Surfing the Web or Privacy...Choose One

Recently came across an article that argues that being tracked by Google is actually good. On March 1, Google publicly notified us that they will be tracking our searches. I'm sure most people have no idea but Google did what they had to do in at least having record of informing us. The only way I found out was in an email from my brother. Ironically it was on my Gmail account. This article is written from the opposite point of view from my post about Mozilla’s Collusion. This author explains how annoying internet ads can be when they don’t target any of your interests. Though this article is written with an optimistic opinion on user privacy, it also states that Facebook alone holds 140 Billion photos. We basically pay for using Facebook by giving some of our privacy whether we know the extent or not. It is also clear that the Department of Homeland Security is also tracking our movement online. The author shows their optimistic point of view but also gives the reader the harsh realities that online browsing isn't what we think or hope it should be.

Collusion on the Web

Mozilla has developed a download that allows browsers to track the companies who monitor our every move on the internet. This program is called Collusion. Collusion tracks the third party trackers who map your activity on the web. Collusion provides users with a web like map of the sites that you are being followed on. Collusion is an attempt to inform users that they are being monitored and by what companies. We should all know that FACEBOOK is one of the largest tracking sites which sell personal information. I applaud the fact that Mozilla is attempting to inform the public about the private tracking of internet browsing. This effort still won’t change the fact that the internet has become another way of controlling and monitoring the public. I always knew that we left a history of cookies on the internet every time we go from site to site. Now that I know how many companies are tracking movement online, it makes me leery of surfing the web. I’m sure we as American citizens have the right to online privacy. It just takes time for us to realize that we have no privacy, and then we will be able to demand it.

New Technology in Transportation

The Future is Now

We are always looking for ways to create new technology that makes live more convenient. I came across a video about some new age gadgets that come straight from a sci-fi movie at first glance. They are the Zboard, the SpnKiX, and the Solowheel. The Zboad is an electric skateboard that uses regenerative breaking. The board moves faster as the user leans forward and slows are the user leans back on the board. This technology is breaking the mold of traditional means of transportation and has become more convenient for users. The SpnKix are battery powered motorized skate. They have a remote that lets you control your speed. The Solowheel is a gyro stabilized electric unicycle that looks like it’s from another planet. It moves like a Segue and looks like a vehicle from the future.

Silicon Valley Sets Up Shop in New York

So Silicon Valley has decided to set up shop in NYC. Facebook, Twitter and Zynga are setting up shot in New York City. This isnt surprising since Facebook is soon to release its first IPO. Im sure Facebook needed to move to the East coast eventually. This will have a big effect on the technology sector in New York giving rise to the amount of job opportunities in the IT field. Research shows that job openings have increased by 5% and competition between firms meant that they will pay well. Im sure it is a great time to be and IT major looking for a job in New York.

Otis Boyking

Otis Boykin was an African American inventor and engineer who was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He is responsible to over 28 electronic devices. He also worked with inventions for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the pacemaker. His most famous invention was the pacemaker which has saved millions of lives. Boykin had a specific interest in resistors. With patents for a wire precision resistor, his invention was later used in televisions and radios. He invented temperature durable devices that were also pressure resistant and later used by the US military.

In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to shed light on African American pioneers in the engineering field for this week. I found three individuals who may have gone unnoticed by the majority but still had a monumental impact on the technological advances that we have achieved today. Garrett Morgan, Lewis Latimer, and Otis Boykin have all done their part and deserve recognition.

Lewis Latimer

Lewis Latimer was a famous African American inventor. His parents escaped from slavery but his father was later arrested and tried as a slave fugitive. Latimer enlisted in the Union Navy and later started working as a draftsman. Latimer developed a talent for drafting and excelled due to his creativity. He developed a carbon filament for the U.S. Electric Light company. His invention lead to mass production of the light bulb.  He also supervised the instillation of these lights in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London. Latimer later worked for Thomas Edison as his original draftsman. Latimer possessed many talents. As an inventor, author, poet, engineer and draftsman, Latimer was able to be the pioneer in the engineering as the only African American in his field.

Garret A. Morgan

Since it is Black History Month, I will use this week to talk about African Americans who helped our country make major advances in technology. Garret Morgan was an inventor in the early 1900's. He invented the gas mask and is most famous for inventing the traffic light.
    As an entrepreneur early in his life, Morgan started a clothing company with equipment he invented himself. He also started a newspaper company. As a son of slaves, Morgan was able to purchase his own home and car through the success of his own businesses.
    
    Garret Morgan came up with his idea for a stop signal after The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903. He witnessed many accidents and sought to make a difference. Morgan received a patent for his idea in 1923. He also had his idea patented in Great Britain and Canada. Prior to Morgan's invention, traffic signals only showed stop and go. Morgan invented a signal which allowed caution time where no one was had the right of way. This allowed cars to exit the intersection and prevent unnecessary collisions. This invention later gave birth to the yellow light.

Facebook is Planning a $10 Billion IPO

    Before the end of this year, Facebook is planning the largest technology IPO ever. The previous record holder debuted in 1999 as Infineon Technologies AG, raising $5.23 Billion. Facebook plans to almost double the record. With an investment of$1.5 Billion from Goldman Sachs in January, Facebook will be going from a projected $50 Billion in worth to $100 Billion.


    Does this mean that it is time to delete our Facebooks? When you look into Facebook going public, we have to realize that Facebook will change forever. I'm not talking about the layout or the new feeds. I'm talking about the ownership and the goals of the company. Instead of being the great time waster which is free and helps you stay in touch with your friends, Facebook will turn into a multi-billion dollar public corporation who's only goal is to increase stockholder wealth. We will have to live with the fact that Facebook will make its money off of selling our personal information and also by selling our interests to ad companies who want to target us to make profit. Just something to think about. That is all.

How Much is Facebook Worth?

     After the recent announcement of Facebook's official IPO, investors have pondered, "How Much is Facebook Worth?". When compared to other top companies in the computing era, Facebook has the potential to follow the footsteps of the like of Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple. As leader in their prospective field of computing, revenues range from 188 billion(Google) - 424 Billion (Apple). 

      You're probably wondering, how can Facebook can be compared to such large computing firms when it barley has a track record? We must keep in mind that Apple leads the industry with almost 430 Billion in revenues. Apple has also transformed from strictly a computing firm to the world leader in mobile and hand-held devices. Their highest selling devices are the Ipad, Iphone, and the Ipod. Facebook is the leader in social media worldwide and is readily accessible as apps on the top selling mobile devices in the world. Just by sheer numbers, Facebooks can sell ads and piggy back off of Apples success. I think Facebook will enter the billions but has no chance in passing the likes of Apple, Microsoft IBM or even Google. The big unknown for Facebook is longevity. There's no way to tell how long the Facebook fad will last. It could last twenty more years or three, depending on what new for of social media will take the reins. Who knows, maybe I will make that my next tweet.