Sean Gann n portfolio 2018
TECH
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
FEBRUARY 9, 2018 ■ 9
Digging up privacy
Best of CES 2018 The Consumer Electronics show is the world’s leading technology convention, taking place every year in Las Vegas. By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer
THE
2018
CONSUMER
Electronics Show (CES) took place in Las Vegas from Jan. 9 to Jan. 10. CES brought in 4,000 exhibiting companies to showcase their newly developed technologies to nearly 180,000 people. The CES started in New York in 1967 then moved to Chicago in 1971, and finally to Las Vegas in 1978 where it continues to be held today. Ever since then, people from all around the world have come to the show to witness new advances in technology. In the 1960s, the CES was mostly about televisions and radios, while in the 1970s, new 8-track cassettes were showcased and even the first laserdisc player made its debut. In 2018, smartphones, self-driving cars, and robots headlined the CES. “I think it’s really cool, there are so many new products and I like to see new technologies,” said Derek Betts, a junior. Many new smart home technologies were featured at the CES this year. Some technologies include wireless kitchens, smart deliveries, and new versions of the television remote. The wireless kitchen is able to take compatible appliances, charge them, and apply heat to them when needed to cook food. This helps save counter top space and is safer than having many wires and cords around the sink. Walmart and Amazon have been working on smart deliveries, which allows a delivery driver to be able to unlock your door and drop packages off inside your house while you are able to monitor the deliveries progress through cameras. Finally, companies by the name of Flic and Senic have redesigned the remote control. Their new design can be programed to help you control other aspects of your home like thermostats, lighting, and speakers in other rooms. “Virtual Reality is a really interesting concept, and I would love to be able to utilize it in my classroom,” said Bret Lineburg, a history teacher. Virtual and augmented reality are only getting more advanced every year. The Teslasuit which was showcased this year was a full-body suit with a haptic feedback system,
which helps video game players actually feel sensations such as heat, cold, and even shocks if they were to get hit by something in the game. The company Vive Pro has also created a VR headset that is wireless and able to make people feel like they are living in what they are watching. Many older VR technologies received resolution upgrades to make them more visually appealing to consumers. “People are probably more willing to invest into entertainment because it’s fun, but medical technology is also important,” said Evan Ziker, a junior. There were also many personal health products at the CES. For example, the Helite Hip’Air was developed thinking of those vulnerable to falling and potentially breaking their hip. The Hip’Air deploys as an airbag but on someone’s hip. Using advanced sensors it is able to detect when someone is falling, and it deploys in order to save someone’s hip. Other technologies included L’Oreal UV sense, which was able to give feedback to a person based
How companies are using online data to find out personal information. BY MORGAN REIMER g staff writer
W KASSIDY WHEELER on how much UV rays their skin received during the day, Nokia Sleep, a mattress that gives feedback on how well a person slept and how they can improve their sleep, and Coros Pace, a watch which gives runners feedback such as heart rate and steps taken during their run.
In a world that is constantly changing and developing, businesses continue to update technology to the point where it is becoming even greater through the screen. Through the process of data mining, advertisements people happened to like a long time ago are popping up everywhere. The direct definition of data mining is “the practice of examining large data bases in order to generate new information.” This can be perceived as good for companies, and strange for people, but many people are not even aware of what data mining is. “Data mining affects people in ways they are not even aware of. It’s not a coincidence if you start seeing ads for earrings in the weeks before your wife or girlfriend’s birthday. Facebook tracks 98 separate data points, minimally, on each user,” said Jeffrey Walker, an economics teacher. Companies use this new technology to their advantage, especially when they believe they can make a profit on something. “With data mining, thousands and thousands of gigabytes of information are processed to extract useful patterns. What’s useful is determined by whoever is doing the mining,” said Walker. “For a government, it may be to predict who is more likely to be a terrorist but for a corporation it could be who is more likely to buy a brand new Ford-150 in the next 30 days.” People may not realize it yet, but data mining is popping up in a lot of places, from businesses to the government. “I think data mining can be dangerous because certain corporations can gather information you might not want them to know,” said Jad Bazzi, a junior. Some argue that for businesses and corporations, data mining can be perceived as a good income advantage for their specific company, but the gray area depends on if it steps over the boundaries of people's privacy. “On one hand, it’s really good for companies and helps narrow the scale on what you really want, but also that fear of keeping the data, and privacy being broached,” said Abagail Mock, a junior. Overall, it comes down to the debate between companies, and privacy. “History has shown that governments don’t always do the best job at protecting the rights of their citizens when they are entrusted with massive amounts of information, and corporations clearly have their own agenda of increasing profits regardless of costs,” said Walker. The future of data mining remains unclear, thought the rest depends on how far both companies and businesses take it to make the sale.
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TECH
10 ■ FEBRUARY 9, 2018
Alexa, what are home robots? By TYLER SHEA g staff writer
The home artificial intelligence, or AI, market has continued making waves on both a tech and acceptance level. As of Nov. 2017, Amazon’s flagship Home AI system, Echo, sold a reported 190-210 million units; reflecting in an estimated $190$210 million in sales. Similarly, Google Home had sold a reported $6 million units in a three-month span across mid-Oct. to early Jan. “I have an Alexa. My family and I use it for basic tasks, be it as a timer, music-player and other similar features,” said Hayden Auguste, a sophomore. Retailing at $199, Echo, often referred to as ‘Alexa’, has the aforementioned features, plus the ability to control where music is played in the home. “We used it to play music in the house to turn off-and-on the lights [and] turn TV channels,” said Daniel Schoepe, a sophomore
uary
who owns an Alexa. Listed at a slightly cheaper price-point of $129, Google Home has many of the same features. More specifically, the Mountain View-based company’s entry has a leg-up on its competitor with a more advanced ‘assistant,’ which is not only able to answer obscure questions like, “How do I get a stain out of cotton?” but also by doing so in a clear, detailed way.
“As I regularly cook out or prepare homemade meals, my Google Home fits in really nicely with my living room. I also use it as a speaker and source for news updates,” said Robert Magna, an essential skills teacher.
Tech giant, Apple, made their debut into the market with the HomePod, which capitalizes on its Siri voice assistant. Many consumers and tech analysts were disappointed with HomePod’s lack of innovation; something that is expected among Apple products. Objectively, there is little difference among
current Home AI systems. Echo and Home share many of the same features, including the ability to play personalized music, read/respond to texts, and receive news updates. “I would consider an upgrade in the future, assuming that companies don’t become stagnant in making worthwhile upgrades. Whether [companies] can ‘keep up’ is another story,” said Schoepe. The potential for home AI is still unclear, with many consumers hoping they will evolve to include other services.
Evolution of the Hybrid Supercar By SEAN GANNON g tech editor
C
ONVENTIONAL
4 SEAN GANNON
internal combustion engines found in cars, motorcycles, planes, and much more are becoming obsolete due to the invention of the hybrid motor and advances in forced induction technology. The term hybrid is typically associated with a vehicle that goes 0-60 miles-per-hour in 15 seconds, gets an average of 50 or more miles-pergallon, and runs off of battery power half the time. One does not usually see a hybrid as a car with the potential of a 2.3 second 0-60 time, a screaming 6.3 liter V12 along with a kinetic energy recovery system (kers). Hybrid cars began gaining ground in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the introduction of the Toyota Prius. Coming to market in 1997, the original Prius came packed full with a 1.5 liter in-line four cylinder engine with a small electric motor. It was the first example of a hybrid production car and had 72 whole horsepower. Car manufacturers began to discover the potential of the hybrid engine and used this technology to increase performance in races like the 24 hours of Le Mans. In 2012, Audi became the first team to win Le Mans with a hybrid car, the Audi R18 E-Tron. Powered by a turbocharged diesel V6 along with an electric motor, the rear wheels were powered by the V6 while the fronts were run completely by electric power. The Hybrid R18s finished first and second, proving that hybrids are a force to be reckoned with, with the conventional combustion version of the R18, the Ultra, bringing up the rear in third. In more recent years, a rivalry has arisen between three major auto manufacturers Porsche, McLaren, and Ferrari. Each company put their best minds to work on a hybrid supercar for consumer and street use. Ferrari built the LaFerrari with a 6.3 liter V12 and a hybrid kers system, McLaren had the P1 with a twin-turbo 3.8 liter V8 and electric motor, and Porsche with the their 918 Spyder equipped with a 4.6 liter V8 and one electric motor for the front and one electric motor for the rear wheels. Each of them generating more than 880 brake horsepower.
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
Feeling Lucky? Technology has revolutionized the way that people find information. Instead of flipping through pages of a 10-pound encyclopedia, opening a new tab to search questions is the new norm. By AVIANNA HOPPES g staff writer
When someone has a question, or wants to know something, they look it up on the internet and do not think twice about it. But for older generations who grew up using encyclopedias, the internet can be a luxury that they are not used to. The internet is now faster and more efficient than ever before. "All you have to do is type it in and it pops up. You don't have to search through a book," said Ashlyn Overby, a sophomore. As a matter of fact, Google and other search engines have become so popular that Encyclopedia Britannica has stopped printing after 244 years of business. Encyclopedia Britannica still exists, but currently only publishes on their website. Another reason why the internet has become more popular, is due to its flexibility. Instead of just cold hard text, there are photos and videos people can save and print things for future reference. "Google can give you options and directions to follow to dig deep if used correctly," said Laurie Umbarger, Assistant Principal of Academics. Although the internet is a fast way to get information, people have to be careful and make sure that the information they get is not opinion-based and biased. People should check more than one website to make sure that the information they are trying to get is factual. "I love Google, but sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between an opinion and a fact when looking at a website," said Olivia Graeber, a sophomore. Even older generations have stopped using encyclopedias and have started using the internet. A computer or cell phone is often more readily available than an encyclopedia. Although the encyclopedia has been proven to be more fact-based and less biased than the internet, Google and Bing still remain a more common choice for those seeking information.
10 ■ MARCH 9, 2018
TECH
A small piece of Pi
Clever Musk BY KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer
Kassidy Wheeler discusses the ins and outs of the mini computer and their application in modern day. BY KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer
Minicomputers, created during the 1960s, are small computers that are able to plug into TV or computer monitors. Using a mouse and keyboard people can learn how to compute and program in languages such as Scratch and Python. The minicomputer is able to do anything a desktop can do, such as access games, create spreadsheet programs, and utilize word-processing features. “They’re really small and simple enough to do calculations and they are very good for really specialized little uses,” said Kiran Gershenfeld, a junior. The minicomputers are very cheap compared to regular desktops and laptops. This makes them a good alternative for people hoping to use minicomputers as process control, data-path switching, and communications. “You can specifically get them for learning coding, so you can learn basic coding without the involvement of using more expensive computers,” said Jeff Walker a Career Technology teacher. The British Broadcasting Company gave away minicomputers to school children in 2015 in an initiative to help the United Kingdom become more digitized. The Raspberry Pi was the minicomputer given away to the children in a joint effort between Microsoft, Google, and The Code Club in order to address the UK’s shortage of people who are digital professionals. Starting with minicomputers, the goal is to increase coding knowledge across the UK and get the youth involved in programming. However, minicomputers have recently been deemed by many as obsolete, as the takeover of smartphones and tablets diffuse their use through the technology industry. “I think minicomputers are not as cool as regular computers, because smaller computers like iPads can already be used,” said Justin Grove, a junior. Even though technology like smartphones are more expensive they are more attractive to consumers because they have more abilities than minicomputers. For those who are uninterested in learning how to code or do not need a small technical task completed, the minicomputer can seem as a waste of money and time.
Marc
THE INTERNALS of a
TECH
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
MARCH 9, 2018 ■ 9
A not so perfect 10
THE PERSISTENCE OF RAM. Apple continues to
make higher priced phones, but a sales resistance has people holding on to their phone longer.
\GEORGE GORDON
New iPhone sales have been slowly decreasing over the past few months since the release of the iPhone X and 8. Avianna looks into what is up with the iPhone. By AVIANNA HOPPES g staff writer
The sales for the newest iPhones including the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 are less than half of what Apple expected to sell. Apple was originally expecting to make 50 million screens, but after the first quarter in 2018 of sales, Apple has slowed production by almost 60 percent, instead only producing 20 million new phones. One of the main reasons why the iPhone X has not been as popular is because of the high price. The X costs almost $1,000, but only costs $370 to make. Many consumers do not think that the phone is worth that steep price. “I don’t think the iPhone X is worth the price, mostly because the cost doesn’t equal the benefits,” said Jeffrey Walker, an economics teacher. Another reason why sales for the new phones are down is because of the new headphone jack or lack thereof. Another complaint is that Apple is somewhat forcing consumers to purchase the bluetooth headphones. “I have the iPhone seven and I don’t like how there’s no headphone jack,” said Kira Solberg, a junior.
iPhone sales have been so low that there is some speculation that Apple will cease production of this new iPhone as early as June or July of 2018, although Apple has not commented on this matter. If the company stops selling this phone, it will be the first ever iPhone that Apple has pulled before releasing a new model. Apple has been under some bad publicity lately after a new software update allowed the company to slow down older phones, hoping people would upgrade to the 8 or the X. When the public became aware of this, Apple lowered their price of battery replacement from $50 to $29 but still faces a lot of public criticism for doing so. Reports show that slowing down the old batteries, did not help sales with the new iPhones. “I had the iPhone 6 and it kept dying all the time, it was so bad,” said Madison Miller, a junior. Although sales have been down, Apple has still made a huge profit from the iPhone X because of its high price. Sales for the iPhone 8 and 8 plus have also been bad, but not nearly as bad as sales for the iPhone X. There are an estimated 1.3 billion active Apple devices out there, which is up 30 percent in two years.
Although sales have been down, Apple has still made a huge profit from the iPhone X because of its high price. Sales for the iPhone 8 and 8 plus have also been bad, but not nearly as bad as sales for the iPhone X.
Raspberry Pi. These minicomputers are capable of performing lots of tasks from game programming to opening doors.4 GEORGE GORDON
Finding the best laptop for college BY MAKENNA FRENCH g staff writer
WITH COLLEGE AROUND THE corner, students start to consider certain laptops and which might be the best fit for them. If the students major is undecided, it’s best to consider a lightweight and long lasting charge laptop. A college major might also have a key factor to the decision making process. A good quality laptop is an important factor, so it does not crash, have problem in a short period of time or start dying too soon. Pricing is another factor to keep in mind, the more money invested, the better it may be. Many laptops have a lot of similarities but they depend on who is using them, some people only like certain specific brands or just the appearance of the laptop itself like color, the keyboard, and how much memory it has. The HP Spectre x360, starting at $1,049 but may be more depending on the upgrades added onto it. It transitions between Notebook, Stand, Tent, and Tablet modes, with a touch screen feature. Since it is a convertible product it can also make using it more comfortable when studying and lounging. There’s also a larger model for those who prefer a larger screen. This laptop is a lot cheaper than other popular laptops, but it has been rated for having good quality in all aspects overall. The Surface Pro, while it is touch screen like the Spectre x360, it has more of a tablet type of feel to it. The price maxes out at $2,699 with the highest memory and storage offered. This model has improved battery life but does not come with the surface pen. Its extensive battery life lasts for about thirteen and a half hours. The kickstand allows it to open to 165 degrees, letting it lay almost completely flat. As thin as this machine is, it makes it easier to transport and makes it more portable because of how light it is. The Macbook Air is Apple’s smallest and lightest laptop, easy to transport and store. It does not take up too much room. It comes in two sizes, 11 and 13 inches. The battery life lasts about twelve hours without needing to charge. The cost starts at $1,290 than goes up to about $1,600 or even $2,000. The Macbook is in the higher price range but some prefer to have Apple products over anything else.
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Born in South Africa in 1971 Elon Musk became a national entrepreneur, inventor, and businessman known for founding PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX. Musk relocated from South Africa to Canada and attended Queen’s University. Doing this he avoided mandatory conscription into the South African military. He then moved to the University of Pennsylvania to pursue physics, business, and economics. Today Forbes says that Musk’s net worth is $20.2 billion and his company SpaceX is worth more than $20 billion. Recently SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy Rocket into space in order to launch an electric car, made by Tesla, into orbit around Mars. “I think Elon Musk is arrogant, but I do like the fact that he is bringing back the interest in the space program,” said Teresa Hall, a BILLIONAIRE, ENTREPRENEUR, physics teacher. Elon Musk 4 WIKICOMMONS Despite Musk’s transportation of a car into space for no reason other than to say he can do it, he launched broadband test satellites the week of February 18 in order to rebuild the internet in space. The name of the internet service is called Starlink and has already been granted approval from the Federal Communications Commission to operate in space. The satellites will be monitored from California, Texas, and Washington while in orbit. Besides sending his personal “midnight cherry” Tesla Roadster into space, Musk has also been selling flame throwers. Priced at $500 the flamethrowers were sold in order to raise $10 million for his business, The Boring Company, which was another one of Musk’s endeavors founded in 2016. “I think he’s influential and I respect him, because he always does things that people don’t expect, and I think he can shape the future in a better way,” said Taj Nadesan, a junior. Musk received backlash for selling flamethrowers, because people see it as dangerous and irresponsible. Despite this negative feedback he has been able to sell all 20,000 flamethrowers. Regulation from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, say that no tool such as these can shoot flames further than 10 feet. Fortunately for Musk his flamethrower lives up to these standards acting more as a stylish blowtorch than a flamethrower. A permit is required to own the flamethrowers and anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited from purchasing them. Musk has his eyes to the sky and his mind on the future as he prepares SpaceX to head to the final frontier. “I think SpaceX is going to build upon what NASA has done and go to new frontiers like Mars,” said Colin McKeon, a sophomore. Musk’s overall goal is to become a multi-planet species. SpaceX has been working on a rocket called the BFR, and the short term goal for this rocket is to make sure it is ready for short hopper flights in and out of Earth’s orbit while surviving re-entry in order to test the heat shield of the rocket. The long term goal for the BFR is to be able to survive planetary entry on Earth, Mars, and other planets beyond.
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THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
APRIL 13, 2018 ■ 9
New age radio Podcasts have become the new happy medium between radio and streaming services for smart phones. By BROOK BOWMAN g staff writer
4SEAN GANNON
“When the week was done, I was a bit underwhelmed. I knew that I did not have a huge dependence on social media to begin with, but I surprised myself at how easily I was able to give up apps like Instagram.”
SOCIAL OUTCAST? Would a week with social media make me a ...
By KATELYN REINHART g spotlight editor
“This no social media thing is going to kill me,” I sent to my friend in a Snapchat message. When I saw the article idea on the board, I welcomed the challenge and volunteered right away. Maybe it was for self-discovery, maybe it was just me being a teenager and trying to prove that I was not obsessed with Instagram. Either way, the results surprised me. I put all of my social media apps in a separate folder on my phone, and they remained unopened for an entire week. Before I started, I needed a clear definition of what qualifies as social media. Facebook and Instagram were obvious no-go’s, but video media such as YouTube remained on the nice list. My only concern was with Snapchat, where I do the majority of my messaging, as well as read news articles. With a frown on my face, I accepted that Snapchat would have to go in the “do not
touch” folder. Out of all of the apps kept in that folder, Snapchat was the most difficult to stay away from. Giving away my username and password to my boyfriend so he could keep up my streaks was a mundane source of calm. I went into the week with no worries and an instinct to Snapchat message people instead of using actual text, but I felt relatively confident. The first few days were rough, but not in an obsessive way. I saw how many times I would usually pull out my phone and scroll through Instagram in dull moments and there were a few absent-minded close calls. It was less about needing to see other people’s posts or sending things to my Snapchat story, but more about breaking a habit. Surprisingly, Instagram was an easy habit to break. Maybe it’s because I follow mostly shops and very few people, but Instagram did not put up much of a fight to stay at the forefront of my mind. The one thing that I actually found difficult in my week without social media was the
lack of instant information. I found out that Stephen Hawking died from a class discussion the next day, and I could not help but sit in the classroom and resent that everyone had known about it but me. Through the week, a general lack of information was the only thing I really missed out on. When the week was done, I was a bit underwhelmed. I knew that I did not have a huge dependence on social media to begin with, but I surprised myself at how easily I was able to give up apps like Instagram. I thought I would struggle my way through the week and discover that yes, I actually do have an unhealthy dependence on validation through likes and comments. None of that proved true. I went into the week wanting to learn more about myself and my relationship with social media, and I exited the week with the feeling that I could have gone a lot longer without it. Aside from the availability of current events, I can honestly say I surprised myself at how much I did not need social media to get through the week.
In 2014, the Serial, an investigative journalism podcast, kicked off the podcast boom around the world. Now, podcasts have become a new, popular form of digital audio media that allows people to listen to content while on the go, at home, or for fun with millions of different genres to choose from. “I think podcasts can be a really engaging format for learning and listening about specific topics of interests,” said Jacob Bombaci, a history teacher. Sean McGregor and Ryan Bartholomew, freshmen, have joined in on the fun by creating This Creeker Life, a podcast for the CSPress online. Each week, they put out a new podcast that discusses topics like the Academy Awards, Food in Cave Creek, and New Years Resolutions. “It’s fun for us to be able to do something we like for a grade in our class. It’s interesting to see the work that goes into creating content,” said McGregor. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, 68 million people between the ages of 18 to 34 listen to podcasts on a monthly basis, which is about one in four people across the United States. With a new form of media comes a new form of advertising. In 2017, advertisers spent 220 million dollars in sponsorships without any data on whether people were listening to the ads. Apple recently launched Apple’s Podcast Analytics which will help advertisers and producers of podcast understand what listeners are listening to. “Podcasts have probably gained so much popularity because they are easy to listen to. Just like music, you can listen to them on your phone on any streaming platform, which brings in a lot of advertisers,” said Bartholomew. Since the attention from Serial, This American Life, and the Joe Rogan Experience, many other types of genres like comedy, news, or storytelling have risen from iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher With only a year of data, Wired Magazine reported that Apple’s analytics show that over 90 percent of listeners are listening to the each full episode without skipping any ads. This makes podcasts the new gold mine of the digital age.
Apri
10 ■ APRIL 13, 2018
Tech over time
TECH
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
THE 1981-1983 DELOREAN DMC-12 is an icon in the film
industry with its appearances in the cult classic Back to the Future films
4 SEAN GANNON
Technology from movies were often seen as a distant dream, but now many tech companies have been making dreams reality with recent developments.
M
By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer
OVIE and television technology have been created from the minds of writers and producers throughout the years, but a few types of futuristic technology have actually been created by scientists and
l
engineers. Not all pieces of technology come directly from science fiction movies, but a lot of technology is inspired by what has already been labeled as fiction in popular culture. “The hoverboard from back to the future came out, and it had the wheels, which is close enough, but I think eventually it could actually float,” said Jake Reithinger, a sophomore. Hoverboards with wheels first were developed in 2013 by Shane Chen and Hovertrax. However, the companies of Lexus and Hendo started working on actual floating hoverboards several years ago. These hoverboards are not exactly like Marty McFly’s, but skateboarding professional, with Tony Hawk testing it on the halfpipe. These hoverboards do not come cheap, as the first one was nearly $10,000. The boards are still being tested so not many are being sold to the public. They also only work over ferromagnetic conductors, which is a surface such as aluminum,
so these will not be able to cruise over water or street surfaces, like in movies. Holographic images inspired from science fiction movies may not be everywhere in daily life, but they are certainly real. In a 2012 Coachella performance, rappers Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were able to project a very realistic hologram of Tupac Shakur, a deceased rapper from the 1990s, onto stage to perform with them one last time. Teams of scientists at the RMIT University and the Beijing Institute of Technology have been working on developing the thinnest hologram ever. “Holograms are really cool, and I’ve seen them in a couple movies, but it’s awesome when you actually see it come to life,” said Alexa Diaz, a junior. Eventually, it is claimed these holograms could be integrated into everyday devices such as phones. Star Trek, the Matrix, and Minority Report have all inspired
technology in the world we have today. “Movies are creative and science has evolved with creative ideas, so drawing inspiration from movies is a great idea,” said Molly Gum, a psychology teacher. The Matrix has inspired virtual reality technology, and allowed many to bridge their minds into another world where things seem very different, but very real. Star Trek has inspired things like smart phones and tablets by showing off communicators and voice activated technologies. The minority report inspired self-driving cars to be developed in order for us to reach our destination safer and far more easily. As we progress further into the future, you should not be surprised if more science fiction tech makes its way into the real world.
THE TECH EFFECT with Internet Addiction Disorders tended to have reduced grey and white matter in the A major technology wave took the world in critical parts of the brain associated with cog2012, and ever since, technology has been nitive thinking and goal setting behavioral integrated into peoples’ lives. Experts have patterns. observed the effect that technology has taken A psychological evaluation from the on society, and witnessed that University of it has come with many posiWestern Illinois tives and many negatives. revealed that “I think the negatives outsocial media weigh the positives, because creates a feelpeople are never allowed time ing of narcisoff, they sometimes feel like sism. The study they’re missing out by looking watched people at social media, and it statistiwho received a cally creates more depression high score on a and social anxiety,” said Holly test for grandiose Silvestri, a Spanish teacher. tendencies, and A study from Duke has these people used Holly Silvestri, a Spanish teacher. found that a higher use in Facebook to protechnology is responsible for mote themselves ADHD symptoms and conduct problems. on a daily basis. The study involved 151 adolescents, conThese people were also more likely to cluding that when adolescents use their exhibit anti-social behavior, react aggresively smartphones several hours a day, they begin to critical comments, and they rarely supto develop behavioral issues such as lying ported other peers online. and engaging in fighting. However, social media and the youth are Another study conducted by the organizanot the only ones affected, but adults have tion Digital Responsibility showed that youth also become victim to the effect of technolBy KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer
“Social media affects people negatively, because when you’re observing the highlights of people’s lives and comparing it to your own life you feel worse.”
ogy. “I would say that social media affects people negatively, because when you’re observing the highlights of people's lives and comparing it to your own life you feel worse,” said Quinn Akin, a junior. As technology becomes apart of everyday life, many are left without it as well. Adults and elderly become disconnected from reality as people stare down their phones at family gatherings or public events. This occurrence has the same negative effect on the person who is not using the technology, as they become to feel isolated and lonely. As many older people feel uninvolved or unimportant, they try to stay relevant and in touch, but it is difficult for those who have lived in a life without WiFi and touch screens to understand how to operate these new devices. “I feel like technology is just a way for people to communicate and it makes society better,” said Caroline Benson, a junior. Regardless of the mental effect, technological revolution is inevitable, and new technologies also present ways to communicate, deal with global connections and crises, or cure harmful diseases.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE CELL PHONE
Samsung Sprint - 2002
Samsung Sprint - 2004
LG Rumor 2 - 2009
Blackberry Qualcomm 2012
iPhone 5s - 2013 4 KASSIDY WHEELER
10 ■ MAY 18, 2018
Drones: aerial takeover
TECH
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
Drones have been available to the average consumer since 2010 with the introduction of small smartphone-controlled copters. Now they have many different uses, from photography to delivery services. By LAUREN HAGGAR g news editor
As the use of technology has become more and more popular with everyday tasks, drone sales have skyrocketed and are utilized in many different ways. A newer use of drones is in the real estate industry when photographing homes. Drones allow for realtors to use photography to enhance a home's chance of selling and to provide clients with better pictures. They also allow for home buyers to see the home online from various angles and heights, normally unavailable to them. “Aerial images capture the eye of potential buyers due to the unique view msot people never see. They also give buyers the abiloty to see whats in the area around the property. Things like parks, open space, lakes, schools, and freeways [just to name a few] are all things buyers like to see,” said Dave Peterson, Broker Associate at Legacy Properties West Sothebys International Realty. The unique aspect of drones is that they are available to people of all ages and all price ranges. Drones range anywhere from one hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on quality. “The drone I started working with was the Phantom Four, which costs roughly 700 dollars. I once used the drone while dirt biking, and the results were amazing,” said Maxwell Reinhart, a freshman drone user.
Ma
Senior Ben Malkin bought his first drone just one year ago, and, since then, has mastered the art of using it and turned his passion into a business. “My business, Aerial Eye, initially started with an idea I had several months after purchasing my first drone and that idea as I could use this tool as a means to make money and do what I love [photography], and at the same time,” said Malkin. Recently Malkin has delved into the real estate industry himself by offering his services to real estate agents across the valley. Malkin grew his client base by creating a website to showcase some of his sample pictures. “I began contacting realtors about my services through e-mailing and cold calling. After about two months of doing that one realtor finally replied and gave me my first job. After that I learned how to market and target my audience better, as well as using those realtors I already worked with to help spread the word about my services,” said Malkin. Like Reinhart and Malkin, everyone using drones has to comply to a set of guidelines regarding the height of drones and other components. For those looking to purchase drones and start a business, it is important to note that all owners must pass a drone certification test in order to be able to fly.
One of the world’s biggest, unanswered questions is what will happen when every combination of musical note, every riff and catchy lick, has been written and there are no longer any original melodies to be made. Of course, it is very unlikely this will ever happen, given the number of combinations of notes is an incomprehensibly large number, but many of those combinations are not really ideal for short songs. It is slowly becoming harder and harder for artists to come up with new ideas that nobody has ever heard before, which has become the basis for a style of writing called digital sampling. Digital sampling is when artists use snippets of other artists’ works and piece them together to create their own music. This technique has become very common today and can be seen in the works of R&B and rap artists like Logic and J. Cole. “I see sampling as kind of an acknowledgement or praise to the original artist’s work,” MAY 18,Magtibay, 2018 ■ 9 a junior. said Jack
TECH
American supercars
drone photography and videography.
By SEAN GANNON g tech editor
The American automotive industry was built on raw rear-wheel drive power for decades with muscle cars such as the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Camaro. Manufacturers like these not only produce straight power with bulky steel bodies though, many American firms, whether it be a large establishment or an independent company, also dabbled in the production of supercars to compete with their opponents overseas. There is no absolute definition of what a supercar is, so arguments commonly arise because of constantly changing standards. “A supercar is a car that isn’t really built for day-today driving. They noramlly have a very large engine and there’s a smaller supply of them,” said Chris Hanbury, a senior and import car enthusiast. Huge companies like Ford and Dodge make limited production run at pretty randomized times, making it difficult to predict what either company’s next supercar will be and how it will compete against other cars of that level. For example, the first generation Ford GT was produced from 2004-2006 and only 4,038 were made in total. Dodge’s equivalent third-generation Dodge Viper SRT-10 was made between 2003-2007 and 8,190 rolled off the production line, which is more than double the amount of Ford GT’s produced. “Honestly, foreign countries like Germany and Japan make much better cars than America. My CLS is really fast, really comfortable, and reliable. American cars just aren’t made to that standard,” said Ty Stewart, owner and tuner of a Mercedes CLS-500. With the second generation Ford GT’s production is planned to run from 2016-
2020, while the Dodge Viper has been discontinued as of 2017. Although Dodge no longer produces the Viper, they came up with another hardcore track car known as the Dodge Challenger Demon. This new Challenger is a rear-wheel drive, drag racing focused, 840 horsepower, 770 pound-feet of torque, all produced from a supercharged 6.2L V8. “Cars like the Dodge Demon take power and engineering to a whole new level. Those things are ridiculous,” said Jimmy Flanagan, a senior and American muscle fan. Other small automotive firms, such as Hennessey Performance, produce their own supercars to take down the major European manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. Hennessey’s first ever hypercar, the Venom GT, claimed several world records as it had the highest top speed of 270.49 miles per hour of any road legal car for three years and had the fastest run 0-200 miles per hour of any road legal car. Hennessey’s newest project is known to the public as the Venom F5. This hypercar is predicted to be the first road legal car to achieve a top speed of over 300 miles per hour. While other foreign companies like Bugatti use massive engines with 16 cylinders and four turbos to produce 1,500 horsepower, Hennessey is able to produce 1,600 horsepower from a twin-turbo V8. Hennessey Performance does not only develop their own supercars, they take average muscle cars and trucks and tune them upwards of 1,000 horsepower. Essentially they take already fast muscle cars and turn them into supercars and track monsters.
This style of writing has sparked many questions regarding copyright. Even legality issues have arisen in a few cases. There have been arguments and lawsuits between artists over questions like these in the past, but
it can still be confusing as to what is allowed and what is not. “I don’t see sampling as theft because the artists who do it are making their own original content and putting it over the sample.
DEVIN DOROUGH, a sophomore, mixing his own music in his self-made, in-home studio.
4 ANNIE SOGAARD
“Cars like the Dodge Demon take power and engineering to a whole new level. Those things are ridiculous,” said Jimmy Flanagan, a senior.
TOP: The Dodge Viper ACR powered by an 8.4L V10 and built to destroy track records MIDDLE: The Dodge Demon with a 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 producing 840 horsepower BOTTOM: Ford GT (left) is a true American supercar powered by a 5.4L supercharged V8 and
the Ford Mustang GT with the instantly classic Coyote 5.0L V8
4 SEAN GANNON
MINING HELIUM ON THE MOON By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer
Fossil fuels on Earth will eventually run out, and alternative sources of energy will be necessary to power the planet. Scientists have proposed that space has the potential to be the sustainable energy source the Earth needs. One source of energy is Helium-3, an element found on the moon. “I mean, there’s a lot of resources that we could use that are in outerspace. These resources have got to be stronger than what we have on Earth,” said Nick Romash, a junior. Helium-3 gives off no radioactive waste or pollution. When combined with deuterium, the reaction releases incredible amounts of energy. Just 2.2 pounds of Helium-3 com-
bined with 1.5 pounds of deterium can create 19 megawatt-years of energy. The actual extraction of the mineral is very difficult because it exists in small concentrations on the moon’s surface and we have no way to effeciently refine it. Mining nearby asteroids for minerals could be a possibility to extract resources from outerspace. “It’s a fascinating idea, but it could be many years before we are able to actually use it effectively,” said Robert Reisener, a science teacher. A company called Planetary Resources has successfully tested an asteroid-mining robot called Arkyd-6. This robot is about the size of a cereal box and was able to pass tests regardings its communications, computing systems, and altitude control systems.
4 LAUREN HAGGAR
SAMPLING MUSIC IN THE DIGITAL AGE CHANGES EVERYTHING By GRIFFIN GOLDSTEIN g staff writer
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
BEN MALKIN, a senior, flying a DJI Phantom drone in the quad. Malkin has his own business doing professional
The company is set to launch multiple of these robots into space in 2020. Their goal will be to analyze, land, and extract minerals from asteroids that pass close to Earth. Mining in space seems like it should be far in the future, but the in reality it is much closer than people may think. “I don’t think it’s very practical, and it should probably be our last possible option to go to space to look for more resources, but if we really need it they should definitely do it,” said Carmen Lopez, a junior. Today’s technology is moving at a rapid rate, especially compared to previ-
ous generations of technology dating before the 2000s. There are some dangers that come with bringing outside resources into an economy. If miners find an abundancy of platinum in asteroids, the value of platinum could plumit once space mined platinum is brought back to Earth. Economies will certainly have to adjust and new regulations would have to be prepared, but using water from asteroids could benefit us in other ways. If water is extracted from orbitting asteroids, it could be used to assist in the use of hydropower and propel us further into the space industry.
\ SARA WINDOM
y
It’s not like they’re making a carbon copy of someone elses song,” said Austin Engelbrecht, a senior. Not just anyone can sample copyrighted music and turn it into their own. Practicing this technique and selling the final product without the proper licensing can lead to liability for copyright infringement. Even if a license is possessed, there are instances where the licensors will request to listen to the finished product to compare it to the original and must approve of it before it can be sold. “I definitely get why artists would be upset if another artist sampled a significant portion of their work and it saw success. It makes sense to have laws protecting people’s work, even though I don’t completely agree that it is ‘copying,’” said Max Solberg, an owner of producing technology. There is a lot more that goes into digital sampling then what is transparent to most listeners. Many artists who use this technique have gone through the legal process and have obtained special licensing to do what they are doing.
Reflection 1 Over the second semester of my senior year in journalism I’ve learned a lot. Mostly, I’ve learned to loosen the reigns a bit and let nature take its course. I know this sounds like a huge excuse to be lazy and catch senioritis which, I admit, kind of was. Anyways I learned a lot about letting other people take control and responsibility of their own articles and photos. Especially with the mentor program in place, I felt like I taught Kassidy a lot and I feel like he will have a better approach next year as an editor. I was thrown in the deep end when I was first promoted and it was sort of terrifiying. I wiggled my way through it all even though it was a bit of a struggle at first. I hope I have helped Kassidy enough so that he does not have to struggle like that. Teamwork is one of the most important aspects of the newspaper room and if there is conflict,
it needs to be resolved. My biggest concern with this year was having two editor-in-chiefs because it causes more conflict than is necessary. We had so much conflict this year due to everyone always thinking that they are right. People need to learn to swallow their pride and admit that they are wrong or just compromise. People also need to learn to handle stress because this environment can be very stressful at times. I remember times when I’ve had pretty much nothing for my page and that can be stressful. Overall, I have learned a lot this year and I hope that one day in the future I can use all of this knowledge to my advantage. Maybe someday I will be off somewhere working for MotorTrend as a writer or photographer. Who knows but I have learned so much useful information from this class.
Reflection 2 The work that I am most proud of this year has to be all of my photos of cars because it is something that I am very passionate about. Not only am I passionate about cars but also photography. Cars are interesting thing to photograph because no one car is exaclty like the last even if they are the same car, with the same wheels, and the same color. No two are ever exactly the same and that creates an element of variety in every photo that I take. Each car has certain angles that it likes to be shot from and each car has very unique characteristics that make it stand out from other cars. For
example, the Dodge Challenger Demon is a very famous car at the moment for many reasons, one of which being that it has the largest functional hood scoop of any production car. This makes shooting the front end of that car very easy because of the huge eye-catching hood scoop. Angles are a huge part of shooting cars as well. A car that has a very low ride height is typically very easy to shoot from a low angle, practically on the ground. But a truck that sits three feet off the ground is much easier to shoot from eyelevel rather than down low becuase then you can fit the entire vehicle in the frame.
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