When I was younger we often "rode bikes" just to occupy ourselves, and when the time came to obtain a learners permit or drivers license the hobby was lost and save for dire circumstance not even considered as a viable model of transportation. This is not to say that every person out there (such as yours truly) started driving as soon as they could, but that is the model based on my experience. And who can blame anyone for wanting to drive over riding a bicycle? Unless you live in Kansas or Oklahoma ever ridge and hill is an exercise in more ways than one, gears "be danged" a hill requires a typically unattractive level of exertion.
Something that is not a new concept, but one that is gaining popularity as of 2017 are the utilization of "hybrid electric bicycles" or "e-bikes". This modified style of conveyance is considered to be a more and more practical form of transportation, as pollution and traffic become a more common concern.
The typical e-bike is considered a "hybrid bicycle" because it can be operated either via pedaling it (like a standard bike) with a pedal assist (kinda of like a gear system) or as full on electric propulsion system (like a moped). This not only allows persons who might like to "be more eco-friendly" to consider bikes as a real alternative for their regular commute but it skirts some "legal hiccups". For example in most municipalities, a bike lane is meant for "non-motorized vehicles" and if for example, someone drove their 49CC moped in the bike lane they would be in violation of the law. The same consideration applies to an electric motor, but because the bike can be operated entirely by pedaling it usually gets around that regulation, provided the user doesn't operate the motor while in a "bike lane". (Although pedal assist is kind of a "gray area" in that regard, what about getting up a steep hill?)
E-bikes are considered to be getting cheaper, but by and large, most models are currently over $1,000. When one considers these as a "vehicle" then the price could be considered reasonable by most standards but for myself, it's still way out of my budget. (Comparable price to a "Cannondale" or another racing bike.) Presumably, the primary market base for this item are "desk professionals in heavily populated cities". Consider if one lived in Portland, Oregon or San Francisco, California and every day from 7-10AM the morning commute it to put it politely "gridlock purgatory", and it doesn't help there is often a wreck on the local freeway. If hills weren't a factor anymore would you prefer to sit in traffic in a comfortable automobile or brave the weather and just be where you wanted to go quickly? Is a combination of public transportation and a bicycle considerable? And with these factors in mind, is over $1,000 dollars reasonable? Is this just another fad? I am on the fence, I would love to see bicycles become a more common method of transportation here in the U.S. but I just don't see it becoming a "national trend" that is here to stay. (Prove me, wrong folks, please!)
Thank for reading, please feel free to comment below I appreciate the dialogue. Do you personally think e-bikes are a good alternative to cars?
Guest, Bob Roman, Don DiCostanzo/Pedego, Al Mayberry, Hugh, Brad Sloan, Folliguet, GB, Charles Halberstam, Lee Raesly, and JB. "The State of the Electric Bicycle Market."Electric Bike Report | Electric Bike, Ebikes, Electric Bicycles, E Bike, Reviews. MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING COM LLC., 19 Sept. 2016. Web. 17 July 2017. <https://electricbikereport.com/the-state-of-the-electric-bicycle-market/>. Resource noting some consideration and further information regarding "e-bikes".
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Friday, May 19, 2017
(Video Games) Pokemon Go, Google Fit and Measurable Exercise Time
Like many kids from the 80's and 90's when I was a younger I enjoyed playing the "Pokemon" series from GameFreak and Nintendo Inc. In the summer of 2016 when the game released the first licensed "spin-off" for mobile devices like the "Apple iPhone" and "Android OS" I joined the proverbial "bandwagon". A year later and despite being what one could consider a "major fan" of the Pokemon games "Niantic's Pokemon Go" has left many including yours truly asking themselves "what now?".
The novelty has worn off for the majority of the initial user base, and due to the applications rapid initial adoption there doesn't seem to be much as far as potential "new" users. Despite the game being touted as the "the next big thing" by various health professionals for exercise and continued fitness when the motivation to advance in the game itself is lost the motivation to exercise seems to wane as well. (Especially in my personal experience.)
A large portion of "why?" I don't use the game to continue to reach my fitness goals (besides everything being measured in "kilometers") is the lack of quantifiable information being provided. I can look at my "eggs" and with some basic recollection and computation figure approximately how many tenths of a kilometer I have walked, well a good guess at least. And look at my "buddy" Pokemon as well to get a general idea of how many kilometers I have likely walked, and that's about it.
After the start of a recent in-game mini event and a serendipitous installation of "Google Fit" for a different purpose, I came to realize that probably because "Pokemon Go" uses the "Google Maps API" the two applications can work in conjunction! The application not only measures steps taken like a standard pedometer but also lists the approximate calories burned each day as well. This feature along with other points such as "daily goal setting" with reminders has given me a new motivation to "Catch 'em All", but even with "more information" and the practical goal of a healthier lifestyle I honestly wonder if I will keep up with my new fitness goals.
Feel free to comment below, share any other "fitness apps" that work with "Pokemon Go", and your personal fitness goals. Thanks for reading!
The novelty has worn off for the majority of the initial user base, and due to the applications rapid initial adoption there doesn't seem to be much as far as potential "new" users. Despite the game being touted as the "the next big thing" by various health professionals for exercise and continued fitness when the motivation to advance in the game itself is lost the motivation to exercise seems to wane as well. (Especially in my personal experience.)
A large portion of "why?" I don't use the game to continue to reach my fitness goals (besides everything being measured in "kilometers") is the lack of quantifiable information being provided. I can look at my "eggs" and with some basic recollection and computation figure approximately how many tenths of a kilometer I have walked, well a good guess at least. And look at my "buddy" Pokemon as well to get a general idea of how many kilometers I have likely walked, and that's about it.
After the start of a recent in-game mini event and a serendipitous installation of "Google Fit" for a different purpose, I came to realize that probably because "Pokemon Go" uses the "Google Maps API" the two applications can work in conjunction! The application not only measures steps taken like a standard pedometer but also lists the approximate calories burned each day as well. This feature along with other points such as "daily goal setting" with reminders has given me a new motivation to "Catch 'em All", but even with "more information" and the practical goal of a healthier lifestyle I honestly wonder if I will keep up with my new fitness goals.
Feel free to comment below, share any other "fitness apps" that work with "Pokemon Go", and your personal fitness goals. Thanks for reading!
Monday, May 15, 2017
(EDITORIAL) Discussing VPN use, a sign of the times?
In a recent discussion, one very common topic was the use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) for privacy. While the use of a VPN to keep for example ISPs (Internet Service Providers) from "snooping" on one's internet practices is not a new subject, the reasoning for this practice has become a consideration for a much broader user base.
Until recently, I would typically associate the use of a VPN for either a business using a WAN (Wide Area Network) or persons using a "Torrent" for file downloads. But with the recent end of "Net Neutrality", it could be said that it's "open season" for ISPs to release information about their users' browsing habits. Now, why would someone want to retain anonymity from their ISP? Is it because they are doing something illegal, like downloading pirate movies? Potentially, sure but even law-abiding internet citizens should consider whether the use of a VPN is a practical move.
My reasoning is simple, the end of "Net Neutrality" is furthering the concept that "privacy is not a right". In my parent's generation if a company wanted your contact information for a raffle they would be asking: "How much of this information will you sell to a third party?" Nowadays I see individuals signing off half of their identity without any regard for how this information will be used. It shows that we as a people are giving our privacy less value, less importance. Every time we agree to a EULA (End User License Agreement) that says we can do all this for free, just in exchange for the rights to any personal identifying information they can get, we as people devalue the very concept of "privacy".
The current precedents and the manner in which people state "I value my privacy" in one breath and then "click away" those very rights in exchange for cheap internet, free video games or a free Email provider contradict each other. It is time to look at these agreements that we keep just scrolling to the end of and blindly agreeing with, it is time to do more than just gripe about how our representatives have failed our interests, it is time to really ask yourself one thing: "Do I value my privacy? Or just say I do?"
Until recently, I would typically associate the use of a VPN for either a business using a WAN (Wide Area Network) or persons using a "Torrent" for file downloads. But with the recent end of "Net Neutrality", it could be said that it's "open season" for ISPs to release information about their users' browsing habits. Now, why would someone want to retain anonymity from their ISP? Is it because they are doing something illegal, like downloading pirate movies? Potentially, sure but even law-abiding internet citizens should consider whether the use of a VPN is a practical move.
My reasoning is simple, the end of "Net Neutrality" is furthering the concept that "privacy is not a right". In my parent's generation if a company wanted your contact information for a raffle they would be asking: "How much of this information will you sell to a third party?" Nowadays I see individuals signing off half of their identity without any regard for how this information will be used. It shows that we as a people are giving our privacy less value, less importance. Every time we agree to a EULA (End User License Agreement) that says we can do all this for free, just in exchange for the rights to any personal identifying information they can get, we as people devalue the very concept of "privacy".
The current precedents and the manner in which people state "I value my privacy" in one breath and then "click away" those very rights in exchange for cheap internet, free video games or a free Email provider contradict each other. It is time to look at these agreements that we keep just scrolling to the end of and blindly agreeing with, it is time to do more than just gripe about how our representatives have failed our interests, it is time to really ask yourself one thing: "Do I value my privacy? Or just say I do?"
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