Sunday, May 9, 2010

PLN 31

"shoes that generate electricity" by CNN

A video viewed from the CNN website, an astonishing new device which allows you to generate electricity from your shoes. This really thin device fits into the sole of your shoe with no discomfort. As you step onto the device, it begins generating electricity. There are no risks or dangers in using this new technology so it is completely safe.

I believe this new kind of technology can really improve the environment as a renewable source of energy which is available to everyone. The technology is called "piezoelectricity" which is certain materials combined which generates electricity when pressure is applied to it. There is a con to this though, the device is really small and can only produce very small amounts of energy. This means it is not a reliable source for electricity. Not only that but this device does not store any electricity which means you need something electronic attached to the device so the electricity generated has a place to go otherwise that energy created is wasted. Overall it is a good, short solution for a small step to saving the environment; but this device in shoes will not go any farther than charging a phone or music player device. I think this is still a good start towards a clean source of renewable energy and new ideas can be branched off this device which uses "piezoelectricity" to generate power. I hope in the near future we can use this kind of technology to power our homes and community instead of burning fossil fuels.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

PLN 29

This article, "2txt? Or Nt2txt? " by Garrison Keillor explains how communication through technology is affecting our society in a negative way. Texting is lowering the youth's social skills which lowers the level of intimacy they ingage in later on in life. The article also talks about how it is important for young men to develop good social skills so that they can have romance and create a family in the future. Not only are social skills used to win over a lady peer but to gain some basic confidence to use in every aspect of your life.

I believe this article is pointing out a really good topic. This is important world-wide because so much technology is used to communicate to everyone across the world but sometimes the technology is used incorrectly. Texting is an example of what kinds of communication through technology is used inappropriately such as texting someone across the room instead of getting up and talking to them. Our society today has become so adapt to using technology for all of their communication even if the person is only a few yards away. I believe this should be a wake up call for some people who do use technology in this way. They should listen to what this article is saying and actually make conversation with someone face to face so that they can gain some of that basic confidence and lead a better life.

PLN 30

This article, "Fan Tasered after jumping onto field during Phillies game", discusses how a baseball fan jumped the fence into the outfield during a baseball game and was running around on the field. The cop on duty chased down this fan and tasered him. This is controversial because some people believe this is unnecessary roughness and the cop should have made a better decision. On the other hand, other people believe this is what the juvenile deserved. The guy who rushed onto the outfield during a Phillies baseball game was 17-years-old. Usually, the cops tackle the criminal to the ground but this time was different when the man was tasered.

I think this is an important topic because of it's controversy. This is important to not only to Philadelphia but to America as a whole because this has happened before where a cop has been accused of unnecessary roughness on a person in other states. I believe if you trespass at such a sporting event then I believe the consequences will be worse than usual because of the crimes you are committing when stepping onto the outfield without permission. This issue has to do with more than the baseball game, this issue has more to do with cops and unnecessary roughness. Tackling could potentially be more dangerous and harmful to the criminal than tasering. Tasering restraints the criminal safely. Tackling could be more difficult because what if the cop cannot catch the criminal? The criminal will be running free all because the cop could not catch the man at large.