Growing Up Online

I am not surprised with...
-People are having an online society.
-People are having relationships online.
-90% of teenagers are online.
-The internet is a place to express.
-It is hard to control what kids do online.
-Adults are not as efficient as teens when using technology.
-People are multitasking when they use the computer.
-Kids use the internet for plagiarism.
-The internet changes personalities.
-Kids hide what they do towards their parents.
-There are no secrets online.
-Kids are not giving their passwords to their parents.
-Most kids keep obvious predators away.
-People still use the internet as a tool.
-Kids hide their thoughts from their parents.

I am surprised with...
-Many teens  don't know how to spend time off the internet. There are many things that you can still do but today, kids lack in creativity.
-Schools are very dependent on technology and a class without a computer is like a desert.
-The ability of students to focus is decreasing.
-Books are not common and Sparknotes is dominating. Some can't even remember when they last read a book.
-Teachers are caring less and less about plagiarism and have decided that what cheating was before is not the same as what cheating is now.
-People judge others through the web. Facebook is becoming a way of bullying.
-People compete for friends and end up adding people they don't know.
-Kids are shy when they look at each other but through Facebook, they feel more confident to say what they are thinking.
-People have their real friends and their online friends. I think this is surprising because you should be able to personally hang around with your real friends.
-People hide their identity while they hang online. This is shocking because you are basically lying to yourself about yourself.
-People even lie about their age in order to seem someone else.
-Their parents are affected from what their children do. I think that the relationship between parents and children is getting weaker.
-Some people regret the things that they do online. This means that there is some consciousnesses improvement.
-People online chase others 'cause they think that the person has a special connection. I'm surprised that the internet has created this obsession.
-Parents need to take control of the computer. I I'm surprised that this is not happening anymore. Now parents what to go on Facebook themselves.
-Parents are stalking their children. This is surprising because they are dong the same thing that they are fighting against of.
-Cyber bullying can easily lead to suicide when the kids has a low self-esteem.
-Webpages that the you the best way to suicide still exist! They are really easy to find.

Today, this things have changed...
-Myspace is not popular anymore.
-I Pods are thinner.
-Smartphones are more common.
-Facebook has more users now.
-YouTube's layout is very different.
-Computers look different.
-Picture quality is better.
-Train travelling has decreased.
-Stalkers are way more common.
-The chase for online predators is stronger each time.
-Microsoft Word's layout is very different.
-People don't use Internet Explorer as the main browser anymore.
-Video game consoles are more modern.
-Microphones are now usually incorporated into computers.
-School tools have been replaced with technological tools. (I Pads as notebooks)

Information Bubbles

I really have no idea of what an information bubble is. I guess it is something related to information a regular surfer can't access. I've never heard this term in my entire life.

I want to learn...

• What are information bubbles?
• How do they work? How are they created?
• Can they harm me or my computer?
• Who uses them? For what purpose?

The links I use...

http://www.thefilterbubble.com/ted-talk

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-information-bubble.htm

What I learned...

• Information bubbles are also called information filters.
• Basically, your information bubble is how a certain website uses your searching history to alter and personalize what you see.
• Common websites like Google, Yahoo and Facebook are using information bubbles.
• Even if two people search for the same topic, their results might be altered.
• Some factors that might alter your information bubble are: location, search history, what you first click, etc.
• Even if you are not logged on, these pages can alter your results.
• Internet today is not as standard as it was before. 
• Algorithmic are the ones that alter your bubble.    

I think that this topic is very relevant to everyone. Today, we depend on the internet and not many people know that any time you Google something, you can get a different result than what a person on the other side of the world could. I personally didn't know this happened. Today, I learned that the information I get is bias and that my results are altered. It makes me wonder how accurate my results are now.

One question I still have is the security issues that information bubbles bring. How do you know that these websites can't use your history to harm you? How do you know that all of what you search is not a lie?

Design Project-Day 5

LEARN PHASE
1.I went to my classroom 2 times and the kids were not there. We still received the news that our game was a success but we never got to talk to the children.
This  is a picture of our finished game.


2.Our goal was to make it fun, be creative and create a 'not really hard' game for elementary school students. We think that our goals were met as our final product worked out perfectly. We also think that the kids enjoyed it.
3. -Our biggest problem was probably time.Building the entire model in 80 minutes was not that easy. Our solution was to focus and work together. We also built some parts of the game before we came such as the hook.
-Our biggest idea came after the research phase as we realized we had to do something creative and fun. We all remembered the claw game form our childhood and thought that it would succeed. Apparently we were right. One of are key parts of our game was the hook and realizing we could use a cloth hanger was a success  We got this idea when we were thinking on the materials, especially the materials of the hook.
-I was probably the one who resisted more ideas. Nicolas can have a great imagination and he can often go out of bounds on what we can really do. He want it to make two games and make them electric and those weren't possible in the amount of time and materials we had.
-I thought that the project would be really hard and it would not work. The only way I could solve my doubts was going for it and experimenting. I was surprised when everything worked up perfectly.
-I was always questioning the how on every part of our project. Nicolas would repeat that it would be easy but I was never sure. I think that I contributed to the group by keeping it organized and concrete  Everything we did was planned and we were not just improvising.
-After this project, I learned that I am capable of doing everything I want, even if it looks hard. I went over my expectations. Regarding teamwork, I learned that even  if everyone has different ideas, there is always a way to put them together so everyone is happy. I also learned that not every team mate is perfect and sometimes, you just have to learn how to work together. The design process was really useful. It allowed us to have a complete plan on what we should do. i think that without all this planing, our product wouldn't have been a success. I will probably use this process again in the future.

Design Project-Day 3

CHOOSE PHASE
1. Our game will follow all of our requirements if we decorate it well and have attractive prizes.
2. We want to keep the prizes on our model. We are sure this is going to catch everyone's attention.We are still keeping the set of instructions in our model.
3. Our hook will have a more simple design. Instead of being a grabber, it will be a simple hook (similar to a fishing hook). This will require a string on the prizes in order for someone to win.

IMPLEMENT PHASE
1. To build our model: (M=Maria, N=Nicolas)
-Create a cardboard box that has a clear side (in order to see the prizes).  M&N
-Cut the top part in order to make a pathway for the hook. M
-Make a hook that is strong and stable. N
-Make a hole in the box where the prizes can exit. N
-Put a string on every prize. M
-Paint the box to make it pretty. M
-Write down the instructions and paste them in the box. N

2. Materials:
-Box M
-Tape N
-Glue gun M
-Box Cutter M
-Prizes: Candy and small toys. M&N
-Clear contact paper M
-Scissors N
-Paint M
-String N
-Metal Wire M

Design Project-day 2

PROTOTYPE PHASE
1.

• My Prototype:

     Negative: It is not colored nor attractive. The grabber's path isn't efficient.
     Positive: It has a set of instructions. It can stand on it's own. Prices aren't enough.

• Nicolas' Prototype:

     Negative: Not is not stable. There are two different boxes with different prices. 

     Positive: Structure is clear. Arrows guide the player.

-We think Nicolas' Prototype is better because it shows things more clear. 

-We want to include decorations and a base. 

-We will only  have one game, not two.

2. Prototype:

3. Class Feedback

Positive:
-Every third grader likes the game and the prize.
-Calls you to play, attractive
-Easy to win
Suggestions:
-Create a hook in prizes
-Create a strong hook.
-

Design Project-Day 1

My Partner is Nicolas Triana.

DEFINE PHASE

1.  We will make our game for elementary students, both boys and girls.
2. Our game's difficulty will be medium.
3. Our game will be successful or fun if:
-There is a way to win.
-You can play it many times.
-It has a popular theme.
-It involves prices.
-Visually attractive.

RESEARCH PHASE

1. Speed ball : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYRZcWa0zJI&playnext=1&list=PL92539D6D66668E09&feature=results_main

+: One good thing about this game is that it can be used by everyone and it is easy to play a second time.
-: One bad thing about this game is that it is too easy.

2. Tilta' Ball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM8gyHhV8K0

+: This game is creative and it can be played by anyone at any age.
-: One disadvantage of this game is that the balls can easily get lost, and it requires a lot of human intervention for it to work.

3. Carboard Arcade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P03PeFuywg  (first game in the video)

+: This game is easy to make and it also requires certain skills for those at a short age.
-: This game requires you to go all around the game in order to get the ball and play again.

IDEATION PHASE

1. We are making a claw game that includes prizes. This prizes will be based on elementary kids likes.
2. It will be fun because:
-Prizes are atractive
-It is visually charming.
-Easy to play
-Has a little challenge.

3. Some of the things that may go wrong are:
-The prices could run out.
-Who would give out super prizes?
-How will the hook return to the beginning.
-Prices could get stuck.

Linux

I know...
I've never heard anything about this.

I what to know...
-What is it?
-What is is used for?
-How can I relate to it? Can  it help me? Can it harm me?

Links...
- http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question246.htm
-http://whatislinux.org/
-http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/

What I learned...
-Linux is an operating system such as Windows and Mac OS.
-Some how similar to the UNIX operating system
-The creation of Linux started with a desire of simpler, quicker and more powerful computers. Old day computers were huge and cumbersome and standard users were not able to use them.
-It took a while for home users to start using Linux. Programmers used Linux because it was the finest running system ever.
-One of the problems that Linux users have is that this operating system is that it's not compatible with computer software such as Windows.
-Linux provides many applications you can download, many for free.
-Linux is virus free because it uses smart authorization management.
-Linux can provide 4 screens in the same computer.
-Linux can be downloaded form the  internet. This helps the environment as it requires no packaging.
-Linux will maintain the same speed it had since the beginning.
-This program is very simple to use and a discussion board in the Linux website can provide you the answers to additional questions you can have.
-You can install Linux ans still keep Windows.
-This is how a Linux screen would look like even though you can personalize it.

How can it relate to me...

Linux is just another operating system as the one we use every day. I can benefit from it because it is completely free and allows me to do almost anything I want with it. It doesn't risk my security and it gives  me tons of free applications. Linux can make my computer life easier. With Linux I don't have to worry about re-installing it and my computer will always remain fast.

I still want to learn....
How popular is Linux today? Is it still so unknown?

Digital Nation

I agree that you can do everything you want in the internet because today there are thousands of web pages that contain from games to pornography.

I agree with the movie when they mentioned that before, going on vacations was really disconnecting, because now, internet keeps you up to date in everything.

I agree that there are several stereotypes with technology because as you tell someone you have a blackberry or iPhone, they automatically think you are stuck to it 24/7. 

I agree that multi tasking is not good because you are not giving your full concentration and potential in what you are doing. 

I agree that multi taking is something really common in teenagers today because there are a lot of things going around them and multi tasking is the only solution for productivity. 

I disagree that multi tasking is not efficient because when you do two things at a time you use time wisely and do more in less. 

I agree that internet is a place for distraction because you can do many things at a time you end up doing something different than the real purpose. 

I agree that a teenager spends more than 50 hours a week in the internet because people are so dependent to it, you end up doing everything there.  

I agree that Google makes us smarter because you can find all the information you need and it is easier and faster than in books or encyclopedia. 

I agree that stopping someone from texting is really hard because today, people have created an addiction. 

I disagree that all Koreans are addicted to technology because this is a stereotype and it does not include all of them.

I disagree that internet is keeping kids from doing school work because most of the school work is done on./with the internet. 

I agree that internet had good intentions because it was meant to use for communication and business. 

I agree people lower their grades in internet because they spend study time playing games. 

I agree there should be places to help addicted kids because they need help and this can work as a solution. 

I agree that internet can cause eye and eat complications because people are spending too much time in front of the computer. 

I agree there is a digital revolution happening because each time internet devices are becoming better and more efficient. 

I agree the web can help those who use  it well because it i s a really helpful tool that can make your life easier. 

I agree technology is introduced to kids in a short age because schools are teaching kids to use computers even in elementary school. 

I agree schools should teach to use computers wisely because this can be a prevention of addiction in the future. 

I agree that the use of technology is indispensable and you are 'required' to use internet as school and social life tool, because we are now dependent on it and it is were everything is done today.

. 

Nanotechnology

I know...
Nanotechnology is being used more and more each day. Nanotechnology is used in new devices to make them more efficient, lighter and smaller. This is a complex technology that is inside many of the things we use today such as iPods, phones or laptops.

I want to learn...
Two things I consider interesting learning regarding nanotechnology are what common things we use everyday contain them and what are the origins of this type of advance.

Links...

• http://www.utoronto.ca/~ecan/nanotech.origins.html
• http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm
• http://science.howstuffworks.com/nanotechnology3.htm

I learned...

• This type of technology came form a Nobel Prize winner, Richard Feynman. He said that physics showed the possibility of working atom by atom in order for things to function. All of his ideas were expressed in his book. 
• Nanotechnology is basically building things from a molecular scale. It is building things from the bottom up.
• Some of the things that benefit from nanotechnology are sunscreens, clothing and even Antimicrobial bandages.
• Nanotechnology is measured in nanometers and a human hair contains around 24,000 nanometers. 
• Now a days, nanotechnology helps in medicine to create new cures and improves electronics.

It relates to me because...

Today my life is dependent to electronics. In the future, nanotechnologies will make everything I use easier. Today, I use a lot of things with nanotechnology and I don't realize it. Most of the things that make my life better have nanotechnology in them. 

In the Future...

I will like to learn more about the structure of something that contains nanotechnology. 

Topics

Here is where I'll put my topics.