Let the games begin

Holy cow. I want it.

I'm not a gamer by any stretch of the word, but this looks fun. In the article "Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality" a new "toy" of sorts is discussed which uses a real life flying toy with a camera that displays on one's iPhone. The iPhone interface then overlays a virtual game world on top of the camera display. So you can be flying your helicopter, hovercraft, etc. around your living room against virtual enemies. How cool is that?

I'm trying to envision where the gaming world will go next. It's obvious that this industry is huge. Some budgets to develop games rival those of Hollywood blockbuster movies. This is big business. With the launch of the iPad and further implementation on iPhone, Droids and the like, the game world is at another stepping off point.

Have you flown with Virgin Atlantic recently? On the plane you can play games against other flyers. Think of that to the extreme. Soon I can see myself riding the metro playing all sorts of virtual reality (check that: Augmented Reality) games against fellow metro riders.

Let the games begin! HI-YO!

Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality by Erick Shonfeld

Why the iPad is a game changer for virtual environments by Lowell Cremorne

"More, worse, forever"

After having watched Lawrence Lessig's speech (see below for link), I'm left feeling a bit on edge. Mr. Lessig speaks of the many issues and concerns that the internet has brought up on society.

One of these he speaks about is the idea of "More, Worse, Forever." By this, he means that the internet allows us, as a society, to provide and source more information and data than ever before. A first blush, I'm happy with this thought.

But Mr. Lessig goes on to say that much of this information - or comments on this information and so forth - is worse. The anonymity and huge reach of the internet can often bring out the worst in people. People can freely speak as terribly as they feel when given the cloak of the internet.

Perhaps potentially worst of all, every bit of this data is forever. All of these comments, posts, articles, etc. are kept in some form on the internet for all foreseeable time. Good in some cases, yes. But when individuals can find these tidbits and take them out of context for their personal use...bad.

Thus, I'm left on edge. To some extent, I really don't even feel like writing this blog tonight. Maybe even considering taking down other blogs I have. But I really must go on with my life. I'm going to take solace in the overwhelming good of humankind. I feel (with fingers crossed), nothing but good can come from the use and timelessness of the internet.

"Speech, Privacy and the Internet" by Lawrence Lessig

Note to self...

I've GOT to remember to use LinkedIn more. This site is truly fantastic for job hunting. On the surface, it looks as though I'm a great user. I've got my profile up and running, complete with a detailed resume, contacts and even recommendations.

But I need to use it to find a job! I keep forgetting that I'm in the midst of a pretty major job hunt here. LinkedIn should be - and will be - my new best friend. I've heard some great stories about LinkedIn connecting people to their dream job. With any luck and a good bit of effort, I hope to write a blog on here soon about finding that dream job.

The second article on Mashable (great website, by the way) mentioned LinkedIn's "spiffy" iPhone app. They were right. It IS pretty spiffy. But it's lacking the one thing I need. I can't search for jobs on it! Isn't that the point? Or at least one of the major points?

Maybe I'm getting a little too mobile-greedy. I think my last post has me expecting to be able to do everything in the palm of my hand. Soon enough! Until then, it's off to job hunt on this ol' laptop of mine...

Job Hunting With Social Media

How To Get The Most Out of LinkedIn

Follow me

In our readings this week, we see a lot of discussion regarding Mobile Social Networking Software, aka "Mososo" (see Gloria Goodale's article below). This is clearly where the majority of mobile communication is headed. Sure we need to make business phone calls and read a few emails. But the rest of it? It's all going social.

What else would keep us on our phones for so long? Do you think high school and college kids are checking school emails all day, running up their parents' bills? Heck no.

I've recently (read: in the past year) seen a huge explosion of photos that have been uploaded via a mobile phone. Once the cameras on these devices reach the quality of digital cameras, I'm sure we'll see most pocket-sized cameras disappear. Who wants to take a photo, wait to get home, plug the thing in to their computer, upload to their desktop and THEN upload it online? Nobody.

I love being able to upload a photo (or other quick personal information) online. I can let my friends see what I'm up to more quickly, I get much faster feedback.

Being able to share the fun I'm having on a trip in the height of the fun is just that much more fun. It's only the tip of the iceberg. I can't even imagine the programs that will be developed over the next few months that will take this to a whole new level. Keep following me on your iphone to find out!

Rise and rise of GPS mobile By Marc Cieslak

Students' new best friend: MoSoSo By Gloria Goodale

Derrrrrrrr

I'm reading these articles, and I'm thinking, "Huh? I'm not dumber, I'm SMARTER! I can look up facts in the palm of my hand! I can instantly find the definition to any word in any language!"

Two of Boston.com's article's "8 reasons why this is the dumbest generation" reasons are that people under 30 today "don't read books" and "can't spell." I disagree. I still constantly read books. I'm an excellent speller. I think that Boston.com is focusing too narrowly on certain groups and projecting that onto all people under 30.

Maybe I don't know many teens anymore and maybe these kids are in far worse shape than me. I did actually have to write papers by hand (gasp!) at one point in my schooling after all. Maybe school aged kids today have never had to.

So sure, it's conceivable that younger people (say, under 18 not under 30) could be getting dumber. But what would I know? I only read that online.

8 reasons why this is the dumbest generation boston.com

Nobel Laureate Says the Internet Makes Us Dumb, We Say: Meh by Duncan Riley