010_BLOGGING

Since this class consisted mostly of blogging, I felt that it was necessary for my technology-focused blog, to include a little bit of information about them. Where did the term blog even come from? It is a portmanteau, which is a combination of two words, combining "web and "log" together.

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Blogger.com is the first blog that I used since this class was my first introduction to blogging in general. But I felt that the different layouts to choose from were great and all of the features that it included. It was nice to see how many page views and even the specific number of views for certain posts as well. There are numerous sites to use for blogging though, including home made websites which are made into personal blogs.
Blogs are nice because they can be informative, persuasive or just fun to read. But they are not only all of those things, but blogs also give you a different point of view besides your own, which sometimes sways your own opinion in an opposite direction. Although they are usually written by "regular people" they can sometimes be very helpful in learning more about a certain topic. Completing many of blog posts for this class helped me to improve my skills as a blogger and also learn to see other points of view. By reading other classmates blogs, I learned a ton of information about several interesting topics. Many of the blogs included really helpful information and were written pretty well. This blog has been extremely helpful in learning how to write for the web and maintain a website. I also found out how to optimize the site so it is found on search engines. All in all, blogging may only be for certain people who really like to write and can keep up with daily or weekly posts. Although I would not consider myself to be one of those types of people, it was still good to get some experience with them.


How do you feel about the blogging process?

009_UNACCEPTABLE?

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Working in the retail industry during my high school and college careers, this was always a big topic of discussion. Since the large majority of the population today owns a cell phone, a lot of people use them to multi-task. In my opinion I think that people need to be more considerate when using their phones in public. This has happened to me numerous times while working at the cash register. The big problem with this issue is that there is no universal way to handle it or any sort of law against it. It is not quite a big enough issue to take the time out to enforce a law against this sort of thing.
There have been times at work where I just want to yell at customers or even try to politely ask them to get off of their cell phones. But especially at my work, PetSmart, which is very large retailer, none of the employees are allowed to ask any customer to get off of their cell phones while shopping or checking out. I actually looked through a few articles and blogs on this topic and there are mixed opinions. One of the sites said things that were more "politically correct" in terms of large retailers, where it should be all about the customer. At many retailers, the employees are told that the customer must always come first. Therefore, if someone is talking on their phone they should not be told to get off of their phone, but instead they should let it go. In this article it is said to assume that it might be a very important call and try to be understanding with the customer. This is probably the best thing for large retailers, at least in terms of good customer service.
On the other hand, I know first hand that the majority of employees working in retail or even food services would love to post signs like the one at the top of this post. It would be great to refuse to provide any services for a customer until they hang up the phone. I have gone through an entire sale with several different customers and did not say one word to the person because they were too busy chatting. Although I do not actually know for sure the importance or urgency of the conversation going on, every time someone has been on their phone while checking out it never sounds like it cannot wait a few seconds. I have personally been to places that refuse to wait on customers using cell phones, or have signs posted about it.


What do you think is an acceptable way to handle this issue?

008_TECHNOLOGY[vs]OBESITY

Within the past 20 years obesity in the United States has increased rapidly, especially in children and teenagers. On average, kids in the range from eight to eighteen spend more than seven and a half hours using technology everyday. If all that time was being spent to complete research projects or homework assignments for school that wouldn't sound quite as bad. But that consists mostly of using things such as cell phones, tablets, and video games. If that same amount of time is spent using these devices every day of the week it accumulates to 53 hours per week. Therefore for all of the parents out there; your children might be spending more time on their cell phone or playing video games than you go to work in one week! To add onto what already seems like a ridiculous amount of time, this same study said that since many of them multitask (such as listen to music on their i-pod while surfing the 'net) they actually pack almost eleven hours into that seven or eight hour range.

Most of this information was found from a study done by Kaiser Family Foundation and an article on NYtimes.

 

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Although there are have been many studies done proving that many kids these days spend a lot more time using technology than they used to, it is still not proved to be a major cause of childhood obesity. Even though it is not actually proven in most studies, there are a ton of people that believe that there is a direct link between the two. But I think that more needs to be done. When I see young kids texting and playing on their i-pods, it makes me realize how much times have changed since I was a kid (and I'm only 20!!). Children are being way to reliant and attached to technology at a young age these days. I even know a few kids under the age of 13 who are using Facebook. It is important for the future to get kids outside and off of their computers more often.

Do you think parents should be giving into their children and buying them cell phones and i-pods before or at the age of 10-12?
What is the appropriate age that kids should be allowed to have their own such devices?
Do you believe that there is a direct connection between technology and childhood obesity?

007_DNTTXTNDRV

DON'T TEXT & DRIVE.
So many of us are guilty of it, but we never think about the consequences.

Pennsylvania has just recently passed the new law banning texting while driving, making it fully illegal for all drivers to use hand-held devices to send text messages while driving their vehicle. There has yet to be a law passed banning all cell phone use in our state, but it could be following shortly.


Since this law has been in effect (March 8, 2012) there have not been a large numbers of fines issued. A lot of cops have stated that it is incredibly hard to really catch someone texting while driving. On a recent news report it was stated that many people are now trying to send text messages from a lower position, towards the bottom of their steering wheel, rather than closer to their face. This actually makes it even more dangerous because they are making their visibility window more narrow and the chance of causing an accident much larger.


Although the number of $50 fines issued in our state is still low, the majority of the tickets were given to teenagers and young adults from 16-25. There were a few "older" citizens that had to gather up the $50, too though. I'm sure this isn't surprising to many of us, that the majority of the tickets were given to younger citizens, being that most of them are incredibly reliant on technology.

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As like most other laws, each state has different rules for cell phone and hand held device usage while driving. To read more about each states' law against these types of things, you can reference wikipedia or also the GHSA (Governors Highway Safety Association) here.


The image above is of course from a few months ago. Since the info-graphic was created, there have been a few more states added to the picture, Pennsylvania being one of them. But the image does show a few statistics describing how often certain age groups text while driving and also how much more likely you are to cause an accident while using your cell phone.


Are you guilty of texting while driving, even if it is on a rare occasion?
Do you think that this new law will actually stop people from doing it?

006_APPS,APPS,APPS

Like I touched upon in my previous post, there are so many apps out there today. It's hard to figure out which one is the best, the easiest to use, the most interesting, or the most useful. And if you are already using a bunch of them, how are you suppose to keep up with them on a weekly (let alone daily) basis. Everyone has their own busy lives going on, which makes it hard to even get use out of multiple apps in general. But we still use them for everything.

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Let's talk about "Bob" for example. He is a hypothetical college student at Penn State who loves his iPhone, which contains numerous apps. Let's see just how useful all his apps. This will also shed a lot of light on how dependent we have become on technology.


9AM: wakes up to his Alarm app going off (after hitting snooze 3 times since 830 of course).
915AM: turns on his favorite Pandora station to sing along to in the shower.

930AM: checks the Weather Channel app to figure out what to wear to class.
945AM: checks his Mail accounts in hopes to see "class cancelled" before leaving.
10AM: sends a text to a friend in his class.
1015AM: looks through his Facebook and Twitter newsfeeds during his boring biology class.
1115AM: plays Angry Birds or Words with Friends in between classes.
1PM: calls a friend to meet him for lunch.
230PM: uses his converter calculator app during chem lab.
430PM: checks his Gas Buddy app to figure out if the Sheetz or Sunoco currently has cheaper gas before leaving for work.

430PM: also double checks his PNC app to make sure he has enough money for gas and some food for work.

730PM: checks the score of the hockey and basketball games on ScoreCenter.

And that isn't even one full day of the week! Let's admit, most of us would be lost without our phones; not only without the phone and messages apps, but also Facebook, Twitter, Mail, Google Maps, ScoreCenter, Fandango etc.

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You would think that with all of these apps, there would be some other app just to manage them all! This is a point that Dr. C had brought up in a comment on the last blog post. Although there is no app yet that puts apps together in one place to manage and use them easier, there are some phones that make it a bit easier. For example, the iPhone allows you to install, uninstall or manage memory space for all your apps in one place. You can also create "folders" that are displayed as only one app on your screen but can actually contain many apps, such as a folder named "Games" can contain Angry Birds, Solitaire, Words with Friends, Coin Dozer, etc. You can also create multiple side screens off of your home screen and organize them any you want, such as having your most used apps all on one screen or organizing them into categories like sports apps and social apps.


Besides just utilizing your organizational tools you may have on your phone or device, there are supposedly three apps that can combine all of your social networks in one place. I have not tried any of these, but this website provides details and links if you're interested!


Do you have a favorite app that you use all of the time?
How long can you go without your phone and all of its "amenities"?
Does anyone still have a "non-smart" phone?

005_PINTERESTING

“OMG! Did you see Brad Pitt’s post on Digglr last night?”       

“No, I was too busy cruising Cr.us.ta.ce.an. What did he say?”

“OMG, it was all over Regurgtatr!” "

This quote is from David Pogue's NY Times article, A Scrapbook on the Web Catches Fire. I came across this article while deciding what I should blog about this week and it made me want to grab my iPhone and start "pinning". There are so many new, addicting websites popping up all the time these days. It seems impossible to like just one of them, let alone keep up with all of them. Yes, I have a Facebook and Twitter but what I have been spending more of my time doing recently is adding to my pinboards.

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Pinterest is one of the most popular websites and apps right now, as well as the fastest growing. It is currently the fastest website in history to have over ten million visitors a month. This is also one of the websites that I included in my list of top sites. I just recently started using it, only because I had to wait a week or two to get "invited" to sign up, which is the only bad thing I have found about the site. In order to start pinning you must go to the homepage and request an invitation. Then you have to wait patiently for an e-mail allowing you to create your own pinboards. No, it is not just for girls or women who want to make pinboards of cute, furry animals, love quotes, or photos of dreamy beach scenery. You pick your interests, which includes a range of things from architecture to love to sports. It is great for simply looking through photos related to your interests in order to cure boredom. But another thing I like about it is the ability to separate things into different pinboards. For example, if you are planning a home or landscaping makeover, you are able to search through things that others have done and add them to your boards. This can help you keep all of your ideas in one spot and come up with a good solution.

All in all, Pinterest can be used just to waste some time or help with projects. I know there are a ton of other websites and apps to pick from, but I would definitely recommend giving Pinterest a shot.


Have any of you been able to try Pinterest yet? What do you think of it?
Does anyone have any other favorite or addicting apps that they use everyday?

004_WEBCAMHUMOR

In today's world, it's hard for the younger generation to understand why "old people" can't figure out how to use technology. But some of them grew up when the radio or the black and white television was the cool thing. When you don't grow up doing something from a young age, it's so much harder to learn. It is especially hard to learn how to do new things at an older age. In a technology-driven world, it is more and more common to see the older generations slowly trying to become more knowledgeable with things like Facebook, webcams, iPods, and cell phones.

I'm sure some of you have seen this video before, but for today's post I'd like to keep it short and sweet while still sticking to the technology topic. Which is exactly what this little old couple is; sweet and also very entertaining. So here's a little webcam humor!...

So how many people think this is exactly what their grandparents (or even parents) would do with a new webcam?

Does anyone have grandparents that have actually learned to use technology well?

003_TOPSITES

A great majority of people today love and use technology more than anything. But a good number of these people also do not know or care to know how it works or the “boring” stuff behind it. So for this post, I decided to spice it up, rather than focus on technology in the news or anything too lackluster. Therefore, I present you with a descriptive list of a few fun and interesting websites to visit:


News:
NYTimes.com
Are you ever looking for a good place to find an article for one of your classes? Maybe you’re even searching for an article to give you an idea for an interesting blog post? This is when Google won’t always cut it. You can find virtually anything you need on Google, but if you don’t know exactly what it is you’re looking for, the search bar might not be too helpful.
GoGoNews.com
Do you have children old enough to read and curious about everything? This website is for kids to read about news stories without all of the harsh details or violent images.
TheOnion.com
Their slogan "America's Finest News Source" is only fitting if you're looking for a more humorous spin on today's news. With everything going on in our world these days, this might be better than the actual news.



Social Networking:
Tumblr.com
This is a good mix between social networking, blogging, and sharing pictures all in one place. If you're looking for somewhere to express yourself other than the usual Facebook and Twitter, Tumblr is a great choice.
LinkedIn.com
Since this is a blog for a college course, I would imagine that most of you know about this site, but I thought it had to be included for those who might not know. It's great for getting your name and resume out there for internships as well as possible careers.
CafeMom.com
If there are any mothers or mothers-to-be in this class, this is a way for moms all over the world to talk to each other about motherly things or just joke around women-to-women. As for the guys, you have ESPN and things to fix so I'm not leaving you out!



Boredom & Art:
Pinterest.com
StumbleUpon.com
Beware of these two; they can be addicting once you find some things you like. These are great for waiting room entertainment or for those times when you don’t want to pay attention in class (even though none of us students would ever use our phone during class!).
LifeHacker.com
If you're ever in need of some good tips for just about anything life has to offer, this is good place to look. There are tons of tips and tricks on how to get things done.


Photos & Videos:
Instagram.com
Most of you may already know about this one as it is growing very popular now. There is even an app for it, imagine that. It is a great way to edit and share pictures easily.
Shutterfly.com
This is similar to Instagram in that you can edit and share photos but it is more than just that. There are more options with Shutterfly and its main purpose is actually to create photo books and personalized cards, calendars, etc.
Tout.com
I'm sure if you are on Twitter, you have an idea of what Tout is or you have used it. It is a great way to post video statuses or updates rather than the usual typed status. You can also watch videos of your favorite celebs on a more personal level here too.
Ted.com
Looking for a site like YouTube but more focused on educational or inspirational videos? That's Ted.


TV & Movies:
Hulu.com
When you miss your favorite show because of night class or work, you can catch up free of charge with hulu. They have almost every show you can think of.
Flixster.com
Not sure which movie to see this weekend? Don't just look up the first 3 movie critics' reviews that pop up on your Fandango app. Go to flixster to see what thousands of people just like you are saying about it.
IMDB.com
This is a great app to have on your smartphone when you cannot remember the name of that actor in that one movie you watched that one time...


Software and Files:
MakeUseOf.com
They have a ton of useful software that you can download.
Mozy.com
DropBox.com
If you are looking for somewhere to back up your files, these two sites provide a lot of free space and are pretty secure.


Shopping:
Etsy.com
Woot.com
These may not be "brick and mortar" stores, but they have great prices on tons of different products online. Etsy also has a lot of unique, artsy products, while Woot has a great deal-of-the-day special.
Paypal.com
Even if you already knew about this, I absolutely had to include it. I ordered a Christmas gift from a site that I probably should've have researched more before purchasing an item. Needless to say, I got "ripped off" and never received my item. Since I ordered with a debit card rather than a credit card, I thought I wouldn't get my money back. Thankfully, though I used my paypal account to pay with that debit card. Therefore, paypal helped me get my money back from the seller and they were very helpful. I recommend using paypal when shopping online, especially if it is a smaller, online-based company or if you are using a debit card.


Coupons & Sales:
theKrazyCouponLady.com
Yes, this is one of the ladies from TLC's Extreme Couponing. But if you love saving money, this is a great site to visit before a (big or small) shopping trip!
FatWallet.com
Want to see if your favorite store has any coupons? This site has tons and tons of coupons for a great deal of stores.
Groupon.com
This is different from a regular coupon site because it focused on your area. It provides you with all kinds of local deals and coupons for popular places in your town or city.




Many of these sites also have their own apps, for those of you with smartphones! Hopefully this list will help you discover some new things, save you some money, and spark some creativity. If anything, it might give you some ideas for when you get bored!

002_CENSORED

Although the title of this one may seem a little racy, don't get too excited!

The main topic of discussion will consist of two things called SOPA and PIPA. These have both been a big deal recently, especially throughout the month of January. So I figured I would inform you all about what exactly they are, what they mean and why you should even care about them. In some cases, if it wasn't for the censored Google symbol or Wikipedia blackout (along with many other sites) some people still would not know what "anti-sopa!!" is all about.

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The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act are United States bills that are trying to be passed in order to stop copyright infringement, illegal file sharing, and things of the like. For example, if there is a site allowing visitors to download copyrighted material it would be shut down immediately. Keep in mind though, while this example may be easy to agree with, there are others that are not so "rights-friendly". The main person behind this bill is a Texas politician and U.S. representative, Lamar Smith. He wishes to stop copyright infringement as well as the selling, purchasing, or sharing of counterfeit goods over the internet. As most likely assumed he is backed by people such as the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America.


To some people it may seem as though it just disables people from downloading illegal content and stops copyright infringement. So they think what's the big deal?? But that's not all that goes into it. If you use or create any kind of content on websites that you frequently visit, they could be shut down by the government if they even think that the website is involved with or supporting copyrighted material illegally. This means that if the government thinks in the slightest bit that the website is a threat they can shut it down. Another factor that goes into it is privacy. If they can look into all of these things and find out everything you are doing on a website, where is the privacy? That is why many people are angered by the invasion of privacy as well as the absence of their freedom to expression.


Among the many citizens that are frustrated with these acts, is also a great deal of websites. These websites include the incredibly popular Google, Wikipedia, Yahoo, YouTube, Twitter, Craigslist, and many other sites. This is why on January 18, 2012 there was a massive internet strike against this bill being passed. Wikipedia was the most noted in this strike for their complete blackout for 24 hours. Google also participated by "censoring" out their famous logo and providing a link to for people to write to congress and sign an anti-SOPA petition.

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After the strike Congress decided to delay any further action taken on these bills. So until then, every website will be armed and ready for another strike if needed. The internet is one powerful thing! 


Do you think that this bill will ever be passed?
Would this be a good or bad thing in your opinion?

001_INTRO

Hello all, I want to use this first entry as an introduction about myself as well as my intended topic for next few months.

My name is Brooke Wintersteen and my hometown is actually called Danville, which is located more towards the eastern part of PA. At about 9 years old I moved to Plum, PA with my family. As you can most likely assume, I am a die hard Steelers fan, just like everyone else should be :) But unlike most people in this area, I am also a die hard WVU mountaineers fan! In high school, I was a midfielder on the soccer team and I also ran the 100 and 400 meters on the track team my freshman and sophomore years. Currently, I am majoring in Information Sciences and Technology at PSU New Kensington, which leads me to my main topic of discussion...

For this blog I plan on talking about a variety of many different subtopics within my main topic of technology in today's world. This can include a great deal of topics which I hope will be appealing to those reading my blog. Technology is always changing, so there will be a lot of new ideas and concepts brought up, as well as issues and problems that can occur because of it.

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