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Info Technology in Media & Communication

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Published on May 8, 2013, by in Uncategorized.
Project 1

The technology that I choose to write about is Word Processing Software, specifically Microsoft Word software. A definition of Microsoft word as created by Harvard is “Microsoft Word is a word processing software application that enables you do easily create both simple and complex documents, such as memos or reports. Microsoft Word provides tools to enable you to check spelling of your document, create merge letters and add graphics to enhance your written information.” (Information Technology Department, 2012) Microsoft Word was invented in the year 1983. (Ichbiah & Kneper, 1991) This program was released as Microsoft was starting up and in conjunction with the Microsoft Windows program.(“Microsoft windows history,” 2013). Microsoft Word works by allowing you to create a text document for whatever purpose one might need it for. My personal experience is extensive. All of my professors require me to type my papers and I have an entire course based upon learning the skills to properly utilize the program.
The technology of a word processor, specifically one as popular as Microsoft Word is being used constantly. It is used on the main operating systems of both Windows and Macintosh computers. It is used for most writing and thousands, if not millions, of students use it for school every day. I am a Media and Communication major, with an emphasis on News Reporting and Writing. For me personally, I hope to get a job in the journalism field when I graduate. In my field of study, Word Processing software is used constantly. Entire newspapers are created with word processing programs and that is what news articles are all written on. It allows for stories to be shared, not only through email but also on the internet. I believe that word processing software is one of the most instrumental tools used for journalism because of the range of communication that it allows. It also has many important features such as Spell Check and word count programs, something that is key to writing an excellent news article worthy of being printed in the newspaper.
Unfortunately, with all these amazing features, come some drawbacks. The most prevalent drawback is the laziness that accompanies the spell check feature. Word may say that you spelled a word correctly, but it is actually the incorrect word to use in the instance. In fact, a recent study done by the New York Daily News shows that autocorrect is actually causing a decline in the use of proper words and grammar. (Mccarthy & Siemaszko, 2012) Despite this imperfection, I believe that word processing systems will continue to get “smarter” and more sophisticated. These programs are certainly not going anywhere in the field of journalism any time soon.

WORKS CITED

Ichbiah, D., & Kneper, S. (1991). The making of microsoft: how bill gates and his team created the world\’s most successful software company. Prima Publisher.

Microsoft windows history. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.computerhope.com/history/windows.htm

Information Technology Department. (2012, January 19). Microsoft word information and support. Retrieved from http://it.hms.harvard.edu/pg.asp?pn=software_word

Mccarthy, D., & Siemaszko, C. (2012, May 22). New yorkers can’t get it ‘write’ because they are hooked on spell-check, test shows. New York Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/new-yorkers-write-hooked-spell-check-test-shows-article-1.1082957
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Trakus: A Horseracing’s Premier Timing System

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Published on April 17, 2013, by in Emerging Technologies, Input and Output Hardware.

Trakus uses these sensors (“chicklets”), placed in the silks of each horse, that communicate with towers around the track to record valuable data.
Image taken from: http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/7892815/trakus-brings-action-fans

Information systems technology is rarely the first topic that comes to mind when horse racing is mentioned, but he horse racing industry is becoming increasingly advanced as far as the technology used in the sport. Introduced in 2006 at Woodbine Downs in Ontario, Canada, a new system has given the race timing and tracking system a makeover (Dulay, 2013). The Trakus system consists of a small chip placed in the saddlecloths that communicates with antennas placed around the track wirelessly during a live race (Trakus System Technology, 2008). This 2.8 ounce chip, similar in dimensions to a credit card, gathers data about each horse’s position and speed (Hughes, 2012). Trakus is also connected to an online network that is always available for racing fans (About the Trakus System , 2013).

Trakus is allowing the racing and betting industry to reach out to a new and broader audience. Bob McCarthy is president of Trakus, and feels that the company is allowing both seasoned race fans and newcomers to become more involved, and access information more readily. “Trakus can do a pretty good job filling in, in addition to the interpretation of the race, stuff that takes the race down to a quantitative level. I think we can really work with the industry to reach new fans and automate the kind of things that more experienced players use as an everyday tool.” (Hughes, 2012). Trakus makes a live race easy to follow, displaying a graphical representation (called chiclets) on a screen, allowing viewers to have a more accurate idea of what is happening down on the track (Dulay, 2013). Because the network connected to Trakus is up-to-date down to the half-furlong, fans have online access to everything from the exact distance a horse ran to the peak and average speeds of the horse. An additional bonus is that this information is available free of charge through certain racing websites such as Del Mar (About the Trakus System , 2013).

Trakus is also an extremely useful tool to owners and trainers. Because of its ability to track the exact distance one horse ran compared to another, owners and trainers are now able to judge a time based on the exact distance a horse ran, and not just the length of the track. For example, when a horse by the name of Union Rags was beaten by no more than a head by Hansen, Trakus determined that Union rags ran an incredible 78 feet further than his opponent, therefore running a better race. Information like this allows trainers and owners to work off this data, and instruct jockeys how to ride the most efficient race (Hughes, 2012).

Although already a highly advanced system, Trakus allows developers to create further advances by using easy-to-integrate software, and will allow conjunction with many different forms of media that can utilize Trakus data (Trakus System Technology, 2008).  It seems as if there is nowhere to go but up for the Trakus company. Many racetracks are jumping on the idea of a product that is so efficient and has very few drawbacks–to name a few, Churchill Downs, Del Mar and Santa Anita have all installed the Trakus system. However, some tracks have yet to climb aboard, and it seems as if cost is a major factor. According to Pat Cummings, business manager for Trakus, in time, granted there is available resources, Trakus can be everywhere (Hughes, 2012).

Works Cited

Trakus System Technology. (2008). Retrieved February 20, 2013, from Trakus.com: http://www.trakus.com/technology.asp

About the Trakus System . (2013). Retrieved February 20, 2013, from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club: http://www.dmtc.com/racinginfo/trakus.php

Dulay, C. P. (2013). Trakus Brings Racing Into the 21st Century. Retrieved February 20 2013, 2013, from horseracing.about.com: http://horseracing.about.com/od/latestnews/a/aatrakus.htm

Hughes, A. W. (2012, September 29). Tracking Technology Rvealing Arcane Truths About Horse Races. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from Kentucky.com: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/09/29/2354736/tracking-technology-revealing.html

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Food Science and Modern Technology

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Published on April 15, 2013, by in Emerging Technologies.

A large part of the food production and food science industry is technology. A more specific type of technology commonly used is nanotechnology. According to nano.gov, nanotechnology “ is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.” This technology is used in almost any scientific field of study from chemistry to engineering.

These new and improving technologies are helping the food industry from how the food is grown, to how the food is packaged. Examples on how nanotechnology is already helping are nanomaterials killing bacteria and nanocomposites helping with carbonated beverages. Food bins that are embedded with silver nanoparticles kill bacteria. This is a major way to contain and stop the spread of bacteria and disease in the food world causing less illness. Also, nanocomposites in plastic bottle beverages stop the escape of carbon dioxide. This means that manufacturers can keep using the cheapest bottling material, plastic, while making the shelf life last longer because more carbonation is staying in the drinks. Technology like this is already in place and making a big impact in the food science and production world. New nanotechnologies are being looked at that only come into effect when in the insects stomach. This would mean safer pesticides and also fewer amounts of pesticides needed. This nanotechnology can be and in some parts is a big part of the food science and food production world.

Nanotechnology is also being developed to help the agricultural part of food production. Nanosenors are being developed that can be sprayed onto crops with water to tell what nutrients the crops need or have too much of. This is a big deal because it would mean more plentiful crops and almost no waste. Also, nanotechnology is being looked at to help with pesticides.

Since all technologies are forever improving, nanotechnology is too. There are parts to nanotechnology that grow every day and new developments always being made. There is always a way scientists will get these technologies to keep shrinking and shrinking. Nanotechnology is already being used currently a lot, like the examples I previously mentioned. Overall, nanotechnology is a great thing for the food world to use. It does anything from fight bacteria to keeping bottled beverages fresh. It is also cheap technology, which every company is always looking to find.

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Veterinary Medicine and IT

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Published on April 11, 2013, by in Health, social, legal and ethical implications of IT.

Emily Borrell

Information Technology

March 1, 2013

IT and Veterinary Medicine

               In order to understand how IT (information technology), is used in the Veterinary field, an understanding of the topic has to be established. Information technology is computer systems and their functions. Most if not all businesses use a computer, and in that computer there are many systems at work all at once. If there is an understanding of how the computer is working and what exactly is happening in the computer, then business people will be able to use it to the best of its ability. In all forms of veterinary medicine (large animal, small animal, private practice, and emergency hospitals) they use it to book appointments, look up vaccination records, and track every detail of all their animals. Without information technology, businesses would be much harder to manage.

Through the whole veterinary process a computer is involved. First, the person comes in during their appointment. The receptionist will turn on her computer and open the calendar where the appointment is booked. She/he will look on the monitor, output screen, and click next to the client’s name. Usually, the calendar is on a computer program in Windows 8. This is an output program that is installed on a computer to allow the user to interpret the computer and use applications to further help them with a task.

Next, the veterinarian will look up the vaccination records and medical history of the animal. From there, the veterinarian will be able to determine what steps need to be taken with the animal. It also helps to understand the medical history of the breed and possible baby animals in the future. The animal’s genetic diseases can also be tracked through the computer. Veterinarians will communicate with other veterinarians by inputting information on the internet and then outputting the information when searching for answers.

Once the dog is looked over with either x- ray systems (which also use a computer to operate) or a simple scale, which uses a microchip also found in computers to calculate information about the animal. The x-ray will take pictures of the inside of an animal’s body using a computer system and radioactive imagery. The computer does a similar thing with an application called a calculator. This computes data to give the person receiving the information results.

Finally, the animal’s owner will book another appointment and the cycle will happen again.

This technology will change the future of veterinary medicine because as technology advances so will the veterinary field. One way veterinary medicine has advanced is by pet tracking. The vet will insert a microchip into the dogs skin which will allow for an owner to see where there dog is at all times.

 

 

 

Info Technology in Biology

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Published on April 9, 2013, by in Uncategorized.

Within the field of Biology, there are many different uses for information technology. Its influence to Biology has been so crucial that any technology that has to do with Biology is classified as Bioinformatics. The purpose of Bioinformatics, according to the NCBI , is to “enable the discovery of new biological insights as well as to create a global perspective from which unifying principles in biology can be discerned” (NCBI, 2004). Bioinformatics has become pivotal in pushing Biological science forward. Scientists are always making new discoveries in Biology and it is with Bioinformatics at the Helm.
One specific field of Bioinformatics that has truly revolutionized the way we see our own DNA is the use of information technology for genomic mapping, which is “the process of locating and identifying genes to create a genetic map” (Biology Online , 2008). Genomic mapping was previously done manually which tends to be a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating process. Now, with the introduction of Bioinformatics, DNA sequence data is readily available to the scientific community through various databases. This provides researchers with a quicker, more practical and cost effective way to conduct experiments.


Homology, which are similarities resulting from common ancestry (Reece , et al., 2011), is used to group organisms together through phylogenic data, or the evolutionary history of a species or group of species (Reece , et al., 2011). This process was, up until recent advances, solely based on morphology, or data based on species relationship through structural, reproductive and physiological changes. Now with Bioinformatics, Biologists can use molecular data to create these phylogenetic trees. This provides the field of Phylogeny with a more defined picture of how species are connected.
Bioinformatics has truly transformed how we view our Biological world. With technologies like genome mapping data and a molecular basis for homology, Biology has been redefined. Biology is always changing, the proof is in the various forms Biotechnology emerging and advancing. It is an exciting time to study Biology and, as a Zoologist, I hope to see and help usher in a new age of understanding in the Science of Life.

Bibliography
Biology Online . (2008, November 3). Genome Mapping Definition . Retrieved from Biology Online : http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Genome_mapping
NCBI. (2004, March 29). Just the Facts: A Basic Introduction to the Science Underlying NCBI Resources. Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/bioinformatics.html
(2011). Campbell Biology. In Reece , Urry, Cain, Wasserman , Minorsky, & Jackson, Campbell Biology (9th ed., pp. 462, 536). San Francisco: Pearson Bejamin Cummings.

 

Info Tech in Livestock

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Published on April 8, 2013, by in Emerging Technologies, Input and Output Hardware.

Agriculture has been affected greatly by IT. Being a livestock science and management major I have hands on experience and see how this has happened over the couple years. IT affects everything from the tractors and planters to the animals. Many tractors now come or have GPS devices installed in them. These devices allow the farmers to enter the plots of land dimension and other data about the field and the tractor will follow the directions. The dairy industry has made great advancements with IT, from robot milkers to rotating milking parlors. The robot milkers have light sensors that find the teats and attack to them. They send out messages via email and text messages to the farmers to inform them of any problems and how much each cow is producing. The milk parlors have come a long way from tie stall stanchions. They now can rotate at a pace to the cows get in one side and be milked out by the time they get to the other side. This is much more efficient as it is a constant movement of cows.  This technology continues to improve rapidly. The future is looking at improving genomics with microchips injected into the animals or attached to their ear tag identifications. The research is still going on but I recently attended the North American Alltech Lecture tour where they discussed this new chip. Alltech is an animal nutrition, health and research company known globally.  The key point they stressed is that the human population is rapidly growing daily and the farmers need to come up with ways to feed everyone. By coming up with new technology to improve crop growth, animal growth, and machines we will be able to do such things. Alltech is making major breakthroughs daily and continues to use IT to accomplish them. As you can see IT has a lot to do with the rapid changes of the agricultural world.

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Information Technology In Zoology

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Published on April 5, 2013, by in Health, social, legal and ethical implications of IT.

Most zoologists spend their time either in laboratories or in the field using many different basic and sometimes complex technologies. Most people know a zoologist will be using microscopes for most of their career. The use of these microscopes start very early, even before a persons actual career in zoology. Other very simple, well-known technologies such such as binoculars will be used to observe the animals that you get not get up close and personal with. Binoculars, designed in 1608, allow zoologists to observe the animals without causing a disturbance or creating danger for themselves. While observing those animals, a zoologist may also need some type of recording device, such as an audio recorder or a video camera, so they don’t miss out on anything. Other technologies that may be used are for animal trapping. Animal trapping is an essential part of being able to study animals up close and personal. Traps, which will not harm the animals, are necessary along with tranquilizer guns if things get too hectic.

As things get more complicated on the job, computers come into play. They are typically used in zoology to analyze the data that has been previously collected. Due to the fact that a lot of data is collected during research, it is hard to keep track of everything, which is why zoologists become dependent on computers. These computers are updated with very complex programs not used by many people. For example there are special programs that help you track the animals you have been studying. Animal tracking can be very difficult, depending on the animals, and is dependent on the use of GPS’. The computer programs can be linked to these GPS’ and help to analyze and learn about migration patterns in specific species. Zoologists will also end up using complex technologies such as DNA synthesizers. Theses synthesizers create artificial gene sequences so that zoologist can gain a better understanding of the genetics of a particular animal/species.

Technology is used in many different ways in the study of animals. It helps with the observational aspect as long as with the genetic aspect. Zoology is dependent on the used of particular technologies and without them, we probably would not know as much as we do today.

 

 

Bibliography

 

1) “DNA Synthesizers Information on GlobalSpec.” GlobalSpec – Engineering Search & Industrial Supplier Catalogs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/labware_scientific_instruments/clinical_research_labware/dna_synthesizers>.

 

2)

Emen, Jake. “When Were Binoculars Invented? | eHow.com.” eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More – Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/facts_4923208_were-binoculars-invented.html>.

 

3) “What Is Zoology? (with pictures).” wiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-zoology.htm>.

 

4) “Zoology – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoology>. acarlsen2.

 

5) “Zoology – Research Papers – Acarlsen2.” Free Term Papers, Research Papers, Essays, Book Notes | StudyMode.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Zoology-1245695.html>.

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Info Tech in Biology

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Published on April 4, 2013, by in Health, social, legal and ethical implications of IT.

Information technology is used in virtually any field of study in these current times. In the field of Biology, information technology is apparent everywhere, and is used on many things. The use of a digital camera has been something in biological science that has been growing and become a very important aspect with performing surgeries and diagnosing problems.  The text book defines a digital camera as a camera that uses a light sensitive processor chip to capture photographic images in digital form and store them on a small diskette inserted into the camera or on flash memory cards. With increasing newer technology, these cameras have been made smaller; small enough to fit inside small wires that can travel within the body.

The invention of the digital camera has evolved from the same technology that first started to record television images. After several companies created still cameras, the first actual digital camera was not created until 1991 when Kodak came out with a professional digital camera system, the Nikon F-3 camera. The basics of how a digital camera works is based off light hitting the lens. Inside the camera is a chip of light-sensitive photosites. This is where the light is focused on and records the image electronically. These photosites convert light into electrons that convert to digital information and are then built into the memory on the camera. My personal experience with digital cameras began when I bought my first photography digital camera in the sixth grade. They are typically self-explanatory and easy to learn to use.

This piece of technology is used for a wide variety of ways, anything from taking pictures with your friends, to trying to figure out what could be clogging an artery in the human body. Within biology, cameras can be used in a general sense of just taking pictures of parts of the body for health reasons. More in depth technology uses the cameras to be put inside of the body for health purposes.

In the more recent years of science, different types of cameras that can be inserted into the body have been developed. There is now a camera that is only three millimeters in diameter. There are also cameras that can be swallowed, more commonly known as camera pills. Originally, these cameras did not have much of a way to be controlled where they go. More recently, however, there has been the creation of a magnet-controlled camera. The way the cameras path can be controlled is through a device that can move the magnet throughout the course of the body.

In the future of science, researchers hope to develop more precise cameras that can be controlled and stopped in certain spots of the body. Development of a camera that is about the size of a grain of salt has also been on its way. This will fit at the end of an endoscope which will help with the medical uses of these cameras.

 

 

Works Cited

Bellis, M. (2012). About.com. Retrieved from http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bldigitalcamera.htm

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (2008, June 9). Magnet-controlled Camera In The Body. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2008/06/080603105634.htm

Saenz, A. (2010, january 22). 3 Millimeter Camera Goes Inside Your Body. Retrieved from

singularity hub: http://singularityhub.com/2010/01/22/3-millimeter-camera-goes-inside-your-body/

Schurman, K. (2011, March 18). Salt-sized camera. Retrieved from http://cameras.about.com/od/futuretechnologies/a/Salt-Sized-Camera.htm

 

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Information Technology in the Equine Industry

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Published on April 4, 2013, by in Emerging Technologies.

In the equine industry, there are many types of information technology used every day.  This technology helps feed, maintain, manage, and care for horses.  There is also technology that helps to educate people on how to do the latter themselves.  One such technology is called eXtension.  Developed in 2004, eXtension is an online resource that has changed how professionals and experts can gather and deliver information and equine education to a national audience.  “It is an educational partnership of more than 70 universities and was created to provide objective, science-based information to the public, answer clientele questions anywhere and anytime, and guide user decisions.  HorseQuest was the first community of practice launched from eXtension and offers free, interactive, peer-reviewed online sources on a variety of equine topics”(Greene).   There are many groups of people who use HorseQuest.  This technology reaches and is used by the “general public, county extension agents/educators, young people, college students, veterinarians, university professors, farm workers, farriers, and other equine professionals”(Greene).  This technology makes it possible for the information contained in the site to reach all of these people across the nation. Some of the objectives of this technology were to “engage the expertise of equine specialists at a national level, provide a one-stop, reliable, equine resource for a national audience, and to track the usage and impact of HorseQuest through user metrics and evaluation over time”(Greene).

I personally have not used this technology, however, if I was ever to need it, I believe it to be a reliable source of information.  This technology will be able to help people all over the nation from one source.  Professionals and experts in the equine industry provide information for this online community as well as offering interactive webcasts.  EXtension also has a channel on YouTube to provide instructional equine videos to users all over the country.  This technology has quite possibly transformed the equine industry by making information provided by these experts and the professionals themselves available to people across the nation.

 

References

Greene, E.A., A.S. Griffin, J. Whittle, C.A. Williams, A.B. Howard, and K.P. Anderson. “Development and Usage of EXtension’s HorseQuest: An Online Resource.” Journal of Animal Science (n.d.): n. pag. 9 Apr. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

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Info tech in the Vetrianry World.

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Published on April 4, 2013, by in Communication Technologies, How to Use IT to Improve your Daily Life, Input and Output Hardware.

Stephanie Bacon

February 24, 2013

IT-1011-204

Tuesdays: 1:40pm

Professor: Chea

 

The technology that I chose for what we use in my job field is PetWare. This is a type of software that is very useful and has many qualities and disadvantages. Just like any other software it will always need it’s updates. I believe that this software can be put under two different categories one being communicating software and the other Internet Applications. I say communicating because it has pictures and videos and lots of different screens that help us have all of our clients/ Patients records and concerns all in one place PetWare. I also say Internet Applications because it does have to be connected to the Internet in order to transfer one document from say Florida to our hospital in Pennsylvania.

I use this software everyday I go into work it manages our paperless hospital. There is only receipts and end of day transactions that are on paper. It is being used as our main data holder and lifeline if you will. It is set up in every computer where there are touch screens and can be totally workable in an exam room. While reading some articles for this assignment I liked the one quote from Dr. Kerri Marshall in Paperless Practice at Bandfield, The Pet Hospital: “It contributes to our doctors’ and team members’ quality of life,” This quote couldn’t be anymore then dead on. It totally helps the doctors keep a safe organized records and also tell us when a patient is do for there next preventative care and we can also look at people who are really over due if we go to reports. I feel that this program is great and can really be useful to other hospitals.

I feel that for this product in the future, its going to have the trends of being paperless and being up to date on the fastest and news forms of data. Also updating their Educational value and facts. I feel like this program will be around for a while and will still receive great reviews and feedback no matter how many more versions they make of it.

 

 

 

 

References

  1. http://veterinarybusiness.dvm360.com/vetec/Veterinary+business/Paperless-practice-at-Banfield-Thttp://www.banfield.com/Veterinary-

 

  1. Professionals/Students/Tech-Students/Student-Programshe-Pet-Hospital/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/501807

 

  1. http://www.examiner.com/article/with-top-10-mobile-apps-pet-ware-goes-anywhere

 

  1. http://waggingtail.banfield.net/2011/01/18/the-veterinary-oath-and-electronic-medical-records-what%E2%80%99s-the-connection/

 

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