Crowd-sourced Sign Language Dictionary

A cofounder at a company called ShuR, Junto Ohki has developed the world's first crowd-sourced online dictionary for language, SLinto. The purpose of this project is to assist us create the world where communication is made much more simple and easier for sign language speakers. This project is extremely interesting for me as a sign language speaker. In this project, the crowed-sourced online dictionary for sign language attracts signers allows the capacity of uploading unlimited information like new signs for new words and slang to the archive. With the information, hearing people able to find a sign for a word with the keyboard that shows a video clip of the sign. Because of the IT technology we have, more accessibility and opportunity are provided for us to share and increase our knowledge.    

Small things lead big issues

Currently, our personal information have been shared for useful purpose widely in network, and the war between hacker and security have continued. From the book, The Cuckoo's Egg, even something small like a 75 cent accounting error lead to bigger problems. The accounting error of this 75 cent from a small computer lab led to the tracking of cheating behavior. In our lives, sometimes small amount of money like one dollar is charged from unknown person or company in our banks. We have had a tendency to ignore it, but it would lead to a great issue that our personal information including social security number could be misused with the stolen bank account from unethical behavior. It's time to protect with firm shields from arrows of hackers. Three things make our shields get stronger. First, we must use highly secured passwords using capital letters, numbers and other symbols for our computer systems. Second, we must keep logs of important information to back-track information against cheating behavior. Third, we must be sensitive with small errors on our computers. The error might show the warning of being hacked or something serious. It's time to apply three things to protect our personal information in order to feel safe and happy about using computer.

Women can do anything!

Currently, most women felt hesitate to participate in computer science program with two main reasons. One reason is that they don't want to be judged as "tom boy" or "geek" easily because they have to play with boy toy, computer in this program. Another reason is that they might feel overwhelmed with excessive requirements of willingness to think and confidence to press forward through trivial problems. However, women can do anything! Women and men are equal, and women have capabilities to accomplish things men do. Just women need to feel supportive from faculties and classmates because the way to encourage oneself between women and men is different and unique. If supposing both men and women have a unsolvable bug in a coding project, men have a tendency to have a flippant response of the small failure and press forward to next project. On the other hand, women may feel discouraged or disappointed with the failure because their hearts are easily hurt. It does not mean that women are weak. Women's heart is sensitive enough to be able to be thought of others and helpful for those who need. It's beautiful. Men don't have the kind of heart. More women will feel free to participate in computer science program when faculties and classmates show more friendly and supportive for them to work as team to survive in this program.  

Let's teach kids to code

Most of us think that only smart children can learn the coding, but Michael Bloomberg provided a tool on website called Scratch for them to learn the coding effectively through making games, Mother's day cards, etc. He stated that coding would enable them to develop not only skills of thinking creatively, reasoning systematically, working collaboratively, but also the way to express their ideas and feelings in their lives. Currently, young people are very comfortable and familiar browsing and chatting and texting and gaming. However, they have not developed the way of creativity or expression with new technologies. From my experience, I loved playing games when I was a kid. While playing, I made up cool ideas and visions of game. However, I had no idea how to express my ideas and visions with new technologies. I wish the website, Scratch was released in those days, so that I could have learned the way to express my idea. As developing new technologies always, it's best opportunity for children learn the coding. Why don't you show the website, Scratch to your children? http://www.ted.com/talks/mitch_resnick_let_s_teach_kids_to_code.html

We need 21 billion hours of game play every week for a better world

One positive opinion about online gaming was found after my research. Jane McGonigal stated that gaming can make a better world.  The epic story that happened 2,500 years ago she shared was interesting. A cool game controller was designed from sheep's knuckles. In those days, ancient people played dice with sheep's knuckles as a controller. The dice game was invented in the kingdom of Lydia during a time of famine, and Greek historian Herodotus invented the game and helped people forget their hungers caused from famine. It is true. In my experience, I could forget the pain feelings or stress from being broken up with my ex-girlfriend after playing a game. Gaming can help us not obsessed with our negative feelings.

Also, she shared another cool fact that gamers are learning the way to survive in the real world when the oil runs out. They are playing the game called "World Without Oil." The game gives them real-time news, videos, data feeds that show them exactly how much oil costs, what's not available, how food supply is being affected, etc. It's quite interesting, and such a simulation gaming can help us how to cooperate with people and prepare for the future disaster. 

She shared many other positive facts about the online gaming. If you are interested in, you should read it! Please let me know what do you think about the article. Agree or disagree?

http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html