Tech Talk

If you’re like me, you likely have some chocolate lying around your home or office — and chances are you get criticized for eating so much sugar. 

Well, now you can honesty tell your naysayers that you’ve got the nuggets of heaven, as I sometimes call them, on hand (at least partially) for the benefit of mankind and the pursuit of truth.

Your chocolate, Wired.com reports, can be used to measure the speed of light.  Really.

In just a handful of easy simple steps, you can morph your chocolate into the perfect ice cream topping — and a really cool science experiment.

So what are you waiting for?  Check it out.  You know you want to.

Facebook released a fascinating snapshot of its users Monday afternoon.

In its most recent company blog post, Lars Backstrom offered a perspective of the world as perceived through the words of the social network’s users in status messages over the past year.

Among the top status trends in 2009 on Facebook in order, according to the blog:

1. Facebook Applications
   Specific words: Farmville, Farm Town, Social Living
2. FML (or F*** My Life)
   Specific words: FML
3. Swine Flu
   Specific words: Flu, Swine Flu, H1N1
4. Celebrity Deaths
   Specific words: Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Billy Mays
5. Family
   Specific words: Family, Mom, Dad, Son, Daughter, Kids
6. Movies
   Specific words: New Moon, Transformers, Star Trek, The Hangover, Paranormal Activity, Harry Potter
7. Sports
   Specific words: Steelers, Yankees
8. Health Care
   Specific words: Health Care, No one should have to…
9. FB
   Specific words: FB, FB Friends, News Feed
10. Twitter
    Specific words: Twitter, RT
11. Years
    Specific words: 2008, 2009, 2010
12. Lady Gaga
    Specific words: Gaga, Poker Face
13. Yard
    Specific words: Yard
14. Religion
    Specific words: Easter, Lord, God
15. I
    Specific words: I, is

The data provides some insight into the social network’s users.  Among the most striking aspects to me:

• How prominent applications have become in users’ experiences on Facebook.  I could attest to how many notifications I receive daily sparked by applications; some days, I am sorry to admit I have nearly as many from applications as I do friends.
• How honest, or perhaps frank, users are about their lives. 
  NOTE: According to the blog posting, this term was used the least over the summer and the most on Mondays and Tuesdays.  On a note, it was posted that it was used more commonly on Tuesdays.  This to me, seems to be an indicative of young people continuing to utilize the social network to communicate among peers.  I wouldn’t expect folks using the network for professional means to use the term “FML,” which is generally used to discuss a negative element of one’s day or existence.
• It makes sense that people discussed the swine flu, as it was one of the most prominently reported stories of the year.  It also makes sense as the target demographic is young people.  However, according to the post, the use of the word was used the least on Sundays.  There is no indication as to the reason.
• The only surprising thing about celebrities making the list is how relatively low it is.  I would have guessed it would have been higher than swine flu.  According the post, Patrick Swayze’s death was almost as discussed as Michael Jackson’s.  I would think this is the data’s first indication of an older audience.
• According to the data, “New Moon” was the most discussed movie.  Personally, I thought it wasn’t very good.  I am also surprised that movie chatter didn’t fare higher on this list.
• Facebook users discussed the Yankees and Steelers more than any other teams, according to the data presented on the blog.  It makes sense as the Pittsburgh team won the Super Bowl and the Yankees won yet another World Series championship. 
• Health Care: An interesting trend.  While this issue has consistently been in the news since President Barack Obama’s inauguration in January, it surprised me it made this list.  I would think the social network’s older demographic would have propelled it into such a trending topic.  According to the data, millions of people posted “No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day.” Apparently viral marketing works.  Beyond that, health care mentions are up 10 times since a year ago, according to the data.
• It didn’t surprise me that people discussed Facebook or Twitter on Facebook.  Social networkers tend to be opinionated.  As for Twitter, many people tie their Twitter accounts with their Facebook equivalent.
• Frankly, I was shocked to see Lady Gaga in the top mix.  I knew she was huge, but had no idea she was this big.  This is clearly a mark of the younger demographic.
• Yard took me and Facebook by complete surprise. According to the data, it appears that the newer, older demographic have been updating their friends on the yard work they have been doing. 
• The mention of religion, according to the data, was up 30 percent over last year.  I would think this is yet another indication of newer, older users who tend to be more in line with God and religion.  It has been my experience that fewer of my teenage and high school friends mention the church or synagogue as often as my older friends do.

According to Facebook, there were almost 100 million words a day posted in status updates at the beginning of the year. That is up by a factor of four in the past year.  No one could dispute that Facebook has become an integral part of our society.  And as such, Facebook offers a unique perspective of what the pulse of our nation, and indeed world, truly is.  While it is far (read: far, far, far, far, far) from perfect, it is one of the best we have.  And as more people sign on to Facebook from more diverse demographics, the more accurate that pulse will become.

The prospect of a 6-year-old floating away to his potential doom captivated cable and Internet news consumers for hours on Thursday.  However, when it was determined the boy was hiding in a box in his home rather than a UFO-shaped balloon, questions began to emerge.

Throughout the live coverage of the event, numerous experts speculated about numerous things, such as the direction the balloon might be headed, what altitude it could potentially reach and how long a child could survive in such a craft. 

However, one thing I did not hear a peep about was the shape of the balloon.

There is a fascinating article on Wired.com about how experts might have easily deduced from the onset of the story that the balloon was likely not carrying a child.

Check out the complete article, complete with videos, images and calculations, here.

It is sometimes difficult to believe that the Web site is still in its infancy.

Just consider when these popular Web sites took their first steps:

Apple: 1987
White House: 1994
Yahoo: 1994
MSN: 1995
NY Times: 1995
Amazon: 1995
Google: 1996
Dell: 1996
BBC News: 1997
Drudge: 1997
Wikipedia: 2001
MySpace: 2003
Flickr: 2004
Facebook: 2004
YouTube: 2005
Twitter: 2006

To see screen grabs from around their launch dates, please click here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I apologize my absense over the last month.  This blog is essentially being relaunched as a lighter entity with an increased number of interesting and off-beat updates.  I hope you enjoy it.

One of the principle problems with technology is the amount of information available.  With an endless stream of stories and data flowing across the Web, information is easily buried.

As a result, folks have come to categorize their information – through very niche RSS feeds, news sources and blogs — and only pay attention to what they know already interests them.

However, this could lead to the downfall of America.

As newspapers collapse across the country and fewer people read the ones that remain, information slips through the cracks.

One of the best things about newspapers is the sheer magnitude of information contained within a relatively low number of pages.  Stories that one could have easily missed are easily found when reading the newspaper.

A parallel example is how many people get their fix of entertainment today.

Instead of listening to the radio, as past generations have, an increasing number of folks are listening to niche stations on satellite or Internet radio or to mp3 players where they only hear music that they want.  So much for discovering new tunes.

The same is true concerning television on the Web. Folks miss commercials advertising other programs.  So much for expanding our horizons.

By tuning into the same beats, shows and news feeds, an alarmingly high percentage of our society is avoiding anything that makes them think — let alone challenge preconceived notions, beliefs or concepts.

While the influx of information available to all of us is a wonderful thing, it is more important than ever to develop a well-balanced perspective on the world around us — something newspapers do — or our democracy could collapse.  Remember, a strong press is necessary to have a strong democracy.  Citizens need to understand what is happening around them in government to make wise choices and select the best people to represent their particular interests.

More epic than the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees, Seinfeld and Newman or even Batman and the Joker is that between the BlackBerry and the iPhone.

I, a loyal and long-time BlackBerry user, find myself torn between these two gadgets as my AT&T contact comes up for renewal. 

I can’t seem to find a clear consensus among friends as to each one is superior — everyone is committed to their gadget of choice — so I turned to the all-knowing Internet for some guidance.

Among the better comparison articles I found on the topic was on Wired.com.

Among the highlights:

In terms of applications:

“I’ve not been impressed by the application selection the Blackberry offers. While there are some free applications, most are second rate at best and the selection of pay applications isn’t nearly as robust as it should be. The Blackberry App Store is like a pawn shop that only sells used 8-track players.

…

Application development on the iPhone has been one of the highlights of the device since its inception. Developers are encouraged to design and sell their own applications, and there are thousands of applications available in the iPhone App Store. Even though there are several hundred useless applications, there are hundreds more to make life easier in the palm of your hand.”

In terms of physical attributes:

“The touchscreen and motion sensibility on the iPhone is unmatched by any other touchscreen devices. Bump to exchange contact information, play games by tilting the phone, zoom in with a finger slide motion. It’s simply amazing technology and even the touchscreen Blackberry Storm doesn’t come close. But you still wouldn’t want to drop an iPhone more than once.

…

Even if it gets run over by a truck the Blackberry still holds its form, avoids cracks and doesn’t lose a key. The Blackberry, built for business and travel, is a durable and strong phone.”

In terms of gaming:

“Playing games on the iPhone is a fantastic and handy experience, especially multiplayer games. “

In terms of functionality:

“Companies run Blackberry server products. From the connectivity to Microsoft Exchange server and the ease of mobile e-mail, the Blackberry is far superior to the iPhone.

…

The iPhone has more storage, a faster CPU and more RAM. … As I’ve witnessed at work, the iPhone is the anti-productivity phone.

…

Recently, the iPhone became compatible with Exchange Server, which was a huge step toward integrating with business.”

The writer’s conclusion … a tie?

“The bottom line is, we’re geeks. Geeks like awesome tech toys and the iPhone is certainly that. From its gaming to its thousands of unique and specific applications, it’s a device that every geek wants to carry even if they already have a Blackberry.”

And you know what? I agree.  We are all geeks.  However, with that said, I think I will eventually give in and purchase an iPhone and abandon my beloved BlackBerry. 

And here’s why:

• Superior video and photo capabilities
• Ability to surf the real Internet, as opposed to the mobile net
• Access to tens of thousands of spectacular and practical applications
• Ability to remotely erase data if phone is lost or stolen
• Fewer keystrokes
• Easier data entry through a variety of techniques
• Ability to store and listen to music

Though with that said, there are things I fear about the iPhone, including:

• Including having to type on a screen, rather than keys
• Horror stories concerning battery life
• Limited third-party support
• Loss of MMS capabilities
• Only being to use one application at a time
• Durability of the iPhone screen
• Speaker phone is less than adequate
• Inability to save documents

Technology is being developed that could reduce one’s time in the hospital — and prevent a visit entirely.

One company, Proteus Biomedical Inc., is testing a digestible chip that could be attached to medication would allow doctors to determine if their patients are taking their prescribed medications, the Wall Street Journal reports.  The device would also wirelessly transmit patients’ vital signs.

Andrew Thompson predicted his company’s technology will generate new information giving doctors more choices to intervene when they notice a heart patient isn’t sleeping well, or is taking incorrect dosages of prescription medication, which could lead to congestive heart failure.

The Journal reports that dozens of companies are hoping that wireless technology will create a health care system that keeps folks healthier for less money.

Triage Wireless Inc. is now testing a device that would wirelessly measure vital signs of patients in their hospital rooms.  Meanwhile, Corventis Inc. is developing a bandage-style senor that would measure one’s respiration, fluid status and physical movements, the Journal reports.

Intel Corp. is hoping to develop a mat to track a patient’s movements in an attempt to prevent falls.

To check out more technological advancements in health care, please click here.

Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and genomics professor at Scripps Research Institute, said annual savings from remote monitoring could be as much as $10.1 billion for American sufferers of congestive heart failure, $6.1 billion for diabetes and $4.9 billion for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

However, not everyone is sold on the claims new technology could save money.

Mark Holland, managing director of System Research Services, told the Journal there are “precious few” studies that back up such promises.  He said if the costs associated with the new approaches are not covered, doctors and hospitals will not want to use them.

AND IN OTHER NEWS…

The Connecticut Hearst dailies featured a Web site today created by Benito Vazquez, of Greenwich, and Bryan King, of West Haven, that allows newlyweds to sell items they no longer want after getting married.

The site, MyWeddingIsOver.com, is designed to allow folks around the world to buy or sell items related to the wedding industry — including wedding gowns and contracts for wedding services never used.

Vazquez told the papers that while “a few other sites did this… they just focused on jewelry from American weddings.”

The site also serves as a place where people looking to start a business can sell their wares.

However, Vazquez said the site isn’t limited to those who were just — or are about to – get married.  A clothing retailer from India has put a collection of saris on the site, he said.

The business duo hopes to eventually get on Oprah, King said.

While texting and driving has always been considered dangerous, a new Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study really puts things into perspective.

According to the research, which the N.Y. Times reports is the first of drivers text messaging inside of their automobiles, far surpasses estimates based on laboratory research.

The study to be released Tuesday found, according to the Times, that when drivers texted, their collision risk was a whopping 23 times greater than when they were not.

The cabs of long-haul trucks were outfitted with video cameras — at the cost of $6M – over 18 months and across 3 million miles to gather the data, the newspaper reported.  More than 100 truckers were studied.

Also frightening:

“In the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers typically spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices — enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more than the length of a football field.”

While trucks take longer to stop and are less maneuverable than cars, researchers say the conclusions can be applied to all drivers, the Times reported. 

The study was financed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration whose mission is to improve safety in trucks and buses.

Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech institute, told the Times that the results are clear:

” ‘You should never do this,” he said of texting while driving. “It should be illegal.’ “

While Connecticut currently has a ban on operating hand-held cell phones while driving, the Connecticut Post last week called it a failure:

“This is not a matter of personal liberty, or the state taking away your rights. If an action is proven to bring great risk to others on the road, as operating a cell phone surely does, the government has a responsibility to step in.

It won’t happen soon. The state continues to wait on a budget agreement and won’t be taking up major new initiatives until the next session. But it should be high on their to-do list.”