Interactive Web Idea

Being a hunter and firearm enthusiast, I would like to see a web app or program that would allow a person to attend a firearm or hunter safety class online, like we do here, but you would also attend via chat and video conference. During these classes you are required to go over the basics of firearm safety by using a real, unloaded gun. If the person had access to a gun, via another licensed person in the house, then they could use the video conferencing to their advantage. However, if they did not have access to a gun, then they would have to show up in person to the training facility and perform the handling steps in front of the instructor. Then at the end of the class people would be given their exams and they would have to move the correct answer into a box at the bottom of the question or page. At the end, the program would tally the score and tell you if you passed or failed. The test scores would be held until a person without the video conferencing capability could make an appointment with the instructor to go over the safety procedures in person. You could even go one step farther and the information could be sent to the local licensing authorities and it could be used in determining if you get a license or not. I would like to thank the people that provided their input and I would also like to say, Thanks for a great semester!

jQuery and Interactive Web Pages

This week I used jQuery to create a game of Tic Tac Toe on my web page. I have to admit that I had tons of fun doing this! I always thought that those cool little games that people put on their site or you search for online just to pass the time were really cool and very addicting. I had wondered what went into making a quick and simple game like that. Well, I have my answer! I think most of these people were using jQuery to create them. I was amazed at how easy it was to put together, once I watched the videos of course! But, I had a blast creating the game and playing it. A few of my co-workers did as well as I got them to play and they soon became addicted! I also noticed that and was a little surprised that the coding structure of jQuery was very similar to what I was doing in my C-Programming so it was very easy to understand what was going on in the program and how each command related to another. So, to sum it up, ten weeks went by way too fast and I learned a lot more than I ever imagined. This class left me pleasantly surprised and I'm very excited that I can now use this knowledge in work. I have already made some changes to a few of our websites in work and the reviews have been great so far! I look forward to doing a lot more and getting more experience with this. I would like to wish everyone best of luck in the future and it was great to work and connect with all of you. Hopefully, our paths will cross again!

Interactive VMware App

As I mentioned on the forum this week. I would like to see an web app created by VMware or another company that would allow me to monitor my VMware environment from anywhere. Currently I can only perform maintenance and monitoring from my desk at work or by logging in with VPN from home. I would love to have an application that I could access on my phone so I could connect to it from anywhere. The application would also allow me to contact VMware support if I came across an issue that I could not fix on my own. They would be able to download information right from my phone. I would be able to perform maintenance and resource adjustments on the fly and I would know the environment's status every second. I know that this wouldn't apply to everyone but for those of you that have used VMware and administer it, an app like this would be a great addition to my book of tricks!

jQuery

Using jQuery this week was very interesting. I would always wonder how you could move certain objects and play around with websites. I think that I found the answer. I don't know how I would implement it. I'm sure that I could find some usefulness for it on on of my work websites but I will need more time to explore and read up on it. I've been pressed for time this week due to a final but I now have a little bit more time to look into it. It was a fun activity this week! I enjoyed it.

Interactive Website

My idea is a re-hash of my web app/site that I proposed in my blog during Week 6. I've actually started taking the steps to possibly making it a reality!

The site would be mostly informational in nature, it would contain hunting and fishing spots all over the country. It would also link with Google Maps and Google Earth so users could upload coordinates of spots that people should check out. It would also allow users to download the GPS coordinates so they can get to these areas. Users would also be able to post updates and recommendations in regards to gear, weather and ground conditions. Hunting or fishing guides and lodges as well as hotels and rental shops in the area could advertise and allow you book online either through my site or by clicking on the link and visting each site individually. This would also connect the user to sites such as Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas in order to order gear online. THe site could also pot reatime information from to major manufacturers in order to obtain information on new products or safety recalls.

However, the most important part of the site would let users view the different state laws and safety regulatons in regards to hunting, fishing, boating, and gun ownersip and transportation. Along with rules and regulations postings, this would also link you to each states' website and would allow you to easily view and purchase hunting and fishing licenses in each state. It would also have a section to link to sites such as the NRA or GOAL (Gun Owners Action League) which would allow users to become members of those organizations or simply use the sites for tips and safety information. Training sites and groups could also advertise and sessions could be booked online. Hunting, Shooting and Fishing clubs in each state could also be listed to provide information or a user could apply ot become a member.

I've also added another section which would make this an even more interactive webite. Ther would be a FAQ section as well as blogs and chats that would be update in real time. These sections would allo users to post up to the minute reviews, news and conditions. But most importantly, the site would have a section where you could get answers to your questions while you are in the field or on the boat. You could use a web app for an iPhone or Android phone or have a laptop with you. Post your question and have it answered by a professional. For example, I just caught a fish and brought him to the boat. But I think I'm real close to the Canadian border, I know the boat drifted a little with the current, and I'm not sure if I caught the fish in the US or Canada and I only have a New York fishing license (this is a real situation faced by many people fishing up on the St. Lawrence River in New York; me included) You could ask the question and send your GPS coordinates to the site. In seconds you would have a response from a game warden or the like telling you if the fish has been caught illegally or not. Or something like, I'm not sure if the plant I just touched is poison oak or sumac. You could send a photo in with the question and be totally relieved that the plant is just a fern or something alot less itchy!!! But most importantly, you would be able to send a distress call and park rangers, police or the Coast Guard would be able to reach your position quickly.

I know there is alot that needs to be done to make this site a reality but I think I might give it a try!!! I think that this website could be very useful to those who enjoy the outdoors as much as I do.

Using JavaScript

This week for our assignments we had to use JavaScript. I have to say that I'm really surprised by the outcome. I had never really realized how much can be accomplished using JavaScript. I had always wondered how forms and buttons worked together in order to gather and recognize information from someone. It was very easy to work with and I was amazed at how easy it was to get something up and running. I may look into a Java Script class as my final IT elective. If I enjoy using JavaScript as muc as I use HTML. It is certainly a possibility. I think that it is great to now have the ability to add feedback forms but you can now change the buttons and have them react to each individual's answer. I know we are getting close to the end of the semester but I hope we get to use it a few more times. I also enjoyed getting feedback from everyone and I would like to thank everyone that commented on my page.

Thanks again!!

Quitting IT?

So, during my daily reading of Techrepublic.com articles, I came across one that sparked my interest. The title of the article is: "10 Reasons for Quitting IT." I read through the article and began to think of my individual situation and how many of these points that I encounter on a daily basis. The thing is, even though I experience alot of this stuff, I don't think the I will ever quit IT. I know some people out there will think I sound nuts! But, honestly, I enjoy my job. Yes, I wish I was making alot more money, we all do, but I enjoy the challenge and troubleshooting that I'm presented with everyday. I think it has to do with the fact that, as a kid, I would take apart anything and try to figure out what made it work. My parents hated that!! I don't know how many toys were bought for me that I destroyed! And, yes I may be seen as both hero and villain but I really do enjoy helping out people with their problems. I enjoy and take pride in bringing a smile to a person's face. I enjoy the different kinds of technology that I learn about and interact with on a daily basis. I know that at some point I will have to stop but for the moment, unless something major happens or I win the lottery, I think I will be staying in IT.

What do you think?

You can find the article

here

Creating Feedback Forms

I thought that the assignment this week was really interesting. I always wondered how forms like this were created. Now I know! I thought using JotForm was really easy. Just drag and drop...you're done. But I learned from my classmates that there is a limitation as to how many forms you can submit. I think that they should allow you an unlimited number of submissions considering they are allowing you to use their site for free. Hopefully, they will fix this issue in the future. If not, we can always create our own forms!! Or there may be another kind of software out there to take care of the job. I also enjoyed getting feedback from everyone, it was great to hear that people enjoyed my site and I am going to make some changes based on some of the feedback. I would like to thank everyone for giving me some feedback. This was a great assignment and I can't wait to see what's next.

New Web Application Idea

So, my idea may not appeal to some of the people in this class but I'm sure that there are many people out there who would like to see it become a reality. I hope that I don't offend anyone with the content I'm proposing but I would love if a site and app like this existed. Especially for a guy like me that enjoys the outdoors so much!!

My idea for a web app would be infromational in nature, it would contain hunting and fishing spots all over the country. It would also link with Google Maps and Google Earth so users could upload coordinates of spots that people should check out. It would also allow users to download the GPS coordinates so they can get to these areas. Users would also be able to post updates and recommendations in regards to gear, weather and ground conditions and if there are any lodges or hotels in the area. This would also connect the user to sites such as Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas in order to order gear online.

However, the most important part of the site would let users view the different state laws and safety regulatons in regards to hunting, fishing, boating, and gun ownersip and transportation. Along with rules and regulations postings, this would also link you to each states' website and would allow you to easily view and purchase hunting and fishing licenses in whatever state you wanted. It would also have a section to link to sites such as the NRA or GOAL (Gun Owners Action League) which would allow users to become members of those organizations or simply use the sites for tips and safety information. Training sites and groups could also advertize and sessions could be booked online through here. I could also link to shooting or fishing clubs in each state. Also, fishing and hunting charters could be searched and booked from here as well.

This would also link to major manufacturers which would allow them to post information on new products or safety recalls.

So, like I said, not for everyone but I know that I am one of the people that could find a site or app like this to be very useful.

Web Application Experiences

As a summary of this week's forum, I have to say that I've enjoyed looking at each of the web apps that people have suggested. I use Flickr and Evernote but, I can't wait to try Animoto, the app that Mike Palmer suggested. I watched the trailers and was amazed at what it can do. You can take pictures and turn into little mini-movies or movie previews. It's incredible! The best part is that I can use Flickr to easy access my pictures in order to start playing around and create some trailers. I'm am extremely happy that most of these apps exist. Alot of them have made my life much easier. I continue to sing the praises of Evernote, it is the one web app that icannot do without. I am very happy that someone came up with an idea such as this, I wish it was me!! We've all had an idea that we couldn't remember when we got home. Now, you can record it as soon as you think it and access it from anywhere. You can even take pictures of drawings from meetings or post a picture of a bottle of wine you had for dinner and enjoyed so much that you want to go out and buy it. The possibilities are endless. I really hope that some of you try it! I can't wait to try Animoto!!

If you want to try it for yourself the Evernote website is:

https://www.evernote.com

Geek Sins

I came across this article and since we can post whatever we want this week, I thought that I would put this one up for some laughs. Also, one of the "sins" pertains to one of our midterm questions! I thought we could have a friendly argument in regards to if we should change some of these around or add more to the list. So, how many "sins" have you committed??

See the list


here

The End of an Era

February 24th marked beginning of the last space shuttle flight in NASA history. Discovery lifted off for an 11 day mission to the International Space Station and when it lands, Mission STS-133 will be the shuttle fleets' last. I can remember back to when all I wanted to be was an astronaut. I would get my hands on all the books and pictures that I could. When I was in elementary school, we had a question an answer session with astronauts that were aboard Atlantis at the time. They even had it coordinated that astronaut ice cream and food was brought in for us to taste. I still eat the ice cream today!!! But I have to admit, I don't know how they even had the stomach to eat freeze dried pizza, not the best I've ever tasted! My dad even went to school with an astronaut, Charles Precourt. I got to meet him during on of my dad's high school reunions and I couldn't stop asking him questions! He must have really gotten tired of me that night but he never let it show, he was very friendly and courteous. So, after a little reminiscing, I am going to miss seeing those shuttles take off and land. And to be honest, if I had the money, I would love to take a ride on one into space. Also, I can't wait to see what they come up with next and I'm hope I'm around to see it!

Here is a

link

to some pictures of Shuttle Discovery over the years.

Famous Computers

As I was reading one of my favorite articles, "Geekend" from Tech Republic this week. I thought that this would make for a good and fun conversation. "Geekend" listed famous computers from movies and TV. Some, I agreed with and some I did not. Including Sid 6.7 from the movie Virtuosity being left out! Anyway, I thought this would be a fun argument to post to everyone.

What do you think?

Take a look at the original article
here

Sprucing up my Web Page

Before this class started, I was always wondering how people created web sites... even simple ones. Now, after going through the notes this week and sprucing up my page a little bit. I see that it's not soo bad. Granted that most sites have alot more going on, I was very interested how I could make my site a little more pleasing to the eye. I have to say the I was very pleased with the results and I'm looking forward to what the rest of this class brings and am curious to see what the final product of my page will look like. I changed the background to match every page from a stark white to a more eye-pleasing beige. The headings got a font make-over and I changed the color of the font for each section. All in all, I am very happy with my changes. I can't wait to see what else is in store for the class. Also, I can't believe that we are already half way done!!

Facebook and Employment

I wanted to use my second post this week to get some opinions from everyone. Since we are talking about Facebook and social networking in general, I would like to bring up a very recent court case.

That is the case of the ambulance driver in Connecticut that posted remarks about her boss and was fired. The National Labor Relations Board ruled that a company cannot fire an employee that complains on Facebook. Also according to the article, " The issue at hand was that the company’s Internet posting policy was too broad. Legal experts are recommending that companies who don’t want to be in this same boat should have wording that specifies disciplinary action if the postings related to the company are discriminatory, abusive, insulting, or false."

I think that we will see these cases more and more in the futture and I just wanted to see what people thought about it.

You can read the orginal article from Tech Republic
here



There is also an update of the case being settled and that can be found
here

Internet and Communication

The Internet has definitely brought us closer together. We can now stay in contact with family or friends that are located pretty much anywhere in the world. Everyone is pretty much a text, email, tweet or post away. Skype has also allowed us to not only speak with anyone but to see them as well, as long as you have a webcam. But, I also think that friendship is not what it once was. I think today that it doesn’t mean as much since we can be “friends” with hundreds or thousands of people through Facebook or MySpace. Because of the Internet and the social networks, I think we are getting a lot more impersonal and taking the “easy way” out of sending an email or text to a person instead of calling them or showing up for a visit. I think the emotion has been taken out of communication. You used to be able to hear the tone of a person’s voice and know that they were upset or happy and you would react to that. Now, a person expresses their feelings using emoticons such as =) or = ( or use shorthand like “GR8” or “BRB.” I may be a little old fashioned when it comes to this but I think it has to do with the fact that I grew up before cell phones and before computers were in almost every home. I would write letters or cards and send them to my family and they would respond with a letter back or a phone call to the house and you would visit as many people as you could when you had the chance. I’m also a person that doesn’t feel the need to tweet or update my status constantly on Twitter or Facebook. To me, it just doesn’t make sense to let everyone on my list know what I’m doing every 5 minutes. Again, call me old fashioned but I would rather talk to someone face to face and let them know how I’m doing instead of doing so electronically. I would rather go on vacation and shut my phone off… and I usually do! I tell my coworkers, in a nice way, that when I’m on vacation I’m not answering my phone or emails. If they leave a voice mail, I’ll listen to it and respond if necessary. I don’t mean to sound like a jerk it’s just that I remember before all of this stuff was introduced it was different. We went outside and played with our friends instead of playing multiplayer games online through XBOX Live or the Playstation network. I may seem a little cynical but I don’t want to come across that way. I do embrace the Internet and Technology, I’m in the IT field!, but I just wish that we could get some of that face-to face communication back. Unfortunately, I don’t think that is the way we are going.
I think that we are empowered by the anonymity of e-mail as well. I know I’ve sent emails in the past that I’ve regretted and I can’t count how many times that I’ve forwarded the wrong email to the wrong people. However, I think that many people don’t see it as a big deal anymore. You cannot always tell the tone of an email and it leaves you to wonder what a person’s intent is and simply send back an email without a second thought. I know I’m guilty of it. I also think that we will continue to see the impact these social networks will have on political and social unrest. The most recent example would be Egypt. People were trying to get their opinions out and heard by people all over the world, they were doing that and the Egyptian government found out; they simply shut off Internet access to their country to try and make a point. There was such uproar about it that the government restored access the next day. The social networks give people an outlet for their feelings and opinions even when it is illegal to do so in their respective countries. The social networks and the Internet have made the world smaller than ever before.

VM Blog

As a VMware Certified Professional that uses VMware on a constant basis in work. I am constantly looking at the newest trends, products and troubleshooting articles. Aside from using VMware's website and tech blog. I find this one very helpful. vmblog.com is a great source for information that I cannot always find using a simple Bing or Google search. I also find that some of the posts are more in-depth and descriptive then some of the articles posted on VMware's own site. So, if you want to stay current with the latest new, products and issues that face virtualization or you just want to learn a little more about virtualization in general, I would recommend vmblog.com

Embedding images in my blog

Here is a picture of my favorite guitar: An ESP Ken Lawrence Custom Explorer

Embedding Videos In My Blog

Mr.T - I'm the T in IT

A little cheesy but it should give the IT people in the group a little chuckle!

Internet and the Media

The Internet has affected media outlets such as TV and the movie industry.  We can access any TV station or show from anywhere in the world.  All we need is an Internet connection and that connection can be provided by a PC, Smartphone or iPad/tablet.  The movie industry, more precisely, movie rentals have seen a dramatic shift in sales.  As soon as Netflix came out, rental stores, such as Blockbuster, began to feel the pressure as more and more people decided to get a Netflix account and stop paying late fees.  Now you are seeing competition between Netflix and Redbox.  Blockbuster has a subscription service of their own to battle Netflix but Blockbuster only joined in on the tail end of the craze and still filed for bankruptcy because they could not keep up with Netflix.  But what has also made Netflix even more accessible is the fact that Netflix is now available directly through cable boxes and video game systems.  I remember a time, before DVDs, when all you could do to watch a movie that you missed in the theater was to go to a rent it and that was one VHS tape!!  The Internet has made movies and TV way more accessible than it used to be.  However, we still face piracy of movies.  People can illegally download pirated movies online as well.  So, the Internet has broadened the reach of TV and movies but we still have to deal with the reality of illegal downloads and piracy.  Today, the Internet has us constantly connected to almost every facet of media and society.

Week 1 Blog

Being a state employee, I decided that I would approach how the Internet has helped the government. The Internet has allowed citizens to access parts of local and federal government that were once only available in the library, in hard copy. You can now view the state budget as soon as it is released. Also, different branches of the government have embraced the Internet and technology to allow people easier access to their services. For example, you can renew your car registration and your license on the RMV website. Granted you can only renew your license once every 10 years online because they require a new picture every 10 years but there is less time now spent in line at the RMV. The website for my agency allows Assistant District Attorneys to view and download case files, view an expert witness database as well as view and download forms that were previously unavailable to them. I discovered that in the past if they wanted these forms, they were mailed out. Also, on the Federal level you can fill out a passport form and print it out before you go to the post office. You still have to pay for it at the post office but there are now fewer steps involved. Granted there have been issues with access or a server going down but for the most part the Internet has allowed citizens to view the government in a way that they couldn’t before. There is now an ease of access that did not exist previously.

Interesting Article

I was reading this article form Network World during my lunch hour at work.  I found it very interesting and amazing that the Egyptian government would go to such lengths just to stop civil uprising.  Imagine if this were ever to play out in the US?!

Not only was it interesting to read, I thought it was appropriate to blog about it in our Internet class.  There is also a link to the history of the Internet under the heading "History Lesson."

Here is the link for it Egypt Cuts Links to the Internet

Logging into my blog using the URL

I was able to view my blog by entering my blog url http://tprendy2187.blogspot.com into the address bar.  I can also sign in and out from account that way as well.

Singing into and out of my blog

It's easy to log in and out of my blog!

I went to blogger.com and signed in and out using my user credentials.  Piece of cake!!

Expectations

I would like to really learn a lot more about the internet. I've used the internet for as long as I can remember.  I use it to shop, check emails and read up on the latest local and sports news. I also use the Internet regularly as a search tool in work.  I don't know where I would be without Google or Bing.  I've solved more problems by searching it!  I know the Internet has much more to it and I'm hoping to learn more in depth what it's about.  This is also my first exposure to creating pages using HTML so I'm very interested in that as well.

This is the first blog that I've ever created for myself.  I usually read hockey, hunting and fishing blogs; but mostly for information, I have never contributed to one. The most presence I have online is probably an email address, a Facebook page and the sites that I shop at.  I'm also one of those people on Facebook that is only friends with people I know.  I know it sounds funny but I don't have 1,000 friends like my nieces do.  I like to keep my information close and I really don't update my page at all.  I use it more for keeping in touch with friends and family.  I use the email option of Facebook more than the comment section.  I actually stay in touch with family and friends by phone as well.  I'm one of those old fashioned people that values the technology we have but I also like to hear a human voice once in a while.   

So, I'm looking forward to learn more about the internet and what it has to offer that I don't really don't know about.  I'm sure it has many more layers that I'm not aware of.

Adding Images to my Post

This image is taken from a lake in Canada.  I think that it's a great representation of ice hockey's roots.  The game was born outside in the ice and snow.  What better way to enjoy it!  You and a group of your friends playing hockey outside.  I would do it for hours when I was a kid, I still play hockey outside at a rink near my house.  I enjoy playing and watching the game but nothing beats playing the game you love in it's original environment.  Every time I skate outside, I still feel like I'm 8 years old.  It's amazing!!

I got the image here.

More Links to Other Sites

Here is a list of a couple of links that I would like to share.  These sites are just a few of the many that I visit for news, information, shopping, etc...


Click here to visit the National Hockey League website.

Tech Republic is a site that I use very often to get IT news and information; it also provides a laugh or two.  Click here to take a look.

I use the website for Bass Pro Shops for most of my outfitting for outdoor activities.  I love going to the store in Foxboro at Patriot Place, I can spend hours in there!!

Link to Other Sites

I'm starting to create links to other sites!

Click here to go to my neighbor's blog.  This is a link to Kevin's blog.


Here's a hyperlink to annunziato.org; which is where I learned to create them

Tom's Intro

Hello everyone,

My name is Tom, and I'm halfway through with my BS in IT here at UML! It's hard to believe how fast the time is going but I'm enjoying it.  I expect to graduate in the Spring of 2012.

I live in Belmont, MA (about 10 miles west of Boston) with my wife Jillian. I work currently as a Systems Engineer for the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association. We provide training and business technology to the 11 District Attorney Offices. During my off time I enjoy the outdoors. Those activities range from fishing, hunting, hiking, and golf. I am also a hockey fanatic!! The Boston Bruins are my favorite team.  It's been a little crazy juggling work and school.  But, I'm having fun and I can't wait to feel the relief when I graduate!

I think I know my way around the Internet pretty well, I use it daily as a tool for work, but this will be my first experience with creating HTML documents. I'm looking forward to it and I think this is going to be fun! I look forward to meeting everyone and interacting with all of you.