User:Vtaylor/Computers and Society/CIS2 Grand Challenges 2016 Summer

=Make solar energy economical = https://www.ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2015/01/demystifying-nanocrystal-solar-cells.html

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-efficiency-solar-hydrogen-production-percent.html

http://www.gizmag.com/pec-cell-smart-grid-energy-storage/38317/

Being able to put together a nanocrystal that can produce electricity more efficiently, makes solar energy more appealing than the use of fossil fuels. When the price per kilowatt becomes lower than the use of fossil fuels people will be more receptive to the idea of investing in solar energy. Making a fuel cell purely from the sunlight is the most efficient way to make fuel. The sunlight isn’t something that we will run out of. This has so many applications from any combustible engine to your house. Having the production of solar cells and hydrogen fuel cells cost efficient will set a change in how we all thought about solar energy. Becoming less dependent on fossil fuels will greatly reduce our carbon footprint. (Sam Britz)

 Bonipal Yadegar 

https://www.google.com/get/sunroof#p=0

Google’s Sunroof uses Google’s Maps data to chart the surface area of someone’s roof. This data is then combined with weather data for the area to calculate returns on the initial solar panel investments.This technology can help the general public understand the financial turnover they will receive and how quick it can happen, giving a more economically accurate perspective to those who believe solar energy is not cost effective.

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges/solar.aspx

EngineeringChallenges states the current lackluster support for solar power and the potential improvements that could be made to change the planet’s source of power. Citing a variety of knowledgeable sources on the subject, EngineeringChallenges states clear numbers on how adopting solar could dramatically change our infrastructure for the better while saving us money.

https://www.tesla.com/powerwall

Tesla’s Powerwall takes collected solar energy and puts it to practical and immediate use by charging up electric cars through Tesla’s fast charging technology. Tesla’s technology helps ease the shift into electric cars by means of solar energy. This gives the general public more of an incentive to convert to solar energy by saving in the long run through government subsidies. Powerwalls will help those who don’t believe in the viability of solar panels to see the potential of the incredible technology.

http://www.futurity.org/how-to-make-solar-energy-super-efficient/

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/517811/a-material-that-could-make-solar-power-dirt-cheap/

http://www.voanews.com/content/solar-power-economy-electric-utilities/1952688.html

Companies are trying to commercialize devices that help retain solar energy, such as solar panels. With new technologies, having a hybrid of solar and thermal energy can increase the amount of energies we save, because we only use 50% of the energy we get from the sun. This process is called PETE, "photon enhanced thermionic emission". With this it will increase efficiency because of how it is the hybrid of both photovoltaic and thermal conversion technologies.

=   Provide energy from fusion =

=   Develop carbon sequestration methods = Co2 sequestration is basically finding ways to store and keep co2, without having it be released into the atmosphere. CO2 levels are extremely high and have been a main cause of climate change. We have to find ways to limit our production but still be effective.

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges/sequestration.aspx

http://ezproxy.fhda.edu:2114/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=8fdfd1f4-c1f5-4e83-9df3-befdd39319f9%40sessionmgr120&vid=8&hid=128

http://ezproxy.fhda.edu:2106/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6b24845e-f3af-4a4d-b946-f22b5210ac74%40sessionmgr4005&vid=4&hid=4212

The challenge I chose was "carbon sequestration methods". I found this interesting because I am really passionate about climate change and the correlation it has to carbon emissions. The question is “what methods can be created and used to store and foster carbon on earth, without it being released into the atmosphere? We have seen and are experiencing the backlash of too much carbon in our atmosphere and need more ideas and solutions. On Earth we humans, use carbon a lot. It is one of our main energy sources.

 

The current status of this challenge, is that methods have been created and are being tested but nothing is quite for sure yet. In one part of China, sequestration methods are being researched. “Carbon resources are being turned into carbon sinks”, said Chang Xiangang (Chen, Xiangang, et al. "Carbon Sequestration Potential In Stands Under The Grain For Green Program In Southwest China." Plos ONE 11.3 (2016): 1-17. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 July 2016.). Carbon sinks are basically storages underground for carbon, and they help with reforestation. What is being researched is the potential it has in the forests and land masses are measured and new land is supposed to regenerate, this is what makes it successful.

The benefits from this in the forest are good. For example, when it comes to c sequestration in forests, particularly in China, scientists have measured the biomass of trees and the results show that the c emissions are coming from the trees, and bad human made co2 emissions” were reduced to near zero in Tibet.” (Wang, Dan, Bing Wang, and Xiang Niu. "Forest Carbon Sequestration In China And Its Benefits." Scandinavian Journal Of Forest Research 29.1 (2014): 51-59. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 July 2016.). The science is still really complicated behind this and everything is still brand new and being tested. The main issue is trying to store this Co2 without it leaking anywhere. I believe with the proper fundings, resources and science we can reach a method.

=  Manage the nitrogen cycle =

=   Provide access to clean water = http://mashable.com/2011/10/26/clean-water-innovations/#_

This site is comprised of 5 innovations that are attempting to bring sanitary and safe drinking water to much of the developing world. Varying methods are implored to convert contaminated water into potable water, but all appear to be accessible, affordable and promising. All of the water purifiers on the list are smaller scale and specified to certain areas of the globe.

http://www.yalescientific.org/2011/04/engineering-clean-water/

This article is, in contrast to the previous article, attempting to solve the world's water crisis on a much larger scale using forward osmosis, a low-energy osmotically-driven desalination process. Many countries are already using such technologies. The process of converting water with a high salt content (ocean water/other) into potable drinking water uses 75-80 percent less energy than existing desalination systems and can be used on a much larger scale than most available systems already on the market.

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges/water.aspx

Lastly, this site is great because it addresses the world's water crisis from every angle; providing the reader with a description of how much water is currently available to humans, where we get it, how we use it and who is in desperate need of it. The article also offers up different ways we can improve the water crisis as a whole, from recycling our wastewater to reducing our water consumption.

PROVIDING ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER - FILOMENO SOLAREZ

http://www.hitachi.com/environment/showcase/solution/industrial/aquatic_environment.html

The Hatachi group has gained extensive knowledge using technology such as pumps for water purification, rain water and sewage water conveyance and utilize their expertise as they participate proactively. Hitachi objective is to ensure everyone has access to safe and clean drinking water. It provides ozone microbubble technology for reusing sewage as water resources are limited. They are also active in the "Water Plaza" project to create advanced water circulation systems.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/benefits/water_purification.html

Nasa is using technology developed for their space stations. Engineers developed cutting edge water purification systems that recycles air and water aboard their station. They have adapted that system to an Earth-based water treatment system. Joint collaborations between aid organizations and Nasa technology shows how effective space research can adapt to solve global needs.

http://www.swiss-cleanwater-group.com/

The Swiss clean water group patented a water treatment technology with six steps ; pressure pumps, crystal quartz canister, oxygen production, filters, mechanical fine mesh filter and UV light and it's able to transform polluted water into high quality drinking water. The awesome thing about the Swiss clean water group technology does not use chemicals, does not use waste input water, and only uses the equivalent of two 75W lightbulbs to function, leaving a lower amount of carbon emissions compared to other technologies.

Technology has helped, and still is currently helping, people have access to clean drinking water. Without the technology to clean the water and find filtrations and methods to cleanse it  the water would remain dirty and/or contaminated and it would remain undrinkable. These groups, along with their resources, technology and dedication have delivered clean drinking water to those in need.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/24/tech/innovation/machine-makes-drinking-water-from-air/

This article was an interesting read. Water is a nutrient that is extremely important for life and without access to clean drinking water there is no way we would be able to stay alive for very long. This article talks about Water-Gen, an Israeli water company that has developed a machine that converts air into drinking water. It is an energy efficient device that was made for the military at first, but now Water-Gen wants to target countries all over the world and help them to have access to save drinking water that is reliable and affordable. The company claims that this water making device could be a solution for many countries like India that don't have access to clean drinking water.

http://embracerelief.org/africa-water-well/

Embrace Relief is a nonprofit organization that gathers volunteers from all over the world to help with disaster relief in countries that need the help. Some places in Africa have little to no access to safe drinking water causing many of the people that live in these dry regions to die or get sick. Children and Women spend their time looking for water when they could be studying or tending to their families,Its an extra burden that they don't need. This Campaign helps build water wells in poverty stricken and dry land areas in many regions of Africa so that the people there can be healthy and have a better quality of life. By adding water wells to these rural areas this organization is helping these third world countries to be more technologically advanced with the way they are accessing their basic needs like water.

http://www.watertechonline.com/providing-clean-water-to-the-developing-world/

There are many methods to water filtration but how we provide it to the developing world is always a tough choice. Many rural areas get their drinking water from contaminated lakes and rivers which lead to sickness and disease. This article discusses the pros and cons of the different types of filtration systems such as chlorination, solar disinfection, clay based ceramic filters, and slow sand filters. Many of these types of technologies remove bacteria from water but its not 100 percent. What filter works best is debatable due to the many pros and cons they have.

=  Restore and improve urban infrastructure = http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges/infrastructure.aspx

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. infrastructure was given the average grade of D. The reason for this is because much of the infrastructure is old and requires replacement. In addition, there has been minimal government funding to repair or replace it. It is up to Engineers today to come up with innovative ideas to restore and improve urban infrastructure.

Goal 4: Build or Retrofit 50 Million Square Feet of Green Buildings

The city of San Jose has implemented The Green Vision which consists of ten goals to be reached by the year 2022. These goals are to be used to convert the city of San Jose into the world center of clean technology innovation. Included in this vision is Goal 4 which encompasses building or retrofiting 50 million square feet of green buildings to reduce energy and water use while incorporating sustainable construction. As a result, this will reduce the city's carbon impact.

Goal 10: Create 100 Miles of Interconnected Trails

In addition to Goal 4, the city of San Jose has in place Goal 10 which is to create 100 miles of interconnected trails and 400 miles of street network to support commuting and recreation. The creation of these networks will promote commuting and recreation while reducing pollution, carbon impact, and bettering people's health.

GPR applied to mapping utilities along subway tunnel construction in Brazil

One of the greatest challenges in restoring and improving infrastructure are the uncertainties of what lies underground. Much of the existing infrastructure lies buried underground and many of the records of the infrastructure locations are incomplete or unavailable. In order to solve this problem technology such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is being used to create a three dimensional profile of the existing underground utilities. GPR has been shown to effectively generate these profiles while not damaging the existing infrastructure. In 2011, a study in Brazil was conducted using GPR in the planning of an underground transportation system. The GPR was successful in mapping three dimensional profiles using 200 MHz of radar to determine eligibility for subsurface tunnel bores. GPR also prevents the destruction of underground facilities and also any possible accidents caused by accidentally penetrating these facilities.

Six Ideas for Fixing the Nation's Infrastructure Problems

As mentioned earlier, the lack of government funding has made it difficult to address the existing infrastructure. Roads and highways rely mainly on the Highway Trust Fund which relies heavily on the tax from gasoline. With the increase of hybrid vehicles and such, there is less money available for road construction. Experts suggest the use of a vehicle-miles traveled fee (VMT) which taxes road users depending on their usage of the road. Of course many are against the notion of being tracked.

San Jose isn't the only large city taking initiatives in this challenge. in 2006, Denver completed a 1.67 billion Transportation Expansion Project which was a multi agency venture to overhaul the metro area's multimodal transportation networks. This project added 19 miles of light rail and pedestrian bridges, it improved merging onto existing highways, and relieved congestion by widening the highway. This project was voter approved in 1999 through two bond measures which financed the project.

Los Angeles is currently in the process of revamping its transportation infrastructure as well. City Mayor Villaraigosa's voter approved tax hike is set to raise 40 billion dollars over the span of 30 years. The plan is to address the light rail, subway and rapid bus projects. If Los Angeles succeeds in obtaining a federal loan, it could begin these projects within the decade.

=   Advance health informatics = http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/8938.aspx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_informatics

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/OMOP_%28IMEDS%29_Common_Data_Model_%28version_4%29.png

Technology will play a huge part in advancing health informatics, and could help out health care system in many different ways. With patient care, how fast patients are helped and how easy it makes treating patients for the doctors, almost as if they can treat the patient without even seeing the patient because it is all listed inside the computer system, what they had, what they have now, and what they need to help them now.

= Engineer better medicines = Sabrina Woodrich

http://www.popsci.com/brain-finally-multicolor This article links you to the progression of technology, and the engineering of better medicine. On July 30, 2015 a group of researchers from Harvard, MIT, and Boston University published their results on the human brain’s intricacies. They have compiled 3D Color Images of the Brain, which is a massive mission that may help researchers visualize neurological diseases. This method allows scientists to see the brain in a layered 3D structure that differentiates the separated sections, and cells of the brain. The do this by using VAST, which is an annotation tool, that allows users to manually add color to EM photos. They first tested it on a rat’s brain, and used VAST to categorize each component of the rodent’s brain. It was made to differentiate animal and human brains, and more importantly how human brains in general differ from one another. This process will help doctors recognize the difference in color resulting in different imbalances that forward you to a more fit medication.

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges/medicines.aspx The article states that the current status of work on the Challenge I selected seems to be moving pretty steadily. Technology is such an important factor towards these past decades of achievements for nearly every aspect of life, ranging from help with research to other people’s insights and involvement on a particular project. For example nurses and doctors who are working to improve personalized medicine need to communicate with their patients, or other doctors through technology. We are lucky that we don’t have to send letters across the country, or even overseas. We are able to get ahold of people through e-mail, and phones in a very short amount of time, and time is the most valuable thing that we have. Several setbacks that prevent us from making personalized medicine is developing a better system that quickly accesses the individuals genetic profile. In addition the expenses towards the technology isn’t cheap. It’s also a gamble with drugs; we may never know the long-term effects of certain medications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDUSj_Aw6E0 This video introduces you to suprisal analysis, which allows engineers to apply thermodynamics and identify biomarkers of cancer that are in a patient’s geno. Studying the use of energy in cancer cells lets doctors and scientists know how and when these cells will grow, which also allows them to prevent that from happening. The video also introduces you to another aspect of creating better medicines, which involves focusing on individual bacteria strains. Metabolism thermodynamics is studying the functions of proteins, enzymes, and natural processes in our bodies that can be directed to the patient to the needed treatment. This video explains the importance od thermodynamics, and how it will help scientists, and doctors provide us with better medicines.

Summer Le

http://viterbi.usc.edu/research/research-vision/engineering-for-health-medicine-biological-sciences.htm

The highest priorities from all over the world today is to improve healthcare while decreasing costs. There are challenges and differences biologically and culturally, as well as organizations who wants affordable healthcare and effective clinical medicine. Researcher from biological and medical are looking into studies of different body parts correlating to health and disease. Engineers play a role for quantitative understanding and controlling biological systems. Engineers have a big impact on nano medicine and gene medicine for treating diseases such as HIV and cancer.

https://prezi.com/e1kouhjcxdfc/engineer-better-medicines/

Personalized medicines is defined as having patient's genetic code to create medicines specifically designed for them. It is created by understanding body's proteins and biochemical reactions. The cons of personalized medicines is that the medical cost will be higher, there are a lot of trial-and-error treatments, and medicine is meant for generalized public not for individual. Chemical engineers focus on creating new drug moles in the laboratory while biomedical engineers focus on inventing organism-specific antibiotics. Better medicine contributes to a person's unique genetic information, and certain diseases. The benefit of engineering better medicine is to make disease and risk evident earlier, reduce medical costs, and reduce trial and error treatments.

http://news.thomasnet.com/imt/2009/11/24/changing-medicine-healthcare-through-engineering-diagnoses-treatments-prostheses-information

Engineers are always on the look out for expanding world's medical knowledge through developing new ways to make medical machinery, devices, and inexpensive cost to those that are in need. Investment in the medical technology has helped decrease 50% in death rates from heart attack and 44% decrease from stroke. Health and biomedical issues has affected everyone internationally and domestically. They range from medical records for patients showing data of disease among health organizations.

Jill Kawakami

http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/PrecisionMedicine/default.htm

Engineering "better" medicines, in my opinion, starts first with the ability to find what is better for each individual, and that all comes from the new aspect of personalized medicine. The difficulty in creating medication that is better for whatever diseases its treating is that everyone reacts differently to new chemicals being introduced to their body. Personalized medicine takes into account an individual's life history, environments, lifestyles, and genetics, providing that person with a medicine that's more tailored to his or her needs.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/promise_progress/engineering_cures_physicians_and_engineers_working_together_to_fight_cancer/engineering_cures

One of the most prestigious medical organizations in the nation, Johns Hopkins, recently announced their collaboration with top engineers in the fight against cancer. The collaboration between computer science and biological science bridges a gap that previously wasn't address: technology must be utilized in order to understand and treat these continuously mutating diseases. As the abilities of our technology becomes more and more advanced, we must update our practices and medicines, and the best way to do that is via collaboration between the two fields.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140627/Personalized-antibiotic-therapy-can-help-fight-antibiotic-resistant-infections.aspx

This article refers to one of the problems that is addressed on the Grand Challenges website, drug-resistant super bugs. As the article states, and as most people who've been treated by Western medicine know, when you develop symptoms of an illness and a doctor does an exam of you and decides to give you something for it, you're usually prescribed a "broad-spectrum" antibiotic, since the technology to quick and efficiently pinpoint a specific bacterial strain just doesn't exist. This flagrant usage of antibiotics has created these bacterial superbugs that are evolving to be resistant to them: the solution? We have to evolve our technology to design medications for future generations to survive and thrive.

=   Reverse-engineer the brain =

The Most Amazing Race: Reverse-Engineering the Brain

The essential question presented in this article is "How long will it take for computers to exhibit human-level intelligence?" An ongoing debate between Ray Kurzweil and Paul Allen are referenced, addressing predicted time and methodologies to achieve this goal. While Kurzweil believes in the Law of Accelerating Returns, in which a function (e.g. a computer) will take an infinite value by 2045, Allen disagrees with this time for completion. According to Allen brain mapping’s complexity delays progress in achieving the Law of Accelerating Returns computer power.

Due to the complexity of mapping out the human brain, paired with the computer's tendency to make error, I would side with Allen's perspective. Until we understand the full capacity of the human brain we can not progress forward in designing a super computer.

[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/22/robots-google-ray-kurzweil-terminator-singularity-artificial-intelligence '''Are the robots about to rise? Google's new director of engineering thinks so…''' ]

This article consists of an interview conducted with inventor, advocate and recent Google Director of Engineering, Ray Kurzweil. Kurzweil is a believer of the following: immortality; robots taking on a conscious function by 2029; the Turist Test, in which computers can duplicate human thought and behavior; natural-language processing, which focusses on the interaction between computers and human language singularity and the Law of Accelerating Returns. He has invented several artificial intelligence devices and continues to be optimistic in his predictions some of which have already come true, such as cybernific chauffeur also known as the Google driverless car.

Although some of Kurzweil's predictions have come true, I believe it is impossible for a computer to master consciousness. The authenticy of home emotion and morale dissapears when it is duplicated in the design of computer processes.

Inside Paul Allen's Plan to Reverse-Engineer The Human Brain

This article consists of an interview conducted with Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, who in 2003 founded the Institute for Brain Science in Seattle. The interview details Allen’s historical interest in brain mapping. This article concludes with Allen’s hope as to future understandings of the brain which involve cell communication, visual system information flow, as well as what occurs in the middle of the brain.

Allen's hope in complete understanding of cell communication, visual system information flow as well as what occurs in the middle of the brain is promising. The continuing improvements of neuroimaging will make these goals possible,

=   Prevent nuclear terror =

Secure fissile material. The biggest concern is how to secure fissile material from getting into the wrong hands, in 2016 the SUMMIT meeting goals were Installing radiation detection equipment, strengthening security at nuclear facilities, develop technology, train workers, coordination of assistance on nuclear security.

Certainly it is not enough time to accomplish all, I do believe that if leader powers like Russia, China, and U.S, would take lead on creation of detection of equipment to detect smuggling, of fissile material, and to implement in highly trained security, could be the first step to prevent the fissile material from getting into wrong hands.

Cuttoff Fissile Treaty Under the fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) would prohibit the production of the two main components of nuclear weapons uranium and plutonium. I must mention that it is a proposed treaty.

Under this circumstances, with ill say that is not need it implement a “cutoff” I believe the treaty should ban the production of fissile material, because some states might say that they don't have enough material to meet future defense. So “cutting off” won't prevent the production, it will only minimize it. Banning is would be a better solution.

Secure Nuclear Weapons

To ensure that nuclear weapons are never detonated, is another concern, and are highly secured in Weapon Storage Vaults. Now nuclear weapons have something called ,Permissive Antion Link to prevent unauthorized detonation.

Since the activation or detonation of a nuclear weapon requires an PAL, just hypothetically talking, such weapon gets into terrorists hands, now they need the code, a possible solution will be to have a more highly code, instead of two entry codes maybe 3, making it more difficult can be the use of retina scanners, not from the person that has the code but someone different, and at soon is the think they have the code, not just yet Mr terrorist you need more.

=   Secure cyberspace = http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/9042.aspx

Cyberspace as defined by this article is "the electronic web of internet-sharing". It's security is important to us because of the importance of keeping the integrity and confidentiality of very sensitive information that grants access to property, money, and even identity. The rising rate of crimes has been linked with a rising rate in identity theft, making it easier for law breakers to bypass the justice system just by assuming the identity of another innocent individual. Historically the solutions to these kinds of problems has been to establish routers and firewalls. Now there is a challenge for providing better security for the flow of data.

https://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/cyberspace_strategy.pdf

The US National Defense aims to maintain our national cyber security through the expansion of the Cyber Warning and Information Network to support the role of the DHS and though the improvement of cybersecurity enforcement programs. The cyberspace is incredibly important because it provides a connection to the rest of the world and a lot of the financial interactions between one country and another take place online and if this is sabotaged, this could complicate political connections.

https://www.mitre.org/centers/homeland-security-systems-engineering-and-development-institute/where-we-focus/safeguard-and

The organization HSSEDI combines both its extensive technical expertise and its many years working with the DHS to provide security to the cyber space. It does this by developing "federal-intrusion detection systems", "enhanced defensive engagement of threats", and "technical program management". Together, HSSEDI and DHS work together to create a secure cyberspace and enforce measures to avoid any compromises to this created security

 Kevin Le 

https://www.dhs.gov/safeguarding-and-securing-cyberspace

The Department of Homeland Security has worked hard to secure America's cyberspace since 9/11. They implemented the National Cybersecurity Protection System which helps analyze all cyber activities online. It also helps protect infrastructure of the government from any hackers.

It also has the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team which works with anti virus companies to create safeguards to stop hackers.

https://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/cyberspace_strategy.pdf

The White House is working hard to make sure our cyber space is safe after the 9/11 event. One way they are doing this is partnering the different parts of government together to share information about security. Greater cooperation between department will make the cyberspace for the government safer and more cohesive. It is important to share vital security information with each other because an isolated department wouldn't have much safeguards and innovation as a department with up to date knowledge.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/13/securing-cyberspace-president-obama-announces-new-cybersecurity-legislat

President Obama is working to make sure our cyber space is safe as well. He announced a cybersecurity legislative proposal to improve our infrastructures and secure them. As part of this initiative, the government is helping local law enforcement around the country have the necessary tools to conduct their investigations and be able to "prosecute cyber crime".

 Andrea Kuo 

President Obama announced new cybersecurity legislative proposal and other cybersecurity efforts. There are always going to be hackers who engage in cyberspace both private sector and public sector. Even though business right now is making sure to prevent those assaults but at the same time the hackers are going to get better too. Obama has led efforts to prepare our economy to prevent from cyber threats. "Reputation-based technology helps people browse the Internet safely and engenders trust between consumers and businesses, as well as between businesses," says Bunker. Cyberspace will get more secure as software learns more about how we behave. Suppose an employee, who typically uses a company database to access individual customer records, suddenly looks at the top 1,000 customers: software could be written to highlight this anomaly. Dirro of McAfee thinks that what's needed to secure cyberspace for the long run is progress on many fronts, including technology, awareness, legal redress and human behaviour. There are a few engineering solutions for securing cyberspace. First, is through better programming languages that have security protection built into the ways programs are written. Second, is providing better security for data flowing over various routes on the Internet so that the information cannot be diverted, monitored, or altered. Lastly, engineers must recognize that a cybersecurity system’s success depends on understanding the safety of the whole system, not merely protecting its individual parts.

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges/cyberspace.aspx

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/13/securing-cyberspace-president-obama-announces-new-cybersecurity-legislat

http://eandt.theiet.org/magazine/2008/20/fragile-web-0820.cfm

=  Enhance virtual reality = What to Expect in 2016

This article is a good source of information for people that haventt really looked into virtual reality technology and what it offers to them. It talks about how companies have to create new genres of games and advance the technology so that it would warrant being purchased by comsumers by the time the technologyis released on the market. It also goes into detail about how companies are planning to take the technology beyond the living room and allow cosumerss to take VR on rollercoasters and other attractions.

Immerge

The Lytro was an amazing device that allwoed consumers the ability to refocus an image after they had already taken a picture meaning the camera doesnt really have a focus option, it just takes the entire picture in focus and then yo choose what should or shouldnt be. The immerge is another revolutionary camera except this one has a few features, the biggest of which is the ability to seamlessle combine a live action scene and computer graphics together. The camera also uses Light field tech which is like a way for a computer to understand its environentt by flashing a light and capturing a 3d image from it. THis is great for virtual reality because the tech can be used to implement graphics seamlessly without the user recognizing something has changed.

How the Virtual Reality will use $23 million in fresh funding

The Virtual Reality company raised $23 million in Q1. It plans to use these funds to further develop and prepare for the internet of experiences. The internet of experiences are the types of experiences people can have through virtual reality. Virtual reality content is still in it's early stages and most VR experiences are developed by engineering and tech personal but already content creators, such as Steven Spielberg, are getting involved in creating the experiences. The prediction of Guy Primus, the man interviewd in this article, is that in two years we will have VR experiences that "give you a choice to experience life again"(speaking about people in old age using VR to relive experiences from their younger years).

Smarter Lenses

EyeNetra, a medical device company, is using its technology to partner with Virtual reality companies to help people with visions problems. The idea is to create prescription screens that could make virtual reality devices more form-fitting for a more immersive and comfortable experience. The technology measures optical refractive errors and how they would affect a digital display, in a way similar to a virtual reality headset. Because of this similarity EyeNetra said these measurements could be used to display images that are pre-corrected for a specific user.

Michigan Researchers Create Virtual Reality 'Matrix' with Unreal Engine

The University of Michigan's UM3D lab has developed an immersive virtual reality room. The technology uses the Unreal graphics engine which has been used to create some of the most detailed and beautiful videogames. The combiniation of the two techonolgies allows the virtual reality room to render lifelike environments with features like water, plants, and flames. This techonolgy could be used beyond gaming in such fields as human behavior studies and enviromental effects.

Simple guide to current VR technology

This article discusses the basic problems had with early headsets, the size, the poor quality displays, and substandard computing power. It easily sets up the path needed for future VR.

What to expect in the future

Discussion about the future of VR tech and the ways to make it happen are covered here. As always, limitations in technology drive the price up and yield a "substandard" product.

How Oculus started and the hurdles they faced

This article explains the financial issues that were had in the start of Oculus, as well as how the major investors can help the future of VR without destroying it or branding it as their own.

It's clear the VR community is simply waiting for hardware to be invented and mass produced enough to make it affordable for everyone.

http://ict.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/overviews/Post%20Traumatic%20Stress%20Disorder_Overview.pdf

Bravemind, a virtual reality exposure therapy system, is developing at Institution for Creative Technology ( ICT) in order to help post-traumatic stress patients.

=   Advance personalized learning = http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/2284/3649

Personal learning environments, or PLEs, are used to further learning but are also seen to be used to socialize. There is a variety of different PLE types and each type has different characteristics, so learners are able to find which one suits them best. Research was done to discover how PLEs were perceived. The study found that many students found that using PLEs was easy and were helpful with personal development and socialization, as well as learning. Some negative things that can occur using PLEs are things such as cyberbullying and advertisements.

http://anitacrawley.net/Articles/DabbaughPLE.pdf

Social media being used as a PLE bridges the gap between formal and informal learning. With social media, learners are able to create, organize, and share their ideas with others in a community setting, while encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own learning. This also provides a personalized platform for communicating and collaborating with others. Although there are many uses for social media in PLEs, many are not using it to do so. Most use of social media in higher education is for communication with faculty or classmates through e-mail.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/22/32el-personallearning.h32.html

PLEs are able to combine formal and informal learning styles due to the different preferences of each learner. Websites, such as Symbaloo, can be used to teach students how to search for and organize their information online which in turn teaches them how to find information and be more organized in their everyday lives. The integration of personal learning showed an increase in responsibility because the students enjoyed having their own learning environment and freedom. The only setback seen with digitalized PLEs was the accessibility of technology for the students.

=   Engineer the tools of scientific discovery =

LUX Improvements

The LUX (Large Underground Xenon) is a large tool in South Dakota that is designed to find dark matter in outer space to help us understand gravity better. And thanks to new collaboration techniques by LUX scientists, the sensitivity of it detecting dark matter has also improved. By constantly finding new ways to improve the LUX tool, we become closer to answering the question of "what makes up our universe?" It is also mentioned that the LUX will be decommissioned in 2016 in place for a better LUX machine called LZ (LUX-ZEPLIN) that will be 100 times better than LUX in detecting dark matter.

Ian Buckhart

At 19 years old, Ian Buckhart was involved in a swimming accident and was left permanently paralyzed from the neck down. 5 years later, a group of scientists managed to restore some functionality to Ian's hands and arms by implementing a chip into his brain that leads to a sleeve of signal receptors. This allowed Ian to perform simply tasks such as swiping a credit card, holding a glass of water, and even being able to play guitar hero. This advancement opened up a new doors of possibility of being able to give paraplegic people another chance to use their body parts that they couldn't use before. The long term goal is to implement these techniques to more people and having it be more practical in homes and outside in communities.

Google's DeepMind

It was thought as impossible for a computer to beat any human in the eastern game "Go". A simple game to play but the amount of possible steps rendered it almost impossible for any computer to learn. But it wasn't until recent that Google's DeepMind A.I. managed to beat Fan Hui, a low ranking professional and 2013 European champion. It even managed to beat other Go players with a 99.8% win rate. What this advancement did was to show that artificial intelligence is capable of understanding far complex situation that a human couldn't process or see. The game Go has a possible of 10^100 arrangement of the stones but yet DeepMind managed to stay ahead of it's opponent and win every match. Having A.I. understand and solve very complex tasks that a human may not do, is something we look forward too for advancement in technology, medicine, and anything in human civilization.

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