Seat Belts and Goose Bumps

Ghost Driver

Picture going through a McDonald's drive thru and stopping by the window. The McDonald employee opens the window with drink in hand and gets this puzzled look on his face as he sees there is no driver operating the car. Well, the worker shouldn't be too puzzled because this is the future! Engineers and mechanics are presently working on the driverless car, and interestingly, Google is the means behind it. The car drives itself by "cameras inside the car, a sensor on the vehicle’s top, and some radar sensors attached to different positions of the car." I have my own suspicions about this "ghost driver," but it has successfully driven 1609 kilometers by itself...woo! Although this new technology is--I will admit it--cool and intriguing, there is reason for caution...I mean it's a driving car! For a little bit more specifics on the driverless car, check out Google Driverless Cars (10.). Can you picture yourself riding in the passenger seat with the "ghost driver" to your left? Or do you think this is new technology is merely the stepping stone to the future of our automobiles? Hmmm....

 

Rapid technology innovation creates a smart, mobile world

technology has changed business forever.  Social networks have created a efficient cost effective way to promote and market a companies business with instant appeal and easy access.  the internet is a part of our life, we have mobile access 24 7 and its said that in 2014 we will be connected wirelessly to the internet more than ever before. Smart technology is a the rise and united states isnt even in the top three yet.  From cell phones countries in places like Africa record medical information on phones and there are many more uses for business applications within a cell phone from facebook to the stock market. Governments will continue to grow with technology in some cases they are the fastest to grow because they have the capital to do so.  Governments will invest in military as well as Chinas largest cloud sharing site.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Very First Bookless Library

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The very first bookless library was established on September 14 in San Antonio, Texas named BibloTech. What exactly is a bookless library, It’s basically a library that contains no physical books and currently holds a catalog of 10,000 e-books. An advantage is to make fewer trips to the library to check out or in books, but BibloTech still believe that the library should have a physical presence because it is still considered a key to success. They still consider establish the role of a traditional l library in a sense that it is a part of the community and also because it is placed in a low income neighborhood in which those who don’t have internet access can still come to the library to read books. The 4800 square foot space looks more like an Apple store or Google break room than an actually library with it’s 45 Apple iPads, 40 laptops and 48 desktop computers. Members can check out one of the e-books through the cloud library service which also contains audio books and educational software. So far, BiblioTech has attracted 7,000 members. Do you think that that actual tangible books have more value over e-books and should this be considered a real library? 

Glowin' With The Flow

Glowing in the Dark

        Remember when the smart phones were a big deal, when we were all impressed with the new technology--that's so five minutes ago. Well, now that most everybody possesses them, we are ready for the next BIG thing. In Netherlands, right now, technicians and engineers are working on what they think will bigger than the smart phone--smart. roads. Yes, you read correctly. By mid 2013, Netherlands expects to have their highways equipped with the newest technology allowing better safety pro cautions. How so, you may ask. Well, the designer behind the idea, Daan Roosegaarde, plans to have the highways actually glow in the dark! He also has designed the smart roads to light up large snowflakes on the road when temperatures are low so the driver will know there is a chance of ice. While this would be very impressive and beneficial, we all would still need to take the normal safety pro cautions, such as, turning on the lights and, of course, our common sense. Another interesting mechanism he will install is called "induction lanes." This is an extra lane on the side of the road--basically like our already shoulders on the road--that will be programed to recharge your electronic car. Call me impressed! If that isn't a "smart" road, I don't know what is. Although this is only available in Netherlands, it won't be for long, for many other countries--including countries such as the United States and India--are greatly intrigued by the idea and hope to enjoy this new technology in the future. Check out this interesting video for the specifics and how exactly their smart roads work: Smart Roads.

This almost doesn't even seem possible. At first glance, this idea sounds crazy and expensive and a waste, but if you think about it, it could have some benefits and potential. What do you think? Do you think the United States should invest in "smart roads," or do you think we are better off with the basics?

Instagram: In process of having Ads.

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Last month, Instagram has been hinting at the idea of putting ads on their program, But this last Thursday, they decided to put the plan in motion. On their company blog, Instagram concluded that select users in the United States will begin seeing ads in their feeds over the upcoming months. The way they are going to show these ads are to show pictures and a few videos and gradually draw all the users in and not just overwhelm them with ads. The reason why Instagram may have chosen to elect ads on their program is because mobile advertising comprises a large source of revenue and eMarketer research firm found out that spending in the mobile ad space more than doubled to 8.8 billion dollars in this past year alone. Not all may like the idea of ads because earlier this year, Instagram had to change its terms and service to allow the possibility of using users photos into ad campagins. After many negative comments about this feature, Instagram backed off hte policy. An interesting thing that Instagram is giving users the option is to hide ads which may provide middle ground if a user comes across a bad ad. Do you personally like mobile ads to be displayed on the side of the social media that you use? Do you think businesses benefit from this source of advertising?