Monday, December 19, 2011
A look into why the NTSB recommendation of a cell phone driving ban is necessary.
At any moment, almost one in 100 drivers is using an electronic device while operating a vehicle— a 50 percent increase since last year, according to authorities, and that's no small issue. In fact, it's a big enough concern that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) unanimously recommended a nationwide ban on the non-emergency use of cell phones while driving. This vote was following the investigation of a 2010 fatal accident in Missouri involving two school buses, a bobtail and a car. Two people were killed and 35 were injured in the pileup. The primary cause? Distracted driving from more than one of the drivers. This, of course, is not the only major accident like this. According to the NTSB, more than 3,000 people lost …
Monday, December 5, 2011
Christmas is coming and so are new toys, so what can we do with the ones we're retiring?
Confession time: the era of my dumbphone is over; Ol' LG has been replaced. It was a good run, and I thought of commemorating the occasion by ceremonial torching, running over it with my car, or chucking it over a bridge like they do in movies. All seem like pretty satisfying options—but aren't the most environmentally conscious—so I looked into possible solutions. Maybe you've got some electronics lying around the house, too. Instead of taking them to a nearby landfill, here are some things to consider: It's probably not trash Unless it's pre-1995, of course. If you bought an old computer in the last decade or so, check to see if it can be upgraded or refurbished; you might make or save some cash. In Manassas, a place like Potomac eScrap…
Monday, September 12, 2011
New solar battery technology from University of California engineers could light the way for smartphones.
Being without a smartphone charge can cause even the coolest of cool a minor anxiety attack. Not to worry, technology-loving readers, thanks to engineers at UC Irvine’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, you might never have to rely on an outlet for your smartphone again. Researchers developed LCD (liquid crystal display) screens with photovoltaic polarizers, which convert direct sunlight, ambient light, and even the screen’s own backlight into electricity. This is surely a comforting thought to owners of smartphones which drain charges in a few hours. It’s been an exciting season for green technology, with Samsung’s recent reveal of a low-cost netbook with a built-in solar panel, and WiFi power harvester Airnergy by …
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The unsocial part of the social networker
My flip phone is not ideal. I don’t exactly want to keep it. It’s small, has a lousy camera, and it makes loud clicking noises when I text. It is by no means “cool.” When I see my smartphone toting peers, I have a slight tinge of envy. My phone will never be admired again, its glory days short-lived. In fact, I fight the sheepish feeling that arises when I whip my phone out in public. But the real tragedy is the fight against our new culture. The smartphone wave, like the addition of regular cellphones, has brought new social attitudes with it. Now, I’m just speculating here, but I’m pretty sure this is what life was like before cellphones were popular: Having a cell phone or a smartphone doesn’t make it OK to slide on the consistency of a…
Eileen Graham
3:04 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
What a great idea, Erik! I will look into the app. more ›