more about power!

Previously I have mentioned solar power, its benefits, and how it works.  However, I wanted to go into more detail about future energy alternatives in addition to, and in comparison to, solar power.  Wind power is one of the most promising alternative sources of energy today.  Wind energy is becoming increasingly popular and, according to altenergy.org, if a household used wind generated electricity for 25 percent of it’s needs, that household would only need to spend about $4- $5 per month for that energy.  And as time passes and technology progresses, that cost is dropping.  Offshore wind has the potential to produce even more energy at a cheaper price than most other energy, because of the speed of offshore wind.  Wind is a very promising source of energy for the future because wind is an unlimited resource and wind is somewhat easy to convert into energy.  In my opinion, wind is a great option for the future as an alternative to fossil fuel produced energy.   Ethanol is another talked about alternative source of energy.  This is the conversion of corn and other foodstuff into energy in order to power our lives.  However, there is a difficulty converting these resources into energy, and there is a limited supply, unlike sun or wind.  While this is a nice idea, I believe that solar power and wind power are much more practical sources of energy for the future.  Hydrogen power is another much talked about means of energy production.  Hydrogen is a completely clean burning fuel, however, in my opinion, hydrogen is not an efficient form of alternative energy.  Hydrogen production on a large scale has proven to be very difficult and it takes much energy to produce this energy source, which sort of defeats the purpose.  Again, while this is a nice idea, I do not think that it is a realistic alternative for energy production in the future.  While ideas for alternative energy are being though of every day, I believe that solar energy is the future.  Although the initial setup has a high cost, as technology improves, this will continue to decrease, and the infinite amount of sunlight can provide our world with the energy we need to continue our hectic and high consuming lifestyles.  Solar power is also a sustainable option, not depleting any of the earth’s resources to harm the lives of future generations.  I think the most important thing about energy today is to be aware of your energy use.  By doing little things everyday, we can significantly cut down on our energy consumption.  Whether that is turning off the lights when we leave a room, or riding our bike a few blocks instead of driving, this can make a huge difference.  Because our energy seems to be unending, wasting it does not seem like a big deal, but if we keep in mind that energy is not a bottomless resource, and spread awareness of energy consumption, I think that we can make a difference for our future and future generations.

Solar Power!

Solar power. It seems like such a simple concept. Taking something that we have an unlimited supply of and using it to run our world.  Solar power is the transformation of sunlight to electricity in order to power our lives.  Solar conversion transfers large amounts of light into a small beam. Commercial solar power plants came about in the 1980’s.   One of the largest power plants in the world is in the Mojave Desert.  The possibilities with the conversion of solar energy into power are very promising.  As our lives require more and more power, it is becoming more and more clear that resources such as oil are limited and not easily accessible.  And as people are trying to develop alternative forms of energy, it is also becoming apparent that many other forms of energy are either limited or hard to obtain or create.  The one major problem that many people see with the implementation of solar energy is the cost of integrating solar energy into our world.  However, as technology progresses and viable alternatives become more and more limited, more production of solar panels will begin and in the future this method of power will be more accessible to the general public.  I also think that growing up learning about peak oil and the limits of our current energy production methods have better equipped our generation then previous generations.  At Santa Clara University, we are very conscious of the environment and effects of our actions on the future of our world.  Santa Clara University’s students work very hard producing a project every other year to enter in the solar decathlon, working towards a better future for us all.   I believe that solar energy is a very viable option for the future.  While many others are trying to create or utilize other untapped energy sources, many other options take more work to produce than they put out.  Solar panels are becoming more and more popular and widespread.  In thinking about the future, sustainability is becoming a more pressing matter.  Although I am not going to buy a house for a few years, I am thinking about how I would like to implement technology such as solar panels into my life in order to provide energy stability as well as an environmentally friendly and efficient way to power my life.  While the main issue that many individuals and companies have with solar energy is the cost of setting up the system, the future savings are huge.  And these savings are not only monetary, but environmental and long term.  I truly think that we can have a remarkable future with solar energy incorporated into our world.  It will provide a pretty much unending means of power.  Solar power is not only a way to improve our future energy supply, but also our future state of mind.  The sun makes us happy, gives us a tan, provides us with light, and brightens our world.  As a society, we need to accept that if we take the steps now, the sun can brighten our future, too! 

my media diet

In recording my media consumption for the last week, I am more aware than ever just how dependent I am on technology for everything in my life.  The most apparent media source that I use is my cell phone.  I use it so much everyday that I don’t even realize it.  One day this week, my phone was broken.  I had to take it into the store to get it fixed and after checking it out they said they would do a software update.  They told me it would take about a half hour so I could just wait.  I sat down and immediately went to pull out my phone to text someone, or check my facebook, or surf the internet.  When I realized that I did not have my phone to occupy me for the small amount of time, I freaked out a little bit.  I am so reliant on my phone that without it I could hardly function.  After a half hour, they told me that it would actually take about an hour and a half more, so I could leave my phone and come back in a bit.  I drove home, feeling naked and when I got home, I immediately turned on the tv and opened up my computer.  I had only been without my phone for only a few minutes and I felt so disconnected from the world.  This instance really made me take a look at how dependent I am on media.  I am on the my computer constantly.  The internet is always there and ready for me to look up any little thing that I need to. This past fall, I was studying abroad on Semester at Sea.  For the 108 days, we were allotted 120 internet minutes each.  Besides our assigned email, that is all the internet we got.  That alone was a very different experience for me.  We also didn’t have tv and most people did not have working cell phones.  Luckily, I had an international plan, so my phone worked in the middle of the ocean, but in using the internet on my phone as my primary internet source, I realized how much I rely on the internet and technological media.  I am always consuming media, whether it be googling something I want to know more about or reading the latest celebrity gossip on perezhilton.com.  And as much as I depend on media, I know so many people my age who rely even more on media than me.  I think that may be one of the things that shocks me most, with all the media I consume, so many others consume even more than me.  I think that being aware of my media intake is the first step.  I do not think that more or less is better or worse, but I do think that in being aware of my media usage, I can more efficiently consume my media in my day to day life.  This activity alone has been a great eye opener and Ihope to keep in mind my media consumption in the future.

technology and social interaction

While I believe that technology holds infinite possibilities to improve life as we know it, I do think that it has had and continues to have a negative impact on personal interaction and relationships.  I think that the widespread use of technological communication has cut down on face to face communication.  Because we can shoot a quick text or send a facebook message to someone to tell them something, we cut out important face to face interaction which is an important part of any personal relationship.  Also, with the use of technology, I believe there is a depersonalization of relationships.  Because we cannot see the person on the receiving end of a computer or cell phone, people are less likely to realize the importance of a message they are sending.  This can lead to the breakdown of a personal relationship or even cyber bullying.  Because the bully does not have to face the consequences of their actions on the other end of the computer, it separates one’s actions from their consequences.  Also, another aspect of technology that affects communication is the element of anonymity.  Because one can be anonymous more easily on the internet, people do not have to take as much responsibility for their actions online.  Because of this, people are more likely to speak out in hurtful ways which they would not necessarily do if they were in a face to face situation.  I think that technology and the internet enable humans to limit face to face interaction which I think is not a very good thing.  As humans we thrive on companionship and human interactions so I think that taking this technology to the extreme could be unhealthy.  However, I think the key to technology is moderation,  and when used in moderation, the advancements of today can be very helpful to everyday life.  As for meeting people online, I realize that my first reaction is not exactly fair.  I would say that I myself would never meet someone online, but with the success of sites such as match.com and eharmony, I realize that it is unfair to judge internet meetings.  While I am hesitant to support it because there are many crazy strangers out there on the internet, I know there are many normal people out there too.  Knowing that these internet sites have brought so many people together successfully proves that although there may be drawbacks to meeting people on the internet, there are many benefits and it enables people to connect with others that they would otherwise maybe not had the opportunity to meet.  While I do think that technology can be a useful tool, I think that the emphasis of relationships must remain on the real life interaction.  While technology makes it easier to meet people or communicate with others who are far away, I do not think that you can have a relationship without face to face interaction.  Therefore, while technology can supplement human interaction, I do not think it can take its place.

Social Networking and Privacy

Social Networking is a huge part of life in 2011.  Almost everyone I know uses, Facebook, twitter, or some other social networking mechanism.  Although I use Facebook, I have put a lot of thought into my Facebook use.  I realize that I spend a lot of my time messing around online as a distraction from homework or other tasks I need to do.  Although for many people my age, the point of Facebook is to be able to stay connected to people, I have found that the people I do talk to on Facebook for the most part are the same people I call and text and see everyday also.  I have considered deleting my Facebook because I do waste time because of it, but while I’m in college I think I need to have one.  As a student at SCU, I receive messages from the school, from classes, and from dance team through Facebook, so at this point it would be very impractical for me to delete my account.  However, I have thought about deleting my Facebook after I graduate from college in 2012 and I think I may.  Another thing I do not like about social networking sites is that the line between our personal lives and what information we are putting out for the world to see becomes almost obsolete.  By posting a status or a picture, we are basically allowing the entire world to see, but because we do not see the people on the other end, it does not seem as serious.  While I do think the technology of social networking has major benefits, I think we need to keep in mind just how public things that we post are.  The benefits are not always apparent, but when I am Facebooking my friend studying abroad in Spain, I am reminded just how beneficial it can be.  The privacy issues are the greatest concern for me.  I always try to have my Facebook account on the most private settings, but sometimes there are settings that I don’t know about. This got especially scary when a man began stalking me and then found my Facebook account and contacted me that way also.  As for the rest of the social networking sites and programs, I have no desire to get involved because that only serves as another channel where my privacy could be invaded.  One exception to this rule I believe is celebrities.  Celebrities are really bound to have their privacy invaded, so social networking channels such as twitter give them a place to set the record straight and let the truth, or their version of the truth, be known.  All in all, I think social networking has many benefits, but I think it is important for users to keep in mind the drawbacks also.  If everyone is careful in their social networking usage, I think the benefits can definitely outweigh the possible harm that can come with it.  As long as everyone understands the seriousness of their actions on a social networking site, the benefits and technology are a fantastic addition to our everyday lives.