Move over Minecraft

Space has always been something that has interested me. Looking up at the stars and imagining all of the things that are out there is not a bad way to pass the time. Astroneer is a new game being released in early 2016. It gives players the option to travel through space and terraform planets with other players. Unlike the massive online game Minecraft that most people will compare Astroneer to, the game uses a different engine to modify the users surroundings. Instead of stacking blocks, the user will be modifying their surrounds with what loosly looks like a paint or blending tool.

Users will be able to traverse a massive terrain of planets will other players and fight to survive. Although the general concepts of the game are nothing new, the developers say that they have combined them in a new and innovative way. “Many games offer seamless, traversable planetary systems,” says Bromell. “And many others offer synchronous co-op, but Astroneer marries the two in a way that creates a host of new, compelling shared experiences.”

I’m personally very excited for the game to come out. I have never played Minecraft but this definitely looks like something that I’ll give a try. Astroneer has the potential to be the next big tech start up and I will definitely be a supporter.

http://www.popsci.com/is-astroneer-next-minecraft

http://astroneer.space

http://store.steampowered.com/app/361420/

Giving traditional Chargers a kickstart

Our lives become more and more involved around technology every day. Cellphones have taken over communication, news, and entertainment and brought all three to our finger tips. A common problem that has always arisen with cell phones has been keeping them charged. With no real moves away from the current batteries being used, the only option is to start researching more innovative ways to keep our electronics charged.

Solepower is offering the newest in charging technologies that allows users to charge their devices by simply walking. Fitted insoles in your shoes spin a small motor with each strike of your heel.This technology has many positive uses for our current society. Firstly, it is a very simple way to keep our electronics going because no matter what pretty much everyone walks somewhere at some point during the day. Secondly, it encourages people to be active to power their devices. Apparently about an hour of movement will bring about 30 minutes of talking. Finally, this technology is good for campers, hikers, and climbers alike because it will keep their devices charged in the case of an accident.

Solepower has yet to launch but is offering people the ability to pre-order their product for $199. I really think that this technology has the potential to improve our every day lives and is extremely convenient.

http://www.popsci.com/insoles-that-let-you-charge-your-phone-with-every-step

http://solepowertech.com/

One Final Push for Google+

As soon as someone in our class saw the word Google+ they immediately probably thought of that harsh prediction we heard in class. The prediction that I am referencing is Scott Galloway claiming, “Google+ is already dead”. Apparently contrary to his beliefs Google+ is still kicking. On Tuesday Google released its new and improved Google+ platform.

In order to find a way to bring their attempt at a social media website back from the grave they did exactly what any good business does. They went to their users and interviewed them even going through the effort of meeting some of them at their houses. What Google found was that people mostly used their feed system and photo sharing system. Their reinvented system is now competing with twitter on one front and called a “high end instagram” on the other.

Although Google successfully researched and reinvented their product I think it is time to shoot this project behind the barn. They already have so much success that they do not need to tap the social media market. Eventually Google may be able to trap some of the market but in total they will always be falling behind the other big companies in this field.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Google-Tries-On-New-Social-Media-Identity-82768.html

Hackers, moving down a progressive path?

After our class the other day when we discussed entrepreneurship I stumbled upon a few articles outlining the earning potentials of “hackers”. Personally I switched to the field of IST because of my interest in the ability of computers when you know how to properly use them. When the general public logs on to the internet they typically only scratch the surface of its potential with their common uses. There are groups of people with the skills needed to seamlessly access most of the web and extract information as needed. Then another small portion of this group is also not only to extract the information that they want, but also find back ways into  programs and websites giving them access to even more information. These people just referenced, commonly known as “hackers” have primarily a bad reputation in the cyber community. Too often “hackers” are only associated with negative events like the Sony hack or the Snapchat leak.

Strangely enough, the companies that are being targeted by “hackers” have actually began contracting people to try to break into their systems. In the article that I read “Why tech firms pay hackers to hack them”, Andrea Peterson explains how a team got paid one million dollars to break into the new apple IOS and simply have it open a text message remotely. The reason apple would pay such a team is to make sure that the software they release to the public is safe. If one team of ethical “hackers” could accomplish a break in, then it must be assumed that people with destructive intentions could cause some damage.

As much as we would like to see every skilled computer scientist working against malware and bugs it is totally unrealistic. Corporations, governments, and spy agencies with nearly unlimited budgets will always be contracting “hackers” to exploit bugs. With that being said, the major positive of that situation is the growing job market for computer scientists and others who possess skills necessary to battle malicious online activity. We may not be able to control or bring a finite stop to hacking, but if the battle against it will land me a job I personally cannot complain.

Why tech firms pay hackers: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/14/hackers-technology-bounty-discover-flaws