Blog Post #5: What I Learned During EOTO Presentations

(Leine, 2007).

 

 

When I visualize the concept of technology, I think about iPhones, computers, and TVs, but I never think much past that. As I listened to the presentations on Wednesday, I learned that technology is much more than our everyday electronics, and I learned loads of in-depth details about these technologies. 

One of the most interesting facts I learned was about carrier pigeons. I always considered them a joke from medieval times, but I was amazed that these pigeons were more of a modern-day technology and were even used in wars. I loved learning how they were bred to fly home because I had always needed clarification about how they knew exactly where to go and how messages did not end up lost. Something else I loved learning about was the origins of Bluetooth and its namesake, the Viking, Harald Bluetooth. It's funny to think it was initially just a code name, but I cannot imagine it being named anything else. 

I noticed a pattern in that a few inventors to be thanked for our hugest technological advancements, Google and Instagram, were Stanford graduates. It made me want to do more research on why Stanford is so important in today's world of technology, and I discovered an explanation for why Stanford University is so renowned. 

Stanford University is in the heart of Silicon Valley, home to many of our tech giants. According to the article, "In the realm of computer science and artificial intelligence, Stanford researchers have made significant contributions to the development of algorithms, machine learning, and robotics, shaping the future of technology" (Inspirit AI). Considering this is an Ivy League university, some of our most significant technological advancements have stemmed from here.

In closing, I immensely enjoyed listening to the EOTO presentations, and it has widened my perspective on just what technology can be and its importance. I also realized how most of our technology stems from others that have come before us, such as the inventor of the Cassette Tape admitting that he uses CDs and thinks they are an essential upgrade. 

 

Works Cited

 

Leine, 2007. “Learn Stock Image. Image of Isolated, Wood, Text, White - 5878161.” Dreamstime, 4 Aug. 2008, www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-learn-image5878161. 

 

“What Is Stanford Known for? Unveiling Stanford’s Global Prestige.” Inspirit AI, Inspirit AI, 4 Oct. 2023, www.inspiritai.com/blogs/ai-blog/what-is-stanford-known-for.