someone can help you land the job.

Playing, playing is what we many of us have been doing since birth. It is also beneficial to our creativity and the way we learn in the industry. I have often just played with a program or a camera when shooting and it turns out that I learn more effetely. Communications can be fun; in fact I find it fun which is why I want to do it for the rest of my life.

In the end what does it all mean? The meaning of our work is what it all comes down to. It is the purpose of the journey, the purpose of our work. When I create something in Photoshop or in After Effects or a video it has a meaning; a reason to be presented. The meaning of my work is what I what believe is my best work.

The futures is bold and unknown, but with what I learned and will learn from school, experience and creativity it already looks bright. Uncertainty is in my present but hope is in my future.

 sources:

:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/future.html#ixzz1knHSOH5F

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Whole_New_Mind

Graphical Videos

In the Superbad intro it shows two silhouette's dancing in a colorful background that constantly changes color. the background colors go from bright yellow to green,blue, red and purple while the silhouette's are changing with the background. They change with a complementary color such as dark blue background with a bright yellow silhouette. The video utilizes the colors as  happy, silly and outgoing. The intro's color goes well with how the movie is about. The movement and the music also add to the movie's style. I believe even if the video was muted and without all the slick dance moves it still comes across as a sill funny type of motion graphic. 

In the intro's they both show similar styles of color in the videos. In the Mad Men intro it shows a silhouette of a man in a suit who jobs off a building. The major colors in the video are black and red. Black is a misunderstood color, for one black is not a color but the absence of color. Black is often associated with death but in this intro it has more meaning. Black is also the color of elegance and class. Which is what the show's fashion is about: class. Black in this video can also be associated with mystery and inconspicuous; which is also a major theme of the show and the main character. The other color that the designer have utilized was the color red. Red in this video is used with black to make it stand out. Red is the symbol of power, in the show it's every man for himself. With the era of marketing, rising in power is very appropriate. The video's color gives off a deep and serious type of vibe. The designer definitely used the appropriate color scheme for the show.   

A higher learning

A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching.  A. Bartlett Giamatti  

Education is the heart of this nation, without it we as a society will not thrive well.  In the past ten to eleven years the United States undergo the plan of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). In 2005 the Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) took off. LEAP helps students improve on their educational experience. On aacu.org they say LEAP is a national initiative that champions the importance of a twenty first century liberal education. The two may have similar and different ways to improve the educational system.

 The NCLB was meant to improve the educational system by providing extra funds to school and better teachers. The plan was to improve schools and the students that inhibit them. The funding was determined by a standardized test that students need to take. Depending on how well or how bad the overall school scores is the school will receive its fund. If the school does not do well then the school needs to change its curriculum. The worst cases scenario is that the school may be closed and replaced by a whole new teaching staff. While LEAP is to improve liberal art studies not just the main courses such as math, reading and writing. LEAP tries to promote different techniques such as the Essential learning outcomes which are a guiding vision for liberal education.  

Though both have different ways to change the educational system it really takes a lot of hard work to improve the way we teach and learn. In my experience, I always tried to do my best in school and achieve what I could. The NCLB never really affected me in terms of education. Schools did put much effort in Math and English subjects.  It is said the education is the future but how can it be when it is such rough area to improve on.  Our future really depends on those teachers that will strive to teach their students to the best of their abilities.

I read Shakespeare and the Bible, and I can shoot dice. That's what I call a liberal education.
Tallulah Bankhead

Sources:
:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_education2.html#ixzz1jUwi8pRn

http://www.nea.org/home/NoChildLeftBehindAct.html

http://www.aacu.org/leap/