Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 41)

I've finished adding all descriptions to every place marker to my Google map of Tuscumbia, AL. All that's left is to make the audio scripts and link them to the green pinpoint markers on the map. After that, I will finish customizing my map on the description (editing to be the same as the rest); and I will be ready to submit for Week 8.

Cody Bennett     10/20/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 39)

I've added the finished pictures to the appropriate markers; and I've adjusted some of the markers to be more accurate on where the places are currently. Also, I decided to make some "Pin Point" markers for people that visit my map to click on them and be sent to an audio to depict on their options through the Journey through Helen Keller's Birthplace; Tuscumbia, AL.

10/18/2013     Cody Bennett

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 37)

Captain's Log, lol

I've just now fully got over being sick. I had stomach and allergy problems that was disgusting. Anyhow, I finally was able to finish up on completing the pictures that I wanted to use; and I've already modified them. I figured the ones on the map already is fine and gives a sense variety. So, I used the rest of the places pictures to alter with a little personalization of mine that gave them a bit of "flare".

Cody Bennett      10/16/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (33)

I've finally got permission to take pictures of the golf course. With all pictures selected, I'm going to get busy next week on using Photoshop to fix or personalize the pictures (grey and black or etc.). From there, I going to add paths to the map ready for descriptions and adding a link to the audio part.

Cody Bennett     10/12/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (31)

After getting another response from my professor about my problems with embedding on Google Maps, I attempted to try other internet browsers as suggested. However, I came to the exact same problems as before. I'm just going have to undoubtedly subdue myself to just putting a link for the paths that direct the person to the audio.

Video of the problem that occurred

Cody Bennett     10/10/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 27)

I've went through about 30-40 pictures; and I've finished on selecting which ones to use. I will start to upload and add them to the places accordingly. Also, I'll start working on the rest of the descriptions. From there, I'm still researching on how to implement audio to Google Maps. However so far, everything has been unsuccessful due to my code within the Place Marker being deleted after adding and clicking okay.

Cody Bennett     10/06/2013

Emerging Techologies: Course Project (Day 26)

I've been thinking on what to implement for my personalization for my map; and then, I got completely tired from helping a friend of my dad's and mine moving furniture, appliances, and etc. to his family's new house. So needless to say, I was exhausted. Nevertheless, I felt that the idea for adding an audio was a great direction for my map of Tuscumbia.

Cody Bennett     10/05/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 24)

I went by to the other points of interest marked on my map. I asked the owner of each place if it will be okay to take pictures and explained the reason. They all obliged to allowing me to do so, except for one. The golf course did not let me, unless I paid. I've played at this golf course ever since I was four years old. The person I was talking to was the Green's Course Manager. I've known him for a long time; and he was sincere enough that I agreed to wait for him to ask the owner to make sure that it was okay. I was told yesterday that it was okay; but if I get anyone's picture, I must ask for permission from them to put it on my Google map. I'm heading today to take those pictures.

Below are just a few of some of the pictures that I took.

Cody Bennett     10/03/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project Overview (Day 21)

Thus far, my project is on its way to being finished. I still have a ways to go; but it is coming along terrific. Hopefully, I won't have any hindrances when attempting the test of bringing this up on my iPhone and traveling along the paths marked on the map.

Cody Bennett     9/30/2013 

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 19)

I've updated the main description; and I added a little more to the description of Spring Park. I researched a few places that would be ideal for tourists to drop by and shop, such as a antique store that holds furniture to toys and a specialty gift shop. However, I'm wanting to add at least two more places of interest. Hopefully, I can drive through and pick on a few places in mind.

Cody Bennett     9/28/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project Day (18)

I've been busy with my other course; but I haven't forgot on continuing this one. I'm planning on going around and taking pictures of some places to visit, which is including the newly added ones already. I believe that I would add in some of this place's shopping pleasures that are unique. Also, I know for a fact that I'm going to add in our local Bakery and Gourmet shop. Hopefully, I should have around 12-17 points of interest for any tourist to be attracted to within 2-3 miles.


Cody Bennett     9/27/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 13)

I've finished this week with adding descriptions on the four main places that I had in mind. Also, I've started to add other points of interest; and I will go to collect some pictures later on set in my project plan.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=208617807134356948000.0004e647df572c07f3ca1&msa=0

Cody Bennett     9/22/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 11)

I've added descriptions to the rest of the initial places of thought on my Google Map. However, I was unable to find any pictures of Spring Creek Golf Course. So, I'm going have to take some myself. 


Cody Bennett:     9/20/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 8)

I added the other 3 places that I visited when I took photos. One of them is Spring Park Golf Course, which is directly beside Spring Park. I'll continue to research and add photos, descriptions, and etc.


Cody Bennett     9/17/2013

Emerging Technologies: Project Plan (Day 5)

Project Plan: Option B

Option B:

"Process - students create a 'my maps' in google maps, and place interactive 'pushpins' on that map showing key waypoints. These pushpins can then be annotated with HTML to show details of those places. The annotations can include youtube videoclips, online photos or diagram, text and other digital media elements deemed relevant by the student. The aim is to create a map-based interactive documentary or narrative in which the map of an area, by virtue of having been annotated with HTML elements in turn becomes the basis for a future locative media project. The map should cover an area which can be reasonably covered on foot within the space of two hours, for example four or five city blocks, and offer the viewer/user a clear insight into the ideas/stories and unique personal view of the locative media maker. The viewer of the map should be able to take the interactive map with them into the street, using a tablet or smart phone and using it, clearly identify key landmarks and waypoints, and be able to use the pushpins provided on that map to better understand the locale." 

DeVry University Emerging Technologies: Course Project with Professor David Cox

I will take it upon myself to go around my area to do this project. I live in one of the oldest towns in Alabama and this country. With significance, the town I live in is the birthplace of Helen Keller; and what "unique personal view" can I give from some other place, this is why I found that the place I was born in would be an adequate and well deserved location for this course project.

From there, I've went through a few historic places and taken pictures. I would have used my professional camera; but unfortunately, I have misplaced it. So, I will use Photoshop (free version) to enhance the pictures the way I see fit. In doing so, I will do research on these places and attempt to make a concise as well as a riveting brief description for viewers to understand the background history of the landmark or historic building.

From the next weeks, I will also make this course project on Google Maps to express a personal touch of my own as much as I can that would not hinder on reading comfortable via viewing through a iPad or iPhone. While I like to add as much as I can in this project, it may start to become cluttered as I have noticed that Google Maps is a bit constrictive on its viewing descriptions of a marked place. Overall in the end, I will attempt to go through a diligent method of acquiring a clean and productive means to share information on a walk through the place I was born in.

Timeline

Week 2 - Main landmarks and historic buildings depicted for project; Pictures taken; Start marking places on Google Maps

Week 3 - Continue on marking places on Google Maps; Add descriptions after researching

Week 4 - Finish main landmarks and historic buildings descriptions on Google Maps; Personalize Google Maps

Week 5 - Search for points of interest to add to Google Maps; Take Pictures of them; Start adding them to Google Maps

Week 6 - Continue marking new places on Google Maps; Add descriptions after researching

Week 7 - Finish points of interest descriptions; Personalize newly added descriptions to mimic the rest of the descriptions

Week 8 - Finalize on Entire Project for submission

  Blogging will be up 3 days of a week to keep the public up-to-date on my project.

Materials Needed/Tasks

• Personal iPhone (Pictures)
• Adobe Photoshop CS2
• Depict Landmarks, Historic Buildings, Points of Interest, and etc in a 2-3 mile walk 
• Research Landmarks, Historic Buildings, Points of Interest, and etc
• Project Plan
• Customize my Google Map of Tuscumbia, AL
• Finalize Google Map for Tuscumbia, AL

Cody Bennett     9/14/2013

Emerging Technolgies: Course Project (Day 4)

https://maps.google.com/

I've started on my course project; and I've put up three places of interest.

Helen Keller Birthplace
Howard Chappel Memorial
Winston Home

I've got a few more to put up and edit with improvements along the way.

Cody Bennett     9/13/2013

Emerging Technologies: Course Project (Day 3)

I uploaded the pictures that I took Tuesday. I'm going to run them through Photoshop to enhance them on visual quality; but nevertheless, this is a good start on places to work with. I have a couple more in mind. However, I don't want to overwhelm myself.

P.S. Please excuse the trial version logo.
Cody Bennett     9/12/2013

Emerging Technolgies: Course Project (Day 1)

In my course, I have decided to work on,

"OPTION B: - INTERACTIVE MAP PROJECT

Process - students create a 'my maps' in google maps, and place interactive 'pushpins' on that map showing key waypoints. These pushpins can then be annotated with HTML to show details of those places. The annotations can include youtube videoclips, online photos or diagram, text and other digital media elements deemed relevant by the student. The aim is to create a map-based interactive documentary or narrative in which the map of an area, by virtue of having been annotated with HTML elements in turn becomes the basis for a future locative media project. The map should cover an area which can be reasonably covered on foot within the space of two hours (for example four or five city blocks) and offer the viewer/user a clear insight into the ideas/stories and unique personal view of the locative media maker. The viewer of the map should be able to take the interactive map with them into the street, using a tablet or smart phone and using it, clearly identify key landmarks and waypoints, and be able to use the pushpins provided on that map to better understand the locale"

Therefore, I went and embarked on establishing a starting foothold on what places deemed relevant. I figured that the area I live (Tuscumbia, AL) was a great way to show and express the history of my town.

P.S. For those that didn't know, Tuscumbia, Alabama is the birthplace of Helen Keller.

Cody Bennett     9/10/2013

Emerging Technologies: 3D TV, a bust?

Why 3D TV Went From CES Darling to Consumer Reject

My first time watching a 3D movie was at an Aquarium Cinerama, which was about sharks. It was interesting seeing fish seem that they was moving toward my face and all of a sudden get eaten by a great white shark. However, I found that my eyes was hurting after a while. After reading this article, I have to ask myself if this is a bust or not?

3D TV was a huge upstanding craze on being the next big thing; but as any new technology, supply and demand puts a damper on the price tag on buying it. So, it became apparent that owning a 3D TV was going to cost a pretty penny. Though that was a couple years ago, now, you have the prices on these special TVs going down. Nonetheless, you also have movies that are being released (Avatar 2, which the original started the 3D craze) soon. From the first general public craze, the movies was released was unsatisfying. Yes, you had Avatar; but Clash of the Titans was a bit early to come out on trying to capture the wealth on the hype on 3D. If you remember, there was 3D games and movies in the 80s. It's not a new technology; but it is really a revamped one with newer technology that can support more realistic features. However, the video games and movies from back then have greatly improved as well. So, why shouldn't that coincide with how 3D be viewed in today's age of technology. I mean the technology is improving vastly at an alarming rate. You have every year a new GPU or CPU; and this is not including the engines that games are made with. 

One reason on the decline and barely struggling view of wanting 3D TV is described below by a Chief Animator in an interview:

“We have disappointed our audience multiple times now, and because of that I think there is genuine distrust — whereas a year and a half ago, there was genuine excitement, enthusiasm and reward for the first group of 3D films that actually delivered a quality experience,”

References:

1.     http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/01/state-of-3-d-technology/

Cody Bennett     9/08/2013

Emerging Technologies: Brain-Controlled RC Quadcopter...?

Brain-Controlled Quadcopter Drone Takes Flight in China

I've always said that I despise any type of wireless controlled devices. The response time is not as fast when compared to wired devices. For example when playing a video game, you are using a wired controller and all of sudden you die due to response timing between the controller and the console. Whereas if you used a wired controller, there wouldn't have been an issue due to the connection is traveling through wires and not air. When a wireless connection is achieved, the particles in the air help transfer the connection to the console. However, you have to realize that you might have wood, metal, or anything else in the console's WIFI adapter to pick up on the signal. This tremendously slows down the response of an action to perform from what was inputted in the controller. Surface area increases this response time and connection speed.

However, what if you did both? At Zhejiang University, a group of students created a brain-controlled quad-copter drone. This increases the surface area of the controller's input senses; but in relation, it also increases the response time between the human mind to the action a person wants to perform. Let's say you blink (which sometimes is an involuntary movement), you don't think about it; but the brainwave to perform that action still occurs. For how fast a blink action is, you can imagine how fast the brainwave to make that sequence performs. Thus with a controller taking responses from brainwaves, you have drastically increased response time. 

References:

1.     http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/08/zhejiang-university-china-brain-controlled-quadcopter/

Cody Bennett     9/08/2013

Emerging Technologies: Japan’s L-Zero

Japan’s Levitating Train Hits 310 MPH in Trials

I think that this technology is going to be very productive. However if it precedes expectations, you know that the United States would have create there own brand in order to bring that type of technology overseas. Where this might be a blessing of shortening time traveled from destinations by at least half, I honestly wonder how this will affect other means of transportation. The first would be airlines. With a faster means of transportation via a ground unit, it would mean a cheaper way of traveling (magnetic levitation). This train would need a lot of maintenance on going these type of speeds; but with no type of fuel needed to travel, you can imagine how much the tickets would be then. Thus, this would make the second downfall on transportation, which is the automobile industry. With the increase of gas prices, everyone is wanting to cut on traveling, which is another result on why airlines are nowhere on customers that it once was (neglecting 9/11). 

Though the outstanding amount of such projects (an airport line in Shanghai and a low-speed train in Nagoya as an example), I wonder if this is worth actually doing. If companies building such a device are able to do so, I suppose that it is reasonable. I mean it cuts down on burning of fossil fuels and pollution, which would then fluctuate the supply and demand on this resource. I suppose that it all depends on the project's spending costs. If a company in the United States started this, there would be a huge amount of jobs created, which seems to me in the thousand numbers of jobs. Overall, I suppose that such technology of moving several thousands of pounds in speeds of over 300 MPH is astonishing nevertheless; and I believe that it is a step into the right direction.

With more research, I found that there are plans for the United States to receive such technology.

"The U.S is currently pondering a maglev system of its own, but such plans remain in their early infancy, with few large commercial backers. U.S. maglev supporters should be cheering the Yamanashi line, as one of the most hopeful efforts in the U.S. The Northeast Magleve (TNEM) is backed by JR Tokai. The TNEM is planned to connect Washington D.C and New Yorck City with a high speed maglev, passing through Baltimore, and Philadelphia along the way." 

In doing so, there must be software to keep up with this type of technology to help on reducing any hindrances or causalities. So, I researched even further for any type of programming implications that might enlighten me on the subject. Successfully, I was able to find that as of 2004 a committee agreed to use C++ as the software program language code.

"In September 2004, it was decided that a new version of the controller software would have to be developed in order to achieve required quality standards. Given the complex nature of the software, Philips Applied Technologies and Verum together applied Analytical Software Design (ASD) techniques in which the complete software design is modelled mathmatically and model-checked for correctness before implementation starts. After verifying the design mathematically, Verum’s ASD techniques enabled 90% of the new code to be generated in C++ automatically from the verified design specifications." 
Excerpt from the Article: Analytical Software Design Case MagLev Stage Software Project for Philips Applied Technologies (PDF)
By: Guy H. Broadfoot, George Kielty

References:
1.     http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/09/maglev-310-mph/
2.     http://www.ajc.com/news/business/airlines-keep-adapting-to-high-fuel-costs/nQRrf/
3.     http://www.maglev.ir/eng/documents.html

Cody Bennett     9/08/2013