A World Revolving Around a World of Technology: Welcome to the 21st Century
In recent years, schools all over the nation have become more and more reliant on technology. Elementary students are now even completing tests online from a portable laptop while they sit at their desks. Major universities all over the country would not be able to function if professors were not able to use projectors in large lecture halls in order for over a thousand students to observe what is being taught. Students then are able to take notes on their laptops while sitting in class where they are readily connected to a wireless internet connection. All of these technological advancements that are taking place in most classrooms have jumpstarted a whole new wave of educational opportunities for this generation. Possibilities that take education to new heights have roots in the past, and a good portion of modern technology was jump started in the 1960's. For instance, the internet, computer operation technologies, ocean research, and federal involvement in education are all categories that are based in the 60's and have since been perfected to modern standards.
Modern Ocean Research
Ever since the creation of Alvin, the deep sea research submarine, in 1962, the opportunities of ocean research have grown enormously. A primary focus of ocean research in today's society is on the use of marine organisms in modern medicines. For instance, major breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical industry that have come from marine sponges alone are the antiviral and anticancer medicines acyclovir and cytabarine. The ideas of modern researchers at various universities and research centers is to access new and undiscovered marine organisms that may be tested to see if they have any medicinal purpose. This research would not be where it is today without the technological advancements in modern marine equipment that originated in the 1960's. Students of the Millennial Generation now have access to new information and techniques which account for medical research breakthroughs that are far more advanced. The possibilities of the applications of marine organisms is endless and they are now being integrated into educational programs.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now has far more advanced technologies than what was used in the 60's. Aquarius, an underwater research center, allows researchers to spend up to 10 days underwater at depths up to 120 feet. Inside Aquarius, different alterations to the marine environment are being studied that include ultraviolet radiation, pollution, and fossil records that hold an image of what life on earth used to be like. The Pisces V is an underwater research submarine used in 2003 that scientists used to observe the coral reefs of Hawaii for 64 days. This submarine is capable of reaching depths up to 6,000 meters.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now has far more advanced technologies than what was used in the 60's. Aquarius, an underwater research center, allows researchers to spend up to 10 days underwater at depths up to 120 feet. Inside Aquarius, different alterations to the marine environment are being studied that include ultraviolet radiation, pollution, and fossil records that hold an image of what life on earth used to be like. The Pisces V is an underwater research submarine used in 2003 that scientists used to observe the coral reefs of Hawaii for 64 days. This submarine is capable of reaching depths up to 6,000 meters.
Millennial Computer Mice
The computer mouse designed by Douglas Engelbart in 1964 is a dying breed in modern technology. The youth of the Millennial Generation are starting to favor a more efficient and natural interface using processes with one or more fingers. Four fingers is the current limit, and the combination of swiping in four directions while using one, two, three, or four fingers produces sixteen possible combinations. Other gestures include pinching, stretching, tapping, and two and three finger rotation. While not all combinations operate together, the number of possible signals that can be sent to a computer from a few activations of a couple muscles operating one hand can be utilized to perform hundreds of applications.
This is a major upgrade to the mouse Engelbart designed in 1964, which only had one button and two wheels to roll on. It has impacted today's students as far less space is needed for a wired mouse. Instead, a stationary trackpad is connected to a laptop that can perform far more tasks than a mouse and uses space more efficiently on a students desk. With this invention, note taking in the classroom has become easier than ever before.
This is a major upgrade to the mouse Engelbart designed in 1964, which only had one button and two wheels to roll on. It has impacted today's students as far less space is needed for a wired mouse. Instead, a stationary trackpad is connected to a laptop that can perform far more tasks than a mouse and uses space more efficiently on a students desk. With this invention, note taking in the classroom has become easier than ever before.
21st Century Calculators
The newest calculators are so technologically advanced that new innovations are becoming limited to design instead of programming. Some modern calculators are capable of performing every mathematical equation imaginable. Whether it be finding derivatives or graphing a function, students are no longer limited by technology when it comes to mathematics. Memory units are also being installed into calculators so they are capable of remembering equations and other data so that they can be recalled at the push of a button. Some of the more advanced hand held calculators can even be used to download games to be played at the leisure of the user. Texas Instruments has had a large impact on the development of these handheld super machines and has came a long way from their original model, which consisted of only 18 buttons and could only perform four basic functions.
Technological breakthroughs in the field of hand held calculators have allowed for students to explore a multitude of new things in the field of mathematics. Sitting at a desk, assignments and examinations can be executed by students using a lightweight, efficient, handheld calculator. This allows for the education of students to advance faster than ever before. Lessons on how to operate these calculators are now being integrated into higher level math classes where complex formulas are necessary.
Technological breakthroughs in the field of hand held calculators have allowed for students to explore a multitude of new things in the field of mathematics. Sitting at a desk, assignments and examinations can be executed by students using a lightweight, efficient, handheld calculator. This allows for the education of students to advance faster than ever before. Lessons on how to operate these calculators are now being integrated into higher level math classes where complex formulas are necessary.
The World Wide Web
Ever since the creation of ARPAnet in 1969, educational institutions everywhere have been pushing to get on board with the connection. With the integration of the internet into schools, changes in all aspects regarding education became a necessity. The government has spent millions of dollars on computers and other technologies in recent years that are available for schools to use. The goal is for schools to be able to use the internet in order to operate at a maximum efficiency. Government funding in schools was unheard of until the 1960's when the public's view changed to favor federal support in schools. This was a direct result of the Space Race, which made Americans realize that they needed the funding to achieve advancements in education to keep up with the rest of the world.
However, technology based educational programs are not always the most efficient. Schools around the nation are facing difficulties with operating computers within the classroom. Also, it is expensive to acquire enough computers for all the students in a class and to maintain internet services. This issue results in a lot of teachers becoming frustrated, especially when they have to deal with technical difficulties. Teachers must be taught how to properly use a computer which also brings more expenses. The internet has also evolved from a purely educational system to a commercial goldmine, which uses advertisements to bring in consumers, and may be distracting to student. College students who have access to the internet during class may also be distracted by social media and not pay attention to the lesson being taught. The internet can be a very useful tool at the same time and it is constantly progressing.
Universities have websites where students can connect with their peers and communicate with teachers and professors using emails. Students can also see what assignments are due and when, which is a very useful tool for keeping everyone up to date. The internet can also be used to create assignments that students can complete online. This eliminates the waste of paper and also saves a teacher a lot of time not needing to grade hundreds of assignments, because programs can accomplish the task for them. Also, this allows students to do their homework anywhere anytime and submit it without having to be in the classroom if they are unable to attend.
However, technology based educational programs are not always the most efficient. Schools around the nation are facing difficulties with operating computers within the classroom. Also, it is expensive to acquire enough computers for all the students in a class and to maintain internet services. This issue results in a lot of teachers becoming frustrated, especially when they have to deal with technical difficulties. Teachers must be taught how to properly use a computer which also brings more expenses. The internet has also evolved from a purely educational system to a commercial goldmine, which uses advertisements to bring in consumers, and may be distracting to student. College students who have access to the internet during class may also be distracted by social media and not pay attention to the lesson being taught. The internet can be a very useful tool at the same time and it is constantly progressing.
Universities have websites where students can connect with their peers and communicate with teachers and professors using emails. Students can also see what assignments are due and when, which is a very useful tool for keeping everyone up to date. The internet can also be used to create assignments that students can complete online. This eliminates the waste of paper and also saves a teacher a lot of time not needing to grade hundreds of assignments, because programs can accomplish the task for them. Also, this allows students to do their homework anywhere anytime and submit it without having to be in the classroom if they are unable to attend.