This week, shock waves have once again been sent through the Facebook world. Facebook has had yet another facelift, which joins several in only a few months. Users are now experiencing redesigned newsfeeds and enhanced security. As an added bonus, it has become easier than ever to be a first class creeper. A continuously updated news "ticker" scrolls on the right side of the screen, placed above Chat.
Not surprisingly, there has been an endless amount of Status Updates protesting this change. Personally, I don't oppose the new look, but the majority of users are downright angry.
More changes are coming, Facebook users. In the next few months, expect to see a music service, world news section, and video streaming all in one place.
What about you, fellow bloggers? "Like" it or hate it?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Liar, Liar: the heat is on
Assuming you aren't living under a rock, I think it's safe to say that we all know about the modern method of detecting lies through a polygraph test. Now a new method is being developed; one that uses thermal imaging of the face to uncover lies.
The device is being developed in the UK, and while it is still has flaws, it has shown to be effective 2 out of 3 times. Thermal imaging works by detecting brain activity and temperature rise is areas such as cheeks and under the eyes. Naturally, this detects nervousness, which may be misleading. Someone can be nervous without being a liar.
Personally, I'm surprised that it has taken this long to develop something like this. I think that it if can improve the success rate, thermal imaging will become very useful and spread throughout the world.
The device is being developed in the UK, and while it is still has flaws, it has shown to be effective 2 out of 3 times. Thermal imaging works by detecting brain activity and temperature rise is areas such as cheeks and under the eyes. Naturally, this detects nervousness, which may be misleading. Someone can be nervous without being a liar.
Personally, I'm surprised that it has taken this long to develop something like this. I think that it if can improve the success rate, thermal imaging will become very useful and spread throughout the world.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Fantasy football to the extreme
It's that time of year again- School starting, summer fading to fall, and of course, football season. Tonight marks the first game of the NFL season when the defending Super Bowl Champion Packers play the Saints.
Fantasy football is more popular than ever, with millions of avid users playing every Sunday. I am one of those crazy fans who participates in fantasy football, which allows you to create a "fantasy" team with your favorite players. You earn points based on scoring, yards per game, defense, and so on. Esentially, fantasy football gives you a feeling of having power and impressing all the other fantasy players of the world, which truly never actually happens. But we can dream, right?
A big question as of late is, have NFL players had enough of fantasy football? This came into question when Texans running back Arian Foster (who had been recently injured) tweeted: "4 those sincerely concerned, I'm doing ok & plan 2 B back by opening day. 4 those worried abt your fantasy team, u ppl are sick."
Players are resorting to social media to express their disapproval with fantasy football. Last year when a player decided to down the ball rather than score a touchdown, there was pure outrage in the fantasy community. What did the player use to defend himself? Social media, of course.
My point (and I do have one) is that we get so caught up in this make believe world, that sometimes we forget that these players are actually human. There is more to life than beating people that you will never meet in a meaningless fantasy game. This goes for any kind of online game or activity. We need to keep a firm grip on reality before we are sucked into the "fantasy" world.
Fantasy football is more popular than ever, with millions of avid users playing every Sunday. I am one of those crazy fans who participates in fantasy football, which allows you to create a "fantasy" team with your favorite players. You earn points based on scoring, yards per game, defense, and so on. Esentially, fantasy football gives you a feeling of having power and impressing all the other fantasy players of the world, which truly never actually happens. But we can dream, right?
A big question as of late is, have NFL players had enough of fantasy football? This came into question when Texans running back Arian Foster (who had been recently injured) tweeted: "4 those sincerely concerned, I'm doing ok & plan 2 B back by opening day. 4 those worried abt your fantasy team, u ppl are sick."
Players are resorting to social media to express their disapproval with fantasy football. Last year when a player decided to down the ball rather than score a touchdown, there was pure outrage in the fantasy community. What did the player use to defend himself? Social media, of course.
My point (and I do have one) is that we get so caught up in this make believe world, that sometimes we forget that these players are actually human. There is more to life than beating people that you will never meet in a meaningless fantasy game. This goes for any kind of online game or activity. We need to keep a firm grip on reality before we are sucked into the "fantasy" world.
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