Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3
Bill Tummler
Period Five
November 21, 2011

Battlefield 3 has to be one of the best games that have ever been made, but it was not the most anticipated. Modern Warfare 3 which is the compition in the gaming market sold over 60 million copies in one day. Most people will always be Call of Duty fans but most people would think that MW3 looks just like Modern Warfare 2 which was the video game before MW3. BF3 has taken the video game market to the next level with destructible buildings, jets, helicopters, and also ground vehicles.

The think that I seem to like better in BF3 then in MW3 is that MW3 has looked the same since 2006 and is still selling more than BF3, but the graphics on BF3 are a lot better than MW3. They also look more realistic and more lifelike then other video games that are on the market. I think that this game and others to come will end up taking over Call of Duty.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/11/03/battlefield-3-review/

So what my questions is what is next for gaming?

new technology

Noah Bromen

This is the new Asus Padfone that is expecting to come out in February. It is made up of a 4 inch Android phone and a 10 inch tablet dock which the phone is inserted into. There is a quad core processor inside the device and it runs with the Android 2.3. It will be compatible with the android 4.0 when it comes out next year.  

                       http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/asus-padfone-to-come-with-quad-core-qualcom-snapdragon-processor-21-11-2011/#more-97979

How much will this cost?

Gametel brings gamepad action to Android and iDevices

I think having this new device would be really great because it would be easier to play emulator on it without having to press a bunch of button and most phone emulators don’t support multi-touch. Also, you can plug this up on the tv and play on a larger screen. It also part of the phone so you can text and get back playing the game. And also I believe there are games in the app stores that support the controller, so I believe this controller will every useful.

The XBOX 720 will be a new technology for video who like games because they have motion detectors and is more entertaining than other consoles

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE THIS XBOX?

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/xbox-720-every-rumour-about-the-new-xbox-937167

Lightest Material

0

A group of researchers from HRL, CalTech, and UC Irvine. Created the worlds lightest material, 100 times lighter than Styrofoam! The material is a micro-lattice structure, With onlw 0.01 percent of the material solid. It consists of hollow tubing that are only 100 nanometers thick. It has a density of 0.9 mg/cc, lighter than aerogels, which are only 1.1 mg/cc.

It's also surprisingly strong and very shock-absorbent, due to all the air. It can be compressed by 50 percent and recover its shape. Highly unusual for a material that is metallic. It was actually inspired by architectural structures. The team looked at the Golden Gate Bridge and the Eiffel Tower to see how they are so light and yet so strong.

What do you think this material could be used for?

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-11/worlds-lightest-material-9999-percent-air

Aerovironment Nano Hummingbird UAV

A new technology emerging is essentially a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle but in Hummingbird form. Unlike Normal spy planes, This one has tiny paper wings used to control flight that beat 20-40 times per second. It also has a lightweight camera and microphone built inside. This kind of flying will allow the Hummingbird to maneuver in an out of small places like windows and other openings. The maneuverability of the Hummingbird is a huge advantage to the U.S. armed forces. It will be essential on missions where you need a camera and microphone in buildings and other inaccesible places.

Do you think UAV's will get any smaller in the future?

3DS, Bad for you?

3DS, Bad for you?
Millions play 3ds. But could it hurt your eyes? Children under 6 should not play 3d mode and adults shiouldnt play for more then 30 minutes. This could strain your eyes. If that goes on for a while, it could leave you permanently blind.What other technology, one that is good for you, or can Nintendo fix this fatal flaw?

gas station in space

by the year 2020 the moon could be the first gas station in space. if it is built then spaceships ccould carry heavier loads into space because 90% of of the weight wouldn't be the fuel. the way this would work would be that they could convert the ice on the moon to liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel that can be used to refuel the space ship and allow them to travel farther than before.how far do you think we could travel into space with the gas station in space.


original article:http://www.gizmag.com/gas-stations-in-space/20557/

FPS War Graphically

Battlefield 3 took the world by storm with its impressive and most realistic Frostbite 2 engine. Modern Warfare 3 refreshed its old ways with the Modern Warfare 2 engine from 2009. An estimated 14.7 million people are playing one of these games. However about 35% of users cannot tell the difference between the games, graphically and physically. Recently there have been ads comparing Battlefield 3 to real life. It's difficult to tell the difference between it all. MW3 has the distinct graphics of 2009. An old burden renewed to bring back a repetive game. So which one are you playing?

The Best Concept Car Ever Made

By: Daniel Kroeger


Have you ever wondered if a concept car would ever have a slick look instead of a crappy box car look? Well i have and i found this brand new, amazing concept car. The car is a BRZ concept by subaru. It has a 2.0 liter boxer engine, which is what helps it get good gas mileage even looking slick. It has the latest brakes, along with 18 inch wheels, also only holding 2 people. Here's a picture of the new car.


If we can make a fuel efficient car look this nice now, how do you think the cars of the future will look?

Worlds Lightest Material,99.99 percent air

Reaserchers from HRL, Cal tech and UC irvine have made the worlds new largest material. It is 100 times lighter than styrofoam. It is even lighter than areogel. IT is a micro-lattic structure with 0.01 percent of the material solid. consisting of hollow tubes that are only a 100 nanometers thick. It has a density of 0.9mg/cc. this is lighter than the lightests of areogels which are rated the lightest at 1.1mg/cc. This material is also very strong and shock-absorbent it absorbs about 50%. The material was inspired by structures like the golden gate bridge and the Eiffel tower. The project was undertaken by DARPA. They say this material can probably by used for battery electrodes, energy damping and insulation. What do you think this new technology can lead to?
origonal article http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-11/worlds-lightest-material-9999-percent-air

Breakthrough metal is barely heavier than air

Researchers at a lab in California have created a new type of metal, that is almost as light as air.

This metal could be used to make new cars or airplanes, it would save a lot of fuel. It's a strong metal but it's mostly made of air. When it's squashed, it rebounds out to 98% of its original height. The metal was made out of lattice of interconnected hollow tubes with a wall thickness of only 100 nanometers, which is 1,000 times thinmer than a human hair. Doesn't sound too strong, but some scientists disagree.

Next Generation of Tablets

If you don't get a new tablet for Christmas, it may not be a bad thing. The first quarter of 2012 should see several improvements in these devices. TabletPCReview is reporting on these upgrades. The biggest is the move from dual-core to quad-core processors. Both of the leaders in the $450+ field, Apple (iPad3) and Samsung (Galaxy), will have new hardware and operating systems soon.

Then there's the lower priced options under $200, Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, if all you want is video/book content and internet access this might be the better choice.

I'd like to see a Tablet designed expressly for students (high school, college, life). Here's my shopping list. What would YOU add?

• 4G option
• Note taking software
• Homework / Calendar software
• Shared phonebook, textmsg, voicemail with my phone
• Digitized Pen (for classes that need illustrations in the notes)
• Cloud storage for electronic handouts
• GPS for campus maps

Do a Barrel Roll hits mainstream news

ABC News did a story on the Google phemon, "Do a barrel roll," a few days ago!

First things first, here's how you can experience it:

1. Using Chrome (or other browers as long as they are up-to-date)


2. go to google.com


3. Search "do a barrel roll"


4. (Go on, I'll wait.......)

So it's fun for about 10 seconds, but it demonstrates why Google is king. They like to have fun with technology. They paid one of their programmers to do this. In fact, all the pictures and daily features on the google homepage are well thought out, intriging, informative, and make you want to use their search engine.

What has been your favorite google homepage feature over the past year or two?

New hardware and software is always coming

A new processor / chipset from Intel, the i7 and a new Windows 8 operating system from Microsoft just reminds me that nothing stays the same. The processor claims "visibly smart performance" (higher graphics quality and better TV support). While Windows 8 is a redesign to accomodate touchpad input.

And of course there was the new iPhone 4s, which had records sales during its first week on the market. Yes, Siri is very popular.

What else is new out there?

Modern Warfare 3

Modern Warfare 3, the "most anticipated game ever", according to my students, is scheduled to be released Mon Nov 7th at 11:59 pm. The great news is that Tues Nov 8th is a teacher in-service day, meaning the students can stay up all night playing!!!!

Nanotechnology, Past and Present

Our idea of nanotechnology started with the dream of K. Eric Drexler in the '80s, who had to prove his idea to skeptics who believed it would never happen. The technology must be anywhere from one nanometer (one billionth of a meter) to 100 nanometers long. Scientists are focusing not on creating invidually operating nanobots but on machines made of millions of nanobots.



Scientists have divided nanotechnology into 4 generations. The first, which we are still on, is to create devices that do one specific task. The second generation can multitask. Scientists are just now entering the second phase.



Some day in the future, nanobots could be used for medicine, electricity, or even advanced weapons. This could even cure cancer. What other uses could this have?

Sources:http://nanotechnology.com/

Is Iphone 4S worth the cost?

All my years of having a Ipod touch First to Fourth Generation, Ipod Nano and having a iPad. IPhone 4S is the biggest Rip out ever! Because the Iphone and Ipod Touch Fourth Generation were the best apple devices ever (in my opinion). Because they had Retina display and a really fast hard drive and thousands of application and feature that will make apple the number one company.

But the new iphone 4s is a rip out because it the same iphone 4 but i bit faster, a ios 5 and and a feature called siri, which is like voice search where you can use your voice to find something. in my opinion, i think you should not buy this phone, unless your phone is a third generation or broken. if the iphone had 3d effect and had feature that the android has like edit the home page with widgets or have a android market store but a apple version. but dont buy the phone if your rich.

Murder by malware: Can computer viruses kill?

Some people believe that it's impossible for a computer virus to be able to kill people. Though it seems like it would be impossible, in 2008, a computer virus was the murderer of 154 people from Madrid Spain.

While people were flying on an airplane comming from Madrid Spain, a trojan virus had infected the central computer system of the plane. This system was used to make an alarm go off which told the grounding gear to come out so the plane could land. This virus caused the alarm to not go off, causing the plane to crash because of trying to land without its landing gear.

So you tell me, do you think that a computer virus has the capability to kill?

Nissan Developing Mind-Reading Cars

Researchers at EFPL have been working with Nissan to create a mind-reading car that can anticipate the drivers next move. Upon entering the car, drivers would put on a helmet that would moniter brain activity and eye movement patterns. The new system would use statistical analysis that would know you were thinking "turn left" before you actually started to actively think it.

One of the problems discussed about this new technology is what if you were lost? How would the car know where to turn if you yourself don't even know where to go? While there are a few disadvantages of this system, there are also many good things that would come out of it. Cars would be able to communicate with eachother and dramatically decrease the risk of a collision. What do you think about this new technolgy? Is it a step in the right direction, or a step in the wrong one?

Click here to read more

ALPHA DOG DARPA ROBOTIC all terrain mule-poodle

This robotic mule is a prototype. It operates with a mix of GPS and computer vision, along with computers and hydraulics. It can self- right itself. It can walk up to 20miles with out refueling. It can handle steep inclines and freezing water. DARPA will have a production ready one by 2012 and will be tested in the field. This will save soliders the problem of carrying up to 70 pounds on their backs and clambering rough terrain that vehicles can't reach. This can make a huge difference in battle. How could this change battles in the future?

the worlds most powerful telescope

The telescope is named ALMA and it's currently being built on the chajnator plataeu in the andes mountains. the surveying of the site began in 1995 and so far there are 20 antennae in place. when it's done there will be about 66 antennae each placed between 150 meters and 10 miles.

Depending how far apart they are determines what you can see if they are close together they act like a wide angle lens but far apart you can focus in on single stars or galaxys lightyears away. recently scientists tested ALMA using 12 of the antennae and got a picture of the antennae galaxy showing things that scientists haven't been able to see before already it's better than the hubble telescope. the goal is to find our cosmic origin. how do you think this will change how we see the universe?

7 New Discoveries Baffle Scientists

Ninety-six per cent of the universe is missing. The effects of homeopathy don’t go away under rigorous scientific conditions. The laws of nature aren’t what they used to be. Thirty years on, no one has an explanation for a seemingly intelligent signal received from outer space. The US Department of Energy is re-examining cold fusion because the experimental evidence seems too solid to ignore. The placebo effect is put to work in medicine while doctors can’t agree whether it even exists. In an age when science is supposed to be king, scientists are beset by experimental results they simply can’t explain. Here are a few examples

Read more: http://realitypod.com/2010/03/7-things-that-baffle-scientists-and-engineers/#ixzz1ZpTIFvHE

Online Gamers Crack AIDS Puzzle

As reported in Time Magazine recently, online gamers solved a molecular puzzle that has stumped "experts" for the past 10 years. And they did it in less than 10 days!!

They used a game called Foldit, which creates 3D models to work out the intricately folded structure of a key enzyme that lets the HIV virus to multiply. "Knowing its shape lets researchers figure out how to target the enzyme with new drugs."

Who says spending your entire weekend playing video games isn't being a productive citizen? What else does gaming prepare us for in real life?

What is Computer Engineering?

Here's a very cute example of Computer Engineering:

The robotic arm is a mechanical device, so a bit of mechanical engineering knowledge is needed. The ball takes a parabolic path, so a bit of mathematics is needed. The brains, or "brick", had to be created (electrical knowledge) and programmed (programming knowledge).

What other household devices would be fun to create?

Stuxnet

This video on the Anatomy of a Virus is really cool in 2 ways. First, the content is extraordinary. There is this spooky virus that can shut down nuclear reactors and is considered the "first virus as a weapon." Secondly, the presentation style is visually stunning.

How long do you think it took them to make this video? Have you ever used Vimeo?

Stuxnet: Anatomy of a Computer Virus from Patrick Clair on Vimeo.

Students write Android Apps

As an end-of-year project, some of my students, Ben, Boochi, and Samantha, choose to learn to write Android apps. They only had 2 1/2 weeks, but were able to put together a few interesting items.

They wrote an "excuse generator" which randomly combines words to sound like really high tech error messages, a decimal-to-binary converter, and a Pascal's Triangle generater of 1-8 degrees.

The Pascal's Triangle generater is published on The Market and can be downloaded for free. If you have an Android phone, my students would be thrilled to see it being downloaded and to have your comments/ratings.

High Tech Clothes

They now make dresses and shirts that double as a cellphone! Just make the movement with your arm to answer or call. (You know, the way you try to hide that you're on your phone from your teachers!) How convenient.

And there's other things happening. Check this out.

The Witness

The Witness - "the first movie in the outernet." It's like The Amazing Race only in a moive thriller. Participants actually live inside the movie by going to crime scenes with a smart phone and watching a video taken at that sight. They make decisions and follow leads throughout the city. And can even be terminated from the event.

You just gotta watch this to get it: http://www.youtube.com/embed/Yis6is8v9jA?rel=0

Just a matter of time before it comes to us!

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is now available for mobile devices (phones, tablets, iPods). Just point your phone's camera at a restaraunt, and it shows you its menu.

If you're not sure what Augmented Reality is, check out this short explanation from Common Craft.

If you want to write your own AR layers, check out the new developement site, Daqri.

This is as exciting as the invention of the internet! This may lead to the replacement of the internet. Who needs a desktop anymore?

What kinds of layer would you like to see written. So you're walking down the street and you want to know more about.....

Computer wins at Jeopardy

Computer Scientist created, programmed, and kicked-butt with their computer named Watson. Watson easily beat the very best humans in the game of Jeopardy. This was quite an accomplishment, and quite a collection of hardware.

Can you imagine spending years of your time on a project like this? Can you image being paid to do this kind of job?

Favorite Super Bowl Advertisement

So which was your favorite? You can view them here. I gotta say, watching Roseanne Barr get clobbered by the lumber in the 2nd quarter was a highlight of mine.

Also, the Groupon ads in the third quarter are getting a lot of grief for being tasteless.

Colleges using blogs to connect with their students

Here's a look at the 50 Best Ways Schools use Social Media. Most all of these schools use blogs, either through office school sources, or unofficial campus groups, to communicate their their students. That's a lot of web sites and messages coming at you. Eventually, you will need a "reader" like Google Reader to keep track of all this stuff.

Can you ever see yourself being a blogger? What topics would you find interesting to follow?

What do you know?

Provide us a link to something interesting you have read on the internet. It will be fun to come back here and read other people's posts. (No games, please. Remember to keep it "school-appropriate")

For example: Did you know that Anderson High School is haunted?

First Nintendo Wii, now Nintendo 3D (without glasses)

Even if you're not a fan of the Nintendo Wii system, you have to admit it was a game changer (pun intended). It changed the way we interact with our games. It brought games we never thought of into the possible. It mostly is for non-teens (both younger and older).

Now, Nintendo has a handheld device (3DS) that lets you see in 3D without the need for glasses! I heard it's pretty good too. What games would you like to see retrofitted to the 3DS? What new kind of games are now possible? How will gaming change? Wouldn't it be cool to combine 3D with body controllers?!?!!

Competition for iPad

The Tablet competition is heating up. The two that are looking to be top competitors are the Motorola Xoom (Android) and the Blackberry Playbook (RIM). With prices well below old-fashioned laptops, do you think you'd ever want one? Could you do your school/college work with just a Tablet and a word processor in-the-cloud (say Google Docs)? With video calling all the rage now, could you use a Tablet instead of a cellphone?