rtcaputo's blog

The journey through CSIT was one I did not expect.  I have always known bits and pieces of some of the information given in class.  But, never did I reflect, or know so much, of what was going on in the different facets of computer technology.  My journey through CSIT was one of introspect and retrospect.

I really enjoyed going through the different sectors of study in computers, robotics and processing power were always my favorite areas, that is until I discovered artificial genetic algorithms and how programmers are mapping the process off the brain to create learning computers.  Still, the speed of which processing power improves is still amazing to me, I think because it is the driving force behind all the advances coming out.  It is constantly improving and is a predictable constant.  You can truly see, changes, not in centuries but year to year and major differences in decades.  And robotics will be the tech of the future,  Whether it is in nano form or ‘companions’  there will be a huge sociological and physiological impact in the future.  But the driving force behind these are the two things I mentioned above that I did not even know about, really amazing.

I wish we could have gone  into the different jobs, within the different fields that were explored, a little more.  I felt a little lost in my new knowledge in the different facets of the computer science field.  There were so many different new and exciting fields to explore; I hope I can filter out ones that I could potentially work in.

Overall, I really enjoyed the class and the way it opened my eyes to the world of technology.

I must say I reall y enjoy gaming and have so for many years.  I would have gone into gaming as a career if I would have had more guidence when I was younger when trying to pick career choices.  I enjoy the creation aspect of the gaming world.  I am amazed how far games have come, even games like DOOM, which were amazin at the time and had some of the first “intelligent” enemies in the game.  There was one in particular that was really creapy, I am sure the AI which ran it was probably super basic compared to todays tech, but it would go around behind and while hiding from ou ressurect fallen badies.  With the money involved in this area of technology I can see many of the future techs coming from here. Game companies can afford top talent and with super nerds come super advancements.  I see in the next couple of years, vitual school tutors (MILO) and interactive TV

I find A.I amazing.  To think there is a pretty good chance that in my or my childeren’s lifetime there will be thinking computers.  It seem s so close yet so far away, but with the compounded power advances in computing A.i is very plausible.  It seems that there are already advaces in the form of A.I. simlating the basic types of natural brain activities and simulated “bug inteligence”.  The singularity will be a start or end of humanity and could happen in our lifetime.

http://havemacwillblog.com/2009/02/02/what-will-happen-when-computers-exceed-our-inteligence/

A.I. will certainly not be in the form of mindstorm robots.  I found programing pretty hard with so many outside variables to deal with, it really makes your appriciate what the creators of ASIMO

I have really been thinking about robots in the last week.  I have been interested in robots for a while now and am constantly looking up new developments.  I think it all started about 25 years ago from a strategy game I used to play called Battle Tech (you can still purchase it) where you fight with giant robots piloted by soldiers who neurologically link themselves to the robots as they ride inside.  At the time it was just fantasy, it is hard to believe that as the field robotics advance it could be possible.  I have recently seen robots that can consume biological material to power themselves when out in the environment any type of decaying material from grass to flesh.  Add to this nanotechnology, I simply cannot imagine our future 100 to 1000 years from now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJJQ0zNNOM

http://www.plasticbamboo.com/2006/10/29/hal-exoskeleton-power-suit/

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/07/military-researchers-develop-corpse-eating-robots/

Ironicly this week I recieved this in my email, “SSweet! YYour bootty lookss greeat on tthis video!! Later I found out that the sender was infected by a worm.  The worm had invaded his computer seized control of his email and sent emails to his contact list with a virus link, who knows what what potetial the link had to wreak havoc on machines, due to talking about viruses this week, I was suspicious when I received the first email.  In whole Malware can have a huge impact on todays society.  Degrading the trust in all industies can reduce e-commerce but in turn has created an entire industry to fight them.

Alice looks like a fun little program.  I think the way it allows you to create scenes is a great way to learn.  Being hands on is, for me, the only device that will alow me to learn new skills.  Growing up I wish school pertained to more Alice style learning rather than the sit in you desk and listen type learning so common is schools. 

Randy Pausch the lead creator in Alice was a true believer in my Philosophy in life, acceptance.  Yea can only play the cards you are delt, so true.  It is good that the man was able, in his mind contribute and live out all things he wanted to do in his life before he died, so few are able too.  A good lesson for all who are out there that life is short, make what you can out of it.

I have to say I give alot of respect to early designers and programmers, programming can be quite confusing.  I think the main focus in programming is understanding the order and processes a computer needs to take to create an action.  At some point this ability would become intuitive but as a amature it is near impossible without a scrib sheet.  Funny that the little peudo computer probably wery similar in computing power as some of the first computers.

To build a computer, I would go to http://www.newegg.com/ They seem to have best prices.
Then I would plan out the following, if your going to dream lets dream of speed, I am a gamer so I would want something I could run top end games smoothly.

Case - ATX Tower With Power supply
Motherboard – EVGA 132-BL-E758-TR ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU (with heatsink/fan) -Intel Core i7 870 2.93GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor
RAM – Kingston HyperX 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400)
Graphics/video card – BFG Tech GeForce GTX 285 BFGEGTX2851024OCBE Video Card
Sound card – BFG Tech GeForce GTX 285 BFGEGTX2851024OCBE Video Card
Hard drive(s) Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive
Speakers – JBL SOUNDSTICKSII 2.1 3-Piece Multimedia Speaker System
Keyboard – RAZER Black Wired Lycosa Mirror Special Edition Gaming Keyboard
Mouse – Logitech MX 1100 Black 2.4 GHz Cordless Laser Mouse
Monitor – SAMSUNG ToC T240HD Rose-Black 24″ 5ms Widescreen HDTV Monitor Built in
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM and CD-RW or CD-RW/DVD-ROM
OS – Windows Vista

Start be installing the CPU and heat sink/fan onto the motherboard.  Install the RAM chips into the RAM slots the onto motherboard.  Once you have installed the CPU, fan and RAM chips on your motherboard, the motherboard is assembled and ready to be installed in your computer case.  Install Power supply, link any appropriate cables to the motherboard.  Install the hard drive and cables to power supply and MB (motherbaoard), the same goes for the CD and DVD drives.  Last install sound and video to the PCI and PCI express slots and link cables and power.  After everything is installed power up and do an inspection of all the parts to make sure they are clean and operating, fans spinning lights turning on.  Finally place the CD for Vista into the CD or DVD drive and install the OS. After the OS is operating and the perifials are installed and operating, do a final inspection, close the box, and ENJOY.

It’s amazing to think that everything on a computer is a collection of 1’s and 0’s.  Not only all of the input, but all of the programs that translate input are  1’s and 0’s.  Even what I am writing now, as I write 1’s and 0’s are getting zapped into the computer and activating other 1’s and 0’s to create my thoughts, then other 1’s and 0’s will transport that info to the server where all of you, on your computers will be able to read my 1’s and 0’s with your 1’s and 0’s. 

Amazing!

Hello, I am atempting my first post….(drum roll) here we go!!!!

My Name is Ryan, I am married no children.  I live in Maryville and enjoy exercise , cooking, and video games.  I go to school part time and hopfully with a little time and dedication, I will graduate with an AAS in CS Database.  I currently have an AA and a BS in Management in Technologies and Project Management.

What Fun!!