Conrad Wolfram talks about the use of computer in our education on mathematics. He says that we are wasting our time trying to "calculate" which computers can do easily. He shows how the real math in this world is used in much more diverse settings and problem solvings, whereas the math we teach in schools are far more about calculation. The crucial steps he explains is that we have to be smart about using technology and not waste time solving problems by hand.
He also answers popular controversy where people say solving by hand is beneficial. However it is relatively smaller compared to what we really need to know for real world math.
Questions: How did we discover technologies that can do things we can't ever do better or faster? (A whole new mind, where he says that we have to find a job that no one and nothing can do faster or cheaper)
I think our education system should have a variety of real world teachings. Although we are learning the basics, we should be outside more often, actually discovering the world, not sitting in a classroom doing some math problems.
One word: imagination
-we need to think in terms of the big picture of the world. We shouldn't just look at the short term gaining and loss, but also consider the long term effects. And to do that, we need to use our imagination.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
[TED] David Bismark: E-voting
David Bismark speaks about the fraud that wrongdoings that happen during elections. He says that there always is something that goes wrong in an election, especially if it is a country-wide, large one.
He says that the voters have rights to 'verify' their votes, and find out if their votes were counted correctly, while still keeping the votes a secret.
He says, switching around the names of candidates on the ballot form and then shredding the half that has the name on will do the job. The other side with choices will get scanned by its own barcode, and that way no one know who the person voted for, yet it can be checked by going online.
I think it is a very good idea, since many things are already done online. If a safe voting system takes over the traditional type and possibly work better, it would prevent fraud and miscounting that can lead to bigger issues.
The question I had was what if the person loses the encripted vote sheet? Also, what is someone had to find out about the vote? Could it possibly become a problem that cannot be solved?
The word I chose was honesty. Nowaways, people cannot even trust the government who is supposed to protect its citizens and now election methods are starting to be questioned for its effectiveness. When will this world become an honest society?
He says that the voters have rights to 'verify' their votes, and find out if their votes were counted correctly, while still keeping the votes a secret.
He says, switching around the names of candidates on the ballot form and then shredding the half that has the name on will do the job. The other side with choices will get scanned by its own barcode, and that way no one know who the person voted for, yet it can be checked by going online.
I think it is a very good idea, since many things are already done online. If a safe voting system takes over the traditional type and possibly work better, it would prevent fraud and miscounting that can lead to bigger issues.
The question I had was what if the person loses the encripted vote sheet? Also, what is someone had to find out about the vote? Could it possibly become a problem that cannot be solved?
The word I chose was honesty. Nowaways, people cannot even trust the government who is supposed to protect its citizens and now election methods are starting to be questioned for its effectiveness. When will this world become an honest society?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
[TED] Poverty, money, and love - Jessica Jackley
1. Summary
She talks about the natural sympathy people feel towards the poors, and her experience from Africa. She is honest about how she felt, and what she saw. She says that she found out that it is best for them to have control over their own lives, instead of having others do all work for them and feel bad. Small details that started changing in their lives touched her and changed her view towards the poors. She explains how those people have 'stories' and how a loan is different from donations and the importance of on-going actions.
2. Question
It isn't much of a question, but :
Why is it that our world is divided so clearly into the relatively wealthy people and the poors? Why couldn't we have shared the wealth?
3. How it changed me
I've heard about Kiva at school, and how people get to support themselves by starting their own small business. I think Kiva is a very interesting program that will not only help the people in poverty, but also change the idea of the poors that people have.
4. One word
together : things get easier when done with others' help. It is much more meaningful and effective; people should work together and cooperate to change the world.
She talks about the natural sympathy people feel towards the poors, and her experience from Africa. She is honest about how she felt, and what she saw. She says that she found out that it is best for them to have control over their own lives, instead of having others do all work for them and feel bad. Small details that started changing in their lives touched her and changed her view towards the poors. She explains how those people have 'stories' and how a loan is different from donations and the importance of on-going actions.
2. Question
It isn't much of a question, but :
Why is it that our world is divided so clearly into the relatively wealthy people and the poors? Why couldn't we have shared the wealth?
3. How it changed me
I've heard about Kiva at school, and how people get to support themselves by starting their own small business. I think Kiva is a very interesting program that will not only help the people in poverty, but also change the idea of the poors that people have.
4. One word
together : things get easier when done with others' help. It is much more meaningful and effective; people should work together and cooperate to change the world.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
[TED] Bonnie Bassler - how bacteria "talk"
Interesting facts:
10 times bacterial cells than body cells
100 times bacterial genes than human genes
we are 90~95% bacterial.
Bacteria provide us with invisible armour, they digest our food, they make vitamins, and they educate our immune system. Some bacteria are very harmful, that if they ever get in or on human body, they will cause serious diseases.
One cool example she explained with the chemical communication of bacteria was a Hawaiian squid that uses bacteria for light in order to stay safe from its predators.
The bacteria uses its receptor that works like lock and key to communicate. They make chemical words and others will recognize the words, so that they can work in a group.
How I should change: I always thought bacteria are bad and harmful. After watching this video, I have a better understanding of the importance of bacteria. Maybe I shouldn't be so grossed out about them anymore~
A question I have is, is there any way to create a multicellular living organism with bacteria? And also, can we decipher their chemical language?
One word:
significance - most people think bacteria are useless or even harmful. However it is important to find significance in even small things like bacteria.
10 times bacterial cells than body cells
100 times bacterial genes than human genes
we are 90~95% bacterial.
Bacteria provide us with invisible armour, they digest our food, they make vitamins, and they educate our immune system. Some bacteria are very harmful, that if they ever get in or on human body, they will cause serious diseases.
One cool example she explained with the chemical communication of bacteria was a Hawaiian squid that uses bacteria for light in order to stay safe from its predators.
The bacteria uses its receptor that works like lock and key to communicate. They make chemical words and others will recognize the words, so that they can work in a group.
How I should change: I always thought bacteria are bad and harmful. After watching this video, I have a better understanding of the importance of bacteria. Maybe I shouldn't be so grossed out about them anymore~
A question I have is, is there any way to create a multicellular living organism with bacteria? And also, can we decipher their chemical language?
One word:
significance - most people think bacteria are useless or even harmful. However it is important to find significance in even small things like bacteria.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
[TED] Jessa Gamble: Our natural sleep cycle
In this video, Jessa Gamble talks about our sleeping cycle.
She says that without any artificial light, people sleep twice a night, once from 8pm-12am and another 2am-sunrise.
Two questions I have are: What determines the natural sleeping cycle of a person?
Is sleeping cycle genetically inherited?
One word to describe this would be: endless - everything works in a cycle, even our sleeping periods. Nothing ends, all it is is a cycle that comes back to the start.
She says that without any artificial light, people sleep twice a night, once from 8pm-12am and another 2am-sunrise.
Two questions I have are: What determines the natural sleeping cycle of a person?
Is sleeping cycle genetically inherited?
One word to describe this would be: endless - everything works in a cycle, even our sleeping periods. Nothing ends, all it is is a cycle that comes back to the start.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
[TED] Patricia Burchat
http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_burchat_leads_a_search_for_dark_energy.html
1. Brief description
Patricia Burchat studies the structrue and distribution of dark matter and dark energy. She talks about the existence of dark energy that we cannot see. According to what she says, the mass of clusters of galaxies are much bigger than they can account for; therefore, the dark matter around the galaxies is what make up the most of the weight. She explains the 'cone shape' of ray of light that observers see when the ray from a galaxy is bent by the dark matter. She introduces the Einstein's ring (3D shape of the rays coming into the observer's eyes or a telescope).
2. How it changed me
To be honest, I'm ALWAYS overwhelmed by how interesting and mysterious the universe it. It always comes to be as a shock, and this one was no different. I feel like I am this small little particle who has no effect on the universe.
3. One question
How did Einstein find out all these equations and come up with theories with much less technology? If he could do it, why isn't the process of discovery speeding up as more advanced technology is invented?
4. One word of expression
Extreme - we are billions of years apart from those galaxies. Everything and anything in the "dark" side of universe is massive and big. It's all about big scale and big ideas.
1. Brief description
Patricia Burchat studies the structrue and distribution of dark matter and dark energy. She talks about the existence of dark energy that we cannot see. According to what she says, the mass of clusters of galaxies are much bigger than they can account for; therefore, the dark matter around the galaxies is what make up the most of the weight. She explains the 'cone shape' of ray of light that observers see when the ray from a galaxy is bent by the dark matter. She introduces the Einstein's ring (3D shape of the rays coming into the observer's eyes or a telescope).
2. How it changed me
To be honest, I'm ALWAYS overwhelmed by how interesting and mysterious the universe it. It always comes to be as a shock, and this one was no different. I feel like I am this small little particle who has no effect on the universe.
3. One question
How did Einstein find out all these equations and come up with theories with much less technology? If he could do it, why isn't the process of discovery speeding up as more advanced technology is invented?
4. One word of expression
Extreme - we are billions of years apart from those galaxies. Everything and anything in the "dark" side of universe is massive and big. It's all about big scale and big ideas.
Friday, October 1, 2010
[TED]
1. 1 video every thursday
2. how it changed me
3. one question
4. one or two quotes
5. one word of expression
2. how it changed me
3. one question
4. one or two quotes
5. one word of expression
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