Zeitgeist Addendum

Source: Zeitgeist.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gKX9TWRyfs

Zeitgeist Addendum is a documentary from Director Peter Joseph highlighting the failures of the United States government in resolving societal problems. It follows the original Zeitgeist documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNf-P_5u_Hw&feature=related in its discussion of the creation of money and how society is continually enslaved in debt on behalf of the system. The documentary raises interesting concepts such as that of the economic "hit men" the US government supposedly employs to corrupt foreign regimes to benefit American corporations. The film introduces very interesting, novel ways to promote social change. It denounces our technological advancements as the antithesis of what we create and use them for,which is for lifestyle ease and comfort. It cites the rejection of our current political system as the cure for the illness caused by economic failure. It also promotes the rejection of military structure, energy companies, and media. I think it's an amazingly interesting film that offers a fresh perspective on ameliorating our troubled lifestyles.

Virtual World

Source: Blizzard Games

The use of virtual environments is becoming increasingly popular, so much so that even Penn State has been bitten by the virtual bug. The adult education program at Penn State is exploring using virtual environments, such as those on Second Life, to use for teaching and marketing opportunities. Penn State has actually purchased (using real money) virtual land to explore this venue. Professors in the education department have created avatars, or virtual characters, for which they enter the site and chat with students. The feedback from students on this unique means of education has primarily been positive according to the university, but it further reveals the increasingly large reliance that Penn State has on technology for education. I already use the internet multiple times per day for quizzes on angel, messages through webmail, and to monitor my progress and attendance in my courses. Who knows how long it may be until students are attending most of their classes through virtual means.

Omnipresent iPod

Source: Apple

Everywhere I go on campus, at least half of the people I walk past are listening to an MP3 player, and usually it's an iPod. A survey was conducted at PSU in 2008 and found that nearly 90% of all students owned an MP3 player with the apple iPod being the most prevalent. Apple was successful in revamping their company to produce the iPod as a more aesthetically pleasing product. Many technology reviews suggest that there are much better MP3 players on the market being sold for a lot less than the iPod, however it remains the best seller due to factors that have no connection to durability or quality. The iPod's array of colors and sizes and its minimal appearance continues to attract consumers. Apple is also very successful with their advertisement since all I seem to see are iPod commercials. I have yet to see a Sony or Zune commercial.
The high prevalence of ipods on campus raises an interesting issue for me. Seeing so many students walking around with headphones exudes a disconnected feeling. Many people are oblivious to everything around them as they continue in their own world. I've seen people use an iPod to avoid conversation with another person. I think often times people miss out on so many interesting occurences on campus due to the need to be entertained continuously.

New Planet

Source: Deyan Dyankov
Astronomers in Europe have discovered a planet close to the size of Earth orbiting a star in the constellation Libra. The proximity of the planet to the star suggests that heat and radiation would make livability impossible, but they cannot be sure. The discovery is exciting because it increases the likelihood that planets close to the mass of Earth may be found with suitable living conditions. I think that this discovery is fascinating because astronomy is inching closer to answering perplexing questions about our galaxy, such as the ultimate question of whether or not life exists elsewhere.

Idiotic Games

Source: Stupid.com

The iphone has plenty of ridiculous and useless applications, however, I recently came across two that top the stupid list. The first is an absurd application called " I am Rich". This application costs $1000 and, for what? Absolutely nothing! When purchased the application places a red gem in the center of the phone as merely a status symbol and does nothing more. I didn't believe it actually existed until I visited the itunes store and, incredulously, it was there for purchase. I'm assuming that since it is still available for purchase there are numerous suckers in the world that are buying this. Secondly, itunes recently released a game for 99 cents in which users shake a picture of a baby until it dies. Now, I have nothing against mindless games for fun, but this isn't only useless and ridiculous, it's completely offensive. The game was removed shortly after it became available, but I have to think who possibly signed off on it to begin with?

Facebook Takeover

Source: Facebook

I have a difficult time finding people who don't have facebook accounts. It seems almost a requirement for college students across the country. I remember beginning college without a clue as to what facebook was or any inclination of how large it would grow. Now that I am ending my college career I get strange looks if I say I don't have an account. In less than four years, facebook has morphed from a simple way to chat and keep up with classmates to a 24/7 monitor of human activity, whether academic or social. The amount of people on facebook is astounding as it has become a global phenomenon. Privacy issues are rampant because people are unknowingly allowing companies and government/school authorities to view everything that was ever posted on the site. Getting rid of an account is extremely difficult because even if an account is deleted, it is kept on file in the exact same state it was left in case that individual decides they want to use it again in the future. I find this alarmingly frightening considering the amount of personal information the typical user puts on their page. I've head that the CIA aided in the establishment of facebook. Regardless, it's a good idea to be extremely frugal with the information you put out there.

Choose Your Price

Source: NY Magazine

It seems a new trend is emerging in business where companies are allowing consumers to pick their own prices for products. The first I had heard of this was with the release of Radiohead's In Rainbows album. Radiohead allowed their fans to purchase the album for whatever price they thought worthy on their website. It is estimated that the band profited ten million dollars in just the first week despite customers paying only half of what they would normally for a cd. Other business sectors are starting to use this ploy as well. Although I don't believe all businesses are using this to increase profit, some are testing to see whether they profit more from giving customers increased purchasing power. Certain restaurants across the country are allowing customers to place monetary value on their meals. Johnny Reb's Southern Roadhouse in Los Angeles, CA is trying this technique with diner food. A customer orders whatever they wish and is presented with the value of what the meal is worth before they decide what to actually pay. I think this is an interesting concept and may be more profitable, especially for restaurants who target more affluent customers.

Technology-based Community Service

Source: Get Entrepreneurial


Calling customer service for help with a product is annoying and tedious. Most of the time a real person can't be reached and I'm stuck listening to endless automated menus for an answer that a human could probably answer within minutes. Well, it seems that companies are starting to recognize the inefficiency and are seeking ways to improve the issue in a cost-savvy manner. Verizon is an example of one of a handful of technological companies that are recruiting volunteers to aid with customer issues. These companies are attracting people who love technology and are willing to contribute to the community in a way that is perhaps a little unconventional. The companies describe the incentive to do such work for no pay as the same as volunteering at a local shelter or hospital (a difficult comparison to make assuming those with technological problems are fortunate enough to have the luxury of technologies), but volunteering, regardless of the recepient, is typically a personally rewarding activity. However, this raises questions about the future of customer service and whether companies will be actively involved in helping consumers with issues.

Increasing Graduation Odds

Source: The Pennsylvania State University

Ohio State University claims students who take a first-year course on learning and motivation are 45% more likely to graduate than students who do not. While any student is allowed to enroll in the class, it is aimed at the students who perform poorly. This seems comparable to what Penn State's first year seminar is intended to do, yet I don't believe my first year seminar prepared me in any way for the university workload. Penn State students may benefit from a learning and motivation required course far more than a first year seminar. Even the brightest students can lack certain study skills simply because high school was not challenging enough to create a need for them. I think it is an interesting concept and it should be explored further.

Dog Training

Training a dog is difficult. I learned how difficult this is when I got my first puppy this past fall. Bruno was no ordinary puppy...at four weeks he weighed over 10 lbs! Bruno is a pure-bred German Shepherd and German Shepherds are known for their intelligence and size. Since I had little experience with dogs, I consulted numerous sources for advice with training. What I found was overwhelming conflicting theories. Every training method was debated. When I thought I was doing something helpful, I would later read how harmful it could be. For example, I started taking Bruno to a dog park only to find out later that it causes detrimental pack behavior. There were so many factors to consider that I quickly realized having a dog was nearly comparable to raising a child.
Essentially, the most important factor in raising a puppy is the attitude you approach it with. New research from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School shows that animal owners who aggressively train their dogs (ie. hitting, scolding, punishing)are likely to experience aggressive dogs. The study researches dominance-based training and concludes that punishment will primarily result in fear on behalf of the animal. I agree, punishment does not effectively deter bad behavior in the long-term for Bruno. He responds much better to snacks and play time.

Velcro Car Parts

Source: Jakprints

The future of automobile manufacturing just got a little crazier. Engineers from the University of Warwick are developing techniques to allow car parts to bond together in the same way velcro works. This would involve coating the parts with velcro-like hooks and eyes. I assume the benefits involve simplified removal and replacement, as well as easier recycling and disposal. I then question how easy it may become to steal parts.

Improving US Travel

Source: EcoWorldly

Anyone who has tried to travel within the United States knows how difficult it can be without the advantage of a personal vehicle. Flying is usually costly and buses are inefficient. There is also the option of traveling by train, however, this is usually both costly and inefficient as it can take days to reach a destination. In European countries, travel by high speed train is extremely efficient and low-cost. The company Eurostar can take passengers from London to Paris in less than three hours for less than what it normally costs for a domestic flight in the US. Recently, President Obama has addressed the need for the US to catch up with other countries in high speed travel. Obama proposed 13 billion dollars in government funding to initiate plans for high speed train service. This is a start in the right direction for energy, cost, and time efficient travel.

Paintball Art

Source: Electronics Weekly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKK933KK6Gg

This video is an amazing depiction of how the worlds of science and technology can blend with the world of the arts. Adam and Jamie from the show Mythbusters used 1100 paintballs to paint a portrait of the famed Mona Lisa in 80 milliseconds. Watching this made me realize just how far technology has come. The physics and mathematics used to allow for the precise timing and accuracy of the GPU is fascinating.

Paying by Cell Phone

Source: The NY Times

The credit card company Visa is starting to expand an innovation that has already been introduced in Malaysia. The new concept is using a sticker applied to the back of your cell phone to make payments. The sticker is actually an extremely thin chip, which when placed on the cell phone, will use radio frequency identification to communicate with a payment terminal. The entire process works by following three relatively simple steps. First, the purchase of the compatible chip-inserted cell phone is needed. Second, the chip will be connected to the appropriate bank account. Third, when all of the above is established, the phone is waved over the payment terminal just as one would swipe a credit card. Visa claims that the new innovation will increase purchasing convenience and security. The cell phone may be locked with a password that would prevent a thief from utilizing the chip and as for convenience, future technology will eventually allow users to hold multiple accounts on one chip.
Another feature I see as useful is the removed need to carry around multiple cards. I know that I would be much more likely to lose a credit card than my cell phone, so having them both in one place would be highly beneficial. However, having both in the same place also places a burden on oneself to be constantly available. Leaving your cell phone behind for piece of mind may become non-existent as I'm sure the cellular device would need to be turned on for purchases to be made. Either way, I am interested in seeing how this technology develops and if it becomes prevalent in other countries.

Dubai

Source: Dubai Trip Advisor




Dubai is a fascinating city located on the Persian Gulf between the countries of Oman and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East. It is located in one of the seven states that comprise the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is so alluring due to its astonishingly rapid growth and success. The United Arab Emirates has only existed since 1971, yet in this short time period it has become one of the most economically prosperous countries in the world. Dubai has also gained recognition as the commercial and tourism capital of the UAE. I visited Dubai during this past Spring Break and wasn't surprised to find that the city looked completely different in a period of only three months. Dubai is a city of constant change where new developments occur in the blink of an eye. Rapid transformation aids to the allure of the city as Dubai is constantly competing for the newest and best in everything it contains.