The Techy Grim Reaper

You are one day going to die. This should not come as a shock...unless you are a vampire. In that case, why would vampires concern themselves with such tiny blogs as this? Possible entertainment? Anywho, there are a lot of mobile applications and website applications that can give us reminders that we are mortal. Some of us need it more than others. A Chrome extension called Mori gives you a graphic representation of the weeks you have left, if you live to be 80 years. At Deathtimer.com, for instance, you can enter some basic personal data and receive the site’s prediction of the day you’ll die (based on life expectancy stats). What’s driving all this morbid innovation? In part, it’s merely the latest extension of a long-standing human fascination with mortality. But adding a veneer of data-driven precision to the familiar “make the most of the time you have” message indirectly links these tools to the more optimistic world of body-monitoring fitness trackers and life-quantifying productivity software.

Internet Connection

When the internet just came onto the scene, the majority of the traffic came from laptops and desktops. It is estimated that by 2018, only about half of the traffic is going to come from laptops and desktops while the other half is from smartphones, tablets, and other connected things. Part of that is due to the rise of the mobile revolution and usage of mobile applications as well as internet phones. The number of smartphones that are shipped and owned by people have already surpassed the number of simple cell phones. With the increase in the number of devices with more computing power and features we see that there is a real momentum towards increased use of internet time on portable and other non-PC devices in general, away from PCs. Not to mention that there are more things online that you would not expect such as appliances and cars. As for me, the laptop is not going anymore because nothing compares to be able to type on a regular keyboard. Even the hybrids between laptops and tablets are not really cutting it.

Internet Pitfalls

A long time ago, chat programs did not have this little signal: Back then, after you were done typing, you'd just have to stare at the screen and wait, with no clue whether your partner was typing a reply, off drinking coffee, or browsing through lolcats. People eventually got tired of this, and nowadays the majority of chat and instant-messaging mobile applications feature an ellipsis, a moving pencil, or some other sign telling you that the person you're talking to is about to complete a thought. Things get a bit awkward on both ends because of that pause. Another thing that the internet makes out of people is some serious personality changes. We are talking about people who are perfectly articulate in real life but, when online, turn into 13-year-olds who have overdosed on cough syrup. It is amazing how we can switch personalities like that and even more interesting is the reason behind it. I am guessing there is none...?

Who are you?

There are plenty of stories, books, article, you name it out there about finding out who you are and your true identity. But the thing that a lot of people fail to mention is that you do not have to do it alone. What if the person you are with brings out the person that you really are? Kind of like making your beautiful colors stand out brighter and bringing out the best of you. I have heard it said that being away from someone can help you keep your identity. Doesn't that argument seem a bit flawed? We spend our life figuring things out and there are those lucky few people that get to do it with someone that fully completes them lets them be part of something bigger. It is not something that can be kept up through internet phones or anything like that. You have to actually be able to see the person and be with them. When I look at my other half, I am still in awe that I got to be one of those lucky ones.

Phones of the Future

Enter Fluid, a device concept by Brazilian designer Dinard da Mata. This smartwatch/smartphone reminds us of a slap bracelet from the 1990s. But with a flexible touchscreen, the gadget would certainly serve as more than just a hip fashion statement. There is also Paddle.Think of Paddle as the sort of Rubik’s Cube of smartphone designs. Created by a group at Hasselt University in Belgium, the project imagines a device without a distinctive shape, a “highly deformable” smartphone that can also take the form of a tablet, a ring, or other offbeat shapes. The physical design of this iPhone 6 concept may appear familiar, but the function is pretty far out there. Developed by SET Solution, this proposed version of Apple’s smartphone would pack projectors, providing for essentially three touchscreens when the device is placed on a table surface, as well as some really cool (and slightly unbelievable) 3D interaction with the main screen. People that are invested in software development also have a stake in the new phones that are being developed because the new medium and technology on which to development the business applications and mobile applications.

Get Up From That Chair!

New research published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health reports that prolonged sitting puts people over 60 at a risk for disabilities. Elderly adults in this age group spend on average two-thirds of their days sedentary, which equates to about nine hours a day. The link between age and disability held even when researchers controlled for obesity, socioeconomic status, physical activity, and other health factors. The risks include being overweight, increased risk of heart attack, and just overall worse health. As a web developer, it might be hard to find time to get up and move. There are plenty of desks that enable you to stand and even exercise while you are working in the office or your home. With these types of studies constantly coming out, it might be time to consider all that sitting around we do either on the computer or using phone services. After you finish reading this post, please stand up.

Protect Digital Content

Walking the halls and halls of products at this year's International CES, you can find wearable technology, sensors, connected toys, connected cars, UHD TV's and so much more. But in addition to all the hardware, we're seeing many software solutions for the millions of us who regularly maintain blogs and websites: the content creators. There are some things to remember when creating digital content and it is important to know your rights.

1. You own the copyright to your photograph, recording, or written copy (including blog posts, marketing material, packaging copy, etc.) the instant it is created.

2. Register your copyrighted works to take full advantage of the legal protections offered to registered copyright owners (e.g., the ability to sue infringers).

3. "Fair Use" is not simply a general opinion of what is "fair" when it comes to using part of or the entire copyrighted work of another: It is a legally-defined exception that may or may not apply to your use of a copyrighted work, depending on multiple factors, regardless of how generously you attribute the original author.

4. Using the informal (TM) symbol is one way to assert common law rights in your trademark, even though your mark is not yet registered by the U.S Patent and Trademark Office.

5. Rather than selling all of the rights to your intellectual property outright, consider granting the other party a license to particular rights in order to create or extend the existing life of your IP's stream of income.

6. When considering a license, pay close attention to the language defining how, where and when the intellectual property can be used (e.g., is it exclusive?; can it be used on only one website or product?; is it for a renewable term?; etc.)