Welcome to HICAP 2012 -2013 Session

This blog will serve as a periodic update of HICAP advancements with noted celebrations and observances shared. Acting as a guide, we reach out to all with interest in the boundless educational resources offered via the Internet. A synopsis of relavant resources will be shared at our Virtual Learning Lab: www.hicapv.blogspot.com.

At the Virtual Learning Lab, information posted in:
White is Intro to Computing; Pink is Intermediate Reading; Blue is Advance Discussion.

Enjoy!

2012 - 2013 HICAP Coursework

2012 – 2013 HICAP will cover:

• Wireless Fidelity Access to the Internet via computer, phone, games, mobile devices
• Intro to Technical Terminology
• Frequency—AM, FM; oscilloscopes
• Bandwidth—The Currency of the Internet
• Bits, Bytes
• Binary Code on ASCII Table
• Scientific Notation
• Qubits
• The Earth’s Core—Compasses, Lodestones, Magnets
• Periodic Table of Elements—gold, copper; semi-conductors and insulators
• Function of Light Emitting Diodes
• Mastering Gaming with Konami Codes

Supplemental Coursework:
Mars
Living Reef.org

The Sun
Aurora Borealis in the northern hemisphere
Aurora Australis in the southern hemisphere
International Meteorological Organization—imo.org

Observed Holidays:
2012
November—Thanksgiving: November 22, 2012
December—Raising Cane Party & Welcome Winter Solstice: 12/12
2013
January— Enjoy New Year Celebrations throughout the world: 1/9
February—Chinese New Year: 2/10 through 2/24
February—Black History Month—honors NASA Director, Charles Bolden
March—Women’s History Month
March—Spring Equinox: 3/20
April through May—HICAP in Review
June—Graduation Celebration: June 12, 2013

After September 26, 2012, for synopses of HICAP discussions, go to: www.hicapv.blogspot.com

HICAP is EXPANDING

Because the Internet was designed to connect and share knowledge, for the ISOC HICAP 2012 - 2013 Session, we will expand to serve all ages, all languages and folks of all abilities; any place in the world.

The site that you are currently viewing will continue to provide updates of our goals and progress.

Beginning September 26, 2012, you can access our Internet  technology coursework at the HICAP Virtual Internet Learning Lab: www.hicapv.blogspot.com.

Mars

The EDL Team (Entry, Descent and Landing) at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab in California along with the world awaited the, nuclear powered roving laboratory Curiosity’s August 2012 landing in the Gale Crater in Mt. Olympus on Mars. The purpose for this mission is to find carbon based life utilizing SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars). An eight month journey for this six-wheeled rover with mounted panoramic 360°camera, we currently anticipate the transmission of detailed images and data about soil samples.

For updates go to: www.nasa.gov

Mars Landing

I’ve been up all night with NASA TV. Curiosity landed at 1:31 ET; quite exciting. HICAP is awaiting the high resolution images to come in two days. And, we are looking forward to feedback from Curiosity’s rendezvous with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Odyssey utilizing HiRISE—High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and relaying different types of data—basic radio frequency and Ultra High Frequency radio data. Data is received by NASA’s Deep Space Network antenna dishes in California, Spain and Australia; truly is a global education effort. Go world!

Quantum Computing Qubits

Bits are the intellectual life-blood of computing. A bit is either in the zero position or the one position. In Quantum Physics the Theory of Entanglement states that one particle can exist in two separate and distant places at the same time. The application in Quantum Computing is that when both the zero and the one are active at the same time, in separate and distant places, they are called qubits. Qubits would exponentially increase the power of computing. If possible, this translates to two to the nth power. It has, also, been stated that extremely large exponents is a theoretical and unattainable value.

There is a Neutrino detector called Minerva at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. From the University of Rochester, scientists have beamed a message through the ground using neutrinos in binary code; they then published a paper in the journal Modern Physics Letters A expressing their results.

Between Quantum Computing Qubits and Neutrinos traveling through matter faster than the speed of light, HICAP anxiously awaits our exciting future.

HICAP Summer Break

As I hoped, this has been one of the most exciting years ever at ISOC-NY Harlem Internet Computer Access Program. With the 'Breaking Barriers' video honorably featured in the Internet Hall of Fame, our journey this session has been informative and rewarding. In addition to studying the technical aspects of computing, we discussed:

• Tuskegee Airmen known as the Red Tail and their mutiny that was the model for the non-violent protests led by Dr. Martrin Luther King
• The Quakers' contribution to the Underground Rail Road
• Solar Storm Cycle resulting in Aurora Borealis and Neutrino particles
• Sun Spots and Solar Sound
• Large objects such as the Pyramids and Stonehenge  being as moved with sound
• Neutrinoes being produced in a lab to use in future computing
• Utilization and creation of QR Codes
• Unclaimed Funds (official site)
• Free local events with Internet Access

All students have my contact info and I will be available them during our Summer Break.
Graduation Celebration on Friday, June 22, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.