October 29, 2009 / 6:10 p.m.
Posted by Alden Chiu,
University of Austin Student
Imagine you're on a routine trip to the grocery store: you park, shop and leave only to find your car and Spunky, the family Pomeranian, missing.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)'s Uniform Crime Reports, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States every 26.4 seconds. In addition, 1,095,769 motor vehicles were reported stolen in 2007.
A similar even happened to a woman in the South Valley, except in this case, she was robbed at gunpoint. Thanks to OnStar's new Stolen Vehicle Slowdown feature, the 100 mph pursuit was ended quickly and no one was hurt.
After OnStar pinpointed the location of the stolen vehicle, they waited for police to catch up. Then, they remotely put the vehicle to a complete stop. The robber ran, fell in a pool, and was arrested. Not the getaway he imagined I'm sure. With much success, this was the first time that the technology was implemented in real time.
This automated vehicle slowdown feature that OnStar is equipping in new 2009/2010 vehicles will undoubtedly help minimize traffic accidents, high speed pursuits, grand theft auto, and other automobile safety issues.
It’s not hard to imagine that this event will, if not already, spur a huge PR effort for the company.
If this technology gains more popularity in the future, it’s not hard to imagine that privacy issues may arise. Questions may surface as to what kind of conditions and or situations this technology can be implemented. I, on the other hand, believe that if you are a law-abiding citizen, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
Obviously, this automated slowdown system has usefulness to both public and private industries, but which holds more precedence and are both able to coexist?
Personally, I believe law and government bodies will have more usefulness for this sort of technology in the long run. The two can exist together, but I would not be surprised if lawsuits arise in the dawning popularity this type of technology.
Let me know what you all think.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Mini Cooper Billboards
October 22, 2009 / 6:08 pm
Posted by Alden Chiu
Public Relations Student at the University of Texas at Austin
Nonetheless, these radio frequency identification billboards customize messages depending on who drives under them. For example, if I happen to drive under one on September 26, it will wish me a happy birthday and deliberately make my day. These are only a few of the customized messages that Mini has so ingeniously created.
One might ask: How do they know so all this stuff?!
Well the answer lies in a volunteer survey that you filled out when you bought your Mini. More information can be found at the New York Times article on such surveys.
If there was any way in hell I would voluntarily let someone attach a radio frequency identification device to my car, and let them know my location at all times, Mini has discovered that way.
Its cute, its fun, and it leaves a warm feeling in your stomach.
Posted by Alden Chiu
Public Relations Student at the University of Texas at Austin
If you happen to be in San Francisco, New York, Miami or Chicago, then you might have seen the new Mini Cooper radio frequency identification billboards. Mini Cooper created a campaign to promote brand image with new, and more importantly, existing customers.
Mini Cooper always surprises me with their advertisements and campaigns. This is probably due to the creativity and fun that they always blend into the mix. From magazines ads to crazy billboards, I strangely enough find myself looking especially for their advertisements.
Mini Cooper always surprises me with their advertisements and campaigns. This is probably due to the creativity and fun that they always blend into the mix. From magazines ads to crazy billboards, I strangely enough find myself looking especially for their advertisements.
Nonetheless, these radio frequency identification billboards customize messages depending on who drives under them. For example, if I happen to drive under one on September 26, it will wish me a happy birthday and deliberately make my day. These are only a few of the customized messages that Mini has so ingeniously created.
One might ask: How do they know so all this stuff?!Well the answer lies in a volunteer survey that you filled out when you bought your Mini. More information can be found at the New York Times article on such surveys.
If there was any way in hell I would voluntarily let someone attach a radio frequency identification device to my car, and let them know my location at all times, Mini has discovered that way.
Its cute, its fun, and it leaves a warm feeling in your stomach.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Future of Virtual Worlds
October 15, 2010/ 1:15 p.m.
Posted by Alden Chiu
Student at the University of Texas at Austin
Hopefully everyone has at least heard about the new and largest virtual world called Second Life.
This massive 3D world has accomplished so much since its creation on June 23, 2003.
Second Life has become a new channel or medium used by companies and organizations to communicate with a variety of different publics, it has become a playing field for cybersex, it has taken long strides in alternative education and so much more!
My question is how far is too far? It seems as if this rapid progression is blurring the lines of reality and imagination.
Just to help paint a better picture: The University of Texas at Austin has spent over $250,000 on Second Life "virtual land." Personally, that sounds a bit ridiculous to me granted that virtual land is in fact, virtually endless. Where are the lines drawn between real estate and virtual real estate?
Lets escalate: Ailin Graef was reported by Business Week and other sources as the first person to reportedly become a real-world millionaire from her virtual-world business. She has done this by buying, developing and selling virtual real estate.
As reported by Second Life, user-to-user transactions increased 54% since 2007 and were valued at approximately 361 million US dollars.
Another topic in virtual worlds is sex. Sex is all over Second Life and the extent at which people go to have it puzzles me further. Default avatars do not have genitalia, so you have to purchase it with real money. You can buy toys, costumes, gadgets and more to help fulfill virtual sexual fantasies.
There are actual brothels owned by real people - basically conducting businesses and generating real revenue.
"The sex is a sign that the virtual world is robust and thriving," said Philip Rosedale, founder and CEO of Linden Lab, the company that develops and operates Second Life.
I will leave this discussion with a question: What kind of possibilities will arise in the future in regards to virtual worlds? How will it affect us in 10 - 20 years?
Posted by Alden Chiu
Student at the University of Texas at Austin
Hopefully everyone has at least heard about the new and largest virtual world called Second Life.
This massive 3D world has accomplished so much since its creation on June 23, 2003.
Second Life has become a new channel or medium used by companies and organizations to communicate with a variety of different publics, it has become a playing field for cybersex, it has taken long strides in alternative education and so much more!
My question is how far is too far? It seems as if this rapid progression is blurring the lines of reality and imagination.
Just to help paint a better picture: The University of Texas at Austin has spent over $250,000 on Second Life "virtual land." Personally, that sounds a bit ridiculous to me granted that virtual land is in fact, virtually endless. Where are the lines drawn between real estate and virtual real estate?
Lets escalate: Ailin Graef was reported by Business Week and other sources as the first person to reportedly become a real-world millionaire from her virtual-world business. She has done this by buying, developing and selling virtual real estate.
As reported by Second Life, user-to-user transactions increased 54% since 2007 and were valued at approximately 361 million US dollars.
Another topic in virtual worlds is sex. Sex is all over Second Life and the extent at which people go to have it puzzles me further. Default avatars do not have genitalia, so you have to purchase it with real money. You can buy toys, costumes, gadgets and more to help fulfill virtual sexual fantasies.
There are actual brothels owned by real people - basically conducting businesses and generating real revenue.
"The sex is a sign that the virtual world is robust and thriving," said Philip Rosedale, founder and CEO of Linden Lab, the company that develops and operates Second Life.
I will leave this discussion with a question: What kind of possibilities will arise in the future in regards to virtual worlds? How will it affect us in 10 - 20 years?
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