3-D Printing

3D Printing

Whether we like it or not, our world is ever changing. This applies to anything and everything from politics, to weather, but especially to technology. Our lives are constantly being influenced, both positively and negatively by technology. Technology enhances our lives by completing tasks for us, helping us relieve stress, or even functioning as a tool. Technology subtracts for our lives by distracting us from the real world, bringing us accidental errors, and causing us to work less independently. No matter how you see it though, technology is always changing and influencing our lives.

One of the newest and most up and coming forms of technology is 3D printing. 3D printing can serve many functions, from medical to recreational purposes. 3D printers can make strong yet affordable prosthetics for amputees. This even applies to amputees that aren't human!

Chase showcased this in one of their commercials:

3D printing can also be used as a medium for aspiring 3D rendering artists.

Even random tasks such as playing music can be accomplished by 3D printing... somehow.

In the article "3-D Printing: Flying High" the author, TG, writes about how 3D printing is being tested in near zero gravity. TG writes about how printed parts are being used on aircraft's in Britain and later on are planned to be used on the International Space Station. Sending a 3D printer to the ISS would allow for astronauts to print parts and tools in space rather than having them sent up. These 3D printed parts and tools are also cost efficient. TG writes, "Relatively cheap, the printed parts have so far saved U.K. taxpayers £300,00 ($501,000), and BAE expects them to shave costs by £1.2 million ($2 milion) over the next four years" (TG, 1).

This data shows that our tax money could go towards so much else if these plans are successful and we follow Britains example. 

Adidas has even invested in 3D printing by creating a shoe called Futurecraft 4D. Adidas claims the shoes to be "The first high performance running shoe based on data-driven design brought to life with digital light synthesis technology." These shoes are partially 3D printed and are intended to be one of if the the best performing shoes on the market. 

3D printing is becoming so popular that they have been put into modern media. 3D printed weapons can be seen in Watch_Dogs 2.

Even in the new movie The Cloverfield Paradox includes a 3D printer that prints food for the crew aboard the Shepherd Space Station.

In the Disney movie Big Hero 6 the main character prints armor for his robot Baymax.

3D printing is also becoming a great alternative for movie and tv show production. Props in movies are beginning to be 3D printed. From the Iron Man suits to Star Lord's mask in Guardians of the Galaxy, 3D printing creates easy and affordable prop production for the studio. Even some creatures in Harry Potter were 3D printed on a small scale, scanned, and then animated on a larger scale.

In conclusion 3D printing allows for a variety of new possibilities for fields from cinematic, to medical and beyond.

Virtual Reality

                        The Future of Virtual Reality       

     Virtual Reality is the only place in where we have can have the power to get away from the physical world and be apart of a whole entire world under our disposal. The definition of Virtual Reality is simply a computer generated simulation of a 3-D environment that allow you to interact with any augmented reality. This allows you to allow you feel anything as if it's real. In movies we've seen over the years like Back to the Future, Existenz  and the upcoming Ready Player One. They all add on to the things that we the viewers can only imagine. All the endless possibilities and experiences we can be apart of within this augmented reality. All though these are just concepts from movies and tv shows. It is hard to envision us being able to experience these concepts because of how advanced it is for us right now. Needless, to say we are not that far from being in the same realm as these concepts. As recently as 2016, the latest and most revolutionized Virtual Reality models have been brought forward to the public. Models like Playstation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, etc. Seemingly it is as if we barely scratched the surface for the potential behind the VR. The opportunities are as high as the sky and there nothing but improvements from here on out. Here's the thing, due to the sad and horrific events that occured recently over in Parkland, Florida. I'm sure there will be much discussion about the things that may have influence the suspect and once again put the controversy of violent video games back on peoples radar. In the relation to Virtual Reality, will these events/controversies affect the future and potential of Virtual Reality?

 In our society, the only  form of reality outside of the real world that most turn to is through Televisions, Movies, and most notably video games. At a young age, it is safe to say that more children/teens are all glued to their television screens playing video games rather playing at nearby parks. The statement can be made that exposure to video games primarily violent ones can lead to an individual appear more aggressive and start on the path on criminal like behavior. According to CNN studies and reports that 90% of children of the United States" engage in violent video games. Considering the interest of these games show a trend among the youth. Many feel this constant exposure can lead to unmanageable violence. In a study conducted in Delaware Middle  School, they asked 6500 students to partake in a Survey. "Whitney DeCamp, an associate Professor of Sociology at Western Michigan University discovered that playing video games no matter how bloody does not predict violent behavior." Here's the thing this is only based on a video game console that is connected to a tv screen. In terms of Virtual Reality you are in full control of the environment around you. You are no longer using a control to navigate around, your are now in control of all the physical actions you make. No matter if the simulation is violent or not and the video games we are exposed to is barely making us exhibit aggressive like behavior, I believe it may be worst if exposed to VR.

On a symposium, "Remarks on Virtual World and Virtual Reality" by Glenn W. Harrison, Ernan Haruvy, and Elisabet Rutstrom. They help identify three major differences between the virtual world and real world. The first one is, "the elimination of real geographic distances". This means when using the VR we are no longer in those different geographical boundaries. This eliminates things like  time zones and physical distances. In a way it can affect one's social identity. Considering our role in society is now heavily based on our  gender, age, ethnicity, race. Once we are in the VR we are now able to determine our characteristics. The last difference revolves around interaction. In the physical world we rely on nothing but interactions. The VR world would eliminate that and replace it with a computer and eliminate the need for communication presence in many ways."

There are many things we could do to get around this controversy and at the same time be able to experience the VR in the way we always wanted to. The VR isn't primarily for video games, it can be used as a surgery simulation to help surgeons practice performing successful surgeries without using real bodies. It's safe to say this type of technology isn't only for entertainment purposes. If we do want to be safe, there may be some regulation put in place, but this  will make people feel like we are not getting its' full potential. The argument would consist of if no restrictions or regulations are put in place and companies continue as plan, then we ask is all worth it if we were creating something that may ultimately take a life. There no win-win situation. What would you guys decide on?

Eliminating textbook

Good day, my fellow collegians

Today I’m going to talk about the thing probably in backpack right now and why it needs to go.We students are tired of caring around and putting it in are cell phone well be easy but it well improve the way we use it.And also because it's practically useless after the semester is over other than selling it for money.But for also the teachers so that there students success and also learn something.Unless your dealing with students that are high or thous lazy people who barely do a group project.And if you are wondering bad things about the idea let me tell you the counter arguments.

First off let's start with the us aka college students, are generation is constantly on the cellphone so much so we would rather get injured by bumping into things rather than look up.We spend so much time on it that pretty much a good idea to put them in the cell phone seeing that we spend almost the entire day on them.Which means it will be easy for us as well as twice as fast finishing the work.Also we can save hundreds of dollars by not buying the book,for example I have a class that has the book on ilearn and when I checked how much it actually cost it was  twenty dollars plus tax trump's biography cost less and we know that's just a pile of shit.And for all you eco-freaks you will save hundreds if not thousands of trees both from the textbooks and notebooks.

Secondly, the teachers we all know that they don’t like it when we use are cell phones but we still use it anyway.We and highschool students are like cats no matter what people say we still going to do it.But if we put the textbook it well show that they have respect us while giving information to us.Although some of the students may end up watching south park or beavis and butthead but to be fair those guys are tools. It can help your students get information usually because the textbook only have one topic for a class that has multiple, one example is my philosophy class were I have three books.It also will help them study by having the book or the powerpoint in your phone seeing that we use it on a daily basis.

Now some of you may be thinking about the bad things that comes with putting textbooks in our cell phones.For teachers whether or not we would actually learn anything and I say no.The reason for that is a study with 22 people learning with textbook one semester and cell phones for the other.The results were impressive because in the cell phone semester they scored were higher for test than the textbook semester.Another one you might be thinking what if they was a virus well to that I say they could just get a backup system.And for the people who may have a hard time getting used it if it were to happen, they could easily get help for it.

All in all I hope you well agree with me that we should get rid of the textbook.It well change the way we students use it hopefully for the better.As well for the teachers for helping their students success in life.From the last paragraph you already know that there is no bad things about the idea.So let this new generation improve the education system so we can have a easy and bright future.

                        

                                                                                                                           Sincerely ,yours

                                                                                                                             Charlie