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The Tech IDEA

The Tech IDEA

Your Source for the Best and Newest Thinking in Technology

3 Ways Military Technology Has Made the World Safer

10/22/2019

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We all know that our military personnel works hard to keep the United States and help keep the world safe. However, it’s easy for the general public to take advantage of the technology that the military has brought about for granted. These three ways that military technology has made the world safer for all of us.

Bollards Protect People and Property
Most people have seen bollards used in public but are unaware of the role they play in public safety. Even though these posts may seem decorative in nature, they keep vehicles away from pedestrians and buildings in a certain area. These posts can be very valuable in preventing further damage during an accident. Bollards have major importance in preventing vehicular terrorist attacks that involve ramming. According to Atlas Security, the most deadly vehicular attack was the Bastille Day attack in Nice, France, which killed more than 80 people. With such attacks remaining a threat, the role that these structures can play in preventing further such attacks is vital.

Sensors Protect Soldiers and Civilians
According to The Heritage Foundation, sensors have played an important part in guiding weapons and detecting hostile forces. Drones are an example of how sensors help provide information that command centers and troops in the field need. One of the outcomes of using this technology is keeping more soldiers and other service members safe. Another major impact that these technology systems offer is helping to protect civilians from attacks. A real-life application of this technology is in the GPS systems that many electronics use today. Information that these systems collect makes it easier to relay necessary information to first responders, as an example.

Advanced Communication Systems Protect Everyone
According to the Defense Systems blog, military operations have always involved an important emphasis on communications. Both military members and civilians are at risk when communications systems are inadequate. Advanced communications systems should prevent interference from hackers to prevent the disruption that such threats can cause. One example of advanced communications that everyone can identify with is the Internet. Even though most civilians don't use the same security level online as the military, the Internet stands out as an example of a communications system that has much of its origins in the military.
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Technology originally used in the military has done a lot to keep people both in the US and around the world safe. The more we see how this technology is used in everyday life, the more we can appreciate its importance.

Here’s another article you might like: Why Veterans Make the Best Entrepreneurs


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Assistive Technology

2/5/2018

 

Often, aging can be accompanied by a change in your ability to manage and move around in your home. That’s where assistive technology – better known as AT –  comes in. No matter your age or what type of disability you may have, chances are there is an AT device out there that can help you with everyday tasks. In fact, most people have probably used an assistive device without realizing it. Smartphones, voice command technology and certain types of software all fall under the AT umbrella. AT also includes plenty of low-tech devices, like adapted pencil grips for students with disabilities.


Assistive Technology

Tools to improve the everyday

(Family Features) Most Americans want to stay in their homes as they age. Not a bad plan, but what if your home doesn’t fit you as well as it once did?

Often, aging can be accompanied by a change in your ability to manage and move around in your home. That’s where assistive technology – better known as AT –  comes in. No matter your age or what type of disability you may have, chances are there is an AT device out there that can help you with everyday tasks.

AT isn’t a new concept. In fact, most people have probably used an assistive device without realizing it. Smartphones, voice command technology and certain types of software all fall under the AT umbrella. AT also includes plenty of low-tech devices, like adapted pencil grips for students with disabilities.

There’s an ever-growing variety of AT tools available to help with household chores, work functions, getting around, seeing, hearing, learning and living independently in general. These devices and technologies are designed to help older adults and people with disabilities, but you may find that these tools can make life easier for anyone.

Examples of AT devices and tools include:

  • Hearing aids
  • Vehicle modifications, such as hand controls or wheelchair lifts
  • Devices that help with bathing and eating
  • Software modifications for those with hearing and visual challenges
  • Equipment, such as grab bars in a shower, to help prevent falls
  • Eye glasses and magnification devices to help individuals with low vision
  • Communication devices for individuals with speech disabilities
  • Wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility devices

The right AT for you
At first, trying to find the right AT tools and solutions can feel overwhelming. The network of State Assistive Technology Act Programs is a good place to start. Your state AT Act program can provide information and support to help you identify and acquire AT that meets your needs.

These programs offer:

  • Device demonstration and short-term loan programs that allow you to try out equipment before purchasing
  • Reuse programs that provide gently used devices at substantial savings
  • Financing options, such as cash loan programs, that can help you get the AT devices you need

You can find the AT Act Program in your state or territory at acl.gov/AT. You’ll also find additional information on state AT programs, data about the network of state AT programs and additional resources to help you find and obtain AT that fits your needs.

With more research and awareness around the importance of AT, the future possibilities for living independently in the place of your choosing are almost limitless.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Administration for Community Living

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Classics reinvented with tech: How technology has updated arts and crafts

8/23/2017

 
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Young kids with their tech arts & craft projects


(BPT) - Modern technology has revolutionized many aspects of our day-to-day lives. While it is hard for some to imagine a day without social media, smartphones and Wi-Fi, these were not available a mere 20 years ago. Technology has revolutionized the way we order food, purchase clothes and read books.

“Technology used to be considered a separate entity from arts and crafts,” said Stephanie Leichtweis, CEO of Fibre-Craft, a leader in creative activities. “We believe it is vital to incorporate these together, and are working to meld tech innovations with artistic expression to provide a nuanced version of online and offline activities.”

To see the full influence of technology on arts and crafts, Fibre-Craft has outlined some ways that classic crafts have been redefined by technology:

Design, upgraded

Art projects used to be inspired by books, classes and our own imagination. The world we found ourselves in dictated our crafts of necessity and the ones for fun. With the advent of social media, inspiration and creation are driven from many different platforms.

The way that we participate in arts and crafts has changed as we garner ideas from others and share ours with those not only in our neighborhood but around the world. "DIY and crafts" is one of the top three most-pinned and most-browsed categories on Pinterest, one of the leading platforms for inspiration, along with YouTube.

A recent survey found that nearly 40 percent of adults who worked on an arts and crafts project found inspiration on YouTube, and one in three turned to Pinterest. And when complete, individuals can also share their own finished pieces to inspire others as well!

Coloring + painting redefined

Coloring has been a pastime for decades; the first coloring book was published in the 1880s. It is a great activity for children, as it can provide hours of entertainment and is easy to take on-the-go. Just as painting “by numbers” updated a classic art form in the 1950s, newer technologies are giving coloring and painting a 21st-century twist.

The newest way to color has arrived with the launch of an art/tech hybrid — DabitZ. The latest series from Fibre-Craft, DabitZ merges the artistic spirit with innovative technology to take classic coloring to new heights with “dabbing.” Starter sets come with everything you need to try this photomosaic art form and to make your own masterpiece. DabitZ is inspired by the painting technique called Pointillism, so users don’t need to be talented artists to “dab it up.” Starter sets include templates called DabDesignZ, and the free DabitZ app can transform any picture into a template design as well. Simply take a photo, create a template, print it and dab it up, connecting technology to offline play and the world around us.

Photography update

Capturing photographs is a treasured tradition that helps keep memories alive long after the moment has passed. As camera phones have become ubiquitous, they have reinvented how photographs are taken, shared and viewed. No longer do you have to wait to return from an adventure to share your activities — you can post on social media in the moment! And with high-quality lenses on phones and filters on apps, you can create images worth 1,000 words — and likes.

“Smartphones have made photographers out of all of us, and opened a range of possibilities,” Leichtweis said. “With the new DabitZ app, everyone can take photography to the next level and create their own personal masterpiece.”

Handmade 2.0

Homemade gifts are one of the most treasured items to receive from a loved one, especially from a child. As they grow, many children provide handcrafted items to relatives, who can treasure these items for years to come.

Handmade items are increasingly trendy in home décor, fashion and foodstuffs. Those with special talents are able to capitalize on their craft, thanks to new online stores and marketplaces. This growing trend is a wonderful way to support artisans and causes whether at home or a world away.

With new updates to technology, how we create arts and crafts will continue to change as well. To try the latest arts update, visit www.DabitZart.com or www.FibreCraft.com.


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4 Important STEM Education Innovations

9/6/2016

 

For the past 25 years, there has been an increased focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States, but that’s just the beginning. Not only has this trend led to increased job opportunities, but it has also produced numerous technological advances that have drastically changed the world.


4 Important STEM Education Innovations

(Family Features) For the past 25 years, there has been an increased focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States, but that’s just the beginning. According to the Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17 percent from 2008-2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations. Not only has this trend led to increased job opportunities, but it has also produced numerous technological advances that have drastically changed the world.

Some of the top innovations that have shaped modern society over the past 25 years include:

World Wide Web. Twenty-five years ago, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web (WWW). Before the WWW, the internet only provided screens of text. It was the WWW that made it possible for pictures, videos and sounds to be displayed and exchanged. Not only did the WWW change the appearance of the internet, but it also revolutionized how the world received and delivered information.

Virtual reality. Virtual reality (VR) as it is known today was popularized in the 1980s and 1990s. The technology enables people to experience a computer-simulated environment that resembles things and places in the real world. This cutting-edge technology connects people like never before. VR makes it possible to appear as if you are in the same location as a person far away from you, whether you’re actually 100 miles or 1,000 miles apart.

Hybrid cars. In 1997, improvements in battery technology led to the first mass-produced hybrid car, creating an entirely new market in the car industry. According to a report from the Electric Drive Transportation Association, the United States sold more than 193,000 hybrid cars in 2016 alone. Hybrid cars offer better gas mileage and have lower emissions rates, which helps reduce the carbon footprint.

Controller-free video game consoles. Controller-free video game consoles revolutionized the video game market by transforming the experience into one that’s more active. This technology made it possible for gamers to remotely play a game without a controller, disrupting the gaming industry and leading to an entirely new way for people to engage in physical activity.

By exposing your child to the importance of STEM education early on, he or she could be the next great innovator. Encourage your child to develop an interest in science by entering a science competition, such as the Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision program, the world’s largest K-12 science competition. ExploraVision challenges students to create new ideas for technological innovations inspired by real world issues. To learn more, visit exploravision.org.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Toshiba


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Are we turning a blind eye to blue light?

1/15/2016

 
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(BPT) - It’s everywhere — inside as well as outside your home. As digital device usage increases, you’re exposed to more and more of it without realizing how it may affect your vision in the future. We’re talking about blue light.

In its natural form, your body uses blue light from the sun to regulate your natural sleep and wake cycles. This natural light also helps boost alertness, heighten reaction times and elevate moods.
However, we use our eyes much differently than prior generations because we now use a number of artificial sources of blue light including digital screens, electronic devices and LED lighting. The evolution in digital screen technology has advanced dramatically over the years, and many of today's electronic devices use LED back-light technology to help enhance screen brightness and clarity.

These LEDs emit very strong blue light waves. Because of the widespread use and increasing popularity of these devices, we are now exposed to more sources of blue light for longer periods of time. Studies suggest 60 percent of people spend more than six hours a day in front of a digital device.

The flickering of this artificial blue light creates a glare that can reduce visual contrast, affecting sharpness and clarity. That in turn could contribute to eyestrain, headaches, physical and mental fatigue due to increasing amounts of time sitting in front of a computer screen or other electronic device. 

Studies show this high-energy, blue-violet light has been found to cause significant damage to retinal cells, and is a risk factor for the onset of age-related macular degeneration, a deterioration of the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision.

Our eyes' natural filters do not provide sufficient protection against blue light rays from the sun, let alone the blue light emanating from these devices, or from blue light emitted from fluorescent-light tubes.

Mother Nature arms us with “internal sunglasses” made up of macular pigment. This pigment, which is comprised of zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin) and lutein at a ratio of 2:1, is found in the center of the macula (fovea). This pigment absorbs harmful blue light that can affect eye health. These “sunglasses” protect the rods and cones needed for central as well as peripheral vision.

However, if this macular pigment isn’t at optimal density, it will allow more blue light to damage these rods and cones, negatively affecting not just what you see, but how you see.

Zeaxanthin and lutein aren’t produced by the body, they must be ingested in order to ensure optimal macular pigment density. Zeaxanthin can be found in foods like corn, wolf berries and peppers. Lutein is found in foods like spinach and kale.

Since the average American diet is scarce in zeaxanthin, supplementing this antioxidant is key. Vitamins for macular health, like those made by EyePromise, can be of big benefit. 
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Vision becomes even more precious as we age, since the loss of independence a very real threat to aging Americans. Reduce your risk of harmful effects of blue light to your vision by increasing the density of your “internal sunglasses.”

Maximize study and fun with cost-effective technology for your student

1/4/2016

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(BPT) - Today’s youth are well-versed in transitioning their computers and phones from school to home, and futurists believe that will be even more necessary in coming years. Project Tomorrow’s recent Speak Up Data shares that “Students in a blended learning environment (utilizing both physical books and online digital resources) are more likely to self-direct their learning outside of school.”


The best tech device options allow your student to learn and play anytime, anywhere and in any environment.  The critical items to consider are devices that allow full access to learning applications; nine-plus-hour batteries; keyboards; easy connectivity; a backpack-friendly weight; powerful browsers that allow for fast-loading videos; access to school assignments and research tools.  


Cost-effective technology such as the Intel processor-powered Chromebook is being embraced by entire school districts for its fostering of streamlined education allowing faculty and IT administrators to communicate with students at school and at home.  As a bonus, your student can also use a Chromebook to socialize with friends and engage in fun learning apps and popular gaming sites.  


“This is a whole new definition of what school looks like,” notes Alice Keeler, author and Google for Education certified innovator. “Students can ask questions by posting to the stream in Google Classroom 24/7, (and) since other students have access to the stream, students are able to learn from and help each other.”


The ability to handle such multitasking is projected to serve youth well in the coming decades as technology evolves, according to a 2012 survey by the Pew Research Institute. Fifty-five percent of respondents agreed that by 2020, “The environment itself will be full of data that can be retrieved almost effortlessly, and will be arrayed in ways to help people young and old navigate their lives.”


The Intel-powered Chromebook addresses that need for multitasking with several advantages over ARM process-based models. In a Principle Technologies Test Report last year, those advantages included a 57 percent longer battery life while web browsing; 46 percent less waiting to read a textbook or take notes online; 47 percent less waiting to do math homework online; 50 percent less waiting to create an English presentation; 46 percent less waiting to team up in science class; and 100 percent more frames per second while rendering an anatomy situation.


That’s partly why school district IT specialist and education speaker Kyle Pace calls it “the biggest no-brainer in education.” 


“Schools must begin leveraging these tools to bring students into the world of working in the cloud, communicating, collaborating and creating on the web,” he advises.  “We can’t afford not to give our students this type of access -- at school and at home.”


For more information on creating and collaborating with Chromebooks, check out Kyle Pace’s blog.

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