Robots Will Soon be our Chauffeurs

Up until quite recently, humans were necessary to drive an automobile. There was no way around it. Now, however, companies such as Google and Tesla Auto have been investing money in self-driving cars. Cars that don’t need a human driver. Cars that never make human mistakes, such as going through a light or driving over the speed limit. These cars were first created by Google a few years back, but recently, the company has found ways to make them much cheaper. The cars are likely to come into our lives in the not-so-distant future, but many people have mixed opinions on them.

Some people would love having cars like these, as they no longer have to drive. My parents say that it’s tiring to drive all day, from home to work, back again, and then to all the afternoon activities. They say that they would much rather sit in the back and read a book, or have a conversation. A lot of adults feel the same way. They would much rather spend time with their family, or catch up on reading a good book while in the back of the car.

Another reason for autonomous cars is that driving is very stressful. The driver must always be paying attention to his speed, the road, the cars around him, the signs, and more. If they make a mistake, they could get themselves or the people around them killed. Self-driving cars take away that stress.

The flip side to that coin, however, is that many people don’t want to put their lives in the hands of a robot. If the robot messes up, they could die. It is hard to develop a trust with something that has no feelings. I, personally, would rather take the responsibility upon myself, instead of giving it to a machine. While these cars may be programmed to never go over the speed limit, or to slow down while turning, they are not fool-proof. Neither are humans, really, but I would feel much more comfortable if I drove myself.

These cars can also take away some of the fun in driving. I, while having no experience driving, think that it looks quite fun. It’s exciting to control such a powerful machine, and to have so much responsibility. I’m sure there are kids who feel the same way. Others, however, might be too lazy to learn to drive, and would embrace the opportunity to never have to learn at all.

Finally, many argue that these autonomous cars would enable many, who previously could not drive, to be transported. Such people would include the blind and elderly. These people would not be able to drive a vehicle, making transportation difficult for them. They could take a train, but they would still have to get to the train station, which would either require walking or a vehicle. With a self-driving car, they now have the freedom to go wherever they want, as the car has a GPS that writes directions for it. An elderly or blind person would just tell their car where to go, and would be able to get there.

Overall, I think that these cars are beneficial for many people, but I personally would still want a regular one. These cars would give more time to adults to read or spend time with their children, and previously immobile people the freedom to go wherever they want. They also take away the stress of driving. The self-driving vehicles, do, however, scare many people, as it is hard to feel comfortable when giving your life to a robot. I am one of those people, who would almost never entrust a machine with such a responsibility. I would want to control my own car, and get to experience the joy of driving. My opinion on driving may change once I actually try it, but for now, I would not want an autonomous car. In the future, when they are introduced into society, I would probably not buy one. Others will have to make the same choice, to get one or not, sooner than they think.

~Yasin

iPhone 6 Mania

As most people know, the iPhone 6 and 6 plus have recently come out and it’s being sold out in stores all around the United States. This is Apple’s ninth and tenth iPhone since 2007 and it’s larger and slimmer than ever before,with a new retina HD display and an improved camera. The iPhone 6 has a 4.7 inch display and is 6.9 mm while the iPhone 6 plus has a 5.5 inch display and is 7.1 mm. Also accompanying the new phone is the release of IOS 8.  All these new features have people lining up in and around stores just for the hope that they will be able to bring it home. One person is Jason Hawkins who arrived at his verizon store at 4 a.m and was the second person in line. Most people had to wait overnight such as Michael Sharf, who was awaiting a 6 plus. This just shows that people care a lot about technology.

I have the iPhone 5s which was released in September of 2013, and I am completely happy with it. Considering this is my first iPhone and i’ve only had it for about four weeks, I felt no need to wait for an even larger phone. The iPhone 5s has some, but not many similarities to the 6 and 6 plus, one of which includes touch ID. Touch ID is where you can use your fingerprint to unlock your phone and buy apps and music. Other than that, almost everything is improved from the 5s. The truth is, Apple will keep updating their phones and their computers, one after the other, and people are always going to want “the best” and “the newest”, and some people might get them. But if you have an iPhone now, and you’re just dying to have the new phone now you don’t have to. Next year there might be an iPhone 6c or 6s, maybe even an iPhone 7. So don’t worry, one day you might have something even better.

~Michelle

Apple Seems to Pull Ahead With Their New Products

Recently, Apple INC. revealed the new Iphone 6. There are three new products that are involved. There is the Iphone 6, the Iphone 6 Plus, and the Iwatch. The Iphone 6 has a 4.7 inch display which is around the same size as the Iphone 5 and the Iphone 5S. This Iphone is running at $199 with a contract. The Iphone 6 plus has a 5.5 display and is much bigger than any of the other Iphones, and is a big as the new Samsung Galaxy S5. The Iphone 6 Plus runs for a whopping $299 with the contract. Finally the Iwatch; this is an accessory for the Iphones that connects to your phone so you can have your phone on your wrist. Both the Iphone 6 and the Iphone 6 Plus both have made the same changes, such as making them very thin and adding sapphire to the screens which makes the screen almost un-crackable.

I personally think that the Iwatch is an excellent addition to the iphones. This makes it so that you do not need to bring your phone everywhere you go. Also, making the Iphone screen larger is a great idea. However, I did not think it was really necessary to make two different versions. All together I believe, as do many other people, that this is the best Iphone that Apple has made so far. I cannot wait until Apple comes out with their next version of the Iphone.

~Joey

Amazon…Smartphone?

Amazon is famous for their delivery services. Many people prefer to do all their shopping online to avoid the hassle of getting to a store. Each year, Cyber Monday is as big on sales as Black Friday. Amazon does have other services however. Prime deals with faster delivery, Reality TV, Movie streaming, and Music. Some people even prefer Amazon to giants like Netflix and Hulu Plus. Kindle is a big contender in eReading. But, smartphones? Amazon has recently released the Amazon Fire Phone. Much cheaper than other smartphones on the market, it runs Fire OS, and Android based OS. There are 3 classic models of 16, 32 and 64 GB. The size of the phone is on the larger side at 5.48 x 2.62 x 0.35 in. The phone supports a whopping 2 MB of RAM, on a phone!!! The processor is a quadcore 2.2 gHz Krait processor. Max battery life on stand-by is 285 h. The max talk time is 22 h, and the max music play is 65 h. This video is the actual press conference where the Fire phone was released.

The Fire Phone isn’t a bad start for Amazon. With some improvements, it may come to be a major contender in the smartphone market. A first impression shows the OS very similar to Android. However, the cheaper prices may appeal to many people, especially those looking for a first major phone. Personally, I like the look of the phone. Swivel dynamic shortcuts look extremely useful and quick. The “Firefly” button looks intriguing as well. I like the idea of a home button that has many more functions. And of course, like the Kindle Fire, the “Mayday” button. For someone who isn’t tech-savvy and doesn’t like figuring everything out, live helpers can be really helpful. Amazon is also amping the deal with many added offers. Buying the Fire phone will grant a free year of prime, as well as 1000 coins of Amazon gold, roughly a $10 value. For those who like games on their phones, and addicting infinite runner games, etc., this phone might not be the thing. The Amazon app  store isn’t as appealing to developers as much as Google Play or The iOS App Store. All considered however, I think the Fire Phone is a brand new perspective to smartphone, and an interesting addition to the market. We’ll have to see how the sales play out by the end of the year.

~Ayan

 

A Cancer Test That Only Costs Three Cents!

 

Have you ever experienced a loved one being diagnosed with cancer. If you have, it’s apparent that cancer is no easy battle. In this day and age, technology has enabled researchers to do more and more research on typical cancers (like breast cancer). But what about the more rare cancers, such as pancreatic cancer? Today, I’m here to inform you about Jack Andraka’s process of creating this breakthrough and the challenges he dealt with through this process.

After losing a family friend to pancreatic cancer, Jack started doing some research. From the start, he found out that 85% of pancreatic cancers are detected late (when there is a 2% chance of survival). He knew that he wanted this to change, but how? All great minds start somewhere, and Jack started out by pinpointing a protein (in the bloodstream) that is present in all pancreatic cancer cases and in the earliest stages. This protein is mesothelin. After having an epiphany in the middle of a high school biology class, he was on to something. Basically, he would “lace antibodies to [carbon] nanotubes so that they would react to mesothelin,” (blog.ted.com). Now, this theory may seem confusing to the average middle schooler, but Jack states that, “it’s as easy as making chocolate chip cookies.”

In Jack’s seminar, he talked about a preexisting pancreatic cancer test, pointing out how costly such tests were (as high as $800) and that they often didn’t produce accurate results. Now the hard part is over… or is it? Finding a lab to conduct his research was a challenge for Jack. In fact, he wrote to 200 scientists to use their lab and got 199 rejections. John Hopkins University was willing to take him up on his idea, but not without asking him tons of questions. Nonetheless, he kept going and, in the end, produced a sensor for pancreatic cancer through hard work and minor improvements to his plan. This just goes to show how, no matter your age, anyone can achieve great things.

To me, Jack’s story is really inspirational. I guess, whenever you have an idea, you should never be afraid to pursue it. In Jack’s case, he received many rejections, but, in the end, produced a cancer detector that will change millions of people’s lives. The best part about his invention, to me, is how inexpensive it is. At a mere 3 cents, it’s incredibly affordable and has close to a 100% accuracy rate. Jack had spoken in a TED seminar a few months ago. Be sure to watch this video, as you can hear the full story behind Jack’s discovery. This just goes to show that innovation takes hard work but really pays off in the end. It just takes one idea.

~ Mehreen

 

Bakery Story: The Online Baking Revolution

Bakery story is an online game available on the app store. It’s free, and creates a world where easy, electronic baking is possible. In this game you have a job to run a bakery. You must constantly leave food on the counters, or you’re at risk of customers leaving with broken hearts. The food on this app takes a variety of time to cook, ranging from five minutes, to two bakery story days (forty-four hours) There are dozens of ovens to choose from, each creating specific foods, related to the oven name. For example, the shaved ice machine creates red, blue, and rainbow shaved ice, and the deep fryer adds donuts, and other fried food onto your counters. In this game you can continually expand your bakery, leaving room for more chairs, tables, and other decorations. You are also able to decorate the bakery in a variety of themes, or create your very own style, mixing and matching chairs and tables. All of these luxuries may be purchased with the coins and gems that your bakery earns for feeding happy customers. These coins and gems can also be purchased using real world money within an in-store purchase, but your bakery can survive without spending real money. Finally, bakery story allows people to make friends with other bakery’s. The benefits of having friends is that your friends may give your bakery six tips a day, providing the Bakery Story owner with extra coins to buy items. Also, your friends give you a daily gift. This gift may help when trying to build an oven that you don’t have all the parts for. Overall, Bakery Story is a game that leaves millions happy as they are provided with the entertainment of online fun.

I am a fellow bakery story lover. I have reached level 70/99 and have over three million coins. I love how I am able to redesign my bakery, and put my creative mind into play, using the app. I’ve made beach, autumn, movie, Paris, and winter themed. My friends are always leaving compliments on my wall about my fabulous bakery. I have over 100 neighbors, who give me fully tipped tables each day. Normally, I check my bakery twice a day. I bake eight-hour foods in the morning, that will be finished in the afternoon. Then, I bake twelve-hour foods to cook through the night. My favorite part of Bakery Story is the goals. Every week this app comes out with new goals for the bakers to complete. After you have finished a goal you earn a prize of either coins, or a decoration. I know many people who have bakeries, and love it just as much as I do. Amelia Pellegrino, a level 63 baker says, “Bakery story is one of my favorite apps, it’s so simple and easy to use.” Everyone loves this game! Bakery story is mostly of interest to the teenage group, mostly girls, but many boys as well. It entertains the daily life of many of todays people in this electronically filled World. In conclusion Bakery Story is an amazing app and I suggest that everyone gets it, because I know that they will enjoy it just as much as I do.

~Lucy

What is Social Media Doing to Our Society?

 

Social media seems to have evolved and taken over the 21st century. Everywhere we go, people are “tweeting” or “instagramming,” sharing pieces of their life with their friends and followers. Social media shares information with people all around the world, keeping everyone updated about your personal life. There are many different social media websites now, ranging from public videos on Youtube to photo sharing on places like Snapchat. Social media has increased communication around the world. It’s easy enough to just a shoot a quick text or message someone on Facebook, and they could contact you from anywhere. With the pros of this new technology comes cons, and there are quite a few. It limits to face-to-face socialization and cyber bullying has become a huge issue. Keeping this in mind, we have to ask ourselves- is social media running our lives?

I think that social media can be greatly beneficial to society, but it needs limits. It can help to improve business, and is a part of many peoples’ daily life. I love going on Twitter and seeing what people have to say! That being said, it should have boundaries. Updating your status every 5 seconds is not going to help you land a job or get an A+ on your next test. I believe that everyone needs to take a step back from this revolution and see what really matters. True socialization is dying in society and by simply having a conversation with someone in person, or going out with friends, you can help to save it.

~Emma

Cell Phones: Helpful or Distracting ?

Cell phones are a must have device now days. I can tell you at least 99% of the people I know have cell phones. They are a great source when you miss the bus, forget some homework, need a ride home from somewhere, etc. Kids use them constantly and make teachers not want them in school. These kids are just ruining these privileges for everyone else. Do you think its fair when everyone elses privileges are taken away because of a few kids. No, of course not! Cell phones are for emergencies, and aren’t supposed to be distractions during school hours.

Personally, I think cell phones are pretty cool. Well of course I do! I’m almost a teenager and teenagers can’t live without them. However, for kids my age, I think an iPhone or Galaxy X3 is too much. I am a contender of this nonsense. I happen to have a smartphone myself but I don’t over use it unlike many of my classmates.  I think a good flip phone that can call and text would be fine for someone my age. It gives all the basic functions someone like me would need. Now I ask you fellow reader, does it seem right for a 4th grader to have a cell phone? I didn’t think so. My little cousin is in 4th grade and she has a cell phone! These days, cell phones are no longer for emergencies. They are now just something that almost everyone has.

~Caylee

Feeling Technology?

As we all know, there are many new inventions allowing people to experience many new things. We have many new examples of touch screen technology such as face and fingerprint recognition. But, a new experimental touchscreen from Disney allows one to actually feel the object. These touchscreens are placed in displays and will be used for viewers to actually feel the object while learning about the specific topic. These new screens will be able to add to the displays anywhere. Many experts believe that these new touch screens should be used in schools, museums and so much more.

I believe that these new products should be used all over. I think this because as of right now, the only ways that people can view an object using their five senses is to see and hear. Now, people will be able to touch the object as well. This can improve peoples learning by knowing the texture and feel of the object, not just what it feels like. Also, one will be able to know the length and width of the object, not just its two dimensional form, as shown in just about all textbooks. Therefore, this new piece of technology will be extremely helpful in ones learning and I believe that it should be used in classrooms, labs and museums.

~Abby

Apple’s iPhone 5s, a Win or a Lose?

Apple is one of the dominating companies in the phone business, but many are raising eyebrows on their new releases. The iPhone is one of the most used phones in the world, but is Apple using good and revolutionary ideas? Many may argue that they are reusing old ideas and aren’t on the top of the list for most innovative. The chassis of the iPhone 5s is the same as the 5, but with a few hardware changes.

First, the core in the 5s is faster than its predecessor. The new updated A7 chip now is 64-bit chip which means better processing speeds and computing power. This chip will also allow for more RAM, which in the future is great for IOS developers. New to the phone is the M7 chip. This special chip reads the accelerometer, gyrometer and compass separately from the CPU. With the CPU still asleep data from the M7 chip can be recorded even when the phone is off while not running out your battery. This therefore saves battery while recording data for apps related to health, running, etc.

Secondly, the camera has been updated and has really been a huge hit with consumers. The new camera has large pixels which allows better low light pictures. Also, the new 8 megapixel camera captures hi-resolution picture that come out stunning. The camera isn’t the best on the market, but combines great features to make an overall great camera.

Finally, the main change in the iPhone 5s is the home button. Apple reinvented the home button by turning it into a Touch ID Sensor. This new feature has had a lot of hype from the media and is a great new feature. The Touch ID Sensor lets you unlock your phone without a password. Also, you can use your fingerprint as you Apple ID for quick download. Touch ID is also very secure, with your fingerprint only accessible to perform two tasks, so other apps cannot locate the information.

These ideas are new but I believe that Apple isn’t leading the pack in innovation  anymore and that Android competitors are creeping up on Apple with design. Even though Apple hasn’t reinvented the iPhone they made a great decision for the company  business wise. This is because they didn’t spend money on design and testing for the new Phone. By reusing the iPhone 5 chassis Apple doesn’t waste time on designing an entire new phone, but just changes a few hardware and then sells it. This is and smart and safe move by Apple and I believe it was the right decision.

~Nick