Anything Else?
Now we’re going to finish our CPS class in two weeks. We’ve learned a lot about computers, and the classes were really fun. I enjoyed them very much. Well, thinking about this week’s topic (“What else would you like to learn?”), I would say ‘application,’ or the practical use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and so forth. What we’ve learned are mostly basic. But I found that I didn’t know how to make graphs and charts while I was preparing for my presentation. So I had to make a pie chart only with the shape of circle and lines. That’s why I’d really like to learn about graphs and charts. (It’s a pity that we’re running out of time!!) Also, I’m very interested in making maps. If I can make simple, plain maps, that will be quite useful when I make web pages or give a presentation. Therefore, what I’d like to learn more is ‘application’ of application software, including making graphs, charts and maps.
Thanks for our CPS class!!
iPod with AntiquesHave you got an iPod? I’m afraid I haven’t, but I know some of my friends have already got cool ones. Well, here is a unique suggestion for those people with iPods: plug your iPod into an antique radio, and enjoy music in a different way. Takeyuki Ishii, an owner of a little antique store, recommends so according to Wired News. Playing iPod through an old radio or tube-driven amplifier creates warm, relaxing sounds that remind him of his childhood, he says. Then, he also says that today’s industrial goods become obsolete too fast, and we aren’t given enough time to digest them. Now I totally agree with him in this regard. Due to the current hi-tech music players, my MD player that I bought two years ago seems almost out-of-date, doesn’t it? (though it was the latest version at that time...) I’m really unhappy about this fact, and some of you might have the same feeling. So, returning to the subject, what Mr. Ishii really wants to say through the idea of ‘iPod with antiques’ is this: “stop, look back and learn from some of the great work we have begun to forget.”
Let’s hope nothing becomes out-of-date.
The Future of Computers
What will computers be like in the future? That’s a hard question, isn’t it? Since computers were given to the world, they’ve begun controlling our society with an incredible impetus. They seem not to know where to stop developing. True, it’s almost impossible to predict their future correctly, but let’s try to imagine it just for fun. In my view, computers will begin controlling even all facilities for travel. Every road will be arranged tidily, and cars and trains will go at exact speed under control of computers. There’ll be no traffic jam, no accident, and all transportation systems will work without delay. Ships and planes will follow the precise courses so that much more of them can occupy the ocean and the sky at one time. They’ll no longer need drivers, pilots or navigators. When you want to go somewhere, all you have to do is to enter the name of the destination into a computer, or just to point it on the map displayed on the screen. It will immediately show you how long you need to get there and what type of transportation you should take. Or your car will just start to move to take you there. Like this, computers might come to control us even through facilities for travel in the future. It will surely comfortable to live without any traffic jams or accidents, though some people may prefer to drive by themselves rather than depending on computers. Anyway, how do you imagine the future of computers? Try it and just share fun!
Living in a Dorm
If you are living in a dorm, you must have experienced this kind of situation: when you want to do the laundry, all washing machines have been already occupied. You may come to the laundry room again after a while, but the machines have been still occupied. Then, you may wonder, “When will be a washer free!?” Well, you won’t have to wonder such a thing any more. According to Newsweek, some universities installed the new Internet-based laundry systems which let you check the real-time state of each washing machine and dryer. They also let you know when the wash was finished by e-mail. Most of the university students seem to be satisfied with the systems. Are you now excited over this news? Let’s hope that your favorite university will have installed these Internet-based laundry systems by the time you go there!
Enjoying Other People’s Blogs
Ah, every student in our class has made a nice blog. It is enjoyable to visit their blogs and to get a lot of interesting information such as news of new products and funny trivia about computers. Also, all of them have their own style, color and character with unique photos, which matches the feel of the author very well. I wonder why they are that good at making such nice blogs by using various fonts and colors. Maybe I have to learn their techniques to make a more interesting blog.... Anyway, visiting other people’s blogs is pleasant. They show unique ideas and different views of various things. Without blogs, I would have not known any of those exciting information that would help me broaden my mind. In short, what I want to say here is this: why don’t I or don’t you thank for the people who made blogs?
(^o^) a-ha!
My Computer Purchase
VGC-M53B
OS---------Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with SP2
CPU--------Intel® Celeron® Processor（2.80 GHz）
Display----15.4” WXGA TFT (1280x800)
Memory---512MB RAM
HDD-------250GB
Drive------Super-multi-drive (DVD+R Double Layer / DVD±RW Drive)
If I can buy a new computer now, I’d like to buy this VAIO, VGC-M53B from Sony. My present computer is a laptop that I bought this April. I wanted a TV as well as a computer, so I chose one with a TV tuner inside. But because of the tuner, my computer is thick and heavy, and I found it no longer acted as a portable. If there had been such a nice, compact desktop as this VGC-M53B, I would have bought it without hesitation. The VGC-M53B works as a TV, a DVD player or an audio as well as a PC. The design is simple and cute, in which color you have a choice of white, sky blue and passion orange. The body, screen and the keyboard are unified, so that it takes a space only 48cm wide by 20cm long. Of course this is not portable, but it will definitely play a central role in my daily life, waking me up with my favorite song in the morning instead of the alarm clock (or in cooperation with the alarm clock...). Anyway, computers never stop developing. That’s the problem for us consumers.
Computer News
~Turn Photos into Paintings~
When the early photos were once introduced to the world, people engaged in art disputed whether they were art or not. The answer to the problem had been left uncertain, except for the fact that the invention was noble. However, due to the modern technology, the definition of photos as art is going to become much vaguer than ever. You can now easily turn photos into paintings through the new painting software, Corel Painter Essentials 3. The series of Corel Painter from the company, COREL, may be well-known, and the latest Corel Painter IX has been spoken highly of by professionals. However, different from Corel Painter IX which might seem too complicated and expensive, Corel Painter Essentials 3 is much easier to use as well as six-time cheaper (in Japan; more than twice in the US) than the IX. With this Corel Painter Essentials 3, you can create “extraordinary paintings from your photos by automatically applying random, hand-made paint strokes that very in stroke type, direction and pressure.” Imagine that your ordinary, unattractive photos immediately change into unique, artistic paintings in the manner of Vincent van Gogh. How wonderful it is! You can also paint pictures by yourself, of course, by using 76 styles of brush in all and by adding gorgeous letters on them. Corel Painter Essentials 3 will allow you to be artistic, whether those paintings made by a computer are recognized as art or not. You will definitely enjoy this amazing technology through Corel Painter Essentials 3.
The impact of the Internet
Today, computers have come to play an essential role in our daily life. We can make documents, draw pictures, listen to music and watch TV or DVDs with a computer. Above all, the most significant function that they have must be this: the Internet. As the Internet is defined as the largest computer network in the world, it enabled us to communicte with people in the distance, get the latest information throughout the world, and even buy some products from foreign companies at home. For myself, I frequently use the Internet to send e-mail to my friends and to search for some information, or sometimes to do some shopping. The first impact that it made on me was amazing. I was really surprised by the amount of information occupying the Net as well as by the performance of a search engine. When I have enough time, all I want to do is to search the Internet for the words ‘travel’ and ‘photo,’ then read someone’s travel journals, gazing at various, interesting photos taken in foreign countries where I’ve never been or I’ll never go. From East to West and from North to South, I can see the world at second hand through numerous Websites listed on the Net. It seems as if there is nothing impossible to be found on the Internet. And some sites are so impressive that I cannot help appreciating the advanced technology. The Internet has obviously made the world much closer to me, connecting people to people without knowing any borders. The impact is amazing. Now computers have become one of the necessities of life.
Computer Gifts
If I have a chance to gain a lot of money, I’d like to make a present of a robot submarine to my best friend who wants to be a marine biologist in the future. She is interested in the ocean, especially in the deep sea. So, this robot submarine is made to endure the intense water pressure which can crush a golf ball at a certain depth under the sea. Also, it is equipped with powerful lights, high-performance cameras and microphones as well as high-powered engine. She could see the sights or hear the sounds vividly through the cameras and microphones. All of these capabilities would enable her to do more detailed and more efficient research into the deep sea than risky, manned submarines that can cause people to suffer from claustrophobia. Thus, with the information sent from the robot submarine, she would experience some revolutionary discoveries about the vast, dark world of mysteries, where most of the deep remains unexplored. And I do hope this imaginary plan will become reality sometime in the near future.
My History with Computers
The first time I used a computer, I was a junior high school student. Our industrial arts teacher taught us how to use computers in class. Following teacher's instructions, I turned on the computer. Then, strange messages appeared on the screen one after another. "What are these? Is this all right for the computer?" I felt so restless that I turned around and looked over the computer room. Some students had a different screen; that was the desktop. Meanwhile, my computer's screen also turned into the desktop without incident. I was aching to press any keys on the keyboard or click any icons on the desktop. But I kept myself under control and waited for further instructions from the teacher. In this way, I was introduced to the world of computers in the industrial arts class about six years ago.
