Everything lately is always being documented. If you google my name, the search engine automatically fills in "Allison Sekur...senior, levittown." The first google page shows my twitter page, people that I follow on twitter, the list of AP scholars I was on, the list of my graduating class and even my posts on this blog. There's even a terrible song now by a dumb housewife called "Google Me." All you have to do is google someone and you can find out so much information about them. It's disturbing really. I keep most of my information private, my entire facebook page is blocked, my twitter is blocked and so is my personal blog. All it takes is one hacker though to hack my stuff and publicize everything. I could be entirely wrong with this big other thing and may have missed what the professor was getting at, but I feel like it's the internet and the mass communications of everything. Also really super creepy, if you just type my last name into google, the second link listed is my facebook page.
I just feel like with all of the new technology that's being developed, privacy becomes less important and everything is out there for everyone to know. I don't like the idea of someone putting my address into google maps and being able to see my house and street. I mean, if someone was that curious they could always literally come and see it anyways, but still, it's just so unnecessary for it to even be out there in my opinion.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thoughts on Kinect
Yes I agree, it's pretty a cool idea. Among those choices of Kinect, PS Move, and Wii, it's true that Kinect gets the most credits for controlling without controller. But XBox's released Kinect too early without developing it perfectly. I tried all three kinds of wireless controllers, but the Kinect was the worst one for gaming. First, it's not accurate at all. It is supposed to sense 2 people at a time, right? But it doesn't. I tried it with my boyfriend and it only sensed my hands..lol And if you want to press "OKAY" button or just simply want to choose something, you have to put a lot of effort to do it. You have to move your hand until the machine get you, and when it sense your hand, try to move your hand slowly and very carefully towards where you want to go. And if you reach there, you have to stop and wait until the gauge is filled up and make sure if you really want to choose that one. Also, if you tried any game with Kinnect, you would know that it's so clumsy and sloppy. okay, the point's getting fuzzy. My point is, Kinect was a good idea, but it's supposed to be more accurate to compete with wii and ps move.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Is Phillip Balwin being conned?
Skimming through the spatial narratology blog, I think to myself: what the hell is going on?
Most of the blog posts fit into one or more of these catagories: they are written in completely broken and often non-sensical english, they are blatantly cut and pasted from sites like wikipedia, they contain pictures and videos not created by the blogger with little or no explanatory text, they are about petty and irrelevant topics such as food or shopping, or they don't really say much of anything.
Perhaps professor Baldwin is not going to actually read several thousand blog posts, but maybe on the other hand this is really a sort of con against the students: perhaps they have been lulled into a false sense of security, having grown up pirating movies, and falsely believe that they can get away with anything on the internet.
Most of the blog posts fit into one or more of these catagories: they are written in completely broken and often non-sensical english, they are blatantly cut and pasted from sites like wikipedia, they contain pictures and videos not created by the blogger with little or no explanatory text, they are about petty and irrelevant topics such as food or shopping, or they don't really say much of anything.
Perhaps professor Baldwin is not going to actually read several thousand blog posts, but maybe on the other hand this is really a sort of con against the students: perhaps they have been lulled into a false sense of security, having grown up pirating movies, and falsely believe that they can get away with anything on the internet.
Conned by Our Own DNA?
In Mamet's "House of Games", the themes of manipulation with regards to human interaction are explored, but the more fundamental question of of whether our very existence is a scam is not asked.
In books such as "The Selfish Gene" the idea is suggested that we are slaves to our DNA and our drives for survival and reproduction are merely mechanisms for the immortal DNA to propogate itself to new hosts, while our bodies are left to gradually break down and decay. This idea is very useful for explaining programmed behaviors in animals that appear detrimental on the individual level: an ant can sacrific itself to save its colony, because the genes controlling the ant are also present in the other ants in the colony, so while the individual dies, its genes are able to survive and be passed on in the colony.
How does this great existential con manifest itself in humans? One answer is the endless obsessions that society encourages: wealth, consumption, presige etc...qualities exemplified in Margaret. We are all slaves to these ideas, because for whatever reason, the genes that programmed them into our minds were propagated by our cromagnon ancestors efficiently, leading of course, to thousands of years of war and suffering. I often wonder, if I could design my mind from scratch, when qualities would I want to include, and what qualities would I recognize as mere cons perpertrated by my DNA?
In books such as "The Selfish Gene" the idea is suggested that we are slaves to our DNA and our drives for survival and reproduction are merely mechanisms for the immortal DNA to propogate itself to new hosts, while our bodies are left to gradually break down and decay. This idea is very useful for explaining programmed behaviors in animals that appear detrimental on the individual level: an ant can sacrific itself to save its colony, because the genes controlling the ant are also present in the other ants in the colony, so while the individual dies, its genes are able to survive and be passed on in the colony.
How does this great existential con manifest itself in humans? One answer is the endless obsessions that society encourages: wealth, consumption, presige etc...qualities exemplified in Margaret. We are all slaves to these ideas, because for whatever reason, the genes that programmed them into our minds were propagated by our cromagnon ancestors efficiently, leading of course, to thousands of years of war and suffering. I often wonder, if I could design my mind from scratch, when qualities would I want to include, and what qualities would I recognize as mere cons perpertrated by my DNA?
Who is conning who?
One of the most memorable lines in the film "House of Games", is when Billy explains how he performs his trade: "It's called a confidence game. Why? Because you give me your confidence? No. Because I give you mine." What's interesting is that he is saying that people in effect con themselves by placing false trust in a stranger due to outward appearances.
Is this wrong? Does everyone do this? When someone puts on a nice suit for a job interview, they too are gaining false trust. How could interviewer possibly gain any knowledge about the person from the quality of his clothing? When in even the most basic social interaction, we ask someone how they are, do we really care most of the time, or are we just once again trying to gain their trust? I think the strategy Billy uses to exploit people is really a rarely discussed aspect of human communication, that is integral to the basic structure of a society where one is forced constantly to interact with and trust complete strangers.
Is this wrong? Does everyone do this? When someone puts on a nice suit for a job interview, they too are gaining false trust. How could interviewer possibly gain any knowledge about the person from the quality of his clothing? When in even the most basic social interaction, we ask someone how they are, do we really care most of the time, or are we just once again trying to gain their trust? I think the strategy Billy uses to exploit people is really a rarely discussed aspect of human communication, that is integral to the basic structure of a society where one is forced constantly to interact with and trust complete strangers.
Yolanda Be Cool - We No Speak Americano (Video edit by Pink louder)
So I heard this song on the radio and it was sooo catchy that I had to schazam it right away. Then I saw the video on youtube... Which is also pretty cool. It ties tradionality with modern styles.
House of Games Response
My reaction to watching Mamet's House of Games for the first time was suprise as to the ending. In the course of a few days, the lead, Margaret Ford goes from driven professional therapist to cold blooded murderer. What message was Mamet trying to convey?
I think perhaps Margaret found something herself that reminded her of a con artist. When she starts following Mike around, he appears as the most brutally honest person in her life. When she tells him that she thinks he interesting, he bluntly responds: "no I'm just a criminal". She sees how he cons people by gaining their trust and then using them in his scams and perhaps realizes that in a way, everyone is a sort of con artist including herself. In her therapy practice, she gains the trust of her patients and makes money off of them, when at the same time she admits to her mentor that she has no way of helping many of them, behavior in many respects identical to Billy's. Perhap this sudden realization that she, like the con man is only in the business of helping herself causes her to snap, releasing all her repressed desires, which causes her to murder Mike.
I think perhaps Margaret found something herself that reminded her of a con artist. When she starts following Mike around, he appears as the most brutally honest person in her life. When she tells him that she thinks he interesting, he bluntly responds: "no I'm just a criminal". She sees how he cons people by gaining their trust and then using them in his scams and perhaps realizes that in a way, everyone is a sort of con artist including herself. In her therapy practice, she gains the trust of her patients and makes money off of them, when at the same time she admits to her mentor that she has no way of helping many of them, behavior in many respects identical to Billy's. Perhap this sudden realization that she, like the con man is only in the business of helping herself causes her to snap, releasing all her repressed desires, which causes her to murder Mike.
Original Kinect Performance
A forgotten early attempt at a performance combining electronic technology and dance was made into a film recently: http://scienceandfilm.org/films.php?film_id=90
In the 1920s, Leon Theremin invented an electronic instrument that he called the theremin. The pitch and volume could be controlled by the perform moving their arms through a magnetic field emitted by the machine.
He later designed instruments that were controlled by the whole body, and incorperated them into dance performaces. Why did this not evolve into a new art form? Perhaps he was just too visionary for other people to notice. On the other hand, combining two completely different mediums, each difficult on their own, perhaps created a situation where it was impossible for the perform to express themselves in a controlled fashion. With new technology such as the Kinect, artists now have the job of figuring out how to work as a team with the computer, striking a balance between automation and difficultly in controlling their performance.
In the 1920s, Leon Theremin invented an electronic instrument that he called the theremin. The pitch and volume could be controlled by the perform moving their arms through a magnetic field emitted by the machine.
He later designed instruments that were controlled by the whole body, and incorperated them into dance performaces. Why did this not evolve into a new art form? Perhaps he was just too visionary for other people to notice. On the other hand, combining two completely different mediums, each difficult on their own, perhaps created a situation where it was impossible for the perform to express themselves in a controlled fashion. With new technology such as the Kinect, artists now have the job of figuring out how to work as a team with the computer, striking a balance between automation and difficultly in controlling their performance.
WOW
These are so cool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5BMtuk116c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKMx_ShA_es&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3gfMXwQOGI&feature=related
Are we able to do anything like this at our final show??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5BMtuk116c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKMx_ShA_es&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3gfMXwQOGI&feature=related
Are we able to do anything like this at our final show??
Christina's Thanksgiving
Last week I blogged about my feelings regarding Thanksgiving. Yesterday I had a talk with Christina regarding Thanksgiving and Christmas. After I shared my point of view with her, even she was surprised because she never saw thanksgiving the way I did.
And, then we discussed about Christmas and related it to Thanksgiving. And in someways we found Thanksgiving to bring people closer than Christmas.
Sometimes we don't notice such small things in our lives. We always see the magnitude of larger things and miss minute things. So its time that we cherish these small gifts that we get.
And, then we discussed about Christmas and related it to Thanksgiving. And in someways we found Thanksgiving to bring people closer than Christmas.
Sometimes we don't notice such small things in our lives. We always see the magnitude of larger things and miss minute things. So its time that we cherish these small gifts that we get.
Microsoft Kinect: ideas for possible applications
With the release of the Kinect, many new possibilities have been opened for amateur multimedia creators and programmers. How might this be incorperated into a live performance? The most obvious application is adding in virtual sets that actors can interact with, allowing for example, props that aren't fesible in real life. This augmented reality set would have to be shown on a screen of course, perhaps above the stage, but since people already are able to convince themselves that the world presented on the stage is a some sense real, this is really only a minor alteration in the audience's percept. Within this virtual environment, the bodies of the actors themselves could be manipulated. For example, if a character gets angry, his head could literally explode with rage. Perhap more interestingly, the characters inner thoughts and desires could be projected externally into the environment, and these things could themselves become props that the actors could interact with.
Kinect
My brother recently bought an Xbox 360 but foolishly did not purchase the package with the kinect. I told him that it would be revolutionary, but did he listen? Of course not. Knowing what I know now, I really wish he bought the package.
It seems like you can hack into anything nowadays and the kinect is no exception. The video we saw in class was extraordinary. I bet any amount of money the executives at Microsoft had no idea ordinary people would do things like this. I also love the fact that we are using it for the final show. It is very innovative and impressive.
I was researching videos of people who hacked it and it’s so cool how the camera can in a way circle one’s body. The idea of the kinect does not really seem that advanced, but it truly is remarkable
Presently we all ogle over the kinect. However, honestly, in about 3 to 5 years I truly believe we will look at this version of the kinect as trash. We will always think and create things that are better than what we currently have, and the kinect is no exception.
It seems like you can hack into anything nowadays and the kinect is no exception. The video we saw in class was extraordinary. I bet any amount of money the executives at Microsoft had no idea ordinary people would do things like this. I also love the fact that we are using it for the final show. It is very innovative and impressive.
I was researching videos of people who hacked it and it’s so cool how the camera can in a way circle one’s body. The idea of the kinect does not really seem that advanced, but it truly is remarkable
Presently we all ogle over the kinect. However, honestly, in about 3 to 5 years I truly believe we will look at this version of the kinect as trash. We will always think and create things that are better than what we currently have, and the kinect is no exception.
Another internet performance piece
At this website: http://svoichuzoi.org/pages/intro_en.html viewers can vote for whether the Russian artist Oleg Mavromati should receive a painful electric shock. Each time 100 people vote in favor, he gets shocked. This is interesting, because 100 is a small enough number that an individual can have a clear effect on the outcome, but at the same time, is large enough that they can comfortably shift the blame to the other 99 people if they vote in favor but are then disturbed by seeing the shock.
I have alot of respect for the artist for his committment to do this. Techology is rapidly replacing face to face communication, and when alone with technology, people can say and do things to people that they never would have the courage to do in person. Often people don't realize what harm they are causing until it's too late (consider the recent internet related suicides of teenagers). This performance forces people to become aquainted with their true colors in a rapid and direct manner, allowing them to see a clear chain of cause and effect, which at least briefly, can cause a segment of the population to reevaluate their values.
I have alot of respect for the artist for his committment to do this. Techology is rapidly replacing face to face communication, and when alone with technology, people can say and do things to people that they never would have the courage to do in person. Often people don't realize what harm they are causing until it's too late (consider the recent internet related suicides of teenagers). This performance forces people to become aquainted with their true colors in a rapid and direct manner, allowing them to see a clear chain of cause and effect, which at least briefly, can cause a segment of the population to reevaluate their values.
Interactive drama taken way to far?
I recently found this website while surfing around the net: http://www.birthornot.com/
The website allows anyone to vote on whether or not the woman running the site should abort her baby. She claims she will do whatever the majority of people vote for. It is clearly designed to be dramatic and controversial. She posts regular updates showing ultra-sound pictures of her unborn child and tell what organs it has developed so far. She states that the purpose of the site is to allow people to turn their view on abortion into action, in the most direct way.
Despite the obvious objection that such a major decision should not be placed in the hands of strangers, does this "performance" serve a purpose? I think it can have the potential to cause people to really examine their beliefs critically. In many ways, the drama in films has caused us to view death dispasionnately: we are confronted with fictional deaths more frequently that real ones. This may cause a reverse in the trend: if someone really supports abortion, they will have to take responsibility for the death of a baby, and if they are really against it, they will have to make the committment to tell lots of people to vote against it. If people decide to do nothing, it may reveal their selfishness.
The website allows anyone to vote on whether or not the woman running the site should abort her baby. She claims she will do whatever the majority of people vote for. It is clearly designed to be dramatic and controversial. She posts regular updates showing ultra-sound pictures of her unborn child and tell what organs it has developed so far. She states that the purpose of the site is to allow people to turn their view on abortion into action, in the most direct way.
Despite the obvious objection that such a major decision should not be placed in the hands of strangers, does this "performance" serve a purpose? I think it can have the potential to cause people to really examine their beliefs critically. In many ways, the drama in films has caused us to view death dispasionnately: we are confronted with fictional deaths more frequently that real ones. This may cause a reverse in the trend: if someone really supports abortion, they will have to take responsibility for the death of a baby, and if they are really against it, they will have to make the committment to tell lots of people to vote against it. If people decide to do nothing, it may reveal their selfishness.
All work and no play making us dull
Yesterday I was up till 7 in the morning working on a computer science project. I was tired to the limits. But, had no option but to move on. This reminded me of Professor Baldwin's comments regarding our lives being 'Fragmented'. I totally agree with the professor. I feel we are somewhat turning into slaves of this machinery. There used to be time when people used to live life. Now, what we are doing is just survival. All those basic happiness elements are replaced by some superficial objects. I wonder if there is any way we can come out of this rat race.
Any way we can leave our laptops behind and live in 3-Dimensional world w real people? Enjoy with families, friends, and neighbors. For once can we forget about money, education and success and be just humans?
Any way we can leave our laptops behind and live in 3-Dimensional world w real people? Enjoy with families, friends, and neighbors. For once can we forget about money, education and success and be just humans?
It is almost time !
As stated in previous blogs, I am extremely excited to go to The Tank and do our final show. I also am very excited to see how the corset will work, and how it will display film. It’s an interesting concept and I have never seen anything like it done before.
I really want to see how the image will be projected on the wall. It excites m, because its actually taking the concept of what will happen to the audience and doing something to help the audience engage. So much of watching a show has been last; we are distracted by anything and everything such as cell phones, laptops and everything in between. Personally, I think it’s a good step in re-engaging the audience.
In addition, I really hope someone who is from a major company of some sort to actually come to the show and see all of our projects and all the work we put in. Who know, maybe we will be given a grant to further our ideas and create different things. Prof. Baldwin is always telling us to not search for jobs but create them, so why not start now?
See you guys at the show !
I really want to see how the image will be projected on the wall. It excites m, because its actually taking the concept of what will happen to the audience and doing something to help the audience engage. So much of watching a show has been last; we are distracted by anything and everything such as cell phones, laptops and everything in between. Personally, I think it’s a good step in re-engaging the audience.
In addition, I really hope someone who is from a major company of some sort to actually come to the show and see all of our projects and all the work we put in. Who know, maybe we will be given a grant to further our ideas and create different things. Prof. Baldwin is always telling us to not search for jobs but create them, so why not start now?
See you guys at the show !
kinect
To be honest, I think the idea of the Kinect is incredibly lame. I'm not much of gamer, but I know people look ridiculous while playing the Kinect. What's much more interesting to me are the possibilities of other things that can be done with this technology. Here's a pretty cool use of it that I found.
kinect
By using kinect you can store photos and maybe edit them by using your own touch. This could be very good for photographers or just people who want to make there photos look better.
Using kinect can be very cool at times but to me I think it's very creepy. It's like a camera that follows you around- a security camera in many stores. If you taught it how to recognize objects, when you walk in the room would they say hi to you? To me, that is not necessary at all.
The Big Other
Earlier this semester we learned that we only rely on ourselves for 15 % of the time... maybe. This to me is very sad. We get picked where to go to college, we choose what classes to take, but someone tells us what we have to take anyways. We are chosen where we live (the salary that we achieve.) We don't even choose who we grow up with since they are put into the same school as us.
So who is the other? The other is many people and things. It's the administrators of our university. The professors of our classes. The parents and grandparents in our family. They control who we are and what we do with our life. This could be good and bad. If we are raised in a loving caring family who tells us to go for our dreams and pushes us to do our best, this is considered good. The professors who help us out and explain things, that is also beneficial. But the parents that don't care and let the children do what they please is not very good. The professors who don't explain things and tell us to learn for ourselves, that can lead down a bad path.
In order to surpass the other we have to finish schooling and become leaders of what we establish. This can happen 3 years from now or 25 years from now. The only people that we can really depend on is ourselves.
So who is the other? The other is many people and things. It's the administrators of our university. The professors of our classes. The parents and grandparents in our family. They control who we are and what we do with our life. This could be good and bad. If we are raised in a loving caring family who tells us to go for our dreams and pushes us to do our best, this is considered good. The professors who help us out and explain things, that is also beneficial. But the parents that don't care and let the children do what they please is not very good. The professors who don't explain things and tell us to learn for ourselves, that can lead down a bad path.
In order to surpass the other we have to finish schooling and become leaders of what we establish. This can happen 3 years from now or 25 years from now. The only people that we can really depend on is ourselves.
The Other
In class the professor talked about the other. When he first mentioned it not many people knew what he was talking about but as we went on with the discussion it became clear. The other is someone out there in the world that is unknown to you, they watch you closely and try to take from you what they can. One day you might be on a website and forget to log out, then all of the sudden you account gets hacked. They watch for the perfect opportunities to "attack' you.
The professor mention a story where one of his friends had lost a credit card, or someone had gotten the number, i can't remember. She ended getting her account drained by someone while she was on her way flying home. It's scary to think that someone can get access to your accounts and drain them in mere minutes. In this age of technology it is even easier for people to get your information nowadays. With everything being done on the computer people can monitor everything you are doing and gain access to your accounts. Thats why it is important that websites encrypt their script, and that you also don't give away import information over the computer, such as your social security.
With new technologies on the horizon, it is more important now more than ever that people learn how to protect their information. Hopefully though with all these advancements in technology there will also be some sort of improvement in security. All we can do it wait to see what the future holds.
The professor mention a story where one of his friends had lost a credit card, or someone had gotten the number, i can't remember. She ended getting her account drained by someone while she was on her way flying home. It's scary to think that someone can get access to your accounts and drain them in mere minutes. In this age of technology it is even easier for people to get your information nowadays. With everything being done on the computer people can monitor everything you are doing and gain access to your accounts. Thats why it is important that websites encrypt their script, and that you also don't give away import information over the computer, such as your social security.
With new technologies on the horizon, it is more important now more than ever that people learn how to protect their information. Hopefully though with all these advancements in technology there will also be some sort of improvement in security. All we can do it wait to see what the future holds.
1 more week!!
Well, I have not written any blog entries for a long time.
So I have to make up 23 more entries to reach the number 50.
Yeah! It is going to be fun..lols
I have some works that I have done for this class that have not yet been posted in here. So I think I am going to do that.
Also,I will try writing somethings that is related to the topic that was discuss in the class and some other things while the final week is approaching....
I will be super busy this week and next week, because I got projectsss due.
Here is my schedule for next week::
12/5 (Sun): CSE 336 HW due
12/6 (Mon): CSE 308 final project due
12/7 (Tue): CSE 336 HW due
12/8 (Wed): THR 216 final project due
12/9 (Thur):
12/10 (Fri): CSE 390 final project due / CSE 308 DEMO
12/11 (Sat): THR 216 DEMO
12/12 (Sun): CSE 336 HW
After that I will be free, coz I only got 1 final exam and that is on the last day of school (12/20)....
I do not know should I be happy about it or not. My "final week" seems to be the up coming week...my final grade for those classes will be set by then... >.<"
So I have to make up 23 more entries to reach the number 50.
Yeah! It is going to be fun..lols
I have some works that I have done for this class that have not yet been posted in here. So I think I am going to do that.
Also,I will try writing somethings that is related to the topic that was discuss in the class and some other things while the final week is approaching....
I will be super busy this week and next week, because I got projectsss due.
Here is my schedule for next week::
12/5 (Sun): CSE 336 HW due
12/6 (Mon): CSE 308 final project due
12/7 (Tue): CSE 336 HW due
12/8 (Wed): THR 216 final project due
12/9 (Thur):
12/10 (Fri): CSE 390 final project due / CSE 308 DEMO
12/11 (Sat): THR 216 DEMO
12/12 (Sun): CSE 336 HW
After that I will be free, coz I only got 1 final exam and that is on the last day of school (12/20)....
I do not know should I be happy about it or not. My "final week" seems to be the up coming week...my final grade for those classes will be set by then... >.<"
Caucasian Chalk Circle
I am having trouble with the lighting design that I have done for my Projects in Theatre class. This is my fourth play of the semester and I am very tired. I feel I have disappointed the professor, and that's the only person who I care about at this point. Most people don't see the importance of lighting anyhow and if it weren't for me they probably have even less than they have in the first place. I like how things are turning out, but like most shows I wish I had more time. MOstly because I popped two fuses last night during rehearsal and couldn't replace them because they were in the dimmer packs. Now I have to move a few things and hope I can get the last dimmer pack today. I wish...
Kinect
I feel weird about this new technology of the kinect. I know it is the technology of tomorrow, something that recognizes what is in front of it. However, I am still leery of technology which can literally see and interact with people in real time. I know that this is where technology is going, but just like computers scare old people, this stuff scares me. I will learn more about it in the years to come because I really have no choice, and I will have no choice but to embrace the future because you can only move forward or stand still. You can never move backwards and uninvent something. Once it's out there, you can't take it back.
Post 44: Yet Another Kinect Hack
My Previous ideas for the future hack/applications of the Kinect covered school ling as well as fitness training. What if hospitals used the technology to train surgeons how to perform new surgeries and procedures. The trainee's avatar can be placed in a virtual hospital room with a virtual patient who has to have a procedure done. Using the motion tracking capabililites, the trainee can then practice the steps necessary to complete the surgery. IF he or she screws up, no one dies in real life, there are no law suits filed and no personal guilt is created. It would take the old Operation game and bring it to life with a real time application. Surgeons would be able to perfect their skills and methods before ever touching a human being in real life so that when their first time approaches, they are ready and confident. Hospitals can also use the kinect for therapeutic applications. Those suffering from terminally ill diseases who cant get out and explore the world can do so in a virtual world from the comfort of their hospital bed. People who need physical therapy can now get the aid they need but through fun, immerse game settings. Emergency rooms can use the facial recognition system to quickly sign in patients and sign them out so there is no more waiting around. I know the last time I was in the emergency room, the doctor cleared me to be released but I didn't get my release papers for another 2 hours after, simply because there was one women sighing patients out for the entire ER.
Post 43: Another Kinect Hack
The kinect can become the future of personal training. In the future I see a virtual gym-like space where a personal trainer and your average every day person can meet and workout. The Kinect is known for its facial recognition and movement tracking. This would make it so easy and convenient for a personal trainer to not only see a persons form when working out but their facial expressions and emotions as well. Now of course the person would have to go out and buy the equipment such as free weights or a treadmill or whatever else is going to be incorporated in the workout but in the long run this would be more cost efficient then going to the gym. No more gym membership fees, no more wasting gas driving to and from the gym and since it doesn't take much for the personal trainer to get involved, the cost of his or her services would be less as well. Who knows, maybe in the future the personal trainer can be completely controlled by AI, the software can be trained to calculate and interpret facial expressions and form and use the results to instruct the user on how to workout with perfect, precise, result producing form. This would not only provide users with calculated advice but would further reduce the cost of getting fit.
Post 42: Kinect Hack
The other day in class, Professor Baldwin brought in a Kinect and showed us some Youtube videos displaying all the possibilities that can be achieved through hacking the device. Yeah the videos were cool and the hacks interesting but I didn't really see anything practical that could be of any use. A device such as the Kinect can truly have limitless possibilities and applications. I personally would love see it used for schooling. Today we have online courses, although great, few classes are offered and too often it is simply a professor lecturing into a web cam; big deal. With the Kinect, i would love to see a totally immersive classroom environment. Using the facial recognition features and avatar creations, students as well as teachers can enter a virtual classroom setting and interact with one another from their own homes. No more rushing to get up for school, commuting in traffic or bad weather and no more sitting around in boring, white walled classrooms. In the comfort of your home, you can use the kinect to capture your movements, so raising your hand could get the teachers attention and he/she can answer your question. Teachers can take attendance and become more familiar with the students, getting to know their "faces" via their avatars. This allows for the basic idea of online classes to remain present however it does not get rid of the human-human interaction found in traditional school settings. I know I would definitely invest in this idea. The cost of schooling would decrease tremendously, commuters would not only save money on gas but wear and tear on their vehicles, and those who dorm can spend their money eleswhere and avoid living with 2 or 3 other strangers in a cramped dormroom.
How to remove your digital footprints
I found this article on ways on how to protect ourself from unwanted snoopers. It lists of ways to remove our digital footprints.
1. Physically go into sites and clean them up.
2. Don't give any information you don't need to. (e.g. age)
3. Go to sites and ask that they remove information. The problem is that it can only be done site by site, and you can never tell how far the initial information has spread.
4. Start a professional blog to hide the old stuff. And hope that your old stuff gets buried.
5. Don't leave evidence of your Internet activities on public browsers. Come on now, don't click that 'Remember password' button.
6. The newest Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers have a tool that allows you to easily cover your tracks before you leave a computer. Basically, delete all browsing data, including page history and cookies.
7. Don't use the search engine offered by your Internet provider. They might connect your account to the cookies you have.
8. Use a specialized company to protect your information. Paying for someone to clean up your tracks?
--excerpts from article by Michele Alperin, Jan. 30, 2008 issue of US 1 Newspaper.
1. Physically go into sites and clean them up.
2. Don't give any information you don't need to. (e.g. age)
3. Go to sites and ask that they remove information. The problem is that it can only be done site by site, and you can never tell how far the initial information has spread.
4. Start a professional blog to hide the old stuff. And hope that your old stuff gets buried.
5. Don't leave evidence of your Internet activities on public browsers. Come on now, don't click that 'Remember password' button.
6. The newest Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers have a tool that allows you to easily cover your tracks before you leave a computer. Basically, delete all browsing data, including page history and cookies.
7. Don't use the search engine offered by your Internet provider. They might connect your account to the cookies you have.
8. Use a specialized company to protect your information. Paying for someone to clean up your tracks?
--excerpts from article by Michele Alperin, Jan. 30, 2008 issue of US 1 Newspaper.
How do you know it's love?
Don't worry it's not a sappy blog and I don't aim to make people tap into their personal lives during the tail end of a stressful semester. Today the professor asked me, "How do you know it's love?" I was a little shell-shocked from the question but I knew that I should just keep it simple because I could really dissect the question and bore everyone. My answer to his question was, "...you just know..." I stand by that response tonite just as much as when I said it earlier today. Love is a hard thing to explain because it's an intense feeling. It means many different things to many people but for me it's just a feeling. It's almost something innate I feel. You are attracted to someone on many levels and this leads to you being very fond of that person. I could go online and search for some quotes that best describe love or ask other's how they interpret it but that wouldn't be true to myself. Simply, in my own opinion, love is a strong attraction both mentally and physically. I'm still working on it and know that it is a feeling that we humans will never truly understand in our lifetime. That's my take and honestly "....you just know..."
Monkey town approaching
Today in class my group and I went over a rough draft of our monkey town performance. It seems like yesterday that we were all sitting in that small classroom and talking about the NYC performance. Twenty something blogs later and a handful of plays under our belt we are all getting our thoughts together to hit the stage. I'm excited but I feel that our group has a good attitude and idea about our project. I found it funny that Hamlet can be taken in so many different directions in such a short amount of time. I overheard some groups discussing there projects and it seems like some are doing broadcast's, actual acting, and fashion shows. It's cool to see everyone take a play and incorporate their own style into a presentation. At first I was going to go for a more safe approach and relate Hamlet to world history. I felt that in both Hamlet and history the characters that play pivotal roles in the story repeat themselves. For excample Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship is similar to the relationship shared between JFF and the first Lady. There is love but at the same time tragedy. I realized that It is a stretch and would be hard to expand on most ideas so I decided to join forces with Harrison. We will be doing a rendition of "Whose line is it Anyway" but through the eyes of Hamlet and the other characters. It's breaking through the developmental stages and taking good shape now. I look forward to seeing everyone there and I hope that everyone is getting through the semesters final weeks with little stress. Take Care all.
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