jQuery

After using jQuery on this weeks assignment I can see how having programming knowledge is a must. The problems that I ran into was due to lack of experience with programming. I think I used a comma instead of a period or vice versa in one part that had me sitting there for hours trying to go over and find the mistake.

There are alot of options that jQuery offers, I am signed up for a programming class for the summer semester so that I can get the experience to explore more of what jQuery has to offer.

Interacvive shopping list

After reading the replies to the forum post, I think that this application would come in handy for most of us.

By crating a application that would allow us to create a shopping list for the grocery stores that we use the most it would allow us to never forget what we went shopping for.

This applicacation would allow us to pick what we need either by brand or by item, list the isle that we can find it in and the best part, if we forget the list at the hous or work we can print it at the store at a kioske like you would if you were shopping for a baby/wedding shower.

I know when my wife calls and says we need .... at the store can you pick it up I always go home with out it. Now I can't forget if I can just go to the store and print it. Shopping done!

Desktop app that could be invaluable!

I have thought this week and think a great desk top application to use as a web app would be something for a smartphone. I have a Blackberry and snyc it all the time with information from my desktop. If there was an app that you had on the web that would allow you to connect via the web to your desktop at home to sync or even possible get information that you need. This web app would have to be configured to allow a remote connection with the right credentials. You would also have a duplicate app on the desk top that allowed you to select what information/files that are able to be transferred.

This would be a great application that you could connect to your home or office PC so you never have to struggle with a presentation because you forgot the files. There are endless possibilities that you could use this with.
There are so many great ideas that I have seen /came up with in this class that if I knew how to create just one of these ideas I would be happy. Maybe someday I will be able to create an app am you might say I went to school with that guy!

jQuery

After this week’s lesson I have been thinking about what jQuery can be used for in the blogs. Without fully researching what the capabilities of jQuery are I think that you can add some fun stuff to your blog. By making things grabbable it can give your viewers something do to while viewing your blog.

I am sure that there are a lot of things that we will be able to do with jQuery and the blogs or any website. I would like to be able to sit down and really learn more about jQuery and see what I can do to add to my web page for the class. I have a final this week end so it will have to wait until it's over (one class out of the way) so that I can relax and do some research. By this week’s lesson I could see how difficult it can be if you are not a programmer. Not being a programmer it might take a while to figure out so I might not have the time to add jQuery to my web page. We will see!

Draggable Elements

This pragragh is draggable

This one is not

Interactive website

I am forever thinking of ways for my family to stay in touch and keep updated with current pictures of the kids. I would like to be able to set up a web page for the family and create different interactive pages of each family. I would like to be able to send remarks or messages for each family from their page that would go directly to them. I have three brothers all of us have children and we all are scattered around the US. By having an interactive site we will be able to share pictures, comments etc. with each other, possibly be able to use a video chat as well.

This week we touched on the idea of javascript. This is programming for websites that lets you do things that HTML does not do. Just the small amount of things that we did using javascript, I think that I will look into taking a course or reading up on it and experimenting on my own.

You can add things to your site that are interactive. I like the idea of being able to put a clock onto the page that when refreshed will tell you the current time. There are so many things that can be incorporated into the web site using javascript, as I said earlier; I am very interested in learning more!

Interactive web site

I have been planning a trip that my family will be going on this summer. After doing this week’s assignment I wish I knew about javascript earlier. I the plans for the trip started out as my family and as of today we have 12 other families joining us. I have been sending emails, making phone calls and texting to try and track down the families that are interested in going. Javascript would have come in handy because I could have set up a site that all families can go to and possibly add their own information. I also could use JotForm.com to set up a form where the families could add their information and send it to me. The website could be used for the participating families to check out any new information added about the hotel, the amusement park, ticket prices etc. I have a spreadsheet with all the information that could be incorporated as well. This would have saved me so much time.

After just alittle taste of javascript this week I am thinking that I might look into taking a course on javascript. There is so much more that you can do with Javascript that you can'y do with HTML.

Creating forms on my web site

Today I as I sat and waited for one of my classes to start I decided that I was going to create a form that will be used to supply feedback about my site. Using JotForm is pretty straight forward. There are many elements that you can add to the form by picking out of the list supplied or using a pre made template.

I then added to the form by manually typing the code. This brought back memories from the DHTML class that I took. This was tedious when you had to type the code repeatedly and for all the months, years and days of the month. Thank god for copy and paste! I just had to change a few characters at that point.

For the most point the assignment was straight forward, the hardest part when you don't do this type of work often is remembering how the code needs to be.

More to follow when I receive feedback from fellow students and the Professor....

After receiving feed back from some of my fellow students I will be making some minor changes to the form. Overall I think that JotForm is a great resource when designing a website. There are many different options you have when creating forms for your website.

Dreaded Spring clean-up arrives soon!

As I sit here these past few days I look outside at my yard and realized that spring clean-up will need to be done soon. As the snow melts I can see the leaves that were not picked up last fall. The mud where there use to be grass that now needs to be reseeded. I have realized that it is almost impossible to keep the grass growing with the dog and kids running around. I will have to devote a lot of time to get the nice lawn that I once had. The best part is having a friend that is coming over with the tractor and equipment to get started.

Last year we replaced the old wooden fence, which we now use for firewood in our new fire pit, with a larger chain link fence to keep the puppy in the yard. So far so good, but puppies like to dig! We also planted new shrubs along the property line to create privacy from the neighbor. If they ever grow my wife will be happy!

My yard is not that big so it will not take too long to get it cleaned up. We should be able to get it done in a few weekends, so it will leave plenty of time for fishing!

Thoughts for the week

This week I have looked at a bunch of new to me web sites that I will be using once school slows down. There are a couple that I liked and will start using immediately like Evernote, Animoto and Flikr. Evernote will be helpful when I need to remember things. I just purchased a new camera and Animoto will come in handy when I want to make unique slideshows of the photos that I take and have taken in the past. I will look at Flickr as an alternative to Picasa that I currently use now to keep track of and share my photos with family and friends.

If it wasn't for this class that I would not have learned about the many different web applications out there. So far I have learned a lot about the internet and look forward to what is to come!

Web application Idea

My web application idea is something that will help people of all ages. I would like to see an application that would help you access your medical records. I have several doctors that I visit within the VA system and on the outside. There have been plenty of times that I need to fill out forms at a new doctor’s appointment that ask about medical conditions and medications that I am currently taking. Luckily I am only taking a few medications, but what about those people out there who are taking a long list of medications or patients that are having problems remembering what medications they are taking or appointments that they have. This application would have to create an account and input your doctors name, appointments, medical conditions, medication list, instructions for caring for certain conditions etc. You would be able to log on from any device that has internet access.

If you are taking care of an elderly relative, or have multiple children a spouse that you need to remember everything you can access this application where you can add multiple profiles. You would be able to set up email or text reminders of upcoming appointments. This way you are not scrambling around when you forget an appointment, which just happened to me this past week.

Midterm week

This week I find myself wondering about midterms. I am not the best tester and wonder what the test will be like! This is allways a very stressful week.

Today I sat down to jump in to one of my test and wasn't going to turn the computer off until I finished. After completing the first half of my exam from my Exploring the Internet class I decided I needed a break. I went with my family to a friend’s house and had dinner and to my surprise celebration for my 39th Birthday. After having spent a few hours away from the computer with family and friends I returned home and completed my midterm.

After spending time starring at the computer, I find it best to get up clear your head. That way when you get back to work you can remember what you were doing and accomplish much more. This is what works for me anyways.

Tomorrow is another day and another midterm in economics (which I am not looking forward to). I just going to have to take my own advise and work at it a little at a time. Wish me luck!

This week I decided to add alittle style to my web page. I would have like to get crazy with the design but my other classes prevented me from doing so. I just don't have the time. I added color to the title and headings, changed the font style and centered the text. As you know from previous blogs that I am a veteran of the US Army I decided to ad a logo to the top. If time permits in the future I will be adding to the web page different features that I have learned in a DHTML class that I took in the past. With this assignment I can finally use the skills that I learned from that class.

Cell phones and driving not a good combination! Get a Bluetooth headset!

I have to say that when people are talking on their phones while driving, they really don't pay attention. I try and remember to charge my Bluetooth head set and bring it with me but don't remember some of the time.

I see at least once a day someone not paying attention on their phones and either sit at the light or almost cause an accident. Just the other day I had stopped to let someone turn and after waving to them to go decided to continue as they sat there talking on the phone. I like the idea of some of the new vehicles out there that offer a Bluetooth connection right through the car stereo. This allows hands free operation of the phone and drivers can concentrate more on the driving. I have started thinking about purchasing a new vehicle and this feature is a must.

I use a Jabra Stone2 head set which tells you who or what number is calling, you have the option to speak "answer" or "ignore" for the call. This option is great because you don't have to take your eyes off the road to look at the phone. Among other features this headset works great (not that I am trying to make sales). With third party apps you can do anything with the phone with just speaking commands, make calls, write emails or text, make calendar entries etc.

Hands free, is the way to go when driving. There are many options out there for hands free devices that are reasonable in cost. This is a small price to pay considering what could happen!

I think that people are actually so consumed in the internet and the multiple ways of communicating people are forgetting how to have a conversation. With the texting lingo and abbreviations kids today are forgetting how to spell correctly. Today it is very rare that you see a face to face conversation anymore. When kids get their cell phones the only time you see or hear from them is through a text. Facebook has been a large part of communication problems, I am not a huge fan and you won’t see me posting comments on my facebook page. I would much rather pick up the phone or met with you in person rather than communicating through electronic mail, texting or social sites. On the other hand the internet makes it easier to stay in touch with friends and family that live to far away to visit. I keep in touch with family members that live around the United States with a web cam.

IT Blog

For someone who is trying to get back into the technology field after a long break I like this site to stay current.

http://technorati.com/technology/it/
You can find almost anything on this site that you have questions about or just want to read up on. I have gone on to find information about new technology such as operating systems, applications and such. There are links to sites like javacodegeeks.com that you will find solutions to any problems with java.

It is always nice to know where you can get information when you run into problems in the work enviroment. Some employers may think that you should know everything when a problem occurs, but the better employee will know where to go and how to get the answers needed to correct problems.

One of the most recent things that I have looked up on this blog site is Linux. I have been told by multiple people that if I want to make myself more marketable once I complete my degree is to learn everything I can about Linux. With all my electives taken up I have been trying to read up on linux but think I will need formal training on it.

If anyone has any ideas about Linux please let me know? Thanks

Internet and media

We look around and see the internet everywhere. The effect that this has on the media is huge. I fall victim to the internet. I sit here in front of the computer not only to do my class work for the semester but to also surf the web. I check the local news and weather because it is quick and easy and I don't like to wait around for the news to come on TV. The older generation that is uncomfortable with computers are the ones that watch the local TV channels for the news. More people are reading news papers online and not purchasing the paper from the local news stand. I have seen two local papers that are suffering to stay open (The Boston Globe and the Lowell Sun). I have had both of these papers delivered to my house and canceled because why should I pay for the paper when I can go online and read them for free.

We sit here and download music from multiple sources on the internet. Why purchase a music cd for one song when we can get just that song on the internet for a fraction of the cost. We have seen over the years a number of music stores close its doors due largely the availability of Music on the internet.

The internet may have a small part in the decline in the economy in the past 5 years. With the online retailers that offer tax free and free shipping why be bothered to travel out of the house. I have been known to research an item online for the cheapest price before making a purchase.

My children have access to school books online. They come home and say dad I need you to print page 88 for my homework tonight. With this media online it makes it easy for them not only so they do not have to carry books home but they can't say they forgot their homework!

The Internet has become a way of life!

Tribute To the US Army

I found this video on youtube while looking for videos for this weeks assignment. This has a lot of meaning for me so I decided to post it on my blog!

The internet and society

Today we see that the internet is a big part of what we do on a daily basis. We have all this technology around us that lets us access the internet from virtually anywhere we go, trains, plains, coffee shops etc. It is great for the business man who is always on the go. For the tourist that wants to check in for a flight, check local attractions, get directions. You can look around when you are out and about and hardly see someone with out a phone that they are calling, texting or surfing the internet. You can track your kids on the internet by the gps locator on their phones. What if we didn't have the internet? How would this affect the world? We would have to rely on what was used years ago, land line phones, snail mail, messengers. Many people would be lost without the internet including myself. Companies would loose a valuable resource. The internet has become a way of life for a majority of people throuout the world.

logging in from a url

I was able to go directly to my blog by entering the blog url http://ksgtinv.blogspot.com/ into the address.

signing in and out of my blog

I just learned hoe to log in and out of my blog!

I went to blogger.com signed in using my credentials. Nothing to it!

Adding images to a Blog post!

This is an image of the type of dog that I own. I got this image from http://www.greatdogsite.com/admin/uploaded_files/1190779415doberman_pinscher.jpg

Here is a picture of my dog Sasha

Link to other sites!

I have created links to other sites that I find interesting!

Click here to go to my neighbor's blog.

I am learning how to add hyperlinks to my blog and learned it from annunziato.org.

This is a linl to where I like to read about the local news. I have this site set as my home page and take a look at it on a regular basis.

Expectations

I would like to really learn the ins and outs of the internet. I have been playing around on the internet for 12 years, checking emails, surfing the web and shopping. I know there is alot more that I can be doing that I don't. I hope to learn what more I am able to acheive.

The blog we created in this class was my first. I am really not that big on putting information out there about myself and family. Social networks are not for me. I know people who check in everything they do and I really dont understand why. All it takes is for the wrong person to get this information and now knows your daily routine and who knows what will happen!

Maybe as the class goes on it will change my views on blogging and show me the potential of the internet.

Introduction

My name is Kevin S. I served in the US Army as a Military Police Investigator for 4 years and returned to civilian life due to a back injury. With the Help from the VA I have decided to return to school  for a dgree in IT/minor in Business and Criminal Justice. I am hoping to complete my degree by the winter of 2012. I am not sure what direction I want to go once I finish I would love to do something in the Criminal Justice field as I have an exstensive back ground.

We have three children that we love to spend time with. I enjoy camping, fishing, hiking and anything outdoors.