Amazing Mobile Payments



Visa Mobile Payments



Doesn't it seem like our cell phones have the capabilities to do anything? Cell phones can be used to take pictures, send email, get directions, text message, record videos, check Facebook, go on YouTube, and of course make phone calls. While the list of capabilities grows, add one more thing; now you can make mobile payments. Visa has invested in Square, which will allow phones and iPads to be credit card readers. This entry will analyze how the media has been covering this new idea of mobile payments.

New York Times blogger Claire Cain Miller wrote an article on April 27th that really described the Square, some of it's competition, and what exactly it could do for the world. The Square could possibly turn 27 million businesses that don't accept credit cards into Visa customers. In the video below Mary Carol Harris from Visa describes the plan for mobile payments.

Another article compiled by PRNewswire on April 27th helped to establish trust for businesses by describing a set of mobile acceptance practices put together by Visa for merchants, software developers, and device manufactures that are using consumer mobile devices to accept credit card payments.

"Building security into the DNA of mobile acceptance solutions is necessary to help grow the channel and encourage innovation," said Bill Gajda, head of global mobile product, Visa Inc. "Providing security guidance to retailers and the industry, as mobile phones used as card acceptance devices are still emerging, will help ensure acceptance solutions are secure, provide a strong foundation for future growth of this channel and foster consumer trust in mobile commerce."

Will Hernandez of the American Banker wrote an article on April 12th that described the mobile payments plan as an opportunity for growth. The article focuses on Visa Europe, and incorporates many of the  investments and steps that have been taken to get Visa to the point of mobile payments. An interesting fact that was highlighted revealed that Visa Europe has invested $1.4 billion dollars yearly since 2004 to payment technology, including mobile payments.

All in all, what I find to be so astonishing is the progression of overall idea. It seems unreal to me that we could be using our cell phones to pay for things. Really, it's genius. We always carry our phones with us. They would always be available to make payments. Mobile payments are a great example of the progression of our overall technology. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Kids and Technology

Kid's love technology!

As the use of technology rises, so does a younger age group of users. Children are intrigued by the idea of technology! Using technology has become an everyday part of daily life for children of all ages. But now, this issue has created an ongoing debate about whether or not this has a positive or negative effect. The media has dipped their toes in this debate as well. In this entry I will analyze how the media is covering this topic with concerns from a parents perspective.
 

Huffington Post writter April Rudin wrote an article on April 21st, entitled; Why parents  must be on top of their kids online escapades. Rudin is the parent of three teenage sons, who she has encouraged to actively use technology and go online. Her worries were minute until she attended the International Youth and Technology Forum on Digital Citizenship. Panelist discussions focused on social networking sites; how sites like these give teens the opportunity to create a public image that may or may not reflect the in-person reality. After the conference, Rudin expressed that parents need to take a more active role in learning about technology, as well as engaging in their children's social interactions online.

On April 18th, Jeneba Ghatt of the Washington Times wrote an article that examined both the good and bad of children and the use of technology. Ghatt, who is also a parent, limits her children's use of technology in her household by reducing the amounts of TV and games they consume during the school week, and during meals. She understands that technology can have some negative affects on children but still emphasizes its value. She explained that it's important for kids to know how to maneuver technology. It may help them in the future preparing for and acquiring careers.

In Orono Maine, Auburn schools are preparing to give each kindergartner a iPad. Abigail Curtis of the Bangor Daily News wrote on April 22nd about different opinions teachers, school officials, and parents are having with the idea. Teachers emphasize the usefulness of the iPad to help children learn their alphabet. GeekBeat did a blurb about this in the video below. Parents are sharing their concerns as well. One mom, who's son participates in speech and occupational therapy, stressed the importance of communication and interaction with his peers. She worries that he will instead be distracted by the tool in his hands.

With a very diverse group of opinions from each of these news articles, one thing is for sure, their antenna's are up! Parents are recognizing and understanding that technologies are going to be a part of their children's futures and can have both positive and negative effects. It's their job to help their children put it to good use.

A Big Change

The New York Times

Some people like change, while others don't. For the New York Times, change is a big deal. The New York Times is doing what most media outlets have been afraid to do; charging its readers for online journalism. The buzz about this modification has been huge. So, today this blog entry will cover how other media outlets are addressing and covering the New York Times choice to make it's readers pay for online journalism.


To start, let me just give you a little background on what actually is going on. According to a March 20th New York Times article written by Jeremy W. Peters, starting March 28th, readers will have to pay for reading online content. The subscription plan includes $15/month for access to the web and a mobile phone app, $20/month for web access and an iPad app, or $35/month for an all access plan. Although the topic is highly controversial, and readers as well as journalists are not quite sure what to think, the New York Times took the leap anyway.

Because of this decision, other media outlets having been taking all kinds of approaches to reporting what exactly is going on.

Blogger Nick Baumann of Mother Jones blogged on April 1st about the new paywall. Baumann reported about New York Times stats expert Nate Silver, who put together a model to try to quantify what $15 would actually get you. Silver compared how much original content you would receive from the New York Times in comparison with the other leading media outlets, which Baumann commented, made the New York Times look pretty good.

Another article on April 1st by James Taranto of the Wall street Journal didn't quite report things that were quite as nice. He reported about Arianna Huffington, who made a little April fools fun with the paywall. 

Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington thinks she's funny. "Today . . . we introduce digital subscriptions for employees of The New York Times," boasts Puffington Host hostess Huffington in a Puffintgon Host post. It's April Fool's Day, of course, and Huffington is having some fun--or trying, anyway--at the expense of the Times and its porous paywall.

On March 29, Lance Ulanoff of PCMAG.com, described many of the positive and negative sides to the New York Times decision. Ulanoff also expressed that he saw changes like this coming for the media world, and that company's can't afford to just give away their best stuff.

For me, I agree with Ulanoff. We all knew a change like this was coming, we just didn't know when. The reactions people are having, I think are kind of funny. I believe those who love the New York Times will either pay to read it online or just find some way to get around the paywal and read it anyways, which is already a problem and can illustrated in the video below.

Technology and Education

Technology in Education

Since the introduction of computers, technology has slowly been working it’s way into the classroom. Many years ago it was hard to adjust to them, but now, I’m not sure whether or not most teachers and students could function without them. All levels of education all around the country have been implementing more and more technology use.  This blog entry will analyze how the media has been covering the use of technology in the classroom.

For the most part, the media has really been covering what kind of an effect new technologies are having on education: Is it positive or negative? Along with that there is a lot of coverage about what is being done with technology in the classroom and where the support for technology in the classroom is coming from. 

In a March 8th article written by Lesa Jansen of CNN,  it’s evident to see that technology has had a very positive effect on students and their education. TechBoston, which is located in a heavily populated, low income region of Boston received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation when it opened and showcases several forms of technology in the classroom. 

Its mission is to better educate kids using technology as an integral part of that education. Every student enrolling at TechBoston receives his or her own laptop. Forget chalkboards, each classroom has its own SMART board, a high tech, interactive white board.

The article also reported that  95% of the student consistently get accepted into college.

On March 9th, Deborah Becker of WBUR radio of Boston also reported on the positive effect TechBoston is experiencing with it’s students. However, her report was geared more toward  President Obama and his  push for technology in the classroom. The article described that President Obama will proposing a $90 million grant program to get technologies in the classroom and in turn improve education.

President Obama visiting TechBoston.

The San Fransisco Chronicle wrote on March 10th about some other organizations jumping on the bandwagon in support of technology in the classroom.  This article explained how AMX, an organization that helps organizations to use technology effectively,  has partnered with Consortium of School Networking. Together they are hoping to help education leaders address the key challenges that may be arising with the use of so much technology in the classroom.

To end, I have added a video that outlines some of the very positive effects teachers are feeling technology is having within the classroom.

The iPad 2

After a long wait, it's almost here; the new Apple iPad! This new and updated version is supposed to be better than ever! During the months before it's release date (March, 11th) the media has been keeping us pacified with several updates about what was to come. This blog entry will cover the overall media coverage before and after the announcement of this fresh, modern gadget.

The New York Times has been very active in the buzz about the iPad 2. Several bloggers among the technology section of this news source have been actively writing about what to expect from this fresh gadget. On March 1st,2011 New York Times blogger Nick Bilton wrote about what we might be able to expect for looks. The article, "What will the iPad 2 look like?", highlighted possible features such as two built in cameras with outstanding capabilities, larger built in speakers for better listening, and finally the gadget is expected to be thinner and even lighter than the first iPad.

On the morning of March 2nd, the day of the Apple announcement, the Chicago Sun Times wrote an article that featured the opinions of technology columnist Andy Ihnatko and that also explored several other rumors of the iPad 2. Some of the rumors included that the iPad 2 might include an SD card slot, dual core chipset for enhanced speed, a smudge resistant screen, and a smaller 7 inch version of the iPad.

Apple announced the iPad 2 at a press event in San Fransico. Several news sources including The New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times took part in live blogging. These live blogs kept readers up to date minute by minute during this announcement.

Los Angeles Times technology reporter David Sarno started blogging this March 2nd announcement event at 9:38 am. He continued blogging and revealing announcements to listeners until 11:18 am. Every minor and major update was recorded to expand the news that was disclosed at this announcement. Viewers were able to put rumors to rest immediately and find out what really was in store for the iPad 2. Some of his updates included that the iPad 2 would have an A5 chip with a CPU that makes it twice as fast, and that it would also have the predicted front and rear cameras.

Below is a video from Apple that walks through all the new features of the iPad 2. So now you can check it out for yourself and decide whether it was worth all the hype.

How private is your profile?

Privacy Settings

 It's a new age! It's an age where one of our main concerns is our profiles. Social networking has become a significant element in the lives of people all over the world. With just one click, you can find out what's going on in someones life by looking at their pictures, skimming through status updates, and reading posts. Letting our friends and loved ones know what's happening isn't so bad, but how do we keep people we don't like or know away from our profile?

The social networks, Facebook and Twitter, have several privacy setting that can be set to help protect you from individuals you don't necessarily want looking at your profile. But do all privacy settings work? Can they really keep people from looking at you? In this entry I will share with you how the media is currently covering current privacy setting issue and some tips they have for protecting yourself.

In a Feb 18th article in The Telegraph, Kara Grammell outlined specific, yet simple ways to protect yourself online while using social networks. Some of her ideas included setting up a new email account, being choosy about friend acceptances, checking your credit report regularly, and controlling your privacy settings.

Social networks are designed to make it very easy for other people to find you. Make sure that your privacy settings are set correctly. Facebook offers users control of their privacy setting within the "My privacy" section of the site. This can be reached by clicking on the "Privacy" link in the upper right-hand corner of any page on the website. From within the privacy section, you have control of all of your privacy settings and can fine-tune who will have access to your profile and activity on the Facebook website.

Earlier in January CNBC  aired a documentary entitled The Facebook Obsession. The documentary walked through much of the growth of the social network, talked about its positive aspects, but also hit on the topic of privacy settings. It told the story of a teacher who lost her job because she made a post on Facebook that she thought was only going to be seen by her friends. However, because Facebook had made changes among privacy settings, her post was reveal to basically everyone. Here is a link the full documentary.

Joe Cassels of techradar.com, wrote very specifically on how to manage your privacy settings. In his article 20 Facebook privacy settings tips, Feb 21st, Cassels highlighted the importance of keeping on top of privacy setting management because of the constant changes and new developments within Facebook. The article walks through several steps to keep this settings exactly where you want them.

Privacy settings on Facebook

As you have read there are several ways to be protect ourselves within social networks. Keeping up with the media is a good way to keep your awareness up about privacy settings. Try your best to keep yourself safe online.

Getting Comfortable with Online Dating

In the essence of the romantic holiday,Valentines Day, I thought it would be interesting to write on something that has to do with love and relationships.

Online Dating

Online dating has been around for awhile, but is still a fairly new method of courtship. Although it seems hard to believe, online dating is becoming a very popular way for couples to interact and start a relationship. In this entry I will be analyzing the popularity of online dating, the risks that go along with it, and then analyzing how the media influence our perception of this dating phenomenon.

There are several online dating sites; two of the most popular are eHarmony, and Match.com. According to the eHarmony website, there are 20 million registered users drawing on their expertise of match making. Match.com boasts that it gains 20,000 new singles to join their site every day.

Online dating leaves many skeptical, and for obvious reasons. With online dating you are unable to have real life, face to face interactions upon first communication. How do you know that the person you are talking to is who they say they are? In a February 2011 dBusiness News story, the Better Business Bureau warned readers of possible scammers using online dating sites.

“Every year, scam artists use romance schemes to generate millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims, which makes it vital for consumers to exert caution when using online dating services.” said Toby Barfield, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern North Carolina. “Scam artists are constantly coming up with new ways to trick victims, and are even going as far as creating phony dating Web sites.”

So with risks like these, how is it that online dating sites continue to grow and gain users to take part in this new phenomenon of dating?

The media plays a part in how we feel about online dating. An ABC special on eHarmony promoted the very positive and successful aspects of the site. It focused on the site's intense scientific methods to enhance compatibility. It also showcased the very happy couples who were able to find love by using the site.

In a February 2011 CNN story, a woman talks about her success with online dating. She met a man online and their relationship began flourishing; first with phone conversations, then Facebook, then dating, and now they're married. A picture of the very happy couple on their wedding day was also included.

Along with these news stories, think about the online dating commercials we see on TV every day that depict blissful, loving couples accrediting their success to the site.

As we hear news stories like these and see the images that correspond, our perception of online dating is enhanced and we become more comfortable with it. Maybe we even decided to try it.  So in a new age of courtship, online dating may be the new thing. Someday, we might all be participating in it.

Are our mobile phones all thier cracked up to be?

It's a necessity in our lives; an essential part of our being. It seems like during this day in age everyone has one and can't live without one; our cellphones. For most people a cellphone is a vital piece of their everyday life. It's the connection to their friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else you need to talk to. However, the connection is much bigger now. With the new advancements and wide variety of smart phones available, the connection doesn't just stop with talking. The list continues to grow; the Internet, texting, tweeting, facebooking, gaming, emailing, and thousands of other apps that keep us connected.

One of the newest smart phones on the market is the Motorola Atrix. Now according to the media, this isn't just your everyday, regular smart phone; this is the smart phone to have. Sources are calling it powerful. Motorola just released a promo for the phone and describes it as not only powerful but the most powerful smart phone in the world. 

The media has been highlighting its most incredible features. The New York Times highlighted several of the phones capabilities including a fingerprinting scanner on the power button for protecting your privacy, Motorblur to bring you social media, and a screen and keyboard that the phone can hook into to become it's own mini laptop with extraordinary capabilities.

The phone’s dual-processor runs the laptop and you can still make a call while using the computer. The Atrix has 1 gigabyte of RAM, again twice that of most current phones, so it should multitask smoothly. And downloads will be speedy if you are on the 4G network.

PCMAG.com also described the phone with words like crazy, radical, interesting, and even sexy. PCWorld called the smart phone a huge step and stated that phones like this will replace the PC.

Even though the media went on and on to tell us all the great features it contains and encourage us about several reasons why we should have it, I think they left out a few things. How about the other issues that phones like this are creating for it's consumers. What about distracted driving?

It's a pretty well known fact that distracted driving has continued to increase since the evolution of the mobile phone. But why wouldn't we be distracted, our phone goes off every time we get a new text, tweet, email, facebook message, and phone call.

Last fall on NDSU's campus a study was done to find out about the habits of students who text and drive. The results displayed that 91.4% of the students surveyed admitted to texting and driving. Texting is a huge distraction while driving. Other studies have shown that when you write or read a text you take your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. This is enough time to cover the length of a football field.

So even though it seems our phones are one of the most essential parts of our lives, and we need to continue spending all our money upgrading, we may just need to analyze a few things; is this something we need or do we just think we need it, and what other issues can it cause in our lives.

Facebook: The Good vs. the Bad

I was first introduced to Facebook my freshman year of college by some older students I knew. I had heard about the Facebook phenomenon and vowed I would never be part of it. Now, a few odd years and 929 friends later Facebook has become a part of my life just like it has for many others.

Facebok has given us the ability to conveniently keep up with friends, family, and acquaintances living all over much of the state, nation and world. With just one click we can find out what's going on in the lives of our friends. We can see pictures of vacations, our nieces and nephews, or memorable events. We can even let others know what's going on with us, exactly the moment something important happens.

Not only has Facebook made it easy to connect with our friends and family, but it's a useful tool. It's become a hub for businesses, restaurants, communities, professionals and even college classes to gain recognition.

Law enforcement has even benefited.  An article on BBC News  describes how Mexican police were able to gain a lead from a Facebook post and arrest a suspect in a shooting case. 

Most recently, Facebook even partnered with the Amber Alert Program. By "liking" the page, you will be notified of any alerts in your state.

It's true, Facebook has done its share of good, but is it all good?

In addition to linking us to our friends and family, Facebook can basically link us to anyone who has an account. Even though privacy settings can be set, not everything may be private. Facebook recently had plans of extending profile info to a third party. However, the Personal Liberty Digest reports that the Facebook developers changed their plans after advice from privacy and web security experts. 

 Users have the ability to make posts, and not all posts are pleasant. A high school student from Oak Park, Illinois was suspended for creating a list on Facebook ranking 50 girls from the high school on their looks and promiscuity. The girls were labeled with inappropriate titles like "The Hangover", and "Blonde Bombshell". After the list had been posted, the student even made copies and brought them to school.

Along with the privacy and personal threats, students are beginning to recognize the social network as something quite powerful. Students are describing Facebook as a distraction, obsession and even an addition. Some students have been able to break away by deleting their profiles, or limiting their time online but others just can't seem to let go.

 Kimberly Young, a psychologist and director of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery understands these problems.

"It's like any other addition", Dr. Young said. "It's hard to wean yourself."