Do Now 5/16

I organize my files in either my computer or Flash Drive because most of the stuff I need to carry around and I use the Flash Drive to back up my work when my computers decides to crash. I like to have different folders like Pictures, Videos, Music, School and etc and then subdivide them if I have to. If I'm in the School folder, I like to divide it up to the different subjects so that I know which subject it's going to be for. Since I'm Korean American, I also divide my music and videos to the different nationalities like Korean, American, Japanese, Chinese, and etc. I also organize my pictures so I know what photos I might want to use for Photoshop, just drawing, and inspiration. Sometimes, I like to also organize my sites on my favorites and have a separate file for each one so that I can tell which ones that I'm looking into.

Tagging is when you write labels that help people search your post and other things to be found easily. Social Bookmarking is when you use a site online that helps you bookmark your favorite websites so that it stays online and not in one computer. You can go to www.diigo.com and use the bookmarking system there. In the digital age, social bookmarking is important because it helps you organize things easily. There are many different sites and interests that people might go into and having social bookmarking to help you organize it is essential. Also tagging really helps when you have to find a certain post, information, or etc that you need.

Tech Article 5.6

Girl Scout Team Patents a Prosthetic Hand

The First program, which is known for their robot games, had a group of Girl Scouts create a prosthetic hand that can help a toddler write. This device won the inaugural X Prize Global Innovation Award.

Flying Monkeys, a group of kids between the ages of 11-13, built BOB-1, the robotic hand, inspired by one of their member's limb deficiency.

After learning what a long and hard process prosthetic hands can be, they decided to create something that was simple, unique yet just as efficient as any other prosthetic hands. They based theirs on a plastic platform that is attached to the user's arm. A perpendicular piece is also attached to it to grip the writing and other utensils.

Tech Article 4.28

New Triton for Challenger Deep

1960 was the last year anybody went down to Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the Marina Trench (36,000 feet below the surface). Triton Submarines created Triton 36,000 in order to go down to Challenger Deep once again. This is one of the biggest leap for this company because of the fact that they usually create submarines that go down 3,300 feet designed especially for yacht owners and scientists.

They are using borosilicate glass which is the new kind of material they used for the glass dome on the submarine. The glass gets stronger with more compression. So the deeper this glass goes, the stronger it'll get. So far, they are going to test it out many times before they send down the crew of three to Challenger Deep.

Tech Article 4/14

Tracking Down Animals

Scientist, Martin Wielski, has always found animal's migration interesting. He always believed that their migration or just their movement is trying to tell us something such as "there is an earthquake coming soon" or "the ebola outbreak is headed this way".

He used a new strategy to try to track down these animals and even bugs. He placed radio tags on the backs of animals and followed them around to s

ee their behaviors and see if there is something that they want to tell us. Fruit bats, which carry ebola, are usually never seen most of the year. He wanted to know where they were going and where they hide. He would track them down by putting a radio tag on one of the bats and follow them around. Wielski even learned to fly a plane in order to follow them.

He believes that by doing this he can learn new science. He thinks that he can use their behaviors to see if there are some predictions that he can find.

Do Now 4/11

Create a new blog post about...
1) What you think a podcast is.

• It's a way to share media files and download them if you want to.

2) Why people create podcasts.

• In order to share their files of medias. You can share your interests as well.

3) Your experiences creating podcasts

• I've never created a podcast before.

4) What tools can help you create a podcast

• You can use iTunes or Audacity.

5) What topic specifically would you like to create a podcast for?

• I'd use for tutorials if anybody needed to know how to do something.

Tech Article 4/8

Three Geminoid Robots and Their Their Human Counterparts

In the past year or two ago, Japan created three Geminoid robots. Each of them highly resembled their human counterparts. Each had unique features and each have facial expressions that copy that of a real humans. The first to the left is a robot that learned to act, the second is designed after a famous robot designer and the third was one of the most realistic ones made yet.

In Nara, the three robots and their humans, had time to communicate and interact with one another. It was all recorded and they all seemed to be able to interact with few problems. The robots didn't talk much and obviously didn't have much to say, but the three Geminoids seemed to react.

Spring Break Plans!

I plan on going to karaoke with my friends if the time works out in New York and hang and do whatever stuff we can there. If that plan doesn't work out then, we can always go to tennis and get as much practice we can get in. But most of all, I'm going to sleep for hours and watch drama all day long :)

Voki

Tech Article 3/11

The Most Realistic Robot Yet!

The latest Geminoid robot created by a group of Japanese scientists is based off of a non-Japanese person. In this case, they created a robot who also had a goatee. This robot came from the same studio as the one of the Geminoid F robot who took the role as an actress.

This newest robot has the most human-like features. Its equipped with a motion-capture system that allows the robot to copy the expression or movement of the captured person.

Tech Article 3/3

Toyota's Humanoid Robots Perform in Tokyo

The new robots in Japan, made my Toyota, now can play music. It can play the violin and trumpet. Although this event seemed magnificent and really amazing, many people are still wondering if it really is the robot's ability to play or if it's just another tape recorder dressed as a humanoid robot.

Performance by the two humanoid robots playing the trumpet and violin accompanied by a human violinist.

However, many people criticized that these new robots are no better than any tape recorder. It can just play back what they hear instead of playing what the robots think "sounds right". The article doesn't go into full detail as to how these robots are playing the instruments, which brings up questions if the robots really are playing what they thought and imagined, instead of something that was recorded and they're just replaying it.

A performance that one of person suggested was if these robots can improvise. One of the musician's talents that many people look for is how well they can improvise songs. If a robot can achieve improvisation, it'd be a really advanced robot that people would be looking for.

Tech Article 2/25/11

In South Korea, All of Life is Mobile

One of the most famous technology of all times is cellphones, especially in South Korea. Children and adults are obsessed over cellphones and even depend on it. In the article, one person said that if she forgot her wallet she wouldn't notice it for a whole day, but if she lost her cellphone she won't be able to do anything.

Cellphones in Korea are advanced to have a lot of different applications. You can use it for a bus pass. You can also order and hold onto a book in the library. These cellphones can also be used to for T-money, an electronic cash stored in the SIM card and other phone chips where it can be refilled and used in daily use. The most famous usage is for a bus pass. It's so famous that there's even different techniques in using the buss pass on the phone.

One of the reasons that cellphones are very popular in Korea is because of its advertisement. Unlike American commercials where cellphones are portrayed as just 'cool' in a CG background, South Korea likes to promote their merchandise with popular idols and idol groups. They also have different features that are not found in American phones.

Over the Weekend

boring weekend... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Saturday: I really didn't do anything...I woke up at 2 in the afternoon and I literally stayed in my bed using the computer, listening to music and watching drama. At around 6:30, my mom asked me to make dinner so I made food, ate it, and watched TV till my family came home and got my hair dyed.

Sunday: I woke up too early...I had church that morning, but I went to CVS anyway to go buy chocolate for the youth group :) I'm in charge of teaching the middle school kids and they are way too annoying, but whatever, they're funny. After that, I went home...the end.

Tech Article 2/17/11

Video: 'Affetto,' A Disembodied Japanese Baby Head, Takes Uncanny Valley to New Depths

The new baby robot was created in Osaka University of Japan where a team of three men managed to develop a baby robot that resembles that of a 1 or 2 year old. This specific product was to help study caregiver-child interaction.

Because many people have trouble communicating with a robot, the team tried to make this baby look as realistic as possible. This baby robot has different facial expressions that it can show through lifting eyebro

ws, tilting the head, and etc. They also applied silicone skin with cameras in the eyes and a microphone.

This is the beginning of a project to further develop a full-bodied robot that's similar to a real human being.

Tech Article 2/11/11

The Catholic Church has approved an app that simulates confession

Catholic church gives blessing to iPhone app

The new iPhone app helps Catholics to make confessions. The church never approved of any application or technological stuff until today. The priest even told his followers that they should embrace the new technology, but don't indulge in it.

The application would help guide Catholics in their confessions. It would also help them admit their wrongdoings and allow them to keep track of their sins. This new app wouldn't replace the traditional confession but rather encourages the people to seek the priest even more to find their absolution.

The application was built in a base in Indiana. The company took the priest's words in mind that they shouldn't make the digital world the main concept and even had other priests to come and help them create this application.

Many people think that this is the first time that the church is involving themselves in the technological wold, they had a Youtube channel in 2007 and in 2009 a Facebook application that allowed people to send digital postcards.

Multimedia Post!

randomly picked blog~ :)

Hi Hi :)

Hi Hi :)

WARNING: THIS IS GONNA BE SO LONG BECAUSE THIS IS THE LONGEST PERIOD OF THE DAY AND I GOT NOTHING ELSE TO DO :)

Name: Christine Ko

Blowing the candles: 6/7

Height: 4'11" + 1 inch from my shoes

Bro: Justin Ko

So...introducing myself!!

If you are one of those really tall kids, don't stand too close to me, because my neck hurts just trying to say 'hi' to you! I like to laugh like crazy, smile, talk, sing and dance to every song, and hanging out with my friends ^_^ I dislike people who make me annoyed, but I'm a patient person so don't push it! So I don't really hate things, I might dislike, but I get over it.

To be honest, I haven't seen all of the Disney movies that you guys grew up watching. I'm from Korea, so English was not my first language, and it was really hard for me to just communicate with any of the other kids. It was really weird to see blonde hair and blue eyes all of sudden. So as to this day, I'm watching all of these Disney movies that I should have watched before in my childhood. Recently, I finally got to see Lion King, and it was hilarious! My friends dubbed me Ed...you know that hyena that has unfocused eyes and tongue sticking out? Yeah...well, I laugh like him... >_> I'm still working on the other Disney movies~ But thanks to my sad childhood, I get to laugh now~

Bye bye >_<