PicklePals by: Michael Griffiths, Cade Mecham, and Andrew Hansen
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14ps60XNpLHWKck6XUUVqjcm325ZDpJf84V_1WCweNpg/edit?usp=sharing
Monday, April 27, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
Device Abstinence
So as an avid sports fan, I decided to strategically do my digital abstinence Tuesday-through Wednesday after the NCAA basketball championship game, and before the Masters golf tournament began.
The first thing that I noticed, is that I would normally grab my phone and surf scores and apps just to fill time. Not having this ability made it glaringly obvious how often I habitually do this. I normally grab my phone and get on the ESPN app and golf channel app various times a day for new information and analysis of different players. It felt really weird to be cut off from this type of information. I kept wondering what was new, and what was going on. I wondered various times who had called and who had sent text messages. Giving up this connectivity was rather difficult for me. It wasn't that long ago when we didn't have a cell phone on us 24/7 or even have one at all. I found myself, while using the restroom, reading air freshener cans and product ingredients. One big positive that I found is that the first night without digital devices I found that my productivity was increased by nearly double. it was common for me to sit down at the table to do homework and first check all my notifications. I would then do a little homework, and then find myself playing with an app for a bit. Without this ability I found myself on task with more consistency! I would still prefer to stay connected at all times but I could really benefit by putting devices away while I do homework from now on.
The second day without a digital device I did have to cheat a little bit, but with good reason. I had decided to keep my phone in my bag shut off, in case of emergencies. It so happened that I blew a tire on my way to work on Wednesday. No big deal, I decided that there was no reason to call anyone, I could hurry and put the spare donut on. Unfortunately I found that the donut tire was nearly flat, and I knew that I would blow the tire if I went to far without putting air in it. Very slowly I drove to the nearest gas station and to my despair the donut also blew right as I was turning into the gas station. I then was very glad I had the phone to call my wife for a ride to take the tire to a tire shop for a new one. I got to thinking what I would have had to do in that situation in the 80 's and early 90's. People didn't have cell phones, and I would have had to walk somewhere to try and find a phone. When I found a land line phone I would hope that my wife was home where she could answer. In this case she was not, she was at my daughters soccer game. I would be trying to call anyone else that I knew just to get a ride to the tire store.
The connectivity that we enjoy today is an incredible convenience that we take for granted many times. It can definitely be a distraction with apps and social media taking up much of out time, but as long as we try to keep that somewhat in check, I believe the connectivity is a huge blessing.
The first thing that I noticed, is that I would normally grab my phone and surf scores and apps just to fill time. Not having this ability made it glaringly obvious how often I habitually do this. I normally grab my phone and get on the ESPN app and golf channel app various times a day for new information and analysis of different players. It felt really weird to be cut off from this type of information. I kept wondering what was new, and what was going on. I wondered various times who had called and who had sent text messages. Giving up this connectivity was rather difficult for me. It wasn't that long ago when we didn't have a cell phone on us 24/7 or even have one at all. I found myself, while using the restroom, reading air freshener cans and product ingredients. One big positive that I found is that the first night without digital devices I found that my productivity was increased by nearly double. it was common for me to sit down at the table to do homework and first check all my notifications. I would then do a little homework, and then find myself playing with an app for a bit. Without this ability I found myself on task with more consistency! I would still prefer to stay connected at all times but I could really benefit by putting devices away while I do homework from now on.
The second day without a digital device I did have to cheat a little bit, but with good reason. I had decided to keep my phone in my bag shut off, in case of emergencies. It so happened that I blew a tire on my way to work on Wednesday. No big deal, I decided that there was no reason to call anyone, I could hurry and put the spare donut on. Unfortunately I found that the donut tire was nearly flat, and I knew that I would blow the tire if I went to far without putting air in it. Very slowly I drove to the nearest gas station and to my despair the donut also blew right as I was turning into the gas station. I then was very glad I had the phone to call my wife for a ride to take the tire to a tire shop for a new one. I got to thinking what I would have had to do in that situation in the 80 's and early 90's. People didn't have cell phones, and I would have had to walk somewhere to try and find a phone. When I found a land line phone I would hope that my wife was home where she could answer. In this case she was not, she was at my daughters soccer game. I would be trying to call anyone else that I knew just to get a ride to the tire store.
The connectivity that we enjoy today is an incredible convenience that we take for granted many times. It can definitely be a distraction with apps and social media taking up much of out time, but as long as we try to keep that somewhat in check, I believe the connectivity is a huge blessing.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Best Device Review
Best Device Review:
The idea is great in my opinion. We are always looking for ways to make life easier, and a ring is something that most of us wear all of the time anyways. The new version that is going to be released will in addition cost about half of what the current one does, costing about $130 according to Logbar.
Logbar also plans to release an accessory in march called the ring hub, which will allow the user to control even more through infrared communication. You will be able to control things like the curtains, TV's and lights.
If the gesture problems and wear-ability of the ring improves with the newer version, it is a piece of technology that I would love to use. Having said that, the original version I would not want to use. I read to many negative reviews due to the size and unreliability of the product. Logbar would need to prove that they have fixed the cited problems, and improved the product greatly before I would give my full recommendation.
http://avideos.5min.com/2/834/5185834/518583367v1.mp4
The 'Ring'
The device that I researched is simply called the 'Ring.' The company Logbar introduced the original Ring about a year ago, as a wearable Bluetooth device that can control different gadgets in the home by using different wand-like gestures or motions with your finger while wearing the ring. I found the idea very intriguing and innovative. The Ring that is available now costs around $269 and seems to be rather large. It has also had some interference issues when connecting to a smart phone, this is due to it being made of Zinc. Also various people sited that they had a hard time getting their gestures to register with their smartphones. The newer version that is to be released in march is said to be smaller and more aesthetically pleasing, and is also made of materials that will not have any interference issues.The idea is great in my opinion. We are always looking for ways to make life easier, and a ring is something that most of us wear all of the time anyways. The new version that is going to be released will in addition cost about half of what the current one does, costing about $130 according to Logbar.
Logbar also plans to release an accessory in march called the ring hub, which will allow the user to control even more through infrared communication. You will be able to control things like the curtains, TV's and lights.
If the gesture problems and wear-ability of the ring improves with the newer version, it is a piece of technology that I would love to use. Having said that, the original version I would not want to use. I read to many negative reviews due to the size and unreliability of the product. Logbar would need to prove that they have fixed the cited problems, and improved the product greatly before I would give my full recommendation.
http://avideos.5min.com/2/834/5185834/518583367v1.mp4
Sunday, February 22, 2015
APP REVIEW
KID SCREEN TIME
Kid Screen Time is an application that keeps track of the amount of time that your kids are using the ipad or other digital device that supports the app. What drew my attention to it was that it not only lets you know how long your kids are on their device, but will send you e-mail and text message notifications. You can know when they turn the device on, and when their allotted time is up. Each kid can have their own profile and their own time limits to help them with their screen time habits.
Kid Screen Time was designed by ThinkStorm LLC which put out its first app RoofRackRanger in July of 2013 and only has the two apps at the moment, with many more in the initial stages...
Great app but there were some negatives...
-The app doesn't lock when the time is up.
(Developers response)
- Sadly, Apple will not approve an app that can lock the device under any circumstances, or that prevents someone from using the device.The next best thing is to be informed when your kids are using their devices. Kid Screen Time can send you text or email alerts when devices are locked and unlocked.The most effective method is to put your kids devices out of reach when their time runs out. Plain and simple.
-You have to pay for text message and email alerts.
(developers response)
- The text and email services that I use cost me quite a bit every month, and because of the popularity of Kid Screen Time, I would go broke very fast if I offered them for free.
Believe me, I considered all options. But I decided that I don’t want your kids to be spammed with commercials. And I don’t want to sell your usage information to large companies for a profit.
In the next release, I am experimenting with offering surveys to parents in exchange for Alert credits.
http://www.kidscreentime.com/app/kidscreentime/
Monday, January 19, 2015
Media is the message
I think that the saying "media is the message" can represent the importance and influence that media has on us today. Every movie we watch, and cd that we listen to is seen or heard through different types of technology or medium. We are so enthralled by making sure that we are using the best technology possible that it becomes part of the message. We have to have the best blu-ray player or the best and newest iPhone or android smartphone. What the technology can do and how we see it imprints and effects us just as much as the message that the movie or song was trying to get across. The medium we use has certainly turned into part of the message that is received.
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