BBB Fun Feature: Awesome Printers

Our group decided to feature our top three favorite printers and make a brochure about it!  They are the inkless printer, the memjet printer and the 3D printer! They are so cool! They can print pages efficiently without lag. Read more about each of them by clicking on the brochure above and zooming in. 

Whoever invented these printers are insanely gifted. Sure, printers have been around for a while, but these printer innovators have improved the printing industry by a mile through its resourcefulness (inkless printer), efficiency (memjet printer) and tech-saviness (3D printer). Because of these printers, printers have a wider range of function--they print not only words and images that communicates but also more innovations that inspire.

BBB Fact Feature: From Coffee Makers to Inkjets

What would life be if we couldn’t print anything from our computer? 

Despite the HUGE advancement we experience because of the Internet and the web, we will still be writing everything down manually on paper, making everything pretty useless without the printer. Yes it’s true that people now a days are starting to go paperless, but WHY couldn’t we go to it even before?  Well, if your going to think about it, it’s because a lot of people still prefer to read on paper compared to a computer and maybe because papers are light and more compact compared to a laptop. It would be quite ridiculous to bring a laptop with you every time just to let someone read something. Don’t you think?

The inkjet, has actually pretty interesting history. While inkjet is often normally associated to Hewlett Packard, there actually a company in Japan who was also trying to invent such technology during that time - Canon. In the year 1867, William Thompson, invented and was given a patent for an apparatus called “Receiving or Recording Instruments for Electrical Telegraphers.” This printing apparatus uses electrostatic force to drop ink on paper. However, it prints things messily and expensively as well. The innovation behind the inkjet was quite simple. The problem the old inkjets were facing was solved by 2 factors: first, an improvement in the print head which could be control accurately; and second, engineers  found out that using heat can help to control the flow of ink better than vibration.

The development of the inkjet was attributed to Hewlett Packard, specifically to a researcher named John Vaught. Having a picture of what an ideal inkjet should look like,  Vaught  and his team built a print head that could spit ink rapidly without clogging. The inspiration behind the development was the coffee percolator.

 (Hewlett Packard from Google Images)

The widespread use of colour in computing during the mid-1990s changed everything. Just as Mr. Vaught had planned, adding colour capability to inkjets was the next logical step. Print heads with complementary colours of magenta, cyan and yellow were added to black ink, enabling printers to create a full range of colours. More specialised photo printers have also added various shades of the primary colours to produce ever more faithful reproductions. “We essentially took all the work of craftsmen in a printshop and put it in algorithms,” says John Meyer, a director at HP's laboratories. As computers became ever faster, those algorithms allowed prints to become sharper and ever more vibrant.

Today, the inkjet is no longer a cheap substitute for a laser printer, but a graphics machine in its own right. The average print head now contains more than 300 nozzles and is capable of producing images with a resolution of at least 1,200 by 1,200 dots per inch—more than the eye can resolve. The average machine can now fire ink at a blinding 14,000 dots per second, depositing more than 1m drops of ink on a square inch of paper. Most of the development work is now going into creating durable, light-fast inks to prevent pictures from fading. Meanwhile, new software is helping to produce clearer pictures by controlling the printing pixel by pixel.

Ultimately, the development of the inkjet printer underscores how lateral thinking can yield remarkably simple solutions to complex problems. Both Mr. Endo and Mr. Vaught, who have shared numerous industry awards in recognition of their accomplishments, displayed dogged determination and belief in their inventions, despite much internal resistance. But in doing so, they revolutionised the computer business and brought colour to people's lives.

References:
The Economist (2002): "Spitting Image". Economist.com. 

http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~scotch/innovation/inventing_injet.htm

Blog Entry#7: Mark Zuckerberg

Innovator of the Week: Mark Zuckerberg
Known as: the founder of Facebook
Know him as: The guy who got a movie based on him

 

(Mark Zuckerberg, from Google images)

1. Somethings you may not know

You've heard of him as the founder of Facebook. You might have imagined him as another computer geek... but his background in life is much more than that.

At an early age, he already started making computer programs. His father taught him basic programming and the young boy developed several programs. He was a computer genius. During his high school years, he developed a program called Synapse Media Player which uses A.I. to learn about the user's listening habits.¹ Microsoft and AOL tried to buy the program and recruit Zuckerberg but he refused and decided to go to Harvard. He knows several languages: French, Latin, Hebrew, to name some, and loves literature. You better remove that geek image because he was quite sporty. He was actually a fencing star and was the captain in his team.²

Now, Zuckerberg claims the spot of being the youngest billionaire at 2008.

2. The Social Network: what's true and what's not?

Last 2010, "The Social Network" came out. It's a dramatized movie based on Zuckerberg and how Facebook came to be. Some of you may be wondering whether Zuckerberg really stole that idea from someone else or not.

Well, according to David Kirkpatrick, author of The Faceobok Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World, only 40% of the movie was true.³ Though unspecified according to an article whether it's the school or the Zuckerberg's group, they possessed "Face Books" which had faces of all who lived in student dormitories.⁴ Using this, he made a website. The website where it presented two faces and selecting one who looked better was indeed true.⁵ This online activity became extremely popular that it became difficult to surf the Internet in the university.

Another website he made was a website called Course Match which displayed the courses of dormers so that they could have study groups.⁶ A simple, yet is a very relevant and helpful idea for students. We can see here Zuckerberg's ingenuity despite the simplicity of the idea.

After the Face Book debacle, the students wanted the university to develop a website that displays the pictures and contact details of students living in the dormitories. Zuckerberg heard of this demand and, according to Arie Hasit (one of Zuckerberg's roommates), decided that if the university would not respond to the demands, he will.⁷ More than that, he would even make it better. And so he did. Facebook is used by millions of users today and is one of the leading social networks. It may have been an odd idea to make a movie based on a social networking site, but this goes to show the success of Facebook and of Zuckerberg. Moreover, the film was successful in itself.

Zuckerberg wittingly took the opportunity at hand. With his expertise, he developed something very successful, popular, and useful, much unique to the older social networking sites. He didn't steal an idea. He only responded to what was in demand and pushed it even further by adding all sorts of varieties making it his. There is difficulty in innovation in a sense that anybody can top your ideas in a flash. What we can learn here is that we are already at an age where there are many information or things we can tap into. We just need to combine elements, functions, or ideas to form something new. This is innovation at its simplest form: taking what's already present and forming something fresh.

-----------------
Sources:


¹ "Machine Learning and MP3s - Slashdot." Slashdot: News for Nerds, Stuff That Matters. Web. 26 July 2011.


² Heffernan, Virginia. "Looking for the Real Mark Zuckerberg - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 10 Dec. 2010. Web. 26 Jul. 2011.

³ News, Finlo Rohrer BBC. "BBC News - Is the Facebook Movie the Truth about Mark Zuckerberg?" BBC - Homepage. Web. 26 July 2011. .


⁴ Grimland, Guy. "Facebook Founder's Roommate Recounts Creation of Internet Giant - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News." Israel News - Haaretz Israeli News Source. 05 Oct. 2009. Web. 26 July. 2011.


⁵ Ibid.


⁶ Ibid.


⁷ Ibid.

Blog Entry#6: Wii: Living the Fantasy

(Wii from Google Images)

Remember a time when you wish you could live out a fantasy? Like doing what the hero of the game you’re playing is undergoing? Well, that time is now long gone. Since the creation of the Wii by Nintendo, we are all one step closer to living in a world of make-believe.

A few years back, we’ve all witnessed the frequent mentions of Sony and its new innovations in news all around. Back then, it was evident that Sony was boss, while Microsoft and Nintendo struggled to follow suit.

However, come 2006, that all changed because of Nintendo’s launch of Wii.

Because of its ground-breaking wireless controls, its universal games for all ages, and its comparatively affordable price, the Nintendo Wii is one of the innovative crazes that changed the world of gaming.

First, the ground-breaking wireless controls is an innovation in itself. Nintendo revised the traditional gaming controller into what looks like a short, chubby, wireless remote control. This Wii Remote, which is usually paired with another odd-shaped controller called the nunchuck, has some kind of sensor so it knows where a person is aiming it, how fast the person is moving it, and other information. With these kinds of controllers, people can immerse themselves and be the character of the game by moving themselves in order to move their virtual character. Because of the intense interactivity involved, we believe that this is the ultimate precursor to the mainstreaming of virtual reality.

Aside from the ground-breaking wireless controls, another innovation about the wii is how Nintendo was able to target and bring together different kinds of people—the young, the old, the gamer and the nongamer—through its universal games. Aside from the usual, intense graphic fantasy games that hard-core gamers usually play, the Wii offers games for the ordinary non-gamer. Such games include the Wii Sports, an interactive game wherein users can play (and we mean really play—not just press buttons) mainline sports like tennis, boxing, etc, and the Wii Music wherein users can learn how to play instruments and jam with friends. Because of such games like Wii Sports and Wii Music, the Wii actually develops one’s skills and talents. Who would have thought that video games can make us more productive? Really, Nintendo made sure that we could integrate our lifestyle into a virtual world and at the same time, bring personal experience into technology.

Lastly, another wonder about the Wii is its affordable price. Wii can go for as low as P16,500 or less. With all the interactive revolution and personal experience that the Wii brought into our real life, who would have thought that it would cost even less than other gaming machines? Surely, there must be some marketing magic involved that we do not know about. Anyhow, we’re not complaining. But one thing we do know is that it’s not about how much labor or capital you can get to create a grand endeavor such as the Wii, it’s about how much ideas and imagination you can have to turn fantasy into reality. Nintendo showed us that.

Blog Entry #5: Steve Jobs

(Steve Jobs from Google Images)

Innovator of the Week: Steve Jobs

Known as: the founder of Apple

Know him as: the father of the "i" Generation

Steve Jobs is the ultimate “comeback kid.” After getting booted out of the very company he founded, we can only guess how he was watching when his company began failing without him. But when he was called to come back, we can only be dumfounded by the sheer relentlessness-slash-genius-slash-magic that his leadership and vision worked to propel the company not just back to its feet, but to the top of the very industry. Our generation, in particular, felt the impact of his return through our Mac Books, our iPhones, our iPads and of course, our iPods which all somehow instigated an “I must have this gadget now” syndrome. Because of the cool look and innovative capabilities Apple products give to the market, who wouldn’t admit to being beneficiaries, users, followers, and/or fans of this man and his brand? Especially for the generation Y kids, several staple, must-have gadgets are that of Apple's. 

When you think about it, Jobs and Apple weren’t the first or necessarily the best when it came to laptops and other gadgets, but they were the first to add a unique pizzazz to it. The recipe to success is as he says - "thinking different." Jobs gave the conventional grey and bulky image of technology the backseat and instead established Apple’s face in the technological revolution as sleek, hip and yes, no better word for it, pretty - an image that that I'm sure brands and consumers would rather have carried through to the future. Also by integrating his products with things like music, gaming and entertainment, he revolutionized the purpose of technology as something that can be more for play than work, something that people can use for convenience but also for enjoyment. All this is enough to establish Apple's hold on today's generation from our lifestyles to our budget expenses. 

But the real great thing about Jobs is, you see Apple’s fun, young and savvy personality reflected in the very man himself. Steve Jobs has a signature look of black polo/sweater over jeans for his business presentations, changing up even the protocols of business formality. He comes off as fun and easy-going but speaks with a prowess of a visionary so we can't help but let the man go on without the coat and tie everyone is wearing. Call it the “creative professional outfit” or whatever, but kudos to him for always changing things up and exciting everyone around  - just like Apple. With how brand is very much like Jobs, meaning that it has a real personal feeling to it, who can know Apple without knowing Steve Jobs? That's why he easily made his mark among the technological giants of the century and, we dare say, beyond. 

BBB Fact Feature: Bill Gates' Tips to Students

[1]

Bill Gates said, "The industry needs people with great technology skills and the ability to use those I.T skills to solve business problems."

Sounds familiar, Comtech majors?

Insights we got from Bill Gates:
1. Always be excited. Excite insight. Be in awe at what your work can still be and explore the vastness of many possibilities and opportunities. We we we so excited!!!
2. Get creative. Squeeze some creative juice, no matter how wild.
3. Be broad and flexible. Even if you are assigned to a specific job, you might feel the need to experiment on a variety of roles. We, Comtech students, are the jack-of-all-trades after all. We can do anything.
4. Use Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). Find media channels and other technological means to communicate a unified and specific message to your customer. Look for ways to bond market expertise and technology innovation.

We feel that by following these tips, which are based on Bill Gates' words, we are fulfilling the ultimate self-actualization of a Comtech student.

[1] Bill Gates - Tips for Students. Video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNtolhpUzP4

Blog Entry#4: Bill Gates

Innovator of the Week: Bill Gates

Known as: the chairman of Microsoft

Know him as: the guy who was too cool for school

If there’s one thing we kids can learn from the legendary Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, it’s “college degree, schmollege degree.” No, seriously. We all know how Gates stopped college to continue with Microsoft, but more than letting his story call out to our inner college-drop-out-turned-billionaire fantasies, we can take the inspiration to fearlessly take on the real world, with or without a diploma in hand, from it. Gates showed us that the road to ‘billionairehood’ is not always determined by the degrees we have to show, but by the skill and savvy we bring to the real world. Three such things are:

1.       The guts to stick to what you have

Was it easy for Gates to drop out of Harvard University to build up Microsoft without knowing it would become the empire it is now? We don’t know. But what matters is, Gates had the courage and the confidence in his computer and business skills to carry him through. It isn’t easy to go against the pitch of the “good college – good job – good life” sequence so it’s an easy kudos to the people who make it the way Gates did.

2.       The ability to strike whilst the iron is hot

The world was just warming up to computer technology when Gates stepped in. He basically changed the way we view and access computers today! With the ease of use and effectiveness of Microsoft programs, technology isn’t limited anymore to just professional purposes but has made its way to our everyday routines.  The only problem here is, Gates opened the door to a mass market and many have done as he did in pouncing on the opportunities.

3.       The smarts to innovate

The problem above necessitates this third point. Gates would have faded into the background if he let younger blood take over but he didn’t – by constantly innovating and marketing new and improved products, he solidified his empire and name into history. We either are or have been at one point loyal to the Microsoft brand simply because it delivers. Technology evolves at a scary pace but with how Gates has kept up with the trends, demands, and new technologies that run the market, it’s easy to mistake his genius as effortless more than hard-earned.

None of what is written so far is an argument to the value of education nor the value people will always have for it but the point is, never underestimate the power of what things like skill, passion, vision and action can bring to the table – these are all keys to success that Bill Gates can prove are just as important as studies. Of course, we may really just be diploma-reliant mortals next to him and hitting it big like him may be a tad bit too far-fetched to most of us, but it doesn’t hurt to take the wisdom out of the story and build our inspiration from that, right?

Blog Entry#3: The Buzz about Technological Innovation

Now, let’s give a bit focus to what already has a lot of focus: innovation at present, innovation that we are caught up in. In this light, nothing is as relevant as technological innovation which has practically changed how we live and how we like living these days. I know that I, for one, have become a consumer satiable only by the next best thing when it comes to technological trends.

But let’s admit it: at some point, we have begged our parents, saved up our allowances and/or held inklings of envy for anybody who has the latest gadget because we want, well, the latest gadgets. Growing up in an age when technology is tool, trend and temptation all at the same time, it is easy to fall into the noose of “newer is better.” For instance, how many of you use beepers for communication? How many of you bring CD players and collections of CDs on a long trip? How many of you want your graduation picture taken with the old kind of camera that wouldn’t let you see the picture until it is developed? Dare I say case and point? Innovations in technology make life easier, more fun or both and that’s why we love our cellphones, iPods and DSLRs more than their outdated ancestors. More often than not in the technological sense, newer really is better.

The phrase though isn’t something to be taken as a “just because (period).” The innovation behind the newer and better things are fruits of thought, creativity, hard work and yes, though not quite as fluffy, consumer demand which is really an achievement of the other three things listed. I mean, didn’t people turn to the cellphone because someone picked up on the insight that instead of sending a beep, you can make a call for better communication? Didn’t people hail the turning of audio from CDs to mp3s a revolution because the programs and gadgets to make it happen were so well thought of and executed that nobody wants to return to the bulkier, less flexible CD player? Didn’t [vain] people rejoice that they didn’t have to fear having an ugly photo printed anymore thanks to camera tinkerers who ingeniously put in an LCD screen on the device? These things are made possible for our convenience, enjoyment or whatever it is that floats our boats by the 'magic' of the new era, technology. But if you ask me, it is in this 'magical' sense that the real buzz about technological innovation happens. More than that technology upgrades things or aspects of things that could have been made better, it strikes us to exclaim in joy “that’s amazing!” Such a phrase contains a real emotion – wonder, excitement, awe, among others – more than an intuitive or objective statement that we find ourselves pulled in happily.




With that, watch out as the Big Bang Blog pays tribute to your favorite technological innovators! Can you think of anyone you want to see featured? Drop us a line and you may just find him/her up on the BBB!