Can Humans Live in Virtual Reality Off-Planet Colonies Without Going Stir Crazy? By Lance Winslow

The question has been posed by Science Fiction authors numerous times, but it is a very important question for the future of humanity. Consider if you will that in the future humans may live in Virtual Reality, VR environments in off world colonies, perhaps on moons, planets, traveling space ships or orbiting stations.

But can human beings live in long-term VR environments full-time without going stir crazy? After all the current life-experience often has us going stir-crazy as it is, and some people are bored out of their minds. If people are put into a colony, travel will be limited and so too will space, but people are adaptable, can they cope if we make it so, will they need a virtual avatar like friend?

Now there will be a few problems for humans at first, some will not be pre-conditioned to accept this, and they will say; "I Want Out!" and so, too with the virtual friend. But, this does not mean it will not gain acceptance for humans to "try it" or do a test run and then allow them to tell others about it, creating a trend.

It seems a test project is needed first to work the bugs out, and analyze the psychological issues of the transition. One could say that the present "life experience" is nothing more than a virtual world that humans perceive a certain way due to their 5-organic sensors, and that the world would be different if they had fewer or additional sensors, thus, the world already is in a sort of augmented reality as it sits, the way it is seen by humans. Please consider this.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Will Teachers Be Replaced by Technology? By Jeanette McLeod

In the last 15 years, the use of technology in schools has changed beyond recognition. From just one or two computers per school, to 'computer suites', to current day, where some schools provide access to technology across the whole school and to use it across all subjects. Will the future of education in the next 20 years be of student interacting with technology to drive their own learning? Will schools as we know them cease to exist? Will our technology hungry young learners no longer need teachers? Virtually every job we do today requires some kind of technology. Students need to be technologically adept, including information literacy, visual literacy, and technological literacy.

Schools are using materials de­veloped decades ago, but today's students come to school with very different experiences than those of 20 years ago. And by the time they leave the world of education the real world will have moved on again. We should be teaching them about how to keep up. Schools need to adapt to current student needs and identify new learning methods that are engaging to younger generations and teach them to use technology wisely.

There are three ways to teach...tell someone, show someone or let them do it themselves. With developments in technology children can do it themselves earlier and much quicker. Our educational establishments need to be harnessing this new way to learn and using it for all it is worth. This puts an added requirement on today's teachers. A requirement to have the skills and capabilities to use technology to meet the needs of learners. They need to understand and be comfortable using the technology that is out there to engage young learners. And there is a plethora of options available from educational software, online games, eBooks for children, and educational websites.

A recent survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project [*1] found that online game experience is extremely common among young people, requiring active participation and interaction, and signalled that current educational methods may not be engaging students enough. So are games the future of education? Perhaps. But whether you agree or not it does raise the issue whether education needs to be as engaging as computer games in order to engage young minds. And what does this mean for teachers? Will they be out of a job? No. Their role will still be to prepare children for their futures in the real world. Not by telling, but by mentoring and coaching. Technology can never replace a good teacher but it can make a good teacher better and a very good teacher absolutely brilliant in fulfilling their role of preparing children for the future world.

Jeanette McLeod

http://wizz-e.com

Jeanette is passionate about getting kids reading and using technolgy in eduction to engage young minds. Jeanette runs a children's picture book publishers that solely distribute interactive read-along picture books for young children via the website http://www.wizz-e.com A mum who is passionate about getting all young children reading more to raise literacy levels across the world.

Bringing the Magic of Books to Life - interactive eBooks for young children

[*1] http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/263/report_display.asp

The Future is Totally Up in the Air By Quang Van

Anything is possible in the future as we know it. Technology is expanding at such a rapid pace that anything is possible in the future. Literally you can start an international business overnight with nothing more then a telephone and internet connection.

The "World Is Truly Flat", and things are moving at the speed of light. In the book "The World Is Flat" by Thomas Friedman, he talks about the international shipping company UPS. Most people think of UPS is just a shipping company, yet they do so much more then move boxes. They are a distribution hub for enterprises and other small businesses. They are actually at the center of operations in a lot of modern companies.

Meaning no longer does UPS just ship products and parts. They actually assemble the parts for their clients and ship the finish product to the consumer. They are truly "6 inches" apart from the consumer. They do this with great savings for their client.

In this new world nothing is what it seems. The people who controls these hubs and networks are kings. Google is another great example. People think that Google is a web company, existing primary online. When really Google is one of the biggest network, and hardware company out there. Google's infrastructure, it's vast array of computer farms, is what separates them from their competitors. It's why their company is so valuable, and not easily duplicated.

In this new "Technological Revolution", you have to think outside of the box. Never have you had so many resources at your disposal. You can outsource anything, and probably should. Like my brother tells me, the great companies of tomorrow are those that know what to outsource and what to do themselves.

To find more about Article Marketing and Free Ezine Article Submissions. Sign-Up For My Free Article Submit Software Today. You will get the access to the free article submissions.

Dillon condos

Of Dandelions, Flying Umbrellas and Parasails - Connecting Nature, Fantasy and Present Technology By Lance Winslow

Not long ago an enterprising entrepreneurial inventor asked; What if the Parasail was made with more rigidity, what if we used an expandable dirigible type shape? Could we then increase the speed, maneuverability, strength, and safety?

Interestingly enough, it is possible to redesign the parasail in such a way that would enhance its performance in every regard. Follow with me as I take you through a few innovative concepts that could be deployed in the future to make this a reality.

First, we make the parasail out of ultra-light space age material, with an inner flexible frame surrounded by flexible NASA foam, inside of a carbon nano-tube or graphene wrap. Perhaps you could have only one attachment from the operator, pod, or power system. This would remove the need for all the external stringers, improving parasite drag and increasing safety.

A single post from the parasail to the operator or operating system would provide another level of performance as it could be thin, but shaped like a long fin or sword shape. And since it the parasail would be morph-able, it would be very maneuverable and would not collapse if its wind was stolen or it hit turbulence.

Further, the sword-like post could be semi-retractable swinging 90-degrees to allow high speed with the pod, operator, or operating system behind it or below it for slower speeds. The parasail itself could morph from a delta-wing similar to a hang-glider into a fat wing shape like a parasail for maximum glide rates and lift.

These units could be built very cheaply and could be used for swarming sensors of any size from a UAV platform with long-range camera or personal carrier for rescue, military, or patrol. It might even be used in the range of the micro-mechanical. You know nature has such things, think of a Dandelion floating in the wind in a parasail fashion.

Think of it as a flying umbrella, but instead of the umbrella we are using doubles as a parasail concept or wing. These units could be made very large or extremely small and these little units could be used like Smart Dust with micro-sensors, acting like nodes or motes flowing in the wind.

Such airborne system have lots of advantages for weather, wind, studying volcanic eruptions, wildfires, Hurricanes, dust storms or movement along a path, road, canyon, tunnel, etc. And we could still use the parasail concept for recreation, as in personal flying craft, and sports recreation? How much weight will you want to move?

This system could also be made into a very nice towing chute; a ship - in a shipping channel crossing the ocean to save fuel, towing a sight-seeing tourist by boat over the white sands and beautiful shore line, or even floating a camera in high-winds for border patrol surveillance.

Another thought would be to use the sword-like post tether to keep the parasail unit aloft by adjusting pitch, roll, and yaw, preventing stall due to relative wind. That wouldn't be too hard to figure out, and with a simplified program autopilot and stability control algorithm. Such a concept is something we will be seeing in the future, it's inevitable that designs of these types will come available as new space age materials do. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Sound Reinforcement Systems in the Classroom Can Significantly Improve Pupils Academic Performance By David Edis-Bates

Pupils can spend as much as 40% to 50% of their school day involved in listening to their teacher. However, as studies have indicated (Journal of the American Medical Association) 14. 9% of children aged from 6 to19 years may suffer some form of hearing loss. Similar studies have also showed that around 80% of pupils may have some form of occasional hearing loss during their time at school.

In a recommendation published by the UK Department of Education & Skills (DfES) "Building Bulletin '93" it states that 'All children benefit from improved speech clarity, not only those with permanent or temporary hearing loss. Academic performance has been shown to improve for all class members with improvements noted in task behaviour, attentiveness, understanding of instructions, less repetition required, better attendance and improved levels of verbal recognition. Furthermore, due to the clarity of speech from the teacher, similar improvements in learning performance are also noted in students for whom English is a second language. '

More recently Government legislation in the USA, UK and Europe requires that new schools in particular need to comply with a minimum standards of acoustic performance in classrooms. Effective levels of speech recognition for pupils is considered paramount and the use of sound reinforcement systems is also viewed as an ideal solution. .

A typical sound reinforcement system provides the teacher with a wireless or infrared microphone (more usually a lapel or pendant type) which links to an amplifier and loudspeaker system.

Sound reinforcement systems raise the level of the teacher's voice but are intended to be non-intrusive. These systems have been in use quite extensively in the USA over the past 15 years or so and are seen as a significant opportunity to improve academic performance in the UK and in Europe.

In line with the UK DfES equipment recommendations, systems have been developed to meet the needs of the classroom. With a choice of microphones with either radio frequency or infrared wireless transmitters, there are a variety of solutions available providing a range of benefits.

Infrared transmitters are becoming more popular as they limit the signal to the confines of the one classroom, enabling many systems to be used in a single school without suffering the interference problems associated with RF wireless systems. Systems may have integrated receivers and amplifiers or for more cost effective solutions have separate receivers that can be connected to existing classroom sound systems associated with interactive whiteboards. Speakers should be placed to provide an effective sound pressure level throughout the classroom for best effect and may be ceiling or wall mounted.

Edis Trading design and manufacture sound reinforcement systems.

David Edis-Bates, has spent more than 30 years in export related activities around the world, lived in Taiwan for 4 years in the 70's and in China for the past 5 years. Taught in further education for several years and is currently CEO Edis Trading (HK) Limited http://www.edistrading.hk

Doctors Only - Are You the Doctor of the Future? By Dr. Donna Schwontkowski

Hundreds of years ago, Hippocrates predicted that food will be medicine.

He was right. Now we know that food is medicine. Natural remedies are one of the most sought after types of information on the internet. People want to use natural foods and herbs to solve their health issues and some of them will not accept anything less. That's why doctors that have embraced nutritional advances and professions such as chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, and herbalists are doing so well in these hard times.

What Does the Future Bring Now?

Since we are already in the future when it comes to Hippocrates' prediction, it's time to look ahead once more.

First let's evaluate what is happening right now. Times are tough. People don't really want to travel anywhere unless they have to. If something is available in their own neighborhood, that's where people will get it. People are afraid that gas prices will rise once again. When they do, shipping costs will increase again.

When it comes to health, people will travel about half an hour to see a doctor, but if the choice is between two doctors, the doctor whose office is closest has the edge.

If you are a doctor or a health practitioner you'll have to draw upon clients within a 15 to 20 mile geographical radius. This is very limiting! How can you enlarge your geographical reach?

Video Medicine and TeleMedicine Has Arrived

Simple. With a video phone.

A video phone is a desk phone with a video display on it, plain and simple. A camera sits at the top of the video display and captures what is happening in the room. The closer you are to the camera, the larger you are in the picture. The images seen are in real time, and there is very little if any delay in the transmission, unlike what happens when you watch some of the YouTube videos on the net.

When someone with a video phone calls you, you see the other person clearly s soon as you pick up the phone. Similarly, they see you. This is the start of telemedicine.

Connect with Your Patients/Clients Through a Video Phone

Can you imagine the benefits? First of all, your patient will absolutely love the idea that you are available in this way. If he develops a suspicious rash but cannot make it in to the office for a few days, you can comfort him by taking a peak at it until his appointment. If she hurts her back, you can see the extent of the injury by asking her to perform a few simple orthopedic tests and watching her on the video phone for the results. The video phone can aide your diagnosis, but more than that, it could establish a deeper bond between you and your patient. You would have been there for him and her in their time of need. That alone goes a long way with patients.

Have you ever noticed that whoever has the latest technology is revered? Remember when the big screen televisions hit the market? Whoever had one was not just lucky; they were revered. The iphone was similar. And now there is telemedicine.

Another benefit is that your patients will hold you in high esteem when they talk about you. "...My doctor has video phone access. Does yours?" they might say. Everyone always wants to have a doctor who is the most technologically advanced and the has the most recent tools to work with.

Doctors who are available as many ways as possible, especially by using multimedia and telemedicine, can always win.

Getting onboard with the latest technology is easier than you can imagine.

Dr. Donna practiced chiropractic medicine for about 10 years and has since retired. She now helps other physicians and health care providers create additional revenue streams. In December, she was inspired to help others understand Biblical promises for prosperity and helped others create financial breakthroughs in their lives. Her contact info is available at http://bibleprosperitypromises.blogspot.com or at DrDonna@fastermac.net You'll read more about the videophone idea there.