Communication, according to nwlink (1997) " is the exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another; it involves a sender transmitting an idea, information, or feeling to a receiver (U.S. Army, 1983). Effective communication occurs only if the receiver understands the exact information or idea that the sender intended to transmit."

          Communication between people in the past was by doing it face to face as there were no device created to allow people to communicate without meeting that person. Before the creation of the mobile phone people communicate by sending mails as well as telegraphs. Mails would need days to arrive and also took time because the letter had to be put in an envelope and be sent to the post office. Other means of communication other than the letter was by using telegraph. The telegraph (Wikipedia, 2013) was used to send messages by using codes that should be understood by both senders and receivers in order for the message to be able to be passed through successfully. The first telephone was created by Sir Alexander Graham Bell in the 1800s which allowed people to communicate with each other within a short distance and by 1886 more than 150,000 in the United States owned telephones. He made advancements and various improvements to the telephone and after acquiring the carbon microphone patent which belonged to Edison from Western Union his telephone was able to make calls from a longer distance as well as made calls better so that the caller would not need to shout at the phone in order for the person on the receiving side to hear them speak. In January 1915, the first transcontinental phone call was made between New York and San Francisco through a 3,400 mile length wire. Before this, in October 1876 they were only able to communicate with a 2 mile length wire stretched from Cambridge to Boston, (Wikipedia,Alexander Gaham Bell, Later Developments, para 5). The breakthrough of communication is from the invention of the mobile phone which allows people to connect wirelessly between each other without needing to meet the person face to face which means that communication can be done even though the person is far away in another place. This means phone calls can be made even when the caller is outside the house which is good as important calls can be attended to without needing to sit at the couch and wait for the telephone to ring. The first mobile phone was created by Martin Cooper in April 3, 1973 (The History of Mobile Phones, 2013, para 2). Martin Cooper was the senior engineer over at Motorola and the phone he made weighed 1.1kg which is heavy by today's standards. The prototype made allowed only half an hour's worth of talk time and required a whole 10 hours in order for it to charge fully.

Figure 1. Timeline of mobile phones.

          Motorola released its first commercial mobile phone called the DynaTAC 8000x which allows 30 minutes of talk time which is not much compared to the first prototype but this mobile phone can be on standby for six hours and could store a mere 30 phone numbers. In the early stages of the sales of the mobile phones it was considered a luxury item as it costed a hefty USD 4000 which is not reachable for average salaried people but proved popular with businessmen. 1990-1995 was a period where the design of mobile phones became even more compact compared to the 1.1 kg Motorola created by Martin Cooper. This period proved to also be a period where mobile phones could be accessed by average consumers as it became much more affordable. The next mobile phone sensation that was created by motorola was the MicroTAC (Business insider, page 11/34) which was the first phone with a foldable cover which acted as a speaker. When not in use the cover would flip and stay over the keypads which reduces the length of the mobile phone, making it truly compact phone that could be fitted into the pocket of your pants without it falling off due to its size and weight. The next breakthrough in technology by Motorola was the invention of the Motorola international 3200 which offered 2G digitally encrypted technology. This means that text messages can be sent from the mobile phone itself where in the past inventions only calls were able to be made (Wikipedia, 2G, para 1). The IBM Simon was the first smartphone created in 1993 and offer a host of desirable features such as a calendar, address book, clock, calculator, notepad, email, games and a touchscreen with QWERTY keyboard and it was sold for $900. This phone proved to have all round usability as it is a mobile phone, pager, fax machine as well as a PDA. In 1996 Motorola created the first "clamshell" phone which is similar to the flip phone like before but the difference is that the earpiece is on the top half of the phone which can be folded onto the keyboard. This phone offered 1G but soon went to 2G.

          The next phone that was called a mini computer by that era's standard was the Nokia 9000 communicator. The phone could be opened lengthways which would reveal a  QWERTY keyboard and also an LCD screen which gives the user access to more features such as calendars that can be used as well as a planner which is suitable for businessmen. This phone although provides high tech functionality still lacks compactness and due to the addition of the keyboard made it bulky and long making it less appealing. 1998 was the year that phone lost its external antenna whip as it has a built in antennae which was benchmarked by the Nokia 8810 which had slidable keypad cover. Japan's Kyocera Visual Phone was the first to have a built in camera that was only intended as a peer to peer video phone and appeared in 1999. The next innovation to come with the mobile phone was the creation of the colour screen which gives out stunning colours and allowed users to put a wallpaper, personalising the phone at the same time. Fast forward to 2007 and we have the Apple iPhone 3G that was created by Steve Jobs that was the first smartphone that has a touch screen interface. Now in 2013 most of the phones we use utilizes touch screen interfaces. Due to its popularity it could be afforded for as low as $99. Adults are not the only one holding a touch screen interfaced phone and due to the affordability kids nowadays have smartphones in their hands which proves that kids are now being more tech savvy in this high technology age. Smartphones of this age provides various functions such as a built in camera which can go up to 41 megapixels which is more than most digital camera. The mobile phone also provides functions like GPS which means that the user does not need to get a GPS in order to find their way as it is now built in to most of the smartphones that we have today.

Societal Impacts

         The positive effect this technology has on the society is that it allows people from all around the world to communicate with each other by using a mobile phone. The other thing is that we have access to information on the go as the phones we have to day have internet so this allows us to have information on the go. Other than that information can be taken down such as by using the voice recorder or through applications such as a notepad which means that papers and pens are not needed but just a touch on the phone and information can be stored on the phone. The mobile phone also provides a quick way to call someone in the event of an emergency. The mobile phone is mostly used as a camera and is mostly used by people to capture those unforgettable moments and proved to be more popular as a separate digital camera would not be needed as the phone is as good. Games and applications can be downloaded from the phone and can be enjoyed while waiting for the bus or when waiting for food to come to the table in the restaurant.

          The negative impact to society is that it may be too convenient until we depend too much on the phone itself to provide us with the information we need. For example we use the phone to track our location to know where we are in the map and without that if we were given a paper map we would not be able to decipher it and maybe get ourselves to our desired location. Other than that connectivity to social media networks can prove to be good for most people but can be used by criminals to track the location of the user and attempt to rob their house while they are away. This can be due to status updates stating the location of the user which means that the user is not at home, making criminals eye the house. Kids nowadays are so glued to the phone because of the games that it offers and parents see this as a source of entertainment for the kids but this can prove to be a bad habit where kids get attached to the phone and lose the ability to connect with the outside world. There was a time before the mobile phone took over the kid's leisure time they were out in the sun, interacting and having fun with other kids. Other than that the accessibility to social media from the phone itself is a hazard when driving as drivers get distracted by the phone and not concentrating on the main thing which is driving itself. Some people become too attached to their mobile phones that they lose contact with the world and they cannot live without having the phone with them. There are pros and cons when it comes to owning a mobile phone but as long as the usage is controlled it would not be an addiction.

References
-Communication and Leadership (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadcom.html
-Alexander Graham Bell (2013). Retrieved from :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Graham_Bell
- Richard Goodwin (2013). The History of Mobile Phones: 1973 to 2007. Retrieved from : http://www.knowyourmobile.com/nokia/history-mobile-phones/19848/history-mobile-phones-1973-2007
- Justin Meyers (2011). Watch the Incredible 70-Year Evolution of the Cell Phone. Retrieved from : http://www.businessinsider.com.au/complete-visual-history-of-cell-phones-2011-5?op=1#2010-33
- BNadyn (2013). Mobile Lifestyle- Pros and Cons of Cell Phones. Retrieved from : http://bnadyn.hubpages.com/hub/Our-Lives-With-Cell-Phones-Pros-and-Cons

A Trip to the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)

Hello, 

A week ago we were given the task to visit the Museum of Transport and Technology which is located at 805 Great North Road & Meola Road, Western Springs, Auckland 1022, New Zealand. We were given two weeks to complete this module and we were told to go there to choose a technology and its development throughout the years. 

Figure 1 : MOTAT entrance.

 For this assignment i chose the bicycle as the technology of my choice. The bicycle itself is considered a "green" type of moving vehicle as it does not produce emissions just by cycling.  It is an alternative means of transport and sometimes a time saver as during jams the bicycle can be used to get to destinations quicker and at the same time we are doing our exercise which means it is another plus for health conscious people. Bicycles come in different forms, shapes and sizes and is catered to people of varying age and size. Unitec itself is promoting the use of bicycles to get around campus easily through their "book a bike" campaign which promotes the use of bicycles provided by Auckland Transport to get around the campus instead of using a car or the shuttle bus which consumes precious fuel.

History
Earlier on in 1817 the first bicycle which was known as the Draisienne or hobby horse was created as a means of faster transport than walking. Drais invented a walking machine that would get him from point A to point B quicker and this differs from a conventional bicycle in a way that it doesn't have pedals and so the user propel themselves forward by pushing with their legs so it would look like that person is gliding instead of walking. This invention proved to be an easy way to get around but when it comes to hills or uneven roads this invention proved to be a tiring means of transport compared to walking.

Figure 2 : Draisienne. retrieved from :http://augrenierdantan.centerblog.net/202-draisienne-1817

The next type of bicycle to come after the Draisienne was called the Velocipede of Boneshaker which is given as the name of the bicycle because of the rock hard ride of the bicycle due to the tires being made of just wood and after that, metal. This invention came in 1865 and the pedals are placed beside the front wheels so this is considered to be a front wheel driven bicycle compared to bicycles of today which are rear wheel driven.

Figure 3 : Boneshaker. Picture taken in MOTAT.

The next invention to come after the boneshaker was the High wheel bicycle which is also known as the Penny Farthing and is invented in 1870. The pedals are installed on the front wheels like the previous invention and the reason why the wheel was so big was so that the ride would be much more comfortable compared to the boneshaker. The bigger wheel was also utilized due to the fact that a bigger wheel would cover more distance in one cyclic revolution compared to a smaller wheel which would cover much less distance with the same amount of pedal movement. Back in the days these bikes costed an average worker 6 months of their hard earned money and the wheel's size is limited to how long the rider's leg is. Due to the high seating position of this bicycle the chances of falling down due to small accidents became apparent .

Figure 4 : The Penny-Farthing. Picture taken in MOTAT.

The next bicycle to come in line after the High Wheel tricycle which was used by ladies due to the fact that ladies wearing long skirts sitting high above the ground would prove impractical.  It is said that innovations like the rack and pinion steering, the differential from the vehicle we drive today came from this invention.

Figure 5: The high wheel tricycle. Retrieved from : http://noeperez.net/design/pedaling-history/phbm/hwt.html

 The next bicycle to come after the high wheel tricycle was the hard tired safety. Due to the advancements in metallurgy, the metal used on the bicycle is now strong enough. This also means that a fine chain as well as the wheel sprocket can be made without being too heavy or weak that it would break as a person is cycling along. This new generation of bicycles also gave birth to the invention of gear ratios therefore eliminating the big wheel  like in the penny farthing. Utilisation of the gear ratios mean that the same distance could be covered like the penny farthing but the difference is that this uses gear ratios to achieve the same goal. This bicycle design was also uncomfortable as the wheels were made of solid, hard, rubber and also due to the reason being that the shock absorbers were not implemented yet.

Figure 6 : The hard tired Safety. Retrieved from : http://noeperez.net/design/pedaling-history/phbm/hts.html

The pneumatic Tired Safety bicycle is the bicycle similar to what we have today and the name coincides with the pneumatic referring to the tire being inflated by air. This was first applied by an Irish veterinarian who, in that time wanted to give his son a more comfortable ride on his tricycle. The name of the inventor was Dunlop. Ladies who wore long skirts are now able to use this bicycle which was much more versatile compared to the tricycle that they rode in before this which was big and much less versatile. Cycling was so popular in the 1880s and 1890s that cyclists formed the League of American Wheelman.

Figure 7 : The pneumatic tired safety. Retrieved from : http://www.prices4antiques.com/item_images/medium/29/95/61-01.jpg

 
The next type of bicycle was made to attract the younger generation into buying this bicycle. The main attraction of this bike is from the motorcycle and automobile elements that can be found on the bicycle. This proved popular to kids who wanted a vehicle but were still too young to drive and therefore they resort to this bike which is called the Kid's Bike and weighed around 65 pounds and further in the year they were built and implemented with design elements coming from jet aircrafts and even rockets. By the 1960's, the design of these bikes became much more leaner and simpler.

Figure 8 : The Kid's bike. Retrieved from : http://idreamofbikes.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/kids-bike.gif?w=500

 The invention and design of the bicycle has come a long way since its introduction back in the 1800's and many forms have been produced over the years until the current design of the mountain bike which provided much more flexibility and adjustments that cater to different cyclists. These adjustments came in the form of adjusting stiffness of the ride through the absorbers in the front and back of the vehicle, to adjusting the height of the seat and also the range of gears a bike has that can negotiate different levels of speeds and cycling effort.

Figure 9 : Mountain bike. Picture taken in MOTAT.

The impact the bicycle has on the society is very big as it changes the way people move around. For certain countries like in the United States courier services use bicycles as a way if transporting packages quickly as in the traffic situation of New York deem vehicle delivery of packages much slower compared to bicycles which can zip in and around traffic quicker and move in to tight spots which would be a restriction for a vehicle. Other than that it is a cheaper means of transport as it does not cost much to maintain the bicycle and can last a few years with proper maintenance. The use of a bicycle also promotes healthy living as it encourages people to use cycling as a means of recreation.

The bicycle taught the Wright brothers how important the balancing of wind currents is in the operation of an airplane and the uses of light wight steel bicycle tubing allowed their first airplane to actually fly. Even Henry Ford who was the first to mass produce vehicles was a bicycle mechanic at first and took inspiration from the bicycle and implemented them in to the automobile. The bicycle is considered a mechanical marvel because it can support up to 10 times its own weight and it is also thermodynamically efficient than any other animal or machine because the bicycle acts as an almost automatic extension of the human body.(Babson College, Professor Bicycle's Top Ten Social Impacts of the Bicycle, n.d)

References :
- Bicycle Pedaling History Museum (n.d). A quick history of Bicycles. Retrieved from : http://www.pedalinghistory.com/PHhistory.html
-  Au Grenier d'Antan (2012, March 25). Draisienne-1817. Retrieved 28 August, 2013 from: http://augrenierdantan.centerblog.net/202-draisienne-1817
- Pedaling History (n.d). The story of the Bicycle. Retrieved 28 August, 2013 from : http://noeperez.net/design/pedaling-history/phbm/hwt.html
- Prices4Antiques.com (n.d). Bicycle; Comet, Pneumatic Tire Safety, circa 1895. Retrieved 28 August, 2013 from : http://www.prices4antiques.com/Bicycle-Comet-Pneumatic-Tire-Safety-circa-1895-D9950438.html
- idreamofbikes (n.d). History of Bicycles. Retrieved 28 August, 2013 from : http://idreamofbikes.wordpress.com/historyofbikes/
 

First Class!!!

Hello,

This is our second week of class and therefore I am required to put in a blog entry that shows what i have learned or the skills i have gotten from the class. In our first week of class we were introduced to the subject and also what to expect in class. In our second class we were grouped into a group of three comprising Inderpal Birdi, Mohanadass and myself. We were told by miss Rashika to think of an innovation and what it was like before and what it is like now in present. We came up with an innovation which is medicine and we were given a piece of paper where we put down our thoughts. After the brainstorming session we came up with the pros and cons of traditional medicine vs modern medicine that we get now from chemists.

Figure 1 : this is the mind map that we came up with after the brainstorming session.

This class gave me the skill to think critically of things and made me see how much of an effort was made in order for this innovation to come in to fruition. It also shows how medicine has come by all these years and how advanced it is. I also learned that some people prefer traditional medicine and some do prefer modern medicine. That is all for this week.