Moving from 2006 to 2009

Today I said goodbye to a loyal friend,

my Motorola Razr. I've had it since the fall of 2006. I think this makes it 120 in phone years. 

At one point in techie history, all the cool kids had one, but it has since fallen from grace, and now it just looks archaic. 

But regardless of appearance, my Razr was steadfast and got the job done. 

Until recently...now it can't hold a charge longer than a good 15 minute conversation.  This tends to hamper communication...the sole purpose of its existence. 

So I have ushered in a new friend,

 the enV3. 

May it have as good of life as its predecessor. 

Intel Advertising

Have you noticed Intel's new marketing campaign? Click here and here for two examples. I applaud their efforts in trying to redefine the sciences as the face of "cool".


My only complaint? The lack of diversity in their science "rock stars". All of the advertisements I have seen have depicted white males as the scientists/inventors.

Intel, I give you two thumbs up in your efforts to make math and science more glamorous to the public. Two thumbs down, however, for not challenging (and perhaps promoting) the stereotypical image of scientist/inventor.

 

A plethora of technology

Atleast that is how it felt to me as I opened presents from my parents and siblings this Christmas.

I didn't ask for a Wii or an iPod shuffle, but I got them both. And they are amazing. I completely understand that neither represent new technology, but regardless, I can't help feeling like I am on the cutting edge.

On a slightly depressing note, I did my Wii Sports training age...50 years old. My balance is impeccable, but my strength and stamina need work. I feel completely justified blaming this on the pregnancy. The current plan is to work on improving this score during the later part of my maternity leave.

The techie teens

I taught with a new piece of technology today, and I was nervous. The picture above depicts what Texax Instruments is calling a hand-held computer.

I was uneasy as I started class today. What if I forgot how to do something? Or what if I screwed up and hit the wrong buttons and didn't know how to correct my mistake? I, myself, have just learned to operate this machine at a basic level only a few weeks ago.

The class was excited as soon as I started passing out the new technology, and we quickly began the lesson of finding solutions for a system of equations. First we graphed the quadratic equations and then we looked at the table. And then it happened...I forgot how to calculate the points of intersection using the calculator.

Ummmm...trouble.

Then one of my quiet, female students raised her hand. "You go to 'points and lines'." So I did, and behold, there was the command I needed.

I realized then that it took mere minutes for my students to acclimate to the machines. And in one quick moment, before I could even register it, I became the student in a room with 24 teachers, learning how to operate my hand-held computer.

Cool.