Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm

1.       Mia Hamm was a successful and famous soccer player. She has won many awards and championships, even a few Olympic medals. Hamm is also the author of the book Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life. She has also appeared in the HBO documentary Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team.

2.       Hamm was born with a club foot, but despite that she was able to accomplish so much. The reason is that she wore corrective shoes and persevered to excel.

3.       Technology might’ve impacted Hamm’s life in various ways. One way is the technology used to create her corrective shoes. The machines and such that created her shoes impacted her life forever so that she could become an amazing soccer player.

Reflection: I believe that Hamm’s excellence and perseverance is completely admirable and her success is astonishing. One thing I could learn from her is to persevere. She persevered to become a wonderful athlete, despite her club foot and the challenges she faced being a woman in the sports community.

Luke Aikins

Luke Aikins

•        Luke Aikins is a famous skydiver, BASE jumper, pilot, and aerial photographer. He has done many incredible stunts as well as being the first person to dive from mid-tropospheric altitude without a parachute, which also makes him the second skydiver to land without a parachute. He is also holds the record for highest jump without a parachute.
•          Aikins has been skydiving since he was 12 years old, and has only gotten better and better. Aikins has coached for the United States Navy SEALS and NASCAR’s Brian Vickers. Aikins has also advised the military on skydiving techniques.
•         Technology could have impacted Aikins in several ways. He would have needed to use several technologies that are used when skydiving such as automatic aviation devices, reserve static lines, main assisted reserve deployment system, digital and audible altimeters, and/or ram air parachutes.

Reflection:  Luke Aikins has achieved much in the skydiving world with more than 18000 jumps and I hope we get to see more of his incredible stunts. I think that the lesson you can learn from Aikins is that if you want to accomplish something extraordinary you need to practice for it, especially if it’s dangerous. Aikins has been skydiving for almost 30 years of his life and it definitely lead up to his record breaking stunts, but he wouldn’t have broken records unless he had been training for all this time.

Marvin Goldstein

Marvin Goldstein

• Marvin Goldstein is a famous pianist and performer. He has performed in many countries and for many special occasions.
• Goldstein achieved all this because of his music scholarship to Tel Aviv University of Music in Israel when he was eighteen. Later, he completed his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
• Technology might have impacted Goldstein in some ways. The internet most definitely would have helped him boost his career. He could have networked and gotten connections through the internet. Also, videos containing his music or his performances might have helped him get recognized easier.

Reflection: I think Goldstein’s success is admirable and it would be wise to look up to him and try to follow in his footsteps. The lesson I can learn from Goldstein is to broaden my horizons and don’t be afraid to do something I am not used to in the way that Goldstein has covered many genres from pop, to classical, to country.

Computer Science Innovations

Computer Science Innovations

1. Internet, broadband, WWW (browser and html)
2. PC/laptop computers
3. Mobile phones
4. Email
5. DNA testing and sequencing/human genome mapping
6. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
7. Microprocessors
8. Fiber optics
9. Office software (spreadsheets, word processors)
10. Non-invasive laser/robotic surgery (laparoscopy)
11. Open source software and services (e.g., Linux, Wikipedia)
12. Light-emitting diodes
13. Liquid crystal display (LCD)
14. GPS systems
15. Online shopping/ecommerce/auctions (e.g., eBay)

GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a global navigation system that utilizes satellites in order to map the globe and provide accurate data. GPS was originally exclusive to the government but in the 80s it became available to the public. GPS impacted the world in my opinion because everyone uses GPS in one way or another. Without GPS the military would have been less effective out in the field and less precise, resulting in more casualties and losses. Also, GPS is often used for emergency situations in which someone needs to be located quickly, and without GPS it would take a longer amount of time. Also, the common civilian use for GPS such as simple navigation, games, etc. definitely makes life easier and more enjoyable. I think that GPS is a wonderful innovation and I am grateful for its existence. There are many times that GPS has helped me in my life and I appreciate that.