Digital Divides, Adaptive Technologies, and Green Computing

The task this blog post is to give examples of Digital Divides, Adaptive Technologies and Green Computing and talk about each. So here I go:

Digital Divides:  According to our tech book, a digital divide is the gap between those who have access to information and communications technology and those who do not.
Examples of things that could lessen the digital divide: 

• One thing that is helping and that could help more is free internet in libraries and school. I think it would be cool to put free internet and computers in bookstores as well such as Barnes and Nobles and Books a Million. This is great because people who cannot afford internet are able to go online and do what they need to do. If a kid in college or high school needs to write a paper or research something but they come from a family that cannot afford internet they do not have a reason to fail because they have it right there for them at school.  This is something that is really popular in America but I think it should be widespread. 
• One thing that goes on in America is 'Free Phones'. The government gives free phones to people who can't afford them but you have to be on government assistance or like dirt poor to get one. You can't be middle class or anything. They talk about equal opportunity but it isn't really equal opportunity. it's for certain people. I was always taught that a phone is a privilege and I have to do good in school and do good in life to keep my cellphone so to see that people are getting free phones is kind of like, why?

Adaptive Technologies: According to the book, assistive technologies are hardware and software specifically designed for individuals with physical disabilities.

Examples of Assistive Technologies:

• One assistive technology is accessibility setting on phones. Assistive Technology is Technology for people with disabilities. Maybe someone cannot use their hands so they can talk to their device. On i Phones there are a lot of assistive things for people who can't see really good or people who have trouble with touchscreens there is even a setting that allow the phone to talk back to you and tell you what you are pressing. There are really good things out there so that disabled people will not be left behind. Everyone has an equal opportunity.  
• Another assistive technology is assistive input devices like braille keyboards for blind people or one handed keyboards  for people that have trouble. Another device is foot controlled mice, which is brilliant, or head pointing systems where you can use your head to point at things on the screen as well as eye tracking systems. The computer sees where your eyes are moving and moves the screen accordingly. 

Green Computing: According to the book, green computing is " the use of computers in an environmentally friendly manner.

• One green computing example is energy efficient computers. They have hardware that was recycled and they run quieter and smoother. They also are better because there are less toxic chemicals. 
• Another is solar towers. CCBC actually has few on campus. Solar panels take energy from the sun and convert it so it can be used for lights or whatever else. And apparently you can get a solar power charger or hand powered charger or solar powered backpack.

Politics of the New South

"Politics of the New South"

• What are some reasons refugees come to the United States?
• Some of the reasons refugees come to the US is because often there is war going on in their countries or there is great poverty in their country. So they come to America to find peace and even though there is poverty here in America for a lot of them, I'm guessing it is better here, in America, than it is in their country.

• What are the challenges and opportunities concerning the integration of refugees into a community?
• Some of the challenges of integration of refugees into a community is that some of the members of the community aren't really happy about it. One of the members expressed that he was a little angry because he could go to town and get a bunch of food but he couldn't find a ham sandwich or eggs and bacon breakfast. I guess he feels that they are taking over. Some of the members of the community feel that the refugees come here with a number of kids and no education so how are they going to contribute to the community? They feel that dumping the refugees in the community will bring great consequences and at one point they couldn't meet the needs and services of so many refugees.   

 References

Hinojosa, M. (2013). Politics of the New South. Retrieved from America by the Numbers: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/america-by-the-numbers/episodes/episode-105/

 

Diversity Chapter 1 Blog Post:

I've been asked to talk about two things in this Blog Post. Those two things are:

1. What will the US demographics look like in 2050?  What implications does this have for you personally?
2. On page 9 of the textbook Bucher states, " Technological advances have transformed our social world into what Marshall McLuhan termed a  global village."  What does he mean? 

First I feel like we should understand what the word Demographics means. According to dictionary.com,  demographics is the statistical data of population, especially those showing average age, income etc. I did a little research on what the demographics may look like in 2050 and according to cnn.com the population is about 439 million, most of which will be minorities. Specifically, cnn.com says about 237.5 million will be minorities. For me personally, it might not do anything. I'll be about sixty years old in 2050. I'll probably be well into my career, with a house and everything established so I don't feel as though this will have any implication for me. If I were younger just looking for a job it might be a problem because everyone is looking for a job. So if I were young, looking for a job then it might impact me negatively because I would have more people to compete with. 

When Marshal McLuhan talks about a "global village" he's saying that technology has made the world come closer together. We have computers, satellites, etc. You can know what is going on all the way around the world about a minute after it happens, instantly. I think this is a good thing because now if another country needs help then someone can help them. If children need a donation in a third country we have the technology to wire it and I think that is absolutely wonderful.

 Works Cited

demographics. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Retrieved February 19, 2016 from Dictionary.com website http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/demographics

Broughnton, A(2008, August 13) Minorities expected to be Majority in 2050. CNN retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/13/census.minorities/index.html

Bucher, R.(2013) Diversity Consciousness: Opening our minds to people, cultures and opportunities,