Putting Your Senses To Work

Have you ever been watching TV and see a food commercial that makes you think, "I want that!" We all have, but now there are researchers and scientists working on a technology that could enable us to taste what we are seeing. According to an article in the NY Times, the Digital Lollipop could be the next big thing. Researchers in Singapore have built a new technology that can simulate taste. This is made possible with an electrode that, when it hits the tongue, simulates the 4 main tastes: sweet, salty, sour and bitter. The hope is to someday make the device workable with smartphones and televisions. 

There are some details that alter the results, such as change in temperature, but the device is quite workable. The article says that it has been in the works for over a year, but it was finally presented at a conference in Spain just last month. Though it may not become a commercial device anytime soon, there are so many possibilities that could come with it. In the future, researchers hope to add smell and texture so you get the full experience of whatever you're doing. 

My favorite possibility, though, is the thought of being in a movie and being able to taste and smell what the actor "supposedly it" as well. Though there are many bad possibilities that could come of this as well, we'd never watch movies the same way again. If this were to happen, though, people may not go because it's likely the prices would go up too much.

The last thing the article talks about is incorporating this into video games. It's really quite interesting because it discusses going on a reward system. For example, if the player were to beat a level, they would be rewarded with sweet tastes, but if they fail, a bitter or sour taste. 

I like this idea, although I don't find it to be necessary in any way. We are already filled to the brim with new technology, but the fact that this is even possible makes it seem worth it. I can't wait for the day when I can go see a movie and be able to watch, feel, taste and smell what's going on. Does it seem a bit much? Maybe. Too soon? Never. 

Tweet all about it, but the University may be watching

Be careful what you Tweet about, it could cost you an admission spot into college. A recent article in the NY Times cautions that what you post on Twitter is likely to be viewed by college admissions, and if they don't like what they see…DENIED. New studies are being done about how many admissions officers are checking social media pages of future students, and it turns out that there is a 5% increase from last year saying that they are checking online to see what they can find.

There are different sides to this topic. Some people, like Brad Shear--a lawyer of social media law argues that checking possible students in this way could be unfair because there is a good chance what the officials find online will be fake. The argument to this idea is that teenagers who spend so much time on social media (in this case Twitter) and post unappealing things to their profile are not who admissions officers want to have in their schools and communities.

Both are good points, but I would have to side with Brad in this case. Checking online profiles is helpful, but if their credentials fit the University standards, then they shouldn't be penalized for what they did/do on Twitter. The chances are that even if their records are clean at the moment, the student could likely start posting unacceptable statuses and/or pictures once they've been accepted. Then what? Background checks are for careers, not college admittance. Let them get through the latter before they have to deal with real life crap and Big Brother always watching.