Artificial Intelligence and Personal Computing

http://soe.stanford.edu/research/profile_infotech_salisbury.html



I read this article and found it rather interesting for a number of reasons. This site deals more with robotics that are controlled by your basic types of personal computers. More specifically he talks about using software to help generate movement and function and maybe someday even create AI for the robots. I think that any sort of development for AI will need a real world test to see what the capabilities it may have. Robots run by software will help further continue the advances that may one day become the artificial intelligence we are looking for. By using software to create these programs we can help expand the library of code required to eventually create Artificial Intelligence. Much in the same way we do code development for computers. By taking what someone else has already done and adding to it, we could one day create this AI. The main thing we need is cooperation and computers capable of handling the same information and equivalent storage space similar to that of a human brain.

TED Talk Thomas Barnett: The Pentagon's new map for war peace

I agree with his statement that we are great at the warfare part and we as a nation do a terrible job on the rest. However I firmly believe that no matter what resources and what dedication we may have, we will never be able to turn Iraq or any other nation into a democratic and free country using our resources. If you look into history you see countless revolutions that do have success. Our own nation started as a result of our American resolution. Why do these revolutions work and Iraq fails? In Iraq we lack the support of the people. The people did not start the take over and do not carry the motivation like those before them. If anything we've lost the support of the people. It doesn't matter how many troops or how quickly you take over the country. Unless the people of that nation stand up on their own and fight on there own, with there own values, we will never see a successful revolution. Our government should have waited until after Iraq citizens rebelled on their own before flooding in. They have to want freedom so bad that they are willing to give their lives to get it, this is the only way a war in Iraq or any country for that matter, that the revolution would work. I don't agree with much of what Thomas Barnett says. He overcomplicates and comes up with this elaborate idea of how we can improve our war effort. Its easy to point out the flaws in our approach, but a lot harder to find something better that can be "reasonably" done.

Amy Smith TED talk: Simple designs that could save millions of childrens' lives

I found it amazing how she with the help of students, were able to take waste products and turn them into usable fuel alternatives. The development was a very difficult trial and error procedure that took lots of research and refining in order to create an alternative to charcoal that is just as effective. Her hard work and clever use of waste products may help improve the quality of life for not only for the people, but also help protect the remaining environment. Her struggle with how to improve the quality of life are not something that just effects other countries, but the world as a whole. With every tree that is wasted, or for every opportunity that is passed by, we are only further destroying our world. She did a wonderful job showing how hard work and dedication can help improve the quality of life and protect the environment.

Al Gore: 15 ways to avert a climate crisis

First off I'm glad that he didn't make the role as our president. Yes he's very intelligent but he's also a goof. I find him far more able to influence politics as a comedian rather than a politician. Not only is it more amusing, but it has a far greater impact with the general public. Maybe if he had taken this approach he would of had better election results.


As for his fifteen improvements, I feel that they are generally good guidelines that could help improve our environment. I visited his web site, climatecrisis.net and looked through several of his links and I believe he is doing a great thing by trying to promote environmental improvements.


One thing he may want to do in the future is simplify his 15 changes, they sound catchy but few of them are clear cut as to their intentions or on how to fulfill the rule. Overall he's doing a great job in promoting awareness.

TED Talk William Kamkwamba's Windmill

I enjoyed this video for a number of reasons. First I was rather impressed how William managed to take a rather crude design drawn in a book and managed to harness electricity in his home. Thats quite a feat for a fifteen year old. Most adults in our country probably couldn't of created a windmill using only items scattered around the house.

The video did seem to portray him as uneducated and perhaps even a little confused. I can't emagine how he must of felt being on that stage. Its important to remember just how intellegent and creative he is.

TED Talk

David Bolinsky- Fantastic voyage inside the cell


I found this talk very interesting for a number of reasons. The first being that he is an animator and he works in a field that interests me, The second is that he appears to be very knowledge able of the parts of the cell and can create this lifelike videos to represent or illustrate there functions in the body. Lastly I find that his videos do create a spark of curiosity that I think helps benefit the medical world.

By creating this illustrations he is able to give students far more than text reading, He makes it possible to show in a more hands on fashion, just what is going on and how pivotal these “Micro Machines” really are. It’s hard to imagine the micro organisms that make up our cell structures. Even more amazing is how they work together in such a precise fashion that even makes life possible.

Myspace and Other Social Networking

In recent years Myspace and other social networks have become increasingly popular. I remember first using Myspace in 10th grade and I thought it was a wonderful way to keep up with friends and social events. Back then it was wonderful and since then I have grown annoyed with Myspace. At first it was great because it didn’t have too many annoying ads. Now its hard to see your information or get to your page because of all the crazy ads and annoying banners that slow down the site. Also it is more prone to spam accounts and people creating fake profiles just to get you to go to there site. I hated having to dump five friend requests daily just for that reason. In addition to all this people began lying about there ages and posting inappropriate photos and information about themselves.


The same thing appears to be happening to other sites as well. Facebook is turning into the new Myspace. At first it required a legitimate college email address and someone over the age of 18. Now it allows anyone to join. Ads and other useless information have begun to grow and eventually it will be just as bad as Myspace.


It’s not that I have anything against Social Networking, it’s just that I don’t like the direction it has gone.