Posts published in “Technology”

BIG UPDATES for Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Computer Science (CS) Majors

By editorialteam on December 19, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Image from MWCC
Infographic describing the differences between CS, CIT, and CIS programs, as of July 2023.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in Information Technology is projected to grow by 13% from 2020 to 2030—significantly faster than the 8% average for all other occupations. So, let me ask you this, do you want to be at the forefront of this boom and potentially even lead it? Or do you want to be at the consumer end of things?

At Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC), the Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Computer Science (CS) programs, led by Chairperson and Professor Tina Wilson, serve as pathways to careers in the thriving tech industry. read more

Getting into Photography for Less Than $100

By editorialteam on December 19, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Photos by Kent Yang: See full spread below

Have you ever wanted to dive into the world of photography but felt held back by the cost? While it’s true how every few years there’s new state-of-the-art equipment on the market with the latest and greatest technology, buying used equipment is a cost-effective way to maximize value without compromising performance. While older gear may lack the latest features, they were once top-of-the-line and can still produce excellent images. Many people believe the misconception that you need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on gear to get good images. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s not the case. In fact, you can spend less than $100 and still capture stunning images. This guide will show you how to get started with affordable gear, and I’ll share tips for practicing your skills without breaking the bank. read more

MWCC CIS Majors Lead at GCC

By editorialteam on November 1, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Photo from Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges

As part of the ongoing workforce development expansion at local community colleges, I had the incredible opportunity to team up with my classmate and fellow Computer Information Systems (CIS) major, Kourtney Tibbets, to serve as instructors for the “IT for Healthcare” course at Greenfield Community College, hand-picked by Dr. Gary Ackerman. For those unfamiliar with Dr. Ackerman, he serves as an adjunct Professor at Mount Wachusett Community College and teaches in the CIS department. Outside of MWCC, Dr. Ackerman is the Director of Teaching and Learning Innovation at Greenfield Community College. read more

A Brief History of Voting Technology

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Since the inception of the United States in 1776, elections have been essential for choosing the next president. From colonial times until the late 19th century, elections were held, and votes were cast orally at courthouses. Presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln were elected this way. However, this changed with the invention of the Acme Voting Machine.

The Acme Voting Machine was invented in Bridgewater, Connecticut, around 1880 to prevent voter fraud. With its open-slot box design, crank lever mechanism, and tabulator, it offered voters an honest, secure and reliable way to cast their votes. In the following years, it was reported that election officials would tear or mark ballots, making them invalid. This issue prompted the invention of the Lever Style Voting Machine in Lockport, New York. By pulling down its levers, the machine locked votes to prevent tampering, while also making the process faster and more accurate. While it was effective and efficient for its time, its maintenance was complex and it had limitations, such as only being able to tally votes internally rather than producing a verifiable record of each individual vote. read more

The Ultimate Calculator

By editorialteam on September 30, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

A TI-84 Plus scientific calculator.
*Image from Amazon*

Disclaimer: The Mount Observer does not encourage cheating or academic dishonesty in any way, this article is intended for educational purposes only.

If you’ve ever taken Algebra, Calculus, Chemistry, Statistics, or Physics in high school or college, chances are you’ve used a Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus at some point. Released in June 2004, the TI-84 Plus quickly became America’s favorite calculator. Compared to its predecessor, the TI-83 Plus, the TI-84 Plus boasted three times the memory and a processor that was over twice as fast. It featured 480 kilobytes of flash memory, 24 kilobytes of RAM, a link port for data transfers, 13 preloaded software applications, seven different graphing styles, and advanced statistics functions, all of which were crucial to student success. Today, the TI-84 Plus remains widely used and is considered the “best budget calculator” at $97 by many reviewers. read more

(Archive April Fool’s Day 2017) The CAPTCHA Reform: Androids Seek Equality

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Joshua Needham | Social Media Editor

The logo for the pro-android rights movement.

3/15/2033

Androids and Augmented-Americans stood together yesterday in support of the CAPTCHA Reform, seeking to have the phrase “I AM NOT A ROBOT” removed from internet CAPTCHA verifications.

A CAPTCHA internet verification box, containing the controversial phrase “I’m not a robot.”

CAPTCHA is a backronym standing for Completely Automated ublic Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart and was created in 1997 during the early days of the world wide web. The system was developed initially to prevent bots from adding URL’s to search engines, back in a time when “robot” referred to an unconscious machine or automated software. read more

(Archive March 15, 2010) Goodbye Paper, Hello Keyboard

By editorialteam on July 10, 2024

Students of All Ages are Switching to Laptops

By Joseph Benavidez | Assistant Editor

As technology advances, more and more college students are using laptops instead of pencils and notebooks. According to the Donald Kitzmiller, Technical Services Manager, roughly 200-250 MWCC students log into their student services account daily.

At 25, MWCC student Tara Powell said she brings her laptop because it helps her to be better organized and because she is a faster typist than a writer. Jessica Race, 34-year-old Liberal Arts major, agreed saying, “I type wicked fast.” Race also said that she preferred taking notes with a computer because it allowed her to share her notes with fellow classmates easier. read more

Tech and Mental Health Awareness

By editorialteam on May 16, 2024

Discussing Social Media’s Role

by Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Back in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month—which was then Mental Health Awareness Week—was launched by Clifford W. Beers, the founder of Mental Health America. After struggling with his own mental health and being admitted to multiple public and private institutions where he witnessed abuse and other cruel and neglectful treatment given to patients with mental illnesses, he exposed these practices and founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, later renamed the National Mental Health Association and known today as Mental Health of America. The organization’s goal was to improve the quality of life and care for mental health patients and to raise awareness about mental health illnesses and psychological disorders. read more

E-Waste Disposal Made Easy

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Properly Disposing of Electronics

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Since the early twentieth century, electronic waste has existed alongside technologies such as telephones and radios, which utilized vacuum tubes. However, at the time, there wasn’t much concern for the environment regarding electronic waste. It wasn’t until 1976, when the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) went into effect, that the disposal of e-waste into landfills became illegal. The purpose of the RCRA was to protect the environment and human health from the toxicity and hazards of waste disposal. read more

You’ve Heard of AI Photos; Get Ready for AI Movies with Sora

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Imagine a technology so advanced that words can conjure breathtaking worlds, complete with sights and sounds mirroring reality. Well, now it’s possible, or at least it will be soon, with Sora by OpenAI.

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company that aims to ensure artificial intelligence will benefit all of humanity. Sora is an artificial intelligence model capable of translating text into videos up to 1 minute long, simulating the physics and dynamics of our reality. This AI model not only comprehends text but also grasps its nature and how it exists in the real world too. read more