If you think you've seen it all, then I think I found something for you- a pumpkin computer. Someone took a pumpkin and used it as a case to build a computer.

Here's the link.

It also has a link to step-by-step instructions to make one yourself. Hmm... wonder if I have enough old parts to put one together with that extra pumpkin I haven't gotten around to carving yet?

-JRO

It looks like the $100 laptops are finally here. I remember reading about them sometime back- the idea is to produce computers primarily for children in developing countries at a cost they can afford. We seem to take it for granted that kids would have access to computers growing up, but that's simply not the case in developing countries (and even parts of our own country).

Here's an article on these computers.

These computers will use flash memory instead of a hard drive, have a 400 MHz processor and run Linux- hardly state-of-the-art, but certainly something to help kids learn fundamentals of computers. I think computer literacy is becoming one of the key things distinguishing those who end up in "desirable" jobs and those who do not. It seems that those who learn computers while growing up and are comfortable with them end up being more successful in college and then better equipped for the job market.

I think this project is a great step towards helping give kids a more level playing field and providing opportunities for their future success.

-JRO

The browser wars continue... Microsoft has just released Internet Explorer 7 and if all goes according to plan, Mozilla should be releasing Firefox 2.0 next week.

IE 7 seems a big improvement over 6. It finally brings tabbed browsing to IE (one of those features you don't know how much you like until you're used to it). It's supposed to also provide enhanced protection from phishing and similar security threats. It got a facelift to look more like the new version of Office as well.

Mozilla promises some pretty cool features too- my favorite is the ability to restore an open web page when your computer does an automatic restart. It's quite annoying to have several tabs open and find that Windows did an automatic reboot and have to pull them all back up again.

As long as there are multiple companies competing on web browsing technology, that should provide us with some good quality products. We benefit by seeing them compete to provide better features and innovatations, thereby continuing to push forward with better technology.

-JRO

I posed a question to my class today: Can you think of any career/industry that does not make use of computers on some level?

In today's world, that answer would have to be no. Of course, there are some jobs (landscaping, framing to name a couple) where some of the production workers aren't using computers as a part of their daily job. However, there is not a job or industry that doesn't involve computers and technology on some level. The landscaping company probably uses computers for financial records, tracking customers and employees and probably advertising purposes. I told a story in class today of a professional baseball player I knew who used a computer to track what pitches pitchers were throwing him as a way of gaining a competitive edge on them (and this was over 15 years ago).

So, not only are computers a part of everyday life, but they will continue to be a major part of the business world. The jobs that are being created as a part of the new economy in this country are skilled jobs, often service-oriented jobs. Knowledge and value are keys to these jobs and as a result, so are computers and information systems. Products and jobs based upon commodities don't hold much future- they're all going overseas to the lowest-cost producer.

This is one of my major objectives in teaching 2223- helping students to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in today's knowledge and information based economy. So whether someone comes in at a high skill level or knowing very little, my goal is to have them leave with what they need in computer skills for their career.

-JRO

As I'm preparing some of my first lectures for 2223, I'm struck with one big underlying theme: there's no escaping computers in today's world. For example, just today, I drove to work in a car with embedded computers (as most all cars today have), I've texted back and forth with my cell phone, made calls on my IP phone, sent and received e-mails, visited web sites, etc. Later, I'll go to the gym where they'll use a bar code to scan me in and I may stop by get a smoothie beforehand, where they'll use a computerized cash register to take my money. If I pay with a card, they'll use an information system to take my credit card information and process that payment.

So, computers are all around us and are here to stay. This is why being computer literate is vital in the workplace and in our everyday lives. It's my job to help college students become computer literate and acquire the necessary computer knowledge and skills that they'll need in their time here at ECU and in their careers.

Just think of how different today would have been so far without computers...

-JRO

This blog is going to be devoted primarily to the topics that I'm covering in my MIS 2223 Intro to Computers classes at ECU. I'll be bringing in topics in the news that are relevent to the topics we're covering in class throughout the semester.

I'll start updating and adding content as we get into the fall semester. In the meantime, check out my other blog.

-JRO