Random Things

Well, sometimes, it is suggested that we go off the topic. This would actually maintain the quality of the site or blog, and the writer or the blogger would have a little fun! This is a fact. Who saids so? I do! lol!

Well, related or not, I decided to post few information which may or may not bring great significance in your lives. Some items may be important, some may be... errr... well... not so important. Here it goes!
.(@_O)"
Of all the IT machineries, the computer and its monitor makes up 40% of the total carbon emission. So want to go green? Want to save the planet? Hands off your computer.
.(@_O)"
Contrary to what is believe that to enjoy it, consume it in a longer time, fast foods' best quality is on the minute it was served and that makes a 50% decline every 5 minutes pass.
.(@_O)"
Mario of Super Mario's original name is Jumpman, who first appeared in Donkey Kong, a 1981 arcade game. It was later changed to give honor to Mario Segali, the Nintendo of America's landlord.
.(@_O)"
Women are more likely to go to a psychiatrist than men with 37% difference!!!
.(@_O)"
Here's another, girls blink twice as much as boys!
.(@_O)"
Hmmm... Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
.(@_O)"
In an odd twist, scientists have discovered a weird fact about women, sex and chocolate. Eating chocolate and having sex result in the same, exact brain functions in a woman! (What the!!!!)
.(@_O)"
Many go on suicide, according to statistics, on Monday than any other days of t6he week. Want to go on suicide? Don't do it Monday.
.(@_O)"
Did you know that the dot above the line in the letter "i" is called tittle?
.(@_O)"
Charlie Chaplin only won third place in a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like contest.
.(@_O)"
Coca-Cola was originally green. (Whoa! I know, I'm surprised myself!)
.(@_O)"
Like Poker or cards? I bet you didn't know that the kings actually represent great kings in history, Spades is King David, Hearts is Charlemagne, Clubs, Alexander the Great, and Diamonds is Julius Caesar.
.(@_O)"
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
.(@_O)"
"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English Language.
.(@_O)"
Conception occurs more in December that in any other months. (Oh please, thats ordinary. Its Holidays!)
.(@_O)"
Cockroaches can live for 9 days after their head has been cut off. And they die because of hunger.
.(@_O)"
Red is my favorite color.
.(@_O)"
And I don't make any sense. .(@_O)"

Hikikomori - Caused by Technology?

The rapid change of technology these days is the main reason why our age has been dubbed as the age of the Rise of Innovations. True. Technological innovations are being created every day, if not every second. Thus, also creating stir that we, the people using and creating them, need to cope with the changes that these bring.

Good thing if we can adapt to these changes. What if we can't?

Since all men feel pressure from the world and from other people, some people react by completely separating themselves. Hikikomori is term that Japanese use referring to the sociological phenomenon wherein some people choose to "withdraw" themselves from other people. In other words, they preferred to confine from their social lives, living in complete isolation. This is done by not talking to other people or even trying to interact with others, which ends up that they have very few friends, if none at all. In most cases, like that in Japan, youth would tend to lock up themselves in their room for a long period of time, sometimes taking years. There are many factors that may cause this, whether it would be a personal reason or a social one.
One of which reason that could trigger Hikikomori is the disability to cope with the changes in technology. Most youth, due to monetary limitations, tend to separate from others thinking that it is better since they are unable to use the current fad, like new cellphones or digital cameras. Their envy results to this decision, thinking that their incaspacity to cope will make their interaction with others very difficult.

Another reason may also be the complete opposite of the first. Some would tend to seclude themselves as they are very busy with the latest technology that they got in hand. For example, instead of going outside to socialize, young people would often prefer to stay inside their rooms and try out the newly released video game.

See how technology sometimes become a problem.

This can, however, be fixed with interaction with others and a little guidance and discipline from their family. Or if this is not enough, try reaching out with a good psychological advise. But most of all, try putting a little touch of humanity when we use technology. By then we can fully utilize and share the main objective of technology. Connection.

Japan's Age of Machines

Japan is the country in which most of us knows that have great expertise in creating innovations, specifically robots and machines.

I chose to make a time line of few of Japan's greatest achievements. Here is my compilation:

1945. The United States dropped the uranium A-bomb "Little Boy" on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki is devastated by the plutonium A-bomb "Fat Man" on August 9, leaving Japan to surrender on the war and to start all over from scratch.

1950. Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp. (or Sony later) develops the G-type, Japan's first magnetic tape recorder.

1952. The debut of Astro Boy, a hero by manga guru Osama Tezuka. He is considered as more than just a fictional character but has become a cultural icon for the country.

1953. NHK begins TV broadcasting!

1955. Sony releases the TR-55, Japan's first pocket sized transistor radio after buying the license for transistor.

1957. Casio releases Casio 14-A, the world's first compact electronic calculator.

1960. Sony comes out with the world's first all transistor television set.

1964. First scheduled service of the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) began.

1966. Middle-class consumers aims to get the "Three Cs" - a car, a color television and an air-condition.

1969. Kawasaki Heavy Industries begins manufacturing Japan's first industrial robot, Unimate 2000, primarily used to weld automotive parts together.

1970. Fujiko Fujio's comic strip about Doraemon, a robot cat from the future, debuts.

1973. NTT started offering fax services in all of Japan.

1976. JVC launches VHS-format video recorder.

1979. Sony releases its portable Walkman.

1981. Fujitsu Fanuc begins using robots to manufacture robot parts.

1982. Compact Discs and CD players go on sale, developed simultaneously by Sony and Philips.

1983. Nintendo releases Family Computer, also known as the Nintendo Entertainment System, bringing videogames to the living room.

1989. Nintendo comes out with portable Game Boy.

1994. Sony releases PlayStation game system.

1996. Nintendo 64, first 64-bit game system, goes to the market; DVD player released by Toshiba and Matsushita simultaneosly.

1997. Honda develops P3, a humaniod robot.

1999. Sony releases the Aibo robot dog.

2000. SoftBank cheif Masayoshi Son surpasses Microsoft's Bill Gates in paper wealth briefly.

These is just a brief summary and I may have left out some details. But if you wanted to add something, just leave out a comment. Thanks!

Sources: Time Magazine, May 2000 issue and Wikipedia.org