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YOUR RTC NEWSLETTER RESOURCE

November 2011 Issue 2

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An RTC Newsletter on Information Technology for Fordham University

Welcome! Fordham’s Resident Technology Consultants are proud to present its interactive newsletter, Technically Speaking. Our main goal is to help inform you of the latest IT updates and provide you with useful information on current and popular IT topics.

Fordham News The New Facebook Format How Much Do Fordham Students Mind? By: Austin Thomas FCRH ‘15 Queens Court RTC

For groups ranging from desperate cubicle-bound corporate slaves to library-bound pre-meds, the familiar Facebook interface is an essential comfort--and when everyone’s favorite blue-bannered website changes its layout, it seems like the whole blogosphere world has something to say about it. This time around, Facebook has gleaned “circles” from Google+. Zuckerberg’s baby has been adding features inspired by other sites for some time. Sharp-eyed users may have noticed automated tagging--like Twitter’s hashtags--and a widely-derided change to the chat functionality. Facebook’s push to orient itself as the way people stay in contact online is augmented by a remarkable aloofness, as people have shown that they are unwilling to stop using the site simply because of layout changes. An informal survey of 31 Fordham students showed that only three would stop using the site if

there was a “major redesign” that required them to re-learn fundamentals. Clearly, Facebook has the ability to make changes with no serious worry about losing many users. Small changes to its layout and functionality may draw flak from traditionalists (if one can use the word to describe social-networking site users), but they keep the same site seeming fresh. Some changes are understandable from a business standpoint, such as a desire to reduce server bandwidth usage. Others, like the chat sidebar, seem less well-guided and reduce functionality at the expense of style. Facebook’s designers should remind themselves that they are making a site that will be a means, not an end. IN THIS ISSUE… The New Facebook Format Blackboard Mobile App Back-Up Options Google “Rival Abusing Bully” What’s Next for Nasa? Does Anyone Use QR Codes? Future Green Cars

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Blackboard Mobile App By: Kenny Ducey FCRH ‘15 Martyrs’ Court RTC

Did you know that BlackBoard is available to download for free in the Apple App Store and the Android Market? It’s also available if you have a Blackberry or Palmpowered mobile device. But here’s the catch -you must have Sprint to use the app. If you have Sprint, then you’re in luck. From the application you can view all of your courses and announcements, and even mark some as favorites. Inside your course, you can view everything you usually can on your computer such as course documents, assignments, and the discussion board. You can even download and read files posted in course documents. If you’re on-the-go, you can still check your syllabus and complete a reading assignment, without excuses. If you have a Sprint phone, you should definitely take advantage by downloading this application. It may just help your grades out!

Back-Up Options By: Amanda Buch FCRH ‘14 O’Hare Hall RTC

Computer hard drive back-up becomes increasingly necessary as students opt to store important information digitally. Many students fail to take precautionary actions against data loss including irreplaceable photos, schoolwork, financial documents, and other similar files. The unfortunate reality is that all hard drives will eventually fail. The highly compressed drives used in laptops are more susceptible to failure than those in desktop computers. Other external factors, such as fires, water damage, or theft, can lead to data

loss. Instead of taking a gamble, students should employ a back-up plan that they regularly follow. Options include external hard drives, online storage, and DVDs or CDs. There are many free or inexpensive backup programs for PCs and Macs. Windows comes with a Backup and Restore program that can be accessed under the System and Maintenance folder of the Control Panel. Mac computers come with Time Machine, which can be accessed under System Preferences. For online backup, Fordham students have access to MyFiles on the my.fordham portal page, which provides 2 GB of free storage. By employing a data back-up plan, students will greatly reduce the possibility of losing precious information.

News Google “Rival Abusing Bully” By: Faith Forgione FCRH ʻ14 Finlay Hall RTC

Google is responsible for two thirds of the global search market. The ubiquitous search engine has been accused of being a “rival abusing bully” and is prepping for a hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Anti-Trust Panel. Eric Schmidt, a previous CEO and current liaison to Washington, will testify that Google is not gaining a monopoly on the market. He claims Google is struggling to keep up, thanks to pressures from growing social networking sites and smart phone apps. The Senate believes Google gives preference to its own products which would disadvantage competitors. Schmidt hopes to illuminate the battles Google faces against competitors and “scrapers,” who combine commonly searched words to gain hits for irrelevant sites which damages consumer confidence.

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Whatʼs Next for NASA? By: Dan Downs FCLC ‘13 McMahon Hall RTC

When the Atlantis space shuttle touched down on July 21st, 2011 at the Kennedy Space Center, the era of NASA’s Space Shuttle program came to a close. NASA has found itself relying on the Russian government for human transport to the International Space Station. The Obama Administration made the fateful decision to finally scrap the 30-year-old program after decades of cost overruns and mechanical failures. In recent years, program costs started to skyrocket while the shuttles themselves began to show their age. NASA looks to spend the next few years returning to their roots, focusing instead on unmanned space flight. In particular, NASA looks to spend billions on a series of new robots for exploring Mars. NASA looks to launch the rover Curiosity as part of the Mars Science Laboratory program. It is likely that, for the coming decade, NASA will be strictly devoted to unmanned missions that focus on exploring the cosmos through a purely-scientific lens.

Does Anyone Use QR Codes? By: Travis Duran GSB ‘12 Campbell Hall RTC

In store windows, magazines, and on billboards, you may see a black and white barcode sometimes accompanying text or phrases. They are called QR codes, which stands for "quick response," and were originally created by a subsidiary of Toyota to track shipments of auto parts. QR codes were a powerful tool because they stored more information and were more resistant to wear and tear than standard barcodes. Now, they are used by advertisers to get consumers to visit their sites, view videos,

and to build hype for movies or TV shows. Consumers use smartphones to "scan" QR codes through phone cameras and barcode apps. Do QR codes get consumers to view their content? The companies that utilize QR codes have not been too forthcoming. The global internet information services company, comScore, released its findings from a study done on QR codes which show that QR codes were scanned in the month of June by 6.2% of mobile phone users or 14 million people. Many smartphone users that would scan the QR codes are generally in the 25 to 34 age bracket, which is a very important and tricky age group to advertise towards. QR codes are a rather new technology for advertisers to use, but the above figures show a promising future for companies that utilize them in their marketing campaigns.

Future Green Cars By: Grace Moon GSB ʻ15 Loschert Hall RTC

This year, fuel-efficient, hybrid, green cars are better than ever. Among the new models are the 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Fiat 500, 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and 2011 Lexus CT 200h. The Chevy Volt is an electric car and has the equivalent of a 93 mpg. The other cars listed above have at least an average of 40 mpg. Soon more models using electricity and other types of energy will be available. Many car companies are combining electricity with solar power or using steam-powered vehicles. But, it is very hard for green cars to catch on with consumers. “Plug -in hybrids” are the most caught on green car technology. These cars combine hydrogen and battery power. The evolution of hybrids and environmentally friendly cars continues to improve despite their high cost. It is also extremely difficult to wean an entire country off its addiction, gasoline.

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