Over the years, plenty of people have thought that just knowing a little bit of HTML coding qualified them to be Web site designers. But for Linda Katz of southwest Kansas, practicing her Web design skills helped her launch an entirely new career -- as a tumbleweed farmer!
The Prairie Tumbleweed Farm started out as a simple Web design exercise. Linda wanted to practice her skills and created the farm as a joke back in 1994. But, people found her site and soon began contacting her because they wanted to buy the tumbleweeds! One thing led to another, and Linda now has a thriving business. Her customers include NASA, major Hollywood studios, fashion designers, and ordinary people who just want to own one of these iconic symbols of the old West.
Linda was recently featured on Yahoo!'s People of the Web and she has an interview posted on YouTube, which you can view by clicking the link below:
I find this video is great to start conversations in class about online business opportunities. Students will dream up some unique ideas of their own.
Discussion Questions for Students
1. Do you personally know anyone who is running a successful Internet business? Do you know how they got started?
2. Have you ever considered creating your own online business? What type of product or service would you offer?
3. Hands-on Exercise: Ask students to find a YouTube video featuring an interview with an entrepreneur who operates an online business.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Key2SafeDriving System Prevents Talking on Cell Phones While Driving
Most of us know by now that it is dangerous to use a cell phone while driving. Cell phone usage, even with hands-free phones, diverts attention from driving and makes it more likely that you will get into an accident. Despite numerous safety studies and coverage in the news media, at any one time six percent of drivers are talking on a cell phone while driving according to a 2007 study. The statistics are worse for teenage drivers as ten percent of them are driving while talking or texting on cell phones.
University of Utah engineers have developed the Key2SafeDriving system that features a key that emits a Bluetooth signal. Each driver of a vehicle has their own individual key. When the key is extended from its holder, it communicates with the owner’s phone and puts the phone into “driving mode." The phone cannot be used for talking or texting and displays a red stop sign while in driving mode. Since the key must be extended to insert it into the ignition and drive the car, users can’t fool the phone into thinking they aren’t driving. The University has licensed the technology to a company which hopes to hit the market with this device within six months.
This system may be sold as part of cell phone plans instead of directly to consumers. Using GPS and other technologies, the system could be used to compile a safety score for drivers which could show that young drivers are not engaging in unsafe behaviors such as texting while driving, exceeding speed limits, running traffic lights, and rapid braking. The scores could be provided to insurance companies and used as the basis for granting discounts on insurance.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1. How often do you use your cell phone while driving? Have you ever sent a text message while driving?
2. Do you think using a cell phone while driving is dangerous? Have you ever been involved in an accident or near accident while using your cell phone in the car?
3. How would you feel about having your driving activities monitored by your phone and reported to your insurance company or parents? Do you think this type of system is a violation of your privacy?
University of Utah engineers have developed the Key2SafeDriving system that features a key that emits a Bluetooth signal. Each driver of a vehicle has their own individual key. When the key is extended from its holder, it communicates with the owner’s phone and puts the phone into “driving mode." The phone cannot be used for talking or texting and displays a red stop sign while in driving mode. Since the key must be extended to insert it into the ignition and drive the car, users can’t fool the phone into thinking they aren’t driving. The University has licensed the technology to a company which hopes to hit the market with this device within six months.
This system may be sold as part of cell phone plans instead of directly to consumers. Using GPS and other technologies, the system could be used to compile a safety score for drivers which could show that young drivers are not engaging in unsafe behaviors such as texting while driving, exceeding speed limits, running traffic lights, and rapid braking. The scores could be provided to insurance companies and used as the basis for granting discounts on insurance.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1. How often do you use your cell phone while driving? Have you ever sent a text message while driving?
2. Do you think using a cell phone while driving is dangerous? Have you ever been involved in an accident or near accident while using your cell phone in the car?
3. How would you feel about having your driving activities monitored by your phone and reported to your insurance company or parents? Do you think this type of system is a violation of your privacy?
Low Cost Microsoft Certification Exams for Students
Many of my students cite high cost as the reason they don’t take Microsoft Certification Exams. But Microsoft finally has a deal for students that is too good to pass up and it will run through June 30, 2009.
The Microsoft Academic Second Shot program allows students to take any Microsoft academic exam for $60. And if they don’t pass it the first time, they can take it again for free. Both the initial test and any retakes have to be completed before June 30, 2009. To participate in this program, students must submit proof that they are “currently a registered full-time or part-time student enrolled in an accredited high school or post-secondary school (institute of higher learning)." Employees of high schools and post-secondary schools are also eligible.
The academic exams (code 072 exams) have the same content as the regular 070 series exams. They merely cost less. Your students need to apply to Microsoft who will mail them a voucher. So have them check out the Academic Second Shot program today and help them prove the value of their learning by obtaining Microsoft certification.
The Microsoft Academic Second Shot program allows students to take any Microsoft academic exam for $60. And if they don’t pass it the first time, they can take it again for free. Both the initial test and any retakes have to be completed before June 30, 2009. To participate in this program, students must submit proof that they are “currently a registered full-time or part-time student enrolled in an accredited high school or post-secondary school (institute of higher learning)." Employees of high schools and post-secondary schools are also eligible.
The academic exams (code 072 exams) have the same content as the regular 070 series exams. They merely cost less. Your students need to apply to Microsoft who will mail them a voucher. So have them check out the Academic Second Shot program today and help them prove the value of their learning by obtaining Microsoft certification.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Dangers of Social Networking Sites
Discussing the dangers of posting too much personal information online with our students often comes off sounding like a lecture from a parent. But these two public service ads produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children usually get a strong reaction from students. They creep me out every time I watch them too!
The accompanying Think Before You Post Web site has some great tips for keeping yourself safe when communicating online.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1. Have you ever posted anything online that you later regretted posting? How has it affected your life?
2. What steps do you take to keep your personal information from becoming available online?
3. Do you have a MySpace or Facebook page or do you post personal information on a similar site? Have you availed yourself of the options available on these sites to keep your information from being indexed or otherwise published online?
The accompanying Think Before You Post Web site has some great tips for keeping yourself safe when communicating online.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1. Have you ever posted anything online that you later regretted posting? How has it affected your life?
2. What steps do you take to keep your personal information from becoming available online?
3. Do you have a MySpace or Facebook page or do you post personal information on a similar site? Have you availed yourself of the options available on these sites to keep your information from being indexed or otherwise published online?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Straight No Chaser - Viral Video Leads to Record Contract
Questioning the value of having your students create videos and put them on YouTube? Well, there could be monetary gains down the road if their videos are clever.
Consider the ten college buddies that used to sing together. The group was known as Straight No Chaser and one of the members posted an old video of them singing together on YouTube. The video was an amusing version of the 12 Days of Christmas from a 1998 concert. Although the original video is no longer available on YouTube, the 2008 version of the song is shown below:
The original intent was just to have the members of the group wax nostalgic over their former glory days in college. But the video became a viral hit and racked up millions of views. One of the viewers was an employee of Atlantic Records. He contacted the group and offered them a recording contract. The original group is now touring (they haven’t quit their day jobs) and just released a Christmas CD. This is a great example to share with students to show how accidental commercial success can occur on the Internet.
As part of a computer literacy course, I like to have students make videos (or video podcasts) and I have them share the videos on YouTube. If your students manage to produce something particularly clever and entertaining, they might be the next viral video hit. So encourage them to give it a try.
Consider the ten college buddies that used to sing together. The group was known as Straight No Chaser and one of the members posted an old video of them singing together on YouTube. The video was an amusing version of the 12 Days of Christmas from a 1998 concert. Although the original video is no longer available on YouTube, the 2008 version of the song is shown below:
The original intent was just to have the members of the group wax nostalgic over their former glory days in college. But the video became a viral hit and racked up millions of views. One of the viewers was an employee of Atlantic Records. He contacted the group and offered them a recording contract. The original group is now touring (they haven’t quit their day jobs) and just released a Christmas CD. This is a great example to share with students to show how accidental commercial success can occur on the Internet.
As part of a computer literacy course, I like to have students make videos (or video podcasts) and I have them share the videos on YouTube. If your students manage to produce something particularly clever and entertaining, they might be the next viral video hit. So encourage them to give it a try.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Computer Mouse Celebrates Its 40th Birthday
Ask your students when the mouse was invented and I bet most of them won’t go as far back as 1968 for their answer! Embedded below is a video of the first mouse demonstration.
Dr. Douglas Engelbart used a wooden mouse with one button at a demonstration during the Fall Joint Computer Conference (FJCC) in 1968. The mouse, which was actually constructed by Bill English, was used to demonstrate a computer system called the NLS. The NLS was light years ahead of the uses mainframe computers were being put to at the time and this demonstration showed how text files could be clipped, copied and pasted (all key functions in word processors and Windows…which hadn’t been invented yet!). The NLS was also used to demonstrate how users could use computers to collaborate on document design and editing (the first Wiki?).Keep in mind that Arpanet, which was the precursor to the modern Internet hadn’t even been set up at this point.
The concepts used in the NLS were so advanced that the folks that designed it had to build their own components (hence the mouse made of wood). The NLS became the first program to be used on Arpanet when it came into being in 1969. However, the NLS was difficult to learn to use as it was targeted for use by highly trained computing professionals and never was deployed commercially. But it did lay the groundwork for many functions of the personal computers that we have today.
So light the candles and pass a piece of cake in celebration of the birthday of the computer mouse!
Dr. Douglas Engelbart used a wooden mouse with one button at a demonstration during the Fall Joint Computer Conference (FJCC) in 1968. The mouse, which was actually constructed by Bill English, was used to demonstrate a computer system called the NLS. The NLS was light years ahead of the uses mainframe computers were being put to at the time and this demonstration showed how text files could be clipped, copied and pasted (all key functions in word processors and Windows…which hadn’t been invented yet!). The NLS was also used to demonstrate how users could use computers to collaborate on document design and editing (the first Wiki?).Keep in mind that Arpanet, which was the precursor to the modern Internet hadn’t even been set up at this point.
The concepts used in the NLS were so advanced that the folks that designed it had to build their own components (hence the mouse made of wood). The NLS became the first program to be used on Arpanet when it came into being in 1969. However, the NLS was difficult to learn to use as it was targeted for use by highly trained computing professionals and never was deployed commercially. But it did lay the groundwork for many functions of the personal computers that we have today.
So light the candles and pass a piece of cake in celebration of the birthday of the computer mouse!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Photo on Social Networking Site Leads to Jail Time!
I'm always telling my students that putting questionable pictures on social networking sites and blogs might cause them problems in the future. Despite repeated warnings of employers (22% based on a recent survey) reviewing social networking sites to check on prospective and current employees, many students just don't seem to get the message. Perhaps this chilling tale of woe might just do the trick.
Joshua Lipton was in court for charges stemming from a drunken driving accident in which another person was seriously injured. I'm guessing that his defense attorney was planning on painting a picture of his client as a young man who made a terrible mistake but was sorry for his reckless actions. Then the prosecutor whipped out a photo of Lipton (shown at the left) that was taken two weeks after the accident. Lipton was attending a Halloween party dressed in an orange jumpsuit labeled ‘Jail bird’. Using the photo as evidence, the prosecutor described Lipton as an unrepentant individual joking and partying while his victim was recovering from injuries. The judge obviously agreed with the prosecutor's view and Lipton received a two year jail sentence.
So where did the prosecutor find such a damaging photo of Mr. Lipton? It was on a Facebook page from someone who attended the party! Maybe your students aren't involved in court cases, but I doubt that prospective employers would be impressed by this photo. There is a simple message here - think before you post...or before you let friends take ill-advised photos of you doing something stupid!
Discussion Questions for Students:
1. Have you (or your friends) ever posted photos of you online that you feel a potential employer should not see? Do you think these photos would affect you landing employment?
2. Should employers check the Internet for information before hiring potential employees? Why or why not?
3. Do you think that you should have a right to privacy regarding information you place on a MySpace or Facebook page? How would you ensure that your privacy was protected?
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Classroom 2.0 - The Social Network for Educators Using Collaborative Tools
Classroom 2.0 is a social network designed for educators who are using (or are interested in learning about) Web 2.0 tools and collaborative technologies in and out of the classroom. You can join Classroom 2.0 for free and contribute to the community or just browse through existing resources. The network was designed using a free social network creation tool called Ning. I have my students use Ning to construct their own social networks and Classroom 2.0 is a great example to show students how cool a well designed social network can look when it is completed.
Classroom 2.0 has over 14,500 members and the site maintains blogs and discussion forums on almost any Web 2.0 topic you can imagine. So cruise over and check them out and I’m sure you’ll find useful suggestions for technologies and techniques that you can integrate into your classes.
Classroom 2.0 has over 14,500 members and the site maintains blogs and discussion forums on almost any Web 2.0 topic you can imagine. So cruise over and check them out and I’m sure you’ll find useful suggestions for technologies and techniques that you can integrate into your classes.
Voki - Add Speaking Avatars to Your Site for Free!
Avatars that speak messages are not new to the Internet. They have been around for years. However, most companies that provide avatars, such as SitePal, are geared toward providing avatars for businesses and charge for their services.
Oddcast, the company who owns SitePal, has developed Voki which is a site where you can create free avatars to use on your blog, in your social network profile, or just to send messages to people. According to the Voki site information page, the name Voki “is a combination of ‘vox’, which is Latin for voice, and ‘Loki’, which, is a prankster character in Norse Mythology.” At the Voki site, you can custom design your avatar from a variety of available characters such as people, monsters, and animals just to name a few. You can adjust the look and feel of your avatar by changing its characteristics (such as hair, jewelry and clothing). Then you can record a message for your avatar to speak using your own voice or one of several computer generated voices that translate message text to spoken words.
The avatar below is one I created with Voki to welcome you to my blog. Click on the play button and check it out. Notice that Voki supports this service by displaying an advertisement on the bottom of the avatar. Also notice the scary way the avatar's eyes follow your mouse as you move it around your screen!
Get a Voki now!
Voki is free for personal use but is not sanctioned for commercial use. Therefore, it should be fine for educational purposes such as having students integrate Voki characters into a blog. Instructors can also use Voki to communicate with their students and greet them when they visit instructor Web sites. An example of how Vokis are being used in schools can be found in this instructor’s profile on Classroom 2.0.
Creating a Voki makes a good exercise for students. After they create an avatar and post it to their blog, you can lead them into a discussion about how avatars can be used to enhance a business Web site. The SitePal Success Stories page gives plenty of examples of ways that their customers have utilized avatars to communicate and connect with customers.
Related posts: Classroom 2.0
Oddcast, the company who owns SitePal, has developed Voki which is a site where you can create free avatars to use on your blog, in your social network profile, or just to send messages to people. According to the Voki site information page, the name Voki “is a combination of ‘vox’, which is Latin for voice, and ‘Loki’, which, is a prankster character in Norse Mythology.” At the Voki site, you can custom design your avatar from a variety of available characters such as people, monsters, and animals just to name a few. You can adjust the look and feel of your avatar by changing its characteristics (such as hair, jewelry and clothing). Then you can record a message for your avatar to speak using your own voice or one of several computer generated voices that translate message text to spoken words.
The avatar below is one I created with Voki to welcome you to my blog. Click on the play button and check it out. Notice that Voki supports this service by displaying an advertisement on the bottom of the avatar. Also notice the scary way the avatar's eyes follow your mouse as you move it around your screen!
Get a Voki now!
Voki is free for personal use but is not sanctioned for commercial use. Therefore, it should be fine for educational purposes such as having students integrate Voki characters into a blog. Instructors can also use Voki to communicate with their students and greet them when they visit instructor Web sites. An example of how Vokis are being used in schools can be found in this instructor’s profile on Classroom 2.0.
Creating a Voki makes a good exercise for students. After they create an avatar and post it to their blog, you can lead them into a discussion about how avatars can be used to enhance a business Web site. The SitePal Success Stories page gives plenty of examples of ways that their customers have utilized avatars to communicate and connect with customers.
Related posts: Classroom 2.0
Recycling Technology - Dispose of Broken Computing Devices Responsibly
Here's a catchy little tune called the Dead iPod song. It describes what to do with your iPod when it inevitably dies.
For a much scarier perspective on e-waste and the problems of toxins, check out The Electronic Wasteland that aired on 60 Minutes. It profiles one of the most toxic places on earth...a town in China that specializes in extracting precious metals from e-waste. It is amazing that anyone can survive there!
Many companies now have recycling programs. Apple has an iPod and cell phone recycling program which provides you with a free (they pay the postage) way to send in your broken iPods and cell phones for environmentally responsible disposal. Dell's recycling program always provides free recycling for Dell branded products. And if you buy a new Dell system and select free recycling at the time of purchase, Dell will even recycle your old computer and monitor for free even if it isn't a Dell product.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1) Do you have any broken computing devices at home? How are you planning on disposing of them?
2) Have you ever thrown an old computing device in the regular trash? What impact do you think this had on the environment?
3) HANDS-ON ACTIVITY: Search the Web for technology recycling programs in your area that accept old computers and monitors. Are there limitations on what types of devices they accept? Is there a charge to the consumer for recycling?
For a much scarier perspective on e-waste and the problems of toxins, check out The Electronic Wasteland that aired on 60 Minutes. It profiles one of the most toxic places on earth...a town in China that specializes in extracting precious metals from e-waste. It is amazing that anyone can survive there!
Many companies now have recycling programs. Apple has an iPod and cell phone recycling program which provides you with a free (they pay the postage) way to send in your broken iPods and cell phones for environmentally responsible disposal. Dell's recycling program always provides free recycling for Dell branded products. And if you buy a new Dell system and select free recycling at the time of purchase, Dell will even recycle your old computer and monitor for free even if it isn't a Dell product.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1) Do you have any broken computing devices at home? How are you planning on disposing of them?
2) Have you ever thrown an old computing device in the regular trash? What impact do you think this had on the environment?
3) HANDS-ON ACTIVITY: Search the Web for technology recycling programs in your area that accept old computers and monitors. Are there limitations on what types of devices they accept? Is there a charge to the consumer for recycling?
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