Sup?
So let's learn about Virtual Reality applications in the REAL world as opposed to the video game industry.
The military has been training soldiers for years using VR. There is a plethora (Dillard's word that means a great big bunch) of info out there on it. Please explore:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/01/army-virtual-reality/
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120913/TSJ01/309130003/
http://defensesystems.com/articles/2012/11/15/c4isr-2-networked-training.aspx
http://www.livescience.com/14477-army-orders-virtual-reality-training-soldiers.html
http://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-military/index.html
In related news, do you ever feel like maybe we're the only country in the world that actually allows this very valuable information about how we train our military to be put online for all the world to see? (This is not your directive for the week, just a question to consider) Sometimes I think it's crazy how much we overshare.
Directive: Choose one of the articles, tell us which one you chose. BRIEFLY summarize and give an INFORMED opinion. Show some EVIDENCE to back up your opinion.
Example:
I chose the VRS article (tell us which article). It talks about the 5 different areas in which the military has started to rely more on VR training in order to avoid death and serious injury (briefly summarize). My opinion is that this will be used to save lives in the future (informed opinion). I thought it was interesting that the article says that the VR training will not take the place of the real life training, but will be used to supplement it (evidence).
As always, I want you to ACTUALLY read and become informed about technology directions and trends. This is not free time, it's MY time.
Talk to me . . .
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Blog 6 - October 14, 2013
Dude . . .
So there's this new high-tech virtual reality headgear that new on the market and gaining popularity. Let's go do some reading:
http://www.oculusvr.com/
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/bit-by-bit-virtual-reality-heads-for-the-holodeck/?_r=0
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/virtual-reality-gaming-nearly-here-we-just-need-right-controller-8C11331493
http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2013-09/hook-me-impractical-virtual-reality-suit-right-now?dom=PSC&loc=recent&lnk=2&con=hook-me-up-to-this-impractical-virtual-reality-suit-right-now
Pick one of the above articles, GIVE US THE LINK and one FACT that was in your article. This is not an opinion piece.
2nd and 7th periods: If it becomes apparent to me AGAIN that you really haven't read the blog and are uninformed as a class we will have blog summary time every Friday for the rest of this year. Get it together.
Talk to me . . .
So there's this new high-tech virtual reality headgear that new on the market and gaining popularity. Let's go do some reading:
http://www.oculusvr.com/
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/bit-by-bit-virtual-reality-heads-for-the-holodeck/?_r=0
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/virtual-reality-gaming-nearly-here-we-just-need-right-controller-8C11331493
http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2013-09/hook-me-impractical-virtual-reality-suit-right-now?dom=PSC&loc=recent&lnk=2&con=hook-me-up-to-this-impractical-virtual-reality-suit-right-now
Pick one of the above articles, GIVE US THE LINK and one FACT that was in your article. This is not an opinion piece.
2nd and 7th periods: If it becomes apparent to me AGAIN that you really haven't read the blog and are uninformed as a class we will have blog summary time every Friday for the rest of this year. Get it together.
Talk to me . . .
Monday, October 7, 2013
Blog 5 - October 7, 2013
Hi!
In preparation for switching topics this week we will visit one of my favorite sites:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/
I love, LOVE this website. It's chock full of stuff for geeky people.
So for credit this week, pick a product and GIVE US THE LINK and then tell us why you love it or think it's abundantly stupid. You MUST PROVIDE THE LINK so that the rest of us can go and look at it.
Your blog should look a little something like this:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/388b/
When you're a computer teacher people ask you all the time to help them. Most days I don't mind. Today ain't one of those days.
Lanham, 1st period
You must give us the link.You must give an opinion.You must sign and put your class period.
This is one of the RARE times when you can go ahead and blog on Tuesday. Be sure to check back on Thursday during blog time if you do that so you can see what everybody else is shopping for.
Talk to me . . .
In preparation for switching topics this week we will visit one of my favorite sites:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/
I love, LOVE this website. It's chock full of stuff for geeky people.
So for credit this week, pick a product and GIVE US THE LINK and then tell us why you love it or think it's abundantly stupid. You MUST PROVIDE THE LINK so that the rest of us can go and look at it.
Your blog should look a little something like this:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/388b/
When you're a computer teacher people ask you all the time to help them. Most days I don't mind. Today ain't one of those days.
Lanham, 1st period
You must give us the link.You must give an opinion.You must sign and put your class period.
This is one of the RARE times when you can go ahead and blog on Tuesday. Be sure to check back on Thursday during blog time if you do that so you can see what everybody else is shopping for.
Talk to me . . .
Monday, September 30, 2013
Blog 4 - September 30.2013
Hola!
One more post about the video game industry, and then next week we'll be moving on to some other technology. If there's a particular technology you're excited about and want me to do some research on, let me know.
So I found this New Scientist article that was published last December that talks about the new gaming systems coming THIS year. It specifically talks about the nextgen of Wii (the U) that is supposed to take all the clutter off the TV screen. It also highlights the PlayStation Vita (a portable playstation) that allows you to play away from home and then plug in your Vita and pick up right where you left off.
Please read the following article. I'll post directives on Wednesday.
Edit: To receive credit this week you will need to give an opinion on one of the three video game technologies mentioned in the article. This is YOUR OPINION about one of the three technologies. This is not a fact hunt. To receive credit this week you must advance the discussion in some manner. A that's cool or an I don't care won't earn you credit.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628965.500-2013-smart-guide-nextgeneration-video-games.html#.Ukmu1Mso6M8
Talk to me . . .
One more post about the video game industry, and then next week we'll be moving on to some other technology. If there's a particular technology you're excited about and want me to do some research on, let me know.
So I found this New Scientist article that was published last December that talks about the new gaming systems coming THIS year. It specifically talks about the nextgen of Wii (the U) that is supposed to take all the clutter off the TV screen. It also highlights the PlayStation Vita (a portable playstation) that allows you to play away from home and then plug in your Vita and pick up right where you left off.
Please read the following article. I'll post directives on Wednesday.
Edit: To receive credit this week you will need to give an opinion on one of the three video game technologies mentioned in the article. This is YOUR OPINION about one of the three technologies. This is not a fact hunt. To receive credit this week you must advance the discussion in some manner. A that's cool or an I don't care won't earn you credit.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628965.500-2013-smart-guide-nextgeneration-video-games.html#.Ukmu1Mso6M8
Talk to me . . .
Monday, September 23, 2013
Blog 3 - September 23, 2013
Howdy!
This week we are continuing our theme of video game design / testing / other nerdy stuff.
I noticed in last week's article that one of the ways to work your way into the design world was to become a video game tester. Doesn't that sound like quite a life to have? Sit around all day long drinking caffeine and eating Cheetos, playing games and getting paid? Ahhhh . . .
In reality it's way more of a whipping than that. IF you get there early enough on any particular day to actually get a job.
Go here, read this. It's still one of the best articles I've seen about video game testing.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-07-11/news/testing-video-games-can-t-possibly-be-harder-than-an-afternoon-with-xbox-right/
As always, read today. Blog Thursday.
Edit: Tell me whether you'd want to do this job or not (after reading the article and becoming informed) and WHY. You must do both things to get credit.
Also? Two people blogged on Tuesday. Those entries were deleted. Please always READ MY WORDS (which specifically said not to blog on Tuesday).
Talk to me . . .
This week we are continuing our theme of video game design / testing / other nerdy stuff.
I noticed in last week's article that one of the ways to work your way into the design world was to become a video game tester. Doesn't that sound like quite a life to have? Sit around all day long drinking caffeine and eating Cheetos, playing games and getting paid? Ahhhh . . .
In reality it's way more of a whipping than that. IF you get there early enough on any particular day to actually get a job.
Go here, read this. It's still one of the best articles I've seen about video game testing.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-07-11/news/testing-video-games-can-t-possibly-be-harder-than-an-afternoon-with-xbox-right/
As always, read today. Blog Thursday.
Edit: Tell me whether you'd want to do this job or not (after reading the article and becoming informed) and WHY. You must do both things to get credit.
Also? Two people blogged on Tuesday. Those entries were deleted. Please always READ MY WORDS (which specifically said not to blog on Tuesday).
Talk to me . . .
Monday, September 16, 2013
Blog 2 - September 16, 2013
Hola Homies! Thanks for logging in !
So lets get this party started. I want to kick off our blog topics by spending a couple weeks thinking about video games. How they've advanced. What it takes to become a designer. What it takes to become a tester.
This is probably pretty ironic as my hard-corenerds gamers will be out today as Grand Theft Auto #158237 came out at midnight and they're probably all at home playing it. Heh.
Anyway, today I want you to follow my link and read. Thursday I will ask you to post a fact from the story (other than from page 1).
This will be the norm for us. Read on Tuesday. Blog on Thursday.
Comments put up before Thursday will be deleted so you'll just have to do them again anyway.
Go here. Read.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/video-game-designer1.htm
Talk to me . . .
So lets get this party started. I want to kick off our blog topics by spending a couple weeks thinking about video games. How they've advanced. What it takes to become a designer. What it takes to become a tester.
This is probably pretty ironic as my hard-core
Anyway, today I want you to follow my link and read. Thursday I will ask you to post a fact from the story (other than from page 1).
This will be the norm for us. Read on Tuesday. Blog on Thursday.
Comments put up before Thursday will be deleted so you'll just have to do them again anyway.
Go here. Read.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/video-game-designer1.htm
Talk to me . . .
Friday, September 6, 2013
Blog 1 - September 9, 2013
Hola Peeps! Thanks for logging in.
Let me 'splain how this will work:
Every Monday morning I will post a discussion question relevant to technology. You will have the entire week to post a short blog answering the question. It's very simple . . . you either advance the discussion or you don't. It's either a 100 or a 0. You can also respond to a thought posted by another user to advance the discussion. Every Sunday evening I will check off names. So you have from Monday AM to Sunday PM. Grading closes at 6pm Sunday. The first ten minutes of class on Tuesday will be devoted to reading the blog, and the first ten minutes of class Thursday will be devoted to answering the blog question.
Here are the things that this discussion is NOT:
This is not a social forum. All you guys have Facebook / Twitter for that stuff. Holla at your friends on those sites.
This is not a place for you to ask me questions about your grade. Please remember that EVERYBODY will see all of your communication on this site. If you have questions about grading policies, etc. please see me before or after school, before class or on my conference period (5th). Barring that, please email me at rlanham@nacisd.org.
This is not a place for you to air grievances of any kind. Bad language, derogatory comments and intolerance of any kind will not be accepted. These will result in blocked usage for you, and zeros on weekly discussions for the remainder of the year.
What this discussion IS:
This is a place for us to explore how technology is affecting our daily lives. You guys are digital natives (meaning you were practically born with a cell phone in your hand) and you are not accustomed to thinking about life before this technology came along. I would also bet that most of you haven't given a lot of thought to where this technology is going either. Well, that's what I want to do here.
Also, almost every college classroom has some online portion as well. In other words, when you get to college even though you're sitting in a traditional classroom your professor will expect you to go online and participate in some sort of ongoing discussion on something like Blackboard.
One more thing:
To the best of my knowledge we are still the only classroom in the district to use blogging as part of the classroom learning. Occasionally our Principal, Superintendent, and others from the district will be blogging with us. All eyes will be watching as this district prepares to incorporate more technology into everyday learning. Please keep that in mind. Let's have fun, but please be responsible.
Here's what you need to do now:
Make sure you ALWAYS leave your name and period in your comment. By posting this first time you are agreeing to:
1. ALWAYS read my words. You should never just log in and click links. Doing that will cause you to miss the questions that I want addressed.
2. Comment in the correct section for the week.
3. Understand that you get one (1) makeup blog for the YEAR. Because this blog is available 24/7/365 from any computer in the world, I don't allow more than one makeup. Go home and bookmark it. Go to the library and bookmark it. Bookmark it on your smart phone. Always remember that if you're absent on Thursday when we comment, you'll need to get it taken care of before Sunday at 6pm.
OK, questions?
Talk to me . . .
Let me 'splain how this will work:
Every Monday morning I will post a discussion question relevant to technology. You will have the entire week to post a short blog answering the question. It's very simple . . . you either advance the discussion or you don't. It's either a 100 or a 0. You can also respond to a thought posted by another user to advance the discussion. Every Sunday evening I will check off names. So you have from Monday AM to Sunday PM. Grading closes at 6pm Sunday. The first ten minutes of class on Tuesday will be devoted to reading the blog, and the first ten minutes of class Thursday will be devoted to answering the blog question.
Here are the things that this discussion is NOT:
This is not a social forum. All you guys have Facebook / Twitter for that stuff. Holla at your friends on those sites.
This is not a place for you to ask me questions about your grade. Please remember that EVERYBODY will see all of your communication on this site. If you have questions about grading policies, etc. please see me before or after school, before class or on my conference period (5th). Barring that, please email me at rlanham@nacisd.org.
This is not a place for you to air grievances of any kind. Bad language, derogatory comments and intolerance of any kind will not be accepted. These will result in blocked usage for you, and zeros on weekly discussions for the remainder of the year.
What this discussion IS:
This is a place for us to explore how technology is affecting our daily lives. You guys are digital natives (meaning you were practically born with a cell phone in your hand) and you are not accustomed to thinking about life before this technology came along. I would also bet that most of you haven't given a lot of thought to where this technology is going either. Well, that's what I want to do here.
Also, almost every college classroom has some online portion as well. In other words, when you get to college even though you're sitting in a traditional classroom your professor will expect you to go online and participate in some sort of ongoing discussion on something like Blackboard.
One more thing:
To the best of my knowledge we are still the only classroom in the district to use blogging as part of the classroom learning. Occasionally our Principal, Superintendent, and others from the district will be blogging with us. All eyes will be watching as this district prepares to incorporate more technology into everyday learning. Please keep that in mind. Let's have fun, but please be responsible.
Here's what you need to do now:
Make sure you ALWAYS leave your name and period in your comment. By posting this first time you are agreeing to:
1. ALWAYS read my words. You should never just log in and click links. Doing that will cause you to miss the questions that I want addressed.
2. Comment in the correct section for the week.
3. Understand that you get one (1) makeup blog for the YEAR. Because this blog is available 24/7/365 from any computer in the world, I don't allow more than one makeup. Go home and bookmark it. Go to the library and bookmark it. Bookmark it on your smart phone. Always remember that if you're absent on Thursday when we comment, you'll need to get it taken care of before Sunday at 6pm.
OK, questions?
Talk to me . . .
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