by Jen Fife

Technology impacts almost all areas of American life, and not even the presidential election can escape the clutches of technology. But how deeply is technology impacting this election and the public’s view of the candidates?

The availability of the Internet as a campaign tool allows candidates to reach more people and raise unparalleled amounts of money for their respective campaigns. So many voters having the internet at their fingertips allows them 24/7 access to any and all information about the candidates. However, anyone can make a web page or publish content to sites such as Wikipedia, so voters should be weary of information they are exposed to online. It is best to stick to each candidate’s official website.

Informational websites are not the only form of media influencing the election. Possibly the most popular videos floating around youtube (and various other sites) are the Saturday Night Live skits featuring all of the candidates, particularly the ones containing Tina Fey’s rendition of Governor Sarah Palin. Many people argue that these skits will negatively influence the outcome of Tuesday’s election due to voters considering the actors and politicians as one in the same.

The best voters are well informed. By this point many minds are made up, but there is a wealth of information floating around for anyone who is still undecided.

Have a safe Fall Break, and don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4th!

by April Patriarca

Halloween is here once more; time for ghouls and goblins to come out from their hiding places. It is time for us to turn our houses into Dracula’s castle! Here are some simple tech gadgets that are perfect for turning houses into haunted havens.

A fog machine is a perfect gadget to give the impression that something is lurking around! A thick layer of fog floating around will surely give that eerie touch to any spot. A small fog machine can reach $29.00 to $69.00; this will surely terrify trick-or-treaters trying to get through lawns with thick layers of fog floating about. Nothing beats the good ol’ sound of storm; the thunder and lightning machine is another tech gadget to help in the transformation of a home. Thunder and lightning machines will give you a realistic impression of a storm—the loud thunder is certain to make a few spines tingle amongst your treat-seeking guests. A thunder and lightning machine can range between $15.00 to $52.99. A cobweb in a can is a very realistic and convenient way to create spider webs around the house, giving the sense of Dracula’s ancient castle inside your own home. The price for a cobweb can range from $5.99 to $50.99, depending on how big your home is, and how many you need to truly deck it out. Just add small spiders for decoration to complete the transformation, and your living room creeps into Dracula’s lounge.

Another alternative for less expensive fog would be using dry ice to imitate the fog. Dry ice is solidified carbon dioxide that, when melted, turns condensed water vapor and carbon dioxide into a thick layer of cloudy fog. This alternative is a lot cheaper; a pound of dry ice can range between $1.00 to $3.00, depending on the place of purchase. A less expensive way to make thunder would be creating a CD mix of a storm, or a Halloween CD with mixes of thunder, and just put it in repeat. Unfortunately, there isn’t a cheap an alternative in making lightning or a cobweb that will not cost more, or would require an extensive amount of labor. I’m wishing everyone a Happy Halloween and to stay safe!

Here are some websites where you can get the listed items at an inexpensive price:
www.halloweenexpress.com
www.frightcatalog.com

by Graham Ricks

Halloween is coming up and when I think of Halloween I think of monsters, and when I think of monsters I think of aliens, and when I think of aliens I think of mind control devices. I don’t know if the aliens have arrived yet but devices that get into your head sure have.

A new form of audio technology is allowing sound to be projected into your head, and you may not be able to avoid it. Holosonic Research Labs (http://www.holosonics.com/) has a form of audio technology they are calling audio spotlight. This new form of speaker allows one to place audio in a very small area using ultrasound waves. This allows the user to project sound to a particular person without anyone else around them hearing it.

This idea was first thought of by the U.S. Army for projecting voices into the heads of enemies, possibly in order drive them insane. Now it is being used for advertising. In Soho New York a billboard stands prompting passersby to view a particular television show, but that’s not all it does. Thanks to audio spotlight technology, people passing through a small section of the street hear a voice tell them to tune in to the show, which is creepy considering it is advertising Paranormal State, a ghost related reality show on A&E.

While many people are objecting to not having a choice of being submitted to this cranial penetration, it has some very handy uses. Several museums around the world are using the invention of Holosonic Research Labs to allow users to hear about individual exhibits without disturbing others, a preferred alternative to those goofy headphones. There have also been reports of cafes using these speakers to allow people in different parts of the café to hear different music.

Audio spotlight is the new means of getting audio to the people and it is becoming more widely spread everyday. If you like the thought of subliminal audio check out Holosonics website, but if you don’t like the idea of sound being broadcast into your skull you might want to make yourself an aluminum foil helmet and prepare for the invasion.

Safe and Happy Listening!

by Jen Fife

With Halloween just a few days away, many may still be searching for that perfect costume. Below are various costume lists to appeal to our fellow geeks and nerds on campus!

For the Geeks & Nerds (Individual)
iPod
Linux Penguin
iPhone
Blue Screen of Death
Anything from Star Wars
A Bluetooth ear piece
Shakespeare
Hester Prynne
Graphing Calculator
Napoleon Dynamite
Mary Catherine Gallagher


For the Geeks & Nerds (couples)
Plug & socket
Nerd & video game
Mario & Princess/Peach
Harry Potter & Jenny (or any combination of Harry Potter characters)
Any Shakespearean couple (Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth & Lady Macbeth)

And Finally
It’s a safe choice to go as any political figure this year. After all, you will probably be out of college by the time another election rolls around. While Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin are all fair game, go ahead and do what you’re secretly thinking: Dress up as Tina Fey dressed as Sarah Palin. You can’t go wrong.

by Bridgett Tackett

Defibrillation Overview
In the time it takes you to read this information, sudden cardiac arrest will have claimed another victim. Statistics show that more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year. Up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if someone had initiated the Cardiac Chain of Survival, and an automated external defibrillator (AED) had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency.

What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)?
An AED is a device about the size of a laptop computer that analyzes the heart's rhythm for any abnormalities and, if necessary, directs the rescuer to deliver an electrical shock to the victim. This shock, called defibrillation, may help the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm of its own.

How does an AED work?
An AED is easy to operate. It uses voice prompts to instruct the rescuer. Once the machine is turned on, the rescuer will be prompted to apply two electrodes provided with the AED to the victim's chest. Once applied, the AED will begin to monitor the victim's heart rhythm. If a "shockable" rhythm is detected, the machine will charge itself and instruct the rescuer to stand clear of the victim and to press the shock button.

Who can use an AED?
In most cases, EMTs and first responders (police and firefighters) are required to know how to use an AED as part of their job responsibilities. Furthermore, all 50 states now have AED Good Samaritan provisions that help protect laypersons. Contact your local or state emergency medical services ("EMS") department to find out about Good Samaritan protections that your state provides for users of AEDs.

How can I get trained in the use of an AED?
Contact your local American Red Cross for a listing of training classes. The Red Cross offers half-day courses that include CPR and AED skills and comprehensive, daylong sessions that also include first aid. These interactive courses are taught by certified Red Cross instructors and use hands-on practice scenarios and videos that reflect a variety of situations. Each participant receives a skills card for use during in-class practice sessions. The skills cards can also aid in retaining skills after completing the course and serves as a quick reference tool in an emergency.

http://www.redcross.org/SERVICES/hss/courses/aed.html

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by Jen Fife

There is no better treat for a junk food junkie than the massive amounts of candy that flow freely in October. The UK celebrates National Chocolate Week (http://www.chocolate-week.co.uk/) October 13th-19th , and here in the States we have arguably the best holiday ever: Halloween.

Unfortunately, anything in mass quantities (especially chocolate) is horrible for the human body, but chocolate addicts need not worry. The newest gadget available to help fight chocolate cravings is the Shockolate Vault Jar. The Shockolate Jar has a timer that can be set up to 24 hours in advance. The timer is located on the top of the jar and counts down the time until the jar can be opened without punishment. Chocolate (or any other favorite sweet) is placed inside the jar, and anyone who tries to open the jar before the preset amount of time has passed is delivered a tiny electric shock.

The Shockolate Jar could be a good way to help control chocolate cravings or even quit smoking, as cigarettes would fit nicely inside the jar. It’s also an effective way to keep your roommates out of your stash! People with heart problems or epilepsy should stay away from the gadget, but it is safe for any otherwise healthy person to use. The product is available from www.gobaz.com for a little under $20.00.

by Graham Ricks

The past few years have seen much tighter restrictions on travel, from having to provide multiple forms of identification to enter the country to pouring out a drink before boarding a plane.

Listed below are special precautions that one should take to protect themselves and their technology when traveling.

1. Invest in a laptop bag that meets TSA’s (Transportation Security Administration) recommendations. These recommendations can be found at http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2008/0805.shtm. Making sure to follow these guidelines will allow you to pass through security with the least amount of trouble. Currently you have to remove your laptop and turn it on to show that it does function. With these cases, all you have to do is lay them open and put them through the x-ray machine.

2. Remove any passwords. TSA is currently able to request that you give up your password, so that they can access your computer. Removing your password makes the process simpler, and you do not have to reveal a sensitive password.

3. Back up all of your data before you leave home. Any time that someone else has access to your data there is always the chance of your data being corrupted or even deleted. In addition to this make sure that you remove any data that is considered sensitive, as it could be confiscated.

4. Limit the amount of electronic devices that you carry with you. Carrying multiple laptops, several cell phones, or lots of other electronic gadgets can draw attention to you and your electronics. Making sure that you limit your number of devices helps ensure you don’t spend any unnecessary time with security personnel, and helps reduce the hassle of trying to carry numerous items through the terminal.

5. The most important tip for traveling with technology, by far, is make sure you take all of your devices as carry-on’s. Even though it may take you an extra minute or two to get past security, it helps ensure the safety of your electronics. Checked baggage can be damaged or lost, and carrying-on makes sure you arrive with you computer or other device in one piece.

Using these tips may not ensure a perfect traveling experience every time, but it can help make the task of passing through security smoother.

Happy and Safe Computing and Traveling!

by Jen Fife

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, almost 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States. With the development of new child location technologies, this number could decrease drastically over the next few years. Three GPS child locators on the market today in hopes of lowering this statistic are the “Mommy I’m Here” locator, the Amber Alert GPS locator, and the BrickHouse Child Locator.

The Mommy I’m Here Child Locator includes a teddy bear shaped receiver that can be attached to a child’s shoe or belt and a wireless transmitter for the parent to carry. The device is available at www.sb-kids.com for $29.95, and the website does not mention a contract or monthly fee to use the service.

The Amber Alert GPS child tracking system includes several features, but the availability of various features is based upon the service plan the parent orders. The safety zone is set by the parent and once he or she activates the GPS device a notification will be sent if the child exits the safety zone. The GPS device that the child carries has an SOS button that the child can press if he or she senses immediate danger. The device also sends an alert to the parent when it goes over a certain speed, so the parent will know if the child is traveling in a vehicle. The only feature that is contingent upon participation in the unlimited plan is a feature called bread crumbing. Bread crumbing allows parents to sign up to receive regular notifications of their child’s whereabouts. The device starts at $249.00 and monthly plans start as low as $17.99. More details and ordering information are available online at amberalertgps.com.

Perhaps the most popular child location device on the market is the BrickHouse Child Locator. Parents set a safety zone and a tag is placed with the child so the parent can locate the child up to 600 feet away outdoors and 250 feet away indoors with audio and visual guides that lead to within an inch of the tagged child. The device is available for order on www.brickhouse-childsafety.com starting at $189.95 and there is no mention of monthly service fees.

With these and many other GPS child locators on the market today parents can feel more comfortable taking their children out to enjoy the most basic activities, such as a day at the park. A GPS child locator is a worthwhile investment in terms of both protecting children and providing parents with peace of mind.

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