Second Life
Second Life is a virtual world developed by Linden Lab and available through the internet. It functions on the client-server model and requires use of a client software program. SL allows users, known as Residents to interact socially with each other. External software can be used to create complex objects and gestures and (I suppose) means of communication within the virtual world. Users can retain rights to content they create which means the user would retain any value attained by their created content.
SL would be useful to function as a replacement for community in the "default" world. From what I've read, the social aspects of SL revolve around commercial viability (property ownership) in the form of land (virtual space) and intellectual property rights. Businesses might use SL to reach consumers who's internal currency (the Linden Dollar L$) would have value in SL. In other words business entities might trade value with others wherever such a trade would be normally inconvenient or impossible.
Teachers, students and researchers might find SL usefull as a means to share ideas and collaborate on projects.
I would not use SL at this time. The concept of "staking a claim" to property or intellectual rights is not appealing to me. If I found a reason to collaborate with someone on a goal or project I would be much more likely to use Second Life. All of this is subject to change once I explore Second Life for myself.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Blog6
Wireless telephones and hearing-aid compatibility.
Wireless telephones can help people with hearing related disabilities if they are compatible with hearing-aid requirements and technologies set forth by the FCC.
Hearing aids work in one of two modes - acoustic coupling or telecoil coupling. Acoustic coupling mode amplifies all sounds surrounding the user. Both desired sounds (the information) and unwanted sounds (ambient noise) are amplified. Telecoil coupling mode eliminates unwanted sound by turning off the microphone and receiving only signals from magnetic fields generated by telecoil-compatible telephones. Wireless telephone manufacturers are required to implement standards and make available hand-set models that are FCC complient. Here is an example of a hearing-aid compatible, hands-free headset for use with a wireless phone: http://www.zalmar.com/detail-Communications-Headsets-KX_TCA88HA.htm
EZ Access is a set of interface enhancements which can be applied to electronic products and devices so that they can be used by more people including those with disabilities. Developed by the TRACE center at the University of Wisconsin, EZ Access enhancements can be applied to a wide range of interactive electronic systems from public information and transaction machines such as kiosks to personal handheld devices like cellular phones. A user interface (such as those on an ATM machine, or information kiosk) that only supports a touch-screen can be difficult or impossible to use for people with disabilities. With the addition of just a few buttons and voice output, the product becomes usable by people who cannot see, cannot read, cannot reach the screen, or cannot make fine movements with their arms, hands, or fingers. The addition of captions further extends the product to people who cannot hear.
Wireless telephones can help people with hearing related disabilities if they are compatible with hearing-aid requirements and technologies set forth by the FCC.
Hearing aids work in one of two modes - acoustic coupling or telecoil coupling. Acoustic coupling mode amplifies all sounds surrounding the user. Both desired sounds (the information) and unwanted sounds (ambient noise) are amplified. Telecoil coupling mode eliminates unwanted sound by turning off the microphone and receiving only signals from magnetic fields generated by telecoil-compatible telephones. Wireless telephone manufacturers are required to implement standards and make available hand-set models that are FCC complient. Here is an example of a hearing-aid compatible, hands-free headset for use with a wireless phone: http://www.zalmar.com/detail-Communications-Headsets-KX_TCA88HA.htm
EZ Access is a set of interface enhancements which can be applied to electronic products and devices so that they can be used by more people including those with disabilities. Developed by the TRACE center at the University of Wisconsin, EZ Access enhancements can be applied to a wide range of interactive electronic systems from public information and transaction machines such as kiosks to personal handheld devices like cellular phones. A user interface (such as those on an ATM machine, or information kiosk) that only supports a touch-screen can be difficult or impossible to use for people with disabilities. With the addition of just a few buttons and voice output, the product becomes usable by people who cannot see, cannot read, cannot reach the screen, or cannot make fine movements with their arms, hands, or fingers. The addition of captions further extends the product to people who cannot hear.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Blog5
1. Processor speed is the rate at which the processor executes instructions.
2. Word size is the largest number of bits (ones and zeros) the processor can process at once. most processor word sizes look like this: 00000000000000000000000000000000 or this: 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.
3. Overclocking refers to the practice of allowing the processor to work at frequencies above the manufacturer's recommended speed.
4. This is the question I got wrong on the quiz (guess I should have done the blog first) Data path is the amount of bits the processor can receive at one time.
5. SRAM (or static ram) is a small amount of ram contained (in recent applications) inside the processor housing. The memory controller anticipates a group of instructions the processor will require and stores them (for quick access) in SRAM cache.
6. Primary cache refers to memory cache on the processor chip. External cache is memory located outside the processor chip. Memory cache can be located in the processor housing, outside the housing, or on the processor chip itself.
2. Word size is the largest number of bits (ones and zeros) the processor can process at once. most processor word sizes look like this: 00000000000000000000000000000000 or this: 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.
3. Overclocking refers to the practice of allowing the processor to work at frequencies above the manufacturer's recommended speed.
4. This is the question I got wrong on the quiz (guess I should have done the blog first) Data path is the amount of bits the processor can receive at one time.
5. SRAM (or static ram) is a small amount of ram contained (in recent applications) inside the processor housing. The memory controller anticipates a group of instructions the processor will require and stores them (for quick access) in SRAM cache.
6. Primary cache refers to memory cache on the processor chip. External cache is memory located outside the processor chip. Memory cache can be located in the processor housing, outside the housing, or on the processor chip itself.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Hi Mom
The cookies you sent were EXCELLENT!!! Yes I'm getting plenty of rest and not drinking too much. Here is a link to my "beer blog": http://brewingllama.blogspot.com/
Now, turning to your question about power supplies. The HFD series you mentioned is made in Japan by Daitron Inc. The cost per unit is $188.00 if ordered in groups of ten. So that's one for your PC, one for mine, and that leaves 8 left-over for the "project" PCs you're building in your basement workshop. The damn things are extremely hard to find at this point, but here is what I suggest: We do a three-way trade with my friend Paul in Taipei. we put-up one case (24 12oz bottles) of my American Stout to be shipped to Paul. Paul in-turn ships one gross lacross sticks (or mallets or whatever you call them) to his associate in Japan, who'll then ship the 10 power supplies to us. What do you think?
Now, turning to your question about power supplies. The HFD series you mentioned is made in Japan by Daitron Inc. The cost per unit is $188.00 if ordered in groups of ten. So that's one for your PC, one for mine, and that leaves 8 left-over for the "project" PCs you're building in your basement workshop. The damn things are extremely hard to find at this point, but here is what I suggest: We do a three-way trade with my friend Paul in Taipei. we put-up one case (24 12oz bottles) of my American Stout to be shipped to Paul. Paul in-turn ships one gross lacross sticks (or mallets or whatever you call them) to his associate in Japan, who'll then ship the 10 power supplies to us. What do you think?
Friday, February 13, 2009
What does the research say about technology's impact on education?
Wow! That's quite a question. The answer to this question will naturally be very broad. There is probably not enough space here to fully answer the question and one could probably spend an entire career trying to completely respond. I've chosen to reply based on my own experience rather than "bang-away" at search-engines and reference material. The biggest impact technology has had on education (for me) has been access. I'm able to sit at my desk (in my jammies at home) and type this out. Most of the reference material I could ever need is a mouse-click away, and my refrigerator loaded with fuel and inspiration is just in the other room. Another huge impact is the incentive for technology based companies to "reach-out-and-touch" students where they live. For comparison, only a few short years ago it would have been uncommon for manufacturers of hardware and software to be heavily imbedded in the education system. Now we find the prominance of corporate education services, in schools that seem to serve at least two purposes. 1. They educate students on technology products and services that may or may not be usefull to the eventual performance of job functions. 2. These companies can captivate and inculcate students with the eventual aim of making them better consumers (from the corporate perspective) for the products and services provided by the companies themselves. This partnership of corporate marketing and scholastic academia has implications for the future of our education system and economy. I'm unable to make judgements about whether or not this is a good thing. I remember a time when producers of goods and services paid to advertise. Now we pay them to sell to us.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Reading a Technical Ad for a Computer System
1. The system bus is called FSB or Front Side Bus. The System Bus frequencies offered are 533 MHz and 800MHz.
2. In this ad P4 means Pentium 4 a model processor manufactured by Intel.
3. The four choices for processor frequencies are 2.66 GHz, 2.93 GHz, 3.0 GHz, and 3.2 GHz.
4. The manufacturer is Intel and the models are Pentium and Celeron.
5. There are 512MB ram on the motherboard which can be doubled for $50.
6. A PCI expansion slot is used for the graphics card.
7. The Hard Drive is described as: 80GB SATA ATA150 8M buffer 7200rpm ATA100 UIDE HDD ( + $38 to upgrade to 160GB).
8. retail box, Hyper Threading, Mid-tower are terms I don't understand
2. In this ad P4 means Pentium 4 a model processor manufactured by Intel.
3. The four choices for processor frequencies are 2.66 GHz, 2.93 GHz, 3.0 GHz, and 3.2 GHz.
4. The manufacturer is Intel and the models are Pentium and Celeron.
5. There are 512MB ram on the motherboard which can be doubled for $50.
6. A PCI expansion slot is used for the graphics card.
7. The Hard Drive is described as: 80GB SATA ATA150 8M buffer 7200rpm ATA100 UIDE HDD ( + $38 to upgrade to 160GB).
8. retail box, Hyper Threading, Mid-tower are terms I don't understand
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Seven Things You Don't Know About Me.
1. According to the U.S. government, I am 3/128ths Cherokee Indian.
2. I am a musician, and have played in bands and orchestras in 6 countries.
3. I'm a bit full of myself.
4. I make my own beer
5. I like gray areas, and am comfortable with ambiguity.
6. I only need two more things: Does that count as a thing?
7. I passed the Reno Fire Dept. exam. battery at the age of 35.
8. In case Professor House is in a bad mood and does not count number 6: A Carrot is as close as a Rabbit gets to a Diamond.
2. I am a musician, and have played in bands and orchestras in 6 countries.
3. I'm a bit full of myself.
4. I make my own beer
5. I like gray areas, and am comfortable with ambiguity.
6. I only need two more things: Does that count as a thing?
7. I passed the Reno Fire Dept. exam. battery at the age of 35.
8. In case Professor House is in a bad mood and does not count number 6: A Carrot is as close as a Rabbit gets to a Diamond.
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