Augmented Reality

Updated on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 2:48PM by MAD21

Updated on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 8:35PM by MAD21

Updated on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 10:02PM by MAD21

By Alan

Certainly one of the more interesting technological advances showing up in the consumer environment is the concept of Augmented Reality (or AR):The concept of supplementing a view on the world with additional data via an overlay or heads up display. Ever since television came up with the idea of an overlay with a teleprompter or popup videos, the general public can get the idea of what this means.

What does it look like? Well if we see what Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to have seen in the movie Terminator, it was a simple white text and line drawings around the real world. Not just status messages, but actual outlines, three dimensional extrapolation, etc.

Terminator Overlay

Click to read more ...

The Bible's Definition Of A Good Education: Part 2 - Understanding

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6, NKJV)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10, NKJV)

Just a reminder before we begin: God calls parents to the responsibility of educating their children.  Whether you home school or send your children to a school outside your home, you are still responsible before God for how your children are being educated.  Each one of us who is called to be a parent is also called to be an educator.  This series of articles deals with “academic” things, but they are things relevant to every parent and everyone who ever hopes to be a parent-- or anyone who wants to learn anything faithfully.

In Part 1, we explored the first component of a Biblically faithful education: knowledge.  Knowledge must be the first step in learning anything. In order for us to develop understating and wisdom about a subject, we must first know it.  In order for me to understand the causes of the Civil War properly, I must first know that there was a Civil War and the major events leading up to it.  In order for me to understand the major themes and the flow of the argument of Romans, I must first know that the Book of Romans exists and I must know its basic content.  Understanding without knowledge will always be unsound and incomplete. 

Click to read more ...

Calling All Shoeboxes!!

By MAD21

The time is drawing near for Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan's Purse) to begin collecting those shoeboxes. Don't know what that means? Read: "The Graham's and Samaritan's Purse," "Got Boxes?" "A Boy Who Overcame Terrifying Events," or go straight to OCC.

The blog Becoming Last just posted a YouTube video of a boy who had just received his box. If you haven't ever packed a box in the past because you didn't think it mattered much, go watch this child's joy before he's even opened it. It will change your mind.

A new really cool thing this year? They now have the ability to track some of the boxes, so you can find out  where your shoebox ended up!

Now, go to the OCC site to find out where your nearest drop off location is, get a bunch of friends and family together and have a box party. Get packin'! Make a Difference in a child's life.

Works For Me Wednesday: Charts

By MAD21

For this weeks Works For Me Wednesday, I want to talk about charts. Ya-ya, I know. Every time you are having issues with your kids repeating undesirable behaviors, someone, somewhere says, "Well, make a chart...give them stickers." I have to say, I've worked with kids for a long time, and ...I really don't like doing them. That being said, I hate to admit, they usually work. I have my own kids now, and have pretty much avoided using charts until the last few months. I got really tired of 'going down the list' of all the things they were supposed to do everyday... everyday.

In our house, we have two charts. One is the "Responsibility Chart." This one is for both of our girls and it includes both the morning and evening routines. The other chart is the "Potty Chart" and this one is for our youngest daughter who is still having some issues with not wanting to use the toilet all the time.

Click to read more ...

YOB: #16. Try To Meet Someone Famous (Part 2)

By Lara

I was rather skeptical about this item on the Year of the Birthday list when Beth suggested it. I knew from the beginning that she wanted the famous person to be Duff from Ace of Cakes. I also knew that I could not afford a cake from their store. I assuaged my skepticism by thinking we would seriously bend the definition of "famous" in order to meet the objective.

I was driving to work two mornings before Beth arrived for the much anticipated "See a Hockey Game" when I heard the local radio host interviewing Mary Alice from Ace of Cakes. They were having a bake sale at the Inner Harbor. It was open to the public. Duff would be there. PERFECT!

I started teasing Beth about a surprise. She absolutely loves Duff, and had no idea what we were going to do. I finally broke down and told her the night before. She was incredibly excited. Did I mention that she loves Duff?

Click to read more ...