Friday, February 26, 2010
Science Fiction In Technology?
Based upon your recent reading of articles in Google Reader regarding science and technology, what connections or observations can you make about your read article(s) and the concepts and stories we have read or viewed? Please complete this blog response in class on 2-26-10.
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The article I read was about an application for an iPhone in which you can see the sun as a 3D image and you can interact with it. 5 years ago this was probably not something that people would see as possible. Its real life Science, so like the science fiction stories we've read, it has demonstrated incredible new technologies.
ReplyDeleteMy article talked how we should be a little wiser and more gentle in searching for extra-terrestrials. The reason being that if we come into contact with an evil nation we are not ready to deal with it, and fight back. It kind of connects to the story of "Sales pitch," because that is an evil extra terrestrial and he didn't know how to handle it!!
ReplyDeletedoonster=Joe Smith
ReplyDeletewell a most recent story we have read in class, Puppet Show depicted the use of androids; robots that could be controlled. Now this may seem outlandish but we are becoming closer to having robotic companions. GE contracted by NASA has come out with Robonaut2. A robotic astronaut designed to do things like spacewalks for humans instead of endangering them or making them take unneeded risk. Robonaut2 isn't quite ready for actual use but it is a lot better then its predecessor and much more dexterous. Robots are becoming ever closer to being a household commodity.
ReplyDeleteToday I read about the winners of the University of Michigan technology contest that created a improved microchip that would help with the creation of smart houses, it is also used in smart credit card. It allows settings to be made and changed for each different card holders.
ReplyDeleteI read about this pill type thing that can be placed in a central vain to help cool your body down. This will if it is allowed be used when people have a stroke to help keep there brain protection. This is of course nice because my Grandpa has done through several strokes and I'm glad to know that there is now something out there to help people that have a stroke remember better. This way they wont have to go though rehab as much witch would be really nice to see.
ReplyDeleteI have read a few articles on modern science today and they seem pretty similar to some of the science fiction stories we've read as far as extrapolation. For example, NASA's new x-ray telescope has more focus and is basically a better, newer invention and can benefit scientists exponentially. People just keep creating ways to make things better (or at least what they think will make things better). In the stories we read, not all of the inventions (such as a self-selling robot) are good ideas. In fact, if too much is changed, then more bad can come out of it than good. I suppose that a lot of science-related materials in the present and the past all focus on exciting people to the point where they adapt their lifestyles. Perhaps people just want to reach for the stars and try new things for adventure, but I think that many times their actions go too far.
ReplyDeleteMy article talked about science fiction movies and how these movies sometimes predict the future, it's similar to some of the stories we have read because they sometimes describe things that exist now, that didn't exist back then. So I think it's interesting to read the stories from 20 plus years ago and see how far technology and science have come in a short span of time.
ReplyDeleteI found on the NASA website that the United States is currently planning to expand funding for the International Space Station until the year 2020. I think this support for the space program is a step on the path to a story similar to the situation that has arisen in "The Silk and the Song". Maintenance of humanity's ability to be in space contributes to our ability to explore space. This is exciting to see because with all of the financial trouble the world is having, countries still see ample reason to fund this kind of platform for research and exploration options.
ReplyDeletefMRI(functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machines are being study for use in courtrooms. When an area of the brain is being used to recall a memory or formulate a lie it would glow brighter than the other areas of the brain. Although this machine hasn't been cleared for use in courts yet because it's accuracy is still only between 75% and 98%. This seems like it would make the legal system much more accurate.
ReplyDeleteI found a new park that is being built in South Korea that is the Dysneyland of Robotics. This will be completed in 2012, and will be open to anyone that can pay. It will be filled with all robots.
ReplyDeleteIn popular mechanics they have built a robot to make repairs to the space station in space. Since NASA is facing budget cuts they have had to come up with new ideas on how to cut costs. This reminds me of the sales man story and the robot that comes to their house. Also they have built the largest solar powered boat and have set the date for her maiden voyage. this reminds me of the steamship man we read in the begining of class and all the steam coal and electric powred stuff they had.
ReplyDeleteThe connections that I see between the Google Reader and the stories that we have been reading, are most of them connect to major Xenophobia, like the Puppet Show when the humans see that the donkey was pulling all of the strings. And they themselves are shocked that they misunderstood these creatures.
ReplyDeleteOne of the stories that I read about was a treadmill that could reenact any hike in the world. This state of the art technology kind of relates to "Sales Pitch" in a way that it's something that tries to make life easier. I think it's interesting because it's something that forces people to stay in their homes and hike instead of exploring the rest of the world. The element of multiple possibilities while staying at home will attract the people to buy the product and while they're at home, there is more opportunity to see more adds. In relation to "Sales Pitch," the more things that people find that they think they can find, the more that the economyy can try to control people.
ReplyDeleteThe article I read was regarding the newly discovered "planet-like" mass in our galaxy commonly referred to as planet X. I thought this planet could potentially be similar to the "forbidden planet" because we want to explore the planet. Most likely the same circumstances aren't likely, but the fact that we know little about this planet allows us to predict what it may be like.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading and searching on science and technology, there are some connections shared with the short stories we have read in class. I feel like this technology that keeps being introduced to us is a bit over our heads. I don't understand how technology can do all of these things that we do manually. That is sort of the same thing in some of the science fiction stories. For example, in the story "Sales Pitch" the technology is extremely advanced. There are robots everywhere that are selling things and virtual and audio advertisements. That seems to me a little extreme. And hopefully that won't happen to us in our future, where the technology gets out of our hands and too advanced for us.
ReplyDeleteIn google reader I found an article about a man who created an aerodynamic suit for ski speeders. he talked about how he wished that speed skiing is was still in the Olympics. He likes speed skiing so much that he invented a suit that would help speed skiers to go much faster with this particular suit. I think this relates to our stories in light of the fact that people are trying to find ways to increase human ability using technology. For example, flying cars and super fast ways of getting around in space are easily relatable because the improve human capability and are also very convenient.
ReplyDeleteI just read about how the Pheonix lander on Mars has lost connection with Earth over the Martian winter. This shows that we still have not mastered space travel/survival on Mars, and that we aren't quite as strong as we think. This might relate to the story "Puppet Show", which also shows that humans aren't always as wise as they think they are.
ReplyDeleteI read about new ways for humans to start flying. They had body suits for people to wear to help them fly. This reminded me of the story we read, "Sales Pitch" because it seems like a new world filled with high-tech ways to travel around and explore new scientific experiments.
ReplyDeleteI read about an augmented reality app that can tell you about that person and also link you to there facebook, twitter etc. I think this could go along with the post mortem people because it could help them identify dead people.
ReplyDeleteThe stories we have read have contained early concepts of present day technology, such as steel and video phones in Ralph 124-C 41+. There are many things that stories have foreshadowed, and there will undoubtley be many more.
ReplyDeleteThe article that I read had to do with aliens and how technology is getting more advanced to determine if there really is aliens out there. This story relates to the recent story we read puppet show because it had to do with aliens and how there is more life out there besides us.
ReplyDeleteI read about a new gadget that Apple has come out with, the iPad. Its basically a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 iPhone. Apple has referred to it as "magical". The iPad its faster and more improved than the iPhone and on the iPad they have 3D games. What more can Apple come up with?
ReplyDeleteThere has recently been a "paper chip" that can diagnose illnesses such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases invented at Harvard University. The chip tests this just by placing a drop of blood on one side of the paper. This reminds me of the "Tick-tockman" and the technology that existed in that story, namely the device that could take years off of your life and shut off your heart.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a general consistency in the number of articles about space travel and improvements that are being made to the space program. In a good number of the stories that were read, mass space travel was a common theme, and one that it appears is being worked towards. While it may not be practical for ordinary citizens to fly into space, there may be a number of companies with private rockets designed to transport materials and people.
ReplyDeleteThe article i read talked about a 6 foot robot that weighs 239 pounds and has the capability to play ping pong with anyone. It uses the latest technology to see where the ball will land and when it should swing the world of ping pong will never be the same .
ReplyDeleteI read several articles that were about mixes of technology and art. Modern technology is expanding the possibilities of what was previously thought that it couldn't touch. In our stories we frequently see new technology mechanizing activities we commonly think cannot be replaced. Music and visual art are things we recently thought only humans can do. If this trend continues, a science-fiction like future is eminent.
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