Blog

While Mac and PC software is always getting updated, the standard set of word processing and photo editing programs has remained the same for some time. Does that mean we’ve peaked in terms of innovative software? Not even close. In fact, this may be one of the most exciting times to get into software as computing speeds will go through the roof and technology becomes increasingly wearable and...

You’re never too young to make a difference. You’re never too old to start over. You’re never too far behind to catch up. You’re never too inexperienced to start something new. You’re never too scared to start being brave. You’re never too weak to start being strong. You’re never too stuck to find a fresh start. You’re never too busy to find a window of...

A futurist is someone who uses knowledge of science, technology, social trends and human needs, adds a little bit of imagination, and creates a hypotheses about what the future might look like. Jules Verne may be the most famous futurist of all, having predicted space flight to the Moon, global transportation and submarines. Other science fiction writers (like the folks behind Star Trek) have...

As you begin a new learning curve or take the first steps towards bringing an idea into existence, you should ask yourself if you’re determined to be determined. It’s an important question because we can say with almost 100% certainty that your idea will not work the first time and you will not learn that new skill overnight. Was that too discouraging? We don’t think so. It’s just the...

William Kamkwamba All William wanted was to have electricity for reading books after sunset. Instead, he became an internationally known role model for determination and inventive solutions by building a windmill—at age 14, while living in rural Malawi, with only library books as guides and junk bicycle parts for building material. Kind of makes you wonder what you’re doing with all your...

Little things can add up to something big. This was the lesson behind “Art Day” at our November 24th Junior Makers meeting. We talked about how small pixels on your computer screen can add up to eye-popping graphics. Armed with a variety of colorful sticky notes, our Makers colored the walls, creating images out of the pixel-like pieces of paper. We also explored stop motion animation,...

While past generations have dreamed of building rocket ships or designing movie creatures, those kinds of jobs were few and far between. However, because there’s now a space race in the private sector, the entertainment industry’s use of computing power has boomed, and consumer goods are getting increasingly smart. The jobs that were once only daydreams are now listed on numerous job...

As a life-long rule of thumb, never stop learning. Ever. Learning a new skill not only allows you to use and enjoy that new skill, it’s the neuro equivalent of heaving lifting—only it’s your memory and cognitive function that gets the six-pack abs. What’s more, learning can improve your brain at almost any age. There’s even a term, “brain plasticity,” to describe how the brain can...

Our lives revolve around technology. I work from home as a writer, my 15 year old lives to design apps, my 14 year old socializes at all hours via her phone and my 12 year old engulfs himself in the fantasy world of video games. Our family time could consist only of us urgently staring at our glowing screens if I didn’t do something about it. There had to be a better way! Then I saw that...

It’s safe to say that technology is advancing so fast that the future will have jobs that don’t exist today. Which is why it’s fun to dream a little bit about what might be on your not-too-distant resume. Artificial Intelligence Psychologist. Will code cheer up your sad computer or will it need a personal touch to talk through difficult issues? Space Trash Engineer. Along with...