Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Day 1 blog

Welcome class! For today's blog, please go to the book's companion website at bedfordstmartins.com/barnetbedau and register as a student. Please write down your username (school or home email) and password so you don't forget them. The instructor email is khofheimer@ecpi.edu. Then, click on top links and choose "technology." Choose one of the sites or articles to critically assess. Your assessment serves as blog 1. It should be about a page double-spaced. You might want to type it in Word and save it to your h-drive just so you don't accidentally lose it while composing it. If your selection is an argument, you may want to refer to page 92 in our text, "A Checklist for Aanalyzing an Argument" for some questions to ask yourself about what you read. Have fun and be both critical and creative!

18 comments:

P said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
P said...

I read the Hydrogen Car article and it basically talked about how much different the world would be if cars ran off of hydrogen. It would be cost effective and run twice as long as gas powered cars. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and President Bush are already supporting hydrogen highways and cars.

I think they will be the way of the future.

Jason O. said...

Topic: Can’t Hide Your Lying Eyes
After reading this article, this writer feels the article created more questions rather than produce answers. During the course of the article, the author introduces many new and creative methods to determine lying. However; none of the different versions compelled this reader to believe any of the high-tech options really overshadow the current method of polygraph.
Next, to some people, there is no difference between truth and lying. If there is no difference in the mind of the person telling the lie/truth, it is reasonable to believe there will not be any physical changes when a person lies. For instance, the current polygraph relies on measuring stress levels to determine if a person is lying. An individual who does not feel any emotion when he or she lies will not register any indications on a test like this.
This writer believes the same results will occur with any lie detection method which relies on a physical response.
Finally, a lie detection method which does base its result on a physical indication is also assuming that EVERY person will display similar indications when a lie is told. I cannot believe this can be an accurate and effective tool with a broad assumption as that.
In conclusion, this blogger believes any perfect lie detection method must determine some indication which is involuntary by the person telling the lie. Anything other than this can and will negate and results.

bribin0603@students.ecpi.edu said...

Need a canned ham, old pork rinds, perhaps a House of Pain album? No need to go to Wal-Mart all you need to do is track down John Freyer on eBay and you can purchase these things and other items you really don't need. John decided to take all of his personal belongings and put them up on eBay for all of us to own. 15 years ago something as crazy as this would never be thought of but thanks to technology it is being done by millions of people worldwide. There is no longer the need to wake up on a weekend morning and drag all your stuff to your front lawn, just grab your
digital camera, fire up your computer and the days of yard sales are over. Looking at the items that John sold there is no possible way he could have sold these items at a run of the mill lawn sale, there is something that triggers in peoples minds that they must have these items when they see them online. I have been an eBay victim in the past, talking Steve Urkel doll (not for me), old action figures, movies I don’t need, these are some things that I have purchased in the past and had no need to own. If I saw these items wrapped up in orginal packaging in a store for less money I would have walked by but perhaps it was due to boredom while surfing the web that made me purchase these things. Enough about my sad eBay impulse purchases though. The great thing about what John did was not only
did he make money on this crap he was able to parlay this “adventure” into a book. He sent each buyer a personal
letter and in return many of them took pictures of themselves with this item. The pictures and letters were then put in a book. I have to admit this is such a great idea and I really wish I had thought of this. The bad part is that I am probably going to go on eBay and see if I can get a cheap copy of this book.

Lawrence said...

Computer Love: Technophilia in the Real World covered a diverse range of topics. Many of the assertions in the article are based on fallacious assumptions; specifically the arguments that programming provides few opportunities to women. Programmers tend to be the most egalitarian of all professions. Judgments of professional competence and skill are based on what you can do rather than who you know or who you are. Appearances in fact are insignificant in programming as often the programmer is never seen, making the sex of the programmer unknown. The characterization of programmers as elitists unwilling to suffer incompetence and fools may be accurate but reflects a mindset of performance over connections. This is not the prevailing method in most professional organizations. Comparing HaX0r culture to cyber chatting and internet porn is comical at best and when taken seriously is disrespectful and loathsome. Elite computer programmers seem to take nothing seriously except their craft. The concept of programmers finding sexual ecstasy in their craft seems unusual but appears to be nothing more than a variation of standard projection of sexual desire on an inanimate object, the difference being instead of projecting on an object the subject is projecting their sexual fantasies onto the idea of the computer or equating the rush and feelings of satisfaction from completing a difficult task onto the act of coding itself. Cyborg sex, and the concept that we are all cyborgs appears again completely unrelated to the other subjects. How is a cyborg any different than a vibrator or any other mechanical tool? As machines become more lifelike and responsive it is to be expected that deviant behavior with machines will occur. The nature and act of loving denotes an emotional attachment. If you assume that this is required for healthy sexual relationships you can consider 80% of all men cyborgs. Should we form emotional attachments to machines that cannot requite our affection? A more appropriate subject of study would be can we develop a machine capable of intimacy, and more importantly, should we bother?

J. Hanrahan said...

The article, "Can't Hide Your Lying...Face?", gives insight into some of the different forms of development for lie detection software/hardware currently being pursued in America. I don't know if the creation of a new lie detection system it is paramount to the continuation of this country or if the American public even cares but some of the strides that are being taken are rather interesting.
Several different researchers and their methods are discussed in the article. All of the information given seems to be genuine, but there are no supporting documents provided or any external links to the research being done which leaves you with only one choice, believe or don't believe it. The one misleading thing about the article is that two of the different tests being developed claim to have over a 90% success rate in lab tests, but the earliest projected release for any test is 2010. If they're working so well in lab tests one would think they would find a way to expedite their use in real world situations, even if it's done along with a polygraph test.
The article works for a very general description of new technologies in the field of lie detection. However if you would like to know more about the research being done the only help you would get form this article would be a few names. In the end, I believe all of these efforts will be for naught because in the world of justice, the criminals always seem to be one step ahead. Given enough time, people will find away around the new tests.

Angelina said...

All My Life For Sale

John Freyer had a unique idea when he sold all of his belongings on ebay. He did not necessarily do it for the money yet I’m sure he made more than what his stuff was worth in the end. By parting with his material objects he grew as a person and was able to open himself up to new adventures. I have not read his book however; I read on the internet that he followed up his project by meeting with the new owners of his belongings. I think it made the story more personal when he decided to meet with the buyers. It made them a part of his life. By separating with his personal belongings he developed relationships with people, which to me is more rewarding. A Buddhist scripture says "by separating one’s self from material objects one is able to find enlightenment."

cynedw8608 said...

Topic: All My Life for Sale
John Feyer is known for selling his personal items on Ebay. Things he has sold include: a used stamp, an ice tray, and his own underwear. He clams it is a project that explores the relationship between others and their owners. To my surprise people actually bid on these worthless items. He is no one famous, why would I want a collard shirt of some random guys back? But he doesn’t stop there. Not only does John Feyer sell his belongings he wants to keep in touch with the person who bought the crap. In November of 2002 a book was written about his relationship with the new owners and contains picture. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. People who buy his possessions think they are apart of something big, and they are. A big waste of time!

cmateus said...

John Freyer I believe is so over the top to sell all his belongings to the world and know he wants to visit them all. I feel that he must have hit a point of no return. I don't know if it was a cry for help or a spring cleaning gone bad.

dcreque said...

David Creque
ENG210: Critical Thinking
Blog Day 1
Big and Bad.
How the S.U.V. ran over automotive safety.

This article was about the illusion of safety that is given to people that drive the big S.U.V.’s. The article breaks down the flawed logic used by people to justify why they purchased such a large vehicle. Some reasons used are as follows:
• If I am up higher, than I must be safer…
• With the amount of metal and plastic in this vehicle, I would do better in a crash…
The reasons behind why people choose the bigger S.U.V.’s is still a mystery to me. Driving a taller vehicle doesn’t make you safer; it makes you top-heavy, or more likely to roll on a sharp turn than a car. And the notion that the size of the vehicle makes you safer is just not supported by the statistics. In a 35 mph crash, the driver of a large S.U.V. has a 16% change of a life threatening head injury, a 22% chance of a life threatening chest injury, and a 35% chance of a life threatening leg injury. While in a minivan, the numbers drop significantly; 2%, 4%, and 1% respectively.
This article shows that it not safety that drives people to this purchase, it the look and feel they get from being in such a large vehicle.

CREAMFROMDABX said...

Topic: Hybrid Cars
After the end of the sales year the Toyota has blown away the competition. Their Hybrid sales have actually increased it's sales by some 100,000 units. The main reason for the increase was with the Prius his cols 74,250 more uunits than last year. The Camry Hybrid had a fine year as well with some of 23,000 units sold. Even with the increase in gas prioces and the increased gas - electric car sales light duty , vechilce sales only declined by 2.5percent. That is an amazing statistic. The current price for oil just jit an all time high of $110 a barrel. Basically hybrid cars are the new wave of the present. It makes more sense economically. Gas is not getting any cheaper and neither are car prices. The least you can do is to try to save money on gas. It is a no brainer that the consumer meeds a better gas efficent vechicle. That's why all car manufacturers are now releasing hybrid cars. It's been years in development and now they are all finally being realeased to the public. It's about time. Personally I wish I had the money to purchase a hybrid vechicle. It would save gas and be better for the enviorment.

Derrick said...

Derrick Pittman
Eng 210
Dr. Hofheimer


Can’t Hide Your Lying… Face?

Can’t hide your lying face was a very interesting article. It starts out by stating that the first lie that was told was told by Cain. Cain states the who? Me defense denying the murder of his brother. It is funny because if you were to sit and think of when the first lie was told you would have never taken it that far back. Researchers have now decided to explore lie detection further to see if polygraph machines actually work, or are they a waste of time. Professors from all over are trying to see different ways to uncover lies such as measuring they levels of heat on the face, to patterns in eye movement. Many believe that lie detectors test don’t work well, and that the guilty knowledge test works better. This test works on a polygraph machine and measures the reaction when people see certain items. But will this really work? If a person looks at a certain item it may affect people in different ways. If I were to look at a gun and I don’t seem nervous will that mean that I own a gun and that I am a killer, or could it mean that guns don’t scare me and I have no reaction? To me that test seems like it would not be ideal for many Americans cause we all react to situations in different ways. Do I feel that lie detection works? I can’t say that I do because if a person is nervous, then that can affect the way a person reacts to the test. Nervousness to me does not mean that a person is guilty, it could be that the person has nervous been in a situation like that before.

Keller said...

Hydrogen Cars

Hydrogen stores more energy than what batteries do burns twice as effectively, and is better for the environment. A lot of companies are making hydrogen cars. There many pros and cons if the economy starts to produce hydrogen cars rather the gasoline powered cars. One of the main reasons why hydrogen fuel is a good consideration is so that we can have energy security, and we don’t have to depend on fossil fuels coming from the Near East. The process of transferring all cars to hydrogen is a big a process and we have to produce five times the hydrogen that we are producing today. My question is that will hydrogen cars be less powerful than ones used with gasoline. The future of hydrogen cars is not a pipe dream, as there are already many hydrogen cars on the road. California and Japan have many hydrogen cars being used as fleet vehicles now. Unlike many of the hybrid and “green” cars currently on the market, hydrogen cars offer promise of zero emission technology, where the only byproduct from cars is water vapor. Current fossil-fuel burning vehicles emit all sorts of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, ozone and microscopic particle matter. Hybrids and other green cars address there issues to a large extent but only hydrogen cars hold there promise of zero emission of pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that fossil-fuel automobiles emit 1 ½ billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year and going to hydrogen-based transportation would all but eliminate this. The hydrogen economy is just around the bend. Will you be ready?

rayzblogs said...

Allmylifeforsale

I chose to do this article on All my life for sale because it basically shows how one persons trash can be someone else's treasure. I am sure everyone has a bunch of stuff in our possession that we just leave lying around but don't know what to do with . Well this guy figured out what to do with his junk, now granted i feel he went a little to far with the selling of his false teeth and perhaps his personal photographs but to each their own i suppose. Reading this article made me see just how far some people are willing to go for money i did not find out how much he got paid for his items but i am sure it wasn't much but i do believe he is making a nice piece of change from his website Allmylifeforsale.com and his book deals.

Arthur said...

Cheating’s Never Been Easier

The article by Kendra Mayfield on Wired.com about the use of the internet for research leading to a rise in plagiarism, though written over six years ago, is surprisingly accurate. While the numbers have certainly grown since the article was written, the overall assessments still remain true to this day. The use of the internet as a research tool has increased significantly, as has the number of sites dedicated not only to providing students with essays to copy from, but for instructors to catch the plagiarists as well. The article may not have been intended to predict the trend in using the internet to cheat, but it certainly can serve as one.

The writer gives the impression gives the impression that she is decidedly against using the Internet to plagiarize school work but at the same time tries to be too objective, thus taking away the strength of arguments with any bearing and giving more of an informative point of view. Mayfield points out several methods that instructors use to catch or deter the use of Internet plagiarism but also makes it a point to mention the ways students are able to cheat and their objections against anti-plagiarism tools. The ideas in the article vary so much that any progression towards a firm stance is hindered by a contradicting statement.

Anonymous said...

Everybody hates that dreded trip to the gas station. It seems like when the gas prices soar the quicker your car seems to run out of gas. After reading the article labeled Hydrogen Cars this seems like a efficient way to save money at the pump. While gas engines are less expensive than a hydrogen car, the truth is that these modern cars are safer on the environment and double the mileage . Two entities that are known very well Arnold Schwarzenegger and President Bush support this with full confidence that this will be the way of the near future ruling out gas powered cars and SUV's. Until we can find a cheaper way to produce hydrogen so that us the consumer can afford to ride in these hydrogen cars for now we're stuck with gas engines.

Carter, A said...

Topic: Can’t Hide Your Lying Face
This informative article educates its readers on technologies used in detecting lies. Researchers are trying to find better lie detection methods to replace current polygraph machines. American Researchers seem to think that the current lie detection method we are using isn’t competent enough to do their intended job. The reason’s they list as to why the Polygraph technology should banish into the history books are being implemented in the new scientific research they are doing which will ultimately result in the same output as the current method being used. In my opinion, it’s a waste of time and research. Science can take us only so far and I believe that there are some things science can’t and will never be able to alter. The fact that success is elusive and after many years of research nothing has come to the forefront clearly states that we will never be able to 100% detect lies. I’m not saying it’s impossible because nothing is impossible. We are apart of a world changing generation. Scientists should look at the current techniques that are being applied to the technology and begin to research different techniques that discover cognitive behavior that screams LIAR.

Johanna said...

Hydrogen Cars

I choose to write about hydrogen cars because I find the topic of alternative energy sources to be interesting. The article Hydrogen Cars contained very informative facts about Hydrogen as a new source of car fuel. One characteristic of hydrogen is that the waste product is water when burned. When compared to gasoline that produces cardon dioxides into the atmosphere which adds to global warming. Global warming that’s important to mankinds survival and America is still not willing to switch to what appears to be the solution a lot of problems. One being the dependence of imported oil. One reason stated in the article of why hydrogen cars are not able to replace gasoline engines is that they are too exspensive. I wonder if that’s what people said back when the first gasoline car took the place of the horse and buggy. I believe that if hydrogen Cars be given a chance that they may be the answer to the gasoline problems of today.