Griffith Goas

IPTV will offer users many different applications and services. While no IPTV service is currently superior to satellite or digital cable services, they are beginning to offer features that are comparable. Video-on-demand, digital video recording, and high definition programming are a few things that digital cable and satellite television are good at. IPTV is going to try and offer the same services at over internet protocol.

Applications and Services provided by IPTV include:
Digital Broadcast Television
Video on Demand (VoD)
Anywhere Television Service
Global Television Channels
Personal Media Channels
Addressable Advertising

The first service that will be discussed is Digital Broadcast Television, or DBTV. IPTV will give users the opportunity to receive conventional digital TV through internet protocol. As of February 17, 2009, analog broadcasting of television channels will stop in the United States. The Federal Government intends to free up parts of the broadcast spectrum for public safety, and other uses. Because internet protocol is an entirely digital format, anyone using IPTV will not have to worry about the conversion when that day comes. (Lee, C. (2007), DBTV Explained)
Digital Broadcast TV gives IPTV the potential to carry a greater number of channels and a larger variety of programs than other TV providers. Instead of broadcasting every channel at once, like other TV providers, IPTV suppliers only delivers the channels that are being viewed by the users, and can potentially offer an unlimited number of channels.
Another service that will be provided by IPTV is Video on Demand (VOD). It allows users to interactively request and receive television channels and stored media. This application gives the subscribers the freedom to view content at their convenience. VOD is a form of Time shifting. Typically those watching VOD on a TV can pause, fast forward, and rewind as if they were watching the program on a VCR, DVD, or DVR. While in the past this was often known as Interactive Video on Demand, now it's become a standard. ((2007) VOD dictionary)
Anywhere TV allows you to watch and control TV from anywhere in the world, including channel surfing/changing, personal video recorder control, and scheduled recording from any computer … now on a mobile phone, any Windows-based Wi-Fi PDA device, and any computer with an internet connection. IPTV can be operated like a television extension. Once the Internet address of the user is registered with the Internet Television Service Provider (ITVSP), a user can view IPTV from any Internet connection point. This also includes mobile devices. (Internet Protocol Television)
Global Television Channels are, as the name suggests, television channels that can be viewed globally. This gives content providers the opportunity to distribute content beyond their local areas, and outside the reach of local governments. The content providers can avoid local regulations, and it reduces the costs of distributing the content on a global level. (IPTV Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved September 10, 2007)
Personal Media Channels are user-friendly communication services, which give users the freedom to select and view media from different media sources such as video or music. An IPTV customer can be assigned a personal television channel. The user can then upload their media and allow other people to access it. (Internet Protocol Television)
Addressable Advertising allows for a measurement of the efficiency of advertising campaigns. The IPTV service providers observe the viewing profile of the subscribers, and determine whether or not the advertising message is appropriate for that viewer. Business will then be able aim their advertisements toward their target audiences, which will cut down the cost of advertising, and ensure that their advertisements reach their pre-determined audiences. Currently ads that are sent through digital or analog cable and satellite systems and are broadcast to the entire region. The ads may be filtered after reaching the user's set-top box to display alternatives but these are based on demographics. Addressable advertising has the potential to increase advertising revenue per viewer by over 20 times while the viewer experience becomes more personalized. This means that targeted advertising may become the single most important reason for the rapid introduction of IPTV. (Christian, P. (2005) Addressable IPTV Advertising)

(2007) VOD dictionary, Retrieved November 22, 2007, Web site, <
http://www.itvdictionary.com/vod.html>

Christian, P. (2005) Addressable IPTV Advertising, Retrieved November 21,2007, Web
site,

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). Retrieved September 10, 2007.

IPTV Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved September 10, 2007.

Lee, C. (2007), DBTV Explained, Retrieved November 22, 2007, Web site, <
http://www.leemark.com/digitaltv/index.html#edtv>

Posted by grgoas at 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So there are many different kinds of blogging. There is blogging to contribute information, there is blogging to voice your opinion, there is recreational blogging, and I'm sure people have found other, more creative blogging uses. Could blogging be a part of the Information Renaissance? Is it really a rebirth of information? or is it just a means by which people can distribute information they feel is relevant to the rest of society. I think it is just a delivery method people are utilizing, so others can hear their voice, and read their thoughts, no matter how ridiculous or relevant their ideas might be.

Like now, I don't consider this particular blog to be a contribution to knowledge. I'm actually interested in asking questions, that might in turn stimulate someone else to answer.

Is wikipedia a blog? It is after all, a bunch of people contributing information on a website.

Somehow, i don't think it is exactly the same thing, but then again, who am i to say?

Anyway, I don't really know what else to say here. hopefully someone will post a comment about wether or not wikipeida can be considered a blog, and that might stimulate further discussions down the line.

And while i haven't contributed a whole lot during the past 3 blogs, i still think these have been more enjoyable posts than the ones i'm required to write, because i had control of the content.

I've just been blogging for the sake of blogging.

Posted by grgoas at 01:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I found a paper i wrote as an undergrad for ADD in adults. Perhaps this will help in regards to my last blog?

Griffith R. Goas
HSC 160
Dr. Bock
4/17/07

ADD in Adults

Until about the last ten years, it was believed that ADD was a childhood disorder, which would usually disappear in adolescence. Research has shown otherwise. It is now known that many individual's symptoms continue into adulthood and cause problems in adult life. It often creates difficulties in managing the everyday tasks and responsibilities of everyday life, such as work, school, relationships, running a household, and parenting. Unfortunately, perhaps millions of American adults have ADD and have not been identified or treated successfully.
Adult attention deficit disorder is the term used to describe the neurological disorder (ADD) "attention deficit disorder" when the conditions present in adulthood. One of the theories out there, is that ADD is the result of less than normal activity the frontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for the regulation of attention, impulse control, emotions, and motor activity. It is largely inherited and tends to run in families. Because of the difficulty of diagnosing it, the exact prevalence in adults is unknown.
Adult ADD is a lifelong disorder, but the pervasiveness in adults is difficult to measure because individuals differ in their level of affliction, as well as their abilities to compensate for their difficulties. Many only notice symptoms in adulthood and some stop seeking treatment in adulthood. For those who seek treatment, over time, may develop coping skills and other forms of adaptive behavior, which make symptoms less noticeable to themselves and others.
So what is the difference between ADD and ADHD? ADD is often used as a generic term to describe the whole disability. The term ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A person may either be diagnosed with ADHD or ADD depending on whether they are hyperactive or not. It is possible for someone to have ADD without being hyperactive. To accommodate this possibility, ADHD is often written with brackets around the "H" (i.e. AD(H)D). You may also see it written as AD/HD. I have read about three types of AD(H)D:
Combined Type (hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive)
Inattentive Type
Hyperactive, Impulsive Type
Identifying the cause of ADD is often difficult, because no particular organic signs or set of neurological indicators are specific. The primary signs are behavioral and vary with situation and time. Social and medical histories and school reports are normally used for diagnosis.
As with general intelligence, math skills, athletic ability, artistic talent, etc., many researchers believe that the abilities and limitations that comprise ADD are largely inherited and passed down within the family. As many as 80% of ADD cases are thought to be the result of genetics, with the remainder caused by toxins, trauma or illnesses introduced during pregnancy, delivery or the newborn period. If a family member has been diagnosed with ADD, there is a greater possibility that a sibling, parent, child or blood relative also has ADD.
The treatment for adult ADD centers on managing symptoms through behavior modification, medication or combining mediation and behavior therapy. Behavior therapy uses different learning techniques, which change human behavior. When it comes to treatment, most of the experts in the field of ADD endorse the multidisciplinary approach. Medications, if indicated, often will provide positive results but are not the answer to treatment. Individuals and families require education about ADD, its causes and the development of compensation skills to overcome specific problem areas in the person's life. “This might include: how to become more organized and successful in accomplishing tasks that need to be done; overcoming procrastination; eliminating clutter; controlling impulsive spending and managing money; developing time management skills; improving interpersonal relationships; acquiring communication skills; managing your mood; and becoming more effective as a parent or spouse. Also, ADD does not exist in a vacuum. Co-existing problems (anxiety or depression; substance abuse; low self-esteem; family or marital discord; work or school problems; conflict with others, etc.) may need to be addressed.” (http://www.akrongeneral.org/portal/page?_pageid=153,146423&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL)
A complete evaluation is necessary to establish a diagnosis, in order to rule out other causes for the problems and determine if there are any co-existing conditions. ADD cannot be self-diagnosed and requires an evaluation by professionals with special knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating ADD. It is commonly overlooked or obscured by other significant difficulties or emotional problems. For adults suspected of ADD, the evaluation would include a family, childhood and school history to determine the presence of symptoms and problems commonly experienced during childhood as well as a detailed review of the person's adult history to identify symptoms and problems typically experienced by ADD adults.
About three to five times more males than females have been diagnosed with ADD. However, some researchers believe many girls who "daydream" or "drift away" in school have ADD that simply hasn't been noticed. ADD can make life harder A recent Harvard study of adults with ADD found they are more likely to bounce from job to job, to suffer from depression, or to abuse drugs or alcohol. However, effective medications and behavior treatments are available.
Living with ADD is different for everyone. People can learn to manage their individual symptoms by realizing that they do have strengths and positive attributes.
Brainstorming ideas usually comes easily to people with ADD, so they can consider all possibilities and solve problems in a creative way. Having a lot of thoughts can add to the liveliness and enthusiasm in conversations.
Everyone has trouble concentrating, restlessness and recollecting or losing things occasionally. However, inattentive or impulsive behavior that never goes away could be a sign that you have adult ADD. There is a higher risk that you have adult ADD if your problems have existed since childhood.

Posted by grgoas at 05:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been blogging since it was cool, back in high school. Usually it was because I had nothing better to do, and sometimes it was because i had other things to do, and i was just procrastinating as long as possible. Usually, i wrote about what i was thinking, and what i was up to. I doubt very many people actually read them, but if someone ever did, they would know all about the joys and struggles of being Griffith R. Goas as a young teen. I was able to blog for the simple pleasures of blogging. It was a release that helped me through that awkward phase that just about everyone goes through.

But these 602 blogs are something completely different. They're not blogging for pleasure, but more for points. I've been trying my hardest to force myself to sit down and write about the mandatory topics, but nothing ever comes out.

Back when i was a frequent blogger, i had so much to say, and i posted it all, plus a little extra... but give me a topic, and force me to write about it, and i'll develop the biggest case of writer's block in the history of the world. I wonder why that is?

Last year, my little sister was diagnosed with ADD, or ADHD, or something. I'm not sure exactly which one it was, but when my mother told me about it, she said that I may have it too. She said it is passed on genetically, and many of the symptoms that my sis presented, were also traits that i had when i was her age. No one ever questioned why I always procrastinated, and day dreamed, and never lived up to my potential when i was growing up ( all are symptoms) nor did they catch onto the fact that i was able to compensate for my shortcomings with memorization ( also a symptom)

Perhaps that could be one of the reasons for my constant writer's block?
Who knows? I'll research it and get back to you.

Posted by grgoas at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In case anybody out there was wondering what a SAN was, I did some research and here is what i found:

Storage Area Networks are high speed, special purpose networks that take data, which is usually located in or connected to, file servers, and put it onto a separate network. A SAN interconnects different kinds of data storage devices with data servers on behalf of a larger network of users. Disks, tape, and optical storage devices can be used with the SAN to store the data.

It does not carry any application traffic, and that eliminates the bottlenecks associated with using a single network fabric for all applications and data storage.
The SAN is also able to improve data sharing. A LAN enables applications and end users to access data held in a central location, but a SAN moves that data onto a much faster infrastructure. This allows multiple computers to transfer large files at the same time, at rates comparable to locally attached disks over the SAN without adversely affecting the LAN.

http://www.commsdesign.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192200416 http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid5_gci212937,00.html

Posted by grgoas at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)