History of VR

Technically, the term, “virtual reality”, wasn’t used until the 1980’s, but the concept of VR has been around as early as the 1800’s. Early VR, developed by scientists and inventors, included Stereoscopic viewers and photos, much like today’s Viewmaster, Sensorama, and even flight simulators. If you grew up during the late 1980’s or early ‘90s, you may remember the VR pods that popped up around shopping malls and arcades throughout the United States. While people enjoyed the concept, the technology, itself, fell short.

Video game developers, such as Nintendo, made their own personal VR headsets, but even those weren’t as popular as they had hoped. Mainstream VR technology more or less disappeared until recently and it’s returned with a vengeance.

VR Today

One of the great things about VR is that it takes you to places you’ve never been, in the real world and walking around in fantasy realms, without having to leave the comfort of your home. One of the biggest complaints about VR headsets is the cost, as they can cost anywhere between 80 to 800 dollars and a few, which are made out of cardboard, cost a few bucks. Obviously, the more you spend, the better the quality should be, but even then, many VR headset wearers are left wanting more. Manufacturers are listening and hurrying to make improvements to quality and cost, to ensure that VR is not just a fad of 2016.

The Future of VR in Everyday Life

Gaming with a VR headset is always fun, but what more can it do? First off, we can expect to see more of it being used in advertising. For example, in October, Hormel offered a limited amount of free bacon scented Google Cardboard VR viewers for marketing their Black Label Bacon; the free VR headsets didn’t last very long.

Do you ever, when shopping online, wish you could get better angles of products or see how it looks in every color? From furniture to clothing, more companies are starting to offer online shoppers the VR experience.

In addition to being used for recreational and advertorial purposes, VR is and will be used more commonly as a useful tool from helping individuals, particularly those on the autism spectrum, prepare for job interviews. We can also expect to see VR used in classrooms to be used as a sort of virtual field trip. Imagine a class full of students having the opportunity to visit any part of the world from the Arctic tundras to the undiscovered rainforests. Finally, VR technology can be a helpful tool in the medical field by teaching doctors how to connect with their patients and helping young patients feel more at ease.

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On the upside, Texas Instruments has flooded the market with a pack of 10Gbit’s USB Type-C computer backup products, so our data is safe.

What can a body do in such an uncertain climate? Take time to play. If you have the devices, there are a number of free apps, so it won’t cost you anything to take your mind of what half the population sees as looming disaster.

Free Play

If you don’t have the devices, or software … well, there’s a remedy for that and it’s as close as your iPhone. Free android apps from Google, ranging from Plants vs. Zombies, for the truly avid gardener who wants even his plants to fight zombies (silly, but fun) …to Smile Inc. (billed as Super Lame Games for a reason, my friend: Roman Atwood and crew can barely survive their new office!). In spite of which, some players have actually called it, “entertaining, addictive, family friendly and fun”. A word of caution, however: the games may be free, but the game guides get pretty pricy for Millennials on a budget. Think $5.99 and down.

Then there is Best Fiends Forever. The first, rated four and a half stars, even offers a skills trailer to unlock the Fiends, who are again locked up in boxes (hope you know math).

Energy Protector, also on the free Android apps store, isn’t a game, but it does help improve the memory and performance of your device, whether an  iPhone or otherwise, by cleaning the battery and extending standby time so you can play your free apps to your heart’s content.

Spend More Time to Play

Play Farming Simulator: take on the role of a modern farmer behind a gargantuan tractor, and grow enough corn, wheat or oats for the planet! Why not. We can’t all be engineers, and today’s modern farmer is clearly a jack-of-all-trades, given the complexity of modern farming machinery. This app is for those who dream of farming on a massive scale in an entirely new American landscape for less than $35, on all major game players.

Newly in stores as of October 20, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is like Sim City for an entire civilization. Challenging you to build an empire “to stand the test of time”, the game allows you to operate at any period throughout human history, from the Stone Age to the Electronic Age. You can make war or peace, create unique cultures, and negotiate with history’s greatest leaders. Don’t forget, however, that Rome tried and failed. At about $60.99, it’s pricey but worth the investment.

Or go for Dark Souls III, the standard edition for the PlayStation 4. This is the world after, filled with gigantic enemies and gargantuan landscapes. Some are calling this the most powerful, tumultuous, bloodthirsty version yet. Others say something is missing – perhaps just a serious case of déjà vu. Mid-priced at $39.99, buy it and find out if it tugs your heartstrings like the original.

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And it is. In fact, Apple (makers of the iOS operating system on which the game runs) said Pokémon GO is the most frequently downloaded app in history in its first week. GO also runs on Android.

The reason, says one analyst, is that people have become comfortable with their cell phones and personal electronics. That level of comfort, and the certainty that such devices are the most powerful devices any of us will ever have 24/7, encourages exploration and experimentation far beyond the original days of Pokémon, as played on the Game Boy console.

The app, or game, uses GPS and a clock to allow you to enter the Pokémon world, where mythical “virtual reality” characters announce their presence by making your phone vibrate. The object is to capture these creatures with a Poké Ball. You can also incubate eggs, which hatch into rare and powerful Pokémon creatures, but you  have to be moving (i.e., walking, but also biking, skating, and skateboarding) to make it happen.   

Take an evening walk with your dog, and “catch” a night-flying fairy or Lotad, a Water Weed persona who looks like a bullfrog wearing a flat sombrero (or maybe that is a trash can lid). Go in your local coffee shop, and throw a Poké Ball to capture Squirtle (if he ever migrates from Atlanta).

If you live in New Jersey, there is a Dratini nest in Jersey City close to the Newport station – across the harbor and almost opposite the World Trade Center. If you encounter that annoying little pest Zubat, don’t despair. He grows up into Crobat, and your life improves.  

You can find these creatures at your favorite restaurant, fast food outlet, grocery store, barber, rideshare program – even your church. For example, Fasten – a Boston  rideshare company – is now charging $5 per ride for anyone who wants to be picked up from, or dropped off at, a PokéStop (a Pokémon GO-participating location).

Churches seem to be having a lot of the fun. One of our favorite signs says:

“Honk if you love Jesus. Play Pokémon GO if you want to meet Him.”

Pokémon, Good for Business, Good for Neighborhoods

A lot of businesses are capitalizing on the foot traffic generated by people with cell phones trying to capture all 721 official Pokémon characters (142 of them “native” to the United States)  Businesses that have become designated  PokéStops have routinely seen their sales go up by about 10 percent since Pokémon fever broke out.

How does one become a PokéStop? Originally, game-maker Niantic made the choices from a database. However, players can add to the list, or take stops off the list, by submitting requests to the company’s official support page. And thank Pikachu for that. I mean, who wants to go creeping around a Holocaust museum, or some cranky old couple’s basement?   

If nothing else, Pokémon GO is a social phenomenon without parallel, drawing young people together in unusual locations – where they actually talk to one another instead of their phones. When was the last time you saw that happen?

Besides, how can you not love a fad – or “dernier cri” (last shout), as the French call it – when it has the Aussies etching safety notices into the sidewalks? The one in Adelaide reads:

“Stop and look before you GO (and has little Pikachu footprints alongside)”!

Pokémon GO has so captured the hearts of young (and old) that one Redditor has even created a history (infographic) for these familiar little virtual reality characters. It begins 13 billion years ago, in a galaxy far, far away …

Some have attributed Pokémon Go’s popularity to a pending Apocalypse, others see it as the kind of fitness breakthrough America needs, given the fact that one in three under-30s is overweight or obese – a rise of 300 percent since 1971(with rates of diabetes keeping pace). In Saudi Arabia, the fad is being viewed as the emergence of “deviant” religions (Christianity, Japanese Shinto, Zionism, even Freemasonry). People said the same thing about rock and roll.

The popularity also has its downside. Pokémon GO players are finding dead bodies, trespassing in places they really don’t want to go, and illegally crossing borders. So far, no one has been killed, at least in the U.S.

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Remember that in America, it is still true that you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that you still have a chance to prove yourself not guilty of the charges. You simply must research the best criminal defense attorney reviews that can help you gain the most positive outcome possible in your case.

How to Choose the Right Criminal Defense Attorney

The reality of your situation is that many lawyers you call will be looking to work with as many clients as they can. This is how they earn their living. The more clients they have, the more they earn. But with so many clients at once, how can they effectively form your defense and work on your case? Will your outcome really matter to them, or does your prospective attorney simply want to go through the motions?

To find the right criminal defense lawyer who will represent you effectively, thoroughly and aggressively, you need to find one who will also take the time to get to know you and the facts of your case. You want one who will put in the work required through honest time, effort and attention to details that it needs to reach the best possible outcome for your case. After all, this is your freedom, livelihood and reputation on the line.

When searching for a capable law firm in Arizona to defend you against criminal charges, spend some time asking friends, family, work associates or other even lawyers you may know and trust for referrals to the “best criminal defense attorney” they know.

You can also search Google Maps and comb through the results, reviewing websites to see which of the law firms are most fully engaged in reaching out to prospective clients. It is important to find a law firm that goes above and beyond basic requirements of their role, such as in spending time ensuring the public is educated about nuances of the law through effective blog writing and other activities. You can tell if a law firm cares about its clients, the general public and the law, if they spend time and attention working on things that are in the best interest of the public, as much as they invest in gaining new clients.

While looking at a prospective law firm’s website, it is recommended to bring with you a list of questions to ask a lawyer. For example:

• How many years has the attorney practiced in their field?
• How long has the lawyer or law firm been in business in Arizona?
• What fields of law do they practice?
• By viewing law firm videos and reviewing their materials online, does it appear they truly want to help the public and their clients?
• Does the attorney focus on using words to express how they will work on your case, such as “aggressively” and “thoroughly,” or do they seem less focused on pushing for all that you deserve in this matter that puts your future on the line?

Calling a Prospective Criminal Defense Lawyer

Next, call one or more of the law firms to see how they treat you. Are they easily accessible by phone? Are the people who answer the phone friendly and eager to help? Do you speak only to an assistant or paralegal, or do you talk to an actual lawyer?

Although during trial it can be difficult to get through to an attorney to talk to him or her directly, you should always receive a timely call back. Some lawyers are just impossible to reach and that is not a good sign for your case. You need an accessible attorney, one who has interest in making sure they work well for you, just as you need to work well with them.

After making some of these phone calls to prospective lawyers, you will better know which attorney you wish to consider and which ones should be left off your list. When you have narrowed the field to just a few attorneys, make an appointment for a free consultation to see how you and the attorney communicate together and whether he or she is truly interested in your case.

During this consultation, does the attorney seem to actually care about your case and personal well-being? Is he or she a good communicator?

What you should not hear during this appointment is a great deal of language about how great the attorney is at what they do. You should not be “sold” on the attorney through any pressure or self-glorification. You are in the meeting to discuss your case and how it should proceed.

When the consultation is over, do you feel you have been heard? Does the relationship between you and the attorney seem approachable, comfortable and trusting?

Finding the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer Matters

As you will learn through this process of screening potential criminal defense and DUI lawyers, all lawyers are not created equally. But use the above suggestions and you will undoubtedly be able to find the right lawyer and legal team for your case needs.

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Carpooling

Being part of a carpool is a easy and convenient way to ensure that your child is getting to and from school safely, however, there are moments (especially when getting back into the swing of things) that the carpooling schedule can seem like a mess. Who’s turn is it to pick up Charlie? Does he have practice after school today or is that tomorrow? You can’t rely on your children to keep track of the carpooling schedule and you’d hate to be the parent that forgets it’s your turn. Consider an app like Carpool-Kids to keep your carpooling schedule clear and question free.

The app allows you to know who is in charge of driving and who is riding on any given day. You can organize carpools with any number of drivers and riders, sync events to your calendar, have instant updates as notification or e-mail, and it works on a number of devices (including non-IOS users).

Keeping Track of Your Kids

Most parents will agree that watching your kids grow up and become more independent is a bittersweet experience. Letting your teen driver get behind the wheel or your ten year old walk to school with his or her friends can free up your schedule quite a bit, but also evoke fear or worry. Thanks to these “tracking” apps, you can monitor your child’s whereabouts without infringing on his or her new found independence.

Homework Tools

These days, most kids are exposed to some amount of screen time every day, whether it’s for recreational or educational experiences. Additionally, many children do their work at school (and at home) on a tablet or laptop. While the mobile option cuts back on a cluttered backpack, there are still education tools that can assist with homework and studying. Whether your child needs to make flashcards for studying or needs to make a bibliography for his or her latest research paper, these helpful homework apps may keep your child on track without too much nagging on your part.

Organizing the Family & Household

Households get incredibly busy when school is back in session and between long work hours and extra curricular activities, it’s often hard to tell who’s coming or going (and who’s gonna take the dog for a walk?). Thankfully, Cozi Family Organizer app can do all the organizing for you and no one is left in the dark about what is scheduled for the weekend or who is in charge of certain chores. The app allows you to share shopping lists, to do lists, calendars, and a family journal with anyone in the family and it can be edited at any time and synced up to all devices.

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1. Use a Real Camera

If you’re truly looking for the best quality possible, a real camera is the way to get it. If you’re aiming to get serious about your Instagram photography, try using a digital camera to take your photos and then upload them to your phone. This is useful especially if you’re taking nature shots. If you’re snapping photos quickly on the go, you might stick to your phone for these.

2. Plan It Out

Follow Instagrams of other people who inspire you. Did you find an awesome feed randomly? Follow it! Follow as many random Instagrams as you’d like, pull inspiration from all of them, and ultimately you’ll create a unique look and feel to your photos and gallery as a whole. Plan your approach and your gallery will be consistently gorgeous and unique in its own right.

3. Experiment with Light

Take advantage of the golden hour! Photos on a smartphone simply come out better when they have the sufficient amount of light. During the golden hour, beams of light will glisten across your lens, creating magic in a whole new way. This golden glow will give your photos the most perfect natural filter you can imagine. Notice how tapping certain parts of your phone screen in camera mode will focus the photo in a different area. The light will change based on how dark or light your point of focus is. Play around with this and see what works best for your photo.

4. Try Different Editing Apps

Many Instagram photographers will avoid editing within the Instagram app itself altogether, but they may use third party apps to edit their photos. Especially if you’re using your phone camera can this be beneficial. Within VSCO Cam for instance – a favorite among many – you can edit everything from sharpness, cropping and temperature to saturation, white balance and exposure. It also has great presets that you can play around with as well. Afterlight is another useful editing app, as well as Snapseed.

5. Hold Your Phone Horizontally

If you do plan to use a smartphone to take your photos, consider holding the phone horizontally as opposed to vertically. You might also stray away from using the square option. You’ll have more options for editing if you stick with a horizontal frame.

6. Hashtag the Right Way and Only When Needed

If you’re hoping for people to see your photos from hashtags, you’ll have to get more creative than the generic, one-word hashtags that millions of people use daily. You might even choose to create your own!

7. Create a Community

Interact and engage with your followers as well as with people you follow. This is the perfect space to be able to communicate with others who have similar passions to yours. Take advantage of it and have fun! Your Instagram will be spectacular for summer before you know it!

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1. PackPoint

Do your organizational skills need a little attention? Are you looking for guidance to get you through packing for a long week away? Sometimes just getting everything together for a vacation can be so overwhelming. If you tend to struggle with this, PackPoint is definitely the app for you. Enter where you’re going, how long you’re going, when you’re going, and what you’ll be doing there. It will generate a full list based on your plans. The beauty of having the list at your fingertips is that you then edit it or refer back to it at any time, unlike a list written on a piece scrap paper that could get lost.

2. Airbnb

A favorite amongst many when it comes to finding accommodations across the globe, Airbnb allows users to search for the perfect place to stay while they’re away from home. Whether it’s a tree house in Thailand or a cottage in England, with this app you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. Find a place to stay for the night, a week, or a month at a time in almost 200 countries.

3. Google Translate

If you’re traveling abroad and don’t know the language, Google Translate is a great tool to have in your back pocket – literally. Not only can you type and dictate sentences for the app to translate, but a new visual translation feature has just been added as well. Hold your camera over a sign with text and watch as it translates the words for you.

4. SkyScanner

If you’re looking for an awesome deal, SkyScanner is a great place to check for flights. You won’t be limited to just the major airlines, so there is a wide array of flight options. You can even book flights straight from the app.

5. WorldMate

This app is the ultimate organizer for travelers all over the world. WorldMate allows you to make reservations, check in for a flight, stay current on flight details, and even share your flight info with family and friends.

6. PocketEarth

This your everyday map – except better. PocketEarth has an offline GPS tracking system, so you really never have to worry about getting lost again. If you plan to be out of touch or overseas, this app can work wonders for you. Download the cities or regions you want to navigate, and you’ll be able to see them at any time. You’ll be able to see points of interest and have access to travel guides and Wikipedia articles.

The post App Out Your Travel Plans: Apps to Make the Most of Your Summer appeared first on Pro Blogging News.

An inspiring word has the power to encourage and motivate you. Popular social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, also provide us with options to share memes that hold nuggets of wisdom and inspiration. Whether you’re getting ready to confront a hard day at the office, or you’re dealing with a difficult situation at home, positive words add just the right touch of encouragement and motivation to your situation!

Communicating via Skype facilitates conversation, and apps are allowing us the same with added benefits.

If you’re looking for motivation to get your goals accomplished, these apps may come in handy:

• GoalsOnTrack. This free app will guide you through the process of goal setting–from recording your goals from start to end date, to creating your own action plan and tracking your own progress.

• Habit List. For only $3.99 this app can help you create flexible schedules. It also help you keep track of your appointments by sending you reminders. With a busy schedule, who doesn’t need a good reminder every once in awhile?

• Coach. Me. For just $15 a month, this app enables you to create your plans and set goals and share them with the community. You can also join plans created by others. It’s the perfect app for goal-setting and motivation.

• LifeTick. This app helps you manage time, assign tasks, and check off our achievements. You can also invite others to view your progress. You can also add freeform notes that you can sync to your calendar.

If you’re looking for a good therapy session, or spiritual motivation, you can download popular apps that can help you navigate specific therapists for your own person mental and emotional health needs.

• Talkspace. This app offers you the opportunity to chat with a licensed therapist for free-at least in the beginning. This app offers a text messaging feature and affordable payment plans of $25 per week for unlimited massage therapy.

• Couples Counseling. For those encountering romantic conflicts, Couples App offers convenient relational advice. It also includes a couple’s chatting feature, which can help facilitate healthy conversation. You can also take notes and follow the progress of your healing.

• The Bible App. Created by YouVersion, this app offers over 1,000 Bible versions, including King James Version and Amplified Bible. There’s also an option for children.

• Meditation Helper. This app promises to help you meditate with a special timer that enables you to breath in and out at your leisure. Take a breath and relax.

There is no denying that we accomplish more in life when we think and speak positivity. Technology allows us access to tools that simplify our lives. Download an app today and get moving!

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The beauty of apps is their versatility. In general, they’re affordable, some are fun while other apps can be lifesaving, and there are a large selection to help people stay organized in a busy world. As the temperatures get warmer and the daylight hours get longer, go ahead and check out these apps to get the most out of Spring:

Apps For the Green Thumb

For gardening enthusiasts, spring can’t come soon enough. Planning a garden can be as complicated as you make it. While some gardeners just go with the flow, others are methodical and must have it all planned out before they start turning over the soil. If you need help planning your garden or just want to make sure you’re on the right track, check out the Garden Plan Pro app. It costs less than $10, but it will help you create the perfect garden space, big or small.

Having a hard time determining what’s a weed and what’s a plant, try out the GardenAnswers Plant Identifier app. This gardening app will help you identify over 20,000 plants and gives you detailed information. All you need to do is take a picture, tap submit, and you should be connected to accurate information. This app may be particularly helpful if you need to know whether or not a plant is hazardous to young children or pets.

Apps to Keep an Eye on Weather 

When you’re stuck indoors all winter long, you may care less about the weather forecast, but when you are planning a garden, going on a picnic, or hiking with friends or family, you may want the weather available at your fingertips. Even if you check the weather forecast at the beginning of the day, spring weather can change unexpectedly. The AccuWeather-Weather for Life app will give you a minute-by-minute forecast and help you plan the rest of your day while you’re enjoying the spring weather.

Spring Cleaning Apps

When spring rolls in, some people do some light cleaning while others go all out and make small repairs to the home and some deep cleaning. The BrightNest app will help you clean and maintain your home without needing to hire “handyman” or buying caustic cleaning chemicals. Wanna get rid of stains in the toilet? BrightNest recommends Coca-Cola.

Another helpful app to organize your spring cleaning and getting others in the house to help you out is the Chorma app. Why should you be stuck doing all the spring cleaning when others can give you a helping hand? With Chorma, you can designate certain tasks and when the chore has been completed the list becomes automatically updated.

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There’s nothing particularly wrong about doing using a flip phone. People have no obligation to get with the times. Humanity obviously existed for thousands of years without phones of any kind, and you’ll be able to get through life without one today and still live a complete life. But smartphones are incredibly useful for anyone, and here are some reasons for that.

You’ll Have Internet Access. No Matter Where You Are

The best thing about having a smartphone is that you have the entire internet in your pocket. Stuck in a blizzard and need advice on winter safety? Just check your phone. Fall down in the middle of the night, unsure whether or not you are displaying signs of concussion? Just check your phone. Need to know who starred in Night of the Hunter? Just check your phone.

Smartphones connect you with the world’s knowledge. They’re a miracle of technology and information distribution. You will able to get work emails at any time of day, no matter where you are, enabling you to work from home, or even while on vacation. When you buy a modern phone, you’ll have access to entire worlds with just a few taps of your fingers.

Smartphones are Easy to Use These Days

Gone are the days of difficult computers. Back in the 1980s, when most people had their first experiences with personal computers, the devices were complicated, buggy, and finicky. Many people spent an afternoon with an old IBM PC thirty years and gave up the technology for good after having difficulty.

Computers—and smartphones, specifically—have come a long way since then. Designers work hard to make operations and user-friendly and intuitive as possible. Don’t let phones scare you. All it takes to use a modern phone is few quick clicks.   

Smartphones Have Useful Apps

Smartphones are more than just internet-connected phones. Sure, you can make calls on them, but there are many other useful applications. Modern phones come equipped with apps that will tell you the weather report, help you stay safe in bad conditions, find good maps and directions for any place you want to go, and track your exercise routine. They even have very good cameras, and you don’t need to wait an hour to see what your pictures look like.

Smartphones are More Efficient Than They Used to Be

Early smartphone require daily charges. Not so any more. If you use your phone sparingly, you can go a week without needing to plug it in. And even if you used your phone regularly, it’s easy to find charging stations. Cars, coffee shops, and many other place have convenient spots where you can charge your phone in no time.

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