Module 2 Blog Posting-Auto-Pilot Auto

Auto-Pilot Auto

Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?

What this technology does that is new is to allow a driver to plot a course and possibly an estimated time of arrival to a destination and let the auto-pilot of the car take him safely to his destination. Possibly using GPS and enhanced roadways, cars would be controlled by autopilots and automated traffic controllers. This would reduce roadway congestion, move traffic along at a safe but rapid speed, and give motorists the freedom to safely phone a friend, work on their computers or take a nap on the way to their destination. This auto-pilot would pay tolls automatically like the open tolling on the Illinois Toll-way and automatically pull into the fueling station when there is a need. The auto-piloted auto would announce the arrival at the destination, park and secure itself while our motorist goes on about his business.

Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?

The technology that the auto piloted auto replaces is the individually driven automobile that now clogs our highways. It would reduce traffic congestion, accidents and road-rage. It would replace motorists listening to the traffic news and trying to decide the best route to take to avoid major congestion and accidents. It would replace uneven traffic lanes and safely pilot the automobiles through traffic lights, signs and pedestrians regardless of weather conditions.

Retrieves/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?

This auto-pilot auto technology brings to mind the drivers of the stage-coaches who drove the horses and coaches with their passengers. It brings to mind the Greyhound bus drivers who told passengers to "leave the driving to us!" It reminds us of the uniformed train conductors of the trains and the auto-pilot on airplanes. All of these modes of transportation allows the passenger to be unconcerned with the logistics of getting to his destination.

Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, ot what might it cause to occur?

The technology that might replace the auto-pilot auto in the future could be automated mass transit with individualized and mass teleportation stations. The idea of thinking about or visualizina destination and arriving there instantly via a "port-key" as in Harry Potter could be the result or a derivative of the auto-pilot auto.

References:

Auto pilot for cars.Retrieved from http://www.whynot.net/ideas/3706

Willington, R. (2010) Researches aim for car with autopilot, but would you trust it? Retrieved from http://hothardware.com/News/Researchers-Aim-For-Car-With-AutoPilot-But-Would-You-Trust-It/

Emerging Technology-The Smart Pen

7108 Module 1 Blog Posting

As an elementary student I remember day-dreaming about a magic pencil that would do my homework for me. It would write fluently in my handwriting and get all of my homework correct with little or no effort on my part. So much for childhood musings! This magic pen has shown up in the form of the Pulse SmartPen. This pen is an assistive technology to Special Needs students from sixth grade through the college years. It is used in the lower grades to help students read by their tapping the word and listening to the recording repeat it for them. The SmartPen helps teacher evaluation by capturing every word during an evaluative observation where the mentor must script, categorize and score every section of the lesson against a very specific rubric. It is invaluable that it "gets every word!" Since the evaluation does have a cash value. The SmartPen has helped productivity tremendously.

Problems and Challenges

One challenge that dogs the SmartPen is its price. While the initial price has fallen, it is still pricey. It is a pen and needs special ink cartridges, special paper and can only be loaded onto one computer. While individuals may keep up with their smart pens, teachers issued a number of them for a class must diligently keep up with them. The legal issue of recording someone must also be addressed. Students do not always feel they need to get the speaker's permission before clicking on their SmartPens. So knowing the school's or the professor's policy and following it to the letter is important.

Societal Needs and Benefits

To say that the SmartPen addresses a need, one only needs to ask a college student about their notes from a lecture. They don't need to write every word. They can tap their paper and hear what the professor is saying. They can share their notes, upload them to the computer to read and listen to them at the same time. The business person can keep detailed notes with the same listening capabilities for sharing and reviewing. The special needs student can track the lecture, capture it, upload, review and share it. Instead of taking a laptop to class the student or business person need only take their pen with its special notebook and capture every word. Essentially making a pen instead of the laptop the technology of choice when faced with carrying a heavy book-bag, is a no-brainer.

Making it Better, Avoiding Pitfalls

Keeping up with the SmartPen in a classroom where students often leave or lose pens is going to be a challenge. However, making the SmartPen magnetic so it sticks to its person's body or belongings might prove to be one solution. Another solution is to bring the price down so that the pen is more affordable. The special paper can be printed from a PC but not Mac at this time. Making it Mac-friendly would also make it better. In keeping the pen charged up and ready to write, it needs to be attached to the computer. Making a separate mobile charger would make this technology better. Finally, to assure the best use of the SmartPen for students and business people alike, it would be good to have fingerprint and or voice recognition for the owner to discourage theft.

Resources:

http://www.livescribe.com/smartpen/videos.html

http://www.livescribe.com/education/learning.html

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/accessories/livescribe-pulse-smartpen.aspx

http://blogs.sun.com/designatsun/entry/livescribe 1gb pulse smartpen