Crazy New Tech

Technology as it is used by consumers is evolving at a break-neck pace these days.

Fancy new hard ware includes smartphones, touch screens, and tablets, among other, less mainstream, items.

More impressive is the boom in software and applciations that we are seeing right now.  Even in just the last week I have seen an explosion of articles about new versions and new products.

Google, for instance, is the creator of the Android operating system for smart phones.  One of the characteristics that sets Android apart on the market is that Google has a more open-source take on technology.  This means that they will let anyone create programs, change things, tinker, explore. Their new App Inventor allows users to create their own apps for the Android system.  They have a new maps program, too, which shows the landscape and buildings in three dimensions.  Google has also rolled out some beta devides running their new Chrome OS. Chrome is also the name of their internet browser, and the OS is very similar.  With Chrome, all of a user's files would be stored in the cloud and accesible on any device.  It boasts lightning quick boot times and ease of use.  Google is also working on or has recently unveiled a music locker, google books, video productions, and place search.

In the same vein, Mac is launching an App store in the next month, Facebook has unveiled a facial recognition technology, search engine Bing is incorporating all new features, browser Opera just realeased version 11, with stackable tabs and extension support, and private users are hacking the Kinect to do some amazing things including a self-directed hovercraft that uses Kinect technology to "see" the world around it.

What crazy new technology are you excited about?

Sickness Season

This is the season of celebration and sickness.  It seems like everyone has a cold, or the flu. Here in the office, half of us are sick.  A big transfer of germs happens in schools.  One solution to this is the Chester Creek keyboard seal.  These are thin, clear, plastic membranes that fit neatly over the keys of a keyboard.  The seals are for use in home, office, or school, and can easily be washed and sanitized to prevent sharing of icky cold and flu germs. 

Adventures at Chester Creek

This work week started with a short adventure at Chester Creek.  Jim, owner/entrepeneur/businessman/etc. decided it would be nice to be able to send out personal Holiday cards or emails this year.  And we should take a picture of the staff.  And it should have something to do with Duluth, because we are a local small business in a very unique location.  So we piled in a couple vehicles and drove to Coppertop Church. 

This is a local landmark, a big Methodist Church on top of the hill.  Duluth is a loing, narrow city, sprawled along the lakeshore, and Coppertop is more or less in the middle.  This morning, because it was so cold (ten below), there were billows of fog gusting around on the lake.  It was really very pretty with a boat coming in.  This is (probably) the boat we saw this morning.  It is called the Hero, and it is from Malta.

Here is one last picture of the Lake, a bit warmer now in the afternoon and with less fog. 

You can watch the ships coming into the harbor in real time by clicking here.

It was nice to be out and about, but it sure was cold today!

Computers

Computer is a very ancient term, which originally referred to individuals who performed calculations or computations.  It was not until the end of the 19th century that it started to obtain is modern connotations.  Computers today are capable of thousands of functions, all derived from a digital, binary code.  Interestingly, this code is remarkably like the code of DNA, which contains four variables instead of the two which computers use. 

 

The ENIAC is considered the first general use, programmable computer.  It was created in 1946 to calculate artillery firing tables, but was first put to use making calculations for the hydrogen bomb.  Referred to as the "Giant Brain," ENIAC reached speeds that have yet to be matched.  At  680 square feet, ENIAC was a hulking predecessor of modern technology.

 

Before the ENIAC, there was the advent of the Turing Machine, which "is a theoretical device that manipulates symbols on a strip of tape according to a table of rules," according to wikipedia.  While not a practical computing device, all modern computers are descendants of the Turing machine. 

Earlier still, the first data to be read by computers was on punched paper cards.  This revolution in computer science was used to tabulate the 1890 census.  This technology was originally made to create automatic patterns in weaving.  Joseph Marie Jacquard developed the punched card system in 1801.  It was the first instance of programmable technology in action. 

Earlier yet, ancient mechanical computers included the abacus, the slide rule,and the astrolabe.  More impressive is the Antikythera mechanism, an early analog computer device that was probably used to calculate the position of sun, moon, and planets, predict lunar and solar eclipses, track the rise and set of major stars, and keep the  Metonic, Saros, and Exeligmos cycles, which are used in fixing calenders and range from 18-54 years.  The device is now known to have at least 37 gears, was small enough to be portable, and had  a built-in instruction manual.  It is thought to have been made based on designs of Archimedes, and probably was one of several similar devices, all dating back to approximately 100 BC.

Yes, the computer you are reading this on has come a long, long way.  Amazing how technology has made such leaps, and how it continues to stretch forward. 

Your thoughts?

What sort of things would YOU like to see on the market for keyboards and mice?

Tiny Mouse

Tiny Mouse
Parents or teachers who are thinking about introducing children to a computer at an early age should consider investing in a kid’s mouse. A children’s mouse works just like a regular mouse, but it is smaller and much easier to use for little hands or individuals with dexterity problems. A kid’s mouse may also have fewer buttons. Chester Creek’s Tiny Mouse is a standard three button mouse, only in miniature. It is great for kids, because the size makes it something that they can easily grip. This also facilitates clicking and dragging because the buttons are in easier reach, reducing the frustration kids can feel, even with the myriad age-appropriate educational games offered. This can also benefit those with dexterity or learning impairment.
Additionally, our kid’s mice use optical tracking technology. This is opposed to the ball from older models that often got dirty and lost function. Our mice require no software to install, either, and the ease of plug and play means that you can switch mice with users, keeping a standard mouse for adult users and fun, kid’s mouse for children. This is perfect for use at home, in school, or at the daycare. Teachers have found Chester Creek’s line up of kid’s mice to be more durable than standard mice, and kids will love learning with a moues made just for them.

Frosty Winter Mornings

Well, we have a winter wonderland here in Duluth. Trees are frosted white, roads are slick, and we're still heading to the Holiday Center! We will be set up from 11-2 for your convenience, today through Friday. Come on down for NO SALES TAX and our Holiday special on the FunKeyBundle!