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(Wiki Article: The End of P.C: Transitioning into Tablets/Smartphones and Beyond)
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Personal computers became more popular with the development of the world wide web and exploded in the market once they became more affordable for the average middle class family. Initially, personal computers came equipped with a way to use an external method to store information: the floppy disk. But as progress was made within the field and a more efficient and effective way to externally store information became available, floppy disk were no longer the primary tool for owners of personal computers. Eventually, with the wide spread use of cds and the cd-rom, the floppy disk faded out completely and no longer came standard on personal computers. This is the same fate personal computers themselves will have in the next two or three decades. With the continued growth of other technologies, progress with personal computers has been very slow. While new personal computers are released almost every year, they are less advertised and less sought out than their smaller and more portable counter ports. As the world moves from desktops to laptops, it is guaranteed that desktops will be phased out sooner, probably within the next decade. This is because desktops, even though they have gotten smaller over time, still take up more space than laptops and tablets. They also make moving spaces or areas harder as they have more pieces and cords to consider than their counter parts. This is not to say that the future of desktops is depended mainly on their size and how easy it is to move them, but it is to say that the trend established back in the 1960s of smaller, faster, more cost efficient is still the front runner of the American technological ideology. In this current market, and the projected market for technology, desktop computers will no longer be considered as a part of that vision. And because of the demand of the market, it would seem that this form of personal computer is costing manufactures more money than it is making them.   
 
Personal computers became more popular with the development of the world wide web and exploded in the market once they became more affordable for the average middle class family. Initially, personal computers came equipped with a way to use an external method to store information: the floppy disk. But as progress was made within the field and a more efficient and effective way to externally store information became available, floppy disk were no longer the primary tool for owners of personal computers. Eventually, with the wide spread use of cds and the cd-rom, the floppy disk faded out completely and no longer came standard on personal computers. This is the same fate personal computers themselves will have in the next two or three decades. With the continued growth of other technologies, progress with personal computers has been very slow. While new personal computers are released almost every year, they are less advertised and less sought out than their smaller and more portable counter ports. As the world moves from desktops to laptops, it is guaranteed that desktops will be phased out sooner, probably within the next decade. This is because desktops, even though they have gotten smaller over time, still take up more space than laptops and tablets. They also make moving spaces or areas harder as they have more pieces and cords to consider than their counter parts. This is not to say that the future of desktops is depended mainly on their size and how easy it is to move them, but it is to say that the trend established back in the 1960s of smaller, faster, more cost efficient is still the front runner of the American technological ideology. In this current market, and the projected market for technology, desktop computers will no longer be considered as a part of that vision. And because of the demand of the market, it would seem that this form of personal computer is costing manufactures more money than it is making them.   
  
While laptops are still not as convenient as tablets and smart phones, they will last longer than desktops. Trends in technology live and die as new business roll outs. When new businesses arise, they have to figure out cost of production, which include office supplies such as printers, faxes, and computers. It is a bad business move to spend money on outdated forms of technology or technology that would consume more than it can produce. With the price of desktops equaling the
+
While laptops are still not as convenient as tablets and smart phones, they will last longer than desktops. Trends in technology live and die as new business roll outs. When new businesses arise, they have to figure out cost of production, which include office supplies such as printers, faxes, and computers. It is a bad business move to spend money on outdated forms of technology or technology that would consume more than it can produce. With the price of desktops equaling the price or costing more than tablets, which are just as useful, user friendly, and efficient, it is hard to see why new businesses would purchase a desktop over its counterpart. In addition to small businesses use of technology, schools and other organizations are turning to these smaller and more mobile options first. They tend to save the organization money and its mobility and compactness is more efficient in various settings.
 +
 
 +
Many would wonder why such objects that began the journey of the technology era would ever fade away or be replaced by a smaller and in some cases less expense model. The answer is simple: old is no longer new. When researching the history of computers and the world wide web, a timeline appeared that listed the very first hypertext link that was every created to link the network to the world wide web. It appears that many would be fascinated to see what the first web page looked like in order to observe a very important part of the world's history. However, the reader quickly learns that not only is the link no longer supported and inactive, but that the link was inactivated very soon after its launch because newer and better versions had and were soon to come out. The world is not interested in the history of the desktop, in so far that they are concerned with the actual technological pieces of history. They want to know what has happened and its impact, but Americans are no longer concerned with "souvenirs" of the past. With the advancing technology, a picture on wikipedia and a timeline will do. Instead, they want what is considered to be the hot item of the moment and unfortunately, desktops are not it. Laptops, on the other hand, are still giving these advancements a bit of competition.
 +
 
 +
Laptops, who's first prototype was invented in 1979 and full creations rolled out in the 1980s, still have a fighting chance. With products from Apple still leading the fore front of the technology race, laptops are able to compete, although they may not win, the race between it, smart phones, and tablets. This is because laptops can (and are not) getting smaller than its original 24 pound weight. They are even slimmer than they once were and in some cases, just as slim as smart phones and tablets. As Apple continues to make updates to their popular laptops, known as MacBooks (with variations that include the AirMac and MacPro), they are still focused on the overall goal of smaller, faster, and more cost efficient. And while they still do manufacture desktop computers, known as iMacs, they have made them more tech savvy in that they are more portable than PC desktop computers. Their design is unique and is tailored to a more tech savvy audience but providing a larger screen, for better visuals, which is important as technology continues to expand, and a smaller keyboard and CPU, which makes it easier to travel with.
 +
 
 +
While the techology business is booming with new, updated, and refreshed ideas, there is still a need for an old time concept, like the desktop. While its counterparts are currently taking over the market, Apple has proven that you can teach an old dog new tricks with their innovative ways to keep a classic not only operation but extremely useful at the same time. While many can see how easy it is for items to be phased out in the world of technology, desktop computers may be able to hang in there for a while. They will eventually be completely replaced with laptops, smart phones, and tablets, but probably not for a while. Overall, growth within this industry is beneficial to a whole wold of people. The only thing missing is the next big thing. With Apple being the front runner on many new inventions, it is highly likely that the newest contraption or replacement for a classic such as a desktop would come from them.
 +
 
 +
''' Work Cited '''
 +
 
 +
"History of Laptop Computers." History of Laptop Computers. Ask.Com, n.d. Web. 27 June 2012. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllaptop.htm>
 +
 
 +
"Tablet Computers Vs Laptop Computers." Tablet Computers Vs Laptop Computers. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 June 2012. <http://www.windowstalk.org/2011/06/tablet-computers-vs-laptop-computers/>.

Latest revision as of 23:37, 28 June 2012

Wiki Article #1: Heron of Alexandria

Background Information

Heron of Alexandria, or Hero as he was sometimes called, is said to have been born in Alexandria, Egypt where he completed many of his life works.There have been speculations around his actual date of birth as there were three potential time periods in which he was suspected to be alive; 150 B.C; 250 A.D, and 62 A.D. Scholars found that he lived during 10 - 62 A.D. This was based on a reference to an eclipse that was made in one of his works. He was a Greek mathematician, scientist, and inventor and did exceptional work in mathematics, physics, and mechanics, where he was given the name " Michanikos; the Machine Man." Scholars believe that he worked in the museum of Alexandria, which was not like the museums that host precious artifacts, but instead a place where people would go and discuss thoughts and new ideas.

Inventions

There are many inventions that Heron of Alexandria has been credited with, but unforuntately, many of these creations were lost over time. Of those that can be accounted for is the first steam engine, which is known as the aeolipile [1] or the Hero engine. Another great invention of Heron of Alexandria is the first model of what many would consider an automatic door. He figured out a way to manipulate fire, air, and water to create a lever that would lower as it was filled with water and close and the water was removed.

  • Coin Operated Slot Machine

One reason Heron of Alexandria's inventions were so instrumental is because of it's original intention. He lived in a time where going to Temple was very important. However, many temples struggled with getting members to give monetary offering, which would help with the temple's upkeep. Another issue came with people's desire to obtain holy water blessed by the priest. Because the priest would have to bless each and every individual cup of holy water, it was very time consuming and potentially cost the temple more money than it made. In order to solve this problem, Heron of Alexandria invented a coin operated slot machine holy water dispenser. It became more time efficient for the priest and potentially increased their monetary intake as it became easier (and less time consuming) to obtain the high valued holy water. Noteworthy Works

He also made great discoveries in math as well. These discoveries include the field of geometry. His most famous mathematical works could be found in a three book (over seven series included) titled Metrica. This book was lost until around 1896. The book included formulas for triangles, cylinders, and volume. It also includes a host of definitions, about 133 geometrical terms that include the definition of point and line. Along with this important work are others that pertain to architect as written in the Mechanican, mechanical devides worked by air, water, and steam pressure as written in pneumatica, and how to construct engines of war as written in belopoeica.

His many works have helped in many areas and have provided the backbone and structure for a host of current amenities.


Work Cited

History Channel. "History Channel - Ancient Discoveries - Heron of Alexandria." YouTube. YouTube, 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 26 May 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6hSv9xqEWI>.

Lahanas, Michael. "Heron of Alexandria, Inventions, Biography, Science (1/2)." Heron of Alexandria, Inventions, Biography, Science (1/2). Web. 27 May 2012. <http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/HeronAlexandria.htm>.

O'Connor, J. J., and E. F. Robertson. "Heron of Alexandria." Heron of Alexandria. 1999. Web. 25 May 2012. <http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Heron.html>.

ThinkQuest Team. "Biography Hero of Alexandria." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, 2000. Web. 27 May 2012. <http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/heron_bio.php3?v=2>.


Wiki Article #2: Magnavox Odyssey

Before you can accurately explain the Odyssey, you must begin at the beginning of the commercialization of video games and Ralph Baer

In the beginning, there was Ralph Baer

Ralph Baer [2], a World Ward II veteran, began working at Loral Company as a T.V engineer in 1951. Here, his job was to work on and develop different T.Vs and he began thinking about the possibilities behind T.V as an interactive device, versus a just a machine you viewed active connection. He presented this idea to the executives of the Loral Company and it was soon shot down. In the years to come, he would leave the Loral Company and began working with Sanders Associates, a government contractor, in 1956. While waiting for a friend one day, he composed multiple sheets full of information pertaining to the design, purpose, and goal for a device that would allow for interaction with a television. The machine would have different programmed games that would range from puzzles and sports to educational based games. He presented the idea to Sanders Associates and they approved. With the help of technicians at Sanders Associates, Baer was able to create a functioning prototype of system by 1966. It would be called the Home TV Game.

Home TV Game to commercialized

Once the prototype was completed, executives at Sanders Associates decided that they wanted to distribute this game, but they did not want the responsibility of the games' mass production. They came up with the idea to link up with a company to help them produce and distribute the gaming system. They shopped the game around to a number of different television companies and Magnavox responds to the call. Because they are so interested in the device, they license all the information and gets a patent for the device and all of the rights and essentially buys the device from Baer, who is the creator of the machine. Over the course of a few years, Magnavox takes Baer's idea and transforms it into a new device that they will sell. This device was released in 1972 and called the Odyssey.

The Magnavox Odyssey

The actual production of the game took around nine months, because not all of the Magnavox executives were certain of its potential success. Before it was released to the public, Magnavox held many showcases where their dealers could come and test the game. They used this as a way to test its popularity and soon was shown how popular this gaming system could be. They finally released the game in 1972. The game came with 6 game discs (like cartridges that would be used for game systems like Nintendo). This design choice saved the company money as it used less circuits. In addition to the game discs, they also included a number of colored screen sheets, which helped them save on costs as well. The graphics were considered child like and were far off from what Baer had imagined. Although the Magnavox sold 130,00 game systems by Christmas (over the course of nine months), there were many issues that prevented selling more games. The first issues came from marketing and sales. Advertisements lead customers to believe the game system would only work with a Magnavox television and that, coupled with high prices, deterred many customers. The add on games were placed below the service counter of stores, but because they were not properly trained in selling additional items, very few additional games were sold. The biggest issue stemmed from the fact that you could only buy the game system from a Magnavox store, which made it difficult for people who were not close to a Magnavox center.

The game system was bigger then executives from Loral would have ever projected, but not as popular as Magnavox would have hoped. Baer's idea opened for door for the many gaming systems of today and a whole new level of interactive television.

Works Cited

Winter, David. "Pong-Story : Magnavox Odyssey." Pong-Story : Magnavox Odyssey, the First Video Game System. 1996. Web. 02 June 2012. <http://www.pong-story.com/odyssey.htm>.


Wiki Article #3: The World WIde Web

Since the beginning of the technical revolution, mankind has undergone some very drastic changes. From the developments with computing to the more efficient ways of communication, and the same is true in regards to the evolution of the world wide web. Before proceeding, definitions need to be explained as the world wide web is often mistaken for the internet.

Internet v. World Wide Web

The internet is is a network that allows personal computers from all over the world to connect to one another by means of hardware and cables. The world wide web, on the other hand, is a useful component within the internet. A great example of the relationship between the internet and world wide web is given by Paul Gil About Paul Gil. It states, " The internet is the restaurant and the world wide web is its most popular dish." It also makes it easier to understand if you know other "popular dishes" used to access the internet. They include email, I.M, and chat amongst others.

In the Beginning ...

Prototypes for the internet first began in the 1960s. In 1962, a guy by the name of Doug Engelbart prototyped an "oNLine System (NLS)" that is multifunction and can email, hypertext browsing, and much more. During this time, he also created the mouse in order to navigate through the prototype. About seven years later in 1969, ARPA creates ARPANET which connects the networks of a few major universities, such as UCLA, SRI International, University of California at Santa Barbara. Within 2 years, over 15 universities were connected through ARPANET. In the 1980s, a consultant in CERN CERN and the Web by the name of Tim Bermers-Lee created a program that would link different computer information points. The program was called EQUIRE "Enquire-Within-Upon-Everything". During this time, he also wrote "Information Management: A proposal" and "HyperText and CERN". This became the proposal that would lead to the World Wide Web.

In the Midst of it All

In the 1990s, Tim Bremers-Lee invented the World Wide Web, HTML, and a text web browser by using a NeXT computer. This included him establishing the first connection between HTTP (hypertext transfer prototype) and server via the internet. While he considered other names like Mesh and Information Mine, Bremers-Lee ultimately settled for World Wide Web. By December of 1990, the world wide web browser was able to be demonstrated. The first web page was http://nxoc01.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html. However, this web page is not longer supported by CERN and is not available. Its original purpose was to be able to connect scientist and scholars from all different universities in order for them to connect and share information in a more efficient manner.

Life after 1990... and into today

After this ingenious invention, the world wide web has aided in the expansion of the use of the internet and the expansion of businesses world wide. By 1994, over two million computers were connected to the internet, but were mainly scientist, researchers, and academics. The creation of the web allowed for many inventions like Yahoo search engine and for new forms of information to arise, such as the university of North Carolina's college station (WXYC), which was the first in the world to broadcast a radio show over the internet.

Thanks to Tim Bremers-Lee for expanding the lives of billions with his invention, making the use of the internet more practical.

Work Cited

Connolly, Dan, and Robert Cailliau. "A Little History of the World Wide Web." A Little History of the World Wide Web. W3C, 1995. Web. 24 June 2012. <http://www.w3.org/History.html>.

Curtis, Ph.D, Anthony. "A Brief History of the World Wide Web." A Brief History of the World Wide Web. Mass Communication Dept., University of North Carolina at Pembroke, 2011. Web. 23 June 2012. <http://www.uncp.edu/home/acurtis/Courses/ResourcesForCourses/WebHistory.html>.

Gil, Paul. "What Is the Difference Between the Internet and the Web?" About.com Internet for Beginners. About.com Guide, n.d. Web. 24 June 2012. <http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/internet101/f/the_difference_between_internet_and_web.htm>


Wiki Article: The End of P.C: Transitioning into Tablets/Smartphones and Beyond

As the era of modern technology reaches peak after peak, one begins to wonder what is next in technology. Since the beginning of the era of technology, there have been consistent and constant advancements. From the development of the network and web, to the transformation that occurred with the size and structure of computers, to the creation of more efficient ways to connect and interact socially. Among items on the current trend, has tablets and smart phones are at the forefront of the race. Manufacturers and top companies are scrambling to out compete one another with new updates, cool graphics, and faster operating systems that will have anxious and tech savvy customers lined up to purchase their item. With all the current releases, it makes one wonder what will come next; what new developments will be unveiled in the near future that will impact the world like the creation of the world wide web, or even if such an invention even exists. What is known is simple: new technology is rolling in which means that older technology will soon be discontinued. With the shift and focus moving from updates with personal computers to the growth and development of more portable and smaller devices such as tablets and smart phones, it can be concluded that personal computers will soon phase out.

Personal computers became more popular with the development of the world wide web and exploded in the market once they became more affordable for the average middle class family. Initially, personal computers came equipped with a way to use an external method to store information: the floppy disk. But as progress was made within the field and a more efficient and effective way to externally store information became available, floppy disk were no longer the primary tool for owners of personal computers. Eventually, with the wide spread use of cds and the cd-rom, the floppy disk faded out completely and no longer came standard on personal computers. This is the same fate personal computers themselves will have in the next two or three decades. With the continued growth of other technologies, progress with personal computers has been very slow. While new personal computers are released almost every year, they are less advertised and less sought out than their smaller and more portable counter ports. As the world moves from desktops to laptops, it is guaranteed that desktops will be phased out sooner, probably within the next decade. This is because desktops, even though they have gotten smaller over time, still take up more space than laptops and tablets. They also make moving spaces or areas harder as they have more pieces and cords to consider than their counter parts. This is not to say that the future of desktops is depended mainly on their size and how easy it is to move them, but it is to say that the trend established back in the 1960s of smaller, faster, more cost efficient is still the front runner of the American technological ideology. In this current market, and the projected market for technology, desktop computers will no longer be considered as a part of that vision. And because of the demand of the market, it would seem that this form of personal computer is costing manufactures more money than it is making them.

While laptops are still not as convenient as tablets and smart phones, they will last longer than desktops. Trends in technology live and die as new business roll outs. When new businesses arise, they have to figure out cost of production, which include office supplies such as printers, faxes, and computers. It is a bad business move to spend money on outdated forms of technology or technology that would consume more than it can produce. With the price of desktops equaling the price or costing more than tablets, which are just as useful, user friendly, and efficient, it is hard to see why new businesses would purchase a desktop over its counterpart. In addition to small businesses use of technology, schools and other organizations are turning to these smaller and more mobile options first. They tend to save the organization money and its mobility and compactness is more efficient in various settings.

Many would wonder why such objects that began the journey of the technology era would ever fade away or be replaced by a smaller and in some cases less expense model. The answer is simple: old is no longer new. When researching the history of computers and the world wide web, a timeline appeared that listed the very first hypertext link that was every created to link the network to the world wide web. It appears that many would be fascinated to see what the first web page looked like in order to observe a very important part of the world's history. However, the reader quickly learns that not only is the link no longer supported and inactive, but that the link was inactivated very soon after its launch because newer and better versions had and were soon to come out. The world is not interested in the history of the desktop, in so far that they are concerned with the actual technological pieces of history. They want to know what has happened and its impact, but Americans are no longer concerned with "souvenirs" of the past. With the advancing technology, a picture on wikipedia and a timeline will do. Instead, they want what is considered to be the hot item of the moment and unfortunately, desktops are not it. Laptops, on the other hand, are still giving these advancements a bit of competition.

Laptops, who's first prototype was invented in 1979 and full creations rolled out in the 1980s, still have a fighting chance. With products from Apple still leading the fore front of the technology race, laptops are able to compete, although they may not win, the race between it, smart phones, and tablets. This is because laptops can (and are not) getting smaller than its original 24 pound weight. They are even slimmer than they once were and in some cases, just as slim as smart phones and tablets. As Apple continues to make updates to their popular laptops, known as MacBooks (with variations that include the AirMac and MacPro), they are still focused on the overall goal of smaller, faster, and more cost efficient. And while they still do manufacture desktop computers, known as iMacs, they have made them more tech savvy in that they are more portable than PC desktop computers. Their design is unique and is tailored to a more tech savvy audience but providing a larger screen, for better visuals, which is important as technology continues to expand, and a smaller keyboard and CPU, which makes it easier to travel with.

While the techology business is booming with new, updated, and refreshed ideas, there is still a need for an old time concept, like the desktop. While its counterparts are currently taking over the market, Apple has proven that you can teach an old dog new tricks with their innovative ways to keep a classic not only operation but extremely useful at the same time. While many can see how easy it is for items to be phased out in the world of technology, desktop computers may be able to hang in there for a while. They will eventually be completely replaced with laptops, smart phones, and tablets, but probably not for a while. Overall, growth within this industry is beneficial to a whole wold of people. The only thing missing is the next big thing. With Apple being the front runner on many new inventions, it is highly likely that the newest contraption or replacement for a classic such as a desktop would come from them.

Work Cited

"History of Laptop Computers." History of Laptop Computers. Ask.Com, n.d. Web. 27 June 2012. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllaptop.htm>

"Tablet Computers Vs Laptop Computers." Tablet Computers Vs Laptop Computers. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 June 2012. <http://www.windowstalk.org/2011/06/tablet-computers-vs-laptop-computers/>.