Technology Business Academy

Archive for the ‘Computer Technology’ Category

Every time the computer industry tries to make inroads into the home entertainment center by offering products that are designed to use the home TV screen as a computer screen, consumers offer a lot of resistance. Yet, the computer industry persists as evidenced by Intel’s Viiv technology and the fact that the media center version of Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system and several versions of the Vista operating system are designed to make computers a part of the home entertainment center.

While consumers have been busy resisting the incursion of the home computer into the home entertainment center, computer equipment has been sneaking in anyway. This covert incursion can be seen in the form of newer forms of TV technology. DVD players, digital TV converters, satellite receivers, DVR’s, and video gaming systems are all computers in some form or another.

One of the side effects of having all of this new technology so thoroughly computerizes is that there is an unprecedented level of compatibility between computers and the Internet, and the home entertainment center. For example, there are a variety of devices that take advantage of Internet connections to provide their users with more options. The TiVo is a good example of this. TiVos download their program guide information from the Internet and are even capable of being programmed to record specific TV shows from another location over the Internet. Some of the newer TiVos are even capable of downloading movies from the Internet to be shown on TV sets. Other devices that can do this include some versions of Sony HDTV sets, the Vudu, the Slingbox, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and several others. The Apple TV can fetch video from the home computer(which can get the video from the Internet or from a digital video camera), and the ability to download movies directly from the Internet is expected to be coming soon to the Play Station 3 from Sony.

Another interesting result of the overlap between computers and TV is the introduction of portable video devices. A portable video device is a hand held, battery powered portable device that can store video on a built in data storage system and then display it on a TV screen or its built in screen. These devices come in a variety of sizes and capacities. For example, there are versions with only two gigabytes of storage space and such small screens that you have to wonder why anyone gave them the capacity to play video. At the other end of the extreme are devices that have amply sized screens, the ability to store over a hundred hours of video, access the web over a WiFi connection, and even record video that’s being played off of other devices and store it on their own hard disks. The data storage systems use either flash memory or more conventional hard disks, and the screens can either be conventional LCD technology or energy saving OLED screens. Some of these devices can even download video from some Digital Video Recorders if all of the compatibility issues are taken care of.

All of these devices show the benefits that computer technology can have when applied to home entertainment.

by: David R. Wetzel

Computer technology schools offer a range of degrees and programs. Schools that teach computer technology include technical schools, colleges and universities. Degrees in computer technology are offered at three levels for beginning students; bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree and specialized computer certifications.

Technical schools offer computer technology degree programs year round, while colleges and universities offer summer courses for earning a degree quicker or part-time programs for busy students.

Typical programs offered by computer technology schools such as ITT Technical Institute include information security systems, data communication systems management, computer science, software engineering, web development, networking and software applications. Degrees from other schools of computer technology include computer gaming design, interactive media develop, web development, and systems administrator.

Computer technology schools offer courses focused on the architectures of operating systems, network systems, user interface construction, C + + language, data bases types and formats, programming standards, etc. These courses are designed for those who wish to earn degrees in computer software and computer information systems. Courses focused on web design and development includes Internet hierarchy, authoring tools, scripting designs and more.

Bachelor’s degree computer technology upper-division courses focus on data storage advanced warehousing techniques, management of technology projects, multiple computer programming languages, graphical interface design, software development methods and more. The advantage of a bachelor’s degree in computer technology is a wider selection of employment opportunities.

Computer degrees lead to earning certifications in computer technology. Many courses in computer programs prepare students to pass tests for computer technology certifications. According to About.com’s article Computer Certification’s Top 10 Certifications for 2009, the top two certifications are Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert and Certified Information Systems Auditor. Their pass rates are low; however, average annual salaries are high.

Someone considering a computer technology education needs to first determine the type of degree they want to pursue. This decision helps narrow the search for a computer technology school. Computer technology bachelor’s degree can be completed in four years, associate’s degree programs can be completed in two years and certification programs range from few months to a year.

In about ten years, computer technology as we know it will stop advancing. Computer chips will not be able to get any smaller or any faster. That is when computer technology based on molecules will take over. From what I have seen in the last ten years, computers in 100 years will be whatever our imaginations can come up with. That could be good, but that could also be very bad. Given the capacity of the imagination, I am very concerned about what will happen because of technology. 

The egotistic condition of being human is something that needs to be taken into account when debating for or against the advancement of technology. One trait people have that helps them survive is their self-centered outlook which extends to the outer limits of the universe. With the birth of Homo sapiens came intelligence and egotism great enough to threaten the equilibrium of the planet. People like to form nature around their lives, not the other way around. The human race is literally in a fight with nature.

One very strong instinct people have is to not die. In 100 years people will be having a debate on whether or not it is ethical to digitize our minds in order to live forever. I hope I am wrong, but I believe that if given enough time, we will be able to create some sort of an eternity. As we become more like computers and computers become more like us there will be a new species of life. We will have created life—computers with feelings and thoughts. In the future it will be easy to forget the implications of the advancements of technology because information will be more desirable than knowledge.

People will be able to have digital children that will never be in physical form and will never wear out or die. The children of the future will have “gods” for parents. The kids’ eternal life will depend on whether or not the parents grant it. This new world (or worlds) will inhabit people that are not conditioned by earth’s way of evolution where parents care for their kids because of a specie’s need to procreate in order to survive. The evolution of computers (or the people inside of them) will be shaped only by gaining comprehension of ways to “delete” others in order to survive forever. 

Some serious contemplating needs to be done on this issue. One human flaw that may kill us in the end is the fact that we are too smart for our own good and yet too dumb to realize it. But, if we believe that our only flaw is in not advancing, then denial will be what ultimately kills us. If we are to survive we will need to understand that we do not understand and accept some things as they are.

Please visit www.fonebuy.com, www.heavyscale.com, and www.sport-motors.com