Virtual Migraine

      Here's the VR being used in ways I never even imagined.  Excedrin® Migraine using the VR for consumers to experience migraine symptoms. The VR does this by stimulating bright lights, darkness, and frequencies in patterns that mimick migraine pains. The marketing pitch is genius. It's a common notion for patients that suffer from migraine to not feel empathy from those around them because most people do not understand how severe the pain might feel. Here is another example of virtual reality changing the market landscape and connecting users with brands in ways never done before

New Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy as an Alternative energy source.


On VICE's the future of energy episode I found:

20% of our electricity is generated by nuclear energy. Nuclear power is the largest single source of carbon free electricity. Nuclear fission with its highly radioactive and hard to control which has caused large environmental problems. So what is the trade off? Cleaner energy source that can cause messy and harmful clean ups?

Taylor Wilson a young nuclear physicist has been developing new and safer ways to produce nuclear energy. He has challenged our method of nuclear fission, which we created in the 1950s, this has thus created uranium waste and spent nuclear fuel that is sitting somewhere because we don't know what to do with it. The U.S there is 67,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and 3 billion tons of uranium waste.

He has created a reactor that is passively and intrinsically safe, they run for 3 yrs without refueling it, 3 meters wide ( can power 10,00 homes+) , and in the event of a emergency they can be drained and immediately stooped. They also leave behind a fraction of the waste traditional nuclear fission.

Nuclear Fusion is the energy source we are moving towards  because it leaves no carbon or toxic waste. Energy is created between a high speed collusion of atoms combining, basically making a star or a sun in a contained way. VICE visited the primer nuclear fusion site in CA to find out how this is being made. The National Ignition Facility is the world's largest laser facility, which is where"Star Trek into Darkness" was filmed because its the most advanced facility of its kind in the world.

The Future Energy

    Climate Change is real!! I can't believe it was even debated by our world leaders with all the evidence and research that was continuing to come in. That being said what are we doing to change this reality, besides simply turning off the faucet while we brush our teeth?

POWER = energy over time

    I believe we must invest all of our energy ( no pun ) in researching new forms of energy to power our world. There is already an effort to stray away from the dependency of fossil fuels with solar, wind, hydro technologies, etc. However, while watching an episode of VICE I learned about a new form of natural energy. A young scientist released energy from the sun in a form of a fire ball using coffee cream.

Taylor Clyne, a young scientist, at the age of 14 achieved nuclear fusion in he's garage. Yellow cake, enriched uranium, is what Taylor has made in he's garage. He goes into the dessert, gets raw uranium, and makes yellow cake.

Today our power is dependent on a mixture of coal and natural gas this means tons of carbon emissions --> climate change concerns.

We need to push towards alternate energy means, renewable energy.

Shane from VICE met with an innovator of electric cars, this conversation was about pushing towards a sustainable energy future. This electric car company is innovating how energy is stored, battery. They have opened source all of their patents to help other inventors and manufactures to implement he's technology.

Another issue with implementing alternative energy sources, however the cost of solar and wind is going down making it more accessible. Denmark has 14 off shore wind farms which powers over 40% of the country! This turbines produce 400 megawatts can power 68,000 homes.

VR problems

    Developers of the VR are implementing things like "kill switches" and limiting user movement to prevent inherit motion sickness from game usage. Developers are calling this issue the locomotion problem. In order to solve it they are manipulating the functions of users in terms on how they can move throughout the games “I know that's unpopular, but what we're finding more and more is that traditional video games are about explorations of space, while virtual reality games are about manipulation of objects.”

Motion Sickness is one of many concerns I have for the potential popularly of VR systems. If we begin to implement VR into every aspect of life or work such as other technological developments, what will this mean for our health? How will virtual reality affect our vision, brain development and overall health? These are concerns that must be researched and implemented into warnings and discretion of usage.

Video games became wildly popular within youth, its likely that VR game systems will emerge with the same popularity. However, what will this mean for children's health and wellness?

We must be aware of the side effects new technologies will have on our health before they take off and are implemented into every aspect of life.

Facebook claims ownership on Oculus user created content

Users of the Oculus face Facebook's terms of sevice of policies on their creative content. Facebook ownerships allows the Oculus content to be collected and monitored by the company. "Facebook already collects information on users, so on face value they are just keeping with their general practice as a way to support their advertisers,"

Facebook makes money buy selling their consumer data to advertisers so its no surprise that their ownership rights will follow with these same intentions. This effects privacy of user content that consumers must be aware about when purchasing the VR system.

Media Blackout

                     During my undergrad career I took a Journalism introductory course. For the first week's assignment my professor asked us to participate in a "media blackout" LOL --> my classes' reaction. To clarify my professor wanted us to seize all participation in media related activity. NO Facebook NO Twitter NO Instagram NO Netflix?!?! No netflix might be impossible. Like most of my classmates I laughed off the silly thought that completing this assignment without Bull***ing was possible. So I wrote a reflection piece (the assignment) about my media blackout experience that was not truthful because I did not fully participate in this blackout. However, in bullsh**ing my assignment I had to figure out which media forms I regularly use, for what purpose, and how would they affect my life if I had to go without.
                  While writing this reflection I continously thought about my childhood. I thought about what I did before having the capabilties of a smart phone in my hands. I also remember the beginnings of technological developments. I remember how no one in my household could use the home phone if I was connecting with AOL to the internet to play an online Barbie game. I remember associating computers, cellphones, cameras, etc. with adults and these being important products for adult work. Slowly these technologies difussed with important every day task of work, communicative, and effcient needs to those of entertainment. From games on cellphone devices, to chain text messages, to ringtones. These early advancements for entertainment purposes allowed technology to be geared towards other means and purpose. Alongside with the development of accesibilty and the cheapen of these technology allowed for technology to intergrate in virtually every aspect of life.
              I then thought about the purpose of each media outlet I used. What did I get from digesting an everyday Facebook timeline? Aside from entertainment I realized that I got news updates from Facebook. From celebrity gossip to local news events, social platforms serve as a network of information that broad cast current events. This form of journalism might not be the most means of sourcing however it was intergrated in my regular rountine and revolved around topics relevant to my life.

SWIZZ Beats says Social Media made HipHop Soft

Swizz Beats goes on New York's hit radio talk show "The Breakfast Club" and speaks about he's attendance to Harvard Business School, he's studio ownership, Social Media, etc.

He makes an interested comment, along with the talk show hosts, about how today's hip hop artist "are not cut for" competition. He mentions how back in the day hip hop was an ongoing lifestyle where if "you talked about it you had to be about it" he also mentions today is different "but maybe for the best". Swizz Beats and the talk show host agree that if social media was around back then there would be probability that everyone would be in jail. Cameras follow artist and there is fear that misconduct will be broad casted on post. Also Swizz comments how the hustle has change from being in the street, rougher lifestyle, to a "corporate" mentality. Artist now understand how to utilize social platforms to push their music.

Love Plus

Like we discussed in class today men in Japan are marrying video games?!? CNN wrote a article about a man who married a video game character, Nene Anegasaki, from he's Nintendo DS game called Love Plus. "Tokyo man marries video game character" 

We consider how advancements in technology are altering human interactions.  Is technology lessening our day to day human interaction? Are we too busy socializing on our smart phones and missing valuable communication cues in real life? All of this plays a role in way a man would choose virtual reality instead of a living breathing human being. Is this Love Plus a way for this man to hide from himself and opt to find "true love" in a machine that he can control?

Advancement in technology have made our lives easier by giving us on-demand information, services, and entertainment. However, can we advance mankind by creating life through virtual realities? And should we?

We Need "Girl" Emojis!

Always brand is shedding lights to gender inequality issues in their marketing campaigns. No girls in the professional set of emojis. While their are girls depicted in pink emojis that have to do with hair and style, there is a limitation on female depiction of professionals.

Their #LikeaGirl campaign continues with the girl emoji discussion. Traditional stereotypes are continuing in our technological advancements. It is important for our advances in communication to portray accurate representation of women and girls.

Oculus Rift and Youtube GoPro Videos mash up?

Adweek did a piece on what the VR new technology will mean to already existing brands. "7 marketing implications of Oculus Rift being available to consumers."

VR technology were acquired by Facebook and are soon being shipped to consumers. Beats me what Facebook plans to do with the technology. Perhaps we will soon be able to virtually hang out with our friends from our timeline. However VR technology will be costly if consumers will choice to use Amazon markets and Oculus' own shop. Of course, we should expect some competitor companies to emerge such as HTC's Vive.

My initial reaction to the VR was an upgrade to the gaming industry. I figured people want virtual reality in video games, no where else. However, I can now appreciate how many industries this technology can change.

Adweek brought to light many interesting predictions about how the VR will be incorporated in different industries of branding.

GoPro sees opportunity to bring youtube action videos to life with the VR. This could possible enhance the GoPro industry, the film industry in general.

British Columbia Tourism will be using VR to transport its clients to destinations

VR technology could change how brands present their products to consumers, making products more marketable and increasing sales.