MARCH 12, 2015 VOLUME VI, ISSUE III
CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2015
GOOD TIMES FREE
next funny cat video. Those distractions are deadly for reading, writing, and concentration,” Peterson stated, “When I’m working seriously on a writing project, I simply have to disable my Internet for hours at a time.” Let’s move onto printed books, the objects that we’ve cradled in the midst of emotions. Printed books can be easily repaired, compared to paying a technician for a broken iPad. Also, people who read printed books gain more comprehension and memorization, according to procon.org. “I also still love the smell of books. I’ll often find myself opening one to the middle just to smell those pages. I have all of the original mass-market paperbacks of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, and they’re old and mildewy and falling apart—and they smell amazing,” said Peterson, “They smell like an old world that’s long gone, but we still have this one sensory connection to it.”
The Royal Rumble: Printed Books vs. E-books Ana Sotomayor In these modern times, we have electricity and gigabytes of memory at our fingertips. One of the outcomes of mankind’s progression is the creation of e-books. People have grasped onto electronic books as if the Kindle or iPad was their lover on the verge of death. The benefits and drawbacks of printed books and electronic books vary depending on who you ask. The humans on this globe all have their own say on the fight between printed books and electronic books. “The advent of the electronic book has also brought with
Oculus Rift: Virtual Reality Bends the World of Gaming Joon Kim The Xbox One and the Wii U can only be played at home. The 3DS and the Gameboy are useful, but have limitations. But, there is a new system that solves everything. The Oculus Rift is a goggle-like system that requires you to use your motion to play. Now moms don’t have to chew their kids out for not exercising. They will be happily surprised when their kids get moving, quickly fighting zombies in the Oculus Rift. “The idea behind the Oculus Rift was born when a group of people and the mastermind, Palmer Lucky, were thinking about how virtual reality could turn the world upside-down,” says Austin Stewart, an assistant professor of art and visual culture at Iowa State University. Stewart works with the Oculus Rift as a way to improve the lives of chickens.
it the possibility of innovative new ways to present novels and nonfiction,” Robert Peterson, a writer, graphic designer and voice-over talent, said via email. E-books help students learn thematerial quicker. Their tablets can hold hundreds of books so people don’t have to carry all of the weight. The purchase of a book electronically is cheaper than most printed books, procon.org claims. Although that seems great, there’s always something beneath the surface. The risk of having health problems, the cost of purchasing a tablet, and the distraction of outside influences such as your best friend liking one of your pictures on Instagram. “It’s so, so easy to fall into an Internet rabbit hole— clicking from one link to the next, always looking for the
The final product, the Oculus Rift, was made in 2012. The concept of the Oculus Rift is simple. It is a portable piece of technology that plays video games. But, it doesn’t end there. There will also be a 360-degree treadmill. This means that it will be more interactive through walking. This can also be a great source of exercise because they immerse a player in a full 3D environment, which they will explore by walking or running. “The Chicken-Computer Interface [I use] is a giant input device that uses a yoga ball as a track ball,” says Stewart. “You use it to move around in the VR world. It took a 3 months of planning and prototyping. This is very similar to the treadmill that everyday users will have. Though, the technology is still not perfect because it can give motion sickness,” says Stewart. Despite the problems, it can still bend the world of gaming and the world itself. Stewart says, “I hope that the project inspires others to consider innovative solutions to all types of problems. I also hope that it inspires others to think about the larger impact of the things they invent.” Joon Kim is a journalist at 826LA. He goes to Third Street Elementary School and he likes to play Nintendo games, Minecraft, and Terraria. Joon’s favorite thing to do at 826LA is asking wacky questions for Ask A Kid.
Printed books are not all fine and dandy though. Do you recall those old school days when they’d assign you all those heavy books to take home? Yeah, they made you feel like a turtle. Compared to a kindle, which weighs about 8 ounces, printed books are a heavy burden. Printed books also strip us of our precious trees. Printed books on one side, have reigned as world heavyweight champion for hundreds of years. Now there’s electronic books on the other side of the ring, a newcomer with quick reflexes, ready for a rumble. After all the chaotic swings and illegal moves, is there a winner? Ana Sotomayor is a fourteen year old lover of cats. She was born in Peru and lives with her mother and sister. She likes coming to the Journalism workshop because she loves to write and incorporate a little pizazz.
The Future of Houses Gem Galicinao In today’s society, technology has propelled us far. We should be on the Moon again, we are not. Technology in houses is changing the way we live. From commanding your house to turning the lights on/off with the sound of your voice. Or viewing security cameras on your cell phone through a safe and encrypted connection. The home automation business is growing at an astronomical rate with an estimated growth of about $44 billion by 2017 according to GSMA. Let’s back up to the beginning of home automation. It started in 1898 when the first remote was invented by Nikola Tesla and presented at New York’s Madison Square Garden, according to PBS.com. The remote control was controlling a boat. This is the same technology that was introduced into the T.V. remote in the early 1950’s. When do tutors and students at 826LA think the majority of houses will be fully automated in the future? The data that I gathered suggests that many of the houses will be fully automated in 20-plus years, and no one believes that it will come in the next five years.