Peter Molyneux demos Milo, the virtual boy | Video on TED.com
When Peter Molyneux describes a game developed by Microsoft that can think for itself,regonize you, and learn I was like "No Way Man!" I didnt think such a thing was possible, and for such a simple thing like the kinect game system. With this new incorparation into the world, the idea would spark a new rush for more highly advanced artificial thinking.
Peter Molyneux decribes how he wanted to create a solution to the one problem of storytelling. He wanted to make a character which felt alive and could build a relationship. With the technology of Microsoft and attempts of AI at Lionhead, they created the virtual boy, named Milo.
When I first saw the demonstration of this, I was a little creeped out. A thing that wasnt even alive, yet acted alive? It didnt help either that he looked right at you in a creeping manner, and that he only talked to you. A cool part about Milo though is that you can help mold his personality and how he turns out to be. You can edge him on with your voice like you would another person. One example Peter shows is when Milo is about to crush a snail, and you can either tell him to do it or tell him not to. The crushing of a snail is developmental to how Milo turns out because you can mold him to be sensitive or to be a bully. Peter says that no two Milo's will be alike, and I find that intriguing yet weird at the same time. I think the idea of artificial intelligence is creepy, yet cool how technolgy can make things happen.
My take on this is that it is really cool, but I dont like the aspect of Milo looking or "being" human. I think that is because of all the movies I watched of how the robot who thinks he is human freaks everyone out.
Peter Molyneux has a very good idea, but I dont think his presentation was all that fine as he had a more advertising approach then a belief approach. That took away from the feeling of the TED and left it unappealing to me.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
A Statement without Words
Miwa Matreyek's glorious visions | Video on TED.com
When we watch an animated movie, what do we see? Of course we see the animations, the special effects, and virtual programs. If we look closely enough, we can see the deeper meaning of the piece. Miwa Materyek's glorious vision combining animations and her own acting was a visual journey that leads us on a journey of ourselves and the world. This I believe is the best kind of expression. Words can be informative and factual but emotion and deeper meanings are best portrayed through visual artistic works.
The saying, "A picture is worth 1000 words" is true. It is proven in Miwa's vision with the perfect use of visual imagery. Her presentation was unbelieveable. With the visual animations and her own acting, her story told more than a 1000 words. In the presentation, the screen would have animations like cities, water, and just many appealing pieces. Incorparated with her own shadow, yes I said shadow because she moved and interacted with the animations using the outline of herself, it made the piece even more amazing.
The first part of her TED was her hand guided an apple to cut in half, then she procceded to twirl a goldfish bowl with many fish swimming inside of it. There were many intricate designs, and the animations and happenings were mostly daily events, like turning a book and cutting an apple up to eat. I think those images were to symbolise daily events and our automation. We always go on in our days, but we dont know the history behind it, and I think that is the next part of Miwa's vision.
After that she waved her hand, and the plate turned into a moon in the sky. Now instead of using the outlines of her hand, she walked into the middle of the screen, using her body as the basis of her story. Her story I thought revolved around creation, and it was the story of a woman who hunted, made fire, and lived on the island that was Miwa's back. The story of the island means that we live and grow simply, also we are able to understand nature and embrace it without hindrances. After that though, the ocean that Miwa was the island in ebbed away, and the little human walked away on the bare ground. Seconds after leaving, cities sprouted in the place the ocean was. Miwa walks through the city looking at everything, seeing even a nuclear power plant. At the end of her path there are battleships that are green with plants growing on them. I feel that the certain part of the city and the abandoned battleships meant that humans are moving way too fast, and fight till there is nothing left. Her message is we must be equal with each other and not cause strife.
The part of human connections in her TED came towards the very end. A forest appeared and out of nowhere a bowl and ingredients for a cake appeared. She mixed all the ingredients together in the bowl and in a second a cake was in the bowl's place. I believe this was the whole message of her vision. The cake symbolises every single ethinicity. When we are apart we arent tasty, but together we make something sweet.
Miwa Materyek's TED was really riveting and inspiring. I highly recommend people to watch this video as it is just fascinating and beautiful. Miya Materyek was able to weave a story that contained millions of words, without the use, of words.
When we watch an animated movie, what do we see? Of course we see the animations, the special effects, and virtual programs. If we look closely enough, we can see the deeper meaning of the piece. Miwa Materyek's glorious vision combining animations and her own acting was a visual journey that leads us on a journey of ourselves and the world. This I believe is the best kind of expression. Words can be informative and factual but emotion and deeper meanings are best portrayed through visual artistic works.
The saying, "A picture is worth 1000 words" is true. It is proven in Miwa's vision with the perfect use of visual imagery. Her presentation was unbelieveable. With the visual animations and her own acting, her story told more than a 1000 words. In the presentation, the screen would have animations like cities, water, and just many appealing pieces. Incorparated with her own shadow, yes I said shadow because she moved and interacted with the animations using the outline of herself, it made the piece even more amazing.
The first part of her TED was her hand guided an apple to cut in half, then she procceded to twirl a goldfish bowl with many fish swimming inside of it. There were many intricate designs, and the animations and happenings were mostly daily events, like turning a book and cutting an apple up to eat. I think those images were to symbolise daily events and our automation. We always go on in our days, but we dont know the history behind it, and I think that is the next part of Miwa's vision.
After that she waved her hand, and the plate turned into a moon in the sky. Now instead of using the outlines of her hand, she walked into the middle of the screen, using her body as the basis of her story. Her story I thought revolved around creation, and it was the story of a woman who hunted, made fire, and lived on the island that was Miwa's back. The story of the island means that we live and grow simply, also we are able to understand nature and embrace it without hindrances. After that though, the ocean that Miwa was the island in ebbed away, and the little human walked away on the bare ground. Seconds after leaving, cities sprouted in the place the ocean was. Miwa walks through the city looking at everything, seeing even a nuclear power plant. At the end of her path there are battleships that are green with plants growing on them. I feel that the certain part of the city and the abandoned battleships meant that humans are moving way too fast, and fight till there is nothing left. Her message is we must be equal with each other and not cause strife.
The part of human connections in her TED came towards the very end. A forest appeared and out of nowhere a bowl and ingredients for a cake appeared. She mixed all the ingredients together in the bowl and in a second a cake was in the bowl's place. I believe this was the whole message of her vision. The cake symbolises every single ethinicity. When we are apart we arent tasty, but together we make something sweet.
Miwa Materyek's TED was really riveting and inspiring. I highly recommend people to watch this video as it is just fascinating and beautiful. Miya Materyek was able to weave a story that contained millions of words, without the use, of words.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Story of Dave Eggers
Once upon a school, there was a man named Dave Eggers. Dave Eggers was a good man, and one bright day came up with a moving idea about one-on-one tutoring in the city of San Fransisco, California. Eggers began with the idea of how students learn, and grow as a person when they have the have the opportunity to work on schoolwork one-on-one with a person that actually cared about the developement of the child.
Now Dave Egger grew up in a family full of teachers and from his teacher relations knew the struggles they faced when trying to deal with students learning ability. This was a time when students werent given the attention needed for them to flourish, and less funding for public education made it worse. During this time, Dave was just running a little gag shop selling pirate goodies. Realizing the attention students dont get, Dave plucked from the air the idea of 826 Valencia Streetm, a non-profit tutoring center for students to come in and receive one-on-one help with English. The construction of 826 Valencia street with the added ingredients of patience change countless kids.
In this story, there was also a boy named James. After hearing of one on one tutoring, and in public places on the street and in the weirdest places, he approved of the way Dave's idea was going. It inspired him, one idea, a better world. A better education doesent come from massive funds or offers to Stanford. No, he said, it comes from connecting with the kids, dedication to help,and passion to educate. James also learned that the to change a world it can start with the small things, connections with the individual. He remembered that one way Dave connected with the whole tutored group was that they wrote a story together. The story of 826 Valencia.
AFTERWORD BY READER
Wow this story was great! I personally loved the way that Dave was like one of the audience. He was funny and incorparated a sense of humbility we were comfortable with. His style was like the nervous yet likable characters in movies. He crafted the story like the topic, free and light.
Dave really added much to the insight on public education. The story shows how kids dont learn as good when lectured, they dont learn as good when they are spoonfed information. Instead it shows that learning can be enhanced by human interaction by one on one understandment. The world should take the ideas from this story and make education a better learning experience.
Now Dave Egger grew up in a family full of teachers and from his teacher relations knew the struggles they faced when trying to deal with students learning ability. This was a time when students werent given the attention needed for them to flourish, and less funding for public education made it worse. During this time, Dave was just running a little gag shop selling pirate goodies. Realizing the attention students dont get, Dave plucked from the air the idea of 826 Valencia Streetm, a non-profit tutoring center for students to come in and receive one-on-one help with English. The construction of 826 Valencia street with the added ingredients of patience change countless kids.
In this story, there was also a boy named James. After hearing of one on one tutoring, and in public places on the street and in the weirdest places, he approved of the way Dave's idea was going. It inspired him, one idea, a better world. A better education doesent come from massive funds or offers to Stanford. No, he said, it comes from connecting with the kids, dedication to help,and passion to educate. James also learned that the to change a world it can start with the small things, connections with the individual. He remembered that one way Dave connected with the whole tutored group was that they wrote a story together. The story of 826 Valencia.
AFTERWORD BY READER
Wow this story was great! I personally loved the way that Dave was like one of the audience. He was funny and incorparated a sense of humbility we were comfortable with. His style was like the nervous yet likable characters in movies. He crafted the story like the topic, free and light.
Dave really added much to the insight on public education. The story shows how kids dont learn as good when lectured, they dont learn as good when they are spoonfed information. Instead it shows that learning can be enhanced by human interaction by one on one understandment. The world should take the ideas from this story and make education a better learning experience.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Local Warming
Its the afternoon, a good day, and as I use this laptop to write my blog, the danger of local warming is creeping up on me. Puhleeze, global warming? Say hello to local warming. It's the consequences we must face from blogging and even more hazardous if we are men. Yossi Vardi says blogging might be hazardous to health, and in the age we live in, I have to agree. Posture has been drastically changed by blogging for when before the posture of ladies would be to cross their legs and sit straight. Now with the invention of the portable laptop which can be carried around anywhere, posture has been changed from sitting up straight to hunching over the computers while blogging or doing anything on the computer. The same is for men too. When we sit, we sit in a comfortable postition available for ventilation, now with laptops and such, Yossi Vardi describes we have obtained an unnatural posture for sitting due to balancing the laptops on our legs as we work. The other problems about that too is not just the posture, but the main hazard for men.
When the laptop is on the legs, it heats the area between the legs, that is local warming. Before we get into the explanation of local warming, I want to express my concerns and fears. I think local warming is bad business. It's like finding out you cant walk (Maybe less). Yossi Vardi describes local warming as the heat in the laptop heats up the area under it, and you guessed right, it reduces a man's testerones levels. Yes and it reduces...sperm count. Now guys, you know mom always wanted you to raise a good size family, and you dont want to disappoint mom do you. Besides as much as the thought of disappointing mom is pretty scary, men dont need to have the thought of mom to know the consequences of local warming.
In Denmark due to high numbers of laptops, it is a fact that their population growth is smaller than those with lower laptops.
Local warming is bad business, but someone has actually found a way that local warming can be beneficial. China. Did you know that China is distrubiting laptops to families to intentionally curb it's large population. I think that it is a good idea with the huge population in Asia, you know the saying, the sacrifice of the individual for the greater good.
Now what can we do to prevent global warming? Yossi Vardi says we have wifi so we dont have to have the LAPTOP on our lap, but the keyboard. He also says to assume proper blogging positions.
What I think we should do to prevent local warming also is not just proper blogging techniques, but to invent the computer in a whole new fashion. Trash the laptop, the best idea would to make wireless computers that can create the screens in front of you so that you can do your business on holographic screens and it works just like a computer. Hands free technology, portable, and safe. A new future of computers.
Now when I listened to Yossi Vardi talk about this serious matter, it was amusing yet not in a flow. I have to give him some credit because his english isnt really good (He admitted it) but sometimes he stops towards the end of sentences and dosent execute his lines in a good manner. Even with all those flaws, it was a good informative, yet amusing talk by Yossi Vardi.
When the laptop is on the legs, it heats the area between the legs, that is local warming. Before we get into the explanation of local warming, I want to express my concerns and fears. I think local warming is bad business. It's like finding out you cant walk (Maybe less). Yossi Vardi describes local warming as the heat in the laptop heats up the area under it, and you guessed right, it reduces a man's testerones levels. Yes and it reduces...sperm count. Now guys, you know mom always wanted you to raise a good size family, and you dont want to disappoint mom do you. Besides as much as the thought of disappointing mom is pretty scary, men dont need to have the thought of mom to know the consequences of local warming.
In Denmark due to high numbers of laptops, it is a fact that their population growth is smaller than those with lower laptops.
Local warming is bad business, but someone has actually found a way that local warming can be beneficial. China. Did you know that China is distrubiting laptops to families to intentionally curb it's large population. I think that it is a good idea with the huge population in Asia, you know the saying, the sacrifice of the individual for the greater good.
Now what can we do to prevent global warming? Yossi Vardi says we have wifi so we dont have to have the LAPTOP on our lap, but the keyboard. He also says to assume proper blogging positions.
What I think we should do to prevent local warming also is not just proper blogging techniques, but to invent the computer in a whole new fashion. Trash the laptop, the best idea would to make wireless computers that can create the screens in front of you so that you can do your business on holographic screens and it works just like a computer. Hands free technology, portable, and safe. A new future of computers.
Now when I listened to Yossi Vardi talk about this serious matter, it was amusing yet not in a flow. I have to give him some credit because his english isnt really good (He admitted it) but sometimes he stops towards the end of sentences and dosent execute his lines in a good manner. Even with all those flaws, it was a good informative, yet amusing talk by Yossi Vardi.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Cognitive Surplus
How many times have I lounged around, hanged out, watched T.V, and prolonged schoolwork and studying?
Too many times to count.
In life, what will the amount of time that I spend doing unproductive work equal to? Clay Shirky says that combined with everyone else in the world, it equals to 1 trillion hours of free time, a year. A trillion! That's mind blowing, insane, crazy! Imagine if that time was used for work and studying. Instead that time is used for cognitive surplus instead. Something I think is way better. Now cognitive surplus, what is it? It's a surplus of thinking, it represents the world's ability to collaborate on large or global projects. It is integrating information.
Don't pinch yourself, this is not a dream.
Yes it is true. It is possible.
Cognitive surplus is raising the levels of media and how imformation is broadcasted throughout the world. Take a look at a site with a humble beginning, Ushahidi. It started in 2007,in Kenya when the totalitarian government shut down the media. It was like during the recent revolution of Egypt. Media was down, Kenya had a frown, but Ushahidi was there to turn the tables around. Ushahidi, which means testimony in Swahili, is an example of cognitive surplus and how it changes how information is passed around. After the fallout of the Kenya election, they made this site where people everywhere could blog or send info to Ushahidi to map out reports of violence. Since then in three years, it has become a global website to map out reports all over the world, thanks to people and their free time.
Cognitive surplus is getting big and helping the world, and it is no thanks to those with fat wallets. This system is like Daniel Pink's ted talk on motivation, and how business runs better with certain motivation. If you had the time to read my post below, you would know what im talking about. If you said, "I dont have time to read all three posts, I have better things to do!" Then let me fill you in. Daniel Pink says we do things better not for rewards, but because we want too, and that is how cognitive surplus is being run. By the people for the people. That is how these websites are so successful and full of information.
Now there are two values that can be made by the people, communal value and civic value. Communal value is made by the people for a small "community" to enjoy. Civic value is to help the world as a whole, and when it comes for the time of civic value and it comes for change, it wont sustain if it is an economic deal. We need to connect with people which is going to make the difference.
Another example of cognitive surplus would have to be wikipedia. That is a non profit organization made by normal people, but is one of the most updated and informed site in the world. Mrs. Smith, an english teacher, told us of how when Mubarak stepped down from power, the instant he did that wikipedia changed his page from President of Egypt, too former President of Egypt. In such a small amount of time. WOAH. It is the power of cognitive surplus baby.
In agreeing with Clay Shirky, cognitive surplus is going far in changing the world.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
If you want me to do well, stop upping the pressure
Daniel Pink is the man sparking a revolution for a new right brained future. He is also the philosopher on the motive of what drives us and our performance based on that. Look at Bill Gates, how is it that he created a multi-billion company, Microsoft, with no rewards or other incentives? How is it that Albert Einstein found out E=MC² with no professors offering him money and awards for finding the equation for energy? Why was it that I didn’t feel as stressed out when reading the newspapers on my own then when I was assigned to read the newspaper? Daniel Pink describes it as our drive and performance associated with it, how less rewards may often mean a better performance when dealing with creativity and rudimentary cognitive skill.
“…Here’s what he (Sam Glucksburg) did. He gathered his participants and he said, ‘I’m going to time you. How quickly can you solve this problem (The candle problem, which is a problem based on finding a solution to putting a candle on the wall and lighting it without it dripping wax on the table)?’ To one group he said, ‘I’m going to time you to establish norms averages for how long it typically takes someone to solve this sort of problem.’ To the second group he offered rewards, he said, “If you’re in the top 25% of the fastest times, you get five dollars. If you’re the fastest of everyone we’re testing here today you get 20 dollars. Now this is several years ago. Adjusted for inflation. It’s a decent sum of money for a few minutes work. It’s a nice motivator. Question: How much faster did this group solve the problem? Answer: It took them, on average, three and a half minute longer.” Daniel Pink stated this example to show how our motivation do to better when we have to think is not traditional rewards. The second team which was offered 20 dollars, which I consider a lot, did worse when offered with a reward. Why is that? He says incentives dull thinking and block creativity. The reason for that is it narrows our focus and concentrates our mind on reaching that purpose so that we could get the money. We can’t think on the creativity, how to solve the problem, when there is a big weight of cash sitting in your mind. The motivation to do well has nothing to do with big rewards. It has to do with self-motivation, purpose, master, because we like it.
It true, it applies to what motivates me. I like to draw, and I get better because I want to get better. In countries around the world you see volunteers expertly helping out those in need because they put their whole mind into it. They don’t feel obliged to help, but do it out of their own hearts. In Daniel Pink’s book, Drive, the second chapter gives the example of Tom Sawyer. Tom doesn’t like to work, but using his quick smarts, he makes the other kids think painting the face is play and they do it for him. It describes how a boy wont do a job of he is forced to do it, but will do it if he wants too.
Daniel Pink really was effective on his TED when instead of telling a story, he made a case with the prosecution and even the evidence, law school must’ve paid off for him because he was so persuasive. He certainly got my verdict. High-rewards are guilty of making people have poorer performances.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Control Yourself!
Aids, cancer, the swine flu, those are diseases we fear the most. Dean Ornish says pish posh to those, we got a bigger problem. There is a disease that is the cause of more deaths than other sicknesses combined, and it could be preventable. Cardiovascular disease, the silent killer. The deaths by cardiovascular disease in Africa equals to the number of deaths by HIV and AIDS in most other countries. We could prevent it, says Dean Ornish, but instead we are helping spread the cause of cardiovascular disease to countries in Asia. McDonalds, Burger King, are to name a few of the fast food chains we are encouraging throughout the world.
Before, Asia was the place with the least percentage of cardiovascular disease and food related problems, now it has the highest rate of cardiovascular disease. It’s because they eat like us so they get sick like us. Dean Ornish says that cardiovascular disease could be preventable for 95% of the population. That is a lot. By changing diets, eating healthier, and working out, the number one cause of death would not be the number one cause of death.
I can relate personally to the bad diet and felt it affect me personally. I know that you expected me to say something big, like I was once obese, that I couldn’t breathe well, but the diet of fast food affected me in a different manner. Since I eat healthy and work out, whenever I get a burger from McDonalds or Burger King as a fast snack, I would later regret it when being pained by heartburn and an upset stomach.
Dean Ornish was really effective at his talk by incorporating factual information and comparisons. This TED on the killer diet of Americans is very important to everyone because we could lead a longer life and stay healthy and happy if we listened and knew about what we are getting ourselves into.
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