Glove Phone

Inspector Gadget beware Jason Bradbury's got your number, or at least your ticket on the hand-headset phone That's right, the cellphone glove is a dismantled Bluetooth headset wired into a glove; too bad the the thumb lacks the classic telescoping antenna. Best watch out for this guy, something tells us the next time we see him he'll be biting Maxwell Smart with a Bluetooth headset shoe.
The glove has a slit in the insulation layer, with a zip placed along the palm side of the thumb cover. The zip is partially covered by a removable flap to ensure the zip does not interfere with the normal operation of the glove.

Camera Phone

After hearing the voice of someone on the other line we need to see a visual of that person. The invention of the camera telephone is the device of communication that makes that possible. This telephone makes communication easy and effective around the world.
A telephone comprises a camera, a display and processing and communication circuitry. The camera is located in a first body part of the telephone and the display is located in a second body part of the telephone.
The body parts are joined via a tilt and swivel hinge, which allows movement of the body parts between at least a first and a second position relative to each other. The first relative position is such that the camera and the display are facing in a first direction. The second relative position is such that the camera and the display are facing in substantially different directions. The hinge can actuate electric switching means connected to the circuitry in the telephone when allowing movement of the body parts between the two positions relative to each other. The processing and communication circuitry is configured to detect the actuation of the electric switching means.

Micromedia Paper

What can a piece of paper do? Well technology introduces a new way to use paper. Bringing the concept of moving, talking photos from Harry Potter to real life, this paper-thin media player complete with display, battery, and memory lets you record video. Send it as a greeting card to Grandma and she can watch it without fiddling with a PC or DVD player. A ten pack will sell for around 35 dollars. All the enabling technologies are now in development. Even a sheet a paper can be made to make miracles…. what’s next?

$100 for a laptop

When laptop first came out they were so big and expensive. Now they are small and sufficient. The one laptop available is only 100 dollars...

Laptop Per Child Association, Inc. is a U.S. non-profit organization set up to oversee the creation of an affordable educational device for use in the developing world. The mission for the organization is "To create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.” This particular laptop is unbreakable and easy to use. It’s a unique organization that makes communication a global necessity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fgZWT48D6I

RFID Technology

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification (also referred to as RFID tag) which is basically the use of an object inserted or attached to another object such as an animal or even a human being. This device transmits Radio waves to give a certain location of where the objects are and can be transmitted over several meters. This is a fairly new technology which is used generally for the purposes of inventory in major companies but ultimately its not something that’s unheard of as far as placing these RFID Tags in humans. If not our constitutional right to privacy there would be nothing holding back the government from placing these RFID tags into certain individuals such as AIDS patients. It is scary to think of what will happen ten years down the road as far as how the government could possibly bypass these laws and have society questioning whether the development of this new technology benefited society, or brought society to a disadvantage

Fiber Optic Communication

Fiber Optic Communication is the transmission of information from one place to another by sending a pulse of light using optical fibers which are made up of either glass or plastic fiber. This innovative technology allows for a faster more secure form of transmitting information over greater distances and at higher bandwidths. Although this technology has been around for quite some time now, other than our government, military, and corporate America not everyone has access to such faster more efficient forms of technology. Eventually all of the world will switch to this type of transmission of information to replace the old way of metal wires which can at times lose some information that could ultimately affect the data being streamlined from one location to another. As soon as either this technology becomes more well known or more cost efficient this should revolutionize the way our society transmits information whether through a simple email or even a social setting online such as Twitter.

Quantum Cryptography

Quantum Cryptography uses quantam mechanics to secure telecommunication. Its basically a way of having some sort of security wrapped around a private communication. This evolving Technology allows for the two users who are engaged in a private communication through a key which allows encryption/decryption of a communication the ability to detect another third possible user interested in accessing this private information. Although, this is mostly used by military and high ranking government officials, eventually everyone throughout the world will want this type of security to make them feel at ease about relaying information.

4G Networks

A 4G network is an upgrade from the current 3G network which is designed to assist wireless devices in more proficient usefulness of wireless networks. 4G network services will have faster and clearer service for such things as voice calls, internet usage through a cell phone, along with video calls. It may seem hard to believe that we need faster and clearer reception in our wireless devices but society keeps pushing these advancements to help assist us in our everyday new natural form of communication through cell phones. Therefore, all the major cell phone service providers are looking into getting these 4G networks in the near future, one of which is Verizon Wireless which plans on having the 4G network available on their phones as early as 2010.

Communication in the Classroom

As students we are very used to the concept of a teacher standing in front of the classroom and lecturing. We sit, absorb information through taking notes and then prove ourselves through testing. However, as life becomes more chaotic and college becomes more expensive, many students are looking to online courses. Online courses are relatively new, and most are still working out the kinks. How do you give a test online without the student using his notes? There is no way to make sure. But more importantly, you lose the human to human contact and interaction. You do not develop that relationship with the teacher. It is much more difficult and time consuming to ask a question and get a response. There must be a way around it. New technology is paving the way. At some major Universities, professors are beginning to post videos of themselves lecturing. The online classrooms are becoming more interactive. Who is to say that in the future students will step foot into an actual school? Their work may all be completed over the internet.

An iPhone for Verizon?

Since the Iphone’s release it has only been available to those on the AT&T network. It has lost many potential buyers because it was only available through one retailer. There have been many complaints by Verizon users who wish to purchase the Iphone but cannot due to contract restrictions. Recently Verizon began speaking and negotiating with Apple in attempt to create a phone for their service. This is a fantastic opportunity for Apple to broaden its user base. AT&T is known for having dropped calls and poor service. There are countless amounts of people who would not consider using the iPhone because it is only available through AT&T. There are rumors flying that the new phone would be available to Verizon customers within a year. Pretty exciting!

A Super TV?

Many cable and phone companies are creating packages for their subscribers. Cable TV, Landlines, and Caller ID are just some of the options included in the package. By doing so they are able to intertwine the features. For example, if someone were to call the house phone while you were watching TV the phone number and name of the caller appears across the bottom of the screen. It is possible that in the future we will have “Super TV’s” if you will. They will take the current capabilities one step further. You would be able to talk directly though the television screen. If the technology progresses there could even be a visual image of the person talking. As landlines seem to become a thing of the past, this could be the technology that will replace them.

An easier way to text...

Recently texting has become a very popular form of communication. With the popularity has come many downfalls such as texting and driving. It is senseless and completely unnecessary. States across the country are creating laws that prohibit cell phone use while driving. What if there was a program or tool that would spell out what you spoke into a text? Technology is not too far off. Most cell phones now have a read aloud feature which will open and read an incoming text. A program that typed would be the next step… imagine the convenience it would bring. It would prevent countless accidents yearly.

Holographic Messages

Holographic Messages

"Last month Prince Charles delivered a speech at the
World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He didn't have
any slides, and he didn't shake hands or answer questions afterwards. That's
because he was present as a hologram. The speech was recorded in
Gloucestershire, England last year, and was broadcast to the WFES using the
technology of a British company called Musion. Part of the incentive for Charles
to deliver the speech via hologram was to save the 15 tons of CO2 that would
have been expended if he had made the trip in a physical jet. The speech
involved praising the creation of a new carbon neutral city in Abu Dhabi called
Masdar which is currently in development. The city of Masdar will rely entirely
on solar energy, and the first phase of construction is estimated to be
habitable by 2009."

http://www.realitysandwich.com/holographic_messages



Environmentally helpful and techno-AWESOME! Holographic messages are becoming a tool of the today! Already used in Universal Studios attractions in florida, these realistic holograms are evolving at a rapid pace. Cell phones can now give you the virtual holographic experience as well.
Watch the video below:

VIDEO

Virtual Presence

VIRTUAL PRESENCE VIDEO
(CLICK ME TO WATCH^)

"A growing number of products are attempting to create a sense of presence where users feel that remote objects are actually nearby, or synthetically created objects actually exist. Creating a sense of presence is often a goal for training simulators and thrill rides as well as virtual reality (VR) systems, home theatres, IMAX films, HDTV, and video arcade games. Remote communications, such as those enabled by videoconferencing systems, also attempt to create a sense that distant users are physically present, or at least can be treated that way during conversations. Creating a sense of presence is felt to be important because it makes products appear more natural, immediate, direct, and real."
http://www.andrewpatrick.ca/virtual-presence/presence-ideas.html

Virtual presence is becoming extremely popular in today's society. So far there are a handful of sources of technology that create this "virtual presence," but it can be assumed that the future will bring much more realistic and innovative ways to view "virtual" beings.

Telepathy - The Future of Communication

Telepathy is the direct transference of thought from one person (sender) to another person (receiver) without using normal sensory channels. The ability to communicate on another level than verbal and written - a communication using only your mind. Since the idea of memory implants and other types of implants are becoming more and more popular, so comes the idea of non-verbal communication? Is telepathy in our future, and if so, how will it affect relationships, personalities, and even our society as a whole?

The Future of Cell Phones - Where is it?

CELL PHONE IMPLANTS!

Wrap your head around this: As technology gets smaller, faster, more futuristic, imagine yourself connected to a device that doesn’t just lamely hang on your ear but invades your skull!!!

Not yet, but soon, “We’re going to wind up in essence with ‘intelligent earrings,’ ” said Paul Levinson, professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York and author of Cellphone: The Story of the World’s Most Mobile Medium and How It Has Transformed Everything! And then . . .“The size is going to continue to decrease until it disappears,” he says.

Kevin Warwick, a cyborg expert at the University of Reading, England, told the San Francisco Chronicle last year that implants are “the next step” and “a relatively minor one.”

“I think they’ll go internal pretty soon,” Levinson said. “Not in a matter of months. But maybe five or 10 years from now."

Homes of The Future

I don't know about you, but my home is not very smart. It does not know when to start my coffee in the morning or how to clean the floor when little Sophie has an accident. It has difficulty distinguishing between a roaring grease fire and a steamy shower, (which makes it a good thing it can't remember the number to call in an emergency). The only interaction I have with the house is when I must dance the Macarena in front of the motion detector to get my outside lights to come on in my backyard. Imagine if the homes of the future could assist in all of the never-fun-to-do chores around the house, or helped take care of you when in need. Is this what's to come in the future?

Engineering the Smart Home

In creating the home of the future, engineers seek to understand what technologies are best suited for the home and how much technology its residents can tolerate. One way researchers test futuristic home ideas is to build a smart home, then invite people to live in it.

Research is mainly being done in these areas:

Health - Monitoring your health, with emphasis on assisting the elderly.

Networking - Connecting occupants and everything else in the house together.

Interfacing - You and technology living with each other in harmony.

Pervasive Computing - Tiny processing devices everywhere.

Environment - Reducing environmental impact.

Energy - Every home produces its own energy.

Robotics - Robot assisted living. Cleaners, caregivers and companions.

The number of cell phones in the world today is 1.5 billion and growing. Airlines will soon be allowing cell phones on planes. Cities such as Philadelphia and San Francisco have plans to blanket themselves with seamless Wi-Fi networks. Telecoms such as Verizon Communications and SBC Communications are doing trial runs of fiber to the home (FTTH), technology that promises broadband speeds of more than 100 times that of current digital subscriber lines (DSL) or cable. It all adds up to a future flooded with great, big wired and wireless pipelines of data coming at you from all directions in all locations at all times. To some, this will be a wonderland of entertainment and telecommunications possibilities. To others, this will be a nightmare of in-your-face digital annoyances…. I can only imagine what will be next for the cellphone.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu0ztxdsFis


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzlSi79yjH0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FScddkTMlTc

Blogging

With computer and internet technology advancements came different types of communications through the internet, one of which is Blogs. A Blog is a contraction of the term weblog; it is basically a website on which commentaries are put along with video’s or even photos of different subjects. The simplest way to put it is a blog is a place on the internet (a webpage) where people can post different things to get some sort of interaction or response from others. It is a more advanced way of communicating on various topics, such as the blog which our class is creating throughout the semester. Now that various blogs exist it is much easier for different people to discuss any type of subject matter which they choose through the internet and most likely since the internet is global they will find someone else who has an opinion on the same subject matter which they are interested in. This is definitely more effective tool that gives people a broader audience to target.

Online dating, is it the wave of the future?

As we move into a time when the internet is not some distant thing that we hear of our government using to communicate but rather something that everyone in society has come accustomed to using so does internet dating. Internet dating has been exploited by various different companies such as Spark Network which holds the popular site jdate.com and Yahoo Inc.’s eharmony.com to facilitate introductions between different people who are attempting to join the dating market and are trying to go outside the usual spectrum of potential options available to them. In today’s day and age internet dating is of the many different options available to society to help become more globalize. It is amazing to wonder where will sites like these eventually take us into the future as far as what new ways will society come up with to being more accessible to one another from a personal standpoint .

Please view link for more details: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDGEDoiuCE8&feature=related

Satellites

With the evolution of technology satellites have made there way into space to help assist people of different nations in many ways. Although the first satellite was launched in 1957 by the Soviet Union the many developments since than have allowed thousands of satellites to be placed into orbit around the earth to help assist the everyday person in many different such as GPS systems (global positioning system) to help navigate us, allowing the general public the use of cellular phones, and to receive weather information anywhere in the world. Without satellites communication technology we as society would have a huge disadvantage in assisting everyday people with their day to day operations. Furthermore, satellites assist militaries of different nations in defending themselves through constant communication throughout the world with their different branches. The further technology keeps pushing the further our need for faster and more convenient forms of communication and satellites are one of the many keys in communication from past to present to the future

MyYearbook...Younger Generation

MyYearbook is fast becoming the next important competition to Facebook. MyYearbook is a social network aimed at high school students. MyYearbook was initially created by two high school students, David and Catherine Cook, and their older brother Geoff, during Spring Break of 2005. With features like battling others pictures, sending flirts, sending premium gifts, and connecting with people your own age it’s a fast paced phenomenon. Although, with this rising age of “site-meetings” also comes the usual problems. Elderly “creepers” as some term it. This term mearly means that people over the age of forty with a username, but these types have a tendency to flirt with people half their age and try to have an element of being a teenager in their “about me” sections. There’s also the usual annoyances of chain mail, chain flirts, and chain gifts. People with entirely too much time on their hands will continuously send you the same comments (i.e please return comment with a page view. Thanks. = D) every day just so they can swing up their popularity vote. Regardless of the many annoying problems with the site, the theme and reason of the site remains clear. As of now, it’s a relatively safe, easy way to communicate with kids your age in highschool or college.

Bluetooth Part 2

More and more states are beginning to implement rules that force drivers to go hands-free with their cell phones. More specifically, I’m referring to the Bluetooth headsets. The name Bluetooth is really a trademark of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). “Bluetooth technology is able to unite differing industries such as the cell phone, computing, and automotive markets. Bluetooth wireless technology simplifies and combines multiple forms of wireless communication into a single, secure, low-power, low-cost, globally available radio frequency” (Bluetomorrow). In the early stages of development there were many influential people who doubted Bluetooth and assumed that they would fade into obscurity over the next few years. Surprising many, Bluetooth has taken leaps in the last few years in building their technology. In 2004, Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) was introduced. “The goal of Bluetooth is to establish a worldwide, universal "language" for devices. Bluetooth uses a standardized wireless protocol for devices to communicate. It forces devices to agree on when bits are sent, how many will be sent at a time, and how the devices in a conversation can be sure that the message received is the same as the message sent. So, you can be positive that any two devices using compatible Bluetooth will definitely be able to communicate with one another” (Bluetomorrow). The advancements that technology has made feel more like a foreign language than a common knowledge. Bluetooths use low power signals, relatively easy to manufacture, and also use low power radio wave signals. “By using the “hopping” method, a device will use one of 79 different, randomly chosen frequencies within an assigned range, and will frequently change frequencies from one to another” (Bluetomorrow). Not only is Bluetooth used as a way to communicate through phones, but also can be used for computers, projectors, and a variety of other things. It’s uses could be continually endless. (and yes, I know someone else did this, I’m elaborating)



Work Cited: "Bluetooth History." Bluetooth Technology - Home. Web. 30 July 2009. .

Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology can be traced back to September 1998 when Bluetooth Special Interest Group started developing technology which to this day assists companies such as Motorola, IBM, Microsoft, and etc. Bluetooth wireless technology is a short range communications system which allows users to replace cables connecting portable and fixed electronic devices. As technology evolves in communication so do societies need to have cheaper and more convenient forms of accessories for their communication devices; from seeing people walking down the street who seem to be speaking to themselves because you cant see the earpiece they are wearing to seeing people communicate through video games such as playstation. Bluetooth technology is quickly growing to becoming the wave of the future.

Hello, Gorgeous!

Like beauty, sleekness is in the eye of the beholder. It's impossible to define easily, but you know it when you see it. It's that feeling in your gut that says, "I don't know what that thing is or what it's supposed to do, but I want one -- now." Technology started with the basics: what we need is what we get. No frills, just facts. By now, the artistic side has kicked in and we have our choice of colors, sizes, and all the bells and whistles. Here are just a few examples of how glam our technology has become.

This, my friends, is the Bang & Olufsen BeoCenter 2 CD/DVD Player. One of a series of audio components in the company's BeoLiving collection that could make an ordinary living room look like something out of "The Jetsons."

And here we have the Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-ray Player. At just 1.5 inches thick, Samsung's BD-P4600 is the slimmest Blu-ray player on the market. The 18-by-8-inch device mounts on the wall below your flat-screen TV or on a table, pumping full-motion 1080p video and Dolby Digital audio to your display.

The Apple MacBook Air Laptop - The sleekest of sleek. When Steve Jobs pulled this paper-thin, titanium beauty out of a plain manila envelope in January 2008, the gasp could be heard from Cupertino to Kalamazoo. The rest of the laptop world has been trying to catch its breath -- and catch up -- ever since.

And finally I give to you Hillcrest Labs' Loop Pointer Remote. Though it may look like a spacecraft, the Loop can be defined as an "in-air mouse" for your TV. An internal gyro tracks your hand movements, letting you point and click your way around the dial. One thing's for sure: You won't confuse it with the seven other remotes cluttering your coffee table.

Skype

Skype is a relatively new software that allows people to make telephone calls over the internet. Calls to other subscribers are free, as well as most calls to landlines and cell phones. Skype also has a video chat feature which allows users to communicate by webcam. This provides a live video through the computer screen where people may talk as if they would in person. It is excellent for people trying to keep in touch over long distances. Skype users may also use their instant messaging service which is similar to others like AOL instant messenger. One of the most positive features is the ability to transfer files. It is very convenient and easy. Check out www.skype.com for more information!

OMG! This is TDF! Celly phones...

What is the one thing, that at any age, a person is rarely seen without? The cell phone. The first cell phone was actually made and used by a man named Martin Cooper. His first telephone call? To his rivals at Bell Labs. It’s strange that over 35 years ago the use of a cell phone was a foreign concept. To think someone could walk around outside, away from a chord, and be able to have a conversation with someone was a phenomenon that many people couldn’t fathom. In 1983, Motorola unveiled to the world, the first truly portable cellular phone. It was called the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. After 100 million dollars spent in research and development and 15 years of getting it ready, the cell phone finally hit the market. They nicknamed it the brick for its 13 x 1.75 x 3.5 inches in size. From there, the rest is history. Cell phones started to develop rapidly and by the 1990’s the second generation (2G) cell phones began to emerge. Nowadays there are so many styles and models to choose from it can be completely overwhelming. We have entered into the 3G model cell phones and development continues to progress. We’ve moved from texting to e-mail to being able to do anything you want that can be done on a computer as well.

Myspace is a popular social networking system. This website allows user to set up an account and create a profile. From here they can find friends or old classmates. It allows users to post information or short blogs. They may also upload pictures, videos or music. Aside from personal accounts, Myspace is used by businesses, corporations and artists to reach new audiences.

iPhone 3G

Apple has recently released a new iPhone through AT&T. There has been much hype surrounding the release. The new iPhone has outstanding capabilities. It has a phone, internet access and an iPod all built into it. The options are endless with its seamless touch screen. You have access to thousands upon thousands of applications. There is an “app” for anything you can imagine. They range from practical to outrageous. Each application allows you to do more with your phone. The new iPhone gives users instant access to their email accounts, calendars and personal contacts. There is a built in camera which takes crystal clear pictures and videos. The touch keyboard is easy to use and comes with a built in spell check. The screen responds to very easily to each flick (moves to next screen), tap (selects item), or pinch (zoom in/out). This phone also recognizes movement as well. It rotates and adjusts depending on how the iPhone is held. The new iPhone is paving the way for convenient communication. Who is to say what will come next.

The video below is a guided tour of the phone.

A "Touchy" Generation

In case you haven't noticed lately, touch-screen phones are in! We're not just talking smart phones like the iPhone either. These touch-screen cellular devices have even narrowed down to the home-style handsets for landlines. Samsung seems to be the father of this generation of touch-screen technology. They have most recently come out with the Samsung Omnia from Verizon Wireless, the Samsung Eternity from AT&T, and the Samsung Memoir from T-Mobile. All of these Samsung touch-screen phones come with Samsung's TouchWiz interface. LG is no slouch either in the touch-screen department. They've just released the LG Versa from Verizon Wireless, which is the first touch-screen handset that comes with optional external modules. But after some comparison shopping it becomes clear that not all touch-screens are created equal. Some won’t work if you have gloves on and some are slow to respond. Touch-screens perform differently from phone to phone because various technologies.

Resistive Touch-screens

The most common type of touchscreen, featured on the LG Dare, Samsung Instinct, HTC Touch Diamond and many other phones, uses “resistive” technology. Resistive screens are comprised of several layers. The top layer, usually a clear polyester film, is flexible. When a finger presses down, the top layer comes in contact with a lower glass layer. The voltage is measured and the location of the press is computed. The downsides to resistive screens include less-than-perfect transparency, scratch-prone surfaces and components that wear out and break over time.

Capacitive Touch-screens

Apple’s iPhone, the G1 and BlackBerry Storm all use the more sophisticated “capacitive” technology. Capacitive touchscreens work well with crystal-clear glass as the touch surface. A circuit board sensor beneath the glass registers changes in electrical capacitance, or charge, when activated by a finger’s electrical charge. The differences between using a phone with capacitive and resistive screens can be striking: the iPhone’s bright, bold display makes the LG Dare or Samsung Instinct seem dim in comparison. The only downside to capacitive touch-screen phones is that a bare finger is required for operation since the body’s electricity is blocked by gloves.

What is Twitter?

This seems to be a popular question lately…. Twitter is a free social network that allows users to keep up to date with each other. Followers or people who are subscribed to a users account are sent updates as they are posted. These updates or messages are known as “tweets.” These tweets are short bursts of less than 140 characters. They may contain any thought emotion or feeling. Twitter is currently one of the top 50 most visited websites. As it has become more popular, Twitter users can access their accounts more conveniently. Updates can be sent through cell phone texts or applications.
There are many celebrities who use Twitter. Ashton Kutcher is one of the most famous users, he was the first to have 1 million followers. Ellen DeGeneres and Brittney Spears place second and third. Twitter was used during the most recent presidential election as a publicity tactic.

View the video below for an excellent explanation...

Facebook Chat

Recently, Facebook added its very own instant messaging feature. This allows users to check and see who is online or idle. Available users have a green dot next to their name, while those who are idle have a moon displayed. Anyone online is grouped by the user’s preference. They can create groups for family, college friends, and high school friends. This chat feature is very similar to AOL instant messaging. It allows those who are online to talk one on one with multiple people. It is much more convenient and private, compared to sending a full message or leaving a note on someone’s wall. They are working out glitches in how to save the conversation and view history. Rumor has it they are in the process of developing a video chat soon!

ICQ - the origins of IM

Instant messaging actually came around before the Internet was fully used. The idea was to instantly communicate with someone who was far away. America Online, Prodigy, and CompuServe were the main hosts that people used to communicate online. The more people began to use the Internet, the more demand came for an easy way to communicate and to speak with one another through online resources. Software programmers began to create chat rooms that allowed multiple users, in different parts of the country, to come online and talk to one another. It was in November of 1996 that Instant Messaging (IM) became a big hit. Mirabilis came up with ICQ, which was a free, instant-messaging software that allowed anyone to communicate with another ICQ user. ICQ stood for I-seek-you and used a client to communicate to any other ICQ user. In 1998 AOL took over Mirabilis and became to pioneering engineer to create an IM in real-time data. Communication through the online world began to expand and boom. Nowadays there is hundreds of IM software. The most popular are Yahoo!, AIM, and MSN Messenger. As the IM industry continues to expand the demand for more emoticons (i.e. smiles that show the actual action), bigger noises, and faster response times will increase as well.

The Webcam

Isn’t it much easier to communicate when you see other person on the other end? The webcam invention was a remarkable idea. People around the world are able to communicate and can see each other. It’s true when they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
It started in 1991, the first webcam, called the CoffeeCam, was directed at a coffee pot in a room called the Trojan room, This room was located in the computer science department of Cambridge University. That particular webcam is now considered obsolete and archaic.
People might also use a form of webcams, known as security cameras, in the home to keep an eye on things while they are out of town or even just to see what their pets do all day. The uses of a webcams are limitless. Businesses often use webcams for video conferencing, and webcam technology is used by numerous other entities to give the public access to a variety of information, from weather and traffic to the feeding habits of the most recently acquired zoo animal. Some schools and day care facilities use a webcam to allow parents to see what their children do at school.
Another use for the webcame, one that makes a lot of money and can be illegal, is the use of webcams in pornography. There is a major business where people can access a site, pay a set fee for a set amount of time and watch women, men, couples, anything do as they wish to themselves and each other in whatever ways they please. The business, unfortunately is booming, and depending on your perspective, could be a major drawback of technology evolving and changing.
The webcam basically works by capturing a series of digital images that are transferred by the computer to a server and then displayed to the hosting page. There are even sites that allow users to upload and store their webcam images for free, which many individuals choose to do for personal use.

The Addiction

Do you have a facebook? Facebook has become one of the most popular social networks and has gained millions of fans. Who was the brilliant developer of facebook?
Well the free-access social networking website is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. founded by a man named Mark Zuckerberg and two students at Harward University.
In this site, users are able to join networks categorized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and develop relationships with other people. People are able to add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.

Blackberry....Crackberry

For most of us, the Blackberry is a moderately new gizmo. While the devices have been around since 1999, they really didn’t start gaining traction until the early 21st century. And even then, Blackberry’s popularity really started its course more recently. The Blackberry, produced by Canadian company research in Motion, uses the same wireless data program as cell phones. The reason why Blackberry became popular was the email capabilities. Although, some people believe that it is more than just a cell phone. It has PDA-style applications such as calendars, messaging, address books and so on, but it is most highly valued for its capability to send and receive email anywhere a wireless network may be accessed. Furthermore, the Blackberry features a QWERTY keypad to make it quicker to send email than with many other handheld cell phones. A key feature for this device is the scroll ball navigation, making it breeze to maneuver through the applications. Some Blackberry models even feature PTT, which is known as Push-To-Talk ability, similar to a walkie-talkie. Also there is the noticeable appeal of the newest technology and features; the Blackberry has a sleek image. It has the capability to be used in many tasks, which a businessperson needs to take care of while they are on the road. The Blackberry’s GRPS and EDGE technologies, along with a great web browser, keep one connected no matter where you may be.

Some may find this a bit offensive. *laughs*

Text Messaging

The first wireless text-messaging services sent messages from paging companies to alphanumeric pagers. Motorola, a leading player in the paging industry, developed technology that consumers, dispatchers, and computers could use to send text messages over its paging networks. There was a limit, only 80 characters or so at a time and a message was sent from the paging network only once despite the fact the pager was turned on or in coverage area of service. There is several ways to send text messages to pagers: Call a dispatcher with your message so that he or she would type it into a paging-specific keyboard attached to dialup to the paging network, purchase a software package prepared purposely for alphanumeric paging, and the Internet became frequently available by visiting a Web site to send a text. Many companies then began giving pagers Internet e-mail addresses to receive e-mail messages and notifications.
Today’s generation grasps the Internet and text messaging with little to no teaching. They know how to use these technology advancements even before they were taught. Text messaging is a tool that youth of today use to express who they are, both literally and figuratively. Furthermore, it is a definite way for the youth to stay in touch. It is also a way to cover up their negative personalities. For example, if an adolescent is shy, by text messaging he or she is less likely to be shy since they aviod confrentation. This new adavanced SMS technology can allow users to order movie tickets, track stock quotes and check bank account balances. Like anything else it has many negatives. For example texting while driving, texting answers to a test, and texting dirty things to friends.

E-mail...the new scope.

Could you live your life without your email? Email is much older than ARPANet or the Internet. It was never invented, but it evolved from very simple beginnings.Early email was just a small progress on what we know these days as a file directory. It just put a message in another user's directory in a spot where they could see it when they logged in. One can think of it just like leaving a note on someone's desk. Perhaps the first email system of this type was MAILBOX, used at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1965. Additionally, an early program to send messages on the same computer was called SNDMSG.Most of the mainframe computers of this era might have had up to one hundred users. Often they used what are called "dumb terminals" to access the mainframe from their work desks. Dumb terminals just connect to the mainframe. They had no storage or memory of their own; they did all their work on the remote mainframe computer.Before internetworking began, as a result, email could only be used to send messages to various users of the similar computer. Shortly after, computers started to “talk” to each other over networks. Nonetheless, the problem became a little more complex .We needed to be able to put a message in an envelope and address it just like we would for a regular letter. Furthermore, to indicate to whom letters should go to, they used electronic posties understood just like the postal system. We needed a way to get a specific address.In 1972, Tomlinson was recognized with invention of the email. Similar to many of the Internet inventors, Tomlinson worked for Bolt Beranek and Newman as an ARPANET contractor. He selected the @ symbol from the computer keyboard to indicate sending messages from one computer to another. Electronic mail is a natural use of networked communication technology that developed along with the evolution of the Internet.

Fax Machines

Faxing by definition is taking a method of encoding data and sending thru a telephone line on one end and having a hard copy appear on the other end in a writing or drawing. The fax machine evolved from the creation of the telegraph. The fax machine was developed in 1843 by a Scottish mechanic named Alexander Bian. Alexander Bian received a patent for improving the production of timepieces, electric printing and the signal telegraph and eventually got to what is now known as a fax machine. The breakdown of how it work as such “devising an apparatus comprised of two pens connected to two pendulums, which in turn were joined to a wire that was able to reproduce writing on an electrically conductive surface.” Although his invention was a success it did not become popular among people till the 1980’s. In modern times, most businesses cannot function without a fax machine and it plays a vital role especially in fortune five hundred companies in relaying key information from one location to another, so what may have once been created and not so much needed became something that the business class of society cannot live without today.

How Microphones Evolved

A microphone is a device used for converting acoustic power into electrical power that has similar wave characteristics. Microphones took sound waves and transformed them into electrical voltages and than switched them back again into sound waves thru speakers.
The first person to “Coin” the phrase microphone was Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1827, he was a British scientist and inventor who paved the way for others to take his initial invention and push it forward to what we use in today’s age. In 1876 Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter. She saw the invention of the telephone and decided that she would find a way to improve it. Eventually a representative from the telephone company saw her invention and bought her patent for fifty thousand dollars. Another inventor, David Edward Hughes, invented the carbon microphone in 1878 and eventually it was developed in the 1920’s. His microphone is the model for what we now use today as carbon microphones. Eventually the ribbon microphone was invented in 1942 with the development of radio broadcasting and it was an essential tool for radio companies throughout the world.
As you can see the microphone itself helped with other inventions like the telephone, radio, and etc. to what is now used today throughout the world in assisting communication.

This is Brittney: Over!

Another archaic form of communication would be the walkie-talkie. This was originally used by the military to help communicate more effeciently without the hinderance of wires and chords. The walkie-talkie used 4, 45-volt dry cells or 12V Nickel-Cadmium batteries. Because of technologies growth, what was once thick clunky bars of soap is now a sophisticated piece of machinery. But as these inventions grew more popular, fast food restaurants began to see the use of having them and installed the system with their waitresses.
On some of the walkie-talkies used by children, some have a call button that allows you to send morse code to someone who is on the same frequency.

Petroglyph & Pictograph: Is that a 6 year olds drawing?

Petroglyphs and pictographs are also known as what is considered rock art. They were used as a form of communication, but nowadays it seems that they were more for stories. They were probably done to make sure that as time went on their stories and times would not be forgotten. The art of Petroglyphs is actually created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, pecking, carving, and abrading. Most of the time its referred to as carving or engraving. Pictographs on the other hand is the actual painting of the rock. When one thinks of rock art, our minds most often drift to the painting and not the actual engraving.

Most believe that these markings were markings for their gods. They put a lot of belief into the healing power of these markings and sometimes were tattooed onto their bodies in symbolism of that healing.

Make sure we check out this video. It's actually very cool.

From Stone Tablets to Typewriters....

It is safe to say that everyone reading this takes advantage of the ability to print multiple copies in just a few minutes. Years ago, people were not so fortunate. At one point in time any type of written material was carved into stone. One can only image how time consuming it was to make a single copy, let alone multiple. With the invention of the pen and paper, things most of us never think twice about, duplications were made even easier. However, each was still written out by hand. Advancements after that consisted of the printing press and type writer. The printing press allowed for mass production of pamphlets, books, magazines and newspaper. It made communication much easier, and quicker. Information could be quickly shared and pass along, however it was on a larger scale. Most printing presses were used by businesses and companies. As the popularity of the printing press grew, the typewriter was invented. This allowed for individuals to type their own ideas and share them. However, not a single one of these methods left much room for error. A small mistake would lead the creator to starting over completely. There was no erase or backspace. Communication has been made much easier with each of these advancements. Information can be published and passed along in more convenient ways.

The video below is an old Jerry Lewis clip about typewriters, its rather amusing. Take a peek!

Semaphore Flags

Semaphore flags were a form of communication that was used mainly in Europe in the 18th century. The Term Semaphore comes from the Greek word meaning “sign bearing” and was also referred to as an “optical telegraph” at times. The system was used by a person holding two flags cut in half diagonally with the top part being red and the other half being yellow. Than these flags were held in a particular position and translated alphabetically to determine what message was being delivered. Surprisingly, the symbol which most people assume stands for peace (the circle with an upside down “Y” with a line going through it) is actually a semaphore symbol for nuclear disarmament. The two lines at four and eight (if looking at it as a clock) stand for the letter “N” and the vertical line cutting right down the middle stands for the letter “D” The use of Semaphore flags can be traced back to as long ago as 1684. It is believed to have been invented by an English scientist named Robert Hooke. He tried getting the Royal society to accept it in practical use but was unsuccessful; years later it did become a vital part of communication between ships and naval bases and eventually was used by railway sytems around the world. Till this day semaphore flags are used, it is even taught to children in boy scouts as a form of communication when out in the wilderness.

If you have a moment take a look at this link of the different positions and what each symbol represents http://www.anbg.gov.au/flags/semaphore.html

Radio: Tune in to find out more

The development of radio became possible with the harnessing of electromagnetic waves. James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz, combined the mathematical theory of these waves and a devise used to generate and detect them to come up with a crude version of the radio. Hertz were used as a measurement to count cycles per second in transmission of electromagnetic waves. With all this new information, radios were soon able to transmit sound and amplify it. In 1906, radio telephony was just that with the work of Reginald Fessiden and Ernst F.W. Alexanderson. Then in 1913, Edwin H. Armstrong patented a circuit that made radio communication more practicable. These men helped pave the way for the first radio communication between ships and shore. In 1920, commercial broadcasting became popular. Music, ads, and radio programs quickly became a big hit. Soon the radio became a common household appliance. Much was transmitted that served more than an entertainment purpose. During war, the radio was a device that supplied information and developments for those at home. Much the same as now, the public learns and benefits greatly from radios.

Hieroglyphics

What comes to mind when you think of Ancient Egypt? The pyramids. The Sphinx. Mummies. What about hieroglyphics? ‘Hieroglyphic’ comes a Greek word which means sacred carvings. These carvings which were inscribed into stone and papyrus all across Egypt are another early form of communication. In 3200 BC, Egyptians began using a language called Old Egyptian. It is around the same time that they began using hieroglyphics. There are between 700 and 800 different symbols which represent words, ideas and phrases. They even had their own form of proper grammar! However, they did not use punctuation. They were written in perfect columns and rows. Interestingly, hieroglyphics can be read from left to right, as well as, right to left depending on which direction the symbols are facing. Not everyone was able to write in hieroglyphics. Only scribes were given that chance. It was time consuming to learn and the papyrus (paper from a papyrus plant) was expensive. Scribes often worked for the kings or pharaohs. They were responsible for recording important dates, events, and religious information. The job was passed from generation to generation, only the children of scribes could then become a scribe.

The link below is an overview of the alphabet in hieroglyphics. Take a look!

Cave Paintings- An Insight Into the Lives of our Ancestors

Cave paintings are recognized as one of the earliest forms of art communication. These pieces of art are painted on rocks or cave walls. Most knowledge about cave paintings is purely speculated. There is not enough evidence to prove anything for certain. Although there is not an exact age, they are believed to be prehistoric. Scientists are trying to find an accurate time period through a process call radiocarbon dating. However, this is proving difficult due to contamination. Most of the paintings include animals such as bison, deer, and horses. It is rare to see a human drawn. Scientists believe that these ancient people used some form of a stone lamp as a light source. And instead of paint, they used natural supplies like yellow ochre, hematite, manganese oxide and charcoal.

The most interesting part about cave painting is the insight it gives into the lives of our early ancestors. Some believe that they were not “advanced” enough to create any form of art. Not only did these unknown people create art, but they were able to tell a story through their pictures. If the estimates in age are correct, cave paintings disprove this theory.
http://www.crystalinks.com/petroglyphs.html

The Heliograph

The heliograph originates from the Greek word "Helios," meaning "sun." This wireless for of communication was based solely around the sun. A "solar telegraph," if you will, would send signals using flashes of sunlight reflected by a mirror. This was almost like a Morse code of the sky. The sender of the flashes would pivot a mirror, in and out of a direct beam of sunlight, then interrupting the beam with a shutter. Although it sounds more complicated than it seems, the heliograph was a simple, yet effective tool for optical communication. It was used mainly for military, survey and forest protection work. It is said that heliographs were standard issue in the British and Australian armies until the 1960s, and were used by the Pakistani army as late as 1975. Although it's use has almost vanished today, it certainly plays a big part in our technological timeline. This goes to show how much society has changed our form of communication through technological advancement.

McDonough's Mistake

James W. McDonough, from Chicago, Illinois, was one of the first inventors to de-throne Bell. McDonough was a manufacturer, who had a hobby of experimenting with electricity to create sound. He invented the Teleloge on April 10, 1876 and applied for a patent. McDonough was not as fortunate as some of the inventors. His patent had to be sent to Patent Post Office Hearing, which took eight years.

The major setback with McDonough's invention was not the actual receiver, but his transmitter. The transmitter was indentical to Reis. He also followed in Reis's foot steps by making the same mistakes and reffering to it as the circuit breaker. Both men had not been familiarized with the microphone mode.

It is very interesting when people have the same ideas, but one person gets a patent where the other gets nothing. Many of the invetors were facing the same problems.


"In the United States, in interference actions, the patent goes to the inventor who can prove priority of conception, not necessarily to the one who was first to file" (Evenson).


Works Cited: Evenson, Edward A. "The McDonoughTelephone Transmitter." Antique Telephone History Website. 14 June 2009 .

Eletrical Mastermind - Liquid Transmitter

Alexander Graham Bell was an electrical mastermind. He was always looking for a challenge even after many inventions. Another one of his famous inventions was the liquid transmitter. The working theory of Bell's Liquid transmitter is pretty straightforward. A wire that is connected to the bottom of the parchment diaphragm is supposed to slightly touch the water. The purpose was to create an electrical current with a very small amount of acid. The words would be spoken on the top of the diaphragm causing it to flex up and down. By doing that the attached wire has more or less contact with the water, therefore to transform the circuit resistance.The example below is a demonstration of that.

When "The Internet" and "E-mail" sounded High-Tech!

Please watch the Video at the link below:

http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/whatsnew/video

It is definitely amusing when taking a trip down memory lane. It's wild to remember the old green screens and that always melodic dial-up tone...

(Click the link below to listen)

http://www.phonezoo.com/ContentProfile.do?id=88200841&tsrc=taf

This Information Revolution was a dramatic change taking place in the last half of the 20th century. This uprising created jobs from the high technology and highly skilled professions to the technologically low-skill jobs. Beginning with the invention of the integrated circuit or computer chip, our lives have ultimately been revolutionized. These chips run our appliances, provide calculators, computers, and other electronic devices that control our world. Thus, the birth of the Internet had finally come. This information superhighway has permitted people to communicate using computers all around the globe.



E-mail has come a long way over the years and has surely made an impact on society. From the earliest stages of simple window boxes and unified fonts to the various options upon options that we have today, our world of technology has evolved immensely and made communication more accommodating and accessible.

Carrier Pigeons

During World War One, carrier pigeons were used to relay messages. Communication was very important during the war. These birds were used to report progress, request supplies, and even call for help. Carrier pigeons flew on their own while the message was placed in a small container attached to the bird’s leg. Each field commander had his own small group of pigeons that he relied on. Others flew aboard airplanes, while some even wore cameras to take pictures of the enemy.
At the beginning of the war, the American troops had 600 carrier pigeons. The most famous bird was named Cher Ami. He flew multiple missions, while his most important took place on October 4, 1918. Major Whittlesey and his men were trapped on the side of a hill. They were completely surrounded by the enemy. Many of the men were killed the first day, almost 300 total. He sent out all of his birds to express his dire need of help. After all the other birds were killed, Whittlesey sent up his last hope, Cher Ami, with a note containing his location and need. He watched as the Germans fired relentlessly at Cher. Miraculously, he seemed to dodge the bullets and continued to fly 25 miles to his destination. Upon delivering his last message, he sadly died as a result of his many war wounds. He saved the mens lives and was named a hero of World War One.
Carrier pigeons were the most reliable form of contact among troops during the war. Telegraphs, the only other form of communicating, would not function in these settings. They could not run wires across the battle front. As time progressed, and technology advanced the armed forces have found better means of communication, and the use of carrier pigeons has since faded out.

This commericial aired during the 2008 SuperBowl. Check it Out

Reis Receiver

Before Alexander Graham Bell many other inventors had comparable ideas. The image above is an instrument that was created by Phillip Reis. He was a physics instructor from Friedrichsdorf, Germany. When this receiver was invented everyone had the idea that it was another type of electro-magnetic receiver, but that was not the case. The receiver functioned by a hidden experiment was called magnetostriction. This reaction happens when an iron rod becomes longer or shorter when under the influence of a magnetic field. The receiver above was used for a telephone transmitter. It uses elevated levels of current, but not responsive as the common electro-magnetic receiver, but able to be understood on a call.

The Telegraph

The picture you see above is the original telegraph transmitter and receiver manufactured by Samuel Morse in 1837. This device happens to be the first working mechanism to convert and transform information into an electrical form and transmit that information accurately over long distances. The words "What hath God wrought!" resounded in the ears of many as the world famous message sent for the first successful time using the telegraph. The dots and dashes were communicated between the U.S. Capitol in Washington and Mount Clare Depot in Baltimore May 28, 1844. Ironically enough, telegrams are still used today, even in a world that has moved so fast in accommodating technology and Hi-tech equipment such as mobile phones, internet, email, etc.

Bell's first telephone

It’s unbelievable how much we have advanced in
technology. Whenever people think of the first
telephone, they think of the crank wall telephone.
The ability to have a conversation with others cross
country was far from being reached in the early 1700’s.
That is until two brilliant inventors, Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell, designed the first telephone which looked nothing like it does today.

Both men were extremely gifted and wanted their idea patented. One clearly got his idea patented within hours of the other inventor. It was the famous Alexander Graham Bell, who was the first, to receive a patent for the most basic operating telephone. After such victory, Bell and Gray entered into a legal conflict, which concluded in Bell winning.

On June 2, 1875, Bell discovers that he can use a wire to hear voices. But it wasn’t until March 10, 1976 when Bell not only created the birth of the telephone, but at the same time destroyed the telegraph. Shortly after, he was able to hear the first voice.


Alexander Graham Bell was a sharp man and incredible creator. The communication potential he was able to achieve has significantly changed the world. With his invention he created the ability to utilize electricity. Bells telephone was able to outperform any system at the time. This invention made it easy for the world to communicate.