Yet Again, Google Docs Impresses

Ever notice my fascination with cloud-based computing? Well after fiddling around on Google Docs (which has now become my only word processor), I found out even MORE advantages of the cloud; and this time, it’s not because I have an awful computer.Google Spreadsheets allows for more than you'd expect. It easily allows for use of graphs, or charts, just like Excel, but you can export them to external sites.

So, you want to show someone your data? Embed the given code into your site, and BAM!, the graph/chart will appear and automatically update when you edit the spreadsheet. But what really amazed me is Google’s new take on the ‘fill-handle.’ Below is a chart I made, showing the birth place of 11 random presidents on top of a Google Earth map; It took me a total of 3 minutes. With the ‘ctrl’ key plus the fill-handle, Google will automatically search the Internet for related words. Want a list of fruit? Type in apple, banana, and pear, select them, and ‘ctrl’ fill-handle down, and Google will automatically search for related words, and put them into the spreadsheet. You want to find out the origin of the fruit? Google has a formula for that. In the next column, put in “=googlelookup(Cell# of ‘Origin’, “of the apple”)” and Google will automatically search for the context, and put the information in the cell. Don’t like the answer? You can also change it to other possible results that Google has. That is just one of the hundreds of powerful formulas that Google Spreadsheet lets you use.

Next time I need to make a chart for class, I know were I’ll be going, and so does Google considering I haven't logged off my Docs account in three weeks.

Prezi - A Better, Free Powerpoint

Now I know this isn’t something as cool as holograms, or as scary as two legged walking robots; but I recently discovered an online program that is amazing enough to make me actually want to do school projects. That's right, actually WANT to do them. So you must be thinking “what is this new amazing cloud-based program?” Prezi that’s what.

Prezi is an online program that makes presentations like no other. It allows you to make presentations on one canvas. Imagine having all of your PowerPoint slides, on one big page. Instead of progressing from slide to slide, you progress thought to thought, with an easy going transition of the camera. The camera slides across the canvas, going to each point on the path that you marked. The camera can zoom into small font hidden inside words, and flip around; keeping the viewers attention. Now, I’ve only been using this program for a few days, and I’m confident I could write for hours about their features; like the ability to upload and view pdfs, videos and images, or even the ability to export it to an .exe so that any computer can view it offline. But I think the video posted below will speak for me.

Math is not linear on Prezi

Vex Robotics

Vex Robotics is a cost-efficient way for any school to experience the excitement of a large robotics competition. Each competition requires teams to use prefabricated “Vex Official” parts, which levels the field for schools with all budgets. Each competition allows an unlimited number of teams; with a pre-made format, making each competition the same and understandable to new-comers. Above all, Vex is easy to learn, but doesn’t have any limitations. It will challenge an experienced student, and allows less experienced students to develop essential problem solving skills. Vex offers a variety of different parts, they especially allow a lot of freedom with equipment like sensors; ranging from digital push sensors, to analog accelerometers. The metals provided are steel and aluminum allowing for many types of design styles, combining strength and flexibility. The programming can be both block based, and written in C-Script, and gives multiple tutorials on how they can be written. Teams can be formed through Robot Events and all competition rules are posted on the Vex Robotics website.