Has Google made us lose our minds?Reaction

According to "Has Google Made Us lose our Minds", which is an article published in the Week magazine on the 15th of July, 2011, lots of questions , accusations and explanations are rising towards the subject of humans using search engines such as Google and yahoo. Columbia University psychologist Betsy Sparrow and two colleagues in the journal Science  have declared their opinion about this particular subject which was based on  research conducted in collaboration with Harvard university. They say that Google and similar search engines have affected humans minds in a negative way such as that the mind cant remember small pieces of information because subconsciously , the mind realize that there is no need for memorizing those information as long as they are available under the tips of human fingers , where they can be recalled and relocated anytime. Others contribute in the subject by explaining how the human mind has become more independent on electronic tools for storage , when all he is left to do is memorizing how and where to find it.  
Based on a personal experience, I totally agree with the suggested effects of using search engines on the human mind. The effects mentioned are real and are happening to people like myself . Moreover , the line of reasoning used by the scientist to interpret the process and the outcome is clear and logical. also it is supported by substantial evidence in my opinion. Of course non of which will effect Google popularity or label search engines as damaging innovations , rather it just make people more aware of what lies in their hands , and give them some guidance on how to use it wisely.           

"Can smartphones replace house keys?" reaction

According to an article published on the 6Th of July, 2011 In the Week magazine entitled "Can smart phones replace house keys?", a new app has been introduced by Lockmaker Schlage supposedly allows smart-phone users to unlock their doors using Internet connection , a new feature that threatening to make our juggling traditional key chains obsolete. This new technological breakthrough is related somehow to the idea of using remote-control to open cars and key card to unlock hotels rooms doors . The article also mention how the there are a couple of obstacles that can constitute hardships, Moreover , considered as weak points to the use of this new app. The ones mentioned are connection failure or and the deterioration of the smart phone battery life that can affect the app ability  to unlock the door.
Technology in general has made life easier for us in many ways , and the new invention will be another point or score in favor of modernity and against traditionalism . Personally, I do use technology in my life , but I do take caution , because to me technology can't be trusted. Simply malfunction can occurred anytime no matter how guaranteed the technology was. Non the less, this new app is useful and I will definitely  use it , for many reasons . First , it will make the weight of my heavy bag lighter by loosing those heavy key chains. Second, it will take one thing out of the list of the things that I should check on every time I step out of the house .  Third, I believe that it is more secure than traditional keys which are easy to copy manually ,unless we were up against an MIT graduate thief or intruder that to him cracking my new electronic app wouldn't be much of a problem.   

Are women really at risk of disappearing?"reaction"

Published in June 14th,11, an article on the week magazine tittled " Are women really at risk of disappearing?" is examine a claim made by journalist Mara Hvistendahl , the author of  " Unnatural selection:Choosing boys over girls and the consequences of a world full of men " , where she is suggesting the possible existences of female gender extension phenomenon. In her book she presented statistics to proof her claim. For example in China the ratio for boys births to girls births is 120 to 100 which gives a clear example on tensity of the issues presented.
The article mentioned how more than some couples in countries such as India and China tend to avoid having females by aborting them after discovering the baby gender via ultrasound . Researches found out that 600,000 female fetuses are aborted in India each year which under line Mara's speculations and claims  . Governments are trying according to the article to minimize this dilemma before it get out of hand by providing incentives for parents who give birth to a baby girl. For instance , In Fuji, parents who have two girls get a $150 annual pension for life, as well as health care, housing, and education benefits.
Personally , I do believe that this problem exist , and I have seen live evidence of the validity of Mara's claims . But on the other hand I also believe that nature has it own ways of balancing things out. The ratio of males vs. female births in china is in favor of males but in another place on earth  females probably exceed males births , a result that will balance the whole equation .It is similar to what had happen after War World I &II , In a 2000 study , Jan Graffelman and Rolf Hoekstra conducted a research that covered birth data for the U.S. and selected European countries from the mid-1800s onward, focusing on the first and second world wars post results , their was a decrease in male gender births postwar , this was explained as nature way of correcting human interventions. This is actually called Fisher's principle. Ronald Fisher, is an English biologist and statistician that explained it all in 1930 , where he said that the forces of natural selection militate in favor of roughly equal numbers of girl and boy babies.

Reaction on "Facebook's facial recognition: Privacy invasion?"

According to“Facebook's facial recognition: Privacy invasion?" which is an article published on the ninth of June,2011 by The Week magazine , a crusade
is up against social networking sites especially Facbook because of the new introduced electronic  feature “ Tag suggestions" which allows Facebook data base to automatically identify people in  uploaded photos using  facial recognition software and tag them to whom it
matches  . European Union regulators attacked this new service calling it an
invasion of privacy looking at how FB sitting for this feature as  default without the user
permission as Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) a EU regulator claims, he said "it should be able to stand on its own, without an automatic sign-up that changes users' privacy settings without their permission."  FB company responded to these accusation by explaining that introducing this feature was a reaction on users complains about how the process of tagging their friends is becoming more irritating . Also, FB adds that it can be easily disabled which will make it useful to whom chose to use and not to those whom chose to ignore  .Another major companies mentioned in the article to support both parties
allegations , for instance, Google company choose to ignore the service , while  Apple company
actually reported recently  to purchase Rose polar rose company which is a facial recognition
company .

Considering that I am a facebook user myself , I tend to look at the whole process of adding new features as a way to enhance the service provided which will be based on several surveys and customers opinions, such a move will cost millions and millions of dollars , which indicates that FB must have done their researches to satisfy the majority of their customers , Also , in order to satisfy the minority of their users , the feature can be easily disabled , which absolve FB from any blame because nothing is done against the user well . So basically it is a win win situation for the new feature users and ignores .

Japan's 'sacrificial' elderly nuclear cleanup squad ..Reaction

" Japan's
totally awesome old people " is what The Week magazine had described a
group of  over-60 retired Japanese engineers and other professionals in an
article published in June 3rd, 2011 titled "Japan's Sacrificial' Elderly
Nuclear Cleanup Squad". As the article mentioned, after the calamity that
hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility in the east cost of Japan , a cleanup
campaign is on motion at the time . Though, this is necessary to be
done, it will unfortunately be a long dreadful life jeopardizing efforts ,
due to the fact that two and more workers in their 30s and 40s who were among
those assigned to the cleaning process were reportedly exposed to potentially
deadly amounts of radiation at the site of the destroyed nuclear power facility.
Therefore, the mentioned group of altruistic elders jumped in to save
the day in order to achieve a couple of things, the first is to save the Youngers'
future which still lie ahead of them. Also, to prove that a retire
person can be helpful to the community even after he was let go based on
the thought that he can’t do the job anymore . Eventually, their
approach was denied by the Japanese government. The article here, call
their case to the public questioning the lawmakers decision and debate whether
they should be allowed to do that or not.

The subject was displayed in an emotional way that approaches any
reader, but that still does not dismiss the sensitivity and morality of
the situation, which will be clear by answering the question on what If
those people are over 60 , does that justify letting them  sacrifice themselves.

I am really confused about this as many of the readers of this article , On
one hand , those brave elders do have a point on why they are doing this , and
they should be given the freedom to help in the way  they see is right and rewarding .But on the
other hand , it’s not ethical or human to approve such a suicidal attempt with
cold blood , though it is for a higher purpose .

Should a baby's gender be kept a secret?reacation

"Should a Baby's Gender be Kept a Secret?" is an article posted on The Week magazine's website on May 26, 2011. The article basically view reactions and opinions over a Canadian family's decision to not share their baby Storm's gender with people out side the family, In other words "the community." The views and feeling toward this act split between proponents and opponents to the matter . People who agree with the family decision, see that it is an attempt to spare the baby from any gender discrimination and they actually labeled the news about the baby's gender as a personal issue that concern the family only, though they believe it is a wild step and a bold experiment . Others, who disagree with the family decision see that the outcome of this call will effect the baby negatively on the long run, by effecting his or her sense of identity .
I do tend to agree with what the family is trying to achieve but I totally disagree with how they are doing it , no one can stand to be alone in this world , and the sense of belonging to a certain group is crucial to survive. Also ,the feeling of acceptness is important to any boy or girl in their youth , their sexual orientation is last thing they think of as children , so it is a premature worries for the family to hold . Depriving the child from its identity that he/she was born with will backfire strongly on the child, because at the end it is individual call that many others will not tolerate and it will be categorized under the unknown which a lot of mentalities will question and automatically fear of. therefore,  the family here actually created new problems for the baby that are way bigger than being discriminated against based on his or her gender .

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