![]() Contributed by Enemy the Ox Communication is always evolving. With regards to new media, we find ourselves asking, “What’s next?” This is not a bad question to consider, but we can also consider what has happened in the past. For many people in the United States, the English language is considered the primary language, followed by Spanish, then Chinese (see https://www.alsintl.com/blog/top-10-languages). Language has always been and continues to be the main way we communicate. There are thousands of languages around the world, but many languages have fewer and fewer speakers. It is no secret that the Navajo Nation represents a very small percentage of the country's population, ultimately leading to the filtering of their native tongue from public and private schools. The language is primarily preserved through family and tradition. It is amazing that a native and ancient language is still spoken in the United States, but some fear this will not be the case years down the road. This language has been credited for helping to win World War II because of its unbreakable code and dialect. The United States used native speakers specifically for sending classified messages through radio. This is why the new interactive learning app, Navajo Toddler, is a great way for parents to get their children ages 2-9 excited to learn and be proud of the Navajo tradition. The app is divided into different categories, like color, food, clothing, and common phrases. The app also features a “play” section that teaches children’s songs. The learning app teaches children from ages 2-9 how to speak Navajo. Isreal Shortman, one of the founders of Navajo Toddler, said, "Navajos are visual learners and we wanted to have fun illustrations with culturally appropriate scenes” (http://www.navajotimes.com/business/2012/0112/010912app.php). The app also offers flashcards with audio that will help children pronounce certain words as they look at the visual in front of them. According to analysts at IBISWorld, the demand for learning software will continue to grow the industry for the next five years. This means that opportunities for future language apps may be on the horizon (Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/02/04/technology-helps-teach-navajo-new-ways-163228). Navajo Toddler is a perfect mix between tradition and progress. The new technology that every kid is interested in can now serve as a great learning platform. iPhones and iPads are in the hands of many young Navajos. This app will make learning fun and it will also make the parents life a little easier. The graphics are visually stunning and enough to get any young mind interested in tradition.
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![]() Post contributed by Enemy the Ox When we think about communication, we can assume NASA knows a little something about it too. “A messaging app for teams who put robots on Mars!!” is what Slack is using as their current motto. Slack’s software is built for the new way business is being done. This app allows businesses to help control and monitor their online and offline presence simultaneously. Slack combines email and social media in one organized application that allows you to filter your life and job through different channels. This application has a private channel that is for sensitive information, a channel for personal messages, and a general channel that manages marketing and social media accounts. Slack also provides a “drag and drop” option which allows you to share documents from places like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box. Simply paste the link and that document is immediately searchable for everyone you work with. With the need for information being requested faster and demanded more often, Slack provides all the tools needed to navigate your way through the new waves of communication. Check out https://slack.com/ for more information. ![]() Post contributed by Gustavo Zogobi Waze is the world’s largest traffic and navigation app. The app is free, and available for IOS and Android. Waze allows you to join other drivers to share location, road info, and real time traffic, saving money and time and making your life much easier. Google purchased Waze on June 2013, for a reported $1.03 billion dollars. Like other mapping service, Waze allows you to have voice-guided GPS navigation with turn-by-turn directions, but what makes Waze really interesting and unique is its social layer. Waze's active community of users share real time traffic and road information. Waze gives you heads-up warnings about reported obstacles on your route (accidents, police traps, traffic, etc.) and then it will redirect you to your destination. Waze also uses the best routes that users prefer to take towards frequent destinations. Also, Waze can find the cheapest gas station along the way. Waze gives its users the option to report information via hands-free voice control, which the user can activate by waving a hand in front of a smartphone screen. The best part of Waze is its social and gamification features. Users can earn points when they contribute to the road information, and as points rack-up, their ranking in the Waze community rises. Also, Waze allows the users to edit maps to fix problems the users may see. Waze also eliminates the need of “I am five minutes away” texts to friends because users can see live updates from friends who also use Waze. Waze has Facebook integration too, so directions from Facebook events will automatically show up in the user's Facebook page. Waze was built for helping drivers to find their way without getting lost. Waze works with an internet connection or a data network connection from your mobile device. Connection with an internet service allows Waze to show real time traffic, real time information. Without an internet connection, you will not be able to navigate or find a route. If your connection is not working for any reason, Waze will try to get data from the servers for traffic alerts and hazards, but Waze may not always be able to give you correct information. Waze is very helpful for people who do know not the routes; for example, in big cities Waze is really helpful. I encourage readers to download this incredible app and avoid getting lost. Have fun with Waze! See: https://support.google.com/waze/answer/6078702?hl=en https://www.waze.com/about ![]() Post contributed by Gustavo Zogobi WhatsApp is a free app you can download, and it is compatible with Android and IOS. With WhatsApp, you can send voice message, videos, photos, and also make calls. The service is very similar to text messaging; however, the big difference is WhatsApp is totally free. WhatsApp is very popular around the world because it allows you to text people all over the globe without charging you anything, and it also allows you to create group chatting with location sharing. With 700 million users, WhatsApp is currently the biggest online messenger app in the world. To use WhatsApp, you need a compatible smartphone or tablet with a SIM card, internet connection, and phone number. WhatsApp will use your phone number as its username, and your account will be locked to your phone, although you can transfer your contacts over to new devices. The company is based in Mountain View, California. WhatsApp has a worldwide user base of 450 million, and the highest percent of their users are international. WhatsApp is not that popular in the United States. Founded in 2009 by ex-Yahoo employees, it started as a very small company and just after few months they already had 250,000 users. In 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook. The service describes itself as a “cross-platform mobile messaging app.” Users of WhatsApp can share their location in real time over messages. Also, they can organize their own contacts as a list, making it much easier to text anytime. The best of WhatsApp is you can text people abroad, send pictures, send voice messages, or call them and it is all totally free. WhatsApp competes with some of new apps available on the market such as Viber and Line. Both are very similar as WhatsApp, but both of them charge you to download, which is very different than WhatsApp which is completely free and much better and easier to use. For more details, see: https://www.whatsapp.com/ http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/134020-whatsapp-explained-8-tips-and-tricks-you-likely-had-no-clue-about-and-more Post contributed by Serina Jones
The Apple company is currently dealing with controversy in China. The newest iOS 9 software update gave Apple customers the benefit of receiving news sent right to their devices. The News app works in the favor of anyone who has access to it, simply because one is able to access any kind of news they want. When the app is opened for the first time, the customer is able to choose what kind of news they want to receive and what source they want to receive that news from. Now, the problem is that China has no access to the News app. This is because of China's firewall that prohibits anything that is not allowed in China. Sources say that the app is on Apple devices there, but customers in China just cannot receive news. It has also been stated that Beijing insists that companies censor the things the country does not allow before they bring their products out there. As of now, the News app only works in the United States, but is being tested in Australia and Britain. China is Apple's second largest source of revenue at this time, so the company is treading lightly with the moves they make concerning this app. ![]() Post contributed by Willie Franke A new app released just over two weeks ago from five University of Michigan students that makes walking home alone safer for everyone. The new app, called “Companion,” was created over a year ago, but was just released to the public this past month to help students or people in general walk home alone at night and feel safe doing so. All that needs to be done is download the app, link your number with a friend’s phone who also has the app, and start walking. So how does this exactly work? After the connection between the two phones or electronic devices is made, the GPS Tracking system on your phone sets up a map of where you are now, and where your determined destination is. As you walk home, your friend can see your icon walking along your path home. If a situation happens while you’re walking home, for example if you speed up, your friend’s phone will get an alert that you’ve began to walk faster, and he or she can send you a message confirming if you’re okay. If you don’t respond with “I’m ok” in 15 seconds, the app notifies your companion with an option to call the police. Another feature for the walker is at any time he or she is feeling nervous, he or she can hit the “I feel nervous” button which pins on a map areas where people feel nervous. I think this app is a great invention that will be highly successful. I have already downloaded the app, and I highly encourage others to do it as well. I think this will stop violence on college campuses, and catch predators preying on people walking alone. This app will help people walking alone notify a partner as soon as a situation happens where there is an emergency. As you can see by the picture, the app is extremely simple to use, and will be highly effective in society. |
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