17/11/2008- Since My Last Blog

It seems ages since I last blogged =[..I Just dunno where the past couple of weeks have gone! I promised i'd blog at least once a week but these weeks have flown by.
Reading week went by rather fast, I done alot of research, completed essays and read a number of article, but i didnt manage to blog.
Last week was rather quiet in Uni, a few lectures were cancelled, but we managed to work on out Wiki in ICT, its nowhere near complete but we're getting there.
In context, the girls and I are arranging a field trip to the museum in swansea as part of the course, so that should be a good day.
My weekend was rather busy, done some overtime in work, had a family party and met up with a few friends.
Its the start of the uni week, and its all going ok. We're doing some catch phrases in ICT atm, which is quiet good. Thats about it really.

29/10/2008- My Week

We're half way through the week, but its all going well, getting used to and understanding the course now. I really enjoyed ICT today where we had the opportunity to add Wiki's, which I had no idea what they were today, we worked as a group to research information on Education 10 years from now, to be able to add to our Wikis between and now and next week.

Making My Blog

Just like producing anything for the first time, especially if its something new blogging was rather tricky and challenging. It took time to realise where all the tools were, how to add colour, fill effects and pictures to create a better image for my blog. I enjoyed making my blog and posting my first couple of blogs just to get used of blogging. I like the fact that I am able to reflect my own opinions and thoughts on one page, where other people are able to share their own thoughts aswell. As a rather creative person I enjoyed making my blog to my own style.

Reflecting on Journals

Last week I took upon the task of researching the topic given which was Cars, even though Cars was the actual topic there was no specific guideline of what type of cars or what to reflect on. I decided to look at Cars that we have today and comparing them to cars over 100 years ago. Even though at first I wasn't to keen on the idea of the different sexiest topics given, i realised that given cars as a topic to the girl would prevent us from losing track and perhaps discussing make-up rather than working on our research.

Cars ‘Now’ and ‘Then’

Cars ‘Now’ and ‘Then’

Cars Then
Looking over the internet and researching modern cars when they first became announced and to the day and age in which we are living now. The turning point in the development of cars was the introduction of the petrol engine in 1885.The cars produced in this period were more like the cars we see today and thus began the era of the Modern Car.
1885 - Karl Benz Karl Benz, born in 1844 was a son of an engine driver. Benz studied mechanical engineering
In 1885, by which time the Otto patent was no longer valid, Benz developed a four-stroke internal combustion engine. This he attached to a three-wheeled carriage, and thus was born the first of the modern automobiles.

1886 - Gottlieb Daimler Gottlieb Daimler designed the first modern petrol-driven internal combustion engine for the car. He set up an independent company, where they designed the first petrol engine in 1883. In 1885 he fitted the engine to a bicycle and created the prototype of the present day motorcycle. A year later, in 1886, Daimler fitted one of his engines to a horse-carriage and ran the created the first four-wheeled motor car in history.

I then found another interesting car tha was devepoed in 1908- this was called the Model T. The Model T, the first "people's car", was introduced by the Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford also introduced the moving conveyor belt to assembly manufacturing, further accelerating production. The production of the Model T continued till 1927, by which time, a record number - more than 16.5 million - vehicles had been produced.
http://www.cybersteering.com/trimain/history/fcars.html

After researching a little bit about older modern cars in the late 18th and early 19th century, I then researched a little bit about cars in which we see in today’s day and age. I looked at the way in which car history has changed dramitcally.

Cars Today
Instead of the huge engines that were used during the 60s 70s and 80s, cars today allow usmore economical engines. The craze to get more miles per gallon has forced car companies to created lighter and more economical cars.
· They have done this through the use of fiberglass bodies, plastic, and aluminum.
· The airbag has also been introduced along with many other safety features such as OnStar, global positioning systems (GPS), side intrusion bars, and built-in
· Entertainment systems are also a craze of this era.
· It is very uncommon to find a factory stereo still in a teenager's car. CD players, MP3 players, DVD players, and satellite radios have all been modified to fit into your car.
· The standards that a car now comes with include power windows, power steering, power locks, power seats, cruise control, and automatic lights.
· The cars have become more reliable on the road, and more family friendly.