lucaskirch

The Uprise of LinkedIn

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

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LinkedIn is on of the hottest emerging media sites right now and has benefited millions of people around the world gaining connections, landing interviews, and even jobs. LinkedIn is now in its twelfth year online and currently has over 300 million users. Shockingly, only 30% of those users are from the U.S. but I believe this number is quickly increasing as our economy continues to grow and more people notice the benefits of LinkedIn.

Why is having a LinkedIn so important?

As a college student your ultimate goal in life is to go into a career you love and provide for yourself and (future) family, right? Well by having a LinkedIn you are able to expand your network, outside of just your school or online job sites. You are able to make connections, and get your foot in the door before even applying to a job. Your profile is your resume that anyone can view and first impressions are critical, even on LinkedIn. Making your profile your own professional brand will enhance your chances of getting noticed which could lead to interviews.

LinkedIn is the most important social network and has, arguably, more potential than any other ones. As our economy gains growth, and continues to become more social (especially online). I see more people wanting to drive their careers to the next level. Companies and Universities around the world will expand their LinkedIn presence by connecting with more users/clients, as well as possibly special offerings or contests to boost engagement.

A few years ago LinkedIn unveiled a new service called “Youniversity” which shows where universities rank on certain professions, where alumni are working, as well as tuition rates. All the results from this service are pulled directly from LinkedIn users.

Here’s a small sample of some stats from UW-Oshkosh.

Being from Madison I was curious in seeing how many Oshkosh alums are in madison and where they are all working.

These kind of stats will bring more users, especially at the high school level looking at potential college destinations. LinkedIn wants to boost their users by getting kids under 18 thinking about careers they may want to pursue and getting them excited for their future.

Overall, LinkedIn has a very bright future and it creates an effect on people to have the drive to take their careers even further. You see, people will get a LinkedIn account and not think much of it. But after they spend time editing their profile, liking companies, and making connections, they will want to keep enhancing their profile to get people to view it. LinkedIn shows stats on your profile about how many people have viewed your page and if it’s up or down from previous weeks. LinkedIn will really expand in the next few years and I am excited to see what else it will do to change our professional networking.

Next Generation of Communication

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

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It seems that each year there is a new technology being brought to a vehicle and different automobile company’s are constantly competing to bring the most innovative technology to new vehicles. We have seen huge enhancements in both performance and appearance. But also, we have seen the automobile industry incorporate new technologies to make our driving experience safer, easier, and more enjoyable. In the past ten years we have seen improvements such as back up sensors, multiple directional cameras, GPS, automatic lights, and even Wi-Fi capability. We could start seeing something in the next couple of years that will change driving and make roads safer.

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is essentially the process of vehicles connecting through Wi-Fi signals to give the driver a warning before that person can see it. It supplies coverage around your entire vehicle to give you, the driver, a helping hand to make sure your car remains in one piece.

There are a lot of great possibilities that can come out of this system. It has the capability of monitory speed, lane changes, alerting you to cars in front of you that are breaking or accelerating slowly, and even operating your headlights and wipers, making it easier for the driver to maintain focus on the roads. The system costs $350 per vehicle, and could save upwards of 1,000+ lives per year.

The only issues with V2V is that the communication will not work if other vehicles aren’t equipped with this system. Liability could also be a debating issue if something were to go wrong while a vehicle has this system active.

This is a new technology that a lot of people say they would benefit from, and we could be seeing this system starting to get implemented in every new vehicle made very soon. Cadillac’s CEO has already made a statement saying they will be the first company to bring V2V technology to their 2017 CTS mid-size sedan. I would love to see this technology in every vehicle on the road as we keep progressing in a technology-based generation. Having witnessed numerous accidents in my lifetime, I can say that this communication would have prevented a majority of those accidents from happening.

Here’s a video that shows how V2V will improve our transportation.

I ask you, will this help driving in the future?

Behind 3D Printers

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

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Over the past few years I have read a lot online and heard about these things called “3D printers” and how great they are. I have heard numerous people talk about the amazing things that can be created with these printers, such as a basic everyday objects, food, and even a car… For the past couple of years I could not wrap my head around how a printer can create not only a car, but a car that can operate.

What I Found:

After conducting a great amount of research on 3D printers I have been able to see just how cool these things really are. If you have the right material necessary for the object you desire and a 3D digital file of that object, you are just one click away from creating whatever you wish. For example, if I wanted to make a phone case I would use a 3D scanner to examine the object I want (or download a 3D file of that object online), insert a printing material into it, and watch it go. It’s that easy, right? Not necessarily. Many believe that a 3D printer will make an entire object with no assembly requirements, but this is not true.

The 3D printer can make the parts but not put them together, depending on the size and complexity of the object you are creating. You are able to assemble parts the printer produces, but any screws or bolts have to be bought separately. 3D printers are also very pricey (as expected) ranging anywhere from $1,000 – $2,000 and can go upwards of $50,000 for larger ones, although those prices are beginning to drop.

We could certainly see these becoming more popular as they come more affordable. Businesses have the possibilities of having high turnovers because of easy accessibility, control over inventory, and allowing customers to get customization out of a company’s products. But at the same time it could eventually hurt our economy with the licensing disputes. People could be looking to create certain products with their printer rather than buying them. We could also see this be useful in the health care industry where they will be able to create custom-fitted bone substitutes as needed and even human organs.

Also, here is that 3D printed car.

Do you think 3D printers will benefit our country/world?

A Life of Snaps

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

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Snapchat is one of the most trending social network applications today, and probably my favorite. As of today there are currently 100 million active users, and 18% of all social media users are on Snapchat. Anyone who has been an active user of Snapchat could tell you that there have been many improvements since the time it came out in 2011. But how much more can they do?

History

To give a little history, Snapchat was discovered by current CEO, Evan Spiegel and cofounders Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown. It all started in 2011 at Stanford University when Brown said “I wish these photos I am sending this girl would disappear.” From there it has taken off to become a multi-billion dollar business. Interesting enough, the app’s original name before being launched was,”Pictaboo.”

What is it?

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Snapchat is a social messaging application that allows you to use images, videos, writing, and drawing to share content with friends, family, and even the community through stories which are a collection of snaps from a single user, or many users. For example, I could post snaps that I take to my story so my friends can see it. But in certain areas and at certain events, snapchat will hold a story that any user can post to and employees get to decide which ones make it on that story which can be viewed by any user. Snapchat has been a perfect fit in our current generation. Much of what attracts users on social media nowadays are visuals. We prefer to see something, rather than read.

Where will it go?

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Snapchat continues to amaze me with the new features that are continuously added. Each time there is a new update I think, “how can Snapchat continue to improve?” They strive to keep extending their network to incorporate more users through stories from different regions of our world to make the app more social and make users more aware about what’s happening in our world. From a business standpoint, Snapchat has done a great job at integrating advertisements into their snap stories and main menu. Snapchat will continue aiming to be the best mobile advertiser on the market and is projecting their revenue at over $50 million in 2016. I also believe Snapchat will broaden its stories and narrow them down to city events so people in the area can see what is going on near them. On top of that there has been a lot of discussion that Snapchat is looking to partner with music companies such as Spotify and Vevo to promote musicians. Being a rapidly growing app and so easy to use, we are seeing a wide variety of age groups joining the app. Unfortunately this has included my mom, my friend’s moms, and my aunts.

Where do you think snapchat will go from here? Will it continue to grow?

Start snapping!

Step Into The Future

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

Oculus Rift Development Version

Many have described Oculus Rift as “the technology of the future” and something that will “change our world.” We live in a society where we use social media to connect and see what is going on around us. Social media (such as Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat) has made our world more visible and linked together. Being an avid user of Snapchat, they have done a great job at covering daily stories in different parts of the globe and at major social events. But, have you ever been on social media and ever thought what it would be like to be in a different country or at a major event? Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that allows you to physically see and react to places and situations you would never imagine.

In this virtual reality headset you can enter a new world to play games, and be placed in different scenarios such as going on a roller coaster, sitting in a haunted house, and standing in space. Even though some people may not have noticed, the virtual reality headset has benefited us tremendously. These are just a few of many things it gets used for. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2850937/10-min d-blowing-oculus-rift-experiments-that-reveal-vrs-practical-potential.html

Currently, Oculus Rift is being used in the health care industry to enhance the training of surgeons all over the world. On top of the physical training, they get to step into another surgeons glasses to see what he or she is doing during certain procedures.

For the past few years NASA has been a popular user of the Oculus Rift to create robots, they will be able to access through Kinect technology. While a robot is standing on Mars someone will be controlling it from earth making its every move.

Being a huge sports fan I found it incredible that virtual reality technology has created its way to help football teams. To have the capability of seeing the field and alignments without physically being out there is an advantage to any team.

To give a little history on Oculus, the company was founded by Palmer Luckey and sold to Facebook back in March of 2014 for an astonishing $2 billion. Some questioned the acquisition from Facebook, but a vast majority of people agreed with it. Facebook controls the social network market and wants to grow new ways to connect with others. Following Facebook’s purchase of Oculus, Mark Zuckerburg wrote, “Our mission is to make the world more open and connected.” https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10101319050523971

Oculus is currently planning to release an improved Oculus Rift sometime in 2016 with a more comfortable fit, higher quality picture, and a more appealing design. http://gizmodo.com/heres-the-final-oculus-rift-coming-in-early-2016-1710650824

Virtual Reality is a very intense technology and much of the older generation is amazed with how far technology has come in the past few years. Check out some of these reactions when these elders test out the Oculus Rift…

The Glasses of Tomorrow

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

Technology is changing daily and new trends are arising. We have seen everything from desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, and watches becoming smarter and more influential on our everyday lives. Now, could we start seeing a movement in eyewear? Google is in the the process of redesigning the Glass which will give people an entirely new way to see technology.

What is it?

Image source

Google Glass is ultimately a computer on your eyes that allows you to do just about everything that is possible on your phone or tablet. You can take pictures, record videos, share content with your contacts, search the web, look at weather, access your calander, and even make phone calls.

When will it hit the market?

The eyewear was announced to the public in 2012 and went through a lot of testing the past few years. In 2013 they noticed it was not near a launch. Many testers noticed crashing, uncomfortable fit, and not a great look for today’s current fashion. This past February Google brought in a new designer (from Apple) who has decided to start from scratch and give the Google Glass a whole new look and feel. The new designers said they will not release this product until it is “perfect.”

How will it impact us?

In my opinion, Google Glass will have big impacts on many lives but I see law enforcement and the healthcare industry benefiting the most.

Law enforcement – With police officers wearing Google Glass they will be able to communicate with other officers, get to places quickly and efficiently with GPS directly in front of them, record criminal situations, and potentially even look up a person’s background directly through the Glass.

Healthcare – Doctors and nurses go from patient to patient on a daily basis. Getting one’s information brought up immediately so you can think ahead instead of scrambling around to find a clipboard would be a huge advantage. A doctor or nurse would always be one step ahead which could help save someone’s life.

I understand Google is not completely there yet on the Glass but this is a product I believe could make a difference in everyday activities whether you use it for work, or your own personal use. Keep an eye on this product as they are expecting the redesign to be finished in 2016.

Brewers Future

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

So far, this season for the brewers has been a big disappointment to many fans and the team. Starting out the year with a 7-18 record, worst in the MLB, in the teams first 25 games was not something many were planning on witnessing. Not to mention, the Brewers have been playing 28 games under .500 in the last 100 games. For that reason, and the meltdown they had last September before the playoffs, the brewers announced Sunday night that Ron Roenicke has been relieved of his duties. The following day Craig Counsell, who is a Wisconsin native and played with the ball club for 6 years out of his 16 year career, was hired as manager to replace Roenicke.

Many people are quick to make judgements upon the hiring of Counsell because of the below average player he was while playing. I believe this is a great hire for the Brewers because of how young Counsell is. Being only 44 years old, Counsell should be able to connect with players better than other, older managers in the MLB. I believe Counsell has a lot to learn being in his first ever managerial position, but he is knowledgeable enough when it comes to getting the most out of players and playing guys to their advantage. He is a great starting point to this organizations rebuilding process.

As for the team itself, the farm system for the Brewers is down and has been the past few seasons. I do not believe the Brewers would be doing anyone a favor by keeping Kyle Lohse, Aramis Ramirez, and Gerardo Parra who are all in their contract season. On top of those three players, I would like to see if Milwaukee could get anything for Adam Lind, Matt Garza, Neal Cotts, and Fransisco Rodriguez. I believe the brewers are at a point where they need to start fresh and get rid of most of these veterans.

Packers Draft

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Lucas Kirch

As the 2015 NFL draft comes to a close, the Packers have added some key players to the team to add depth and potential starters to a new 2015 season. With the entire offense coming back and only 3 players leaving from last years defense, 2 which were starters, the packers had an eye on the corner position right away. Green Bay had 8 picks in this years draft; picking 4 offensive players, and 4 defensive players. The 2 biggest picks that caught my attention right away were the selections of second and third round picks. Quentin Rollins, cornerback, Miami (OH) was taken at pick #62 and Ty Montgomery, wide receiver, Stanford was taken at pick #94.

Quentin Rollins was a four-year basketball player at Miami (OH) who had an extra year of eligibility his senior year. He decided to strap on the pads and play the sport he loved since being a high schooler. Rollins senior season was a hug 150421_rollins_inside e success being n
amed the 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and making first-team All-MAC. Rolling is 5’11, 195 lbs. who has incredible instincts for the ball and proving that with his 7 interceptions, including a pick-six during the 2014 season. Rollins is an athlete who’s motor is constantly running, not taking any plays off. He has great quickness and lateral movement, while not being afraid to come downhill and hit someone. I can certainly see Rollins pushing for the second corner position this season playing on the opposite side as Sam Shields.

Ty Montgomery, Stanford University, probably my favorite player the Packers selected is incredibly fun to watch. Ty is 6’0, 221 lbs. and can play just about anywhere on the offensive side of the ball. Being declared a wide receiver, Ty also played some running back and was used at QB in the wildcat formation. Not only is he a very versatile player, but Ty was also considered to be probably the best special teams player in this draft. Leading FBS in yard average las season, JPFAZCALCMSYNUU.20131008205528 Ty will be a very valuable asset to this Packers special teams. Many expert scouts look at Montgomery as a project because he might not have the body type or the hands that a typical wide receiver might display. Watching Montgomery’s film from last season, I see a lot of similarities to Randall Cobb. Similar body type, 40 time, versatility, and athleticism. I see Ty’s role on this team as the main punt and kick returner, while also backing up Cobb in the slot, and potentially receiving some reps in the backfield.

Both of this players show a lot of upside and potential to fit in the Packers system and eventually play at a high level. Rollins and Montgomery might not show an immediate impact as rookies but they are a couple solid projects any team would love to have. Ted Thomson is incredible at pinpointing “middle draft talent” and putting them in a position to succeed. Judging by Ted’s previous second an third round picks, I’ll agree with whatever he chooses.