My Reflection

Before I begin my reflection, I'd like to briefly mention a recent find of mine: the disappearing car door. This high-tech gizmo actually dates back to 1988, making its debut in the BMW Z1. The doors look standard when closed, but, to open them, the doors will drop down into the door sills, almost as if the doors vanish. This eliminated any problem of accidentally opening car doors into other cars, like in a tight parking lot, or other objects. Although very nifty, only eight thousand of the BMW Z1 model were made, so they are extremely hard to find.

Writing this blog has been a truly unique experience. I've always enjoyed writing, whether it be for a purpose or self-expression, but I never imagined maintaining a blog would be so enjoyable. Despite the fact that I entered the sponsoring class, Information 3.0, a little late, I was able to pick a very interesting field to study and write about, one that I have always felt strongly about- the car industry. Looking back at my past posts, I can see a couple things. One, I have a lot of spelling errors. More importantly, and two, I feel I covered all the information I wanted. Three, I noticed I'm not very at good at writing short posts; I have one post out of the twenty-six actually close to a hundred words. But most of my posts are at least five hundred words, and some of my longer ones are over a thousand words. I'll have to work on writing shorter posts for a quick read in the future. Four, I feel satisfied with my blog overall.

Now, lesseeee, what did I learn from this blog? Well, I learned a lot about cars- that's a given- and the industry and even some details about many of the different brands and companies. I learned a great deal about social networking and all it has to offer (which is a lot by the way), and I also learned a great deal about taking photos. Although I take a fair amount of pictures, I've never actually had a purpose behind my picture-taking, and I've definitely never followed any rules or whatnot while doing so. The photo unit was definitely difficult because of all the rules and my lack of experience, but I made it through somehow. I can see the rule of thirds in pictures already taken, but when I took them myself, I kinda fooled myself into thinking that the rule of thirds was there somehow- turns out I was wrong. Despite the hardship, I found it fun to go out and take pictures of moving cars, parked cars, people in cars, people stepping out of cars, people talking around cars, cars in sunsets, parallel parked cars, upside down cars (didn't find any of those unfortunately), sports cars, old cars, anything car-related! It took a while to get past the whole people-in-the-picture-looking-at-me-with-judging-expressions aspect of it, but once I realized that they really don't care, I stopped worrying.

 As you can probably tell from my posts, I like the ideas behind many of new technologies that automobile companies have recently come out with, but I don't trust drivers to be safe with them. I mean, the risks about cell phone use while driving have been made known to everyone (cell phone use while driving is even outlawed in some states), yet just about everyone uses cell phones while driving without hesitation. With that in mind, how can the standard driver be trusted not to tweet while driving or use the dashboard computer while parking? Well, we can't. Furthermore, I think it is very funny that cars already have voice-activated GPS systems installed, as if road rage isn't a problem already. Voice recognition technology is nowhere near optimal functioning as it is, and people get frustrated already when saying "Call Adam" is recognized as "Call Mom" on one's cell phones. Add a car into the equation and we have ourselves some frustrated drivers, getting pissed at the lousy voice recognition systems while being worried about where they are supposed to turn. It's not pretty.

The future cars were the most interesting topic to research and write about, as not only are they new and exciting, but I feel we are finally heading in a slightly new direction, which is a good start. My favorite posts were the most recent, the ones discussing the new vehicles being produced by Segway and the YikeBike. They look extremely cool and very safe, a combination hard to pull off nowadays. The EN-V, by Segway, will have so many cool new gadgets and equipment, no one will know what to do with themselves when it arrives The YikeBike, which recently started selling, also utilizes a brand new perspective regarding electronic vehicles. Although it looks a little scrawny, I've found a video demonstrating how safe and efficient it is. No, we don't have any ideas for future bubble travel or teleportation or floo powder transport(Harry Potter reference- my girlfriend would be proud), but they are heading in the right direction- away from the crash-prone vehicles we call automobiles today. Honestly, I really don't know what the future of car tech holds, as people can be inspired in just one moment to make something extraordinary. Right now, what lies in the future are more cars, with some extra nifty gadgets. We just came out with the flying car (mentioned in a recent blog), but again it's still a car, just with some wings (which is pretty cool). Hopefully, the future does hold teleportation devices, giant bubble transportation, or, yes, even floo powder, but I have no idea of knowing. If we do get this cool forms of transport, they'll probably be used well after our generation is gone.

I have a learned a great deal from my research for this blog, and I hope my readers have as well. I did the best I could to find good information, verify it, and add my own personal spin on it, as I feel that's what a blog is all about. I loved writing about the future tech and the videogame designs; there wasn't a topic I had a particular dislike of, I really enjoyed all the topics to some degree. I got a lot out of writing this blog, and, to those who read it, I hope you enjoyed reading it. I'm not sure if I'll continue this blog or start a new one or just quit with blogging all together; I'll just have to wait and see.

The Future of Transportation: Segway's Creation

Released at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, the EN-V concept vehicles were met with much excitement. As you can see from the picture, the concept models come in a couple varied designs, for purposes of consumer appeal. Each design, though, has the same amazing features, a result of the collaboration between Segway, General Motors, and SAIC. These vehicles are powered by the Segway-developed chassis (framework combining electronics, sensors, motors, and wheels) and electric drivetrain, giving them similar workings as the Segway PT covered in my last post. The EN-V, in comparison to the Segway PT, has "more power, more range, more speed, more payload, more autonomous capabilities, and interconnectivity." Allow me to explain how this is possible.

The EN-V is a multi-passenger transport system, conforming to the dynamics and controls that fit the driver's preferences, that makes a technological leap by linking the chassis to the battery house that contains the equivalent of 8 PT batteries; this vehicle is about 5 times more energy efficient than the average car. This chassis-drivetrain linkage allows for the vehicle to autonomously power itself from its its parked state by simply shifting its center of mass; once powered on, it can move autonomously, be driven manually, or move via a combination of the two due to its many sensors. The EN-V, like the Segway PT, is able to turn on a dime, allowing for tight operations and easy-as-it-gets parking.

But wait, there's more! The EN-V will have so many features, you may not be able to contain your excitement! No more losing your car in a crowded parking building! Because the EN-V can power itself on just from sensing a signal, has a built in GPS, and comes packed with sensors, with a click of a button, one's EN-V could navigate through a crowd/obstacles on its own and find you. Who else hates god awful traffic? Did you know that on top of making people extremely irritable, traffic exponentially increases the amount of pollution created due to longer car usage? Well, the EN-V will stop all that because traffic will be a thing of the past; EN-Vs will be able to "talk" to one another, meaning slow human reaction time will no longer cause crashes, traffic, or any problems really. The EN-Vs will be able to link up and travel closely in designated lanes to similar destinations. On top of that, thanks to the many sensors, crashes will never occur again; the EN-V can sense when obstacles, be a human, wall, or other EN-V, are too close and will make adjustments to avoid collision. Better yet, the EN-V can sense if there's more road ahead of you, so no more falling off those precarious cliffs because of lack of attention. The sensors at the EN-Vs disposal include ultrasonic, visual, and Doppler sensors. And to make everything a nice package, the EN-Vs will have unlimited customization capabilities because it will lack the traditional steering wheel and dashboard; with this, the driver

The Future of Personal Transportation: The Current Now and Wow!

In just one day, I have found a couple amazing transport innovations that have been in the works for years. And with these new technologies, I can say with much zeal, boy is our future bright!

First off, I'm sure everyone has heard of the Segway company at one point or another; the "Segway Personal Transporter (PT)" this company built first came out in 2001, being the first transport system to utilize self-balancing and lean-steer technology. Since then, the second generation of Segway PT came out in 2006, boasting a new turning system, but beyond that, I have heard nothing of the company's future prospects. My uncle had, and still has, the original Segway since it came out in 2001 and, believe me, it was not only super fun, but super easy as well. Once you got the hang of the balancing system (it's as easy as riding a bike), it was a joy to ride and you could take it just about anywhere, on or off road. But, despite the extreme coolness and creativity of this transport, it hasn't really caught on to the public. Nowadays, if you ever see one, it's being ridden by a cop in the mall or tour group in a vacation area. Why? Well, there are many reasons. It was very expensive, heavy, and, in comparison to other forms of transport, slow. On the highest speed, it can travel about 12 mph, which is a really fast run. Furthermore, its carrying space was limited to a small pouch you could attach to the handle bars. A college student like myself would much sooner buy a bike or, if needed, a moped or motorbike. Since then, the Segway company has made many new models, each one having different features for different riders. For example, one model is capable of holding golf clubs for the avid golfer, another has large cargo compartments for carrying medium-sized objects, and another "adventure" model is capable of traveling though rough terrain. None of these current models, though, have much appeal to the normal teen/adult. They are still expensive, large, heavy, and slower than the average bike or moped. Although cool and unique, the Segway Pts will most likely never see much popularity in the general public.

Being the awesome person she is, my mom sent me a link today to a site flaunting the newest cool transport system, the YikeBike. This bicycle-like personal transporter looks like a small, inverted bike; it's hard to describe, so I suggest watching the video on the home page for a better understanding. Although the Segway PT can utilize minute turns, this electric transport system moves and turns like a bike, allowing for quick, veering movement. This vehicle still has problems that the Segway PT has, like no cargo room, expensiveness, and slow speed, but it improves on and adds a lot of unique traits other electric personal transporters don't have. The YikeBike travels at roughly 15 mph (faster than a Segway PT), is more suited for urban life due to its smallness and much lighter weight, and, most importantly, is extremely portable. In a way, its like combining a bike with an electric scooter; the YikeBike has the traits of a bike, but the electric power, lightness, and portability of a scooter (it is folded up and carried in a shoulder bag). Unlike the Segway PT, I can see this style of transport more popular to the public once discovered. It's sleeker, easier to use, and closer to the standard style of transport; it will be less of a change. Of course, the price will have to come down by a couple thousand dollars for it to become truly popular, but I can see people saving up for this unique and compatible style of transport. Weighing in at 10 kg, producing zero carbon emissions, flaunting a battery fully charged in half an hour, and incorporating bright lights, indicators, and anti-skid brakes, the YikeBike is worth every penny of its 4500 dollar price.

Educational Gaming: What will it take to keep kids interested?

In class we have been put in charge of thinking up unique video game designs that are both fun and, wait for it...educational! Now, the last time I played an educational game was back in the days of Humongous Entertainment, with such game series as Freddi the Fish, Sly Fox, and Putt-Putt. Although these games didn't have math or science, they did help develop critical thinking and strategy-using skills. I also used to play games that promoted math and and other academic skills, like Oregon Trail, which involved saving and spending money for different resources as one's caravan traveled down the long Oregon Trail; that was one of the few games that combined math learning with actual fun. Back then, there were many fun educational games at our disposal, most often on the computer. Nowadays, as kids start playing more adolescent games, like Call of Duty and Halo, at younger and younger ages, these "edutaining"games are becoming less and less interesting. Why waste time spelling a word to unlock a door when you can just slaughter the enemy guarding the door in other games? Why bother solving a puzzle in Freddi the Fish when you could wreak havoc on hell-spawned harpies in God of War 3? Kids are just losing interest in education-driven games nowadays?

Now, what can we do for the new generation that will make kids want to play educational video games, ultimately leading in smarter, more prepared children? My game idea somewhat revolves around the basics of Bully, a game I have never played, but was interested in because of its originality. In this game, a bully essentially goes through school, a collection of mini-games, to learn valuable trades that he can use for the benefit of his misconduct. For example, chemistry class is really just a button-mashing mini-game that, if you do well enough in, allows you to make stink bombs and other such chemical tools that the bully would use in the actual game to torture others. The game was apparently very popular upon release; the idea of being a virtual bully probably intrigued a lot of kids.

For my game, I would like to follow Bully's design, with simple modifications. The player would be given options in how he wants to play, he would be given a large amount of control over situations; essentially it would be like combining Bully and Mass Effect, a game that has excellent multidirectional gameplay. Through one's actions, responses to others, success in school (which would be made up of real work), one would slowly develop into a stereotype category; for example, if you normally hurt others, you'd develop into a bully, whereas if you played most of the sports games, you'd develop into a jock. The game would have to b comprehensive and long, but if it had all these options, players would be and stay interested. Most importantly, all players would learn because, despite the fact that normal slackers or bullies do poorly in school, those striving to be those stereotypes in this virtual reality would still have to do well in classes to unlock higher special abilities (following the idea behind Bully). With such a comprehensive, multidirectional game, as long as it had good graphics and playability, this game could be quite popular and useful if ever created.

iTunes: As Prosperous as the Car Industry

Recently, my father came up to me and asked me how to work iTunes. As a music lover, he has thousands of CDs piled high in storage units and cases. I was honesty quite surprised at his approach because, all his life, I've always seen him happiest when he could say, "Hey boys, I found this old CD, let's pop it in" or "this is what good music sounded like." I never thought he'd give up the CD age, but, lo and behold, I spent about 2 hours explaining to him the workings of iTunes and iPods. He was fascinated by the complexity of iTunes; it doesn't leave anything out of its arsenal. You can add any pictures you want to any song when it comes up, order it however you want, and store thousands of songs all in one easily accessible place. I guess it goes to show how our generation takes such things for granted. Yesterday, he told me he's uploaded about a tenth of his collection, 860 songs roughly. He's having a great time figuring all the stuff out and is about ready to get a 64GB iPod Touch.

iTunes has grown so much in the past couple years, it's impossible to measure. The application is drawing in every audience, even across age borders. Heck, if my dad has finally started using it, sooner or later, seniors will be using it to for the oldies. I just wonder how it'll be in 60 years, when iTunes is used by everyone of our age; what will be the new thing? Will music be immediately transported into one's head for easy listening? It'll be a sight to see for our generation, just as iTunes is for the past generation.

For a long time, I believed iTunes was used by all artists, as it is an easy way to get one's music known and out there in the public. But apparently, several bands, like Tool, will not "sell out to the man," by putting their music on the application. Apparently, to some popular bands, iTunes is seen as selling out. Some just prefer the CDs I guess, because I don't know how iTunes could be considered selling out. It's still all about the music; I guess some bands just believe their music should be listened to by people that truly appreciate the music rather than listen to it spontaneously. The band Tool seeks privacy, only really spreading music on the radio, rather than using iTunes.

I, for one, avidly use iTunes and all its benefits, such as Genius, which gives you song selections based on your likes. I truly love getting iTunes gift cards for gifts because that means I'll have no problem getting some new songs off the internet, hassle free. I can't wait to see what iTunes comes out with in the future.

Gaming: A Car's Perspective

Cars are no stranger to video games. As you can see in the picture above, racing games have been popular in arcades since 1971, when Gran Trak 10, the first racing game ever, came out in public arcades. Racing games have since been released on every video game console, each one with special features, different cars, different tracks, and different objectives. Some of my personal favorites include the Burnout series, which involved causing as much destruction as possible while racing at the same time, and, of course, Mario Kart, which involved racing with your favorite Nintendo characters while using unique items to delay your opponents. Hundreds of other racing games have made their way onto the game shelves in gaming stores and many hundreds more have found themselves in arcades, movie theaters, restaurants, and even homes.

Now, we play games involving cars; but what about games in cars? Since automobile corporations came out with backseat televisions, kids have been able to take their video games into the family car and play their favorite games on the 8" screen while the parents went on an errand; it truly was a gaming revolution in its own sense. Nowadays, this small screen is no longer placed on the roof interior of the back; one can either purchase a car with a conveniently placed tv or go to many different websites, such as http://www.mobilevideozone.com/, and purchase a television add-on that can be placed just about anywhere in the car. Now you can have one in the headrest, on the dashboard, or anywhere really with a handy stand! When they first came out, I was around the age of 8 or 9, so televisions in cars was exciting, especially for a long road trip. I would hook up the ol' Gamecube to the tv and play for hours, allowing my dad to have distraction-free driving. No fights between my brother and I, just silent enjoyment of whatever games we want. Now that more freedom of tv placement has been given to buyers, I'm sure many will take advantage and begin to exploit it. Even though we'd like to think no one would be dumb enough to put a tv where the driver could be distracted by it, I'm sure we all have at least one friend who would. And if everyone has a friend like that, then accident stats will begin to pile up.You may have noticed a pattern in my posts: anything that gives the driver too much freedom, I hypothesize, will only lead to his/her downfall. And, unfortunately, its true. Can you take an exam while someone yells in your ear? Can you skateboard with your face in a good book? Well, I bet some people can, but the average man can't. And those people who can't, but think they can will end up with some minor problems. Now, in a car, these people/"daredevils" can either 1) leave without a scratch due to a miracle or 2) most likely end up in the hospital or dead. And, for some, death may even be a preference if you hurt someone else, hence getting sued, or caused so much damage that it'll take your entire life to work it off.

My advice: crash in the game and play it safe in the real world.

My Very First Picasa Slideshow

After many trial and errors, I've finally figured out the slideshow feature of Picasa.  These three pictures each capture a different scene from College Park, Maryland. The first is taken from the my floor in Denton Hall, the second is from Baltimore Avenue, and the third is at a parking lot on my way to class. I believe the first one is my best photo so far, capturing excellent resolution, color contrast, and white balance. I believe I did a good job following the rule of thirds, with each car in a separate third. It also displays repetition and uses shadows effectively, with the bordering shadows almost acting as a frame.

The second photo, although not the best, does do a good job capturing an action scene, in which a car is merging onto the highway. It provides good use of foreground and background, with high resolution of the front car, but lower resolution of the distant cars. The white balance isn't excellent, but I do like the color balance and the angle of perspective.

The third photo is the first of mine to display disorder within order, referencing the center car which is backed into its space, unlike the other vehicles which simply pulled in front first. The color contrast, white balance, and resolution are definitely top notch, and the rule of thirds is followed as well. I can definitely notice my improvement as I take more and more photographs.

Attempt at Car Photo Number 2

For my second attempt, I took a picture of a yield sign. Why, you may ask, did I choose to take a picture of a yield sign? Well, I chose to take a picture of a yield sign because I just missed the fireworks and elephants parade that had marched down the road, and this yield sign was the next best thing. This photo, again, has poor resoution and does not show anything truly exciting or different, but I believe it does have better qualities than my first attempt. The photo follows the rule of thirds very well, with all horizontal and vertical thirds holding distinct features of the photo. The photo also utilizes good foreground, a midground, and a prominent background, Elkton Hall and Denton Hall. This picture shows a wider variety of color, while keeping the good color balance, exposure, and contrast. It also provides a unique angle of approach, much like the last photo, from behind the car turning into the UMD campus. I know this picture may seem somewhat boring, but I prefer taking these pictures over ones of exciting car crashes; after all, boring is normally better than awful.

Attempt At Car Photo Number 1

This is my first attempt at producing a quality photograph relating to cars. And what better relates to cars...than cars being driven? Well, I couldn;t think of anything, so I took a trip down to Univeristy Boulevard, the road that passes right by my building, to take some pics of automobiles in action. Now, when rating this photo based on good photo-taking criteria, I can say that this picture does NOT have very good resolution, exciting colors, or much excitement. It does, though, follow the rule of thirds fairly well, with the two cars side-by-side in the bottom left corner and the side-by-side trafiic lights in the top center. The road is the bottom third, the trees are the middle third, and the sky is the top third. This photo also has a slight linear perspective, though it is interrupted by the light pole, and has a definite foreground and background. This photo, and the ones that follow this one, was edited by the new Google application called Picasa, a very easy utility that can do wonders on making subpar photographs (like mine) acceptable. This photo also demonstrates good color balance and good contrast, with the correct exposure of light. Overall, I think this photo is fairly okay for the first one.

Photographs- Photo 3: Traffic in Bangkok

Traffic jam in Bangkok - rainy day version
Originally uploaded by songglod

This photo has very high resolution and provides a good sense of place for the Bangkok city scene, but lacks many qualities a great photo needs. The photo does not follow the rule of thirds in any way nor does it have a central focus. When you first look at the photo, the eyes are not to any point, causing the viewer to experience slight anxiety. The photo does have a slight linear perspective and shows very bright, appealing colors. There is also good contrast, due to the sharp differences in color. Overall, the photo is okay, but lacks many features that could make it a quality photograph.

Photographs- Photo 2: Major Traffic

Daily Traffic
Originally uploaded by Burning Image

This photo depicts a very busy highway with a mass of traffic that many commuters must deal with on their way to work and back home. This photo does an excellent job following the rule of thirds, with each vertical third clearly holding separate lanes of traffic. The bottom horizontal third contains most of the traffic on the roads, the middle third contains a small chunk of traffic and all of the city skyline, and the top third holds the entire blue sky. Overall, the picture is very appealing. There is a definite foreground, being the front-most cars in traffic, and a definite background, being the city and skyline. This difference in focus allows the viewer to, when first examining the picture, to start at the front of the cars and slowly make their way straight back to the background, following the straight line of cars in the center. Also, because of the heavy traffic, there is a good deal of repetition in the cars, especially as you move into the background. The scene really captures a sense of place, as we have all been in heavy traffic, and sets the mood at dismal, especially due to the bland colors and with the linear perspective being lost as the traffic continues distantly out of sight. The only problem with the picture is the resolution, which lessens the impact a fair amount. Yet, the photograph still does a nice job capturing the massive amount of traffic.

Photographs- Photo 1: Car Interior

Uno
Originally uploaded by Odelot

This week, our Information 3.0 class is learning the basic methods in taking and analyzing photos, determining if they are good or bad pictures. This photo is an example of a very good photograph. It has excellent resolution, high definition, and great color balance. The foreground is the focus, showing the clear-cut features of the automobile's interior. The background, slightly less focused, sets a very calm mood on the seashore, clearly establishing a sense of place.The most notable characteristic of this picture is that it follows the rule of thirds ,a compositional rule stating that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. These important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. In this picture, the bottom horizontal third contains the seats and leg area, the middle horizontal third the dashboard and steering wheel, and the top horizontal third the scenery through the windshield. The first vertical third contains the steering wheel side, the middle vertical third has the center of the car and scenery, and the last vertical third contains the passenger side's area. Every third contains something different, and each third contains a very clear area; there is no trouble determining which third contains what object. This rule of thirds really plays into a viewer's unconscious feelings towards the photograph, so by heeding to this rule, this photo is quite exceptional.

Social Networks for Car Lovers , Collectors, and Enthusiasts

When it comes to social networking for the average American, most can be found updating their profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and/or MySpace. I, myself, have used Facebook for the past 3 years or so, but have never used MySpace; I have started using Twitter this past semester for Information 3.0, but I have yet to truly acknowledge its usefulness and have failed to use it for tweets that don't pertain to the class. Recently, I discovered there are more specialized social networks that group together smaller groups of people. Whereas Facebook is a social network open to anyone, there are other social networks reaching out to people that, for example, work in an office or like scary movies. There are even social networks that connect lovers of cute kittens. And, after some further research, I found several that establish a social network for car lovers, collectors, and enthusiasts.

The most legitimate two I could find are CarSpace and the Automative Social Network, and although they are the first ones to come up on a Google search for "car social networks," they are the most professional-looking sites I could find. These two networks are common in many ways, but each have features specific to their styles. Both networks involve membership and contributions to the site; users will add photos, videos, and start discussions all pertaining to car models, car sales, car tips, car everything! Both have forums and member blogs, with news of new automobile advancements and happenings. CarSpace is more oriented towards helping the car buyer, giving new and used car sales and their reviews. It even has guides to car insurance! Although a social network, it deals greatly with helping the individual about as much as it does with connecting car enthusiasts. The Automotive Social Network (ASN) is much more like Facebook. It has intricate profiles telling details of users and uses a more formal layout (CarSpace's layout is more informal and cheery). ASN is more about posting, less about selling. It has larger forums and many more blogs; the members are more connected through pictures and videos than car sales. It is also more important to note that CarSpace has members find other members to make friends based on a survey similar to that on a dating site (but about cars) whereas ASN uses a system where you can find a person and friend them (like on Facebook) or find people based on interests. Overall, ASN is focused more on the social aspect and CarSpace focuses more on educating car buyers, though both are social networks that function similarly.

By studying these two networks, I have seen that there are some parallels involving choosing different social networks to join. I really like using Facebook because of all its features, but I dislike Twitter because, although it has its own unique features, it is basically a Facebook status. MySpace, to me, just looked like it took to much effort to make and handle. I didn't like the format or the design. The same thing can be said of members of these car networks. I'm sure different car enthusiasts and collectors would prefer ASN over CarSpace and vice versa. Both have different features that appeal to different groups; at the same time, I'm sure there is plenty of overlap in members of the different networks(just as many Facebook users are often Twitter users). What I have yet to find is a social network that discusses cars and the industry. If there isn't one yet, it would probably become very popular when it's made because cars are a hot, everyday topic under a lot of debate. Crashes, innovations, laws, and such things arise everyday in the car world and are avid topics in forums on the aforementioned networks. I'm sure enough debate could fill an entire site rather than just a forum or two. That's what's coming next. Social network sites that deal less with specifics and focus on major debate topics. People will be able to discuss major issues and comment on posts. Then major changes will occur. Industries will change their outlooks and the masses will be able to find compromises/agreements. OneWorld is a good example of one such site that started a couple years ago, but it lacks the publicity, professional layout, and the many concerning topics that a true debate network requires to function. Soon, though, these social networks, that deal with all the big issues, will arise and people will be talking about what they read on them everyday.

The Car: On Its Way To Becoming The Home

When a person goes to a car dealer to find the perfect car for their needs, the experience is a lot like buying a house. Which one uses the least amount of energy, is worth the cost, can survive a lot of wear, has room for the family, looks respectable, and has all the amenities one needs to feel secure and comfortable? All these are common questions that buyers of house and car ask themselves. Well, 10 years ago, no one would say they could live comfortably in their car (comfortably being the key word) in comparison to their home (let's ignore large vans used in the '60s and Winnebagos for commonality reasons). Nowadays, that's still unlikely, but the day where that statement will be wrong will soon be at hand. Cars today have internet for all the social access one needs (plus you're in a car, so...you can just drive places to be physically social), AC (both hot and cold), locks, better fueling systems (hybrids and whatnot), TVs, outlets used as power sources, and storage room. Now, as I look around my meager dorm room, the only things a standard car is missing are a fridge, bed, and extra storage. With the added benefit of being able to move your house, a car would seem like a wonderful home once a fridge, bed, and storage space were added. And it would be! We are not far from abandoning homes and just making car lots; houses would be torn down and replaced with designated parking lots. One would buy a space where you wanted to live and that'd be that. "Grocery shopping? Sure!"- And the house would be off towards to nearest grocery store. Sure, the idea would be much more complicated when fully drawn up, but the idea is undoubtedly plausible. "What if the kids wanted to go to a friend's?"- Walking would still be okay with a new traffic system, plus the parents can drive you there in the house. The point is, today's car is quite comfortable. With a way to store food, some more room for clothes, and seats comfortable enough to sleep in (my car seats are already quite comfortable; I'm sure a bed would be redundant in some cases), the car could the house. Hopefully, you, the reader, have already asked yourself by this time, "well, what about a sink and shower?" If you haven't, gross. Well, a couple things could happen. This is all hypothetical, but bathrooms could be communal (and not drive around); though I'm sure many would have a problem with that. Otherwise, I'm sure eventually bathrooms will be added to the car-home; it's already been done in Winnebagos. Once companies realize bigger hybrid cars are better, there will be a lot more options in creating a car-home.

And, of course, everyone has different priorities; some care more about space while others absolutely need seat warmers, and some need to have sports cars while others need a rugged car fit for all terrain. Here's a design that would fit the lifestyle of a single, adventurous driver: The Peugeot Capsule. This interesting vehicle is a "pint-sized one-seater with a satellite internet connection and a solar-assisted gas-electric hybrid drivetrain." It has internet access anywhere, for both social networking and emergencies in all-terrain accidents, and fits the lifestyle of a person who loves the outdoors (minus the bathroom and such). I would guess that in maybe 10 more years, there will be designs for car-homes. Homes on wheels that have everything a house has; a fridge, large TV, internet access, room for work, room for sleep, a bathroom, and space for clothes and other such stuff. They'd be like giant Winnebagos, but everyone would have one and lifestyles would change; not drastically, but in the manner that things are done. And there'd be great variety in size and add-ons to comply to the wishes of all consumers; single adults, families, college students, etc. The idea may seem crazy, but internet was first introduced to the public in the mid 1990s, so how crazy is it that internet is now becoming extremely popular in vehicles being made today? It seems like normal stuff to our generation because we are used to high tech innovations, but to the older generations, this is unheard of. So, to us, a world where people live in their cars full time may sound insane, but, hey, people already do it. The future just holds a grander scale version: a world where absolutely everyone would live comfortably in their car.

And, by having this option, the car industry will never die. The car industry can go in many directions: flying cars (which was just made, but they call it a "roadable aircraft"), house-cars, and maybe someday submarine cars (a tiny bit ridiculous, but you never know), but it will never stop making cars. Who's gonna invent bubble travel or teleportation, the travel of dreams and movies? Well, no one, because people will be forever blinded by the new cars always popping out. I don't dislike cars; I use mine whenever I can. But they are very unsafe in comparison to many forms of travel and if researchers focused on other modes of transportation, I'm sure many cool, unique, and safe modes of transport could be designed and invented. But, the other modes will have to wait until people finally realize that the car industry is taking over our society and our world.

Internet Access in Automobiles- Part 2: Social Networking Behind The Wheel

To top off the internet access, Ford has invented a new technology that can used to make the Twitter-while-driving experience quite simple. Future Ford cars will be updated with an application that allows drivers to verbally update their twitter feeds while behind the wheel. Sounds pretty convenient right? Now you can say,"Wow, I am so pissed at this heavy traffic" or "I am making a left turn...NOW!" Exciting, right? Well, if I were an avid Twitter user, I may have been excited; but because I'm not, I can quickly see the downside. Not only will this new addition be distracting, it will be an amazing source of road rage. As many people know, including the students of Information 3.0, voice recognition technology is nowhere near a good standard of performance. I'm quite positive this attempt at making Twitter easily accessible in a car will backfire due to the annoying problems that will arise from the voice recognition. As a result, drivers will become frustrated and annoyed, making them more prone to do dangerous acts while driving. Distraction is one thing, anger is another. Once voice recognition technology becomes more advanced and actually..well...works, this type of technology will be much less troublesome and actually quite nifty.

Internet Access in Automobiles- Part 1: The Limitation Soon To Be Broken

Long time no blog! I haven't written in over a week and I apologize for that, but that's what happens when Spring Break starts! Now, while my girlfriend is in class, I think it is high time to add another exciting post in this exhilarating epic while I await her return. This week, the topic of choice is internet access and how it relates to the blog. Now, if someone tried to relate the internet with cars all of 1 year ago. Not much could be said beyond "we may show some developments soon. As of 2010 though, many car brands have established their own internet connection and web browsers. A very well known example is the MyFord Touch equipment, a innovation by Ford, that has both WiFi and an internet browser included in the package. This piece of technology is actually quite amazing; whenever the car is in "Park," the driver or passenger can use an 8" LCD touch screen to do just about anything. One can watch a movie on Hulu, reserve a room at a hotel, or check the weather of a destination. Better yet, one can buy a special internet adapter that provides wireless internet to the whole car, so backseat passengers can use any web device they want to go online while in the car. Overall, it is very convenient and an excellent new addition to the Ford cars.

Now, who has heard of the iPod/iPhone practice known as "jailbreaking?" A "jailbreak" is the process in which an advanced programmer is able to hack a system so all the applications and little extras deemed unlawful can be used. Any good programmer or person with some extra money to spend can "jailbreak" an iPod, and this practice also works on many other new technologies. As of now, these new computers in automobiles can only be accessed while the vehicle is in "Park," but I am sure that many people won't be quite accepting of that limitation. It won't be long before people "jailbreak" these vehicular computers and start going on chat roulette while driving. On the other hand, car companies, in their everlasting fight against one another, may simply start taking off the parking limitations to get more buyers. One way or another, drivers will find ways to access the internet while driving, and a person's boredom while driving alone can only be exceeded by their inability to stay off the web when it is available. I'm 100% positive that, when people are bored or have nothing better to do (even with friends), they will eventually find themselves on facebook updating their status to "omg so booooored save me," or on hulu watching an old episode of Family Guy, or even on chat roulette, attempting to find an interesting stranger to talk to while avoiding videos of male genitalia. When internet becomes available in the car, you are bound to find a way to surpass the "park" limitation so you can watch that funny youtube video your friend told you about. And with all these distractions, how can there be room for driving? Well, there really isn't. Now, I'm not trying to hate on the car companies for creating these new internet browsers in their cars. I find them to be quite neat and very helpful. I would be psyched to have one for myself; I'm sure it would come in handy. But, even though everyone could admit that it's more dangerous to drive while using a phone, people still do it. It's not really their fault; I understand people get bored and when you're bored, why not text a friend? People have a need to constantly be connected to more than their immediate surroundings, and a phone helps them do that. A computer is even more useful, with all the different social networking sites and other fun websites. People are easily distracted, they can't really help it. And that is why it is so unsafe to drive. Yes, many accidents occur because of drunk driving, sleepiness, and just simple vehicle failures, but most can be attributed to a lack of attention. And a computer in the car won't help that category; it will enhance it like dry wood enhances a flash fire.

People aren't to blame. It is our nature that must take fault. We have a tendency to act on our curiosity (which kills the cat and often times people as well). If it is there, we touch it. When we see that cup rolling on the floor of the car and it is making an annoying rattling noise, we can't put it out of our heads. Rather, we challenge ourselves to see if we can grab it and pick it up before we make that turn in three seconds onto the highway in heavy traffic conditions. It's a curse. The computer will be very handy and won't be a cause of any crash problems for a good while, but when someone finds a way around that limitation, all hell will break loose. All it will take is a guy on chat roulette to finally snap from not finding a girl after 3 hours of being parked in one spot. If, in some odd turn of events, people learn to adapt their current behaviors to the new internet accessible vehicles, driving may change for the better.

Cell Phones and Cars- Part 2: "The Wireless Era" in Relation To Vehicles

The assignment this week for our class, Information 3.0, required us to respond to a 2005 study encompassing the basic social effects of cell phone use in public areas. Now, seeing that this study was performed in 2005, it is slightly outdated, as cell phone technology has greatly evolved in recent years; heck, current cell phones are adding on projectors. No one in 2005 saw that coming. Anyways, this study encompasses the many different relationships that are effected by cell phone calls and how people respond in different situations. I will relate each major part of this study to cell phone use in cars.

The study defined two different types of people in public: "Singles" are people who are alone and "Withs" are people in a group. As you can already tell from these definitions, this study is not very technical or quantitative, it is actually entirely qualitative. "Singles" will often feel awkward in public, as if they're being judged, so they will often utilize self-defense strategies, like reading a paper or calling someone, to legitimize their presence and not feel out of place. At the same time, these reactions dismiss and possible social interaction by making them seem busy; it's self-defeating. "Withs" are the opposite, but, in some situations, a member of a "With" will feel awkward as well. For example, if in a group of 2, one person leaves to go order food, the other is left to sit alone and utilize standard "Single"-esque mechanisms to express business. A more important example, and one of the study's main points, is the instance of "cross talk:""a conversation where ‘one member of a With momentarily sustains exclusive talk with someone who is not in the With'," usually due to a cell phone call. This results in the creation of a new "Single" (the person not on the phone) and a "Dyad" (the relationship of a cell phone user and a caller/answerer). Depending on the non-physical person on the other end of the phone, the Single will or will not interact with the dyad. If the Single doesn't know the person, he/she won't interact with them and will enter a state of anxiety (often leaving if the call goes on for too long) while the cell phone user will attempt to make a "private space"; if the Single does know the person, the Single and dyad will enter the "Dual Front Interaction" stage, a form of listening in, or a "Three-way Interaction," where all three people will be involved in the conversation. The Single will talk through the cell phone user, who acts as a messenger on many occasions, and no anxiety will be found in any of the members of the group. If one is driving alone, there is never any social anxiety as a "Single" because, despite being in public, one always assumes a person is driving with a purpose in mind, a destination at the end of their drive. When driving with a passenger, in a "With," there is normally cross talk with unsafe drivers and no cross talk with safe drivers). Here are the steps of discourse if the driver is called (steps with "a" are for safe drivers, "b" for unsafe drivers): 1a) The music is turned down/off, 1a) The music is kept loud and distracting, 2a) Being a safe driver, the driver would give the phone to a passenger, 2b) Being an unsafe driver, the driver would start chatting on the phone, 3a) the passenger would act as a messenger/intermediate, taking part in the conversation so no one feels anxiety or exclusion, 3b) the passenger listens to music while the driver talks, ultimately feeling anxious due to his/her exclusion and most likely the dangerous driving.

The study also analyzed the use of caller ID and screening incoming calls. On older landline phones, caller ID was not always available, meaning the caller had the power in the interaction; the caller acts, and the answerer reacts. But, with caller ID, screening calls became possible, allowing the answerer to hold a large amount of power; if they didn't want to answer the call because of the caller, they now had the option. This created a varied caller-answerer relationship termed "caller hegemony." This imbalance, once only referring to the caller's power, now can change between the cell phone users based on screening and calling. This relationship can often be found in the car during calls. When a "Single" gets a call, he/she really shouldn't answer it in order to stay safe, but if, for example, the caller ID reads 'hospital,' it would be valid to answer because it could be an emergency. If it's a friend, a driver may not answer because it has lesser importance than being in control of the vehicle. When a driver is part of a "With," since there is a passenger, the call is much less likely to be screened, but it's not unheard of. Often times, the driver will have the passenger read the ID to determine its importance; although talking doesn't require as much concentration, chatting about trivial matters while driving is not often done by safe drivers, even if a passenger holds the phone. If the call does hold some importance, the passenger will either act as a messenger or just hold the phone while on speaker setting. The speaker setting on the phone was one of the great cell phone revolutions in relation to vehicular use, because it allowed drivers to take calls hands-free (minus the initial answering and pressing of buttons).

Recently, the Jupiter Jack, a nifty cell phone device promoted by the late Billy Mays, has been becoming rather mainstream. This gadget attachs quite nicely to your phone and allows you to place your phone in a convenient holder on the dashboard, allowing for one-button answering. It increases the speaker volume and overall makes the call much easier for the driver. Although a neat device, it successfully defeats a passenger's purpose as messenger, resulting in their feeling of exclusion. Also, it requires talking, meaning less attention is kept on the road. It solves some problems, but creates more in a sense. I don't have one because I firmly believe in a minimal amount of phone use while driving; plus I can see myself forgetting the phone in the holder many a time.

Overall, the study is outdated and, although many different individuals were studied in respective public environments, it provides no hard evidence or data because no subject was studied for a long period of time or observed in every environment. The definitions are also very loose and need to be expanded to express all the different members of a "With" in relation to the cell phone user. For example, what is a person called within a With if he/she is neither the messenger or cell phone user, but is talking to yet another member of the With? What is that With within a With called? Lastly, further studies concerning cell phone use should be done in cars. Why do drivers feel the need to answer the phone even though they it inhibits their driving skills? Like most people and subjects in the study, I will answer the phone, no matter the situation I am in; people have an innate response to answer a ringing phone, as if beckoning them. This should be studied in the car because, if research could unveil why drivers still feel they need to take calls, further actions could be taken to stop dangerous cell use in cars. Even though I know I shouldn't, I always innately go for my phone when it rings while I drive. I have to tell myself to stop. Once that innate drive is further investigated, I and many others will finally understand why there is an urge, a dependence, to answer that vibrating piece of plastic and electronics that indirectly controls all our lives.

Cell Phones and Cars- Part 1: A Not-So-Good Pair

Just about everyone in this modern day and age has a cell phone. Similarly, just about everyone with a license has access to a car, whether it is their own or their family's. Naturally, these two popular, globally-used technologies should be utilized simultaneously, right? Here's the part where I say "wrong." Cell phones are the bane of a cars existence. According to the Governor's Highway Safety Association, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Oregon, New York, Washington, and Washington D.C. have banned all handheld cell phone use, over 15 states have banned texting, and 21 states have banned novice cell phone use. Why is that? Well, if you drive, you should know the answer. A car requires the constant utilization of every part of one's consciousness; drivers must stay alert at all times and constantly check several different aspects of their surroundings. That includes the cars, the people on the sidewalks, the lights, the turns, the speed, the roads and their conditions, and, often times, the passengers in the car; you've heard it all before. Using a cell phone, especially in your hand, is extremely distracting and can easily interfere with a driver's concentration. For most experienced drivers, driving is like riding a bike; observing the car's surroundings is basically second nature. You no longer have to think twice about going through that 3-second yellow light or avoiding that pothole in the road; driving just becomes a breeze. But cell phones don't make the driving so easy.

As a driver, I know how it feels to navigate my vehicle in just about any environment, whether its my suburban neighborhood or the traffic-filled highway. When I drive, I feel very attached to my vehicle, like its a part of me. I press the gas, it goes; I ease the brakes, it slows. I am in complete control at all times. But, back in reality, I am not literally attached to the vehicle I drive, nor is any other driver attached to their own car. The only thing keeping you in that seat is gravity, and when you brake from 70 mph to 35 mph in 2 seconds to get on that ramp you didn't prepare for, the only thing keeping you in the car and not on the the pavement in a pool of blood is your seat belt. Although drivers lose sight of it, the reality of driving is that you are driving an extremely-sensitive, fast moving, 2 ton chunk of machine. This piece of machinery does not know who you are, it doesn't like you, it doesn't care for your traveling music, and it certainly has no problem with crashing into a tree, or, better yet, other cars. The truth is, the driver is the carpenter, the car is the hammer, and the road is the nail. No matter how experienced you are, if you get distracted, you're gonna wind up with a really swollen thumb. Unfortunately, this metaphor does not quite hold true, because, when a driver takes a phone call or decides to reply to a text, their loss of concentration will lead to much more than a sore thumb.

Now, phones are definitely not the only cause of diversion. There are hundreds of things that cause careful drivers to lose focus for that dire second. But, cell phones are major league players when compared to most of the other distractions. Cell phones, although very helpful in everyday life, do not outweigh the price of being distracted while driving. Making a call uses a very large part of the brain, as many different areas must be used at once. And of course some of those parts will overlap with the parts needed for driving. Texting is even worse because a standard texter needs to look at the screen or buttons while typing, which distracts a driver's sight, the most important sense required for driving. I have used my cell phone in the car 3 times, and they were to read texts that I received on separate occasions. Yes, that's hypocritical, but I know not to do it anymore. Besides that, I've never actually used my phone for calling or texting while driving. Some people, on the other hand, can't get it into their heads that using a handheld cell phone while driving is bad. It may seem like they're in complete control, but those who continue to use their handheld cell phones while driving will eventually end up with that sore thumb. It only needs to happen once.

What Makes You and Your Car a Perfect Match: A Look At Gender and Personality

What signals a person that a certain car is their perfect set of wheels? Is it the model? The GPS system? Or is it some deeper connection, a sensation that just screams "I want you. You shall be mine. We will make sweet drives together." Well, there are many factors that effect people when choosing a car. According to one study, gender is one of the most domineering factors. In a 2008 study, (http://www.autospies.com/news/Recent-Study-Shows-Certain-Cars-Are-Gender-Specific-28278/) many cars were found to be gender-specific based off of anonymous statistics gathered by InsureMe, an insurance referral company. From their data, the sample of customers showed that 86% of Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini drivers requesting insurance were male, and 74% of consumers requesting insurance for Volkswagon Beetles were female. Similarly, brands like Kia, Saturn, and Hyundai, which are considered more affordable and less sporty , were much more likely to have female owners; in fact, Kias and Saturns were twice more likely to be owned my females than males. The data supports that men are more likely to splurge on more expensive, higher performance cars, indicating a high risk incentive in males. Females, on the other hand, more often own practical, affordable cars. Surprisingly, the Hummer, which is commonly considered the auto-epitome of masculinity, showed almost no difference in gender ownership, with only a 3-to-2 male-to-female ratio.

In my opinion, gender does not play a large part in choosing a car. Maybe a long time ago it played a part due to unequal rights and what vehicle was deemed appropriate for women, but nowadays women can get the biggest, bossiest vehicle they desire. For example, my mom owns a huge Toyota SUV. Despite the gas-guzzling motor, its a pretty awesome car, with excellent 4-wheel drive, huge amounts of storage space, and enough seats to carry the whole family. Now, when I'm behind that wheel, I feel like a king. I dominate the road; if anyone crashed into me, I'd feel bad for them because I probably wouldn't feel it! (The latter was an exaggeration, I would most likely feel it, but you get my point)

Age and experience also plays a major part. My mom drives an SUV now, but I'm sure when she was young she wanted a really cool sports car, just like most teens do today. I know for a fact she rode motorcycles all the time; I'm a guy and I've never done that (except that one time for 10 minutes)! One of my good friends is a car fanatic; she is constantly changing her mind about which cool car she wants. First its a red Mustang, then a silver Audi, and the list is going to keep growing. So, truthfully, although some gender trends can be found, they can be discovered in almost anything, and shouldn't be counted on for in depth data. The real money can be found in the driver's personality and self-esteem, which can arise consciously and subconsciously.

Now, when I drive my mom's SUV, I said I feel like the king of the road. That's because I like to have fun; I enjoy looking down at the small cars and pretend their drivers are beneath me, laughing at their futility when they try to cut me off. In my own car, the ES330 Sportsdesign Lexus, I never have that feeling of superiority. I'm on the same level as most of the other cars, so that thought doesn't cross my mind. So, although the driver may choose the car, the car also effects the driver's feelings and thoughts.

In a 2009 study, (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31766031/ns/business-autos/) Dennis Slice, an analysis researcher, remarks that the front end of cars often resemble human or animal faces, and these faces may project traits that different consumers find appealing. These anthropomorphic facial features offer clues into drivers' sex, age, emotions, and intentions, making it easy to judge how people drive. For example, as the article states, you sees an aggressive-looking car, like a Hummer, in the rear-view mirror, e would let them pass by because the driver is characteristically known to be forceful and commanding. But if the car behind you is a Mini Cooper, one would probably not feel any anxiety. Now, the car doesn't always characteristically mark the driver. One of the nicest girls I know drives a very large, rather scary-looking truck, yet she is less than 5'4". Another example, I myself came to own my grandmother's car, the Lexus; I didn't choose it, it was the one she owned already. Fortunately, it is a very nice car, but I wouldn't say it fits my personality not does it have a gender-specificity related with it. It's a nice silver-gray car with a GPS system, 6-disc CD changer, smooth driving, and fancy finishes. I don't see a face when I look at the front, but I certainly think my car expresses my confident, yet safe and relaxed nature. And that doesn't even scratch my true self. Sure, when I drive, I drive safe and never text or call or do anything that's possibly dangerous. But when I'm out of the car, I am usually spontaneous, unplanned, and looking for a fun time. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a car that doesn't express their entire nature; but like many people, I have a car that is right for me, that has the things I deem important.

Finally, another research study found that car colors can display a lot about a driver's personality, sometimes even influence it. Although many people don't choose their cars, the color can affect people's moods and emotions and even represent their psyche and temperament. Red cars are associated with high-energy people with sex appeal, though they have very high crash rates. Yellow cars have joyful drivers with upbeat attitudes, though some studies suggest they have low confidence. And the yellow car crash rate is even higher than that of the red cars, attributed to the over-optimistic nature of their drivers. Blue cars have varied drivers based on the type of blue: light blue is associated with quiet and calm while dark blue is associated with credibility and confidence. Green cars have whimsical drivers prone to mood swings, purple cars have creative drivers, gray cars have sober, pragmatic drivers (and low crash rates!), white cars have fastidious, status-seeking drivers, cream cars have reserved drivers, black cars have empowered, aggressive drivers, silver cars have cool, detached drivers, orange cars have fickle, fun-loving drivers, brown cars have down-to-earth drivers, and, finally, pink cars have gentle owners. These are traditional views on most of the colors and their relations to drivers. Again, just because a person drives a red car doesn't make them really cool people, nor does a orange car mean its driver is fickle, but they're prone to be that way. My Lexus is coal-colored, which is like a shiny black-gray. Does that mean I am both pragmatic and aggressive? To be honest, I can't really call myself pragmatic, but once in awhile I pretend, in a sense, to be aggressive. I'll think that I'm driving fast and cutting off cars, which kind of feeds my ego, but, in reality, I'm driving around the speed limit and just switching lanes. So, it may be the car that's influencing me, or it just may be me trying to have fun. Also, gray cars have very low crash rates, but black cars have quite high crash rates, so I don't know what that says about me. Fortunately, I'm a pretty cautionary driver. Interestingly, my girlfriend owns a white Acura, and white car drivers tend to be fastidious, which perfectly describes Melissa (though, of course, her personality delves far beyond that); so there is some truth to the car color/personality relation.

All in all, people buy cars for many reasons; their model, brand, unique features, design, ratings, etc., but the cars often reflect and affect an owner's personality, whether they know it or not. The car's color and "face" can influence the buyer, but they don't control the buyer in any way and there isn't any statistical evidence identifying, for example, how likely an aggressive driver drives a black car. The personalities associated with the car drivers and colors are merely stereotypes, but there is some truth, which is why they became stereotypes in the first place. As for gender-related car choices, faster, sportier cars were bought more by men because men have a tendency (more like a need) to express their pride and supposed coolness. Women often bought, and still buy, more practical cars because they don't possess a need to be so flashy. But, these gender-specific traits really don't account for much anymore because men and women commonly oppose these expectations. I believe gender has a very low association with car purchases, and should really be contributed to lifestyle choices, which really play a part in car selection. A family will more likely have affordable, family-friendly cars than two-seater speedsters.

The Personalities Behind The Screens: Who Texts and Why?

Communication is one of technologies most important and widely used aspect. Everyone nowadays uses a phone daily and most carry a mobile phone around with them. Many people also use instant messaging systems for quick responses or texts for slower chatting. It is not surprising that different forms of technological communication appeal to different types of people.

The study in article 3 made many claims in their discussion concerning who uses what technologies to communicate. The article found that disagreeable individuals use calls and IM more often, rather than face-to-face interaction. It makes sense that they don't meet people head on or text because, normally, disagreeable people don't like confrontation. Calling and IMing allows for a sense of detachment while also allowing quick responses and long conversations to express their (disagreeing) thoughts. Texting lacks that conversation appeal as people can respond whenever they want without a true obligation. It is much more believable to say "my class started and I couldn't respond" in a text rather than an IM.

The study also proclaimed extraverts use more texting and neurotics use IM and texting very often. Extraverts like talking to as many people as possible while moving as fast as possible, which makes texting an obvious choice. Calling is too exclusive and time wasting and IMing involves staying in one location, which is not optimal for social butterflies. Neurotics both text and IM because they need to be on top of things. Calling wastes time, whereas a combination of texting and IMing allows for optimal time management.

Finally, the study concluded that those with high self-esteem (and high neuroticism) have stronger mobile phone addictive tendencies and disagreeable people with low self-esteem have stronger IM tendencies. Neurotics with self-esteem would use the phone more often because that provides a slightly personal form of communication, in between that of actual face-to-face interaction and secluded IMing. Texting and calling someone gives a better understanding of another's feelings. Disagreeable individuals with low self-esteem would definitely use IM because it allows for quick responses with no confrontation at all. One can be angry at another, but, in quick messages, a lot of the anger is lost in translation. Despite all the findings, there is a fair amount of variability that personality can't cover due to situational discrepancies and other environmental differences.

The study is far from complete though- such a broad study must be carefully examined and further researched; it would be best if the data could also enter a qualitative style, as that would account for further personal matters. It is also important to recognize that personality and self-esteem are not strong predictors of tech use; other areas must be examined, such as control perceptions, to develop a comprehensive method of diagnosing communicative tech addictions.

Although there are many controversies on the subject, the use of the term "addiction" is often approved, especially because those who suddenly can't access their cell phones or internet often become irritable, show signs of craving, and even lose control of themselves. A "research paper, published in 2007 in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology by a psychiatrist at Tel Aviv University, recommended that Internet addiction be regarded as an extreme disorder on par with gambling, sex addiction and kleptomania" (http://www.livescience.com/technology/080125-tech-addicts.html). In this study, "addiction" is replaced with "addictive tendencies" in order to dispel any arguments over the term; "addictive tendencies" conjures the thought that communicative technology is something one relies on often, but remains slightly below that of a true addiction. Personally, I don't think tech should be considered an addiction. We use tech every second of the day; for example, while I'm typing this thread, I'm watching the Olympics on my high-definition TV and listening to music on my stereo- 3 technologies at once. Despite this constant usage, most everyone can survive without communicative technologies for days on end, though people feel bad about it because they miss out on things beyond their field of vision. In rare cases, people can become quite angry when unable to use texting or IM to communicate, but I believe that these cases can be explained by other reasons beyond addiction.

This study, although somewhat short, does get across many key facts that I agree with; it does an adequate job supporting its claims and research. I agree with the conclusion dealing with personality traits, but I wish it went into a little more depth. There's a lot left unexplained.

My Car: My Pride and Hatred

I love my car. I inherited my grandmother's 2004 ES330 Sportsdesign Lexus after my family decided she was no longer a safe driver. Although it had some interior stains and required some check-up maintenance, I soon felt the same exhilarating feeling all car owners have- the excitement of having your own car, your own vehicle. It represents freedom, trust, responsibility, and, more importantly, freedom (so important, it must be stated twice). No longer must I wait for a ride to school, a ride to my girlfriend's house, a ride to the movies, a ride to a friend's house, and so on. I could go wherever I wanted, and I could do it in style. I love my car's smooth acceleration, the roar of the engine, the classic 6-disc CD changer, and the feeling I get when I get up, shower, and go driving without any particular destination in mind. I love my car. I get angry when other people drive my car (especially without permission). I take pride in my car. I hope I will always have my car. But, at the same time, I have a problem with automobiles in general.

There is nothing out there to challenge the automobile. And, with all the current and future innovations, nothing may ever even hope to challenge the car. This powerful industry has no competitor; yes, there are rival companies within the industry, but all sell the same products- cars. This doesn't mean the car industry is by any means unsuccessful. It is one of the most successful and dominating industries on Earth. But where is he fail safe? In the future, when innovation slows and the automobile just can't be improved on, what will we do? What will humans use for public transportation when resources for these future cars run out? When a system failure results in cars becoming nonfunctioning? We have no way out as it stands currently. In a way, I am approaching this industry like the world should have approached global warming. It didn't seem important a hundred years ago, but now its a global issue. I don't think the car industry will have an issue in one hundred years, but how about 200? Or 300? Even if there is no problem 1000 years, shouldn't we get started on a fail safe now? If we had countered global warming hundred of years ago, we could have an almost pollution-free environment now. Or, if no solution existed, we could have moon colonies set-up as a last resort. The car industry needs competition so the human race can go beyond the illusion of security and have a real long-term plan.

I love my car. You love your car. we have our cars thanks to the automobile industry- therefore, we have the automobile industries to thank for our freedom (in a sense). Nevertheless, the auto industry needs a rival. It needs an opponent to drive it further, to make it think outside the box. It needs to create different forms of travel beyond that of a four-wheeled car (or however-many-wheeled bus) or at least have a rival doing that job for it. There needs to be variety beyond different brand names so that the human race gains a tangible security.

-This post inspired by my girlfriend, Melissa Augustino (Happy 18th Birthday, Love!)

Pitstop: Let's Stop the Car And Talk About Academic Blogs

This is an academic blog, no way around it. It is a semester-long project for JOUR289I (Information 3.0), its purpose being to teach students how to maintain and coordinate a blog, learn about a specific field of study and its relation to technology, and inform the public about your own unique opinion on this field. As you know, my field is the automobile industry. This week, one of my posts must address how my field effects education. I have scoured my mind to try and figure out how automobiles effect education; honestly, I can't get anything beyond a car or bus is often used by students and faculty to get to class. So, the other option for this blog is to address whether an academic blog is a useful education tool or a waste of time. In my opinion, this blog project is one of the most useful and efficient academic assignments given to students.

In the given article , Sarah Lohnes clarifies that the academic blog must not be characterized in the context of an everyday "authentic" blog, but should be accepted as its own hybrid nature- a blog covering the rift between life in school and life out of school. This hybrid nature lays the foundation for what this academic blog should be- despite having no school for over a week, I find myself constantly planning when to write a new post and not just because I have its an assignment. I honestly love having a blog, even if it has to be educational. This blog requires me to learn more about my topic, analyze it, and write my opinion on it, all while keeping my absolute interest.

A traditional blog has a purpose, an inspiration, and an opinion. This academic blog has all those things, but with a direction- always bring the post's subtopics back to technology. Sometimes that requirement is challenging; sometimes I just want to write about my feelings towards cars and the auto industry. But, by forcing me to study up on my topic, I become very knowledgeable on the subject at hand- with this knowledge, I can not only provide an opinion, but I can back it up with data and research. Some "authentic" bloggers may disagree with the practice of "inauthentic" academic blogging, but, to be quite honest, it doesn't matter what others think. The only thing I should be concerned with is my opinion and the audience, which, surprisingly, is what "authentic" bloggers care about as well.

CARS: Clumsy Automobile Reeks in Snow

This weekend, there was a major snowstorm in Maryland, burying the state in over 2 feet of snow. The storm also made its way up the East Coast, covering areas in at least 6 inches of the white powder. On my drive home from Penn State (I was visiting my girlfriend over the weekend) on Sunday, I was hindered by a horse-drawn carriage. This carriage, although slow, was doing a very good job staying quite steady in the snow-covered streets. My car, on the other hand, was not doing so well. I made it home fine, but my car had some trouble in areas when the tires weren't touching actual pavement. Many snowplows were hard at work on the sides of the road, pushing towering walls of snow into ditches and carrying heaping mounds of powder off the highway. Of course, there were many crashes, which caused for even further delays. In fact, on my way to College Park, I passed a car completely engulfed in flame, smashed into a wall of snow. Even with its 4-wheel drive, 5-star crash test rating, and anti-lock brakes, this SUV found itself helpless in nature's grasp. I truly hope the owners of the vehicle got out safe.

Nowadays, we have many new technologies that help drivers deal with the snow. But lets take a look back in time when cars first started out. There were many worldwide attempts at making an efficient automobile, but I won't get into details just yet. The Duryea Motor Wagon Company became the first automobile manufacturing company of America in 1893, but it was quickly overtaken by the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, with the creation of the Oldsmobile, in 1902. Ford and Cadilac were only a year behind, and soon these car companies were producing thousands of cars a year. Back then, innovation was fast because there was so much to improve on; the earliest cars didn't even have windshields. Back then, breakdowns were standard, tires were regular rubber, fuel was scarce, drivable roads were rarely found, and rapid innovation (meaning the invention of a windshield, for example) made the preceding cars obsolete. Now add snow to the mix. Cars were worthless when it snowed in the early 1900s. There was no such thing as snow tires, 4-wheel drive, windshield defrosters, seat warmers, seat belts or even windshield wipers. And according to the "Air Conditioning Timeline" on the "Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century" website (), the first air conditioning unit was made available in a Packard automobile in 1939; most automobiles didn't have air conditioning until 1969. There must have been many cold drivers in the 1900s. All in all, driving in the snow back then was horrible, no doubt about it.

Unfortunately, even with all the new automobile technology, winter causes hundreds of thousands of deaths in America every year thanks to snow storms. No matter how technologically advanced we've come, we still can't surpass the harshness of mother nature in winter. Will the car ever be safe in the snow? As an on-campus student, I don't have to drive to school, but, for many off-campus students, the car is the only option to get to campus. And because the roads leading to campus have to be as clear as the ones within campus, classes can't be held knowing that main off-campus roads are still covered in snow, preventing students, and even faculty, to go to school. UMD has been shut down for 4 days now, and, even though the majority of students either live in campus or take the underground metro to school, it can't be reopened until all students and faculty who drive a car or take the public bus can safely arrive on campus. 100 years after its invention, the automobile still can not be driven safely in the snow.

The Automobile Industry and Me!

As you know from my first post, this blog will cover all aspects of the auto industry in the USA. What you don't know is me, the writer, the idea man, the great creator, the omnipotent savior to all those who follow this blog- not that there are any yet, besides my loving (and beautiful) girlfriend- Hi Melissa! Now, you may be asking yourself, is the writer that full of himself? Or is he just trying to set a funny, casual mood for his blog? Well, mostly it's the latter reason, but it's also because this is my blog, and, because I write it, I can really say whatever I want; but of course I know I won't get much of an audience if I don't write what the people want to hear. Fortunately, I think I can do that- especially if you're into cars!

Although I have a profile on my site, I feel I should give a slightly more detailed account of myself. My full name is Daniel Marvin Schuldenfrei. I am an eighteen-year-old freshman at the University of Maryland: College Park, majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology. I hope to be a veterinarian in the future and possibly focus on neurobiological research. As I mentioned, I have a girlfriend named Melissa (Augustino), and, although this blog's topic has nothing to do with her, I must mention her because she is truly my better half (and because she'll be the first to read this post). She is a freshman Microbiology major attending the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State- she's even smarter than me, and I'm not afraid to admit that. Moving on- I am a self-proclaimed movie and television buff. I truly enjoy watching anything- old television shows to dramas to monster movies-, as television shows and movies provide an excellent service- silent communion, followed by active discussions. My favorite movie is "Pulp Fiction," directed by Quentin Tarantino, and my favorite television shows include "Arrested Development," "Scrubs," "Lost," "Community," and "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia." I am also an avid singer- I have participated in the Maryland All State Choir for three years, performed in a barbershop quartet (The Naturals) for five, and sang for roughly 13 years of my life. Lastly, my favorite books are the "Pendragon" series, an excellent collection of fantasy novels, and "Crime and Punishment," the classic by Fyodor Dostoevsky. All in all, I am a pretty well-rounded person- better yet, I have roughly no background knowledge of cars.

This blog, inspired by my Information 3.0 class, is a semester-long project, requiring me to post a couple educated posts a week. As I said, I really don't know anything about cars beyond how to drive one (well, I might add). Today, coincidentally, my father gave a run-through of what I needed to check my car for in order to visit my girlfriend at Penn State this weekend. And to be quite honest, I had almost no idea what he was talking about. I believe at roughly 9 o'clock tonight I became more knowledgeable about cars then I've ever been before. Despite my lack of technological knowledge, this blog will truly be brimming with note-worthy posts concerning everything from past automobile technologies to future developments to major players in the industry. I will post as I learn, and I will learn many things every week. Fortunately, I do have knowledge about the industry and, more importantly, I have an opinion and ideas. And that's what a blog is- a news feed with striking opinions. Now, I never would have dreamed I would be a blogger. I actually didn't know much about it until I saw "Julie and Julia," a very good movie following the realization of a young chef's dream to become a top chef. In that movie, the main character (Julie) blogged to make known her fantastic goal. I also have a goal. I am going to explain, criticize, commend, thoroughly crush, praise, and again crush the auto industry, their products, and their actions so that you, the reader, can create your own opinion of big business, new and old auto technologies, and the road that our nation is currently driving down. Is it paved with new-age tech as far as the eye can see? Or has our nation passed the yellow "No Outlet" sign?

The Automobile Industry: Driving US Into the Ground

"Have you ever wondered what would happen if cars became unusable? There are many possibilities that could potentially cause this crisis- overwhelming gas shortages, environmental laws deeming cars illegal, consumers can’t afford them due to recession. If anything was to happen to the car industry, our economy would plummet into the depths of recession and traveling anywhere beyond one’s neighborhood would be nearly impossible. This blog is not meant to undermine or disclaim the automobile industry; the goal of this blog is to encompass the industry’s rise to power, learn about the changes in technology, and, at the same time, present an unfortunate possibility- our nation would be in shambles if the auto industry failed. Fortunately, this possibility will most likely never become a truth thanks to the innovative technologies continuously created specifically to solve automobile concerns. Researchers are avidly searching for new car materials and gas substitutes, and constantly creating new gadgets designed to make the automobile more accessible. Because of these new innovations, the auto industry will fortify its grasp on our lives.

In my blog, I will start from the beginning of the industry, going over the founding brands, the original assembly line, early technologies, and primary public responses, and follow with the present automobile, describing basic package features, current global use, environmental effects, and the current prominent industries. I will take a step further by describing future technologies, such as facial recognition, new energy sources, lead car platoons, and automated highways.Throughout this blog, my key feature will be analytical disassembly of the automobile industry as a whole, pointing out how and why this global industry will only continue to grow, potentially monopolizing the world.

But there actually is an unfortunate truth- because the auto industry has developed such a hold on our economy and our lives, there is no room for change. Yes, new cars will always be developed, each one surpassing its predecessor, but the car will always be the American (and global) main source of transport. By ignoring other possible public fields of transport, such as the metro system and even fantasy transport systems (I know I’m not the only one who wants to ride in a giant bubble), we are digging a hole for ourselves without an escape ladder. If, by some chance, cars actually failed, metros would become absolutely overcrowded, planes would be even more unaffordable and, again, overcrowded, and human-powered vehicles, like bicycles and skateboards, would not make the cut when faced with traveling beyond one’s own city limits. The auto industry, despite its production of useful vehicles, simply serves to drive the United States people into the ground. And when we run out of digging tools, what are we going to do?