0928WarmUp

How do the police, fire and truck drivers communicate with each other? Wifi, Cell?

Do some research and try to find out what is the difference between these technologies?

Check it out @

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi

http://www.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkie-talkie

Leave a comment!

dmac

More on algorithms.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/algorithm.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-algorithm.htm

http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~algorith/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0927WarmUp

One of the core topics of Computer Science is the study of 'Algorithms'.

What do we mean by an algorithm?

What is an algorithm?

Look it up @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm

Test out how to create an algorithm by trying the Swap Puzzle @ http://www.cs4fn.org/algorithms/swappuzzle/

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dmac

923WarmUp

Well Facebook has done it again!

Check it out @

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Facebooks-Latest-Work-One-Too-Many-Facelifts-73347.html

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Looking-to-the-Future-Facebook-Digs-Into-Your-Past-73346.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

Strapped into the one-man flyer last night, I found this interesting site:

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm

Give it a whirl and leave a comment!

dmac

How long do you think it would take you to drive from Times Square to Malibu Beach, California? How about in 32 hours?

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/magazine/15-11/ff_cannonballrun?currentPage=all

Leave a comment!

dmac

0921WarmUp

The first programming language we are learning is Scratch.

What is Scratch?

Check it out @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scratch_(programming_language)

Here is the official Scratch website:http://scratch.mit.edu/

Look at a few Scratch projects.

Leave a comment!

dmac

0920WarmUp

Duck! Watch Out!

A satellite is going to hit the earth!

Check it out @

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1168588313001/satellite-set-for-collision-with-earth/

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1168588313001/satellite-set-for-collision-with-earth/http:

//www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14879048,00.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasa-satellite-pieces-to-hit-earth-in-days/2011/09/20/gIQAkbPohK_video.html

http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Odds+plunging+NASA+satellite+will+miss+Sask/5427864/story.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

0919WarmUp

Technology has influenced a new generation of ship design, especially for creating fast boats.

Check it out @:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/08/ff_americascup/

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/05/super-catamaran-speeds-through-pirate-waters/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2006/11/experimental_ca/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0916WarmUp

Change all of your light bulbs yet?

From incandescent to florescent probably.

But you're going to have to change them again.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/08/ff_lightbulbs/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0915WarmUp

Microsoft has a new development platform for computer programmers.

Read about it @

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=769596902&ids=0Ncj8OdPAVdzsIdzsUc38Pc3sTb3oTdz4Qdz0TdOMOc3ASejkVdzsIdP8Sd3wSejoT&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-4&ut=0zQUHzcweGHkU1

Leave a comment!

dmac

Cars with wifi?

Check it out @

http://gigaom.com/2010/11/23/cars-with-wi-fi-hitting-the-new-information-highway/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10419548-94.html

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cartech/audi-a2-electric-beats-traffic-with-autonomous-drive-wifi-laser-lights-50005180/

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Ford-Considers-Mesh-WiFi-Car-Network-115630

Leave a comment!

dmac

0913WarmUp

The Boston Globe has gone online.

Read about it @

http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2011/09/12/frequently_asked_questions_about_bostonglobecom/

and

http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2011/09/12/new_site_a_peek_into_globes_technological_evolution/

Check it out @

http://bostonglobe.com/

0912WarmUp

How much energy does Google use? How about enough to power a small city.

Check it out @

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2011/09/09/google_drops_its_guard_on_facilities_energy_usage/



Leave a comment!

dmac

0909WarmUp

Have a headache recently? Hope it's not a brain controlling parasite.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/parasite-brain-control/?pid=2078

Leave a comment!

dmac

Data storage has been growing exponentially over the past decade.

Look up the following capacities on the Internet:
byte
kilobyte
megabyte
gigabyte
terabyte
petabyte
exabyte
zettabyte
yottabyte.

How big are they?

Give me an example of what can be stored with each capacity, i.e. Blueray holds 500 GB of data.

0907WarmUp

One of the coolest websites on the planet.

http://www.droiddoes.com/#/bionic

Android rules--Iphone drools.

Leave a comment!

dmac

0906WarmUp

Welcome to another year of GrokIt!

GrokIt originally appeared 3 years ago. While teaching at RHS, I conceived it as the digital equivalent of the Do Now or activator you may be used to other teachers giving to you to start the class.

Interestingly enough, I believe the blog has taken up a much more important role in my classes.

I envision using GrokIt as a hi-tech portal to get you and your energies focused on the class topics of the day by hyperlinking around the net to:

•discover state-of the-art technologies
•bump into some engaging topic
•just enjoy a fun and interesting website.

My hope is to try to kindle a spark of interest in computers and technology.

After all, the World Wide Web and everything in it was created by software developers, computer programmers, web designers, all kinds of techie people of which you are the next generation.

I also want to create a class community, a public forum from which you could express your opinions and see the opinions of others about these topics.

So here's today's GrokIt:

My favorite magazine in the whole world is WIRED. As mentioned in Wikipedia:

Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since March 1993, that reports on how technology affects culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast Publications, it is published in San Francisco, California.

Check it out @ http://www.wired.com/

Pick an article, read it and leave me a comment!

dmac