A Beginner’s Guide To Drone Technology

Drones have become very popular and commercially available in the past few years, giving people a novel way to take expansive and sweeping shots of various terrains for both personal and professional video use. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these drones work.

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The technology is known as UAV, short for unmanned aerial vehicle. It doesn’t just refer to the drone itself, but to the device’s aerodynamics, materials used for manufacturing, circuit boards, as well as the chipset and software that powers it.

A typical drone is made of light, composite materials that reduce weight and increase the unmanned aircraft’s maneuverability. Most military drones need these materials for high-altitude surveillance. Drones are remote-controlled using a system called ground cockpit. Military-grade ones often come with infrared cameras, GPS, and a laser.

Today, civilian use of UAVs vastly outnumbers military ones, with already over a million drones estimated to have been sold in 2015. The sale of drones has been increasing rapidly and exponentially, as the device offers tons of benefits to various industries from agriculture and real estate to aerial photography and video-blogging.

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Soon, drone technology will complement other autonomous technologies like unmanned cars, A.I.-powered medical equipment, and home robots.

Hi there, the name’s Joe Cianciotto. I like to keep updated on the latest developments in consumer tech, particularly cameras and drones. For more on my work and interests, visit this page.

The Fans Have Spoken: Favorite Mcu Blockbusters

Although movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, have been much favorably received compared to those of the DC Expanded Universe, or DCEU, it has to be noted that not all MCU films are created equally. Let’s take a look at fans-approved MCU movies.

Image source: Wikia.com

Marvel’s The Avengers

The first Avengers movie was more of an event than a film. It was a production that had never been done before, with several superheroes having their own feature films leading up to this one. The final result was an amazingly good time. Joss Whedon expertly blended fast-paced action with his own brand of humor to come up with the climax of MCU’s Phase One.

Captain America: Winter Soldier

The second installment of the Captain America film series wasn’t only the best of the series, it was one of the greatest superhero films ever crafted. The Russo Brothers succeeded in making a movie that was great as a stand-alone movie but also had very far-reaching consequences as far as the entire MCU goes.

Thor: Ragnarok

The third Thor movie had more of a “Guardians of the Galaxy” vibe than any other MCU movie that wasn’t “Guardians of the Galaxy.” “Thor: Ragnarok” was the most fun fans ever had in a movie theater in ages, and the jokes were simply brilliant. This was definitely one of the best 2017 films had to offer, across all genres.

Image source: empireonline.com

Hey there, my name’s Joe Cianciotto. I’m an architect from the Bay Area. I’m also a big fan of comic books and superhero movies. Follow my posts here for similar updates.

Emerging architecture trends for 2018

2017 has been a good year for architects, and 2018 is just right around the corner. As with any other industry, the architecture industry faces new challenges and opportunities each year. As 2017 is coming to an end, let’s examine the emerging trends in architecture for 2018: 

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Public and private spaces come together 

More and more people gather in urban areas, so the prices for real estate increase as cities today face a space crunch. This can result in long traffic jams. Because of this, cities combine public and private spaces and have designated fixed spaces for residential, commercial and industrial. 

Increased use of high technology in construction 

The rise of 3-D-printed construction projects has opened many doors of opportunities for architects. 3-D printing technology is now past the apprenticeship stage and is ready to make a huge impact on large-scale development. Holland is the prime example of this, as it produced the world’s first 3-D printed concrete bridge. 

At one with nature

2017 is the year the world focused on the need to pay close attention to the state of the environment. That’s why in 2018, we will see more architectural projects planned with the environment in mind. Apple’s new headquarters was a good example being completed last September. 

Images source : reportinglive.com

Hi, Joe Cianciotto here. I live for buildings, gadgets, and blockbusters. Follow me on Twitter for similar updates.

The Pros and Cons of Children Using Tablets

Tablets and smartphones are a common sight in almost every household in America. That’s the age we live in. These gadgets have proven very useful for work, entertainment, and keeping kids busy and quiet.

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Particularly for parents who have more urgent things to do than attending to their children, these gadgets are a great bribery tool. Though smartphones and tablets are effective tools for calming the kids, they have adverse effects. Here are the pros and cons of kids using tablets or smartphones:
Cons
1.During the child’s first five years, their brain develops rapidly. Very young children learn best by interacting with people. Screen time limits babies’ social interaction, limiting brain development in the process.
2.Babies and toddlers learn better with materials they can touch, versus what they can see on a screen.
3.Studies are proving that over-exposure to screen has an impact on attention span and concentration.
Pros
1.Kids develop an aptitude for technology, which is an important skill now, and more so in the future.
2.Gadgets offer an opportunity for your child to learn and stimulate his mind in a fun way.
3.Screens can be used to spur babies’ cognitive and social development. Given parents are involved in their child’s use of devices.

Image source: nerdywithchildren.com

Hi, my name’s Joe Cianciotto. I’m a longtime fan of superheroes and classic films. I also keep updated on the latest developments in consumer tech. Visit my blog to know more.

The best smart home speakers of 2017

Smart speakers, virtual assistants, or smart home speakers. Whatever they may be called they’re pretty cool, and affordable too! Many consider them the future of smart home automation, as they pair well with other smart home devices like the Philips Hue lightbulbs and smart locks. 

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Here are three of the best smart home speakers you can buy right now: 

Amazon Echo 

Alexa powers Amazon Echo. All things considered, it is still the best smart home speaker in the market and rightfully so, since they pioneered the technology three years ago. It has good audio performance, and it has tons of developer support. Sound quality could be better though.

Google Home 

If you’re a Chromecast user just like me, then Google Home would be the better choice for you. It is powered Google Assistant – arguably the best virtual assistant right now. It can control Chromecasts as if you were Tony Stark voice commanding it to play the latest “Stranger Things” episode from Netflix. 

Apple HomePod 

Just recently released, Apple HomePod is the dark horse of the smart home speaker lineup. You might think that the HomePod is a direct competitor of the Google Home or the Echo, but it’s not. It’s a home entertainment speaker first, and a smart home speaker second. With seven beam-forming tweeters and a four-inch upward-facing woofer, this Apple speaker packs a punch. 

Image source : macrumors.com

Hi, I’m Joe Cianciotto, a San Francisco Bay Area-based architect and movie buff. My friends also call me a technophile. Visit my page to get the latest tech updates.

Why superhero movies click

We’re living in the age of the superhero movie. It’s well into the second decade of an era when films based on superhero comics have been launched into the market by major studios and have made staggering profits. But what gives superhero movies their might and staying power?

                               Image source:CinemaBlend.com 

For fandom website The Renaissance Fan, superhero movies are not a mere trend. They’re considered a genre with its own set of tropes as well as “expectations to be adhered to, subverted, and reflected upon.” While a particular genre fatigue is to be anticipated, there isn’t really a sameness that could be dismissed in superhero films.

For screenwriter Stephen McFeely, superhero films have become a genre that can be done well now in the face of computers. Advancements in movie-making technology have resulted in great gains in the last few decades, from motion capture to IMAX cameras to CGI. This way, filmmakers and storytellers can pull off the intended effects for each character and showcase them very well before eager audiences.

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Hordes of comic book lovers are also coming out and claiming a thriving space for themselves, even penetrating the awards race through Oscar wins and nominations. Both Marvel and DC bank on the strong interest and power up not just production but also promotional campaigns, fan events, and Comic-Con appearances and previews that keep fans excited.

So, is the superhero movie here to stay? Highly likely, and as a genre, it’s expected to have its highs and lows and a judgment of individual films within the movement.

Joe Cianciotto is a movie buff and enjoys a diverse selection of genres, including superhero films, independent science fiction, mumblecore, and Golden-age dramas and epics. More on his interests here.

After Spotify, Apple Takes On Netflix

What Apple wants, Apple takes. That is what’s happening in the tech world recently. A few years ago, Apple dipped its toe in the online music streaming industry when it introduced Apple Music. It took on Spotify head-to-head. Thanks to Apple’s millions of fans, the service is an ongoing success.

Image source:macworld.co.uk

Now, reports are coming in that Apple has $1 billion to spend on new TV shows. Apple is looking to take on Netflix’s streaming service. We’ve already seen evidence of Apple’s interest in the TV entertainment industry since its launch of the Apple TV. Fortunately for Netflix, the company isn’t a newbie when it comes to taking on competitors. The online streaming service market is actually full of competition right now -- you have Amazon, HBO, Hulu, and other companies that are making high-end internet-delivered video – and Netflix is managing to stay on top.

Image source:macworld.co.uk

It’s going to be interesting how Apple will go about its online streaming service (I just hope it won’t be as buggy as the Apple Music app). What is clear is that Apple is pushing to create its own original content, much like Netflix’s originals. With all the completion and market saturation going on in the TV streaming industry, there’s one sure winner here: the consumers.

Hi, my name’s Joe Cianciotto. I’m an architect living in San Francisco Bay Area. I’m a movie buff and a technophile. Follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates about gadgets and movies.