Car Manufacturers and the new "Always Connected" Era

By: Kyle Woods

http://twitter.com/antiforc3

Amazingly, Nissan has broken into the SmartWatch business before not only any other car manufacturer, but Apple as well. In what seems like the next step for technology within vehicles, they have focused its features on being connected to the car (of course). I would sooner expect for there to be Smart-technology elsewhere than someone's vehicle, but its only a matter of time, right?

Sadly the watch is only currently available to those that drive Nissan's "Nismo" line of high-performance vehicles. I do feel that soon enough this might turn into a trend that the rest of the vehicle market follows, as having everything connected seems to be the way of the future. However, this watch can do and tell you a lot by being connected to the vehicle, as well as being on your wrist.



Nissan Europe’s general manager of marketing communications Gareth Dunsmore mentioned that "Wearable technology is fast becoming the next big thing and we want to take advantage of this innovative technology to make our Nismo Brand more accessible." at a Motor Show in Frankfurt this past September. The device to my knowledge seems to be geared toward the high-end vehicle driver, as is specifically for Nissan's Nismo series of vehicles and from the information it is tasked to display. The SmartWatch can analyze a vehicles performance while also providing other pertinent information such as current/top/average speed, heart rate of the driver, fuel efficiency and other biometric data through a bluetooth connection.

 

Though, the biggest aspect that the watch has going for it might be the social media integration. Nissan's SmartWatch will allow a user to be notified of messages to their various accounts and devices, as well as be able to compare, post and share their logged data to their social media account page. The device will even give you tips and alerts based upon the local weather!

In my own humble opinion, the focus on the connection between the user and the vehicle allows Nissan to offer a lot to new drivers. I cannot forget to mention that this is only at the development stages of this type of technology, so once the ideas start flowing I'm sure there is going to widespread interest and use of technology like this. Good job Nissan, and thumbs up for continuing to step up the game!

 

Work Cited: http://www.gizmag.com/nissan-nismo-smartwatch/29029/

Images: via Google Image Search

Digital Media's Influence in Grade (Elementary) School Children

Educational opportunities for children, effective parent –teacher communication and school safety has increased because of digital media’s presence in elementary schools. I am a parent of an elementary school age child and rely on electronic communication to remain connected to the classroom activities.

My elementary school age child detests opening a paper book. Reading is not his favorite subject and challenges him.  But, the presence of digital media in the class room has transformed his dislike of reading a paper book, into an adventure through interactive computer stories and games.  He also enjoys reading on the kindle and listening to electronic stories on the computer.  Electronic devices were once considered a luxury, but children born in the 21^st century view them as basic tools of survival. I recall helping him with a research paper last year.  The school library had limited information on his selected subject, his quickly goggled his topic, read the information, and completed the assignment with photographs, then listed all sources from the Internet.

Some may argue that the dependence and move toward digital media is causing children to forget their basic writing skills, and that younger children cannot determine truth in material from the World Wide Web. There are some who will note that some historic documents are not found on the web; and contend elementary school age children have not been taught patriotism and do not have a full understanding of our country’s history. For every objection to the use of digital media; there are ten students who have improved their skill set thanks to digital media tools and devices.

As a parent of a child in a rural elementary school, I must applaud the school for their efforts to provide a diverse learning environment that includes a large component influenced by digital media. From the smart board with the digital response system, to the document camera that displays assignments; elementary age students are becoming more engaged in the classroom.  Time and paper are conserved, as several schools transition into environmentally friendly institutions, kindles are replacing textbooks and video lessons are being integrated into the curriculum.  Laptops and ipads are replacing extremely heavy  backpacks and daily planners are being fazed into electronic calendars.

I have an older female child who is now a junior in college. When in elementary school, my daughter brought home every piece of paper that her teacher gave her, some days, I felt she brought home someone else’s papers and notes.  I knew all of her activity dates and deadlines in elementary school and was able to plan attendance at school functions. Fast-forward thirteen years past the birth of my son to his entrance into elementary school.  I do not receive many notes from his teachers nor did I receive the printed notices that were sent on Friday.  Some will tell you that many little boys do not bring home notes from the teacher! Activities pass, lunch room balances increase and you become the parent who missed a class function or did not return a signed document. It’s enough to make you question yourself and seek other avenues for information. Thanks to email in the class room and automated parent notification systems, I am an aware and involved parent! I can read the Friday note on the school’s website; I receive automated notices on my phone and in my email and can now check his cafeteria balance and make online deposits into his account.  I can effectively communicate through email with his teacher to monitor his grades, activities and with the school nurse to inquire about his health. 

Recently, my son missed the early bus to his after school provider. I received a call from a concerned friend who thought I forgot to pick him up in the car rider lane, offering to bring him to me.  In past years, this would have been a major safety concern.  The school district uses a finger scan device on his school bus to keep better track of attendance.  With the challenges and mandates placed on schools and educators; keeping track of students is a job in itself, especially when you factor in miles of  dirt roads.  This digital system is a valuable tool that provides real-time data on attendance!  When he did not get on the afternoon bus, the system automatically notified the school’s office staff who verified and redirected the bus to return to the school.  As I was dialing the office, the bus driver was calling to verify his return to pick up my son.

Digital media’s influence in elementary schools has a positive impact on students and allows parents to remain in constant contact with teachers and faculty.  It also provides an opportunity for parents to remain engaged in their child’s education and safety through the day.

Donna Green
dig2000

Music Everywhere

When I think of computers and music, only one thing immediately comes to mind...iTunes.  Today, with the recent death of Steve Jobs the founder of Apple and many other inventions, such as the iPod, the iPad, the iPone and iTunes, it brings home how much he revolutionized the way we live day to day.

          Being an owner of an iPod, I go to the computer to buy my music.  iTunes changed the way we buy and share music, and now crosses over into movies, books and television.  I listen to my iPod every single day.  When I paint, do my homework, chores, almost everything I do I have music playing in the background.  No longer do I have to drive to the store to buy a cd, I just sit on my couch, browse iTunes and download.  I buy a much larger amount of music because of the accessibility of iTunes.  And I do it legally.

          Steve Jobs was a pioneer of technology. An artist.  A visionary.  He made one of the first personal computers and constantly sought to continue to make life easier and more entertaining for us all.  The outpouring of love for him immediately after his death shows how many people he affected and how much he will be missed.  Computers brought music into our home. Steve Jobs brought music everywhere else as well.  Work, school, shopping, running, cooking, cleaning, painting, biking, hiking... anywhere.

Krista Oneisom
dig2000

New Tech, New Talk

                I’m sitting at home and suddenly, Fiona Apple’s Parting Gift, is playing in the background.  I know I have a text.  Even though this technology has been around for a number of years, I still experience that moment of amazement that someone thousands of miles away sent me a message just seconds ago, and I have it instantly! I can write messages back and forth with family I would never have even known about if not for the technology of Myspace and more recently, Facebook.  A single thought travelled all the way from Hawaii in less than 5 seconds, and I can respond just as quickly. My typing skills are awesome :)  We use old skills of mankind to enhance these messages.   We use symbols, “hieroglyphs” to express thoughts, feelings, excitement and how we actually want our messages to be read.   Is it a joke? LOL.  Do you feel bad about what you’re saying L?  Are you sending out love? <3 <3

                When I first started using Myspace, people all over the world found me, wanting a connection with family they never knew, I was overwhelmed.  I loved finding old friends that I hadn’t seen or talked to in over ten years.  I could even sneak peeks into people’s lives that I didn’t really want to friend, but definitely wanted to know what happened to them after high school.  (Yes, I was a Myspace “peeping tom” and now currently do the same on Facebook.)

 This simple technology has changed the way we communicate with each other tremendously.  We have even added words to our vocabulary or use old words in a new way. Like for example, “friending” someone, or “defriending” them.  “Like” has probably never been used more in its history, not even in valley girl heaven.  We are able to share so much of ourselves, our families. Live little bits of each other’s lives.  Keeping up with someone without ever actually having to talk to them.  Incredible. 

Though that does bring in the negative side, we don’t have to talk to anyone and still feel a sense of involvement.  I feel like I know people I have never met and probably never will.  I don’t have to go out of my house for school, or work, and thus losing the opportunities to meet other “real” people.  My social quota is filled without any effort at all. Well, except for a few clicks of a mouse, liking, sharing and posting occasionally. 

Having children, one of who is in 8^th grade, the issue of cyber bullying is also a big concern for me.  I have yet to let my son have a Facebook page because of this concern, even though many of his friends do.  Bullying will never go away, but at least before children or adults, had a refuge.  Once you were home, you were safe from the bullying, that’s no longer the case.  Now you have immediate, hurtful writing that can be read over and over again. 

So what does this all wrap up to? What is my consensus of these technologies? Well like any major achievement in history, it is what we make it.  Use it to be a better person, have fun, share your lives.  Give yourself time to think about what your words really are saying before you put them on-line for all to see.  Oh, and hit me up on Facebook.  See ya around J

Krista Oneisom, Internet Marketing CGS2069

Twitter: Changing the World

@Jack : One could change the world with one hundred and forty characters.

       On February 8th 2007, a small crowd of family and friends read online that exact, simple "tweet". It was on that day Jack Dorsey and his companions realized that Twitter would redefine communications and become one of the most important forms of social media in the world. Indeed, I believe Twitter has changed the world. It has joined together people from all walks of life.Tony Hawk, the Dalai Lama, Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Pope Benedict XVI, your cousin and the peacock that escaped from the Bronx Zoo in New York all "tweet". My dogs even have a Twitter account! Yep, I went there. The real beauty of Twitter that brings people together is that it is so simple. Fast and easy real-time updates in the coveted one hundred and forty character form are sent directly to your cell phone via text message; no smart phone needed! This is good news because according to a new study by PEW Internet and American Life Project, only 35% of all cell phone owners sport a smart phone. Pew Internet Study  Twitter's short format messages insure that no text goes beyond a one page viewing area on a cell phone. This design is perfect for pay per text plan users or plans with small data packages. You can complete your messages with a picture or have a real-time location added to your "tweet" thanks to Twitpic and Google Maps.
       During the 2008 elections, Twitter changed how Americans kept up with their favorite candidates. Canidiates and their parties heavily used social media tools to keep track of their followers, answer questions, organize campaign events and keep tabs on the competition. Even though Twitter was fairly new to the general public, Barack Obama's total Twitter followers numbered 118,107 during his campaign giving him a landslide Twitter victory over John McCain who only had 4,942 followers. The 2012 elections are sure to generate a lot of tweets since many of the candidates have already started Twitter accounts for their campaigns. Social media Obama vs McCain
       Twitter also changed the way that the world receives breaking news, news from space and disaster alerts. On May 12th 2009, the first space tweet from Mike Massimino @astro_mike was sent and NASA has been hooked ever since. Astronauts have tweeted pictures of the Aurora Australis dancing above the Earth. They also captured the furious Sarychev Peak volcano eruption and relayed information to help Air Traffic Control in the area. When the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, news broadcasters and ordinary people were updating everyone through Twitter. In the aftermath, people on Twitter and Facebook organized relief efforts, reunited loved ones and kept distant family members connected with up to the minute information. Recently during Hurricane Irene, government officials, the Red Cross and FEMA asked people to reduce the burden on phone services by instead tweeting. CNET NEWS  This kept the phone lines available for emergency workers. With one hundred and forty characters, I believe Twitter has definitely changed the world.