Sunday, December 15, 2013

Article 12/15 - A New Device to Help First Responders

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/09/tech/innovation/bounce-imaging-explorer-disaster-emergency/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

This article from CNN talks about a new imaging device called the Bounce Imaging Explorer, which would help first responders evaluate different crisis situations without putting themselves in danger. This device is the size of a baseball and, after thrown, can offer a wide range of sensory from temperature to imaging. Applications of this could be fireman, policeman, and search and rescuers. The inventor of the device, Francisco Aguilar, was inspired by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He watched on television how so many people had been trapped in the rubble, and the efforts of search and rescue to try and find them with things like fiber optics. Though these fiber optics are useful, they are expensive and somewhat difficult and slow to use. In order to solve this problem he invented his Bounce Imaging Explorer. It is easy to use, and he hopes that it will price from five hundred to a thousand dollars. The purpose of this article is to inform of a new way to help evaluate crisis situations. The intended audience is those interested in technology or search and rescue efforts. This article uses description and also emotional appeal with the anecdote of the author in regards to Haiti. I found this article interesting and would like to see one of these sensors in real life

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Article 12/8 - LOOK UP IN THE SKY! IT'S A BIRD... IT'S A PLANE... no it's another Amazon delivery

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/tech/innovation/amazon-drones-questions/index.html?iref=allsearch

This article from CNN talks about Amazon's announcement regarding their research and development of a delivery system manned by drones. How it would work is that there are centers where the drone would leave, then fly to your doorstep and drop off the package. When it is ready, it will only be available mostly to people who live in urban areas or in a ten mile radius of warehouse centers. With all of this development it needs to be recognized that this technology is nowhere around the corner. There are still problems that need to be fixed. Issues include: battery life of drones (right now only thirty minutes), prevention of being shot down (humans like to try and shoot things out of the sky), possible malfunction (the package could drop and hit someone on the head), and bad weather protection (heavy rain and snow inhibit the drones sensors). With all of these downsides, Amazon says the technology is very feasible, and there are examples of drone technology already being used in other parts of the world. The purpose of this article is to inform and analyze the recent announcement by Amazon regarding drone delivery. The intended audience is those interested in technology, drones, and faster deliveries. The author establishes ethos by being a technology writer for CNN. Logos is established by providing quotes and statistics. Pathos is established by talking about certain common sense ideas such as "What prevents people from just shooting it down?". Overall, this was an entertaining article and I am excited for the possible technology.