Tech Tool Evaluation

Youtube Quiz
http://www.youtube.com/video_questions_beta

Description
It is a program that you can use while others see your videos and at the same time answer some questions of your choice. You as an editor can add them to your videos.
3 things I like 
- It gives an option to relate to the viewers
-It seems simple to use
- Anybody can use it if they have a you tube account
3 things I don't like 
- Since it is new there is not a lot of information
- It could be removed any time since it is in construction
-People could start posting anything that could be bad or good if there are no restrictions
I could use it to..
- Give viewers an opportunity to ask me questions
- Give them questions to rate my video
- Give my suggestions to make them better

Stixy
http://www.stixy.com/

Description
Stixy is a website were you can create as many bulletin boards filled with post its or reminders as you want. Also you can add widgets if you like. Then when you are finished you can share them with your friends or family. They can comment and you and your group members can work at the same time in the bulletin board.
3 things I like
- It is user friendly and presents you the ideas in a simple way
- You can work on i even though you are separate from your co workers
- You can add almost anything to it
3 things I dont like
- Sometimes creating a user for every program is time wasting but it could save your work for the next time
- All the information posts seem overwhelming
- The letter size its a little small so you have to search all over the page to know where to start
I could you it to..
- Make group projects when we are at seperate places
- Make an organized brainstorm
- Saving useful information and diving it itnto topics

White hat hacking

What I know
I really don't know anything about this topic, I obviously know that is a form of hacking but i don't know how it works or what they do.

Questions I have about the topic
1. Why is is called White hat hacking?
2. How is it different from normal hacking?

Links with useful info
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/white-hat
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/black-hat
http://www.cyberlawsindia.net/grey-hat.html
http://www.secpoint.com/What-is-a-White-Hat.html

Things I learned
- White hats are people who hack a website to show its flaws to the owner just in time so they can fix the problems. They are against the abuse of computer systems.
-They are security specialists that test a companies website by making tests, examining the system and analyzing. Most of them are employees that work for the same companies.   
- They are the opposite of black hats. Black hats are the hackers who hack a web page trying to damage it and revel confident information.
-The name comes from the concept in movies that bad guys used black hats, to be the opposite, good guys wear white hats.
-Also there exist Grey Hats. These hackers are not good as white hats or bad as black hats, they are in the middle and usually don't hack for personal purposes.
-White hats have many names, some of them are sneakers, white knights, ethical hackers and more.
- They need to have an certificate for doing what they do that is given by the NSA, the National Security Agency.

How it relates to my life
It could relate to my life in the future. Maybe when I grow up I am going to work in an important company.  It is useful to know that there are specialized hackers that could help to improve security and end up benefiting lots of persons.

Questions I still have 
I still want to know how do hackers do the hacking?

College Exploration on Naviance

Colleges that interest me right know are Parsons School of Design and UCLA , although I am not sure what I am going to study yet.

After researching I found about McGill University in Montreal, Canada and Columbia University in New York, USA, these are some that interest me.

	McGill	Columbia	UCLA	University of San Francisco
GPA	( Not Available)	4	4	3.47
Graduation Rate	( Not Available)	93%	90%	70%
Cost	( Not Available)	45,290	35,564	37,424$
Location	Montreal,Canada	New York, USA	Los Angeles, USA	San Francisco USA
% Applications Accepted	49%	10%	26%	58%
Public/ Private	Private	Private	Public	Private
Size - Students	29,800	25,200	38,157	9,557

My average GPA was 3.5

The GPA are:

Not Available- McGill University

4- Columbia University

4- UCLA

3.47- USF 

These GPA are very high, there is a bigger chance for me to enter in USF that in the other ones. If I wanted to get in the others I probably would have to raise my grade a little more. I will try to find colleges that are more reachable for me, since these seem to be a higher level than mine.

From this I learned that colleges are not very easy to find the one that is best for you, you need to make a lot of research to find the one that has exactly all the things you need and want, but also that is at your academic level. I am glad that I have been a good student through out my years in school, I can see that is very difficult to get a high GPA and you cant change your school record. It will end up affecting your future and your chances to get in a good college.

Google Day 5

My goals for today are:
1. Edit more pictures 
2. Explain Presentation

1. Edit more pictures 

 after...

2. Explain Presentation
My presentation will have two parts. Both will have the same pictures but one will be with pictures that are "professionally" edited to make them better. And the other part would be the same pictures but edited to make them funner. The first ones I will edit in Pixlr, since it is the program that offers more professional effects and the others i will edit in Befunky.

GOOGLE DAY 4

Goal 1- get pictures to edit

Goal 2- Start editing

I am going to have 1 example of each type of photo, one ir more " professional" and the other one is edited in a more fun way.

Goal 3- Start to think about presentation
I think I am going to make my presentation in slide rocket, or prezi.

Google Day 3

My goals for today are: 
-Learn what makes a picture a good picture. \
-What do professionals have to look out for when they are editing
-What do people edit in casual photos 
Research
Goal 1-Learn what makes a picture a good picture
http://www.fuelyourphotography.com/what-makes-a-good-photograph/
http://www.webdesign.org/photoshop/photo-editing/how-to-make-a-normal-photo-look-good.16490.html
http://www.forevergeek.com/2010/04/5_techniques_to_make_your_photos_look_good/
There are many things that photographers watch out for when they are taking pictuers. But they also make pictures better by editing somethings like black and white, color, cropping bad parts, sharpen, and more.
Goal 2-What do professionals have to look out for when they are editing
http://www.forevergeek.com/2010/04/5_techniques_to_make_your_photos_look_good/
http://conversations.nokia.com/2010/10/21/three-things-to-edit-on-every-photo-nokia-n8-camera-school/
Although many photographers don't edit their photos since the cameras already take a really good quality picture there are some aspects that they do edit like the black and white because it shows more emotion and colors don't distract the viewer, also it makes good contrast with the lights. Sharpen the image by adding contrast, it makes the subject look more alive.
Goal 3 -What do people edit in casual, fun photos 
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjBZZ0MUPHuuS5HfWMYEDSUjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20100421201024AAJgSi8
Most people like to make sure that they look good in a picture so they fix their complexion, skin tone and make retouches. Make the colors pop more for it to be more attractive. They enhance the quality of the picture and eliminate errors like moving or red eyes.  

For next class...
My goals for next class are to start editing pictures i get on the internet that are not edited.
One picture will be a picture that will be most commonly edited by teens that want to make their pictures"prettier". And the other will be a picture that would be more professional for example for a brochure or something like that. Maybe I will do more examples of each kind, with different programs. Also start thinking in which media form will I present my final project.  

Google Day 2

I was absent this day.

If you came home from a trip with 150 South African rand, 350 Kuwait dinars and 200 Japanese yen, how much would you have in US dollars?

   http://www.xe.com/ucc/
150 zar

A Web WhiteBoard - AWW

http://awwapp.com/

Description
Once you open to this website you will see that is very clear, here is no way you will get lost. At the top you will see the title, below there is an explanation of what the web site does and where it works and then you will see a get started button.

Explanation
This website is for drawing easy sketches or notes that you would do on a whiteboard. You can use it on your computer , tablet or phone and you don't need to download anything. You don't have to have an account you just click the get started button and it will take you directly to the white board. Once you are inside you can see the different options of colors and pencils and you can also write. To save your sketch you can download the image to your computer or post it with a URL. 

Demonstration
http://awwapp.com/s/ab/9b/c4.htm

When to use it?
This website can be used by students for example when they want to make a picture for an online project like a comic. Also they can make notes with their own handwriting or typing. Or just draw in free time.

DIGITAL NATION

1. I agree with what they said about making life easier with technology because now we can do things faster and easier with the internet.
2. I agree with what the movie said about multitasking because we can do homework and be watching a video at the same time.
3. I agree in what the women said about all being connected at all times because people now don't go anywhere without an electronic device if they don't have it they will feel incomplete.
4. I disagree on the people who cant live with electronics because now at every second of the day they are busy and don't pay attention to their families or friends.
5. I agree on teachers educating with technology because that is where the future is headed and we need to take advantage of it.
6. I agree on multitasking when you are doing things that are not so serious.
7. I disagree on multitasking when you are working or doing homework because you will do everything worse than if you were doing it one thing at a time.
8. I disagree on the research of the brain while reading and while using Google because in Google you are having more information that is relevant for you.
9.I agree that our society has an addiction to tech that even you have to do it while driving (driving and texting).
10. I agree about what they said about having an addiction to play video games is very bad because people are loosing their time in something that dose not help them.
11. I agree on what they said about technology decreases face to face communication because people now prefer to not speak and just text someone.
12.I agree on having those camps of rehabilitation because you have a rest for a few days from technology and don't have the temptation of using it.
13. But also I disagree with these camps because as soon as the kids return home the first thing the will want to do is go on the computer.
14. I agree on what they said about kids being native and grownups being immigrants because kids always are teaching their parents or grown ups new things about technology.
15. I agree on having technology in all schools because it will teach the students to see the world in a new way and have more opportunities.
16. I agree on having a firewall to block programs out because I think that there are many websites that are inappropriate for school.
17. I disagree and agree on that this is a dumb generation because it depends on how you use your resources  many people use them to research more and learn more, but others just to play around.
18. I agree that people don't read as much as they used to because there is now many websites that have a summary so you don't have to do as much work.
19. I agree on the idea of what we need is to slow down on to focus on only one one thing at a time.
20. I agree on that we need to appreciate technology because it always comes with new opportunities.
21. I agree on what they said about connecting people because it really helps you to feel closer, share experiences and relate with others.
22. I disagree on having a virtual world instead of a real meeting because you will have miss interpretations and it is never the same to be face to face than in two parts of the world.
23. I disagree on just having a virtual world because it dose not feel real, we will forget how to behave in front of humans, forget how to speak and will become isolated from the world.

Can I change my mind about a career once I started studying? What happens then?

Reaserch
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/a/change_quiz.htm
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/tp/career_change.htm
http://www.careershifters.org/expert-advice
http://www.canadianliving.com/life/work/10_tips_for_making_a_successful_career_change.php
Information Summary
There are many websites, quizzes, counselors and speaking guidance in which people help you to learn what is the area of study that you like, and what is the best career for you. There are some steps that you should put yourself through to know if this is really what you want and what is the best way to do the change. First you should be 100% sure you want the change of career instead of a change of class or level. Then focus on what new careers are there for you to choose on and narrow all your options until you find the one you want. Finally just to make sure take small courses of your new career to see if it is really what you expect. If you change career nothing bad will happen, its just a waste of your time and money, but if it will bring a greater future and happiness it will be worth it.
New Questions about this topic
1. Is there any course before entering college that gives you a small introduction to the basics of each career to know what are they about?

Game Design

What do you know about the topic?

I only know that there are some websites that help you create your own games. there are some more easy and friendly and others more advanced for someone who wants to make a real game. These advanced pages use coding.

Questions that I have about this topic:

1. What is Game Design, is it making the game from scratch? 

2. What are the best advanced pages for designing a game?

3. What skills do you need to have as a designer? 

Research

http://www.careertoolkits.com/video-game-designer/

http://education-portal.com/articles/Game_Art_and_Design_Jobs_Options_Salary_Info_and_Requirements.html

http://www.thegamecreators.com/

http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/411/game_design_an_introduction.php

Things I learned

-Designers create the topic, the idea, and also the game itself.

-They have to design the layout, the different characters, the levels, score keeping etc.

- Designers have to be good at using technology, understanding it, good at math and coding and be very punctual with deadlines and limited in time spent in a subject. 

- Designers have to have graduated from computer science or game design

- A game can have many designers who each do a specific thing for the game, for example one does the characters, an other the dialogue and like that until all aspects of the game are completed.

How it relates to my life

Even though i don't play many video games like my brother does, I still play Wii, Nintendo and PSP sometimes. In each of these game consoles there are many different games for all preferences. When I was younger I bought the ones of dressing up or cooking. This is the way this topic relates to my life. 

Questions that I still have:

1. I still want to know what are the designing games pages that are free that you can use for fun?

Google Day 1

My three goals for today are:
- Learn what is the best program for professional photographers to edit their pictures.
- Learn what is the most used program that people our age use to edit their pictures.
-  What are the programs that offer the most effects to edit pictures for fun.

Research
Goal 1 - Learn what is the best program for professional photographers to edit their pictures.
http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/photoediting-software.shtml
http://photo-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://photosoftwareblog.com/10-best-photo-sharing-websites-online-storages/
There are many programs and  they are different ones if you want to pay or not. If you are willing to pay you may use Corel Paintshop Pro,Adobe Photoshop Elements, Serif PhotoPlus X5 and many others. If you want a free program there is Picassa, Picnik, GIMP, Adobe PhotoShop Express etc.

Goal 2 -  Learn what is the most used program that people our age use to edit their pictures. 
http://sixrevisions.com/tools/five-best-image-editing-software/
Pixlr
One of the most used programs is Pixlr. This program offers 3 different editors for the type of picture you want to edit. There is Pixlr Editor for more advanced photos. Pixlr Express for a quick and efficient editing. Also there is Pixlr-o-Matic which is used for editing everyday pictures, it comes with more effects and colors to play with.

Goal 3 -  What are the programs that offer the most effects to edit pictures for fun.
http://www.squidoo.com/funny-photo-tools
http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/freebies/28-online-photo-editing-websites-to-have-fun-with/
Befunky
Pixlr
Fotoflexer
Pizap
Dumpr
Poladroid
Photovisi
There are many fun editing programs that offer a variety of effects,distortions, colors and templates like collages or different settings for people to make a different picture.

For next class.....
One thing that I want to learn next class is what makes a picture a good picture. What do professionals have to look out for when they are editing.For example the light, focus and others.

Link

C/C Class website 

Google 20%

 For my Google 20% project I wold like to learn more about photo editing. I would like to make my project focused on how to edit pictures to make them better quality. For example how to edit light and the contrast. also  I will find the best websites that teach what are the things that makes a quality edited picture a good picture.

For the final product I want to present a blog that contains pictures that I edited.  It can be pictures that I got from someone else or ones that I take depending on what I can edit if I used one of mine. Each picture will have a retouched part that will be more obvious so that people can clearly see what is the aspect of the picture was edited. Also in  my blog I could add all the websites I used and the websites that were tutorials that teach me and guided me through the process.