Autopilot Vehicle/ Emerging Technology Tetrad

The autopilot vehicles are predicted to be available by 2015. Vehicles are expected to be equipped to drive themselves at least part of the time with the help of on-board computers, GPS satellite navigation, and sensors, lasers and video cameras that will detect other objects around them. However, most experts say that people will generally want to retain control for some aspects of driving and manual options will still be included in vehicles (Thornburg, 2008).


The attached tetrad answers the following questions:

• Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?
This technology allows drivers to relax and let the car do the work. The auto pilot vehicle enhances the person’s driving experience by allowing the driver to have the vehicle custom made to fit lifestyle and needs. For example a sales person could have the car set up like an office and remain productive while stuck in traffic.

• Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?
This technology will make large gas guzzling SUVs’ obsolete and the same interior design. The owner has a choice of a smaller more compact vehicle that takes up less space. Also an owner would be able to change the interior of the car to fit their mood. I guess the interior could be bright and cheery to wake up a driver or interior could be more mellow when going out on the town,

• Retrieves/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
The idea of saving the environment by using a smaller vehicle similar to a Volkswagen beetle. The feature of changing the color of the interior according the owner’s mood reminds me of the mood ring, which change colors as a person’s mood did.

• Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
The autopilot vehicle might cause people to have an interest in an alternative mode of transportation. This invention would cause people to expand their way of thinking and become involved in new emerging technology.

Reference:
Thornburg, D. (2008). Emerging technologies and McLuhan’s Laws of Media, Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/14936/CRS-WUEDU8812-3730077emerging.technologies.and.nclehan’s.laws.of.media.pdf

Emerged Technology

The Electronic book is a current technology that has emerged as a non-linear book that contains text, graphics, self-running and interactive animations, everything the instructor would want to enhance the lectures and elaborate on every topic in the course. It is structured into 10 units of study linked by a main menu. Each unit stands alone and contains several screens. Each screen introduces a topic and delivers information using interactive animations. For example, one unit includes Introduction to Measurement and Evaluation: concepts, examples of assessment, and case scenarios for critical analysis. In this section the students are presented with a set of questions; by clicking on the questions a pop-up window will open allowing the students to compare their responses with the right answers (Horizon Report 2010).

However like all electronic devices Kindle an electronic book by Amazon has its share of problems. Sometimes you find that the Kindle screen is frozen and none of the buttons work. The most common reasons for this behavior are the battery runs too low or too many buttons are pushed one after another thus interfering with its memory.

Students have to pay a lot for books and many do not buy a books so they coast along throughout the course without one. Students sell their books and get very little for them, yet they are sold as used with a higher price than the students received.

The societal need met is electronic books will solve problems by allowing students to use the book for class without a high cost. Studnets will not have to coast through a class or share a book with someone else. Students can collaborate easier with other students through highlighting important sections from class lectures. Students can share margin notes with classmates via e-mail.
This technology can be even better and the pitfalls can be avoided by the continuation of research and testing to improve the electronic books from freezing and batteries that have a longer life.

References
Marsh, J (2009). How to troubleshoot a frozen Amazon kindle. Retrieved June 17, 2010 from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1684480/how_to_troubleshoot_a_frozen_amazon.html?cat=15
Horizon Report 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010 from http://wp.ncm.org/horizon2010/chapters/technologies