They may look funny, but those 3D glasses are here to stay
Intel and DreamWorks have teamed up to bring us movies in 3D, and this Sunday, we are going to bear witness to the fruits of that labor with our 3D glasses. It is called InTru3D. This technology will be showcased during the Super Bowl on February 1st, with the first 3D commercial in Super Bowl history.
There will actually be two 3D commercials airing during the big game. One of the commercials will be a movie trailer for the DreamWorks animated movie Monsters vs. Aliens coming out in March. The other commercial will be an ad for PepsiCo.’s SoBe LifeWater. In order to view these commercials, Intel made available 125 million of their 3D glasses free of charge. You can find them at Target, Best Buy, and any of the more than 25,000 Pepsi/SoBe Life Water displays found at grocery, drug, and retail stores.
Another 3D event is taking place this weekend on Saturday, January 31st. Though not as high-profile as the Super Bowl, it is every bit as significant for the emergence of 3D technology. iZ3D, Inc., designer, developer, and pioneer of advanced stereoscopic 3D visualization systems, is going to put on demonstrations of their 22-inch switchable 3D/2D monitor display system at Fry’s Electronics ® and MicroCenter ® stores around the country. Consumers can easily find a listing of store locations and obtain information on iZ3D’s products and special offers at http://www.3Drulez.com.
The iZ3D display is the only true full resolution 3D display with a 170-degree 3D viewing angle. The only thing you need is a pair of iZ3D passive polarized glasses that virtually eliminates headaches, fatigue, or eye-strain common with other 3D displays. Three pairs of glasses are included with each monitor and additional pairs are available for $9.99. It is not widely known that the most popular games were created in 3D, though players couldn’t see the effect with a flat 2D monitor. Hundreds of off the shelf games are playable today in 3D with more games and movies arriving in 2009.
2009 began with a 3D feature-length film called My Bloody Valentine: 3D. Now the Super Bowl is showcasing 3D commercials, which can be viewed with special Intel 3D glasses. On the day after the Super Bowl, NBC’s hit comedy Chuck is going to air from 8-9pm ET in 3D. With the assistance of Intel’s technology, DreamWorks will produce all of its feature films in stereoscopic 3D, which can be viewed with these 3D glasses too. And iZ3D is bringing 3D technology to your computer monitor, literally changing the way you view games and movies. It looks like 2009 is the year 3D technology jumped into the mainstream media through our funny-looking 3D glasses.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tech etiquette: Not everybody practices it, but everybody should
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...
You step onto the bus and sit down with a sigh. It is Monday, and you are not happy about it. You get your book out to read through your morning commute. Two stops later, someone gets on the bus, talking on their cell phone…loudly. You can hear every single word. Or someone gets on the bus with their headphones on. And the music is so loud that it pounds in your ears. You can no longer concentrate on your book. You are frustrated and angry. One person’s lack of tech etiquette can ruin a bus ride for everyone else.
At work, it is even more imperative to have tech etiquette. You are at work to work, interact with fellow employees and customers, and do what needs to be done for your company. If you are constantly answering your cell phone, texting on your BlackBerry, instant messaging, or checking your email, chances are you are not being a very productive employee or courteous co-worker. Follow the tech etiquette tips below, and you will be a better person for it.
While in public:
According to a Wireless Etiquette Survey conducted by Sprint, 80% of respondents said that other people are less considerate when using cell phones than they were 5 years ago. Keep phone conversations quiet and private. You do not have to scream into your cell phone for the person on the other end to hear you.
Keep your Mp3 player’s volume down to a reasonable level. Just because you think you have good taste in music, does not mean that everyone else around you wants to hear it too.
While interacting with people, such as sales clerks, cashiers, and other people you encounter while out in public, turn off your mobile device or Mp3 player, have the courtesy to remove headsets, earbuds, or whatever is covering your ears, and give that person your undivided attention.
While in a public space such as a movie theater, restaurant, or doctor’s office, have the courtesy to turn your mobile device to vibrate and refrain from holding conversations in close proximity to others. If you must answer a phone call, step out of the public area to do so.
While at work:
Listening to an Mp3 player at work may be allowed by some employers but be sure to keep the volume low. And make sure that you answer your phone and respond to colleagues who drop by your work space.
Always keep your mobile device on vibrate, no matter whether you are sitting at your desk or in a meeting. Nothing is more distracting in the workplace than a loud and inappropriate ring tone. And never answer your cell phone in a meeting unless it is an important business phone call and the person in charge of the meeting is aware that you are going to have to step out to take it.
When sending emails, instant messaging, or texting your business associates, keep in mind that it is a business communication and should be treated as such. Check for spelling and grammar, don’t use techie abbreviations, and make the point as clear and succinct as possible.
When using a headset at work, whether for a mobile device or landline phone, be sure to remove the headset when finished with a conversation. That way, when someone approaches your area, they know whether or not you are available to speak with them.
Tech etiquette is something that we all need to embrace as gadgets become more prevalent in our lives. According to Peter Handal, chairman of Dale Carnegie Training, in an article published in The Christian Science Monitor, “Embrace all the new technologies, but keep focused on the people around you, whether it’s your boss, your co-workers, or your customers. Technology is a great tool to help you get to the people. But even in this wired world, you need to have the personal touch.”
You step onto the bus and sit down with a sigh. It is Monday, and you are not happy about it. You get your book out to read through your morning commute. Two stops later, someone gets on the bus, talking on their cell phone…loudly. You can hear every single word. Or someone gets on the bus with their headphones on. And the music is so loud that it pounds in your ears. You can no longer concentrate on your book. You are frustrated and angry. One person’s lack of tech etiquette can ruin a bus ride for everyone else.
At work, it is even more imperative to have tech etiquette. You are at work to work, interact with fellow employees and customers, and do what needs to be done for your company. If you are constantly answering your cell phone, texting on your BlackBerry, instant messaging, or checking your email, chances are you are not being a very productive employee or courteous co-worker. Follow the tech etiquette tips below, and you will be a better person for it.
While in public:
According to a Wireless Etiquette Survey conducted by Sprint, 80% of respondents said that other people are less considerate when using cell phones than they were 5 years ago. Keep phone conversations quiet and private. You do not have to scream into your cell phone for the person on the other end to hear you.
Keep your Mp3 player’s volume down to a reasonable level. Just because you think you have good taste in music, does not mean that everyone else around you wants to hear it too.
While interacting with people, such as sales clerks, cashiers, and other people you encounter while out in public, turn off your mobile device or Mp3 player, have the courtesy to remove headsets, earbuds, or whatever is covering your ears, and give that person your undivided attention.
While in a public space such as a movie theater, restaurant, or doctor’s office, have the courtesy to turn your mobile device to vibrate and refrain from holding conversations in close proximity to others. If you must answer a phone call, step out of the public area to do so.
While at work:
Listening to an Mp3 player at work may be allowed by some employers but be sure to keep the volume low. And make sure that you answer your phone and respond to colleagues who drop by your work space.
Always keep your mobile device on vibrate, no matter whether you are sitting at your desk or in a meeting. Nothing is more distracting in the workplace than a loud and inappropriate ring tone. And never answer your cell phone in a meeting unless it is an important business phone call and the person in charge of the meeting is aware that you are going to have to step out to take it.
When sending emails, instant messaging, or texting your business associates, keep in mind that it is a business communication and should be treated as such. Check for spelling and grammar, don’t use techie abbreviations, and make the point as clear and succinct as possible.
When using a headset at work, whether for a mobile device or landline phone, be sure to remove the headset when finished with a conversation. That way, when someone approaches your area, they know whether or not you are available to speak with them.
Tech etiquette is something that we all need to embrace as gadgets become more prevalent in our lives. According to Peter Handal, chairman of Dale Carnegie Training, in an article published in The Christian Science Monitor, “Embrace all the new technologies, but keep focused on the people around you, whether it’s your boss, your co-workers, or your customers. Technology is a great tool to help you get to the people. But even in this wired world, you need to have the personal touch.”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A good way to spend your money and be like Stephen Colbert
If Stephen Colbert can do it, so can you:
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - January 12, 2009) - DonorsChoose.org today announced that Stephen Colbert, host of "The Colbert Report," has joined the Board of Directors of DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit website connecting donors with classroom needs in public schools.
"Stephen Colbert has been a longtime supporter of DonorsChoose.org," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. "His on-air advocacy has been directly responsible for more than 60,000 students getting resources they need to learn. We're thrilled that Stephen is now joining our Board of Directors."
"Donorschoose.org allows anyone who wants to help children learn to make a donation directly to a specific classroom," said Stephen Colbert. "As I endeavor to protect our nation from bears, Donorshcoose.org is protecting public school kids from classrooms that lack books, art supplies, technology, and field trips. I'm honored to join the Donorschoose.org Board of Directors -- there aren't any bears on it, right?"
Colbert first partnered with DonorsChoose.org in October of 2007 after announcing his entrance into the South Carolina presidential primary. He urged viewers to donate to South Carolina classroom requests on DonorsChoose.org in lieu of actual donations to his candidacy. Colbert's promotion inspired $68,000 in donations to requests benefitting 17,000 students in South Carolina public schools.
Several months later, Colbert invited supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to do the same. As a lead-up to the Pennsylvania primary, he created a "straw poll that makes a difference," where people could donate to Pennsylvania classroom projects in honor of their favorite candidate. Colbert viewers donated $185,000 to projects reaching 43,000 students in Pennsylvania public schools.
For the last two months, Colbert has given a $100 DonorsChoose.org gift certificate to each guest who appears on his show. The guest can then pick a classroom request on DonorsChoose.org to support. Individuals ranging from Mike Huckabee, to Joe Scarborough, to Bob Lutz have applied this "gift of giving" to classroom projects which compel them.
"DonorsChoose.org is a website where anyone can be an education philanthropist," said former Senator Bill Bradley, who last year joined the organization's Board of Directors. "This model has the potential to unleash the generosity of the American people, and Stephen Colbert could be instrumental in helping us to realize that potential."
DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can pick the projects they want to support. After completing a project, the donor gets photographs and thank-you letters from the classroom he/she chose to help.
To date, 55,000 public school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $26 million of books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 1,625,000 students from low-income families.
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - January 12, 2009) - DonorsChoose.org today announced that Stephen Colbert, host of "The Colbert Report," has joined the Board of Directors of DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit website connecting donors with classroom needs in public schools.
"Stephen Colbert has been a longtime supporter of DonorsChoose.org," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. "His on-air advocacy has been directly responsible for more than 60,000 students getting resources they need to learn. We're thrilled that Stephen is now joining our Board of Directors."
"Donorschoose.org allows anyone who wants to help children learn to make a donation directly to a specific classroom," said Stephen Colbert. "As I endeavor to protect our nation from bears, Donorshcoose.org is protecting public school kids from classrooms that lack books, art supplies, technology, and field trips. I'm honored to join the Donorschoose.org Board of Directors -- there aren't any bears on it, right?"
Colbert first partnered with DonorsChoose.org in October of 2007 after announcing his entrance into the South Carolina presidential primary. He urged viewers to donate to South Carolina classroom requests on DonorsChoose.org in lieu of actual donations to his candidacy. Colbert's promotion inspired $68,000 in donations to requests benefitting 17,000 students in South Carolina public schools.
Several months later, Colbert invited supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to do the same. As a lead-up to the Pennsylvania primary, he created a "straw poll that makes a difference," where people could donate to Pennsylvania classroom projects in honor of their favorite candidate. Colbert viewers donated $185,000 to projects reaching 43,000 students in Pennsylvania public schools.
For the last two months, Colbert has given a $100 DonorsChoose.org gift certificate to each guest who appears on his show. The guest can then pick a classroom request on DonorsChoose.org to support. Individuals ranging from Mike Huckabee, to Joe Scarborough, to Bob Lutz have applied this "gift of giving" to classroom projects which compel them.
"DonorsChoose.org is a website where anyone can be an education philanthropist," said former Senator Bill Bradley, who last year joined the organization's Board of Directors. "This model has the potential to unleash the generosity of the American people, and Stephen Colbert could be instrumental in helping us to realize that potential."
DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can pick the projects they want to support. After completing a project, the donor gets photographs and thank-you letters from the classroom he/she chose to help.
To date, 55,000 public school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $26 million of books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 1,625,000 students from low-income families.
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