Logic vs. Reason

I have watched The Matrix a long time ago. It did not occur to me that time that the movie centered on the programmed world of humanity while fueled by bioelectrical energy and body heat from pods of human beings. All I could remember about this movie were the popular matrix moves of waist bending to avoid bullets and slow motion actions of kicking the opponents. And as I watched it again some time last week, I have fully discerned that the trilogy was in fact, a genius movie! Especially that the main subject is related to my field, IT. And of course, they talked a lot of programming.

Further, I realized that it somehow resembled to what I have just learned these days about how everything in this universe imparts as a whole as determined by the great architect of the universe which is religiously likened to God. I even wondered in my previous post titled "Me On Paralleled-Many Worlds", how difficult it is for the universe's programmer part to make sure that every equation encountered is solved and thought about how many branch trees these programs have to decide to get desired results. Have you ever thought about it? That maybe every single breath we take is actually coded bits of ones and zeroes? (If you don't get it, pretend that I am speaking of metaphors here.)

Anyways, I was fascinated how the characters in this movie actually think like they're really humans. They have their subjective views rather than being objective. In which I first thought that they are mostly determined by logical operations than rational ones. Neo who was played by Keanu Reeves, is a good example of a programmed entity that is almost perfect representative of a human who feels emotions, who considers emotions as a mere module that stimulates the program to operate according to the flow of his emotions. It reminds me of my Future Technology subject during my last year in college, when we reached a certain point of discussion on how future machines could actually think like humans. Logic versus reason. And I thought that time, that is entirely impossible. But considering the boost of intellectual minds for the past years, I believe that it is possible for machines in the future to think like humans encoded with all the situations, all emotions, all choices, that even the most difficult woman who always changes clothes just for an occasion can be deliberately designed into a program. Maybe I can bet up to 99% of probability of that to happen when machines become humans. Emotions greatly contribute on how we think. So I think, if our emotions will be studied very well, then we become much predictable. But you know, the 1% counts for a doubt that a human mind can easily call back what he thinks about then he could act against it. No matter how obvious the result would be, it is still up to him to consider the other choice in his mind. But given all the factors that can influence a person to decide for a certain situation, I still favor the possibility. Besides, possibility considers success and failure.

If you have watched IRobot, there is a certain part of that movie that a robot has considered saving the older person from drowning rather than the main character's child daughter, based on the logic that this other person's probability to live is higher than the girl. It was logically right, but by reason especially influenced by emotion, anyone could have saved the girl first. Sadly, the girl died.

Everyday, we get to decide between choices in our lives. Perhaps, you mostly decide by reason but sometimes you have to decide by logic. Either ways, as long as we think whichever of it helps us arrive at our desired results then these ways to decide don't matter at all. But it certainly does matter when we'd invent hu-machines.

Data Hoarder

A recent article published in Tech101 Manila Bulletin amazed me. The future of external hard drive is here - Western Digital My Book Elite. This external hard drive can hold up to 2 terabytes or 2,000 gigabytes of data that can absolutely name its owner a "data hoarding thief" as described by the article author, Allan D. Francisco. He actually somewhat jested that the Filipino government officials may have been involved in the development of this portable data storage device, why? You can hoard all the data you want for as long as it will not exceed its capacity (which I say, inconceivable knowing that 2TB is really a lot!), a perfect analogy to some of our corrupt government officials as they say.

Now, WD My Elite Book 2TB has several features which might more impress you (are there anymore impressive stuffs than its size capacity by the way?) Well, it offers data back up options and back up schedules. It also supports AES 256-bit hardware encryption (which I think, must be really hard to decrypt), this encryption is both available on Mac and Windows. An eInk display tells the user how much remaining space on the WD My Elite Book. Furthermore, it has a cooling system so, it'd run quietly while you are busy hoarding data :). By the way, it has also an embedded software called SmartWare, it helps you classify all files by file extensions, well, other unknown file extensions are thrown to "Others" category. While you might still be wondering what to store on this device, you might also be wondering of the span of time before you'll finish transferring all the data to hoard on this gigantic stuff, well, I tell you, with only one connectivity option which is via Mini 2.0 USB, the author testifies that the transfers can be "all done with ease and not-to-be-ashamed-of time". So I guess, that sounds fair enough.

Well, I need to make more or less PhP 12,500.00 to own a Western Digital My Book Elite 2TB so to be a professional data hoarder... haha Indeed, I am so lazzzzzzyyyyy to let go of my bulks of files, and this one might be a good tolerance.

Source:

Data gluttony gets portable
by Allan D. Francisco
Tech101 Page 1-2
Manila Bulletin
April 21, 2010

Three loads minus one…

Surprisingly and gladly, the future technology presentation yesterday turned out well… I was really relieved that finally, the most important requirement in one of the tough subjects I am afraid of has been already accomplished…that is to present our future technology.

The future technology we proposed was the future of chatting which is the virtual chatting. I was quite nervous yesterday to show our final diorama since it was not the expected output from the sketch we had submitted to Sir RSG. And so, as we were presenting our diorama Sir was like muttering these words “dili na mao…” I just tried to laugh a little to hide the uneasiness I felt upon reading his lips…huhu but well, I was anyway satisfied and glad that somehow, we were able to present the said technology to our audience and I was actually happy that our audience had enjoyed watching our video especially when Sir RSG starred in one of the video scenes wherein he played the role of Professor Utonium of Powerpuff Girls (by the way, we call ourselves as Power Chat Girls, me as Buttercup, Agnes as Blossom and Regina as Bubbles…hehe).

The following pictures are the happy moments after the show ended.
By the way, Sir RSG has given his positive verdict during the end of the program and everyone was really glad of the outcome and the possible grade he would give to each group... that is 1.0 – 1.5… Isn’t that really, really good to hear? The most significant part I remembered from his message is the statement about our future… April 17… Central Bank… Graduation… Wow… That is just really wonderful to imagine…hehehe

So now, since FT has been nudged down to the key-to-the-graduation list, I am now to concentrate more on my research and internet programming subject…

Still gogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogoGLAI!!!

Eugenics: Super-Babies

Since the first test-tube baby’s birth, Louise Brown, test-tube babies are already being accepted by many people throughout the world today. Indeed, such mystery turned to technology. As of this, it has seen that merely 30 years from now, artificial wombs and human embryos experimented and grown in laboratories are commonly practiced and widely accepted in the society. Some of these improvements include:

- Newborns and 100-year-olds alike could have children. Infertility will be eradicated.

- Labs will be able to generate sperm and eggs for anybody.

- Human embryos will be made from sperm and egg cells derived from pluripotent stem cells (the kind that can develop into any of the body's cell types).

- Fetuses will freely float in artificial placentas or uteruses of fluid, with umbilical cords attached to machines.

- "Genetic cassettes" will be inserted at the embryonic stage to correct diseases such as Huntington's.

- Since embryos will be grown in labs, mutations to embryos could be corrected and improvements could be engineered. Yet there will be no "Designer Babies" because no single gene is that predictive of a "perfect" child.

- In vitro fertilization (IVF) will become as cheap as $100 and available for women in developing countries and those who are socially shunned or harmed because they are infertile.
(excerpted from “Making Babies: The Next 30 Years," in the July 16, 2008 issue of the journal Nature)

Along with these predictions, we cannot deny that there are ethical issues concerning about this…

Firstly, it is likely that with this technology people can select what kind of baby they wanted, would it be a baby boy or a baby girl, thus, if they don’t want the gender of baby for example, they’ll probably discard it which is just similar to abortion.

Secondly, as of the following verses taken from the bible, does the test-tube baby have a soul?

Isaiah 44:2, 21, 24: ” the prophet Isaiah says, “Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb, I have formed you, Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone.”

Psalm 139:13-16:
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”

Psalm 119:73 says, “Your hands made me and fashioned me.”


Since, this is one of the future technologies that would be much prevalent in the next years, what is your stand on this technology?

please participate in our forum and answer similar ethical questions about future technologies...
the link is http://rsg0927.forumsmotion.com/future-technology-f12/eugenics-super-babies-t298.htm

How to prepare for future technology?

Seeing the clear dominance of technology in the future is predictable. This tool must certainly be the main medium in aiding every human’s lives in the next few years. The advancements have been evidently seen unstoppable and endless. We are witnesses with the continuous evolutions. Every now and then, new discoveries, innovations are being discovered and created. And all we can understand is that its directions are visibly strewn and composite. We can hardly figure out where technology takes us a decade or more from now. The future of it is something we should always consider since our lives might be affected by the way we apply it as aids into our daily existence. We may not exactly know if how this thing could affect the rhetoric of our future, whether we end up technophobic‒afraid of how the technology will affect our lives or are we going to be the technomanic ones who would certainly embrace technology as a very advantageous tool to help us in our lives. Indeed, this calls for everyone of us to be prepared of the future no matter what category we fall into‒either technophobic or technomanic. Preparation and adequate learning are the keys to face the world of tomorrow without fear.

I can certainly say that I have this edge over other persons who know less about technology. Being so much more familiarized about technology is something more advantageous than not. Informed enough, I can observe the patterns in technology and the continuous technological trends which would help me at least perceive what would the technology in the future looks like. It gives me an idea to imagine things that are possible to exist in the future. But sometimes, I asked and imagined for things that could impossibly be done like hopefully, time machines and teleportation. Though I have learned that time machines could be possible but I cannot explain it how maybe, I can help you understand its possibility by reading Beyond The Quantum, I somehow understood the assertions of the author of this book, however, teleportations are unlikely possible since I really have no idea how our bodies could be converted into binaries to be transported invisibly into another place, well the book I have mentioned have also brought up teleportations in which I had a hard time to believe if it is possible or not. But anyway, I have mentioned these things because these are the things I have hoped to exist or be part of the innovations in technology for the next years. It is appropriate to see what the future looks like, to imagine things having observed the patterns that are existing today. With a glimpse of the future, we will be guided on how to prepare with the advancements in our lives in tomorrow’s world. Technology is not the one who fears or interests us; it is us who recognize how technology appeals to us. And so with this, I have prepared a simple list of things that should be done to be ready whatever the future has stored for us. These things might be your edge for future technology.

1. Be computer literate.

With the emergent use of computers nowadays, it would be very likely, that its use will be vastly prevalent in the next years. One can never survive in the future surrounded by technological innovations with not enough knowledge to understand and use computers. Actually, I have this friend of mine that has no enough knowledge about computers, not even able to know how to use MS Word, was having a very hard time to apply in companies since most companies right now require computer literate applicants because this could ensure them that they can be flexible with their jobs, they can go along with the mainstream, the vast use of computers as part of company’s edge over other competitors. Anyway, there are lots of institutions offering short computer courses which could help an individual to catch up with the current trend, and to be literate enough about computers. This is one way to be ready to handle technology wisely‒enough awareness about how the computers work.

2. Familiarizing Past and Present Technology

It is important to learn what are the tools people used before, and later on developed into new innovating tools present today. Understanding the evolution in these tools could help us see and imagine what could be the next things tomorrow. Furthermore, it is important too to be familiarized with present gadgets or technological advancements to be used to with these things since naivety has no place for us in the future. We cannot be ignorant with these things when we are surrounded by vast technological advancements in the future. Additionally, recognizing the big developments from past to present technology could essentially help us to know how technology affects our lives as well as, how it helped us to live with more ease and convenience than the previous days. Indeed, understanding it too could help us foresee the constant society’s development in the future including the change in behaviors and attitudes. In fact, it can also help us predict what would be the new lifestyle we will live with. Technology has been a strong force behind the great change in the society today. Analyzing the pattern from past up to the present could help us solve the mystery of the future’s picture.

3. Wise Application of Technology

Technology is a tool. Naturally, it is not the one which is responsible for the perceptible impacts in the society right now. But, it is the human. Human’s utilization of technology is to be controlled. Since it is a tool, it must be properly used for which purposes it suit for. The use of technology has been seen by everyone as an effective advantage for which function it has been applied whether for personal use, or for a business company to compete well in the market. It has always been an issue that technology has brought negative effects in our environment and lives and even the way we act, the moral values are deteriorating. All these are blamed to technology alone, but this is not the fact. The reality is that the ones who invented it have not been responsible or not capable enough to instill and educate the users of this tool on how to appropriately and wisely use them. They can be used as a benefit or maybe destruction to one’s self. How the wise application of technology could prepare us for the future? Simply, if today we are aware how to utilize it wisely, we could be trained and knowledgeable enough to understand its application suitable for which purpose tomorrow. Understanding the intelligent application of technology could not fear us that someday, the inventions human has created will be the things that can destroy his own existence.

4. Be optimistic.

There is nothing wrong for being positive for the future. To look for the future with positive ideas is to wane away the fears of living with it. We should always see technology as a beneficial tool and be optimistic that this could bring good turns in our lives. The nature to perceive the best things to happen in the future is a very good sign to accept what the future of technology will provide us. If ever a negative effect could be given away by the creation of a particular technology, we should be in the same way, positive that there is always a solution for every dilemma that might turn out in the future. Optimism is one of the best attitudes that we must live out in the future as we thrive to embrace the technological advancements that may constantly exist in the next years.

5. Read

Be informed. Gain knowledge. And be not left behind with the current issues. It is important to read and read. Reading is very essential in the learning process. Information is some kind of power we can take hold of as an edge over the others who does not know anything about what you have known. Knowledge is your best asset if you have lots of things you know. Being informed about technology is a very good thing to prepare one’s self of the future. You will not lose a thing by reading except for time and effort that worth a great knowledge you gained after doing it. It just not enhances your vocabulary but in particular, it lets you perceive things you may not have been perceived before in your lives. An example is going to Japan to personally see the new invention they had created is just equivalent with reading an article posted in the internet about such invention with complete details and information about its creation. Also, a more interesting example is reading the Twilight Saga, indeed, watching the movie did not unravel the very details about the personalities and attitudes of the characters in the story compared to that reading of the books. You get to know more and deeper about those characters.

6. Innovative Thinking

Being aware enough is to let your mind open for possibilities and imaginations that might turn into realities. It is important to be always innovative, to think inventively and ingeniously. As our environment evolves, attitudes change, lives develop and technology advances, it is considerable that the way we think should also move forward. Our minds should expand and think for possibilities and broader ideas. Comes after Innovative thinking are innovative actions which are our benefits in facing the rhetoric of tomorrow. We should think resourcefully as well so that whatever resources we have, we could maximize it to the fullest. Practical thinking could help and teach us how to wisely use technology as an advantage tool. Since technology is a tool, it cannot outwit us but it is us who can outwit ourselves if we will not utilize our minds intelligently. We should learn from the past mistakes, learn from the current issues and happenings, and eventually, we can think for what is the best thing to do tomorrow. With this, innovative thinking involves visualizing and planning the tomorrow’s interventions of technology in our lives.

7. Socialize

You cannot live the future by yourself. It is important that as you face the future, you are not alone. Do not forget that there are lots existing aside from you, a team is good enough to defeat an opponent. So to face the future is to be accompanied with someone else who has the same goals with you. You should be actively part of the society so to hold the society more firm. If we let ourselves destroy that strong bond that hold us together, we will not be strong enough to control the emergent use of technology since we have individual intentions. Unity is one of the keys to stay upright above every new creation human has invented. We should participate and cooperate with others to arrive at the same common goal which is to have positive approach about the existence of technology in our lives.

8. Share your Knowledge and Experiences

The best thing you can do as you prepare yourself for the future is to let others prepare themselves too. We cannot be too selfish that we let others fail in accepting the new language of our future. We should certainly share what we have learned from our own researches, readings and information we take hold of. Even simple experiences we got from the utilization of gadgets, technological tools or other advanced devices, we should share these to other persons for them to know that such things might happen to themselves too and so they can also learn from you. Sharing is something you can contribute in having a very good future even if we are surrounded with technological advancements in the next years. In fact, other person’s learning comes from information being shared to them.

9. Always Remember the Basics

It is appropriate to keep the lessons you have learned in the past. They can help you whenever the technology in the future fails. If you are so much dependent with it, then most likely, you will fail too. It is important to remember the things our elders have taught us–to go back to basics when everything goes wrong. The great and amazing things existing today are founded on strong foundation, so we should stick with the fundamental things we have been taught of for we can have them as our best alternative when something bad is going to happen. Well, I am not afraid if a total blackout will occur in the future.


References:

http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/AIM/scale/virt-fut.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1997/06/02/smallb4.html
http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2003/4/13/215915/113
http://tekkieteacher.edublogs.org/2008/04/15/prepare-them-for-their-future-not-yours/
http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39162796,00.htm
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1157365861120&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid5_gci941283,00.html
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=355
http://www.vanderwal.net/random/entrysel.php?blog=1901

IT Tool Effects and Addressing Skills Shortage

“–the more the tools, the faster the rate of change…”

This part was taken from a statement asserted by James Burke in his book Connections. The continuous technological events happening in our society right now confirms this assertion. I must say, the emergent developments have quite dependent to the growing number of technology tools or means available in the market. Every household holds common means that hasten the processes and aid every common man lives in it. Exactly in the early days, the utilization of traditional means has not been extensively applied not until change has constantly developing and extending when a huge number of tools has invented and was made available to human, in which their applications were fairly utilized widely. Hence, the constant rate of change must be attributed to the constant increase in the number of availability and application of these technology means.

Such change has implied with a couple of effects starting off from economical, political, social and ethical effects on human. Human behavioral change has actually been developed from several factors including technological transformation as well as, societal developments which were merely due to the former mentioned. All these effects have entirely changed the way human lives their lives. That is why, as the human’s way of life has advanced, its progress will continually expand since such advancement calls for another and for more progress to satisfy his never-ending necessities. Even if a device has satisfied one’s needs, the person owns it will eventually be asking for further features since he is becoming dependent to the device’s purpose and characteristics. Some good examples of these as cited in Wikipedia are mobile phones and data storage. Indeed, mobile phones have provided a wider horizon between people to communicate whenever and wherever they are. Data storage too, has progressed from cassette (for music) or diskette to compact discs to nanotechnology devices such as flash disk or MP3 players (for music).

In the long run, economical developments due to technology were brought to people when technology provided goods and services better access and exchange between two entities. Actually, economical change could be seen and reflected to the current economical development status of a country. The deployment of technology can define a developing nation based on how these deployments are handled by a nation. One way that has been changed in part of the application of technology is the human values. Indeed, human values have been perceived differently depending on which side or angle you are looking into. Some say, it has certainly developed (considering the positive side) or oppositely, it has deteriorated. It is clear why values have developed well or why they have worsened, you should take a better perspective on how humans deal with the technological change and how he reacts with the effect. Some people see these tools as one way to level up their intellectual limits from which they might somewhat forget that di
vine principle from we are all being bounded and founded. In other words, technology’s impact to us if worsened will lead us to the point that we forget how to recognize good from evil acts, which is the very foundation of human morality from which all of us are held strong and bounded. God’s existence in our faiths is the key why technology remains tools in our hands and our actions toward them are well-guided. Another is that human values because of technology have increased our abilities and skills on our everyday activities, I mean, values developed to attitudes, developed to abilities. Thirdly, all these extend to one, societal values which serve as customary values from we must all respect and follow through.

Technological effects also influence social relationships. From which side you are taking into account, you could see the difference and advantage between how is relationship between people takes place from traditional building and the modernized way of creating relationship due to emergence of virtual socialization. This approach has essentially contributed to the creation of virtual communities, the modernized society.

Lifestyle. Technology has significantly change human’s lifestyle. I must say, it has able to advance one’s way living his life. Entertainment has never been more entertaining to people with all high class devices and gadgets which have been made available to the people. Being informed has eventually improved from traditional acquiring of information to almost reaching the key to great knowledge just through the tips of our fingers. Multitasking can be easily done making us more flexible in many activities we do. And there are lots more to be mentioned that really increase the quality of our lifestyle.

Technological force has never been this strong compared to the earlier days. Though part of this technological impact to our society is the change in our environment too.

One of the technological impacts too is the greater and increase of job specializations. In other words, more jobs were created because of the emergent of technology such as more programmers, analysts, system designers, etc. Now, the equivalent drawback of this is that there is a skill shortage. Philippines has been facing skills shortage having most of our skilled workers immigrated or work abroad. This is since higher wage payment is being salaried outside the country which certainly, attracted our Filipino skilled workers.

With this, I was able to research and come up with few issues that should be considered to address this shortage specifically here in the Philippines. The following matters are to be considered:

1. Educational Curriculum

Since commonly, the said shortage will be addressed if our country is producing well-trained graduates, thus, it must be deliberated that there should be proper educational trainings during the student’s preparation for career in college. In this, the institutions must have well thought-out curriculum specializing the abilities or skills of the students in the area they are competent of. An example is that new curriculum in our department, wherein ladderized programs are being included in the new curriculum for both degree courses, BSIT and BSCS. Indeed, when graduates are equipped with proper training and knowledge on each of their particular fields they are specializing, they can be hired and help address the skills shortage here in our country.

2. Training

What if the organization has enough workers but their skills do not match to the needs of a company? That is when training and workshops should be organized by an organization. To address such scarcity, they must allocate budget enough for training of these personnel. This workforce should be taught well on how to equip themselves with the right skills to correspond to the needs of their company. Indeed, proper training and appropriate workshops could be helpful to discover or improve the hidden talents, skills and abilities of a worker to match up with the significant skill demand of an organization.

3. Appropriate Matching

Some organizations put wrong personnel on the wrong position. With this, the organization must review their employee’s skills and abilities, and of course, knowledge if they fit to the position they are holding. Some employers mistaken their workers of the wrong abilities they are equipped and they ended up holding wrong position in the company. And so during the scarcity time, they would not be able to realize that they are already holding the persons equipped with the said skills they are looking for.

4. Salary Motivations

Here in the Philippines, the reason why skilled workers go abroad is because of the higher wage they will get in the other country. And so, some organizations have thought of some wage motivation initiatives to attract skilled workers here. They are attracting these workers by letting them be aware of the salary payments and incentives enough to interest them. But the organizations somehow make sure that when they are already employed, it would be performance-based reward.

5. Modernizing Recruitments

One way to attract more workers is to catch a wider audience to gain good possibilities. This can be done through advertising job recruitments in the internet where the organization can catch a wider scope of applicants from any part of the country. Of course, it must be possible too that the recruitments should ensure the applicants convenience in applying for the position. A very well planning should be made before doing such strategy in hiring skilled workers though.

6. Eradicating Inequality

Since it is the skills an organization is looking for, thus, discriminations in races, gender, color, and ages should be eliminated. Any region in a country can consist of several potential skilled laborers. Any type of individuals can possess the skills an organization in search of. And so, one must not be selective with the person to hire for as long as he has the skills needed and the ease of him to help the organization is assured.

7. Contracting

To ensure and maintain a very good workforce is to let them commit to the organization. An agreement between the worker and the organization should be done so that skills shortage will be avoided. They must agree to what extent they can do for the company as well as, how long they will work for the organization.

Finally, for as long as our country could think for plans and carry out these into actions to address the scarcity happening in the country immediately, we could avoid such event to happen. Better approaches and strategies are all needed to avert skills shortage.

References:

Burke, James . Connections. Boston: Little, Brown, and Co., 1985.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_and_society
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/positive-effects-of-technology-on-society.html
http://education.llnl.gov/bep/socsci/9/tImpact.html
http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/280/soctechchange/soctech2.htm
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/business/0,39044229,62039776,00.htm
http://www.cs.ru.ac.za/ICTSkills/MarkHarrisPresentation.pdf
http://career-sap.blogspot.com/2008/04/philippines-faces-it-skills-shortage.html
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2008/gb2008044_807790.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/490F4ADF-2971-439F-8BFB-82928B28D700/0/dsrd_reg_skills_shortages_bus_200711.pdf
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/Skills-shortage-No-problem.html
http://www.hrmguide.net/canada/jobmarket/bc_skills_shortage.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2249437.htm
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002261
http://www.tesda.gov.ph/page.asp?rootID=4&sID=154&pID=34

Save the Earth IT-ically

Greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere have extensively increased as years went by. Would we blame all these to technology alone or the people who abused the utilization of these? Carbon Dioxide or CO2 is the number one contributor of these greenhouse gases. It seemed that the trees who supposed to take them in are not enough to maintain the balance of different gases in the atmosphere. Trees which can save air pollution are being cut down and their numbers aren’t enough to protect us. CO2 are emitted from vehicles to electronic appliances to humans’ dangerous activities. Everyday, million tons of CO2 are emitted to the atmosphere which certainly unbalances the world’s emissions. Eventually, these emissions have led to dangerous and worse climate change. Global warming is one of the hottest issues being discussed and pondered by concerned individuals all over the world since this is a very important subject on climate change.

Some environmentalists and book authors concerning environment have asserted that all these climate changes should be blamed to the emergent and continuous developments in technology. But how will they blame technology that it is not the one who does the actions and who thinks to destroy the environment? Well, technology has been considered by everyone as an efficient tool only, but it should be better considered as a system according to some people who has a better and excellent understanding of its infrastructure. They have asserted that it has components that we must be aware of. These components are the things we should take into account as we use them to help us in our everyday lives. Technology must not be used to destroy our environment. Though we may not be aware that the extend use of our computers already harm our environment, with this, it must be considered that we live in an environment that must be well-taken of and in which, we must more sensitive with this fact. And so every time we do something, we must remember and consider if we are harming our environment. Human exploitation towards technology is to some extent uncontrollable. You cannot tell people or control them on what must be done, they have their own minds to command their selves whether to exploit our environment or not and so, it is on that time that the responsibility for each individual for his ecosystem deals with the problem. One cannot be responsible to teach the other how to be responsible, it is a matter of self- perception.

All these exploitations and all the negative contributions towards the climate change have been undeniably originated from the fast-paced developments in our society. New technologies are created every now and then, humans’ behavior continuously changing as time goes by, human necessities are countless and so an extensive number of new devices are invented to fulfill these needs. These observations prove that there is a becoming endless cycle of developments in the society. With this, lots of possible risks are in the same way, created and introduced to cause harm in our environment which the only available options to avoid the future destruction of our mother nature is to be self-aware of what’s happening and as much as possible , do many and effective things to avoid the foreseen devastation. All we can do from now is to be responsible and help save our nature by avoiding the environment be harmed from all of these.

In part of these and as an Information Technology student, I have researched and prepared simple steps to help save in our environment from the minimal activities we oftentimes do and from our everyday encounter with computers, considered one of the negative contributors to climate change. These steps are really simple and no-nonsense that I know everyone of us could have no reason to say “NO”. But first of all, I would like to clarify again first that technology are tools and we must not blame all the harms that caused our environment to these means, we must take that blame from them and put it to the ones that exploit the use of technology. Now, the following steps are the things that could easily be remembered by any of us:

1. Look around.

I have read an article from brisbanetimes.com.au entitled Google out to save environment discussing about a very significant discovery about white backgrounds in our computer. They have asserted that a white background takes more power for a monitor to display a white screen compared to a black screen. They also stressed out that 79 watts are consumed by white screens while black screens consume 20 watts lesser than it. So if you care enough about saving energy you can use a black background for your desktop wallpaper or a black background for your blog and contrasted with white text or any color that you are able to read. And using Google search engine for your researches and the likes, you can use Blackle.com instead which is just exactly the same as Google with a black background and gray text though. This is actually, Google’s new and customized version in respond to a blog entry posted by an environmentalist Mark Ontkush who had estimated that about 3000 megawatt-hours Google can save if they had a black background for a year. This initiative has made me realized that I should start using black background for my desktop and also, I had also reduced the brightness of my desktop’s monitor to save energy. And I am going to make it a habit and share this information with my family and friends.

Another simple thing that I have realized as I was arranging my paper communications is the use of e-mail. Instead that I have to spend many papers to create paper documents or communications to send to persons why send it electronically where there are no papers involved. Make not use of papers and perhaps, we can save trees. We all know that a number of trees are being cut down to make paper in which we could actually do something to avoid it. Send documents electronically can reduce the utilization of paper and perhaps like me, who’s very annoyed with bunch of papers around my room, we could maybe have more organized documents wherein we could just store these documents in electronic medium. To put it simply, digital papers to replace papers. But of course, I had to remind you that we are also to save energy so as we use digital paper, remember to minimize the brightness mode of your desktop and make use of time wisely to save energy.

Knowing these facts, we could simply say that there are actually simple activities we do that we can certainly help to save our environment out of it. Look for more amazing and practical things you can do from our daily encounter with simple IT activities everyday and you will be much surprised that saving our environment is simply right on your fingertips already.
2. Recycle.

This is just the very common and easiest step an environmentalist makes to save nature. Recycle things that could still be used. Everything that could still be used. But in our case, as an IT student, there are more things we could get from this word recycle. As simple as recycle paper. Again, as I was looking on the bunch of papers I was about to throw outside our apartment, I have realized that I could still use them as my scrap papers for future uses. I know that most of us print hard copies for personal readings so instead of printing these hard copies with new set of papers which are not really for submission or any formal purposes, let us use discarded papers whose back portions can still be used for printing. Let us convert those discarded papers into reusable and efficient ones. This is another way to save fresh trees to be cut down.

Another important and very common but we are not just aware of is the recycling of printer ink cartridges. You, after the printer ink cartridge was emptied, where did you let it go? Probably, they end up in trash cans. But according to printcountry.com, printer ink cartridges can be recycled. We can bring them to the recycling centers for them to reuse such cartridges to create new ones. There are actually some brands of printer ink cartridges which have been environmentally-minded that they allow their customers to bring their cartridges every time they want to ask for refills and to let them avoid buying new ones with new cartridges. Why do we need to recycle them? Firstly, they can contribute to pollution since they are non-biodegradable products. In other words, even if you throw them away, they will never decay and will stay hundred years there without decomposing. Additionally and what is worse, these products are made of strong chemicals that if they end up in landfills, if these chemicals will be buried to the ground going to ground water, they can certainly contribute to water pollution too which to some extent, we will be likely poisoned drinking the water which was actually mixed with printer ink chemicals. Next thing that we have to consider why we need to recycle them is that printer ink cartridges are made up of plastic and metal which are finite resources mined from the ground, it is like we are wasting these resources as we are throwing these printer ink cartridges to garbage cans. And which is really a waste.

3. Do not waste energy, save time.

It is a very common sense to turn off electronic devices when they are not in use and even better, to unplug them when you are not going to use them anyway. This thing is as simple as to turn off your computer if you are not using it. My own idea somehow is to add something more sensible to that when you are actually using computer. There is still a way to save energy while you are using you computer and that is to make valuable time out of it. Of course, do not use computer if you are going to waste time anyway. An example of this is playing games without proper discipline. I know playing games is some way of entertaining yourself but overusing it is no-normal. I have observed that some of my classmates do spend hours of playing online games without realizing that they are actually not saving valuable time out of using the internet. It is sad to say that they forget to remember how to actually save energy by reducing their hours of play to one hour. Well, I had actually used to play online games before but I had quit because I could not afford to spend more money and waste them. (not that I had this environmental-care reason…hehehe but if ever I am still playing right now, well, I now have a very sensible reason to quit…) Now, chatting online is another way too, do not chat and chat unless you don’t have goal you want to attain at the end of the conversation, it will just waste you lots of times wherein you could actually use those times might spent to learning and gaining information by surfing the net. Indeed, a very useful and efficient purpose and utilization of internet is to gain knowledge and information not totally for fun and personal leisure or entertainment. Do not waste time having word-wars in any forums when you will not get any good from it afterwards, you will just find an enemy and if you are already in the offline world, it could only stressed you up or hassled you. Then again, you will be persuaded by the next time you are online to do again the same things to have revenge with that person or any which will turn out an endless activity. Just like gambling. So better, make the most and valuable time surfing the internet and make no priorities with unimportant matters. You can extensively save lots of energies if you will learn how to manage yourself on utilizing electronic devices such as computers. A good time management with these tools is a very nice way of getting into discipline of controlling and using technology and in some very important ways, we can even save our environment from being so disciplined.

4. Be IT-ically environmentalist.

Being in the field of technology does not hinder us to be environmentalist at the same time. Even if others say that environmentalists are anti-technology or vice versa. These two distinct things could go hand-in-hand to save our mother nature. As information technology students, information are right on the tips of our fingertips. This means with the emergent use of dot coms, we could easily access information every now and then. With being informative enough we can be important and worthwhile individuals to play the roles of environmental heroes. If we are equipped with information, we can definitely save our environment.

Read environmental news updates. One way to take necessary actions is to know what is already happening with our nature. It is important to be updated with environmental information so that you can decide and think for what are possible and effective solutions to solve our environmental problems. There are lots of articles available in the internet presently that we could really learn from. It is just a matter of being so attentive enough to grasp information. Well-informed individuals could certainly initiate good plans and immediately, take them into actions.

The power of search engines. Google, Yahoo.com, Altavista and etc., are very useful tools to research for ways on how to save our earth in our own simple ways from conserving energy in our homes‒to reduce toxicity too‒to protect our air‒to create less garbage and so on. There are many other concerned individuals who voluntarily share their knowledge to everyone in the virtual world on how to take care of our nature in everyday activities we do. And so all these articles are saved into Google and other web search engines’ databases. I have read an article on 100 ways to save the environment prepared by SEQL or Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life which entails simple activities that can be done by a person.

Blog for Earth. This is just the very simplest form we can do as IT student and at the same time, bloggers. The information we have and hold could be transferred to other persons when we share these to them. Indeed, our blogs are good platforms to share what we have learned about saving our environment and a very efficient medium to connect with a wider audience around the globe. In fact, our blog entries are also recorded in the databases of various search engines wherein we can be ensured that whenever our topic is closely related to the item being searched by the user, our blog entries will be seen. Additionally, if you are also actively participating in any bloggers community, you can easily broadcast your posts about environment through a wider network or a wider group of audience. Our blogs are truly good instruments and medium to share our views and initiatives on taking care of our environment. And of course, with a wider scope of audience globally, your information can reach anyone.

At the end, the very essential thing that we should do is to learn to love our nature. Everyone should take in mind that our nature is part of our living. Without our environment, our existence could not survive long. It is from our environment we breathe air, we drink water and it is from them we get our food. Thus, nature has very well a good provider for all our needs. Have you imagined yourself that one day all you can see is fog from the very thick smoke and other air pollution emitted to the air, all you can smell is metallic odor and gases that having no choice, you will just inhale them to live. Have you imagined yourself that you can no longer see green things and that everything turned to monochrome, where everything turned black and white and shades of gray? How about hearing machines and cars and other vehicles’ noises rather than hearing the birds singing? These are just some of the horrible images and events that could possibly take place the very breathtaking scenes of our nature for the meantime. Definitely, as time goes by, as the technology continuously developed and not properly controlled by humans, and as the humans’ behavior constantly changing, there is a great possibility that the nature’s devastation will happen. And we cannot do nothing but to feel and suffer the worst consequences in our whole existence.

With this, it is very important that we should not just take a look what we have presently but also to think for our future. I know some of us may think that we cannot somehow see such future’s destruction but we must remember that our future grandchildren will be the ones who will pay for the mistakes they have not done. It is just quite unfair that we know that we could have done something to prevent those possible scenarios to take into place and instead we let our future successors to enjoy and see the beauty of our nature. Lastly, as we are the ones who take hold of the present, we must do necessary actions to build a bright future. Indeed, the future is right in our hands. Each of us must feel that sense of responsibility to take care of our nature as we take care of our families, friends, our homes, and the whole community. As we all know, at the very end of the day, the environment is still the most important thing why we still survive and why we are still breathing. We owe all of these to our nature. And so as IT students, let us take our duties and tasks to save our environment in our own IT ways.

References:

http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/engex.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2008/may/31/willtechnologysavetheworld
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/technology/go-green-by-turning-google-black/2007/06/13/1181414342180.html
http://www.ecogeek.org/
http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Save-the-Environment
http://www.seql.org/100ways.cfm
http://printerinkcartridges.printcountry.com/inkjet-recycling-and-buyback-recycled-empty-cartridges-related-articles/save-the-environment-use-recycled-printer-ink-cartridges/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_technology
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/214522/technology_from_the_1940s_can_save.html
http://www.devindra.org/tech/2007/10/15/why-i-believe-technology-will-save-the-environment-and-environmentalism/

No, Thank You Tech

Technology has brought significant events in our lives whether we acknowledge it or not. Some people who were able to perceive the existence of technology, still prefer to live with the strong idea not to praise its existence but rather believe that technology brings no good to the society, these people are called technophobic. They are the ones who are afraid to embrace the rhetoric of the future. However, the great opposite of these people are the so-called technomanic, who embrace technology as already part of their lives.

Now whether, there exists two opposite people in our information age, the main concern is how these two connect and represent the present humanity in this ever-evolving tech-world. I have to say that even I strongly believe that I fall under category two, I still fear what the future stores for us especially for the ones that create them, humans. Technology have brought significant changes in our lifestyle from waking up in the morning until we found ourselves late at night dreaming with technologies still involved even in our very unconsciousness. Its impact has something to be concerned or disregarded of. It is up to us what the better option to choose from is.

Personally, I consider myself lucky since I was able to witness the transition in the technology developments since my early primary years in elementary wherein I was still the only pupil in the class who has a computer and knew the existence of it, up to now, wherein I could definitely prove to everyone that there was a great transition from the late 1990s to the present. Today, almost everyone recognizes the existence of these computers, even my cousin as early as two years old, she can turn on the power of my laptop without being instructed on how to, she is just definitely being observant of the things she was able to see and understand at her very early age. Though she doesn’t know about the computers but having been able to see right through her eyes the presence of it, undoubtedly, she would never be innocent when it comes to these things in the future.

The great technology evolution is very obvious to each of us especially for those who were able to understand and observe its pattern. We all know that as technology has continuously developed, human’s actions too are consistently changing. His habits, attitudes and daily routines have transformed to complement with his environment. I am not saying that humans are getting worse as days went by but it is to admit that with technology, attitudes and routines change to go along with the trend, for example, if you miss your loved ones, you don’t have to see them in person, just a call or a text sent to them is already a good way to alleviate the feeling.

Along with this, human values too are slowly changing. Though principles and moralities are still preserved, it is the humans that slowly destroying the instilled moral values in them. Just like for example, lying has never been so easy in texting… Everyone knows that a lie in text does not to be considered a very bad and heavy sin at all since it is done on a technology tool God has never mentioned before. Humans have forgotten that sins do not merely depend on the tools or things you use but it is on how you use and act with them.

Morality issue has been the very core subject about the impacts brought in part of the intervention of technology. However, let me also see the other obvious matter that relates to technology, the substantial and materialistic contribution it has supplied in our society. Electrical light bulb, has everyone be so thankful that they were invented by Edison? How about everyone of us sulk all night with candles or what if even candles were never made, will we all be depending on the light coming from fires? The invention of light has been so significant in our society (well, not that noteworthy for blind men).

How about the invention of automobiles? Have you imagined yourself going around the city by walking? Automobiles are indeed a very helpful transportation. Its impact to the society is best felt if one day, there is a real transportation hike. Next, the cameras… Maybe, these things are not that significant to the whole humanity but have you realized if cameras did not take into place? Maybe, our minds are the best storage for our memories nowadays. One has to be sure to have no memory gaps. What if no one has discovered radio waves and with that, telephones, televisions, cellphones etc. never existed? Well, maybe to convey my message to my parents that I arrived on my apartment just in time will be through people and that would take days for them to know that. Eventually, I would not be able to big difference with that from what the advantage I have now when I was not able to know what are cellphones at all. Thanks to Hertz, he discovered radio waves. Marconi’s antenna and wireless telegraph have been so useful guides for today’s generation in creating wireless mobile, wireless internet and soon will make everything wireless. Have you considered that maybe until now, without him even if telephones are invented, we use them at home or workplace only? Well, not so bad to consider anyway. It is still better than that with no communication means at all. Refrigerators are hazardous to our environment, it emits chemicals that destroy our ozone layer but still, I am partly grateful that it was invented, I have this great indulgence with ice creams. Have you been thankful to be effectively informed through television? Well, I could still rely on newspapers even without its existence.

In the medicine field, I have been thankful that insulin was discovered to treat diabetic person like me. Though I am still not on the stage of being treated with it but I somehow acknowledge that technology has discovered it. How about the discovery on RNA and DNA by Franklin, DNA testing has been so helpful to humans. Without it, I may not able to know someday that I might be one of the Holy Grail’s descendants. But of course, I was not being serious, I just wanted to imply that DNA has been a very successful discovery in the field of medicine. The test tube baby, this has been an answered prayer for couples who cannot bear child. Indeed, test tube baby is an alternative choice for same sex marriage couples to protect their rights to build and rear a family.

Finally, the two most significant events for me that took into place were the invention of computers and the creation of the World Wide Web. I am so grateful for University of Pennsylvania for developing ENIAC computers from which computers today were inherited from. Computers are great technology tools that help make our lives a lot easier. Especially when communication protocol was introduced in 1980 which led to the creation of Internet, it has been the start of the great phenomenal innovation in entire human’s lives. Computers and internet have provided extensive benefits that humans cannot afford. Nowadays, their implications are kept and carried on for it is from them we see the other side of our lives which speaks for convenience and practicality.

Though I had mentioned a few nice things and “just things” above, you must remember that whether you are thankful or not that they were invented and discovered, still, it is human’s brilliant works and minds you must be concerned about. If you hate technology, then hate the one who create them and ask why he invented it if he will just make you mad. Remember that technology is not our enemy if one day, something is not going right, it is ourselves that must take care of that blame someday. The ones who create them are the ones who will destroy them. In other words, he who creates such new technology should also know what are its implications otherwise, he should not invent them.

Its impact to our society is due to the extensive application and attention we put on them. Technophobic and technomanic, at the end, have nothing to do with how they embrace technology. They will be just the same people in the same society. There will be no more distinctions between the two. The focal point is, the humanity will be accountable for whatever impact has brought by technology. Technology has technically no impact if the humans are dense, it is like they do not react in any sense. Impact has something to deal with responses. Thus, it is possible that if humans will create just enough responses, this will provide with the fact that technology’s impact then will also be just enough. Along with this statement, humans must know how to handle technology and certainly how to act in response to its great implications. Just like if new innovations are being introduced, he should be able to know how to properly deal with them.

Reference:
http://www.geneng.mtu.edu/courses/1101/current/current/engineering.history.pdf

IT Professional’s Long Journey

Three to four months from now, I will finally be bringing my title as a BSIT degree holder. That is if…. luck is on my side or if I would be a better student for such a span of time… But anyway, no matter how long it will take for me to take hold of such title, the question would be, am I worthy to be called as an IT professional then? I was weighing this question for the past months until I have joined the review for PHILNITS exam and I, in fact, realized that my knowledge on IT were not yet enough for me to be called a proficient and expert on my field and I was somehow having some doubts on how will people recognize and believe me as a BSIT graduate someday if they would be going to ask me related to my field and I would not be able to answer them.. Such a shame on my part… But maybe, I believe that each of us has a specific field from which we could say that it is that something we can be proud of… Good example is our research topics in CS Research Methods, I believe that these topics we chose are the things we do have lots to contribute and share with. Perhaps, these are the things we could somewhat identify which field we are more capable of. That is why I believe that to be an IT Professional does not have to be perfect and well-knowledge in all subjects our field has identified, it does matter if there is an important or maybe several subjects in that field you are well trained and capable of. There is a contribution of skills and abilities in our field, one can never be good in all subjects in the IT field.

Now, IT professionalism deals with specializing certain branches in IT field. There are lots of IT professionals out there inventing all sorts of technology to ensure convenience, and making our lives a lot easier. Maybe, if I had such great ability to invent new technology, my concern would most likely focus on our environment. I mean, I must be likely inventing technologies that are environment-friendly.

The first thing that came to my mind is a technology that would replace air conditioners. Aircon has lots of negative effects in our environment and I would like to replace them with a technology that do the same thing as them but in better ways, in other words, they do not harm our environment. Secondly, I would be more focus on developing the use of solar energies. Solar energies for cars, to home, to everything that is controlled or powered by any energy sources which actually, could be replaced by solar energies as alternative. Thirdly, the use of plants as materials and resources for creating technology tools or gadgets. Indeed, there are lots of information available in the internet about certain plants as alternatives for some parts in gadgets that could not be recycled anymore. Guyule, a kind of plant that could be easily raised, can be used as biofuel source, corn to replace plastics, algae as a good replacement for fuels too, and lotus to be used in creating touch screen devices. Amazing isn’t it, these plants can indeed replace non-biodegradable products and what is really good about these facts are that they can easily be raised and found anywhere.

In terms of communication, for now, I am fully satisfied with innovations created in this field. Indeed to compare today’s way of communication from before, there has been a great difference and advancement from past to present. But for me, it would be better that the “earth is flat” idea must be given more emphasis, communication technologies must be developed more to conform to this statement. I know there are still awaiting technologies to prove this statement. On the other hand, one technology that I really want to be available to each of us is the person tracker. In this technology, I believe it would be much of help when we will realize that tracking a person is a lot helpful just like when cellphones were invented, I was many times thankful with technology that the process between several things has been done quicker and effortless. Like for some instances, calling all members in a group to meet in a place, talking with important persons in long distances, etc. I know that someday tracking a person is definitely needed. This system might also make people grateful that this sort of technology has been invented.

Another technology that I would like to be developed someday is the mood switcher or a technology that could change negative moods into lighter ones. This seems funny but this thing could certainly make people less downbeat… Everything would seem to be more enthusiastic and optimistic. Which would mean a better world. But I somehow know that there must be a balance of good and evil to perceive a real world. But anyway, going back to the said technology, actually, at home we have this ionized energy saving bulb that works the similar functions of which I imagined. This bulb is plugged electrically and has really very bright light. This light, believe it or not, emits negative ion atom with electrical charges. This means that people that would somehow see and feel the light would also feel better… It is because such ions, in fact, has a refreshing energy effect in human. It works in 5 major functions: cleanses the blood, rejuvenates the cells, enhances our immune system, normalizes the nervous system and it has the ability to control free radicals, these radicals are the pollutants in the air. This makes your surrounding a lot active than that it seemed to be. My family used whenever we are tired.

One good technology too, that I would like to be developed is actually, some sort of a program. It is a system that helps a decision maker creates good and effective decisions as to arrive certain good outputs. This will mainly work on business establishments and companies, a sort of simulation of company’s structure and events if a decision has been made. I know there are lots of these technologies developed already but I would want to see more developments from this field, more accurate and more effective results that must be outputted after a decision has been made.

By the way, in terms of business, securities regarding business transactions are which I would want to see from with more developments too. These include better and more idealistic business transactions like we can transact anytime and anywhere. I would love to feel someday like paying bills will only be done through the tips of our fingers and in just a matter of few clicks. No hassles and everything is being processed flawlessly.

On the other hand, technologies in the field of education are also likely to be more developed in the future. Maybe a more realistic class environment in virtual learning is better developed so that, the feeling to be in a real classroom setting is still present even if it is done through the cyberspace. I know, virtual learning is ideal for individuals from far distances.

Anyway, I would also love to develop technologies in relative to caring for our nature. Garbage segregator is definitely a good idea. Garbage cans must be technologically developed. When a garbage is thrown to them, the cans will automatically segregate them into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Biodegradable wastes are used to create organic fertilizers maybe, and non-biodegradable wastes will be recycled if possible. Also, a garbage-thrower detector technology along the streets must also be developed. Those people throwing their garbage anywhere, in wrong places are detected by this sort of technology detector and so letting the authorities arrest them.

Technology also like what my classmates had presented last Saturday, the vertical farming is actually a very good technology. It is a technology with sense. I hope more developments from this technology must be discovered especially that for now, concerns about the plants’ health are not really the same with plants grown in fields. Along with this, plant cloning is also another good technology.

Well, even if I had imagined all these technologies, I am still not certain if this would make our lives safer and better. Technologies remain tools and it is up to us on how to use them. It is up to us then on how these will affect our lives. They just operate according to how we operate them. I know that humans have never-ending needs and wants in life, when one is discovered another innovation is yet to be created and discovered. Discovery after discoveries. As an IT professional, he does not need to create a technological and advanced tool for him to be called worthy of his title. Professionalism deals with great handling and responsibility. It is still the attitude that defines one’s professionalism just like any other jobs and professions. All of them requires single and important factor in order to be called professional. The attitude that defines them. The attitude that mold their personality. Even if one is good and very skilled and expert in that particular field, and he is lacking that one significant factor, how he acts, he does not deserved to be called professional in his field. Firstly, professionalism requires great and firm discipline. Discipline is a developing attitude.

I know in time that even if I graduate, I will be still questioning myself worth to be called IT professional but I know anyhow that it is my attitude, the positive attitude that would help me to be more confident as an IT professional. I will be just responsible with my actions both technically and non-technologically. It is from that it matters most.

Everyone of us in the IT field must be dreaming and yearning to become one of the top and competent IT professionals in the big arena. But personally, we do not have to aim an almost unimaginable goal since I know that there are lots better than me out there. Maybe to become a great IT professional within myself is already enough for as long as I will be greatly positive and confident that I am. At least in my own self, I will be already proud since I will be the first IT professional in my whole family clan since from my great grand fathers… (I hope so…As far as I know…)

Lastly, as I dreamed to become an IT professional someday, the pressures are getting much heavier as each moment passes by. It is like any moments from now, my proofs for being one is destroyed. Months to go and I certainly have lots of things to do in order to substantiate that I could be one. I still have lots to prove with myself. I still have lots of steps before the middle-line… pressures and stresses are everywhere… Perhaps, strong motivation and pure determination will guide me throughout the whole journey to IT professionalism. Though anyway, I have been so thankful that I have received enough emotional, parental, social and financial support. My family has always been more than enough good motivation for me, my parents are so very proud of me, especially my mama who is so very supportive and ever proud mother to tell everyone that I might soon be an IT professional. She does even bother to explain what does it mean. With that, it has driven me enough motivation to let her statements be real someday.

For the whole past four years, being a regular student has been one of the greatest prices I have received through my entire college life. I have been very focus on the track that I was treading... But this time I am yearning for a greater cost, for a greater and better outcome, I am yearning to graduate, to take hold of a title, a title that would also call me similar to it, a BSIT degree holder and maybe an IT professional.

References:

http://www.gadgets-reviews.com/green-technology-materials.html
http://www.tuvie.com/environmentally-friendly-solar-shades-canopies

Technology Change

The question was...

Enumerate reasons why we use technology today. What are some points that have influenced us? What are the factors involved in technology change?

We use technology since we know that it is the most appropriate tool we could use for certain things that we can't do quicker, faster and better... i simply mean that technology offers great advantages human can't afford.. certainly, as what Toffler asserted in his book Future Shock, "the time between the first and second stages of the innovative cycle-between idea and application-has been cut radically." This means that when technology was brought up, such delays before in idea and application has been cut thoroughly.. technology has the ability to make shortcuts and is able to hasten the processes.

Some factors that influenced us to use technology are the environment, the teachings in school and media..

It is irresistible to adopt with our environment, technology is around us... You can see these tools over many places and with it, their uses have been extensively endorsed to us.
Secondly, it is from school that we learn deeply from these tools, with it we were able to understand its significance and great aid to our lives that's why at the end of the day, we we tend to embrace the existence of technology in our lives..
Finally, the media, it is from them we were informed about new and innovating technologies... Promotion of tecnology from the media is indeed, an irresistible way to attract the audience to use such technologies...


The most significant factor that involved the technology change is the continuous and never-ending human needs... and more importantly, humans are significantly smarter as time goes by.. when new technology is created, eventually, this calls for humans to create another and definitely, better than it...


Reference:

Toffler, A. (1970). Future Shock. New York: Random House.

Fear of the Future

I was asked by our professor if I am afraid of the future, in terms of the emergent and developing machines that would take place in the future… I answered him “medyo”… and I knew deep inside me that I really am afraid…

I was being honest… I am afraid that in the future, technologies’ impact to the people will make them less-ethical people. Values and ethics as well as, real identities will be easily waned and faked out. Even today, fake emotions such as typing “huhu” in text doesn’t even mean real at all… Recreating ourselves in cyberspace will never be a hard time for us… we can have certain multiple identities and personalities at the same time as long as the ones we’re faking on don’t see us face-to-face. And what if everything is done in cyberspace… personal touch and social interactions are no more practiced in the future…? I am afraid that the daily routine we’ve got at home, bonding and quality time with my family will be done on cyberspace already… even dinner with them will be no longer a significant family daily affair… and that we’ll only be taking pills and tablets good for 3 meals a day… I can’t barely imagine them happening in real… I really don’t want such things will occur… hopefully not…while I’m still alive…

I believe that as long as technologies are created and moral values are concerned, technologies remain tools… tools that have their own significant purposes why they were created…and that they must be used in the way they should be…

I remembered from my programming days that Ma’am Maui told us that we could never have miracles in programs… that prayers will never help us in solving difficult machine problems… now, I realized that this somehow really applies… technologies are things that we could not lay our faith on them… Somehow, I understand now that there are some who say that God doesn’t know everything about these tools, He doesn’t exist on them at all.. I even once imagined someone saying “mayg kabalo ang Ginoo ani ako ginabuhat nga wala man siya kabalo ani nga butanga, even unsaon pagpaandar ani”… from that I realized, our faith in God and His existence are seen through our actions… this is not about new tools God doesn’t know about… it’s about how we act and how we recognize good from evil… God and His existence…and our faith in Him are our guide and reasons why prefer not to do the opposite things…the bad ones… coz we know from the beginning of our consciousness that they are against God’s will… recognizing Him in everything we do puts us in better place…and so this applies in technology, for as long as we recognize that lying in online chats is bad at all, and to prefer not to say “huhu” when we really are hurt, sending them a blank message instead, keeps us away from displaying fake emotions making us unpretentious… These simple bad things are against His will and this should guide us in using technology… to see and be not afraid of what the future had stored for us is to preserve the good values we have and learned in the past… this will lead us on the right track…

I strongly believe that as long as values hold humanity as I’ve mentioned in the previous entry, there’s nothing to be worried about… Boundaries between good and evil will always be held and abutted… now, I am afraid not to fear of the future…=)

Grades don’t define a person…

attitude does…

These were the thoughts that Sir RSG highlighted yesterday. Together with the rest of the class, we had done something that really made him mad, transforming our future technology class (which should have been a discussion about future technologies) into a personal discussion about our own FUTURE. Although we were able to finish two units of lessons yesterday, there were still 3 remaining units that we were not able to cover because of the "personal forum."

We were scheduled to report our future technology topics after the two-week long break, which gave us enough preparation time. Everyone was expected to deliver their presentations well and everything, from the venue to the presentation itself, would have already been set up. Unfortunately, nobody had anticipated that a single action would later ruin the entire meeting, proving once again that we truly hadn't changed since (if only I had powers so I could have saved everyone that day). We were just the same students Sir RSG had always known, having the same attitude.

Yesterday morning, we were informed that our 9-5 pm class would be shortened to 1-5 pm since Sir RSG had an unexpected appointment. I was partially glad but mostly disappointed. I was glad because it would give me enough time to prepare, as I had very low confidence in how my presentation would go. However, I was disappointed because I had woken up early, leaving home from Samal at 6:30 am just to arrive at school on time (there's no guarantee that I would make it to school on time, considering the uncertain travel situation via Babak). Besides, I hate being late, which meant I couldn't be late myself.

As soon as I was informed about the new schedule, I went straight to our apartment to rest, and by 12 nn, I went to school, not anticipating that being an hour early for class could actually save everyone, had I known about the challenge we were about to face later.

By 1 pm, Sir RSG was already in class with us, although some classmates were missing (again, latecomers), and scenes were about to unfold.

It all started when everyone was queuing up to connect their USB drives to the device where the LCD projector was connected. We were approximately 40 students in the Future Tech class, all of whom were expected to have a copy of their presentations on the device so that when it was our turn to present, the file would be readily available. This meant that one USB after another would be inserted into the device until everyone was done. Perhaps you can imagine the scenario now.

It was taking forever, and watching everyone, I got impatient. I could only imagine Sir's thoughts at that time. Everything felt like it was in slow motion.

Eventually, Sir RSG had to say something, and we all looked like children being scolded (which we deserved).

True, it was all about attitude, our attitude. We hadn't changed. I know for myself that I hadn't made much effort to improve.

Sir RSG asked us how we got to that point, how we came to bear such an attitude. I quietly answered that I chose to be at that point. However, there could be other factors affecting my attitude: the environment, the trends in society's values, the family who raised me, my perception that developed over time on what is good and what is not good. We shape our actions, we develop our attitude, and I am truly guilty about what I showed yesterday. That was not my best attitude.

I reflected on my actions yesterday. I could have used the time more effectively. Or I could have reacted better to the situation and come up with a solution.

But it's done; it already happened. I may have regrets, but they also come with lessons.

Even though our class turned out to be a personal discussion, Sir RSG somehow managed to discuss future tech. He talked about cyberpunks, AI, and how they could further challenge our morals. My thoughts went as far as how humanity is held together by our ethics and beliefs, and if these are replaced by technology, we would eventually be broken and go back to square one.

Anyway, let me leave you with this thought: Intelligence may pave the path to success, but it is one's attitude that ensures they stay on that path.