3 - Response to Lecture, Tutespark and Tutorial Task

The week 3 lecture focused on the history of technologies.

The thing that stood out to me in the lecture, is when Jules said:

We need to know where we came from to know where we're going.

As someone who is not very interested in history, I've never understood this (maybe it's just because I wanted to avoid learning about history as much as possible) but this lecture did help me to understand it a little more. I do realise that we need to know about advances in technology throughout history to try to know where we w

ould possibly go from here.

Tutespark

The tutespark for week 3 is to find examples of digital devices that are not electronic as well as to define the terms digital, analogue, communication and electronic.

Digital Devices

• Typewriter
• Magnetic Casette Tape
• Telegraph

Definitions

Digital: displaying numbers rather than scale positions

Analogue: of a circuit or device having an output that is proportional to the input

Communication: something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups

Electronic: of or relating to electronics; concerned with or using devices that operate on principles governing the behaviour of electrons

Treasure Hunt Task

1. What is the weight of the world’s biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?

The world's largest machine is the V-CAT D8R. It

stands over 311 feet tall and 705 feet long and weighs over 45,500 tonnes! It cost $100 million to build and took 5 years to design and manufacture.

Source: http://edwindwianto.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/the-largest-machine-in-the-world-the-v-cat-d8r-awsome/

2. What is the best way (quickest and most reliable) to contact Ozzy Osbourne.

I believe the best way to contact Ozzy would be through his twitter (@OfficialOzzy) as sending email or going through an agent could take months or even years.

3. When and what was the first example of global digital communication?

The first example of global digital communication was through writing, books in particular as they could reach large audiences globally.

4. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?

BestFlights recommends Tiger Air as their one-way flight from the GC to Melbourne only costs $69. Flight is the cheapest method of travel.

5. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?

Hatsune Miku is a virtual popstar was made by the Good Smile company. Her birthday is August 31, 2007.

6. Find a live webcam in Antarctica. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.

There is a live webcam available at http://www.antarctica.gov.au/webcams/mawson. Addictedtotravel.com recommends the Polar Star. The Polar Star is an ex Swedish icebreaker and was converted in 2000 for expedition cruising. The Polar Star can carry 100 whilst in the Antartic.

7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1980?

According to Wapedia, "Funkytown" by Lipss Inc was the number one song.

8. How would you define the term 'nano technology'? In your own words, what does it really mean?

A basic definition: Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. This covers both current work and concepts that are more advanced. In its original sense, 'nanotechnology' refers to the projected ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high performance products.

Source: http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm

I believe that nanotechnology is using tiny designs and technology to enhance the technology we use today. Being small and nano allows us to use it more efficiently and in more effective ways. For example, nobody wants to carry a large computer around like the first one to exist, we all prefer laptops.

9. What type of camera is used to make ‘Google Street View’?
Google Street View was created using cameras that were mounted onto cars, to capture street images with 360 degree cameras. This is called the "immersive media" camera.

10. Translate these questions into Klingon.

1. nuq 'oH [the] [weight] vo' [the] [world’s] [biggest] [machine] chay' 'ar ta'ta' 'oH [cost] Daq chen
2. nuq 'oH [the] [best] [way] [quickest] HochHom [reliable] Daq [contact] [Ozzy] [Osborne]
3. ghorgh 'ej nuq ghaHta' [the] wa'DIch [example] vo' [global] [digital] [communication]
4. nuq 'oH [the] [cheapest] [form] vo' [travel] vo' [the] SuD baS [Coast] Daq [Melbourne]
5. 'Iv 'oH [Hatsune] [Miku] nuq [company] ta'taH ghaH [belong] Daq nuq 'oH Daj qoS
6. tu' [a] yIn [webcam] Daq [Antarctica] tu' [a] Daq Daq [stay] Daq [Antarctica]
7. nuq bom ghaHta' [top] vo' [the] [Australian] [pop] [charts] vam [week] Daq
8. chay' [would] SoH [define] [the] [term] ['nano] [technology'] Daq lIj ghaj mu'mey nuq ta'taH 'oH [really] [mean]
9. nuq [type] vo' [camera] 'oH [used] Daq chenmoH [‘Google] [Street] [View’]

Source: mrklingon.org/