User:Vtaylor/Computers and Society/CIS2 Grand Challenges/Fall2015

= Make solar energy economical = 1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2014/04/22/the-economic-problem-with-solar-power-and-the-solution/ This article points out the fact that solar energy is, in fact, quite expensive because special interest groups drive up the cost to make it cheaper for them, but more expensive for everyone else. The solution they offer for it is to remove those special interest groups.

2. http://cleantechnica.com/2015/05/25/solar-energy-needs-smart-solutions-not-dumb-economics/ This article is more of a damage control article posted about a study that provides a completely innacurate cost about how much having solar pannels installed would be. It tells you what the report got wrong, and what the actual facts are.

3. http://www.solarenergyworld.com/2012/11/12/how-solar-energy-can-help-the-economy/ This article explains how solar energy helps the economy by creating jobs, reduces our dependency on sustainable sources of fuel and how solar power saves money. (Jenae Robinson)

1. Problems With Solar Energy - Why It Is Not More Widely Used

2. The economic effects of cheaper solar power

3. Solar Power To Become Cheapest Source Of Energy In Many Regions By 2025, German Experts Say

The biggest problem of solar energy is that it is not cost-efficient enough. For the majority of people in the world, fossil-fuel energy is still cheaper than solar-energy; at least for short term use. Solar energy's most notable drawback is an extremely high startup cost and heavy regulations and fees in many places such as the United States. To solve this we simply must make them more cost-efficient and remove these strict fees and regulations. Once these happen, prices will begin to drop dramatically and will eventually become cheaper than fossil-fuel energy.

(Jeremiah Montejo) =   Provide energy from fusion =

1. http://www.iter.org/

Description: This group is a multinational cooperation between 7 countries (though one is the EU, so it's more than 7) that are striving to create a fusion reactor. The website is full of press releases and articles about the organization, and there's a more consolidated timeline as well. They are using the latest technologies that the various countries have to offer, such as niobium-titanium superconductors and neutral beam injectors (these are used with other technologies to make the plasma in the reactor reach 150,000,000 C). (Nicholas Reed)

2. http://www.ipp.mpg.de/2285/en

Description: This is a German group aiming for a different approach, instead of using a Tokamak as the ITER is, the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) is instead a Stellarator type fusion reactor. It just completed its final tests this month and is now waiting for regulatory approval to hopefully begin experiments in November. Fundamentally it is similar to the Tokamak design, but as this article points out it has some unique engineering challenges, especially with the magnets and cooling them. (Nicholas Reed)

3. http://www.generalfusion.com/

Description: This is a small (compared to the other groups) company based in British Colombia that uses yet another approach that involves a molten lead-lithium mix that plasma waves are pushed into by a group of pistons, causing fusion (in theory). Their website goes over in a rather general sense the technologies they are developing for the project, such as a chamber for the molten lead-lithium to spin it into a vortex. There are other small businesses similar to this one in Canada and California, and most have wildly different approaches than any of the companies I've mentioned so far. (Nicholas Reed)

4. http://phys.org/news/2015-06-fusion-titan-supercomputer-helium.html

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, in conjunction with the Department of Energy, have been running simulations with a massive supercomputer named Titan. Running tests like this requires the computer to run calculations individually, in order to build a large scale reaction, allowing scientists and researchers to see how the fusion process can be more streamlined. Problems occurring for this team, during this time, is due to the material used in the lining of the tokamak, the doughnut shaped reactor that confines the plasma used to create energy. The problem consists of hydrogen bubbles sticking to the inside of the tungsten lined reactor, causing a pitted, spongy consistency that can both reduce efficiency, as well as potentially cause radioactive hazards. (Nicholas Rowland)

5. http://web.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v37_2_04/article05.shtml

This article covers the work of scientists and researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Focusing on the new technology involved with simulation tests, linking together two supercomputers at the Center for Computational Science at Oak Ridge, scientists are now able to run simulations for Stellarators, which are a smaller and more economically viable option to the fusion market. Not only simulations, but an actual Stellarator will be built on the premises of the ORNL later in the decade, valued close to $100 million, funded by the DOE. (Nicholas Rowland)

6. https://www.alcf.anl.gov/articles/plasma-turbulence-simulations-reveal-promising-insight-fusion-energy

Another group, the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in New Jersey, at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF), are making headway on the problems associated with plasma turbulence loss, resulting in highly inefficient runs of the plasma reactor. Micro turbulence helps most the heat and particles through the tokamak, which generates the plasma needed to produce energy. Using a supercomputer named Mira, constructed at the ACLF, the PPPL are able to more accurately see turbulent losses, though lower than expected, they are now able to simulate the losses for different sized tokamaks, giving foresight to larger systems, seeing if the turbulent loss increases, or levels off at a certain size. (Nicholas Rowland) =   Develop carbon sequestration methods = http://saskpowerccs.com/ccs-projects/boundary-dam-carbon-capture-project/

Referred to as the Boundary Dam Carbon Capture Project, SaskPower is extracting the carbon burned from coal and releasing it into pipelines which will then transport it underground to oil fields located in Saskatchewan. Why transported to oil fields you may ask? You must first understand that carbon dioxide can help in the process of extracting oil. It is important to note that this is in trace amounts. As seen in this project, only so much carbon can be released in these fields to benefit oil extraction, whilst the rest must be sold off to other areas. In SaskPower's Boundary Dam Project the extraneous carbon is being stored in the Aquistore Project (another project by Saskpower that is storing carbon deep underground). This project is capturing approximately 95% of the carbon being used at this coal-fired plant which amounts to about 139MW. The process used in this process is Post Combustion, which captures and extracts carbon dioxide after combustion has taken place. Here it will mix with amine which will form a weak chemical bond making it easier to extract and store. While this site has been promising thus far, the next issue is cost. Up to this point the project has cost $1.3 billion, with hopes to cut cost 20-30% for the next unit. This seems immensely expensive but there is also a financial benefit with teh ability to then sell of the extracted carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid, and fly ash.

https://sequestration.mit.edu/tools/projects/kevin_dome.html

What is known as the Kevin Dome: Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Project, is a slightly different project as it pertains to extracting natural carbon dioxide from the ground, as opposed to that which is burned off. Why capture natural carbon dioxide when so much is being burned daily? The carbon they are extracting has been stored in the Kevin Dome for millions of years allowing for the perfect sample to test. Big Sky Partnership is taking this carbon and then releasing it deep underground at a new site which is approximately six miles away from the extraction site. Here they are testing the rock to see if it is capable of holding carbon dioxide in the future (as this area currently does not contain any carbon dioxide).The main goal of this project is merely to test whether or not the Kevin Dome will be a potentially viable location for future carbon dioxide storage.This project has only cost $85 million thus far, far less than most carbon sequestration projects, and has the potential for an enormous site which could possibly safely store immense amounts of carbon dioxide.

http://www.shell.ca/en/aboutshell/our-business-tpkg/upstream/oil-sands/quest/technology.html

This operation demonstrates how big oil companies are now investing into carbon sequestration as this process is gaining momentum and public support. The project has been named Quest, and consists of Shell, Chevron, and Marathon Oil banning together to form a plant that turns tar sands into economically and environmentally friendly products. With the extracted carbon dioxide, done through "ADIP-X amine-based capture technology", carbon dioxide is separated along with hydrogen sulphide. This process is slightly more efficient than that of the one used by SaskPower as they are able to extract approximately 98% as opposed to SaskPower's 95%, which in the amounts of CO2 extracted is actually an enormous difference. What is extraordinarily different about Quest is what is done next with the carbon dioxide. Once properly extracted, the gas is then heated, dehydrated, and compressed into a liquid. The change of the state of CO2 is so valuable due to the size decrease, allowing for smaller storage necessity for carbon. Quest actually transfers the now liquid carbon to the Basal Cambrian Sandstone in Alberta, Canada and is injected deep underneath the ground. The sandstone found here has the capability to store the liquid carbon without any fear of release into the atmosphere. This site however costs a meager $1.35 billion dollars which Canada has invested nearly $865 million of it. Whilst this project is in the early stages and therefore the benefits are not entirely proven, it seems to be a prominent and promising example of the direction carbon sequestration hopes to go. =  Manage the nitrogen cycle = =   Provide access to clean water = 1. http://www.toray-watertreat.com/seawater/

This is a Japanese company, Toray Industries, that tres to make our lives better by using new technologies. What the company try to provide access to clean water is to introduce and manage a new desalination system. Since its website is in Japanese, I am going to explain its system here. According to the website, the original desalination system is a process to deal with seawater by boiling it in order to remove salt from it, but this approach requires a lot of energy. That means that it costs a lot to run, and the system has some impacts on the environment. In order to solve these issues, the company has made a brand new approach to it. The new system basically relies on some filters, which the company have invented for this project, to remove viruses and salt. This new technology helps to produce pure water from seawater more efficiently. Today, this system is operated in some countries, such as Japan, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. I really like this company’s system because they handles water crisis by introducing the new technology, and at the same time, the company tries to deal with an environmental issue by reducing the use of energy with the system as well.

2. http://www.vestergaard.com/our-products/lifestraw (Company’s website) and  http://lifestraw.com (Product’s website)

Vestergaard is a company that creates public health tools to support people in developing countries. The company has developed their own filters since the project started in 1994. One of their interesting products is LifeStraw which is a pen-sized and compact filter, so it is nicely mobile to everywhere with you. You can use it just like regular straws to drink water to get clean water. Nothing hard to do, just drink untreated water using the product. I think this gives us an easy access to clean water, and this is a not infrastructure-scale of project, their products can be more available and affordable to a lot of people in developing country. In addition, the company tries to distributes their products widely by engaging governments, donors, and doctors. I think that their project is really accomplished to deal with water crisis.

3. http://reusegraywater.com/residential/

This is a group, Water Recycle Systems, that offers a management of the system for recycling water by combining creative and innovative products and marketing ideas for the purpose of long-term of support to provide access to clean water and finical for the system. The group provide two kinds of systems. The difference between the systems is the size of the system. One is residential system which is to install their system to residential houses, and each machine is operated for each house. According to the website, the system helps to reduce water usage about 50% to 70%. 500 families have installed this system and saved 73 million gallons annually so far. It is clear that this impact on water crisis is really significant. In addition, the other one is commercial system. Some owners of hotels and resorts who have concerns about water conservation, water crisis, and access to clean water, install their system to their facilities. For instance, the system helps the Paul Mitchell School in Costa Mesa to save 400,000 gallons annually.

4. http://www.slingshotdoc.com/

Dean Kamen invented a water filtration system that runs on a Stirling engine, which runs on combustible fuel. The point of this machine is to turn any kind of water into drinkable and clean water. The benefits of this machine are that it uses less than a kilowatt of power, It can generate up to 1000 liters of clean water a day, which is enough for 100 people to cook and wash themselves. It can also run for up to 5 years without overhaul or maintenance.

5. http://www.vestergaard.com/

Vestergaard Frandsen invented a portable straw which filters water. It is specifically designed for one person to use. It filters up to 1000 liters of water, which is enough to last a year for one person. It removes up to 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria through a super-fine filtration process. It does not need electricity to work, which makes it highly useful in humanitarian efforts across the world. It only costs $5 to manufacture and has been used across the world, in various humanitarian efforts to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, the Pakistan floods in 2010, and the Kenyan Red Cross, to help with their drought, to name a few.

6. http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/9142.aspx

This article talks about the world's water supplies are facing new threats, affordable, advanced technologies could make a difference for millions of people around the world. People living today do not have adequate access to water, and more than double that number lack basic sanitation, for which water is needed. By some estimates, each day nearly 5,000 children worldwide die from diarrhea-related diseases, a toll that would drop dramatically if sufficient water for sanitation was available. Overcoming the crisis in water and sanitation is one of the greatest human development challenges of the early 21st century.

7.http://www.singingwells.org/midomo-water-purifier/

Midomo uses a much different approach to creating clean drinkable water. They focus on using the transporation of the water to power the cleaning device. Using wheels to transport the water, rather then man power, allows for more water to be transported by a much easier way.

8.http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/concepts-providing-clean-drinking-water.html

Provides concepts and devices that are being used to provide clean water.

9.http://thewaterproject.org/how-to-give-clean-water

Group that builds projects for clean water

10.http://www.unicefusa.org/mission/survival/water

Group that provides relief for disasters.

11. http://water.usgs.gov/edu/drinkseawater.html

This resource goes over the grand challenge of access to clean water and gives a possible solution. Portable drinking stills are discussed on a large scale as well as on a smaller scale which is beneficial to communities who don't have the income to afford large amounts of potable water.

12. http://www3.epa.gov/region9/water/recycling/

It describes the process of recycling water and the uses for recycled water.

13. http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/aquasafestraw-offers-portable-water-filtration.html

This article describes one of the great new forms of technology that has been developed to help those filter dirty water in clean drinking water.

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

“Provide Access to Clean Water”

The world's water provisions are facing new intimidations; reasonable, progressive technologies could build a difference for people around the world. Engineers have factually been major workers of methods for meeting the water quality and supply wants of civilization from excavating wells to building dams. To meet current needs, which progressively include ecosystem and environmental protection and improvement demands, the approaches will have to develop more sophisticated.

15. http://www.nrdc.org/international/safewater.asp

“Bringing Safe Water to the World/Environmental stewardship can help eliminate the world's biggest health risk -- dirty water.”

Modest sanitation enhancements can save millions of survives like digging pit latrines and treating drinking water with chlorine, filters and other simple existing technologies. The challenge is to put the right plans to practice in the right places as requirements differ from nation to nation. Also, the long-standing purpose is to deliver safe sources of treated drinking water and better-quality sanitation for all. In the interim, shorter-term plans can save millions of lives.

16. http://www.unicefusa.org/stories/mission/survival/water/tap-project/how-your-dollars-turn-clean-water/7570

“How Your Dollars Turn Into Clean Water”

One way UNICEF does that is by training resident entrepreneurs and engineers on consuming manual drilling to make boreholes through which water can be strained, much similar a well. Another way is by supporting sanitation practices like amplified hand washing and discouraging open defecation. As simple as it sounds, the mixture of producing access to clean water along with good hygiene and sanitation performs can save the survives of the 1,400 kids who die every day from reasons directly connected to poor water and sanitation.

17.http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2012/1015/Mobile-technology-boosts-access-to-clean-water-for-the-poor

"Mobile technology access ot clean water"

App helps track water access and hand pumps.

=  Restore and improve urban infrastructure = =   Advance health informatics = =   Engineer better medicines = 1. http://www.popsci.com/injectable-biomaterial-stops-you-bleeding-out

This article is about how certain types of wounds can be injected with a synthetic material that can help stop excessive bleeding. The typical procedures of applying pressure sometimes isn’t enough so researchers created a material called PolySTAT which mimics the body's enzyme Factor XIII, which helps the fibrin strands cement a blood clot.

2. http://news.psu.edu/story/351700/2015/04/06/research/sound-separates-cancer-cells-blood-samples

This article is about the use of sounds in order to separate cancer cells from a blood sample. An acoustic separation method is used with an inexpensive disposable chip. It has been recognized to save time and money and it has proven to be more effective than the previous methods.This creation is very impressive as these disposable chips are able to find cancer cells without any damage and it is safe enough to use on a fetus!

3. http://www.popsci.com/special-carbon-nanotubes-could-help-diagnose-medical-conditions

This article is about a team of researchers has developed implantable carbon nanotubes that light up in the presences of specific molecules. These specific molecules are able to determine a diagnoses for certain diseases. They have tested these devices mostly on mice and they hope that it can be as effective for humans. But for now we still follow the traditional methods of diagnoses through blood tests. =   Reverse-engineer the brain = 1. MIT Review:

http://www.technologyreview.com/article/406050/reverse-engineering-the-brain/page/6/

This article is explaining the connection between neuroscience and creating artificial intelligence. They have come up with theories on how to allow computers to gain recognition power as powerful as us humans. The closest system they have come up with is a digital layering technique, which downloads images into a computer through a variety of image-altering filters to build the recognition, however it is still not on par to humans and needs more work to take it in new directions.

2.PNAS.org:

http://www.pnas.org/content/110/39/15512.full

This article talks about the potential of using nanotechnology to understand the brain and human cognition at a molecular level. With advancements in neuromorphic engineering, it may be possible to gain a deeper understanding of human cognition, However, this article states that we are still far away from computers having cognition in the same way as humans. Even if we set up neuromorphic technology with the same number of neurons and synapses as a human brain, the computer would still not have the cognitive intelligence of a human. It is possible that some sort of hybrid may be formed, with synapses of a human integrated into a computer, but more research must be done.

3. YouTube: World Economics Forum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrnQtItGjuI

This last resource is a video from David Cox at Harvard University explains how the brain is a complex computer, and while there are certain things the brain does that computers are bad at, we still have the computing power to recreate it. Th problem is we don't understand the brain's software. His lab, and many others, have been studying and trying to determine the correct algorithm, but Cox recommends going back to the brain, and reverse engineering it to get the pieces of the algorithm. He mentions wiretapping and how that has been used, as well as technology to allow observation and manipulation of brain activity. Advancements in neuroimaging are also allowing us to learn about the connections and wiring inside the brain.

4. Article: Reverse-Engineering the Brain 

http://www.technologyreview.com/article/406050/reverse-engineering-the-brain/page/1/

This article discusses the effort at MIT, between the Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Computer Science, and how the two fields have come together to get a better understanding of how the brain works, in order build better artificial intelligence.

At MIT, they are working on the replication of biological vision recognition. Tomaso Poggio and Thomas Serre created a program that uses immediate-recognition to analyze digital images.

5. Article: '''Microsoft Co-Founder Launches $500 Million Quest to Build an Artificial Brain'''

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/science/features/microsoft-co-founder-launches-500-million-quest-to-build-an-artificial-brain-750629

This article discusses the work being backed by Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen. Allen has given over $500 million regarding Artificial Intelligence study. He broke the study into two project awards. The first project is to build an artificial brain that can pass a high school science test. This project was awarded to the University of Washington Research team, headed by Oren Etzoni. Currently, they are working on the Aristo project. The goals of the project are: 6. Video: '''Reverse Engineering the Brain | David Cox (video)'''
 * Natural language parsing and processing of a variety of knowledge sources into a structured, computable knowledge base
 * Question understanding; transforming questions, diagrams, and answer options from exams into computable input
 * Integration with diagram processing systems to go beyond text to successfully understand exam questions
 * An array of solvers using various statistical and inference techniques to either select or generate the correct answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrnQtItGjuI

Jeff Lichtman at Harvard University is using Connectomics to slice and study the brain. http://lichtmanlab.fas.harvard.edu/

The Neo-Cortex is being studied and mapped using layering technology to understand how and which neurons in the brain connect to one another during different mental transactions.

7. http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2015/01/how-reverse-engineering-brain-could-help-machines-learn/102537/

The human brain is very powerful but it has limitations that computers do not have. At the same time, computers have limitations that the human brain does not and reverse engineering the brain is where that problem can be solved. Computers are able to process thousands of pages of data in the time the human brain can process one. By reverse engineering the human brain, we can make technology advance beyond the imaginable. Being able to create computer systems that can recognize images and learn about the image in a one shot earning experience would be a game changer in military reconnaissance. For example, computers would be able to analyze satellite images and be able to understand the image with potential threats and strategic response tactics like a human looking at it would. This doesn't sound that impressive until we realize that that one computer can do the job of 10,000 analysts in the same amount of time.

8. http://gizmodo.com/5614170/reverse-engineering-of-human-brain-likely-by-2020

With the human brain's cortex having roughly 22 billion neurons and 220 trillion synapses, reverse engineering the human brain will take some time to complete. Super giant companies such as IBM have been in the process of building super computers to help reverse engineer the human brain however, at the time of the article and even up to the current date, we do not have the technology available to build a computer powerful enough to decode how the human mind works. According to this article by 2013, IBM would have engineered a super computer named Sequoia with the ability to offer 20 petaflops per second during peek performance. To be able for a computer to simulate the 25 million bytes or 1 million lines of code, researcher require a machine with a computational capacity of at least 36.8 petaflops and a memory capacity of 3.2 petabytes. The earliest time that IBM has estimated a machine to meet the minimum power requirements to simulate the brain falls roughly into the year 2016. The work IBM has contributed to the focus of reverse engineering the human brain has been a huge step to giving us the ability to decode how our brains work. Without a company like IBM developing this technology, there would be no team on earth working on providing the technological tools needed to our science teams working with the human brain.

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_k_c6Uj0A

Dutch neuroscientist Randal A. Koene speaks at a TedX event about reverse engineering the mind to computers. Interesting enough, Randal's research is centered around the possibility to transfer the human mind into non-biological substrate. By learning how to decode the human brain, we can map how the human brain functions unlocking next level advancements in computer technology. Using computers to emulate the human brain, Randal researches the feasibility of creating a "road map" of the brain and spikes in brain activity. There are many obstacles to be able to map the human brain. Teams of scientists have been working on solving the obstacle problems to ensure accuracy of data through different types methods designed to create massive amounts of tiny connections to replicate the network of the human brain. The work that Randal A. Koene has contributed along with the scientists working with him have a huge factor to the possibility of success to unlock the minds map. Companies such as Intel and iBM have worked on computers strong enough to power a simulation of the mind, however Randal's work is the advancement we need to be able and create the simulation necessary to replicate the human brain's functions.

=   Prevent nuclear terror = =   Secure cyberspace =

http://www.infoq.com/news/2010/01/Cloud-Searchable-Encryption

Searchable encryption: First you have to store the documents in the cloud through the Data Processor and Data Verifier in order to encrypt the document to avoid getting hacked. In order to make it searchable, you have to go back to the system and use the Token Generator. The Token Generator generates a token and a decryption key. After this the the Data Verifier verifies the account and the document gets decrypted using the decryption key. This will help delay hackers from getting the information they want to obtain from their victims. Hopefully it will also stop them from trying to hack into the system because of the inconvenience or decoding the encrypted information. I actually use something like this with my work e-mails. Nothing yet when it comes to storing cloud information, but I'm pretty sure it will definitely come in handy like it does four our e-mails.

http://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/csd-mtd

Moving Target Defense: When the multiple system dimensions are consistently changed in order to increase uncertainty and complexity to attackers. It is better to consistently change the fingerprint of the network making it harder for the attackers to keep up. They develop game-changing capabilities that dynamically shift the attack surface, which will make it more difficult for attackers to strike. If the attackers do get through, the project also wants to be able to function during an attack. Again this is another strategy that will make it more difficult for attackers to instantly hack through a system. For instance, once they think they're getting through something changes in the system and they have to start all over again.

http://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/csd-tts

Tailored Trustworthy Spaces: Tailored Trustworthy Security based on the information of the cyberspace networks, rather than their security. They do this by categorizing the network under Digital Provenance which means the users know what information they're storing and they don't alter or manipulate it, but they know whether or not the data can be "trusted". The second one is Nature Inspired Cyber Health is a little more complex in that they study behaviors and codes in order to understand if unusual activity is going on or not. This way of security is overall more complex and as the description says "tailored" to each different type of IT world for each company. It doesn't seem like it blocks the hackers before they strike, but rather catch them in the act due to the unusual activity. I think this maybe a little more risky when it comes to preventing the hack from even happening.

http://www.darpa.mil/program/automated-program-analysis-for-cybersecurity

The website briefly talks about how The Automated Program Analysis for Cybersecurity program aims to address this challenge. It briefly explains how they face challenges and how are they are going over come them. APAC aims to address practical, automated tools to demonstrate the cybersecurity properties identified with the help of tools that minimize false alarms, missed detections and for human filtering of results to prove properties. With these process being done the examine forms of programs. Technology is their main resource since they use tools on computer to minimize some task.

https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Main_Page

The OWASP Foundation is in New York City. A worldwide not-for-profit charitable organization focused on improving the security of software. There mission is make an awareness software security visible so that individuals and organization make smart choice of security software. The use technology as their main resource since they practice security cyber software on computers.

http://www.acscenter.org/about/

A non profit organization who is supported by Mass Insight Global Partnership. Who brings together industry, university and government organization who are advanced in cyber threats. The work together to achiever the same goal. They practice task to achieve their goals. They use technology because the research and practice tools on computers to try to develop advance cyber threats.

http://www.dhs.gov/topic/cybersecurity

The main function of Homeland Security is to protect its people from outside threats. Cyber security is just one of the many threats that a nation faces on a daily basis. The DHS(Dept. Of Homeland Security) depends on information technology systems and computer networks for day to day operations. And they face large cyber threats from small town hackers to intruders using state of the art intrusion techniques. Trying to steal information and or disrupt /destroy critical information systems. As we become more dependable on modern technology, we also become more vulnerable to cyber attacks. The DHS works with different agencies to promote common policies and best practices that are effective to ever-changing threats.

From the DHS website I was able to find the below link ,of one agency that is involved with cyber research as well as involved with helping the DHS.

Cyber Innovation Center http://www.cyberinnovationcenter.org/

Located in North Louisiana, the cyber corridor which is zoned for cyber research and development activities in the National Cyber Research Park (NCRP) is home to CSC, CenturyLink, Louisiana Tech University and Bossier Parish Community College. What they do is teach students the latest technology in cyber security. These are not just schools, it also collaborates with the national security. This facility is big on STEM as well as developing state of the art technologies.

https://www.fireeye.com/

This bay area network security company provides automated threat forensics and malware protection against cyber threats such as sphere phishing and on going threats. They have been involved with investigating attacks on major company such as Target, Sony Pictures and JP Morgan Chase. They created a switch board network access control appliance, that looks like a cable box, which acts as a distribution hub for malware security intelligence. There appliance is being used all over the world, even today its being used in Russia and the Netherlands. Looks as though there system is very effective in the stop against cyber threats.

-  https://www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam/landing-page/

Staysafeonline. org was developed by the National Cyber Security Alliance to help raise awareness of ways to stay safe while using the internet. The website is aimed at any casual user of the internet to educate them on ways they can more safely browse the web at home, work, and school. The website serves as a great resource to those that are not as advanced in network and internet security.

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2231519/security/who-really-sets-global-cybersecurity-standards-.html?page=2

Okay so this is actually an article that names 19 different organizations that are in the fight of securing cyberspace but I thought each one deserved recognition for their work. These organizations can be found all over the world and are most active in setting the global cybersecurity standards and practices.

=  Enhance virtual reality =

http://www.wired.com/insights/2015/02/will-oculus-rift-help-or-hinder-tourism/

Oculus Rift is a company created by Bredan Iribe, the company focus on virtual reality technology. Oculus Rift focus on gaming virtual reality, it allow players to experience the 3D and allow people to walk around the virtual reality world. This technology not only limited to gaming, this can also allow people to experience a place where they never went to before and feel like they're there by connect to 3D map software.

https://developer.leapmotion.com/articles/intro-to-motion-control

Leap Motion is a company made leap motion, the purpose of this program is to make us feel like we can control everything by just using a finger touch. This ideas inspired from many things we can see in the movie, like Tony Stark's work shop, Star Trek, Firefly's holographic brain scanner and many more.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4146174/

This is a medical experiment that use the Kinect motion capture to train people that has stroke with lower limb dysfunction. Doctor and scientist hope to gain a good result from this experiment and hope that this will help those dysfunction to gain their ability back like normal people.

The technology that I have been searching for is still far away like a dream to human. The technology in our century only able to make us feel like we're there, the vast world of virtual reality but it's still make us feel like we're not in there yet. What I am seeking for is the technology make us go into the virtual reality world and perform anything action we want.

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