Week 10

Ray Kurzweil: Singularity

By 2029, Kurzweil believes we will have reversed engineered the human brain. This information will lead to an algorithm for the human brain, creating a human machine civilization. This is Singularity. Current AI's can pass a turing test about 20-30 %, but it is in our very near future that it will pass 100% of the time. The speed of exponential growth continues to grow rapidly and soon every aspect of our lives will be using technology. Singularity is when Humans transcend biology. We will not be able to differentiate between real people and hybrid people who's brains are running partly or fully by nano technology.

Learn more about singularity here:
http://bigthink.com/100-biggest-ideas/the-singularity-of-ray-kurzweil

Week 9

Facebook Loses Human Editors

Deep Learning and algorithms are becoming more popular and soon every business will be using algorithms in some aspect of their business. Facebook has announced that they will no longer have a human creating the trending news on Facebook. In order for it to reach people world-wide, using an algorithm is more effective. 

http://www.pcmag.com/news/347385/facebook-trending-topics-loses-human-editors

Week 8

New iPhone 7-Release this September

New iPhone 7 release date will be announced within the next few weeks.  Rumor has it that the phone will not have earphone jack, which should help with it being somewhat water resistance. But seriously, if water proofing technology is available, WHY won't apple just create a phone that IS waterproof? The answer may be complex, however I personally think it is because they probably make 15 % of their revenue from replaced/water damaged phone! Well, I will be that sucker who will still purchase it, but not because it is super innovative but simply because I am in need of a new phone.

http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-7/

Week 7

Check out this Raspberry Pi Aquarium! 

This Aquarium simulates the weather from the Cayman Islands in real time. The weather is requested through Raspberry Pi and then data is transferred wirelessly to the aquarium lamp. It has the ability to mimic sunrise/sunset, moon phases, even windspeed and direction. 

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/aquarium-weather-system/

Week 6

Computer Love that Began 52 Years Ago

John & Carol Matlock from Portland, Oregon will be celebrating 52 years of marriage this December. They met through an online dating site in the 1960's! AT that time, computers took up a full room and were not accessible to most people. The computer took individuals information, then input into an algorithm. Once they were matched, the company would send pictures and information about the people they matched with.

Listen to their love story here:
http://www.npr.org/2016/08/12/489628056/computer-love-their-1960s-era-dating-strategy-modern-technology

WEEK 5

Call Me Ishmael: A Raspberry Pi Book Review

Logan Smalley and Stephanie Kent created a digital book review machine from a Raspberry Pi. They programmed a telephone number in it, as well as a Skype number to book lovers worldwide can call in and leave a message about a book that has inspired them. The messages are then stored on the machine and then, with a press of a button on the device, the reviews can be accessed by people in bookstores, libraries or any public place. When you don't have a specific title in mind when heading into a bookstore, head over to, " Call Me Ishmael" for some great book reviews!

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/

Week 4

Bot's- The New Schedule Manager on Duty

A team for MIT's Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory demonstrates how a robot can be helpful with scheduling in a hospital, especially on a labor and delivery floor when multiple decisions need to be made within minutes. A head nurse can potentially be scheduling 10 nurses, 20 patients and 20 rooms at the same time. Nurses accepted the "Bot's schedule recommendations" at least 90% of the time.


http://news.mit.edu/2016/robot-helps-nurses-schedule-tasks-on-labor-floor-0713