by Pulak Mittal on April 23, 2013
I love education. My parents instilled in me a deep love of learning and a thirst for knowledge from a young age. That interest has manifested itself in a number of ways. I have been a teaching assistant at Penn for the last 5 semesters, interned at the edtech company, Piazza, after my freshman summer, and now I am working on an edtech startup with a friend at Penn.
Some of the new companies/platforms I’m particularly excited about include Coursera and Khan Academy. How is the world going to be different when anyone with an Internet connection can receive an education comparable to or better than what students receive at 99% of the world’s universities? Picture it – currently thousands of professors around the country teach the same Physics 101, Econ 101, and World History 101 every semester. Many of these professors are hired for their research, not their teaching ability. What could we do if instead students were able to listen to online lectures by the best lecturer for every subject they were taking? And what if they could do that from their home rather than having to pay (tens of) thousands of dollars per semester at a university?
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by Modis on April 22, 2013
With big data comes big consequences. Today’s gadgets, data storage systems, and cloud computing powerhouses are changing the world. From healthcare to banking and online media, information moves at lightning speed.
Yes, IT aficionados, technology is revolutionizing life as you know it — but at what costs? Your MacBook Pros, statistical programming processes, and beautiful Retina displays are all emitting CO2. It adds up. In September 2011, Google reported its annual emissions at 1.5 million tons.
Even if you’re a data mastermind, it’s probably impossible for you to grasp that magnitude of waste — and rightfully so. Don’t hide from the facts, though— put your data hat on and approach this topic like your most complex business questions. The following pointers will help…
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by Modis on April 19, 2013
Hate Doing Laundry? LG Can Fix That.
Washing clothes uses a lot of resources, namely water. Fortunately, LG Electronics has a solution to this dilemma. Although currently under wraps, LG has plans to reveal a washing machine that can wash clothes without the use of water. Whether the machine will be actually waterless, or use so little water to qualify as being “virtually waterless” remains to be seen. The LG Styler model of washing machine can currently freshen up your clothes without using any water, but this new machine takes the concept to new heights. Whether you are a traditional laundry washing purist, or a smart electronic purveyor–LG is offering something to watch for anyone interested in greener living while having cutting edge technology at their disposal.
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by Modis on April 16, 2013
Regardless of what sector of the IT industry you work in, having a professional-looking work blog or website can be a great way to show off your resume and skill set. A well-designed site can also make it easier for you to connect with potential employers and network with industry colleagues. Every killer work blog needs a few key ingredients to maximize its effectiveness…
Regularly updated, compelling content - Building web traffic for your site brings many eyeballs to your resume, but you won’t get much traction with a creaky old site. To attract readers and the attention of industry peers, you have to keep your blog regularly updated with fresh, interesting content that keeps people coming back. Writing humorous opinion pieces, helpful how-to articles, and advice columns that tie into your job and skill sets are all great ways to accomplish this goal.
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by Modis on April 12, 2013
PC Sales Plummet: The Culprit? Windows 8.
IDC reported the sharpest plunge in PC sales for decades last quarter. The blame lands squarely on the shoulders of Microsoft and Windows 8. While Windows 8 tries to mimic the look and feel of a tablet, it often leaves even traditional PC users confused. Instead of being able to access popular PC features such as a Start menu, users rely on the popular tablet feature of tiles–to navigate their PC. IDC notes that they have suggested Windows 8 offer an option to set a “traditional” desktop, but Microsoft refuses to do so.
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by Modis on April 9, 2013
The Internet is a cool place full of expanding opportunities and cutting edge technology. For many folks in the IT world and beyond, it allows us the freedom to work outside of the nine-to-five slog and tackle many unique and fulfilling jobs without ever having to set foot in a stuffy office setting. Working remotely can be an exhilarating way to make a living, but it also has its downsides too.
From battling loneliness to squashing boredom, here are some tips on how to shake up the grind and stay fresh, sane, and productive in any work-from-home position:
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