Clothing In The Future

http://www.psfk.com/2009/09/sci-fi-style-clothing-of-the-future.html



In the constantly changing fashion industry, designers are setting their sights on the future of clothing and how it will affect how we get dressed. Back in the 1920s, America’s vision of clothing for the 21^st century was a far cry from the clothing we actually wear today. We still do not wear skintight bodysuits that glow in the dark. But designers and scientists have recently teamed up to come up with clothing that control a person’s health and emotions, or even clothing that will be able to power our electronics.

“Nanotechnology might soon be able to use the wearer’s kinetic energy to convert it into electricity for powering small electronic devices. Practical applications could be in the clothes of hikers and soldiers, powering devices that could potentially save lives, and this could become a regular feature in our clothing to power our mobile phones, MP3 players and more. Scientists are also examining how energy-scavenging fabrics could convert low-frequency vibrations into electricity, without affecting the look of the clothing as nanowires are entwined with fabric fibers.”

            If this is the case, it will be beneficial to the environment as well as our health in the future. Although these fashions may not be available for another few decades to the general public, we can rely on the fact that clothing will provide a new use rather than making us look great.



Do Humanlike Robots Hold The Key To Improve Communication In Patients?



http://en.akihabaranews.com/107813/robot/actroid-f-robot-gets-a-brother-and-an-eye-implant

It appears that Japan has done it yet again. As one of the top countries in producing remarkable advances in modern technology, many people have come to believe that Asians have the best to offer when it comes to technology.

            It’s hard to believe that robots we picture as metallic, industrial experiments have been transformed into humanlike individuals that can communicate with us on a casual level. The esteemed company known as AIST has produced a female robot called the Actroid-F Robot by Kokoro, which looks, talks and has the same facial expressions as that of an actual woman. She carries the presence of a human as well as any real person, because of her ability to imitate movements and make eye contact with someone in which she is speaking to.

The scientists who came up with this idea conducted an experiment that they believe holds the solution to improving communication skills among children with developmental disorders and to help prevent mental decline in elderly patients.

“Because these robots look human, they have a very strong presence. I think their psychological impact on people is much bigger than with robots that are simply shaped like people, or animal-shaped robots. When this robot went to a hospital for a month during a trial, we felt lonely, as if someone had moved out… It’s often said that the more human a robot looks, the more small differences make people feel uneasy. In our research, when we use this robot in the field, we check that it matches its surroundings and doesn’t look out of place. When we tested the robot in a hospital, we asked 70 subjects if having an android there made them feel uneasy. Only 3 or 4 people said they didn’t like having it around, and overall, quite a lot of people said they felt this robot itself had an acceptable presence.”

Although these robots are meant to have much better purposes in the future, this is the first step of many solutions that robots will provide for humans as we become more dependent on technology.



Will We Ever See An End To War?



For as long as humans have been on this earth, two different cultures cannot seem to get along. Disagreements are everywhere and frankly unavoidable whether it’s between two people or two continents. In at least every lifetime there is some sort of widespread conflict, and this shows that human nature is what causes these impulses to fight.  

            War has always been meant to resolve a situation between both parties, but war would not be what it is without several fights breaking out. It makes people forget what they are trying to achieve and turns into an unrestrained mess that can take many years to go away. In those years so much innocent lives and expenses are lost only to result in an even worse situation than before. For example, for nearly ten years the United States has been wrapped up in the War on Terror in the Middle East, and now that affairs have become this rocky with the other side of the world, it’s much too dangerous to just quit. Which brings the question to mind, will we ever escape the threat of war anytime soon?

            As citizens who are bound to have children and families in the future, no one feels secure with the fear of a major attack on American soil on our minds every day. Our children will not feel secure, and in situations such as our conflict overseas there is really no one to blame though it may seem that way. The simple solution would be to remain neutral with other countries, but there is always a group who feel that it is their duty to make sure that a country pays for what they have “done” to them. So the reality is, we can never get ourselves out of war.

How Will the Future Affect Our Environment?

When people think of the future and the environment, a grim vision of the result of global warming comes to mind. In many futuristic portrayals, we mostly see clean, lovely cities that show no signs of any environmental deterioration. But in others, the environment is described as what will end up as a complete wasteland. These types of visions of the future reveal that society either believes that the future will be clean and bright, or dark and polluted. Concern about the environment has recently started a change for the better by making sure that the earth remains at its “natural temperature.” Energy efficiency and recycling has become an important part of preserving the earth’s energy since the threat of global warming has become ever prevalent in our lives.

            Over the years we seem to have forgotten that the atmosphere is the very reason we are breathing. Pollution and improper waste disposal has not only altered, but destroyed the delicate balance of the earth and how it functions weather wise. Our very survival depends on nature, yet we treat it like our dumping ground. But if we consider what earth has done for us, it will only be essential that we return the favor. Not only will our efforts to keep the earth clean pay off in the future, but we can rest easily knowing that it will be better for our own health and the next generation to come.    



Our Future and the Government

Can we really trust the government to fix our complex and disordered society, or will we end up searching forever for someone who can lead us towards the path of an ideal Utopia? Truth is, there is no such thing as a perfect society and we’ve come to accept that. But many people may question whether it’s worth voting for eligible candidates who might otherwise run our country into the ground.

The future does not look so bright regarding the state of affairs between governments twisted in conflict, including between the United States and the Middle East. Since 2001 Americans have been putting their faith in someone who can get us out of the daily situations and disasters we are faced with. To me, I don’t understand why we still vote for a new governor or president every year if nothing seems to be improving. Although not all candidates have the same methods for improving the country, no one can rest easily if their efforts add up to nothing.

We have plenty to thank the government and how safe it has kept our cities and states, but sometimes it seems as though they are digging ourselves into an even deeper hole as our lives progress. As long as people feel that they have to rely on one person to decide their future, I don’t think that all of the world’s problems will be solved.

Racial Equality and Diversity



We have every right to thank leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Abraham Lincoln and other fearless leaders for our racial freedom. Because of the risks they took and the criticism they equally faced in the past we can rest easily knowing that racism won’t be in our future. Or so we think.

The fact is nothing can really go away as far as the time it has been gone. Because of large historical events such as the African slave trade, the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor and September 11, harsh racism and misleading stereotypes have since then blurred the world’s, mostly America’s, perception of different races. Although most humans have learned to accept the diversity in our current society, it still does not mean that racism has completely faded. But if we teach the next generation that there are different and beautiful cultures besides the one they were born into, they can learn to accept diversity much more than we currently do.

I believe that the future will be beneficial for the world because we will have learned that diversity is an essential part of learning and that the values of other races and cultures can teach us more about ourselves than anything.

Will Cancer Be Cured in the Future?

For years scientists and doctors have been searching for cures for diseases such as cancer. Fundraisers and organizations have raised billions; possibly trillions of dollars for research in hopes that it will put an end to this devastating disease. But with all this money being spent, will we ever find a permanent solution to cancer?

            There is nothing more terrifying and crushing than learning that you’ve been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness like cancer. Most feel as if all the hard work they’ve put into their lives have gone to waste as a result of this, because they cannot help but think that the end is near. True, many people diagnosed with cancer have been fully cured with the help of resilient drugs or chemotherapy, but many more have died because of late diagnosis or insufficient medicine. This leaves us to wonder, are we on the brink of finding the cure that will terminate cancer forever or will we spend the rest of our lives putting money into research for something that will never be fully cured?

            Due to remarkable progress of research clinics, scientists have made great steps in cancer biology. More and more people are fighting this terrible disease and survival rates are shooting through the roof every day. So whether or not you believe that this research is going all for naught, the efforts that are being made to end cancer forever is nothing short of a miracle.            



The 3-D Epidemic: Will All Entertainment Be Available In 3-D?

It was not until 2009 after the successful release of James Cameron’s film Avatar that using the Fusion Camera System became a suitable idea for other movie directors. This much anticipated movie paved the way for a whole new craze in Hollywood, and changed the way Americans wanted to watch movies. In less than two years the demand for 3-Dimensional picture has become extremely mainstream, so much so that it’s birthed new technology for household entertainment. These days a person can purchase their very own 3-D television, digital camera, even a video game that promises vivid reach-out-and-touch quality. And these days it seems to be everywhere we turn. There will be much more in store for this technology, but does this mean that we will see an end to 2-Dimensional products?

            I have my own opinions regarding 3-D, including the reason why it gives me a headache and how I don’t like images jumping into my face. But that’s just my opinion. Just because I don’t like 3-D it doesn’t mean that everyone should. But recently I’ve grown somewhat comfortable with the idea of 3-D after a visit to Best Buy. As I looked around the store for a pair of headphones, I found that one of the Panasonic display TVs presented their newest technology in High Definition 3-D. To show just how exciting it would be to own one of these televisions, a pair of battery powered glasses were displayed for anyone to try out if they were interested. My mother tried, followed by my sister and my brother. Despite my own apprehension, I pulled the glasses over my eyes just as a clip from Avatar popped onto the screen. This 3-D was not the same in-your-face 3-D quality that left me scarred after watching that interactive Dinosaur film at Six Flags when I was six. After my freshman year had ended, my family’s trip to Disney World also left me uncomfortable watching the attraction Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in its less advanced 3-D quality. The technology used for Panasonic was something that I found myself actually enjoying rather than leaving the 3-D glasses halfway on my face, and I was positive that I would eventually like 3-D.

            There is no doubt that 3-D will be a huge part of our lives in the near future, and we can all but accept that this will soon run 2-D technology towards the very brink of extinction. The future as we know it is fast approaching.

Addiction to Technology: Are We Too Dependent?

With the never-ending flurry of modern technology becoming more common than ever, we have to wonder if most everyday tasks, if not all will be replaced with a touch-screen function. For the sake of convenience and cost, most people these days would not argue with the idea of instant access to “apps” that help us keep track of our favorite celebrities or download the local newspaper. Why read the paper when we can take a quick glimpse at our phones or tablets during the morning commute? Perhaps the world will certainly see a dwindling of newspapers in the near future.

Not only are newspapers slowly losing their appeal, but books as well. Last year countless book stores were put out of business because of the recent marketing of the Kindle E-Reader, which is a super thin, lightweight device that allows someone to download any book on the market without having to deal with the weight and girth of a real book. Although it is great that people still want to curl up to a good book, what does this mean for the next generation of children? By the time they grow enough to develop reading skills, books will have become a thing of the past. To make things worse, what if touch screen devices such as the Kindle or I-Pad replace the use of textbooks in schools.  

In my opinion, I find this epidemic very alarming knowing that in the future I would like to have a family of my own. A few weeks ago on the internet I discovered the latest technology in educational toys from VTech. The V.Reader Interactive E-Reading System provides a new and fun way for children to learn how to read and write with the help of interactive characters such as Disney Princesses and Elmo. I grew concerned when I discovered that the target age was meant for children between the ages of 3 to 7 years old. This will probably not affect how they use a pencil or read a book, but if more and more children become familiar with these devices, I fear that they will have no desire to physically write on a sheet of paper or flip through a book.

It is not always true that nothing is authentic anymore, but libraries and schools will have no hope if no one takes the effort of learning traditionally.  

True Happiness In A Dystopian Society: Can It Be Fully Acquired?

Happiness is something that we all thrive for in our lives, whether by love, family, status or occupation; but all the while, something seems to be missing to that equation. Many people search for as long as they live to figure out what is the one thing that has been missing that will fulfill everything they’ve ever worked for. It can be argued for minutes or even hours on end that we can accomplish happiness on our own terms, so why do so many of us turn to negative influences and habits in order to gain perceived happiness? Perceived happiness, in other words, is something that is controlled or enforced in order to sell the illusion that a person can be happy if he or she also promotes a behavior that generates feelings of “happiness.”

In a Dystopian Society where almost every aspect of life is controlled or regulated, it can be hard for a person to decide if they are truly happy rather than putting on a mask and forcing themselves to be happy. I believe that this type of a society is not too far behind, mainly because there are so many actions and developments that have an emotional impact on those who are searching for satisfaction.

Modern technology plays a huge role in perceived happiness. For example, if we think about the use of accessibility, affordability and popularity with electrical devices, it’s no wonder that there are up to four devices in almost every household in America. Cell phones make up a huge part of this statistic. If not for the charm of public marketing and the ability to gain easy access to this technology, cellphones like the Blackberry or the iPhone would not have become as coveted as they are in this day and age. To build the desire of wanting these devices, the convenience of applications or “apps” is easier to get now more than ever. These programs can now be used for just about anything in substitution for something that may be difficult to gain access to, or just to keep one occupied. This creates plenty of hype that produces the impression that “everyone” is buying the device and that it makes life easier.

But the convenience of technology is not as negative as the consequences of money. It is a clichéd fact that money does not buy happiness, and the truth is that it does not. For as long as humans have been walking the earth the illusion of wealth has always been a lifetime achievement for most in order to gain perceived happiness. Even with the obvious risk catastrophic outcomes like homelessness, addiction, economic turmoil, theft and worst of all, death, the pleasure of gaining exclusive access to material items outshines an individual’s morality. It is an ill-fated necessity that we depend on for our daily survival, but we have no choice if we want to keep a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. We cannot live without money.

Unfortunately, in the approaching Dystopian society where there will be plenty of room for improvement and expansion, the answer to true happiness will remain as undefined as it has been since the beginning of time.          

Unknowingly Conforming: The Trap of Propaganda

Propaganda, harmless advertisements used to influence the attitudes of a target audience, or a negative method used to subconsciously indoctrinate the general public into falling for a marketing ploy? Although there are many facts to prove or deny that propaganda is the evil seed of our constantly growing advertisement tree, it can never be determined why humans are so drawn to national campaigns.         

Since the start of momentous wars such as World War I or World War II, the use of propaganda in the form of posters have quickly become a widespread campaign in order to have an impact on the opinions or emotions of individuals. Thanks to strategically placed facts or witty techniques about a certain product or movement, an individual may become convinced that it is okay to take heed to a campaign intended to catch one’s attention. It is said that propaganda takes on many characteristics that distinguish a negative advertisement from a positive advertisement, for example. Because industrial societies can achieve a greater connection to people, ideas between these societies are able to spread quickly while persuading them to join in the cause: “In more feudal environments, where there are absolute rulers and simple class systems, the complexities of propaganda are not needed. When the peasants revolt, you simply put them back in their place. Generally, however, they know their place and quietly stay there” (Christian). In this case, simplicity plays a large role in executing the perfect marketing promotion in the simple fact that the advertisement is quick, interesting and most importantly, it goes right to the point. But although propagandist concepts may not seem very complex, the brain power that goes into these projects is a force to be reckoned with.

            With the flourishing progression of technology at its highest peak, the easy access to social media provides a convenient way for the public to instantly find out what is happening locally, nationally or internationally.  The media has always kept us up to date on the latest events or information, but now that news can be seen from virtually any electronic device such as Apple products (iPhones, iPads, Tablets), Android phones or laptops using social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, propaganda is constantly being thrown at us. Without realizing what a profound effect these advertisements have on us, we may approve of this “daily propaganda diet” just because they simply appeal to us. In order to prove that the media gets us to support campaigns that are otherwise exaggerated, distorting or biased, Stephen Lendman shows that these messages can cause an obscured national crisis that we may not be aware of:  “It's misinformation or agitprop disinformation masquerading as fact to boost circulation, readership, viewers, or listeners, and on vital issues lie about or suppress uncomfortable truths to provide unqualified support for state and/or corporate interests - to the detriment of the greater good that's always sacrificed for profits and imperial aims” (Lendman). Unfortunately, most would not like to admit that censorship and unverified specifics can compel them to vote for a Democrat instead of a Republican or to buy a Chrysler instead of a Toyota. But with all the truths that are being suppressed for the sake of more attention, we do not know who to believe. Biased opinions force us to believe that it is okay to accept a certain campaign because if we were to listen to our gut feeling, we cannot help but think that it will somehow backfire with lack of support.

            In our current state of existence, we rely on propaganda as a guide to instruct us on what to wear, what to buy or what trend to follow in order to feel secure within the masses of society. We all strive to be an individual and listen to our hearts when it’s time to make decisions for ourselves. But with the influence of the general and social media continuously waiting for us to flock to their sides, it is hard for one to remain faithful to his or her own beliefs when all he or she can think about is how campaign can have benefits. The most criticized type of propaganda that frequently alters the personal opinions of an individual is Political propaganda. Without politics, a country cannot function let alone survive without having some kind of leader to tell its people what to do. As a result of popular vote elections, there are undoubtedly pros and cons that will ultimately have an effect on us if a majority of citizens prefer a certain candidate over the other. Propaganda specifically affects these decisions based on vague facts in which a biased campaign will use to change opinions about a running candidate: “Democrats also use polls and conduct focus groups, but primarily to discover public opinion concerning “the issues” – i.e., the economy, homeland security, health care, foreign policy, etc. Time and again, they discover that a majority of the public is “with the Democrats” on the issues. Time and again, the Republicans prove that the issues are of secondary importance to imagery and the public’s perception of the personalities of the candidates” (Partridge).  By promising change, earning a relatable promotion or winning the trust of intended citizens, focusing on “the issues” have a profound effect of our decision making.

To put it briefly, propaganda is a part of our everyday lives that we cannot escape. As much as we try to avoid falling into the trap of consuming items like the iPhone 4 or switching to Dish Network, our entire lives revolve around these clever marketing ploys. The controlling grip of propaganda defines who we are as human beings: unequivocally dependent.

Sources: http://changingminds.org/techniques/propaganda/modern_%20propaganda.htm
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Front-Page.htm?EdNo=001
http://www.crisispapers.org/essays/propaganda.htm