All in Technology
Warfare inevitably destroys human life. Human life is the fuel war runs on and the medium through which it is carried out. For all of history, humans have organized to destroy one another in this brutal contest. From clubs and spears to cannons and rifles, war has been an omnipresent fixture of human history. However, recent developments have seen a shift in how conflict is carried out - namely, the introduction and development of drone technology.
You may have heard of a unique computer known as a quantum computer. These computers are similar to traditional computers as they both need to be programmed to perform tasks, process information, and perform logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT. While the two types of computers have some similarities, quantum computers differ in how they compute data, how they are programmed, the hardware and settings that are required to run them, and more. Quantum computers are of great benefit to us globally due to the fact that they can solve complex problems and create accurate predictions that would take a classical computer an exceptionally long time to compute.
Data analytics is a rapidly growing and fascinating field that finds its allure in the diverse range of applications it offers. Among these applications, engineering systems are a crucial area of interest in the modern world. Almost everything we encounter, from our everyday devices and machines to complex tools and innovations, relies on engineering systems. However, the operation of these systems can sometimes lead to failures, which may result in significant problems. This is where data analytics comes to the rescue, utilizing cutting-edge analytical techniques like machine learning and statistical analysis to proactively prevent and address potential issues, ensuring the smooth functioning and reliability of engineering systems. Let’s dive into the exciting applications of data analytics in engineering systems.
Starting as “Page Rank”, the algorithm was designed to revolutionize how we search for information across the corners and perimeters of the Internet. The algorithm came out better than ever expected and held astronomical promise in the commercial sector.
Nostalgia has crept up on us all at some point or another, but now for the first time in history, it has become such a widespread and intense phenomenon that Millennials and Gen Z’s have been dubbed the “Nostalgia Generation”. Were the Hannah Montana movies that good? Is everyone genuinely that attached to the Ice Bucket Challenge and conspiracy theories about hearing subliminal satanic messages when you play an Ariana Grande song backward? Maybe. There are many possible theories behind nostalgia's hold on this generation. One explanation that has come up time and time again in conversation is that of the modern economy, namely the instability of it, and the rise of mass production in American media as a marketing strategy.
Planned obsolescence is the practice of designing a product with a limited useful lifespan so that it will become outdated or unusable after a certain period of time. This is typically done in order to encourage consumers to replace their existing products with new ones, thus driving demand and sales. Planned obsolescence can be seen in various products, including automobiles, appliances, and consumer electronics. It is often criticized for contributing to waste and consumerism, as it encourages the frequent replacement of still-functioning products. Kramer in “User Experience in the Age of Sustainability” calls it “the expiration date effect”
Innovation and popularity of the electric vehicle industry has reached new heights recently, as the push for saving our environment through cleaner emissions are taking root in America. The United States is behind in the EV industry when compared to their competitors, but is beginning to take initiative and eliminate gas-powered cars from their roads. Currently, China’s EV market is three times as large as the United States’, but this could soon change as President Biden is proposing a substantial $174 billion investment in the EV market, with hopes to increase domestic supply chains, create American jobs in the industry, and provide sale rebates and tax incentives to encourage both consumers and producers (“The American Job Plan” 2021). Although this infrastructure package is still being debated, the Biden administration has already taken many other steps in promoting a cleaner and more fuel-efficient future.
The average human attention span is 8 seconds. The amount seems minuscule, especially considering that the average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. However, this was not always the case; in 2000, the average human attention span was 12 seconds (Stefanski 2020). It seems that people are unable to concentrate without multitasking or being distracted. It may be easy to simply accept this fact as inevitable human nature, but it’s worth considering how this decline in attention span came to be. It’s no coincidence that this substantial change in average human attention span occurred from 2000 to 2013, exactly matching the exponential rise in technological growth. Over the past few decades, devices have provided over 4.93 billion people with the ability to access countless websites and apps (Broadband Search). Even more recently, social media has risen to prevalence as the most popular apps for teens and adults alike. Despite the overabundance of information available on the internet, people seem to have become lazier and unable to focus for more than a few seconds. However, laziness has driven the growth of innovations such as artificial intelligence that have automated simple tasks and revolutionized the world.
