Final Post

Well 10 weeks have flown by.

I thought I would make one final post about what I have taken away from this course, and what my opinion on it all is.

Introduction to New Media has made me realize a lot of things with technology, the Internet, and all different media and how it is affecting us for better or for worse.

There are many people who believe in Internet Utopias and Dystopias, many people (usually in the older generations) who believe that the Internet is making us all stupid, that the Internet is taking away our privacy, that the Internet is creating a problem that will only get bigger with the new technology releases.

Employers can search Facebook profiles of prospective employees and decide if they are qualified based on that, as well as Admission Staff in Universities.

Media is easier to share than ever before. We have everything at the tip of our fingers whenever we want it. It is almost impossible for the Internet to be monitored and rid of all pirated material.

Online communities can create a positive environment for people with specific interests, and can make the Internet a powerful place to connect with people all around the world.

Overall, I believe that all of these new technologies can make our lives easier, can make us connect more with one another, and can help us all be safer and more aware of what is going on in the world. Of course there are some negatives, but isn't that with everything?

I think that the Internet is one of the best tools created, and the ability to share with people who you would never have met or stayed in touch with years ago is available on a screen. Technology is amazing, and new media will just keep growing and improving.

Samsung Stepping up the Smartphone Game

The first foldable phone?

You may be thinking:
Why would you need a foldable phone? How would that even work? 

Well, you might be finding out next year as Samsung is rumored to be launching a new foldable phone called the Galaxy X in 2017. There may even be two models. 

Samsung already has the Galaxy S7 Edge with its rounded display, and they have been working on foldable displays which might be ready to launch next year!

Samsung is considering building two new models
- One folds like a wallet
- One of the two devices will have 5-inch screen when used as a cellphone, but it can be rolled out to    show off an 8-inch display

Specifications?

Samsung is allegedly testing two variants of the device, with the main difference being the processor. One has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 620, while the other has the Snapdragon 820. These are some of the newest processors from Qualcomm that feature Quick Charge 3.0.
There is a reported 3GB of RAM, a MicroSD slot for expanded storage, and a non-removable battery.

It is unlikely that this phone will be very affordable at the beginning. 

What do you all think about this? Is it something you would be interested in?

The Future of Delivery

Technology is changing the way we do so many things. From how we communicate with one another, how we drive cars, and now even how we get deliveries. 

What is the technology that is changing this?

DRONES.

We have all heard of maybe the drones that fly in the sky to deliver packages from places like Amazon. Well now there is talk about drones that drive on the sidewalk.

Everyone wants to deliver packages with drones. It is the newest technology, so of course everyone wants a part of it.

Starship Technologies, a startup founded by former Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, is taking a different approach than places like Amazon and DHL. Instead of using drones that fly, they are planning on bringing drone delivery back to the ground with six-wheeled robots that deliver goods.

The bots look a lot like coolers on wheels, but they have a lot of sophisticated technology in them. Starship has equipped the bots with different cameras, sensors, and autonomous navigation technologies, which work in concert to help the machine travel along city sidewalks, dodge pedestrians, and transport goods from one location to another. The robots are designed to drive on sidewalks, unless they are crossing streets.

Now what does this mean for people, and jobs? 
Is it creating jobs by having people who need to program and manufacture these drones? 
Or is it creating job loss for deliverymen and women? 

This goes along with McDonald's and their automated cashiers.

Is technology starting to become too important in our lives? 
Is it beneficial in the long run? 
Or is it hurting our human interaction and jobs?

Let me know what you think!