When I was in middle school, computer class was spent learning the basics of “keyboarding” and rushing to finish the lesson so I could get back to my journey on the Oregon Trail. My main goal was to survive the river crossings, maintain enough buffalo meat to sustain my family and arrive safely in California with my entire fake family still alive.

Today, many schools are teaching their first graders the basic computer skills I was learning at 13. Teens have always been the quickest adopters of new technology, as parents and teachers struggle to keep up and equip teens to make good decisions online.

When I visited Dunne Technology Academy in South Chicago earlier this week, most of the students were getting ready for their summer break, but we paused for a bit to talk about what they’re doing online. The majority of these tech-savvy teens had all encountered cyberbullying at some point, had seen pictures and information on profiles they thought were inappropriate, and had had someone try to trick them through a phishing scam.

We spent the day discussing ways to avoid being scammed, how to create an online profile that can be an asset rather than a liability, and actions you can take if you’re being bullied, harassed or see inappropriate content. Most students seemed to understand that their online identity and their “real world” self were one and the same, and that they have choices in managing their content and reputation online. We agreed that by applying the rules of good citizenship online, the Internet would be a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone.

So while teens have more difficult choices online today than to ford or to ferry the river in Oregon Trail, we can prepare them to make smart decisions online. Check out the educational materials from our Digital Literacy Tour in our Google For Educators site at www.google.com/educators/digitalliteracy.html.

Posted by Mandy Albanese, Online Safety team

And yet more and more people are doing it. Why people why?!?! Listen, we weren’t meant to be underwater. The fact that our cell walls start to explode and oxygen levels deplete in a few minutes should be half a clue that mother nature didn’t design us to be here. Then again, nature didn’t design us to fly nor sit at the computer blogging all day so I digress. If you love free diving, then you may need the D-eepdive gadget.

There’s two bits to this setup. Both are wristwatches but one monitors the state of the free diver – the one plunging head first into the abyss on a single breath. The other device receives information about free diver so should he/she suffer from hypoxia and suddenly faint (apparently very common in this extreme sport), the safety or control diver can save the day. The whole thing works via Bluetooth and nanotechnology. Don’t ask me how – the designer doesn’t really explain other than suggesting the chip inside each device requires nanotech to work.

Designers: Murat Ozveri & Anil Dincer For Design Quadro

Physicians treating patients with shock should consider norepinephrine instead of dopamine as a tool for stabilizing blood pressure, according to an editorial in the March 4, 2010, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

A new study helps dispel mounting confusion over the safety of blockbuster anemia drugs – erythropoiesis-stimulating agents – for people with kidney disease requiring dialysis, as federal regulators prepare to decide whether to impose additional restrictions on their use.

Concept cars are like unicorns — they’re so prevalent and vaporous, they’re hardly worth remarking upon. Every so often, though, one pops out into the ether that’s really worth a second look. Lotus’ Evora 414E Hybrid concept certainly fits into that category.This plug-in car boasts (or would boast, should it come into existence), 1.2 liter, three-cylinder engine, independent electric motors for the rear wheels, with a range of about 300 miles. The glass engine cover pictured above, however, is just one of the features we find ourselves double-taking here. The Evora 414E would also pack some ‘vroom vroom’ noises by way of its audio system to take care of the ever-pressing danger of silent auto engines. The engine can operate on alcohol-based fuels or regular old gasoline, and the battery-only range is in the neighborhood of 35 miles. The Lotus Evora 414E hybrid will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

Lotus outs wild Evora 414E Hybrid plug-in concept car originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Gizmag  | Email this | Comments